When guests leave your wedding the single most important thing to them are the FAVORS.  These are the things that guests will take away with them that will remind them of the joyous time that they had on your special day.

The most important thing to remember when picking out favors is to give something that guests can eat or that they can use.  Most people want to walk away with favors that are useful.

To You a favor, www.toyouafavor.com, an internet based favor company, has some great ideas.  The cutest pizza cutter that you have ever seen would serve as a great practical wedding favor.                                          

What is better than having your guest walk away with a cute little notepad, that incorporates something old, new, borrowed and blue, that they can write down all of the wonderful things that happened at your spectacular wedding.

There is nothing more practical or nice than coasters that can be used as place card holders, personalized photo frame or even a great way to incorporate your wedding date and names.    

Food is also always a good idea.  Any of these cute boxes can be filled with your favorite chocolates, nuts or treats.

All of these great favors can be purchased at www.toyouafavor.com

Happy Planning

Shafonne Myers

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Who hasn’t been in a wedding where their dress was hideous?  You never wanted to see it again much less have to wear it.  But times are a changing.  Long gone are the taffeta dresses with the puffy sleeves. Designers are making bridesmaid’s dresses more sophisticated and practical.

When choosing bridesmaid’s dresses make sure to think about all of your girls.  Not all girls are built the same, so make sure to decide on something that will complement all body types.  Two-piece dresses can really come in handy when dealing with different body types because people can get a style and fit that works best for her.  Also make sure to incorporate colors into the decision.  Pinks and peaches look good on all body types.  Don’t forget about black and navy.  The darker colors are definitely making a come back.

The lengths of the dresses also make a huge impact on the reusability.  Cocktail and tea length dresses are very popular and can easily be reused.   The longer evening gown lengths can still be useful but not worn as often.  

There are so many styles for bridesmaid’s dresses so make sure to really consider your bridesmaids when deciding on the dresses because they do have to pay for them.   The more they like the dresses the more they will be willing to pay for them.

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

 Choosing bridesmaids SHOULD be an easy task.  Right?  WRONG!!!!  I have had soooooo many people come to me and say “My fiancé wants me to have this person in the bridal party but I don’t really know them.”  This is becoming more and more common, especially when there are siblings involved. 

Typically if either the bride or groom has siblings, or close friends they are considered shoe-ins for a spot in the bridal party.  BUT WHY?  When choosing who is going to play a part in your special day do you want someone that you don’t know that well?  NO, you want to have someone that means something to you and has played a huge part in your life. 

Remember, these are the people that will be around you throughout your whole wedding planning experience.  You want to pick someone that you get along with and that can get along with you.  There is a lot of responsibility and honor in being a bridesmaid and you want to have someone that knows this responsibility and who will cherish and honor the role. 

It can also be very expensive to be a bridesmaid, the functions that have to be attended, the gifts, the attire; all of these things have to be purchased by each member of the bridal party.  Someone who may not have a personal connection with you may not be as welling to do this. 

There are so many other roles, individuals who are not as close to you but may want to still play a part in your big day, can hold.  They can read scriptures or readings during the ceremony.  They could also be ushers or hostesses.  All of these are still very important jobs that will allow them to still feel included.

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

So many people think that THEIR wedding will be something toooootally different.  One, like no other, one that no one can top but when they get right down to it, they always end up with wedding etiquette questions.  How do we do our first kiss?  What is the order of the processional and receiving line?   These are just a few of the more popular questions that tend to come up in conversation.

The first kiss is meant to be the first time that you and your fiancé show the world and your wedding, that you are officially husband and wife.  It is a cherished moment that you all don’t want tainted with a gratuitous open-mouthed, tongue quenched, make-out session.  You definitely what to keep it nice, sensual and sophisticated. 

