Tracy

Devoted to Your Event’s last client of 2015, Ms. Gwen B, hosted a celebration of her accomplishment of retiring from her job. She shared with me that it was important to celebrate this milestone with all of the wonderful family and friends she has been blessed to experience it all with; not to mention the celebration of her 65th birthday.

Yes, our featured client that closed out our busy and blessed year has so much to be thankful for. She was heavy in the planning phases of her retirement celebration when she reached out to me. I could tell from the excitement in her voice that she is ready to hang up her working hat and step into the “Good Life”.

“What a blessing”, I said, not everyone is fortunate to work a full career and reap the benefits of retirement but Ms. Gwen has. She provided Devoted to Your Event an initial idea of the plans that were already in progress and her vision of that special day as she prepared for more than 120 guests.

That’s all I really needed; God has given me the gift of creativity and a love for doing things with my hands. “Centerpieces for my guest tables are all I’ll need, nothing extravagant, something simple, classic and low cost”. Ms. Gwen provided me a few inspiration photos which really help to capture the essence of her vision and I took that and came up with a few options.

Within a couple days, after several email exchanges, she had blessed off on the centerpiece that was just right for the occasion and we were ready to create. I really enjoyed the process of coming up with an end product she would be happy to share with her guests.

The day had come and it was as beautiful as ever for a mid December day. Devoted to Your Event got an early start but we were able to witness the numbers of guest who came out to celebrate Ms. Gwen dressed fine.  I met her daughters, husband and some of her church family. As a wedding and event planner, I must say, she put things together in an elegant way; I couldn’t have done a better job myself. All of the fanfare of the evening had begun for this classy lady’s event and when I say classy, it was classy!

There were speeches, a singer, dedications, a children’s dance performance, and other aspects that celebrated Ms. Gwen’s end of her long career and her birthday. I knew when I met Ms. Gwen earlier back in the summer of 2015 that she had a wholesome spirit. I could tell, she was God fearing, God loving and had a heart of Gold.

Thank you Ms. Gwen for the opportunity to serve you! I am happy you enjoyed yourself as we pride ourselves in producing unforgettable events. Although I did not produce this particular event, I am honored that Devoted to Your Event, LLC played a key role in making your day forever memorable; many blessing to you and your family!

Tracy Pope, MBA
Certified Wedding Planner/Accredited Event Designer

Pictures  courtesy of Bagley Abisheva

Marriage is a big deal, wouldn’t you agree? It takes lots of time, money, and effort combined to execute a wedding flawlessly. When you begin your wedding planning process keep in mind that there are key subjects that need to be discussed beforehand. You are now joining two families together and it is imperative to make sure that everyone is on one accord! Below is a list of all of the important topics that you should take the time to discuss with your families during wedding planning.

1. The wedding budget:

This should be number one on everyone’s list! The budget will determine how big or small your wedding planning is, it will be your guiding light for everything you do during this process. See November’s blog post “Deciding Who Pays For What When Planning” for suggestions on the best ways to determine who pays for what in a wedding. This will make staying in budget a lot easier for the couple.

2. The guest list:

Determining how large your wedding guest list will be should be done after determining the wedding budget. Keep in mind that you will have to purchase the invites to send out, have enough venue space to accommodate the number of people you invited, and last but not least have enough food. Some couples go for a small intimate wedding and others go for a grand ceremony with everyone they know! Either way let this be a topic of discussion during the beginning of your planning.

3. Cultural/ Family traditions:

Every family is unique when it comes to this topic. Some families are deeply rooted in the long held traditions of their families, and others are more modern and want to start their own traditions. If you or your partner have a cultural background that performs specific marriage rituals, it is definitely wise to discuss if you and your spouse will be performing the rituals and how will they be done.

4. Where the wedding will take place:

If you and your partner are from two different hometowns you will surely have to discuss where the wedding will be. Think about the amount of family members you both have in your specific towns and which location will be easier to accommodate more people. With that also comes selecting who will marry you both. For example, if there are special pastors in both of your lives then a decision will have to be made between the two.

5. Who will be a part of the wedding:

Selecting who will be a part of the wedding is a bid deal as well. If you or your spouse has children or young members in the family, you will need to determine who will be the ring bearer and flower girl. It is not uncommon for there to be more than one of each. Next you will have to select who will be the bridesmaids and groomsmen. This decision doesn’t need that much discussion because the bride can handle her selection and the groom can handle his.

