February 23, 2006
Betsy Robinson Bridal, Sale and Other stuff
I must say, I have yet to walk through the doors of Betsy Robinson Bridal but Every Dress that has come from there via one of my brides have been gordeous. Their website equally shows their quality and professional elegance.
They often have trunk shows on different designers and right now have over 100 dresses on sale with up to $80 off. I just wanted to pass along the good news to you :) The dress below is a Monique Lhuillier. It is my favorite from 2005 :)
Posted by inhisgrace at 09:54 AM | Comments (1)
February 22, 2006
Choosing Your DJ- Chris Startt
Chris was a joy to work with. He was very profession, and had a wide variety of music that fit the crowd. He was not tacky but had a good sense of what should be played that will bring the crowd in to whatever mood that is appropriate for the time.
When a bride chooses a DJ...... The most important day of a young lady's life is her wedding day. This, above all days, should be the perfect day.Hiring a dj should be one very important aspect of that day. As important as picking the venue, the photographer, the caterer, and the florist. We all know that the ceremony is most important, but what about the reception?...The place where all gather for food, drink, and celebration. Picking the right dj is paramount in getting the party livened up. Most good dj's get work from word of mouth and personal recommendations. Others advertise.
When hiring a dj you will need to know some basic things
- will you be getting the person you talked to, or an employee of that dj company
- does the dj play a complete variety of music choices
- when will the dj arrive
- when does his time start
- what attire will he wear
- ask for references- follow up and check them
- does your dj use lighting
- does the dj carry back-up equipment in the event of a failure
-does the dj help in setting up events during the evening -dances,cake cutting, ect
- would you be able to bring your own music
- will your dj arrange to meet with you personally to go over the agenda
-in the event of an emergency would your dj have a back up plan in case he was unable to work for you
These are things you would need to be aware of when hiring a DJ.
Remember, the cheapest isn't usually the best. If you want to go cheap than that is usually what you will get.
A good DJ will work well with the caterer, the photographer, videographer, and client, to make sure all things run smoothly at the reception. A lot of these trades will recommend good dj's. Keep that in mind also.
The most important thing to remember is that if the Dj does a poor job at your reception, that is all the guests will remember of your day. A good Dj will only make the memories better.
Chris Startt
C.L. Startt Enterprises
Easton MD
410.822.6591
Posted by inhisgrace at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)
February 04, 2006
How to Uncork a Memorable Toast- The Wine Coach
My little plug on Laurie- the Wine Coach. I met Laurie at one of her tastings and must say she is as fruitful as the wine she speaks of. Her knowledge of wine is incredible. Laurie travels around Maryland doing tastings and sharing her wealth of knowledge. I wish I had known of this kind of thing when I had gotten married, It would have been amazing to have a Wine Tasting for either my Wedding Shower or my Bachelorette Party :)
In case you want to see what one of her tastings looks like, I happened to have my camera, when I went :)
Wine Tasting at Scossas
How to Uncork a Memorable Toast!
By Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach™Engagements and weddings create many opportunities to your raise your glass. Unfortunately, giving a great toast is a dying art in America but hopefully we can collectively create a renaissance. Whether you are getting married, standing up at a wedding or giving away your daughter, you can use these helpful tips to create and deliver a memorable toast. Just remember to take a deep breath before you deliver your fabulous toast. Robert Louis Stevenson was once quoted as saying “Wine is bottled poetry.” Now there’s something I can drink to!
Cheers,
Laurie Forster6 Tips For Making A Memorable Toast:
1. Be Prepared. Easier said than done, right? Know about the theme of your event, occasion, or guest of honor. Do your homework and find something that honestly touches or moves you. Make that your starting point.
2. Find a great quote that relates to the focus of your toast. There are some fabulous quotes that in and of themselves are great toasts. Recite with enthusiasm, and add a hearty”Cheers” at the end so everyone can drink. After all, it’s what they’re waiting for.
3. Be short and sweet. There is nothing worse than to listen to a rambling speaker while your mouth is drier than the Sahara. Get to the point, raise your glass, and execute!
4. Put your best glass forward. Write out your toast and practice a few times with a friend or in the mirror. It may feel weird, but it is better to work out the kinks in front of a friendly face than at the final hour. Have your toast written on a note card on the big night. You may need to refer to it (just don’t read it word for word).
5. Have Fun! Be sure to choose a toast that you enjoy and personalize it with your own humor and style. If you recite a quote you don’t love, it will show.
6. Toasting etiquette. If you are the subject of the toast, you should remain seated, and sadly, you do not drink. Of course, after the toast, you can stand and offer a toast of “thanks” in response. Then, sip away!
Laurie Forster is America’s Premier Wine Coach™, combining her experience in life coaching techniques with her extensive knowledge of wine. Ms. Forster began her wine career in Manhattan where she studied with the American Sommelier Association to obtain her certificate in Viticulture and Vinification. She worked at the largest wine retailer in NYC and now resides in Easton, MD where she has a private practice helping people enjoy wine and life even more!If you are interested in learning more about The Wine Coach™ events or signing up for her free weekly wine tips visit www.thewinecoach.com
Posted by inhisgrace at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2006
SwiftKick on "How to Choose a Band
HOW TO CHOOSE A BAND FOR YOUR WEDDING
By Thom Blasberg of Swiftkick www.swiftkickband.com
There are many variables to consider when choosing a band for your wedding day.
