Entries Tagged 'Unique Ideas' ↓

Today we have special guest bloggers Marley Majcher and Robyn from The Party Goddess in Pasadena California. Marley has orchestrated gigs for the season opening of the Hollywood Bowl, the Critics Choice Awards, celebrities she can’t mention, as well as exclusive dinner parties and corporate outings. She is also a professional wedding planner and even if your not from the LA area she is also willing to travel!  So here’s Marley and Robyn!

In my recent quest for determining what makes a trend “trendy” and the reasons for these trends going from hot to not, I am currently examining the candy buffet. Some people refer to them as candy bars, causing momentary confusion with the rectangular chocolate kind, a la’ Snickers. Be it a buffet or bar, the candy craze is another one of those trends that for all intents and purposes has moved past its prime and yet still somehow continues to sustain itself. Bridal message boards are abuzz with how-tos and “unique” twists; monochromatic colored candy, classic nostalgic favorites, candies that match the wedding colors, Chinese take-out boxes, clever labels. Is this is a trend we will be seeing well through 2008?

Part of the appeal is that the candy buffet works double time as both reception décor and wedding favor. And while an impressive display requires A LOT of candy (and therefore money), one might rationalize the expense because the sweets kill two birds with one stone. It is much less about calculating a “per-person” amount and more about creating an amazing focal point, or as we event planners like to call it “The WOW Factor.”

The problem I have with candy buffets is that they’ve been around since 2005 – an ETERNITY in the party biz! So as an event planner, I have seen more than my fair share of buffets topped with sugar filled glass vases and bowls. People still love the candy gig but what’s the new, fresh twist on this popular creation? My job is not to rely on what’s already been done (or over-done!) but to conjure up something truly fabulous for my clients.

Of course there are several alternatives that do get me much more excited, like a cookie buffet or popcorn bar, for example. Both have been very well received by wedding guests, are beautiful and delicious and leave plenty of room for personal expression. But still, I get a steady stream of clients, brides especially, who have been waiting for the chance to offer their guests that ubiquitous smorgasbord of multicolored sugar in a cute little take-home containers. And in the end, my job is to be sure that the bride is happy and has the day she’s always dreamed of. How sweet it is and, can we make it even sweeter? Only time will tell!

Thanks to halfninja for the picture!

Want to make your own photo album for your wedding, engagement photos, or honeymoon or even make a unique wedding guest book for your guests at the reception?  But are you afraid you can’t DIY?  Well here’s a great solution I stumbled across!  It’s a website called Picaboo.  Picaboo really looks like a great product and service!   But the best part is it’s cheap!

All you have to download the software for free, create your album using their great ideas and templates, then place your order!

The photo album will be delivered to you and you can share it online!   The online album can be viewed by anyone you choose and multiple copies of your book can be ordered in any size!

Check out the Picaboo website and see what they offer!

Rhonda

I had the unique experience this last Thanksgiving to have dinner on the Queen Mary.  This was really something different and pretty interesting.  The Queen Mary was built during the 1930’s as one of the most luxurious cruise ships of the time.  It kind of reminded me of the Titantic but is actually bigger than the Titantic.  The Queen Mary was used for troop transport during World War II and served as a cruise ship through the 1960s.  Currently the Queen Mary is permanently docked in Long Beach, Ca.  

So why should you care?  As a wedding blogger, I’m always on the job!  First thing I noticed on the Queen Mary was the wedding chapel.  I also noticed the great food and the beautiful, history filled art deco salons available for receptions.  Not to mention the beautiful views from pretty much every where including the Sun Deck, which is also available for wedding ceremonies.  Plus, the 365 staterooms on the Queen Mary where you and all your guests can stay.

So, if you are looking for a unique and memorable wedding location checkout the Queen Mary!  It can be a very nostalgic destination wedding location!

Rhonda

Are you and your fiancé a “bold, adventurous duo?” More importantly, do you want a free wedding? And, do you want a free 2009 Dodge Journey? Well I’m sure most of you can easily answer 2 of these 3 questions with a resounding yes!So here’s the details…

Dodge has announced a new contest call “The Journey of a Lifetime”

Here’s what you win:

A free wedding that will be held at the Chicago Auto Show on Valentines Day 2008. (This is where the bold and adventurous part comes in)

Free wedding dress

Free reception including, cake, flowers, and more for 100 guests

Free music from a Journey cover band.

