All About The Theme

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin

Creating a theme for your wedding or event can be extremely helpful in the planning process. Even a simple color scheme to follow can help tremendously as you try to sort through the overwhelming amount of event inspiration available. While choosing a theme could prove to be a challenge in itself, it can benefit you greatly as you travel down the long, winding road of event planning.

Themes can be simple and easily recognizable to guests sea shore themes or they can be personal and representative of the guest(s) of honor. Specifically for weddings, many couples search for a theme that is representative of their relationship. How far a theme is integrated in an event various greatly. It can be present in a small, subtle way or can encompass the entire event.

Recent industry studies have shown that that themes are taking a less subtle approach in the planning process in 2012, especially for weddings. Couples are choosing themes that encompass their entire day and captivate their guests with complementary entertainment and activities. These themes can still be representative of the couple and their relationship, but are planned in a larger scale. This challenges planners (such as ourselves) to find affordable and unique ways to create the scene for your day.

Below are some of All About Events’ favorite themes for 2012!

City of LOVE (Philadelphia or Paris)

Did you and your fiancé fall in love in the city of brotherly love? Have you always wanted to travel to Paris, the world-known city of love? Both are unique ways to display the love you and your hubby-to-be will share! Imagine saying your vows under a replica of the Eiffel Tower or in front of the LOVE Park statue. Not to mention enjoying native city cuisine with your guests.

 

 

 

 

 

Lucky in Love (Casino theme)

One of our favorite part about this theme is the never-ending possibly for catchy tag lines! You and your fiancé were “lucky to find each other in this game of life” and believe that “love is a gamble, so go all in!”….!  Companies like “High Rollers” offer all types of casino tables for your wedding or event.  Most casino have at the very least an event space which make’s for a very lively place to say your “I do’s!”

Photo by Maria Vinencia Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ringmaster (get it?! RINGmaster?!) will marry you under a big top circus tent and the reception continues in a large, open ring with contortionists and jugglers to entertain the guests. Guests can even learn how to juggle from the performers or play old-style carnival games. This type of theme allows the event to flow freely and gives you an opportunity to really interact with your guests.

Photo by ruffledblog.com

 

 

 

 

 

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Spark your Pinterest

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

Almost immediately after brides answer “yes!” to that oh-so romantic question, they begin the “fun” party of wedding planning –  searching for inspiration for their special day. Whether it be deciding on a color scheme, flowers and décor, or invitation design there are millions upon millions of websites and blogs that provide brides with every wedding detail imaginable. All you have to do is sift through the overwhelming amount of creative and unique ideas that could make your special day that much more special.

More and more, clients are coming to us with inspiration that they found on sites such as Pinterest, Style Me Pretty, or Etsy. The question we are asked as planners is “can we recreate this for my wedding?” and the answer is always YES!! These websites/blogs are fantastic tools to get the creative juices flowing as you narrow down the ideas and details you want to use to personalize your day. Here are a few tips to help you make these sites work FOR you, not work you over.

1. Create your own “inspiration board”

Inspiration boards are a visual way to gather all of your ideas into one place and work through them to find the best combination for you and for your day. This can be a cork board dedicated to your day, a virtual document, or even pictures taped to the wall! The best part about creating an inspiration board is you can pile as many ideas on it as you like, revisit them and then rule out things you really don’t need or want. The more specific and focused you become, the easier it will be for your wedding professionals to re-create exactly what you want.

Pinterest is a great tool to gather all of your inspiration into one location, as it mocks a real bulletin board. You simply pin pictures you like from websites or “re-pin” posts from other users to your personal board. You can also create different boards to organize all of the ideas you pin (if you’re an avid organizer like I am).

2. Find 3-5 sites you like and stick to them!

Take a few weeks to visit all the wedding websites and blogs you can, especially the ones that will be recommended to you by friends, family and even strangers. As you explore them, think about which ones are easiest to navigate, which ones have useful information versus stories, and how often each are updated. From there, pick 3 to 5 sites that you feel comfortable with and add them to your bookmarks. These few sites will give you more than enough inspiration to go through as you formulate ideas again and again.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for specifics

When you find an idea or detail that you LOVE  and wish to incorporate into your day, do not settle for less. Your team of wedding professionals are there to make your day exactly the way you want it, so you should feel comfortable presenting them with an idea and asking that they work with it. As planners, we will make sure that you find the best way to make all of your wedding dreams come true!

