Chair Covers: What kind to choose?

There are three areas of décor most brides are concerned about when they walk into a raw venue: the color of the rug, walls and chairs. Walls and floors can be altered and muted with lighting and other décor designs, but chair covers are the element you can have the most fun with. There are hundreds of color combination ideas available, in various linen fabrics and styles, and dozens of design concepts - it is impossible to keep up sometimes!

Here are some chair cover options available at The Events Company in Syracuse, New York.

  

Celedon Lamour Chair Cover and Ivory Lamour Chair Tie
Photo by Lisa Walsh @ Hotel Syracuse

Maize Spandex Chair Cover with Maize Lamour Chair Tie
Photo by Meghan Thomas Photography @ Turning Stone

White Lamour Chair Wrap 
Photo by Genevieve Fridley Photogrpahy @ Traditions at the Links

No matter what your vision, chair covers for your wedding should be a fun decision.  If you are struggling with ideas, be sure to get in touch with an event designer in your area.

Here is to Wonderful Wedding Planning!

Shannon Marie Lach

Wedding & Social Event Director

The Events Company

Syracuse, New York

Entertainment – DJ and Band, can use both!

 

Is your personalized playlist better than a live band?  With so many different tastes in music these days, it can be hard to choose a sound that will be engaging for all of your guests.

 

Be sure to pick whatever musical style you think will ensure your guests have a great time!
Photo by Lisa Walsh Photography

Creating the perfect atmosphere for your big day is highly dependent on your choice in music. Will it be with Soft strings or a toe tapping big swing band?  Would your guests enjoy an evening of elegance or a "can't stay in your seat" dance party?  Here are some questions to consider before making the choice:

Budget: It is a common misconception that bands are ridiculously more expensive than a DJ - do not assume!  A respected DJ in the upstate New York area can range from $1500 - $2500 and live bands can range between $2000-$3000.  Making sure the price difference is enough to deter your decision is a personal preference.  Before you make a decision, find out how much each costs.

Interaction & Guest Enjoyment:  A live band is able to engage and entice the crowd to participate in songs, bring them on stage or wander out on the dance floor among guests.  DJs can interact via the microphone and dance out in the crowd but can have less involvement in the actual songs unless you have karaoke at your event.

Who will show up?: Regardless of live band or DJ be sure you know the entertainers who will be there the day of your wedding.  Some 'cost-saving' DJs hire out their talent so you don't know exactly who will show up at your wedding.  Always, ALWAYS preview the entertainer's work before you book them and be sure it is written in the contract who is going to show up.  If you go to a wedding and Tom is the DJ, and the day of your wedding Bob shows up, the experience could be quite different.  Ormond Entertainment is a DJ Entertainment Company who has two individual DJs who are the personalities you hire when you hire the company, no surprises.

Also always make sure the contract has a section pertaining to smoking and drinking at the event.  This may seem logical, but is not a given.  I personally do not like to see the entertainment smoking outside or consuming alcoholic drinks during the event (you might not mind, but be sure to think about it). Ask the venue for a green room where the band can put their food and beverages out of the way of guests. Do provide water to the entertainers, particularly for musicians.

Song Selection:  Some bands will only play the set list they are accustomed to.  They will say when you hire "The Band" you hire "The Experience" of the band.  Great bands like DeSantis Band and Orchestra will work with you and plan a customized playlist, including and adding to their repertoire. DJs make it easier to pick modern, trendy exact songs you want to hear.

Highlighting a DJ on stage, like at the Clayton Opera House, is a great way to add "WOW" to your Wedding.
Photo by Bert Pohl

Remember - it is the entertainer's profession to understand the guests, so though you may select songs you want to hear, if the DJ or band is not getting a solid response from the crowd, they will take the liberty of trying different music until they engage the guests.

The choice doesn't have to be so difficult, maybe you'll have both live and a DJ.  The industry is seeing a new trend of live bands for dinner and beginning of dancing, then switching to a DJ throughout the night.



No matter what you choose, picking the music for your special day should always be fun!

Here is to Wonderful Wedding Planning!

Shannon Marie Lach

Wedding & Social Event Director

The Events Company

Syracuse, New York

Chair Covers: Colors, Styles, Bows and more!

There are three design features most brides are concerned about when they walk into a raw venue: the color of the rug, the color of the walls and the chairs. Floors disappear when the tables are in place, walls can be altered and muted with ambient lighting and/or fabric draping. Chair covers are the element you can have the most fun with and will impact the look of the room most. There are hundreds of color combination ideas available, in various fabrics and styles - it is impossible to keep up sometimes!

The chair cover options are endless. See an event designer for all your options!

Here are some important tips to remember when creating a vision including chair covers:

• The size of the sash/tie: Some venues might offer only 4” wide ties, while design firms, such as the Events Company, have a standard 12” wide sashes. The look each kind gives varies greatly, so be sure to see what each option looks like and how it reflects your overall look. 12” sashes look fuller and can be tied in various ways, adding more visual interest to the table setting.