6. The overall wedding theme:

Deciding on a wedding theme is a big decision and to best come to a conclusion we definitely suggest hiring a wedding planner! Not only will this individual give you the inside scoop on the best ideas and deals, but he or she can guide you throughout the entire process and help you make the most logical and stress-free decisions!

Wedding planning is not meant to be hard at all, its just something that requires a great deal of time. With the right support system and wedding planner on your side, all of these topics will be a breeze to finalize!

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

The topic of “who pays for what” at a wedding is always one that is slightly blurred. There are certain traditions and certain sayings that are widely known, but what is the true breakdown for the wedding costs? The truth is that it can all differ between the couples, the cultures, and the specific traditions of each family.

Although there is not one set of guidelines, there is a common way that most couples decide to pay for their wedding. If you or someone you know is having trouble divvying the wedding costs, keep reading this article for the traditional solution!

Traditionally the bride and her family would have to foot most of the bill, while the groom and his family had much less of a burden. Now the costs seem to be split slightly more evenly with the bride still carrying the heavier end.

The expenses for the bride and her family traditionally include paying for: the wedding venue, the wedding planner or coordinator, the organist/wedding music, the wedding dress and accessories, all flower arrangements in the wedding and reception, all wedding photos and videos, the engagement party, the bridesmaid’s luncheon, accommodation for all of the bridesmaids, all professional services at the reception including food and decoration, the groom’s ring, the wedding invitations, and lastly transportation of the bridal party to and from the events.

On the other hand, the groom and his family traditionally pay for: the marriage license, the officiant’s fee, the groom’s outfit, the bride’s bouquet and going away corsage, the corsages for the mothers and grandmothers, the boutonnieres for the men, accommodations for the groomsmen, the complete honeymoon, the bachelor’s dinner, the DJ and music for the reception, the liquor if any, and both of the bride’s rings.

Although this is the traditional way that couples may pay for their wedding, feel free to split up the costs however you wish! This should not be a time of stress or burden. Your wedding planning should be a happy time, so you can always split it 50/50 to completely eliminate the need to feel stuck to a guideline! Happy wedding planning to you all!

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

References
Budgeting for the Wedding — Who Pays for What? (n.d.). Retrieved November
27, 2015, from https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-budget-who-pays-for-what

Frankfort, L. (2014, November 14). The Traditional Breakdown of Whose
Family Pays for What. Retrieved November 27, 2015, from
http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2014/11/what-your-family-pays-for-wedding-planning.html

Wedding planning is undoubtedly one of the most exciting times in a couple’s life. While this fun time can be filled with dress shopping, cake tastings, venue visits, and more, it is additionally filled with an excessive amount of spending. According to an article on TheHuffingtonPost.com, the average wedding costs in 2015 has hit an all time high of $31,213 (Borresen, K.)! This cost went up $2,000 more dollars than the average cost of weddings in 2013. In order to make the most of your money and save as much as you can on your wedding, here are 10 cost saving wedding tips one can and should take into consideration!

 

1. Hire a wedding planner! This is surely the most important and effective tip we can give you. A wedding planner has a network of the best vendors, can help regulate the planning process, negotiate costs and of course relieve any stress that you may have. She/he will be there for you from the beginning to the end and will do everything possible to make your wedding day perfect for you!

 

2. Be strategic with the amount of time you give yourself during your engagement. If you are afraid you may spend too much money on your wedding, make your wedding day sooner than later so you will be forced to focus on only purchasing the necessities in the time you have. On the other hand if you do not think you will overspend it would be wise to give yourself more time to plan; this will allow you to be able to take advantage of all the seasonal sales for decorations, clothes, and more.

 

3. Book your wedding during an off peak time. If you have your wedding during “wedding season” you are sure to pay a great deal of money on the venue. In order to save money consider having your wedding in November or between January and March, with the exception of Valentines Day. Those times are considered “off peak” and are significantly lower in costs. Also, Saturday is the most popular wedding day so if you want to save even more, book your wedding for another day and watch your fees drop!

 

4. Email your save the dates and keep your guest list to a minimum. This is a small efficient way to save a little money and prevent you from having to pay for printed invites and stamps! The other part of this tip is to keep your guest list to a minimum. We say this because the more people you invite the more people there are to feed. Reception food can be very expensive and if you invite every single person you know, your catering costs will be very high.