Here are a few inspiration examples from Pinterest that we have been successful in recreated for our previous couples! Make sure you follow All About Events on Pinterest for more ideas to make your day unforgettable!

These table numbers are an easy DIY project or can be purchased on ETSY.com

A great dessert station idea or can be used as a favor for any summer wedding.

A great DIY project if using silk flowers, or can be easily created by your florist!

Contact Sarah or Courtney to learn more about how we can personally help you incorporate these fabulous ideas to your own wedding!

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Hot new local wedding and event venue’s!

Posted on January 6, 2012 by admin

As a part of my job, one of the things I do to keep up to date with the industry is go out and visit new event venue’s in the Philadelphia and souroundings areas. It’s often that I am approached by a bride planning her wedding with the request for a venue that fits her criteria. Luckily I always have a venue in mind that is a perfect fit because I make it a point to tour all types of wedding and event venues in the area!

As 2011 was wrapping up, I had the opportunity to visit three event spaces that are great locations to host an event. It’s always exciting to me when I discover hot new places to recommend!

The Centerfuge – Bucks County, Pa

Between the 1940′s and the 1990′s, the Centerfuge was a training facility used for astronauts before they took off into space. The original 7 astronauts that were sent into space (John Glen, Scott Carpenter etc..) were trained at this facility to prepare for take off. When you open the gigantic doors and walk into the massive room which is now the event space, there is a Centerfuge that is larger than life. A centrifuge is a machine that swings a capsule around in a circle on the end of a long arm. The purpose is to simulate gravitational forces on a test subject. Great photo opportunities in the cockpit! I attended an event that Gene Blum from Drexelbrook has hosted along with Phyllis from Eventricity and the options for designing this space are endless. This mind blowing venue is ideal for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Sweet 16, Holiday or Corporate Event. It is also perfect for Indian weddings and ceremonies or any other large celebrations because of the extremely large open space. Contact myself or Gene Blum for more information!

Sigma Sound Stage - Philadelhpia Pa

As much as I love finding event spaces out in the suburbs, I always get excited learning about a hot new event venue in Center City! There are so many hidden secrets in the city, but this is a unique space that is now being used for events. Simga Sound Studios is a private recording studio right in the heart of the city that has opened their doors for private functions. Elizabeth Craighead from Feastivities Catering took me on a site tour back in December, and I was wowed walking into the individual recording studios and private lounges. There have been some incredible musicians who have come here to record their music. I have been working alongside Feastivities for the past month in planning the upcoming NACE event that is being held here this January. This space is great for Mitzvahs, holiday or corporate functions, weddings, and especially cocktail receptions/birthday celebrations. I just suggested Sigma Sound Stage for a 40th birthday party!

MaGerks Irish Bar & Grill -Fort Washington, Pa

Yes, you read that correctly… a steller event space inside an Irish Bar & Grill. I was brought on board to plan a corporate holiday party for a local marketing company in the area for about 100 guests. The past few years they have held their annual corporate holiday party here, but this year the CEO wanted to kick it up a notch. In our first meeting she said to me that they loved the space but because it was a back room in a bar, it needed some flare as well as company branding. In a few short weeks we turned that back room into a beautiful holiday party filled with festive decor that included the company’s logo. MaGerks is the perfect place for a casual corporate holiday party, school reunion, or 21 and older birthday celebration. MaGerks is equipped with a built-in stage for a band or DJ, two large bars, wall to wall plasma tv’s, and plenty of room for mingling and dancing. The corporate holiday party was a huge success in this venue, and I would suggest that the jumbo cheese steak egg rolls are included on the menu!

These are my top picks for hot new venue’s 0f 2012! Courtney and I here at All About Events would love to help you plan and execute your event at any of these locations. Or if your in need of other unique venue recommendations, just ask!

Cheers to all of the events in 2012!