Here’s what you have to do:

Couples can register online at http://www.DodgeJourneyOfALifetime.com for a
chance to be married at the Chicago Auto Show. Residents from Illinois,
Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky can
register online, beginning Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 12:01 a.m. (ET) until
Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. (ET). To enter, potential contestants will be
asked to answer the question, “Why should Dodge select you to start your
‘Journey’ of a lifetime together at the Chicago Auto Show on Valentine’s
Day, February 14, 2008?” and submit a photo of themselves as a couple. All
participants must be 18 years or older and hold a valid driver’s license at
the time of entry.

The finalist couples will be announced during the week of Jan. 21. The
winning couple will be selected that week and married on Thursday, Feb. 14.

Good Luck!

Rhonda

Brides.com just came out with it’s “New Holiday Hot List” of over 20 gifts for future brides and grooms. Since December is the most popular month for engagements, Brides.com has put together a list of gifts “from travel accessories to household items to sophisticated home décor items” for every type of couple.

Here’s a sampling from their press release…

5 GIFT IDEAS FOR THE NEW BRIDE-TO-BE

Travel Companion: Say no to itchy airplane blankets and take the chill
off with White + Warren’s luxury travel trio, $495. This 100-percent
cashmere set includes a blanket that doubles as a chic wrap, woven eye mask
and suede-soled slippers all packed together in a silk sack, which is sure
to keep the newlyweds cozy whether they’re on their way to Aspen or Aruba.

Pucker Up: She can accessorize her new diamond ring with Lancome’s
Precious Carat Lip Gloss Jewel, $40. Tucked into a diamond-shaped compact
made of Swarovski crystals, the transparent lip gloss will bring as much
sparkle to her lips as that rock she’s sporting on her finger.

Listen Fashionably: She can take her music on the go and outfit it too
with this MP3 case complete with speakers, $95. It’s perfect for filling
the house with tunes for the holidays or playing her favorite jams on the
big day. The case, offered in bronze or gold leather, also includes
battery-operated speakers and a mesh pocket for headphones. Rock on!

Gorgeous Gaming: Don’t let him have all the fun! Forget Halo 3 and let
her try out Beautiful Katamari, $40, for the Xbox 360. In the fourth
installment of the Katamari series, colorful animated graphics and a
girl-friendly storyline have made this talked about pastime the perfect
first installment for a video-game library.

Dynamic Duo: The trend is to go bold in gold this winter with 14K
gold-plated wrist cuffs by Isaac Manevitz for Ben-Amun. She can show off
her love of color with the amethyst, green and blue multi-stone style
($150), or make a solo statement with one oversize ruby ($250),
866-921-2686 to special order. Now that’s the type of royal treatment we’re
talking about!

5 GIFT IDEAS FOR THE NEW GROOM-TO-BE

Time for Style: Sleek simplicity and sophisticated style combine with
an irresistible design in Kikkerland’s Block Clock, $175. The clock was
originally crafted by Japanese designer Kouji Iwasaki, who was rewarded for
his work at the Asahikawa International Furniture Design Fair in 2002. Its
modern, masculine style is the perfect gift for a new home.

Scent that makes Sense: Assure him that he’s the one with the Vera Wang
Perfect Partner gift set, $70. The eau de toilette spray and aftershave
splash, featuring a seductively fresh blend of leather, nutmeg, sandalwood
and tobacco, will keep him smelling irresistible all night. Whether he
saves it for the big day or wears it right away, this one’s a keeper –
just like him!

Sleek Slide Show: Keep your engagement photos rolling all day long with
the Pure eMotion 7-inch Digital Photo Frame, $80. The sleek, lightweight
design plays photos straight from your camera’s memory card. Collect
pictures that tell the story of romance and have it on display for guests
to view at their wedding.

