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During your wedding planning you will find that there are a lot of little things you can do to make your wedding special and make your guests feel that way too. Setting up escort cards are a cute way to show that you care, along with helping the reception flow in much more smoothly.

Escort cards can easily be one of the most important pieces of stationary that you have at your wedding but do you know what they really are? Most people tend to think that “escort cards” are the same as “place cards” but they aren’t. Place cards are the cards at the reception tables to show you exactly what seat you are in, and escort cards are what you take at the entrance of the reception or wedding to direct you to your table. This is something that minimizes a great deal of wandering bodies.

Along with the obvious reason for creating an escort card there are also a few other reasons that prove they are a good touch for your wedding. First, they would allow for you to show off your creativity. Second, they are just another way you can incorporate your theme into your wedding. Third, they can be super fun to make. And last, it could be a keepsake that your guests may want to take home!

There are so many great ways one can create an escort card so your design is truly up to you! Check out this blog post on Brides.com for 35 INSANELY creative escort card ideas that you could use to add a great personal touch to your wedding. Explore your options and have fun while making yours!

 

 

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

Now a days it is very common to see children involved in wedding prep and the actual ceremony! There are so many different ways that one can chose to incorporate children into a wedding, so keep reading to find out the 5 unique ways that we loved the most! 

1. Let the children help pick out the ring:

Gentlemen, if you or your partner has a child from a previous relationship, or if you and your soon to be fiancé have a child together, a great way to make them feel important is to let them help pick out the engagement ring. Letting them in on this huge secret and having them there when you propose will be a moment they never forget!

2.Take them with you while you shop for your wedding outfits:

What daughter wouldn’t want to see her mommy in a gorgeous princess wedding dress?! This would be a great moment for the two of you to bond and for the child’s eyes to light up with amazement! You could even let her pick out a few dresses that she might want you to try you….you never know, she might even find the dress you end up buying!

3. Include them in the ceremony:

There are a lot of cute ways that children get incorporated into weddings these days! They can be at the front door greeting the guests, they can be the flower girl or ring bearer, they can walk down the isle with you and “give you away” at the altar, plus much more. Moments like these are priceless for both the couple and the guests!

4. Include them in the first dance:

After you and your partner have your first dance you can call your kids up to join in on the fun! This would be a perfect photo op! The dances could be even more special if the father and daughter had a dance and the mother and son shared one as well.

5. Get crafty at the reception:

If you are inviting children to your wedding it would be cute to have tables set up for them to have some fun while the adults are having their own fun. Providing non-messy art supplies and letting the children draw cute pictures of the couples or of the wedding room will be great mementos for the couple to keep in their wedding album.

Incorporating children into your big day will add happy vibes, adorable smiles, and most of all a lot of energy! All in all it will be nothing short of unforgettable when done the right way!

How to Include Your Children in Your Wedding. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2016, from:
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/372766/how-include-your-children-your-wedding#312279

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

Getting married is a big step…that’s stating the obvious right? It is the process of taking two and turning them into one, so with that being said you and your partner definitely need to be one with your thoughts and plans for the future! Today we are bringing you seven topics that you for sure need to be sure you have discussed with your fiancé before you walk down the isle!

 

            Topic 1: How many children do you want if any?

One may not want kids because he has a lot of nieces and nephews already, didn’t like growing up with his siblings, or simply is not a fan of children. While others may not have had a chance to have siblings so they for sure want a big family of their own. This is something that needs to be discussed before hand in case a compromise is necessary.

 

Topic 2: Where do you want to live?

Now, if you and your fiancé are from the same hometown this will be much easier for at least the early years of your marriage. If you two are from two different places then you might have to sit down and weigh your options and decide on the place that will work best. You may have to move where your fiancé is if he or she has a solid job already or if there is some other reason that he would need to stay put. After selecting where you want to live you can start figuring out what type of home you want. Do you want to start out in a condo for a while, do you want to purchase a new house right away, etc.

 

Topic 3: Will you raise your family under one specific religion?

If you were raised up in a certain religion, do you want your kids raised in the same? What about if you two have different religions, which one will your kids practice? If you don’t have a particular religion at all will you allow your kids that same freedom to choose?

 

 

 

 

Topic 4: Family Time

Some people spend a lot more time with their families than others do. Will that change when you get married? How will you split up the holidays if each family lives somewhere different? Will the grandparents get equal time with the grandkids? Will they be invited on family vacations? There are so many questions you can ask with this topic. Family is such an important topic and this is something that you should definitely be on the same page with before getting married.

 

Topic 5: Career Plans

A career can be something that truly breaks a family. To avoid this talk with your fiancé about how important his career is to him. Find out what his dream career is and what his plans are to get there. Do you anticipate it interfering with your family life? Would that put a hold on building a family? Find out of you both can be happy where you are in life in terms of your career before you start building a family and are forced to stay stable for a while.

 

Topic 6: What will you do with your bank accounts?

