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

Linen Pick of the Week: Adele Lamour

Our pick of the week is an eye-catching adele lamour. This floral design features deep purple and cerise accent colors, leading to the use of these tones throughout your wedding decor. When using such a detailed linen, it's important to keep the other design elements simple, as you want to avoid overwhelming the space.    


 

If a client chose this linen for their event, we would suggest using the deep purple and cerise highlighted in the flowers of the fabric to complete the design of the decor. You can see how these colors would then inspire the choice of flowers and centerpieces, as well as the cake.  By looking closely at the linen, you can also see how we would select the style of the invitations and escort cards to replicate the intricate black floral design that accompanies the colored flowers on the fabric.

A beautiful linen can inspire your entire wedding decor, from the save the date cards to the thank you notes. All it takes is a close eye and attention to detail, and you can successfully create the space you envisioned! Need help making your ideas come to fruition? Contact The Events Company for assistance regarding linens, color schemes, and much more.  

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

Centerpieces beyond Floral

If you are a bride-to-be who likes to step outside of tradition, or wants to step ‘outside of the box,’ using non-floral centerpieces is a great place to start!  This doesn’t just mean using silk flowers.  There are fabulous structural pieces, containers, pedestals and creative ways to bring life to your table beyond only floral, or embellishing it.

Photography by Bert Pohl Photography, Design by The Events Company at The Clayton Opera House

One of my favorite new trends in non floral centerpieces are silver mosaic lamps paired with personalized frames and votive candles.  Some brides use the frame on each table to designate a table number, others use the display to tell an intimate story about the couple and some will display photos.

Centerpieces by The Events Company, Syracuse New York.  Photo by Bert Pohl Photography.

Working with an event designer, like The Events Company, you will have access hundreds of options for creative centerpiece options to customize your wedding.  Be sure as always to make it fit your personal style and overall vision.  Thinking 'outside of the box' does not mean the room will look like chaos - just a decision to do things a little differently than previously expected.

Best Wedding Wishes!

Shannon Lach 

2011 Summer Color Combinations

The color combinations available for your wedding are endless.  With over a dozen shades of purple and varying intensities of yellow, it can be easy to get lost in the color wheel.  Following the fashion trends this year, weddings are exploding with vibrant hues of purple, apple green, gunmetal gray and peacock blues.

Choosing unexpected color combinations will keep your guests in intrigued and entertained by your wedding! Photos by Kelly Stremmel

With a vibrant season ahead of us, be sure to  reflect your personality and style in your decor elements.  If you are going for the vintage feel, instead of going with white, gray and apple green, swap the white for ivory and incorporate a muted tone of eggplant to 'mellow' out the overall pallet.  Little touches such as customized menu cards and table numbers are another great and easy way to incorporate the vibrant colors without being overbearing.

Whatever your color vision is, talk to a designer about the latest fashions and trends in wedding décor.  From linens to chair covers to lighting, colors can enhance your space.  Explore the hundreds of possibilities and ways you can make your guests say “WOW” when they enter the room!

Adding color lighting is a great way to make your wedding vibrant and 'hip'.  .Photos by Lisa Walsh, Ed Guarente, Bert Phol

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.

Details Details

Wedding Planning is all about details, but more specifically YOUR details. Be sure to include character and flavor to your special day that reflects who you and your fiance are.

One of our Korean brides incorporated authentic Korean linens and Ukrainian food dishes to honor her and her fiances heritage.

Another bride went strawberry picking with her fiance the season before their wedding and froze the strawberries. For their reception, instead of the traditional cake, they had personal short bread cake for each person at the table and a bowl of the strawberries they picked together. A note was placed next to the bowl telling the story of their 'strawberry picking day' and guests loved the personal touch!

Whether it is grandmother's soup recipe, your aunts antique glass bottle collection or hand picked fruit, it is the little, personal touches guests appreciate and make your wedding unique!


Happy Wedding Planning!
(Photo by Maybn Ludke Photography)

Bride Timeline: How much do I do?