The order of the processional depends, a lot of times, on the religious background of the couple.  Most religions tend to go in this order: Grandparents of the groom, Grandparents of the bride, Mother of the bride, Officiant, groom, best man and groomsmen (if they are not walking down the aisle with the bridesmaids.  Bridesmaids: starting with the one that is farthest from you in the line up, Maid of Honor/ Matron of Honor, Ring bearer and flower girl (they can come down separate or together).  Last but not least, the bride and her father (or whom ever else is given this wonderful task)

Receiving lines have always been a much-debated addition to ceremonies, which can prove to be very useful.  Whenever people come to your wedding you want to make sure that they feel important.  Receiving lines give guests the pleasure of physically congratulating you and your family without feeling like they are intruding while you are trying to enjoy yourself at the reception.  The order of receiving lines is as follows:

Mother of the Bride, Father of the Bride (optional) Bride, Groom, Mother of the Groom, Father of the Groom (optional), Bridesmaids and Groomsman (both are optional).  There are numerous variations as to the order, including no men, along with no bridesmaids.

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

http://www.makingyoureventspecial.com

This is definitely harder said than done.  Just the mere thought of planning your wedding causes more stress than most people experience in their whole life.  The reception, the ceremony, the dress, the wedding party, the cake, the groom, the parents, ohhhhhh my goodness, I am getting stressed out just writing about it.

 The single most effect thing to de-stress yourself is to RELAX.

I have experienced the ultimate in relaxation: REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology is a superbly relaxing treatment that applies pressure to the reflexes on the feet, thereby releasing tension, reducing fatigue and improving physical balance to the entire body.

I must admit that I was a little spectacular at first but the second that I walked into Paula Quick’s Bridal Reflexology sanctuary, I was flabbergasted.  From the enticing aromas, to the holistic and feng shui ambiance, I was transformed from a ball of stress to a flowing sheet of linen.  She massages your feet, hands and ears to rejuvenate and stabilize your body, in addition to improving circulation, releasing blocked energies and eliminating toxins.  

I would definitely recommend this to any bride to calm her jitters or to unwind from a hard day of planning.  This can also be used as a retreat for brides and their bridal party or a relaxation for the wedding party the day of your wedding. 

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

If you are one of the many brides that had the pleasure of a wedding proposal recently then the enchanting sounds of wedding bells are in the air.  It might not be evident to you now but in the near future you will start to experience the overwhelming feeling of starting to plan your big day.

Gone are the days when you can plan a simple wedding.  Weddings are now, the most elaborate and detailed events in some people’s lives.  With this being said, most people are starting to eliminate this hassle and enlist the help of a Wedding Coordinator. 

Wedding Coordinators can undoubtedly be the one thing that can save you, your fiancé and your family from a headache of worries and frustrations.  They are the one person that is in charge of making sure that everything goes magnificently for your special day.

From assisting with: vendors, venues, themes, color schemes, rentals and anything else that maybe needed, they can be the saving grace for your sanity. 

So often brides feel that they can pull everything together themselves, in an effort to save money.   Feeling that they can get a family member to help with the planning process.  This all to often backfires because it is difficult for brides to plan a wedding with a family member who is unbiased, non critical and open to suggestions.  Most times they do but with no lack of stress, aggravation, frustration and lost of sleep.  Most brides never admit it but they do eventually realize they should have hired someone.

Wedding Coordinators can unquestionably be a great investment to ensure that your special day is carefree, enjoyable and free of stress for everyone.  The more cool, calm and collected you are, the better that everyone around you will be. 

Happy Planning

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Plantations embody the historical and architectural elements that can be a wonderful location for a perfect wedding weekend.  A wedding weekend is a wedding that is truly for the duration of a whole weekend, with the guest arriving on Friday and spending the entire weekend at the location and leaving on Sunday.

There are so many in the Richmond area, so I visited several courtesy of James Limousine and their wonderful service and beautiful limos. 

Mankin Mansion

A breath-taking mansion located in Henrico County.  The minute that you step onto the elegantly manicured grounds you feel like you are stepping into a stylish Victorian haven.  There are plenty of classy cottages and suites for all of your guests to enjoy the whole weekend.  There is a game room, which has a pool table, area for playing video games and even a poker room.  This is a definite for an upscale, sophisticated wedding weekend.