• Consider the table as a WHOLE: When meeting with a designer about chair covers, be sure to ask to see how it will look with your linen choice, napkin choice and place setting. Also consider what your centerpiece will include in terms of color and shape.

• See it yourself: Ask to see a mock table set up in the way you envision your table to look. I have countless brides who do a complete 180 when choosing chair covers after I work with them on the entire table design. That's OK! We want you to be thrilled and confident in your choices before the big day, so there are no surprises.

Ivory Spandex Chair Cover with Maize Sash. Photo by Meghan Thomas Photography

• Ask to see photos from previous events: A great chair cover (installed properly) should fit the chair, no legs showing, tight sash, no sagging fabric, and uniformity around an entire table. The last thing you want is your guests' chair covers to look disheveled before dinner ends.

Ivory and Celedon Chair Cover with sash. Photos on the left by Lisa Walsh Photography

No matter what your venue of vision, chair covers for your wedding should be a fun decision. If you are struggling with ideas, be sure to get in touch with an event designer in your area.

Best Wedding Wishes!
Shannon M. Lach

Add Life to the Party with LIGHTING!

When flipping through magazines or online albums, many of the venue photos that catch your eye have extensive lighting and various spotlighting to accentuate architectural elements or mask imperfections.  Lighting is a décor designer’s trick to making all your guests say “WOW” in any venue.

Lighting can range from simple uplighting using par cans around the perimeter of the space to elaborate treatments using intelligent lighting. Whichever you choose, you will have instant ambiance. 

Lighting can be used to accentuate wonderful architectural elements or hide a less than desirable wall color.

Brides love seeing their monogram on the dance floor - just know that once the dance floor is full of people it becomes a really bright light on bodies. If you want to have the monogram, use it for the walk-in Wow! and then turn it off or find another location to project that won't get 'interference.'

We've transitioned to LED lighting, which draws less power (which is better for the venues), offers unlimited color choices, and the ability to change colors through the course of the event. Gobos are used for projecting patterns and are great in adding texture to walls and floors.

Beauty & the Backdrop

With all eyes on you for an entire day, you want to look your best while sitting at your head table or maybe you're doing an intimate sweetheart table.  

Unfortunately, some venues have pre-placed wall art, service doors, or lighting fixtures right behind your head table distracting from the night’s beautiful focal point – which is you! The Solution; a sophisticated backdrop behind any head table will give the illusion of a customized room and the touch of elegance you deserve.

Come into our showroom and we will help you create a backdrop that is sure to make your guests say “WOW!” when they walk into your reception. It's YOUR day and a backdrop keeps YOU front and center.

The Wedding Planner - The movie has some things right!

I needed some relaxing inspiration the other day. I had read through all the new Bride magazines, read all the new information on The Knot, but needed something fun. So I popped in The Wedding Planner and enjoyed some Kettle Corn popcorn and realized, parts of the movie actually reflected our profession right!

So here are a few things from The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez I think are interesting and important notes to remember when hiring a Wedding Planner:

1. Hire us BEFORE you select your venue or any other providers,really.
2. A planner is prepared for most anything; although we don't typically store it around our waist.
3. We feed the best man his toast. No,that's not true, although I suppose we could if really needed, but We prefer the spontaneity of the moment.

OK, so maybe not too many parts of the movie, but it's still a good watch for a chick flick and who doesn't love Matthew McConnauhey?

Your Wedding Decor Planning Timeline

Once the man of your dreams on bended knee asks for your hand in marriage:

• First thing you want to do is select the time of year you want to celebrate your nuptials.
• Discuss finances with all parties contributing to the ‘cause’ to develop how much you are able to spend.
• Select the venue that reflects your overall vision.
• Start shopping for your gown. Your final decision will influence your overall vision more than you think.
• Select the color and style of your bridesmaids dresses. The color will influence your décor color story.
• Select your team of professionals (florist, decorator, caterer, photographer, videographer, music, etc.).
• Determine what the needs are to establish the preliminary costs of all items. Don’t worry about the minute details just enough to know what your look will be and the estimated costs. The details will come later.

You’ve rounded the corner and the date is now 6 months away:

• Meet with the caterer to finalize your menu.
• Meet with your florist and decorator (preferably The Events Company) to discuss the overall look. Together they will help you build a plan, including the layout of the room. Don’t be afraid to ask to see a sample of the guest table set-up with the elements you’ve selected.

• Flowers and décor for ceremony (look at what can be reused for the reception)
• Flowers and décor for Cocktail area
• Room ambiance: lighting, fabric draping, emphasizing focal points
• Treat the table as a whole unit: linens, chairs or chair covers, centerpiece, charger, napkins, stemware, china, flatware
• Specialty Tables: escort card table, gift table, cake table, head table or sweetheart table

The big details are finalized, now you can focus on the little details that will bring out your personalities (3 months out):

• Ceremony: the grand exit (bubbles, flower petals, balloons, etc)
• Cocktails: signature cocktail greet, ice sculpture, photo booth, strolling entertainment (hand illusionist)
• Reception: Toasts, How to get the newlyweds to kiss, Monogram on dance floor, sparklers as bridal couple departs reception, etc.

Ready, Set, Go!