A great wedding band can provide an additional level of energy and
entertainment over disc jockeys, in addition to providing some basic MC
services on top of their live performance. Here are a few important
considerations when looking for a band for your big day:
AVAILABILITY
First and foremost, make sure the band you are interested in is available on
your big day. Regardless of how well-suited they are for your event, if
they're already booked, they won't be able to perform for you!
MUSIC STYLE
In addition to the music style you and your fiance would like, you will probably
want to consider a music style that will also appeal to the wide age-range of
family and friends who will be present at the reception. A band which is
versatile enough to play music from different decades/genres is generally a
much better bet than a band which only specializes in one style of music from 1
specific time period. Also, would you like a lot of faster, upbeat music? How
much slow dancing would you like during the night? You should review the
setlist of the band you are considering to get a feel for the type of songs
which will be played. A professional wedding band should allow you to specify
which songs from their setlist you would like them to definitly play....and
those you definitly do NOT want them to play. Also, don't be afraid to ask the
band if they would be willing to learn one of your special songs if they do not
currently have it on their setlist....just don't ask them at the last minute!
A few weeks or months notice is very much appreciated by any band.
ROOM SIZE
Again, room size may influence the type of band and/or volume level you are
willing to have. A large band will most likely sound louder in a very small
reception hall, so keep that in mind when choosing your room / facility. Also,
you may want to ask the band how they go about controlling their sound volume.
VOLUME LEVELS
Somewhat hand-in-hand with music style is the volume level of the band. A small
jazz trio is going to perform at a lower volume level than a 5-piece rock/cover
band....particularly if they also have a 3+ piece horn section on top of it
all. Also, a small jazz trio may be great for soft dinner music, but may not
be as effective as a larger band in energizing the dance floor later in the
evening when people are in a festive dancing mood. A good compromise may be
to go with a band which can offer you soft background music during dinner, and
then has the ability to pick up the pace as the night goes on and people start
wanting to dance and start "feeling" the music!
STAGE SIZE
Although most bands do not own their own stages, many wedding reception
facilities DO. Therefore, you may want to give thought to if you would like
the band to be on a raised stage above the dance floor for a more dramatic and
visible effect....or if you would be just as happy with the band on the ground
and level with the dance floor. Check with your reception facility to verify
what your options are for the band, and if there is any additional charge for
them to set up a stage for your band. To give you an idea of recommended stage
sizes, our band (www.SwiftkickBand.com) is a 5-member cover band and we
generally need a minimum stage size of approximately 12' x 16' , or 8' x 20'
(which is more "stretched out" length-wise if you don't have the depth for the
12' x 16' stage). Many of these stages are stored and assembled by the
facility using 4' square sections.
BUDGET
Many people with budgets in a $500-$1,500 range will opt to go with a DJ. You
may find new and/or inexperienced bands willing to play in this price-range,
but it is not recommended. You only have one chance to get your wedding day
right, and hiring an inexperienced band may end up causing you a lot of
additional stress, worry and potential embarrassment. Plan to spend $1,500 and
upwards for a wedding band. Factors which will influence band pricing
include, but are not limited to, the reputation of the band, distance the band
needs to travel, potential lodging requirements, the number of people in their
band, how long you want them to play for, the level of "production" in the
bands act, etc. Don't be surprised to see quality wedding bands quote in the
$2,000-$10,000 range based on these variables.
REFERENCES
Ideally, you should go see the band you are considering to hire at one of their
live performances. You may also want to get some references, particularly if
you are unable to see the band perform live prior to hiring them. Even if you
don't call the references, the fact that the band can even offer you references
is a good sign....and if the band has no references to offer you, then you need
to take extreme caution!
DRESS
Make sure you discuss the proper attire for the band. Some weddings are more
formal than others. Do you want the band to wear tuxes? Or would you prefer
more of a semi-formal look for the band, possibly allowing them to move around
on stage easier without working up a sweat? The choice is yours, but make sure
you communicate your preference to your band of choice.
CUTOFF TIMES FROM FACILITIES
Many wedding facilities have cut-off times for live music. Make sure that you
are aware of any such cut-off times, and let the band know as well. Some
facilities state that all music should end by midnight, so you will want to
plan accordingly.
CONTRACTS
A contract doesn't have to be complicated, but it would be in the best interest
of the bride and groom...as well as the band....to have many of the above
details in writing to make sure all parties are clear on the details of the
event. Also, be prepared to pay a deposit several months in advance to
officially secure the band for your wedding day. A band may have several
wedding parties inquiring about the same exact date, so a signed contract and a
deposit will give you peace of mind that the band will not book anything else
on your special day.
(italicize)
The above article was written by and provided courtesy of Swiftkick Band
(www.SwiftkickBand.com). Swiftkick is a popular Top-40 cover band based in the
VA/DC/MD area. The professional 5-member group performs songs from today, as
well as from the 90's, 80's, 70's and 60's. In addition to being featured in
the Washington Post and other DC metro area newspapers, Swiftkick has played
for and received great references from the U.S. Coast Guard, Marriott
Corporation, RE/MAX, Harley Davidson, Radio Shack, and others. The band
performs regularly at weddings, corporate events, outdoor concerts, and local
clubs.
Posted by inhisgrace at 08:55 PM | Comments (0)
Vendor Spot Lights
I get to work with a lot of really neat people. There are so many florists, bands, videographers and such that really have a ton to offer. I hope you will find the info useful :) Feel free to leave comments!
Posted by inhisgrace at 08:36 PM | Comments (0)