Willow Grove Manor

A beautiful plantation located in New Kent County.  As you drive up the drive way you are spellbound by the enormous profile of the grounds.  The balcony on the second floor is astonishing along with the superb garden and fountain.  You feel like the manor is yours for the weekend.  You are allowed to start bringing your belongs and wedding weekend supplies as early as Monday of your wedding week.   Personal pictures are also welcomed to put around the manor.  You and your wedding guest have FULL use of the whole estate; pool, manor, tennis courts and gardens.  The home is also very kid friendly with a special room set up with toys and games.

Jasmine Plantation

The epitome of “True Southern Comfort”, Jasmine Plantations welcomes you with open arms with her large front porch and rocking chairs.  The whole feel of the grounds make you think Country Elegance.  On the grounds are two gazebos that can be used for wedding ceremonies as well as a beautiful pond and fountain with a bridge crossing over it.  All decorations and supplies can arrive anytime during the week prior to the wedding.  On the deck there is a spectacular 7 person Jacuzzi that is free to be used.

Edgewood Plantation

This is definitely the place for someone who has a true love for the historical background of plantations and wants the feel of a true authentic plantation.  Edgewood has all of the antiques and collectables to make you feel like you are back in the 1800’s.  Each room has a plethora of ornate and decorative period specific pieces. It is also rumored that there is a ghost.  There is a beautiful garden area that is a perfect backdrop for a lovely weekend wedding, along with a pool and gazebo. 

Plantations are a great place for you and your guests to share in your special day.  They provide the location for the ceremony, reception and accommodations.  What else could be better than having your loved ones around before, during and after your Big Day.

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

http://www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Flowers can transform a dull,  melancholy venue into an astonishing, eye popping wonderland for your special day.  From the simplest to the most elaborate, floral arrangements can be one of the main things that people remember when they leave your festivities.

But, What do you take into consideration when looking for flowers? The biggest thing is: Time of Year of your  wedding. Certain flowers are only in season, certain times of year.  So this means that if you want out of season flowers it it going to cost you more money. 

Spring: Daffodils, Sweet Peas, Liliacs, Stargazer Lilies, Casablanca Lilies, Peonies

Summer: Chrysanthemums, Forget me nots, Freesia, Gerbera daisies, Hydrangeas, Irises, Lilies (Asiatic and Oriental),

Fall: Asters, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Marigolds

Winter: Camellias, Casablanca lilies, Cosmos, Daffodils, Forget me nots, Jasmines, Poinsettias, Ranunculus, Stargazer lilies, Sweet peas, Tulips

Year-Round: Baby's Breath, Calla lilies, Carnations,  Gardenias, , Lily of the valley, Orchids, Roses

Even though a flower may be in season, there are still some situations that will warrant an elevated price: 1) Flowers are in more demand during specific holidays; Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc.   And some flowers are considered to be exotic so this will effect the cost of them. 

Next week we will be talking about Photographers.

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

When you walk down the aisle you want all eyes on you.  How do you do that?  By waltzing down the aisle with a drop dead gorgeous dress.  You don't want people to just say "She looks nice or "Oh, that dress looks good on her"  You want people to be "WOWED",  to be "ASTONISHED", to be "MESMORIZED"

There are so many types and styles of dresses: A-Line, Mermaid or Empire to name a few.  You have to find out which one is best for you and your body type. You want a dress that is going to complement you.  A dress that looks good on one girl may not look good on another. 

Once you figure out your body style you will then be able to decide on a style of dress that will define your figure.

A little rule of thumb:  Pear shaped figures are enhanced by A-Line dresses to take away the wider hips. Hourglass figures are enhanced by two piece or corsets.  Both of these type of dresses will draw attention to the waist.  Taller figures have an advantage because they are able to wear just about any type of dress but the empire waist dresses.  Since they are taller the empire waist dresses tend not to fall on them correctly and will look like maternity dresses.

The best piece of advice is to try on what you like.  If you like strapless dress but you have been told that it won't look good on you. "TRY IT ON AND SEE"  You might be surprised.  It may look good on you.