 

5. Speaking of receptions, have a selective menu! If you serve a variety of appetizers and smaller sides you will significantly save money, as opposed to serving a full three-course meal. In addition offer beers and wines with a few signature cocktails instead of an open bar. Bruch receptions are becoming very popular too!

 

6. Order a small cake and have a sheet cake in the back for serving. Did you know that a lot of the huge wedding cakes are not 100% edible? A trend now a day is to have artificial layers that are just for decoration, and only the top tier or the bottom tear be edible. Have a sheet cake in the back or added cupcakes for the guests to eat in order to save money.

 

7. Take advantage of the talents of your friends and family. A wedding that includes help from the ones you love most will be even more enjoyable for you. Plus, you’d be surprised what hidden talents people might have. If your sister knows how to dance, have her choreograph the reception entrance instead of a paid professional. If your maid of honor is crafty, let her create DIY centerpieces instead of the wedding planner. If your uncle is a baker, why not let him create the vision of your wedding cake! All of these things will be a great way to save money and an even greater way to include your entire family in the planning of this special day!

 

8. Consider using artificial flowers for decoration. Everyone knows how beautiful a bouquet of color-coordinated flowers is in a wedding centerpiece or in the bride’s hand. However flowers are not cheap and there are artificial ones that are just as beautiful that you can use.

 

9. Rent the outfits for your bridal party. The dresses and tuxes you use for the bridesmaids and groomsmen can be rented out instead of purchased. This will surely save you money, just be sure everyone’s outfit fits perfectly. And don’t forget to return them on their due date!

 

10. Have everything in one spot! If you have your wedding and reception all in one place, this will cut down on the costs you have to pay your vendors to travel and it will also be a lot more convenient for all of your guests.

 

Wedding planning is not meant to be a stressful time, or a time that will hurt your pockets too much. If you start saving well in advance and keep all of these cost saving tips in mind, your process will be much easier! Check out TheKnot.com for even more cost effective tips and click here for a budgeting lesson: https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-budget-ways-to-save-money.

 

Happy Wedding Planning from everyone here at Devoted to Your Event!

(Cite for wedding cost statistics)

Borresen, K. (2015, March 13). Average Wedding Cost Hits All-Time High Of More

Than $31,000, Survey Says. The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2015,

from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/13/average-cost-of-wedding-2014_n_6864860.html

Article Written by:

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

With fall making its 2015 debut and summer just ending, most people would look back and wonder where the time went.  Family vacations are merely a moment of the past while students have returned to school. That wonderful time of year that we call summer is a season filled with happy times, and outdoor fun!

Before Old Man Winter takes over, we still have time for that “last hoorah”.  Did you get a chance to have an end of summer celebration? If not do not fret, here we will share with you 6 important steps you may want to consideration when planning for your epic summer celebration next year!

1. Spread the word efficiently: Summer is a very busy season for kids and adults so if you want a large turnout then send out invites at least a month or so before. This will ensure that most guests will be able to keep that day clear. Also be sure to include where the party will be, if it is inside or outside, and the theme so one will know how to dress. This is essential information to include on an invite along with the date and time.

2. Be sure to select a location that can accommodate all your invited guests: Whether your party is at your home, at a park, or your local community center, there is nothing worse than not having enough tables, chairs, or space for everyone. Although all your invited guests are not guaranteed to show or stay the entire time, you still want to have enough room for them all. Renting tables and chairs is always popular in the summer; folding chairs can even start as low as $2.00.

3. Purchase the essential items in advance AND in bulk: If your party is going to be around one of the holidays, you should know that the grocery stores will be packed with people trying to buy the same food and supplies. Get your items early so you will not have to stress out the day before your party. Also buying items in bulk is a great way to have more than enough supplies and all for an efficient price. If your party is going to be outdoors be sure to have mosquito and other bug repellent. And if your party is going on through the night be sure to have decorative lighting set up so you guests can still see and be comfortable when the sun goes down.

4. Set up a playlist for the party: The music sets the entire mood for the party. Select songs that are sure to make people want to dance and sing along with. Hiring a DJ is also very popular, this way the host will not have to worry about the songs at all.