Drink Responsibly: He can stay hydrated in the most responsible way
with a SIGG water bottle, $20. These reusable, 100-percent recyclable
bottles include a water-based lining with a nontoxic coating that is baked
into the interior walls and remains flexible and crack resistant for the
life of the bottle. Available in a variety of designs and colors, this
easy-to-clean one-liter Lifestyle Red Alert bottle will be his best man
when he starts hitting the gym in preparation for the big day.

The Coolest Way to Say Cheese: Have him put a punk twist on your
holiday pictures with the Lomography and White Stripes Diana + “Meg”
edition camera package, $180. Both practical and pretty to look at, in the
band’s classic black, white and red colors, the set includes the “Nobody
Knows How to Talk to Children” edition Lomography Ringflash, a custom
peppermint mask filter and a Diana Vignettes hardcover book.

The picture above is a cute travel notebook set, one of my favorites from their suggestions.  They suggest you use it to keep notes to organize your wedding plans or honeymoon ideas.

Checkout Brides.com for more gift ideas.

What kind of gifts do you hope to get?  Do you want things to help or related to your wedding?

See you tomorrow!

Rhonda

You’ve all seen disposable cameras on the tables at weddings.  Did you ever wonder what happens to all those pictures taken by all the guests?  For most guests they never get to see those pictures.  Sure, the disposable cameras can be great for the bride and groom, but in many cases those great pictures captured by their guests wind up in shoe boxes and are forgotten about. 

Well, here’s a unique idea.  ITheeSnap.com provides premium quality disposable cameras.  After the pictures are taken, you ship the cameras back to them.  They scan and upload the photos onto a secure web photo album that all your guests can visit to view, download, print, and comment on the photos.  They also provide the couple a DVD with all the photos as well as 4X6 prints!

Sounds like a pretty good service! 

Checkout their website for details.

Only a few more days to enter the Martha Stewart Ultimate Block Party Contest.  Want to have the ultimate engagement party or you might be able to make it your wedding reception.  Plus you get a free Toyota Highlander! 

Good luck!  Make sure you invite me if you win!

For More Details Click on this Graphic!

Well, today I’m proud once again to have some great party planning tips from Marley Majcher, The Party Goddess from Pasadena California. Majcher has orchestrated parties for the season opening of the Hollywood Bowl, the Critics Choice Awards, celebrities she can’t mention, as well as exclusive dinner parties and corporate outings. She is also a professional wedding planner and even if your not from the LA area she is also willing to travel!

Here’s an idea from Marley to get your guests to mingle…

The Goal: To get a large group (approximately 100+ people) to mingle beyond the hello my name-is-Joe usual awkwardness while really enjoying themselves in a fun environment, without spending tons of money on outside entertainment. Tough.

How They Pulled It Off: Upon checking in, guests were given a pencil and bingo card printed with 4 columns across and 5 columns down. Each box had things in it like “Had two parents who attended USC” or “Graduated after 1984″ or “Graduated before 1966″ or “Member of the Board of Regents” or “Speaks more than one language”. You get the picture. Each guest had to write in the name of a person at the event that fit the bill. Some were easy like finding people who spoke more than one language, but finding a Board of Regents’ member was a little tougher.

Born with a competitive streak, I zipped around that party like an Easter bunny on crack. I met more new people that night than I think I ever have.  Why? Because it was fun. Even the uber-confident have trouble walking into a party by themselves and striking up a conversation more involved than “Nice shrimp, hugh?” The bingo provided a networking excuse, a fun activity and actually got guests to just hang out and chat without the usual quick duck and run. This game could be adapted to any kind of event where you want people to interact.

Thanks Marley for letting me use this!

 Any other icebreaking ideas out there?

Many of you know I’m a horse lover so when I found out about this place I had to let you know about it!

For you horse lovers in Southern California, here’s a great wedding venue for you.  It’s called Calamigos Equestrian.  Calamigos Equestrian is located in Burbank, California and sits on 75 acres of landscaped fields and large sycamore trees.  But best of all there’s a bunch of horses!

My ideal wedding location would be outdoors in a beautiful pasture with full grown oak trees, surrounded by white wooden fences and of course horses in the background.

Having an outdoor wedding in the stadium jumping field would be pretty cool too.