Next week we will be picking out Florist

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special                                                                                                                                             

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Let's start our vendor selection with the one component of your wedding that is the most important, THE FOOD,  everyone will say "how good" or "how bad" the food is at a wedding. 

The main thing to keep in mind is the time of day, which then ties in with the amount and types of food.  We have already talked about the time of day for weddings.  Once this is decided and you get to the point in planning when food is an issue.  You want to remember that the earlier the wedding the less amount of food. 

If you are having an 11am wedding you don't need to have steaks and pototaes.  Since you are doing an earlier wedding you don't need to have really heavy food maybe a mix between breakfast and lunch food.  A nice brunch menu, waffle or omelet bar, and maybe a pasta bar.  Nothing really heavy is the main thing.  So you want to make sure that you get a caterer that specialized in breakfast and brunch food.  A 2pm or 3pm wedding would not have the breakfast component but still  have a lighter feel to the reception.  Fruit and cheese, chicken fingers, salad/pasta bar.  You want to stick to a light lunch menu.

If you do anything that is later than 5pm you want to consider this as a heavy food menu.  This time for a wedding is right around dinner time so this is the reason for the increased food supply.  You want to include steaks and potatoes and heavier food.   Something a little more heartier. 

You want to always make sure that the caterer you pick allows you to sample their food.  You want to be able to see how their food tastes without the wedding being the first time.   You also want to make sure that when they cater, they make sure that the area is kept clean and it looks presentable.  There is nothing worst than being at a wedding or event and the food area is not kept clean. 

Final note: if you get a good feeling about a caterer that is usually a good sign.  If not then you know not to go with that company.

Next week we will be talking about Wedding Dress shopping.

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Last week we concentrated on finding a reception site.  This is the single most important part of the whole wedding process.  Once this part is done, most people feel that they can breathe a sigh of relief. 

The next process is choosing vendors.  This is something that can take some people no time and others find this to be the most complicated part.  There are so many vendors out there and they are going to all want to play a part in your "BIG" day.  

The biggest thing to remember abour choosing vendors is to pick someone whom YOU feel comfortable with.  Any vendor that you pick is going to be working with you throughout this joyous process.  Alot of people will go with the cheapest vendor out of the group but I always tell people you want to use someone that you feel comfortable talking to.  Someone who sees your vision and truly knows what you want, not what they want you to want.  There is a difference. 

The way I see it.  You are paying someone to come into your "BIG" day and create something that you will remember forever. Do you want that person to be someone that you don't get along with or like.?  I hope not, so keep that in mind during your search.

Next week we are going to talk about each different vendor that you will need to search for.

Happy Planning,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

So we have decided on a wedding date and time.  We now need to decite on the site.  There are numerous options available out there for every budget.

Do you want to be outside or inside?  By the ocean, or the mountains, in a hotel or a private club.  There is so much to choose from.  The main thing to consider is what you and your fiance want.  What type of feel are you'll going for.  Do you want a nice beach theme with the ocean waves crashing in the background?  Or the mountains rolling behind you with a picturesque view or a nice hotel or private club with a grand hall. 

The main thing that I tell my couples are to make sure that whatever you choose is what "YOU" want.  It doesn't matter about money or how much something cost because any of the above themes can be achieved on any budget.  You can have a wedding at a nice hotel, private club, on the beach or mountains and fit into anyones budget.  It is all about how you go about doing it and what is important to you.  If you really want a nice reception site then you might not be able to pay as much for the food or music.  It is all about what is important to "YOU".

The reception site is the most important aspect of your wedding because this is where people will be spending the most time with you and enjoying all the festivities of your special day.  So make sure that it is somewhere that speaks volumes about you and your fiance.  A place that people walk into and say "Yes, this is exactly where I imagined ______ and ________ to get married." 

Just remember "It is YOUR wedding and make sure that YOU enjoy it in a place that YOU have decided on.