5. Plan activities for the age groups invited: If your party is for all ages, be sure to have activities that will keep the children entertained as well as fun games that adults will want to play too. However if your party is for adults only you can never go wrong with some fun drinking games that everyone can let loose to!

6. The last tip is to play it cool: The weather during the summer can get really hot in most states so it is important to have enough beverages to keep everyone hydrated throughout your party. Water, juices and sodas are a must have, and if the crowd is 21 and whip up some nice frozen drinks!

Overall, having an end of the summer bash is usually a great way to end the summer with all of your friends and family. There are endless options for how you can go about your party but the most important tip is to have fun!!

Article Written by:

Amber Bentley
Social Media Manager/Event Assistant
Devoted to Your Event, LLC

 

Wedding Invitations
Make your own when you’re on a budget

So you want to make your own wedding invitations? Many Bride’s-to-be want their invitations to be flawless; it is an initial example of what is to come.  I’m sure that for many the first image that pops up in their mind is something that looks homemade, shabby and cheap. I want to show you how you can create your own handmade wedding invitations that are affordable without looking cheap.

One great way to get a perfectly customized and one-of-a-kind, unique invitation, is to make it yourself.

Even if your concerns do not lie with having a truly one-of-a-kind invitation, do it yourself wedding invitations will certainly save you money. Making your own invitations is one of the most popular of the many ways to cut costs from your wedding budget. Some brides-to-be forgo this idea with the thought that they are just not creative enough to make an elegant handmade invitation. And this is where I want to help. Here, I’ll share some of my tips, advice, and even some step by step tutorials on making handmade wedding invitations with style and class.

And trust me, I know about keeping it on the cheap. I hosted my own low budget wedding. And, of course, I made my own wedding invitations. I created my invitations for less than $65.00 for around 125 guests. That includes all the supplies and paper, copying and cutting, etc… Not only that but I made my invitations all myself, single handed and on short notice since I waited until the last second. You can make your own wedding invitations on the cheap, and do it without breaking too much of a sweat. I want to show you how!

Homemade and DIY Wedding Invitation Ideas

When doing invitations, they are very simple to do, you figure out what your style is and there are many examples online to choose from plus many examples of the right wording to give you examples of what you could say or make your own words.

Invitations are no longer a thing that has to match perfectly. You can now mix and match ideas, colors, papers and themes. Make them your own! That’s the beauty of creating your own homemade wedding invitations.

Another way you can make wedding invitations on the cheap is to go online to an online invitation management site that you can sign up for free and even allow you to select from a small number of options that are free which you can customize it for your use. Site such as www.paperlesspost.com is a perfect example of a website that allows you to sign up for free and provides a few free options of really nice invitations you can use to send and manage all your guests from.  You are in control! You get exactly what you want and for little to NO COST!

There are many locations to host your wedding in the DC metropolitan area but the venues that have become increasingly popular with the Indian cultural weddings have been the local big brand name hotels.

These hotels have the capacity to host Indian weddings which are now, one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in America, as reported by the CBS News.

From brides on rickshaws to Vegas-style floor shows, Indian weddings are part celebration, part spectacle and June has long been the most popular month of the year for weddings, the report said.

“For us, an average Indian wedding is spending $300,000 to $400,000,” said Ani Sandhu, whose company planned a recent event at the Ritz Carlton Tyson’s Corner in Washington, DC.

Both sets of parents paying and a minimum of 250 guests, the money adds up fast, he was quoted as saying by the daily.

“Any business wants to get a piece of that, especially hotels,” he added.
Major Washington hotels, including the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons, are actively trying to woo Indian couples. The Willard Intercontinental even has a designated path for grooms to arrive by horse.

“As we see the rise in that population and the spending power, it’s something you can’t ignore,” Apoorva Ghandi, the vice president of multicultural affairs for Marriott International, was quoted as saying.

In the past three years, his DC area hotels have hosted 415 Indian weddings, bringing in $12 million in revenue, the report said.

Marriott has gone so far as to institute an Indian Culture Day, a crash course on South Asian traditions, food and fashion for hospitality staff.

Neel Patel and Nisha Kumar, two Indian-Americans, said experience was one of the reasons they chose a Marriott property for their upcoming wedding.

“I was surprised there were places here that knew exactly what they were doing,” Patel said.