Sarah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Weather and Weddings

Posted on September 20, 2011 by admin

I often meet with couples in the early stages of their planning process, and they tell me they want to have an outdoor ceremony or reception. Most common outdoor ceremonies would be on a beach or in a garden, and lately we have been planning a lot of tent receptions! We absolutely love the the ideas of both, but there is always a dreaded topic I feel the need to discuss with these couples from the start. Any time we plan for a ceremony or reception outside, we know having a “Plan B” is crucial to the events success. As perfect as the plans may be for the wedding day, they can all be changed in a second if inclement weather rolls in. Mother Nature invites herself to the weddings sometimes.

The weather leading up to our tent wedding on the 10th of September consisted of heavy rain almost every day that week. Mid week that week myself and the caterer Gene Blum from Drexelbrook Catering went to check on the tent and grounds around it. This is what we walked into….

Luckily because we are both prepared for almost anything unexpected, we acted quickly and developed a plan that would allow this wedding to still take place on grounds that were at this point submerged under water.


Starting the morning before the wedding, we had contractor Bob Morrison come to the site to built a safe and sterdy walk way which measured over 100 feet long so guests and the stunning bride in her while dress could walk from the Historic house at Graeme Park to their wedding reception under a beautifully lit (and dry) tent.

The reception tent had flooring installed weeks before which was a part of the original plan so once everyone arrived to the celebration, the wet grounds were quickly forgotten about. The tent and couple glowed throughout the wonderful evening, and the guests packed the dance floor. Luckily the rainy weather did not put a damper on this couples wedding day!

The following week we drove to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware to execute the wedding of Steve and Nina. For over a year now this bride has been talking about having their ceremony take place on the beach. The forecast leading up to the week only showed sun and warm weather so our “Plan B” location for the ceremony was moved to the back burner. Approximitaly 20 minutes before the start of their beach ceremony last weekend, grey clouds rolled in and drops of rain started to fall from the sky. The drizzle was still light so I went to the bride as she and the groom have the final say in what they would like to this situation. They both seperatly said that they came to get married on the beach and they were both still game.  The rain picked up as the ceremony progressed, but anyone watching the bride and groom didn’t notice a drop. These two were so fixated on each other and the vows they were exchanging, witnessing this moment made the falling rain unnoticeable.

We were very happy the this bride and groom faced the rainy weather because the pictures they got on the beach during and after the ceremony are priceless! While weather needs to be thought about, discussed, and planned for, do not let it dictate the dream outdoor wedding you are planning. Both of these brides have proven that as long as you have love and each other, weather is the last thing that is going to mess with your day!

All About Events

 

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1st Annual Fallen Officer’s Gala: About The Event

Posted on August 6, 2011 by admin

The 1st Annual F.O.P. Fallen Officer’s Gala

Benefiting The Survivor’s Fund

Thie 1st Annual F.O.P. Fallen Officer’s Gala will be held November 26th, 2011 from 5:00pm – 10:00pm at Eakin’s Oval (at the foot of the Philadelphia Art Museum steps).  This will be a 5 hour tented gala, which will of course be heated, that will feature cuisine by Drexelbrook Catering, live entertainment provided by The Sid Miller Band of Brandywine Valley Talent, and an open bar.

This year’s theme will be the roaring twenties and will focus on commemorating all of Philadelphia’s fallen officers with an emphasis on the heroes of that decade. The gala is being produced by the leader’s of the Philadelphia event industry to assist The F.O.P. Lodge #5 in their continual effort to replenish and increase The Survivor’s Fund, to pay tribute to those who have given their lives to protect the citizens of Philadelphia, and to show our support to the officer’s who are currently on the streets of Philadelphia every day ensuring our safety.

The Survivor’s Fund was established by The F.O.P. Lodge #5 to provide for the families of Philadelphia’s fallen officer’s.  The fund allows the F.O.P. to support these families both financially and emotionally from the moment tragedy occurs onwards throughout the rest of their lives, serving as a constant reminder that their loss was not unnoticed or unappreciated.

Please come out for an incredible evening of dinner and dancing in the heart of Philadelphia, and show your support for our The Philadelphia Police Department’s heroes.

Current Sponsors

All About Events
Cutting Edge Entertainment
Drexelbrook Catering
Eventions Productions
EventQuip
F.O.P Lodge #5
Gene Blum ~ Director of Public Relations
Kevin York Photography
Opaque White Design
Party Rental LTD
The Fairmount Park Commission
VideoOne Productions

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1st Annual Fallen Officer’s Gala: We Need Your Help!