Before getting married, couples usually come in with separate bank accounts, so will you keep yours that way or merge them together? This is very important and has a lot of elements tied to it like the shared bills, individual bills and loans/debt that one has to pay off. Come up with a plan that you both agree on and one that seems fair to the both of you. Also be sure to have some type of emergency fund!

 

Topic 7: House Shopping Requirements

When it comes to the items for your first place together after marriage, you definitely need to be on the same page with what you want. A lot of couples have two different visions for what they want their home to look like so you definitely need to prepare some sort of agreement when shopping. Do you like soft or hard mattresses? Will you want a television in your room or not? Rectangle or circle dining room set? Save yourself the possible arguments in the store and talk about this before hand!

 

The topics above are not the only topics that you need to talk about but they are for sure some of the important ones! In order to have a successful marriage you and your partner need to be a team, and in order to be a team you need to have the same goals. Discussing all the key life topics before getting married will help you both see where you stand and give you time to adjust if needed!

Atterberry, W. (2014, September 30). 15 Things Every Couple MUST Discuss Before Getting Married. Huffington

Post. Retrieved April 29, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendy-atterberry/15-things-every-couple-mu_b_5638629.html

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

It’s that time again; Devoted to Your Event LLC would like to shed light on one of our superstar staff members. This quarter we will be highlighting a staff member who has been with the team from its early stages of development. This exceptional individual is an extremely hard worker, has the most positive attitude and contributes a lot of her own experience into what we do to provide a magnificent service to our clients. This superstar assistant is Mia Ma, our senior Event Assistant!

Mia Ma is originally from Shanghai, China; she graduated from Indiana University Bloomington as the Master’s in Recreational Sports Administration. One month after arriving to the United States, Mia joined Indiana Memorial Union (IMU), the leading Banquet Catering Business in Bloomington, IN. It was there she first came to know about Western Style Weddings, especially what happens at the reception as it was far more different than the China traditions.

Glorious settings, seasonal flowering, exquisite cuisine, live music and for most, people’s enjoyment were the different exciting elements, Mia was able to experience in milestone celebrations of the western culture. “I was truly impressed by the endless happiness on the couple and all the guests. To me, it was a culture shock at first, yet, furthermore a great experience”. All of that grandeur led Mia into getting involved in the event planning industry.

After 3 years with IMU, Mia moved up to the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, known as the “DMV” that covers (District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia) area, Where she met the owner/CEO, Ms. Tracy Pope during a training session she was taking in Virginia. She was scouting out young ambitious candidates who wouldn’t mind earning a few extra dollars supporting her business of weddings and events. I guess you can say Mia was in the right place at the right time.

Tracy’s passion of the event planning industry as well as her enthusiastic delivery of her client’s life memorable experience is something that I admired and decided to get on board more than a year ago. Being a part of turning a blank, weird, nothing close to elegant venue into a place that everyone vows was a big challenge, made me smile both inside and out when I heard from the venue staff “we never thought this place could be that pretty”, I knew then, we made it. “The client satisfaction is the greatest motivation for all of us here at Devoted To Your Event”.

Other than the event assistant, Mia works as a Customer Care Manager in a Professional Training company in Arlington, VA, and a Travelers Aid Volunteer in Ronald Reagan National Airport every Sunday.

We are truly grateful for Mia’s dedication with all that we do here at Devoted to Your Event, LLC, she is by far a superstar!

By Tracy Pope CEO
Photo of Tracy Pope and Mia Ma Courtesy of Baglan Abisheva

Sending out your wedding invites is probably one of the first things you do after you have your theme and venue secured. This is an important step in your process because it is the first impression of your wedding to you guests. Creating normal wedding invitations is still popular, however there is a new trend that has been emerging in our fast paced society, and that trend is wedding websites! A wedding website is a great source for all of your friends and family to stay updated on your wedding details. It eliminates the hassle of having to track down everyone’s addresses and spend money on mailing physical invitations. Here we have five great tips on what you should include on your wedding website!

1. Inform, don’t Instruct: When it comes to your website, be sure to include all of the important details. Additionally, when it comes to your helpful information (e.g., the dress code, weather) it is much more successful when you inform your guests instead of instructing them. Advising that one wears sandals or shoes that can get sand in them is much more received than writing “No fancy shoes allowed!” Guests will want to make their own decision based off of your information, not get told what they can and cannot do.

 

2. Include your bio and how you met: The “About” page on a wedding website is probably the most interesting section. This will allow the individuals who really never knew how the couple met to get all the inside information and to also learn about the bride and groom’s life as well. This section is always super cute and sometimes hilarious, especially when you get to read both the bride and groom’s version of how they met and who approached who! You can also include some information on your wedding party as well.

 

3. Include a page for the RSVP: The purpose of your wedding website is to take the place of a physical invitation so you definitely need to include a page for your guests to RSVP on. This will be a much quicker way to not only get guests to rsvp but also for you to keep track of them all.

 

4. Registries or gift preferences are welcome: Another thing you should definitely include on your wedding website is a link to your gift registry. Whether you have all your items planned out in your wish list, or you simply want money to go towards your honeymoon or your favorite charity, it is definitely worth noting on your website. Guests will be grateful for this information, trust us!