I wish everyone a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year,

Shafonne Myers

 Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Hello To All,

Last week we had a discussion about bugets and what to consider when creating a budget.  So we now  have  the budget finalized.  We know how much we can spend and on what.  Soooooo.  What next?

This week, I thought that we would embark on "PLANNING", dun,dun, duh. 

This is the most scary and frustating part for EVERYONE.  But it shouldn't  be.  This should be the fun part.   Picking a venue, vendors, deciding what colors to use, what invitations, music, dresses......... there is so much to do.  This is why it is so frustating. 

My first piece of advice.  "One thing at a time"  Make a list of everything that you need to plan, prioritize it and then break it up into sections.    Only do one section at a time.  Don't move onto another section until the first is finished.  This will definitely save you alot of trouble down the road.

For the next few weeks that is how I'm going to be writing, just as you would be planning.  I will write articles in the order that you need to prioritize each thing.

So the first thing we need to plan is the Wedding Date.  Nothing else can be decided on until a date is set.  You wont' be able to pick a venue, vendors or anything else until you have a date to tell them.

Wedding Dates and Times

This is something that needs to be decided between the bride and the groom.  You both gotta be there so you want to have input from both of you.  Consider a few things:

1. Time of Year: You want to pick a time of you that you both like.  You don't want to be getting married    when it's cold outside and you both don't like cold weather.

2. Time of Day: You don't want to get married at 11 in the morning and you both don't like to get up early.

3. Day of the Week: This is a good one.  The new trend is doing a non traditional day.  Not a Saturday.  Some people are doing weekdays or Sundays.  This has proven to be good; for saving money or to just be different.

 So you have some things to think about in considering your "BIG"date and time. 

I wish everyone a Happy Holiday.

Happy Planning

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

http:www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Planning a Wedding or an Event can be the most stessful thing to do. 

From choosing the reception site, to the church, to the dress, to the music, to the cake, to who is going to be in the wedding party.  But the very first thing that you HAVE to do is: PLAN A BUDGET.

This is going to determine how much you can spend on the reception, dress, music, cake and ultimately the member sof your wedding party. 

I see so many people come into my office and have all of these elaborate ideas and then we sit down and start talking about MONEY, and they soon realize that they can't afford that huge reception with open bar, top shelf liquour and top of the line food for 300 people.  They realize that they HAVE to scale back tremendously.

Everyone has a different idea of a dream wedding.  Some want a huge lavish wedding with all the bells and whistles.  Some people want a small intimate wedding in a backyard or garden.  Whichever wedding is for you, be sure to make it a wedding that you want and are happy with.  You have to be happy with the wedding or event to truly enjoy it. 

When planning an event you want to take into consideration what is important to you.  Is it your dress, the cake, the reception, the ceremony or the food. 

Most people will spend the most money on what is the most important aspect of the wedding.  If it is the dress then you might validate spending a large amount on it because that is the most important part of the wedding.  The same for the cake, the music or anything esle.

I will offer these key pieces of advise,

                  Make sure that you:

         1. PLAN A BUDGET

         2. Make it realistic

        3. Stick to your Budget

        4. Determine what is important to you.

Happy Planning,

See you Thursday,

Shafonne Myers

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com

Hello,

Welcome to the Making Your Event Special blog page.  I would like to introduce myself.  I am Shafonne Myers and I own Making Your Event Special, a Wedding and Event Consulting Firm.

I am here to answer questions and give insight into those questions that everyone wants to know about Wedding and Event planning.

I want to start by extending my invitation to everyone to submitt questions and topics that you want answered or talked about.  Something that has come up in your planning or you've seen and want to know more about it.  I really want to help everyone out there with their answers that they may be looking for.

You can reach me with all submissions at the below email address.  I will try to get around to answering everyone's questions.

makingyoureventspecial@yahoo.com

I will be posting every Thursday and Mondays so make sure to get your questions or topics in by then so I can write about them.   Then check back and see if your question or topic got picked and get some get tips and ideas for your planning adventures.

Also visit my website to find out more about my company and what I do.

Happy Planning,

See you Monday,

Making Your Event Special

www.makingyoureventspecial.com