Posted on June 21, 2011 by admin

All About Events is extremely excited to announce our upcoming charity event, The 1st Annual F.O.P. Fallen Officer’s Gala. This idea was conceptualized many months, ago and  we are ecstatic to see it finally coming to life! We have a fantastic team of  Philadelphia event professionals on board to make this an unforgettable kick-of to an incredible annual fundraiser.

Today we would like to thank Stephanie Wells – owner and graphic designer for Opaque White Design -  who has been generous enough to donate her time, creativity, and design expertise to provide us with three awesome logo options for this event. We love them all, and are having a really difficult time choosing which logo to use. Please take a moment to look at the three options, and vote on which is your favorite. You can vote by commenting at the bottom of the blog post, or by emailing or calling myself or Sarah. Thanks so much for your help! If you have time be sure to check out some more of Stephanie’s incredible work here!

Option 1Philadelphia Police Badge Logo

Option 2

Thin Blue Line LogoOption 3

Liberty Bell Philadelphia logo

 

Tickets can be purchased for a discounted price through June 30th at http://fopgalapresale-auto.eventbrite.com/

 

We hope you will come out and support this fantastic cause for those who gave everything to support and protect us!

 

-Renee McIntyre

Logo Design ~ Stephanie Wells ~ Opaque White Design

www.allaboutevents.us

 

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Some New Ideas for Father’s Day in Philadelphia!

Posted on June 9, 2011 by admin

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~Clarence Budington Kelland

 

It’s time for Father’s Day again!  Some may find Mother’s Day to be more challenging to find a great gift and to create the perfect day, knowing that Dad would be content with a few beers, pizza, and watching the game. . . so I am challenging you!  Just because Dad would be content with that, doesn’t mean he wouldn’t appreciate something more!  This year do something creative and special that he can really enjoy, he deserves it :) Don’t worry! If you are sitting there stumped, here are some ideas we have put together for great gifts that he hasn’t seen a thousand times, and some things going on in the Philadelphia area next weekend.

First we’d like to share some gifts we have researched that we think Dad will love.

  • Get him something personalized from Shutterfly.com.  Turn your photos into anything you can think of.  Of course they have the basic cards and stationary, but there are many other unique options to be discovered on this great site.  Does your Dad love to play poker. . . get your pictures printed on a deck of cards, computer genius. . .slap your face onto a mouse pad. You can even get a decal of yourself or his grand kids to put on the wall of his man cave:)

Fathead of yourself

  • Has your Dad always longed for fame?  If so, he will love our next gift idea.  WeMakeTheNews.com will create a custom framed personalized newspaper article.  All you have to do is give them a few pictures and some information, and they handle all the writing and design.  It is sure to be a gift that will be a great conversational piece over the years, and each time it comes up Dad will think of you.

Make Your Own Newspaper

  • If your father is a little more low key, maybe he would just enjoy some personalized wall art from www.photowow.com featuring himself, his kids, or his grand kids.  “Turn your cherished memories into marvelous masterpieces”.  These works of art are sure to get some attention.  The pictures are created on canvas, and there are many different options and styles to choose from. Below is just one example of the incredible products they can produce.

Warhol Style Picture

  • And now for the busy career dad who is always rushing out the door but has a hard time getting it all together in the morning.  Get him the Smart Finder 4 – in 1.  You can use this gadget to find your keys, glasses, wallet, remote control, etc.  You can find this time saving gadget on www.cgets.com.

Object Locator

  • A gift certificate for a day out on the golf course with some buddies.  If you would like to make it a gift from the family, add in some new golf clubs or some items from www.pebblebeach.com . . . OR if you are really looking to hit a home run send him to play at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the world’s great golf venue’s that was recently voted #1 on the list of “Tour Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek.  They are running a special for every 2 night stay that is booked and completed by August 31st they will give Dad a free room upgrade.  Very cool!

Pebble Beach Golf Course

So now you have given Dad his amazingly cool gift, which took all of five minutes,what should you do for the rest of day??  Here are a few things going on in the Philadelphia area for Father’s Day Weekend.