Managing your time as a bride

Planning your own wedding can seem like the most glamorous job in the world: Picking out linens, browsing websites and building ideas. But before you jump off the deep end and into a sea of never-ending DIY Projects and phone calls with answering services, we have some key questions you should ask yourself before you start:

1. Can I set a definite deadline for completing this project?

There will be so much going on in the months leading up to your wedding, trust me. You might assign yourself a project, and then realize your schedule is completely booked up until the day of the wedding. So on top of the other commitments you have before the wedding- does this project make sense in your schedule?

2. What percent of my workday will go towards planning my wedding?

If you take on planning your own wedding, you must acknowledge you will sacrifice work time for planning time. Some vendors will only be open during your 9-5 job, and I’m sure you would much rather be planning a wedding than working on quarterly reports. Cut yourself a percentage of time during your work day- and stick to it. If you feel yourself spending way too much of your workday on bridal sites, it might be time to consider other options.

3. How will this project affect my stress level?

Let’s not forget that on top of your impending wedding, you are also supposed to be a happy and beautiful fiancée. A very important aspect to consider is your happiness level. If a project becomes so stressful that you aren’t having fun anymore, it is not worth it.

4. Will I be able to spend time with my loved ones?

The worst outcome of the pressures of planning is the effect it can have on your loved ones- especially your soon-to-be husband. If you find that your stress level, time commitments or anything else is causing you to neglect your mate or spew molten lava at him with your mouth- then it is time to reconsider. This wedding is for both of you- and when planning takes over your relationship- it cannot end well.

5. All in all: be smart, and make good choices.

Especially when it comes to centerpieces- because no one wants to see a Paper Mache centerpiece ;)

We do it all for the brides!

Hi Shannon

The last of the wedding company left on the train this morning....so, now I can finally get to some of the after wedding duties...like thanking you and your staff.  We were so happy with everything that we ordered and got to finally see come all together.  The cocktail and reception room looked beautiful and the bride was so in aww of the lovely view from her sweetheart table...if we had to do it all over again, we would not change one thing. You and your staff kept the day running to smooth. We loved, loved, loved the first floor dance party...the tables and chairs looked great, the candy table  looked fantastic and thanks for moving the flowers downstairs...they added a nice touch, loved the lighting also.   We have had so many family and friends call to tell us that this was the best wedding that they have ever been to...it was beautiful and sooo much fun. So, Thank you soo much Shannon for all that you did, on that day and for the many many meetings  you had with us prior to the wedding...I will spread the word on what a great job you and your staff would provide for an event and I would call you again in a minute.  I am so glad that we went with less decorations on the stage and listened to you and kept the ambient lighting...beautiful...just beautiful.  Knowing that you and your girls were only a shout away the whole weekend made me feel at ease...All I can say is Thank You...THANK YOU!!!!  We had such a great Wedding Day!!

Mother of the Bride

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!

Opera House Love

Just a little view of the lovely couple Brittney and Eric from last weekend. Truly was a magical wedding, can't believe it is over already! Bert Pohl Photography did an amazing job, lovely to work with, and I can not wait to see all the pictures and post them!

White Wedding - Tented Perfection

Chivari Chairs are a great way to add the WOW factor to your wedding. As wedding designers and planners, we are able to best help you understand how to incorporate the theme, color and feel you are looking for on your big day. Simply using white chivari chairs without considering every other aspect of your decor options could have ended in a tragic white blizzard rather than a white wedding to be talked about for years.

The wedding vision and theme are a product of you, the bride, and a lifetime of personal experience and love; as a wedding designer it is my job to be sure your special day reflects every aspect of that. From the chairs, to the napkins even the silverware and lighting, it all should be reflection of you and your fiance. Once you see the parts put together, I can promise you your breathe will be taken away, like the day your he proposed.







Lisa and Steve celebrated their lovely day at the Aurora Inn, NY. These photos from Larrisa Cleveland Photography capture exactly how magical your wedding day can be with the perfect blend of friends, family, great venue and exceptional decor items, like the Chivari chairs from The Events Company.