“An Indian wedding the groom has a procession outside,” Kumar explained. “Is that allowed? Not allowed? Open flame, you need that permit.”

In addition to space for hundreds of guests, hotels need to know what animals are allowed in their jurisdiction. Elephants have been banned in some places but are still allowed in Maryland, DC and Virginia.

“I want something classy with a blue theme for my birthday”. This is what our featured client Jacenta approached me as her initial idea.  Jacenta loves the color blue and for me, a lover of the same color, it was very easy to come up with creative ideas to help morph her vision of a classy celebration for her upcoming milestone birthday.

Yes, Devoted to Your Event’s first client of 2015 hosted the celebration of our dear friend Jacenta’s 50 and Blutiful Birthday celebration.  Jacenta is a retired veteran of the U.S. Army, full time mom, Government employee, owner of a health and nutrition company Blutifuly Fit and Fabulous, sorority sister of Zeta Phi Beta and loving wife to her husband Dee. We traveled to Alabama to set if off in an elegant way and got the ball rolling for this classy lady’s event. When I say classy, it was classy!

After stumbling over a couple themes, it was Jacenta that came up with the word Blutiful. What does Blutiful mean I asked? “Blutiful is a word we use in Zeta-land; it is the combined words of blue, their sorority color and beautiful”.

Immediately, I started taking copious notes and gathering ideas of not only how to decorate but what activities would be fun and engaging for all of Jacenta’s guests. Over the next 6 months, we entertained the process of seeking out the perfect venue, the right Deejay, caterer, baker and photographer to solidify the required resources to make this just right. Not to mention selecting the distinguished guests and creating the perfect invitation.

As the time grew near, nerves were growing with intensity but the evening went off flawlessly. The song “Champagne Life” set the tone for all the guests to greet and honor the “Queen of the evening”; It was on to a great time for all! The atmosphere said elegance, the crowd- mature, the pictures were beautiful, the food was scrumptious, the music was pumping the entire time keeping everyone constantly dancing except during planned activities and even then, the DJ did his thing. Last but most importantly, Queen Jacenta was flawless! Unfortunately many knees, backs and necks were aching the next day from all the dancing but it was worth it! Thank you Jacenta for the awesome opportunity to serve you! I am glad you enjoyed yourself as we pride ourselves in producing unforgettable events.

Devoted to your Event, LLC would like to acknowledge Chef Eric and Jerri Kerlegon for the catering, Christopher Stewart of Fountain City Entertainment, LLC for the Deejay services, Stephone Berry of Kingdom Shots for the photography, Angela Hagler for designing and Kia German for transporting the delicious and elegantly decorated cake and lastly my fabulous Event Manager Patty Jackson for always supporting me. Thank you all for working with me to create the celebration that Jacenta wanted; these guys all rocked!

Tracy Pope, MBA
Certified Wedding Planner/Accredited Event Designer
301-358-1264

Now that you’re engaged, everybody is happy for you and your fiancé. Everyone is so happy that they immediately start overloading you with questions about when, where, how, and why about your upcoming wedding.

Folks want to transcend their vision of what you should do and why you should do it. Comments come before you like, “You know you’re Catholic so you have to have service in the chapel before you marry” or “You have to wear something blue”, “We are Jewish and it is customary to say the Jewish prayer” or “You have to jump the broom, it pays respect to your ancestors”. Before you know it, you’re confused about what to do and you turn to the internet for information overload.

The reality is, we no longer live in a time where weddings have to align to weddings of yesteryear or look like a live version of the Cinderella story. The perfect wedding is not what your grandmother wants, your mom wants or even what your dad wants (unless they are footing the bill) and even then, the perfect wedding is what you and your fiancé want to have, whatever that may be.

If you choose to have a traditional wedding in a Church with all the bells and whistles, then by all means do it if that is your vision of the perfect wedding. If you and your fiancé love the Flintstones cartoon, Butterflies, Pink Pansies or Dinosaurs and you want to have that as your wedding theme, then by all means do it if that is the vision of the perfect wedding for the two of you.

Don’t allow others to dictate what the perfect wedding is to you. The perfect wedding is what you imagine it to be. So don’t limit yourself from the possibilities of ideas you and your sweetheart can create for your Big Day; be sure to give it a lot of thought and do as much or as little to live out one of the most important days in your life. You deserve it!

TAP