Fall 2011 Wedding Color Combinations

Want a wedding that "WOW"s and is unlike any of the others you have been to? Then stay hip to the changing trends in color combinations and detailing of your big day.

Purples made a big 'splash' into the wedding world this past year.  With the same color vibrancy as fuchsia, cerise and hot pink, which made their appearance at plenty of parties last year, we are seeing a trend with shades of purple to create distinct visions.   Antique violet mixed in with peacock blues and silvers create a romantic, vintage feel.

Clayton Opera House, Photo by Bert Pohl

  Eggplant lighting is a great way to add a contemporary and edgy feel.

Clayton Opera House, Photo by Bert Pohl

Green combinations have also made a lush and fresh comeback to the fashion industry. Popping muted olive greens with fresh and silky champagnes will make any event the sophisticated event of the year!

Whichever color combination fits your wedding, stop by a Design and Production House in your area, like The Events Company showroom in Syracuse, New York, to meet with an event designer and play with colors, linens and endless possibilities to make your vision perfection!

Here is to Wonderful Wedding Planning!

Shannon Marie Lach

Wedding & Social Event Director

The Events Company

Syracuse, New York

Creative Favors - we know how!

Ok, so everyone knows about the traditional bubbles, disposable cameras and candy as wedding favors, can we say boring? Think outside the box and give your guests something to remember your special day by!  Doing searches on the web on sites such as Favoraffair.com  and Elegantfavorideas.com are a great starting point.  We always tell our brides three points when selecting favors:

1: Reflect you and your fiance's relationship (your first date was apple picking - use potted apple cuttings in ornate and customized pots)

2: It is not something that only makes sense in pairs; candle and shot glasses have come and gone and unless you have a collection started, they look a little unfinished sitting on a shelf alone, if they make it that far...

3: You cannot please everyone. Don't stress out wondering if everyone is going to love it.  Even if you spent $490 a favor on a diamond shaving encrusted picture frame - there will be a handful of people who find it useless or will give it away.

You cannot make everyone happy but be sure to be proud of your choice!

In Lieu of donations are another great, simple way to give honor and meaning to your wedding while having your guests be part of a great cause.  Then each year you can continue donating and send cards to your guests annually thanking them for being part of your life and up-to-date status on the donations.

When your wedding has come and gone, your guests will be left with one thing and one thing alone, a memory. Help them to create the best one for years to come!

Here is to Wonderful Wedding Planning!

Shannon Marie Lach

Wedding & Social Event Director

The Events Company

Syracuse, New York

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

Commandments for all Wedding Planners to Live by

Over the past 14 years of being in the event industry I've run into a number of prospective clients and vendors who cringe at the thought of an event planner or wedding planner. Based on past experience with a "planner" who didn't have a clue. The idea of being an 'event planner' seems fun and glamorous - but it's so much more than picking out pretty linens and centerpieces. 

Here's a great article from the National Conference Center blog  that every client looking for a great event professional should read. I couldn't agree more.

Heather Walrath, recent newlywed and featured blogger for Get Married, Weddzilla, WedAlert and The DC Ladies, as well as through her own blog, Bicoastal Bride describes what the ideal planner is for most brides.
She explains that choosing an ideal wedding planner will vary depending upon a bride’s vision for her day and what types of services she seeks. For example, does she seek a full-service designer to craft a specific look and feel for her event? Does she seek a day-of coordinator to manage the organizational and logistical aspects of her day? Here are the five commandments of an ideal planner from Heather’s perspective:

• Problem-Solver – Thou shall be a logical and practical thinker. The ideal wedding planner is a creative problem-solver, able to think and act quickly and rationally in the face of mishaps. She should assess risks and potential pitfalls well ahead of the big day, preparing backup plans and being well-prepared to confidently step in should anything go wrong, from weather snafus to snarky relatives.

• Firm Understanding – Thou shall get to know the client and handle the small details. The ideal wedding planner is detail-oriented yet also aware of the big picture. In addition to having a clear understanding of a couple’s theme and vibe for the day, she must be able to seamlessly track both large and small details, including vendor arrival times and setup needs, the placement of wedding items, seating arrangements, food allergies, VIP relatives, and so much more.

• Selfless Visions – Thou shall still allow the client to make their own decisions. The ideal wedding planner is patient and calm. She should listen and offer honest advice, while remembering that she is bringing the couple’s vision to life, rather than her own. Some brides come out of planning their weddings thinking they will also love planning weddings for others, often finding out after the fact that this is not the case. Advising another bride is very different than implementing your own desires.

• Are You “Connected?” – Thou shall already be active in the industry and community. The ideal wedding planner is well-connected and involved with the wedding community. She knows how to find the best resources and vendors, and is up to speed about the latest industry news and trends.
• Give It Your All – Thou shall remember to handle an event as you would want others to handle your own. The ideal wedding planner is positive and enthusiastic. A wedding day, and the months leading up it, often comprise the most exciting time of a couple’s life. A planner should share in their joy and truly go above and beyond, ensuring their day will be incredible from start to finish. 

 The Events Company team lives by all of these commandments.