BB Pages

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Budgets 101

If you know anything about me, you know I'm the queen of budgets!  One of the most important things in planning ANY event is to know your limit.  Have a number AHEAD of time that you do not want to exceed.  My number one tip for YOU is to not go into the planning process saying "I have no budget, just as cheap as possible, please."  You will 99% of the time spend more than you wanted to spend.

As an event planner, one of my biggest priorities is to keep the client in and UNDER budget.  First things first, I want to know the number - that max magic number!  Then, I want to know what is important to you - is it photos?  Is it food?  Is it an open bar?  What is it about an event that you MUST have and MUST be amazing?

Next, I'm going to break down an assumption of how much each thing will cost in each category.  This is important ESPECIALLY if you've never planned an event before.  There are A LOT of little costs that add up quickly!  If you go into it thinking "Well, it's only $100!"  OR "That's only $50!"  Those "little" numbers can equal a couple extra thousand VERY QUICKLY.  The pre-budget breakdown normally gives the client a reality check and clear understanding of what you can and cannot spend. 

Once we have the goals, we can shift funds around to cover the costs of the items most important to least important.  From this breakdown, we know what vendors we can go for and what vendors we can't.  This system will GUARANTEE you stay in and under budget!

Of course I have a GAZILLION other budget tips, but the "pre-budget breakdown" is definitely number 1! 

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Bar None?

Let’s get down to business shall we….


And talk about most of our favorite parts of the wedding. The bar. ;)


(Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion on typical bar etiquette. I know every bride and groom are different. And we all don’t come from the same cultural and religious backgrounds. So the rules don’t apply to everyone. This is just my take )


When I planned my own wedding I thought of it as one thing, a gigantic dinner party. I know that seems odd. But that really was how I viewed it. I love to entertain, party plan, and host parties all the time (hence why I’m an event planner). And to me my wedding was a perfect opportunity to do that on a grand scale. So I planned accordingly. I personally like to serve alcoholic beverages at dinner parties I host. So at my wedding the only option to me was an open bar. Because of religious sensitivities in my family we only served beer and wine. So my Mom was happy and I was happy, and I feel I threw a “dinner” party everyone enjoyed.


That’s how I view the bar. My bar etiquette rules are identical to my dinner party rules. And I think those rules should apply for each bride planning her own wedding.


If you were having a dinner party, would you ask your guests to bring their own beverages?? Would you have no alcohol at all? Or would you provide wines and beers that match the dinner you serve?


I think whichever question you answered yes to should apply to your wedding bar etiquette. If you wouldn’t fathom inviting friends over for dinner and not serve them a bottle of wine with that dinner, then a dry or cash bar are not for you. In the same sense if you don’t drink alcohol at all then you should not be obligated to serve it at your wedding. I do understand the cost concerns where cash bars are considered. I personally feel this should be a last resort option, there are lots of other ways to cost cut before you offer a cash bar. (And if you have cost concerns in planning your wedding, give us a call, BBE’s main goal is to give you the wedding of your dreams on the budget of your reality)




My point is, your wedding is the biggest party of your life. So throw a great one!



Friday, March 16, 2012

Well She's 4, Y'all!

Seriously - the best birthday party E V E R.  

My little niece, Lou Lou, just turned 4 last week.  She (just like me) has a bit of an obsession with The Wizard of Oz.  We (or rather my mother) made her the most adorable Dorothy costume, complete with red, glitter, Tom's shoes.  We (again, my mother) made accessories for all the birthday guests, too - scarecrow hats, tinman hats and of course lion hats and tails!  What made this party SO special, was the appearance by Glinda, the Good Witch of the North - yes - THE real Glinda (according to Lou).  Lou Lou (who might very well be the most SHY child on the planet) was instantly in love with Glinda.  They sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" together and there wasn't a dry eye in the house!  I'm so very grateful for everyone in my life that helped make this party so special.  I could go on and on about how magical this day was!  Enjoy some of the pics below and find the rest on our facebook page

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Suit.

Hello friends! Happy Tuesday!!!

As I talked about it last time… the wedding dress matters. A lot……..

But you know what, so does the suit.

I think there is a slight unfair balance in the world of every day fashion. Women are focused on and catered to and sold all sorts of fashion goodness. Even on the wedding day… there are the shoes, the jewelry, the hair accessories, and the makeup. Women go all out. Sometimes the groom can get lost in the process.

Yes, it is the truth they are a bit simpler to dress. But I think that simplicity means every detail should count. And I mean every detail.

(FYI - I’m focusing on the suit, though these rules certainly apply to the tux as well)

I don’t have a lot of faith our readership is largely (or even partially) male, so ladies here are my mantras for you to share with your grooms, brothers, fathers, and (cousins??) …..

1.       Make sure your man has a WELL CUT SUIT. It makes all the difference in the world. You can tell a difference in how the suit fits, even slightly. Find a tailor you trust and use them!
2.       I preach it all the time to my own groom. SPLURGE. Men have the freedom in fashion that women don’t. Their clothes rarely go out of style. A suit of good quality could last you years, if not the majority of your life. So spend more, it’s worth it. Especially on your wedding day.
3.       It’s all about the COLOR baby. Pay close attention to the color of your suit. You want to make sure it’s a color that goes with many different ties and undershirts. (And of course matches the brides theme)
4.       This should be an obvious but I must state it anyways. IRON. For the best quality menswear this won’t apply bc your dry cleaner will handle it. But the mantra rings true. A wrinkled suit looks less polished. Don’t let it happen!

I guess the lesson is that it doesn’t take a lot to make our men look good……... Must be nice ;)

How a Suit should fit - Via my Pinterest

Friday, March 2, 2012

Vday Wedding

It's a classic day and time of year to be married - Valentine's Day.  No matter your feelings on the holiday, I thought in lou of LOVE month, I'd celebrate some fabulous pink and red weddings.  Enjoy the inspiration!

Wedding Wire

Bridal Banter

Calligraphy by Jennifer

Table Settings

The Sweetest Occasion

Now that you're feeling the love, go hug your hunnie!  xoxoxox!