 

5. Include all logistics and provide answers to all possible questions: While this may seem like an obvious step, sometimes people forget to include all of the necessary information when they are caught up in the thrill of wedding planning. Be sure to include what time the wedding starts, the address and how to get there, an idea of the dress code, information on the food and if it will be a cash bar, etc. Think of all the possible questions your guests will ask and answer them before they get to ask them!

If you are thinking about creating a wedding website you are in luck because there are so many different resources available. Websites such as: TheKnot, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, Wedding Window and some really great ones to take a look into. Take advantage of the resources that you have right at your fingertips to make your wedding planning run even smoother!

 

 

 

Eisenhart, M. (2014). What to put in a wedding website to make it actually useful.
Retrieved February 28, 2016, from
http://apracticalwedding.com/2014/08/include-wedding-website/

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

One of the things that Devoted to Your Event LLC prides itself on is its exceptional staff. From the behind the scenes planning to the event day executions, our team is 200% hands on. This month we will be highlighting one of our staff members who is constantly working towards growing our clientele and educating our target market. That individual is Amber Bentley, our Social Media Marketing Manager and one of our Event Assistants!

Amber is 22 years old and from Clinton, Maryland. She received her Bachelors of Arts in May 2015 from the illustrious Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. While in college she majored in Public Relations and minored in Marketing, and was involved in many organizations and clubs. She loved PR ever since high school, but grew more in love with event planning as each school year progressed. During her final semester at Hampton, she signed up for an Event Planning elective that truly changed her career goals. In that class she learned how to plan an event from beginning to end, executed many “mock event” projects, and also planned several events on campus on behalf of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. This class undoubtedly marked her love for event planning and she knew that when she graduated from college that this was the route she would want to take.

Amber joined Devoted to Your Event (DTYE) in August 2015 and has been a tremendous staff member ever since. She described her experience with this company so far as “truly exceptional.” She stated, “I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with DTYE! To be able to come out of college and find a job that is exactly what I wanted to do in life was so unexpected. I love the fact that I not only get to work with event planning but I also get to further develop my craft in public relations/marketing through my Social Media Marketing Manager role! This role requires a lot of dedication and creativity and I love all of the new information that I have been able to learn thus far.”

When asked if she had any information to pass down to other young aspiring event planners, Bentley replied, “I truly recommend anyone who is interested in the event planning industry to get involved with a company however you can. You may not get a full time role right away, it may be part time or even an internship, but it is so much better than having no experience at all when you are looking to get into this industry…There is a lot of work, sometimes very tiring, that goes into putting together an event but the end result is always completely worth it! I love everything about working for DTYE and I can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store for our CEO Tracy Pope and her company!”

We are truly grateful for Amber’s dedication with Devoted to Your Event, LLC and we cannot wait to introduce you to the rest of our amazing team!

Photo Courtesy of Baglan Abisheva

Wedding planning can be such a rush for most engaged couples, especially in the beginning stages. There are many elements that have to be covered and so many things that need to be done! It is easy to get side tracked, loose focus and expend energy on things that aren’t as important. To assist you in this busy period, we have a few helpful tips for how you can stay on track and best plan your wedding in a timely manner.

1) Hire a wedding planner. This seems to be a common tip we give in most of our articles, but it is truly always the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about wedding planning! A Certified Wedding Planner (CWP) has been trained in this field. He or she will not only have the knowledge but the experience and expertise to assist you with planning and budget management. The CWP’s job is to help you in orchestrating your event and is something that these individuals love to do! Let the planner take the reins and talk with you about everything that needs to be done and in what order it should be executed.

2) Keep a notebook of important information and questions you may have. List everything that needs to be done/purchased and put it in number order according to what is most important. Picking a date and finding a venue would easily be more important than creating your “save the dates” or picking out your centerpieces! You HAVE to prioritize. A lot of engaged couples have one thing on their mind from the moment they get engaged, and that is buying the dress. Every bride dreams of that one moment in life where she walks out the dressing room in her white gown overwhelmed with emotion that she has found the perfect one! As great as that sounds that should not be number one on your priority list so keeping this notebook will help you decide when the best time to buy your dress.

3) Don’t try to do everything on your own. When wedding planning, it is easy for the bride to naturally want to take over with most of the responsibility but that is not always the most effective thing to do. In addition to your wedding planner/coordinator, employ your family and friends to provide ideas and lessons learned from their similar events, that can save you money and headaches, They can be there for you in ways that the wedding planner cannot and will hold you accountable for what you do. Using technology with wedding planning apps, are also useful for the do it all couple who desires full hands on approach. By doing this you may also discover new ways that they may be able to contribute to your wedding, such as doing crafts, coordinating dance numbers, and much more!

The most effective and stress-free weddings are those that are planned efficiently. Take with you these three tips and you will be well on your way to planning a successful wedding in the most efficient way. For extra help contact Devoted to Your Event to start wedding planning today!

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

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