If there is nothing more your Dad enjoys then a relaxing night at home, why not find some ways to make it special.  Get some of your favorite pictures throughout the years blown up at your local staples or kinkos and place them around the yard with some other nice touches, then serve his favorite meal with the family outside.  For bonus points have a cold case of his favorite beer on hand.

You could also start your Father’s Day festivities early by attending The Kimmel Center’s eighth annual Summer Solstice Celebration which will feature a full 14 hours of entertainment to represent the many different variations of entertainment available throughout the versatile city of Philadelphia.  The party starts at 12:00pm on Saturday June 18th, 2011 – this is the longest day of the year; hence the event being titled The Summer Solstice Celebration – and continues until 2:00am on Father’s Day, June 19th, 2011. The festival will include family-friendly programs that will feature classical performers, dancing, cabaret, delicious foods, and music from around the world. It will also showcase variety performers for your families entertainment, in addition to various entertaining activities. For a complete list of the days scheduled events please visit http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/summer-solstice11.php. If you make it to this fantastic event, we welcome you to share your pictures with us.

If your Dad is a lover of the sea take him aboard the Philadelphia Belle – formerly The Mississippi Belle II, a southern riverboat casino that pulled into Philadelphia to be renovated last year. The boat was reopened after renovations in November of 2010, and is a Philadelphia site worth seeing! On Father’s Day The Philadelphia Belle will be out to sea for a Brunch cruise, during which all Father’s on board will receive a complimentary beer or bloody mary.  To book a Father’s Day cruise on the Philadelphia Belle click here.

The Philadelphia Belle

Photo Credit: Jeff Reeder Photography

An early Father’s Day treat for the beer loving father could be tickets to The Philadelphia Beer Experience – The South Philly Edition at The Pub on Passayunk East. This Philadelphia Beer Experience walking tour is a way for people to experience all of the best places to grab a beer, without having to adventure out on their own. Attendees get to visit all of South Philly’s best bars, in addition to the chance to win some great prizes at the end of the tour. For more information on this tour click here.

Here are just a few ideas to get you started on making next weekend a Father’s Day to remember.  There are tons of options in the Philadelphia area, and if you type in the right words Google will show you them all :wink: .  “What did I get my Dad for Father’s Day?” you might be wondering, well you’ll just have to wait to find out, because of course he is my number one reader.  Happy Father’s Day Dad!

-Renee McIntyre

www.allaboutevents.us

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And Now. . .Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Program

Posted on April 5, 2011 by admin

Finally… we are back in action!

Philadelphia Event Professionals Renee McIntyre & Sarah Morrison

I can’t believe it is already June! They say time flies when you’re having fun… and that is exactly what we have been having at the All About Events office :wink: . The past six months have been a whirlwind of generating ideas, and exciting new adventures.

Over the last couple of years, Sarah and I have gotten to know one another, and become familiar with one another’s business models as well.  We would frequently get together to discuss what was or wasn’t working well for our businesses, industry trends, all the while learning from each others abilities and experiences.  In late 2010 it became apparent that we could greatly advance in our careers if we were to work together; so in January of 2011 I gave up my company – Events by Monroe – to join Sarah’s team at All About Events.  Although it was a very emotional decision, it was made easier knowing I was embarking on an exciting new journey to join another fantastic event professional who shares my aspirations, passions, and most importantly my business ethics.

Our first month together was spent becoming acclimated with one  another’s work methods, finding a comfortable level of balance and over all, finding “our groove”.

In February we began sharing the exciting news with our industry peers about our decision to join forces, while getting our new office together and open for business.  In the months leading up to today, we had been busy little bees conceptualizing our logo, getting new business cards designed, working with our web designer to decide what our new site would look like and of course, plenty of client meetings, events, and weddings.

Philadelphia Event Planner Logo

As readers of my old blog may know, I have a few passions in life; writing, event planning, learning about new customs and cultures, the City of Philadelphia, and satisfying my creative appetite. Blogging allows me to bring all of these passions to life in one space which – coupled with my obsession to keep things organized – makes me a blogging addict.  It has been really challenging for me not to blog over the last several months while we were waiting for our site to come together because I had to keep contained so many new ideas flying around inside my head on a sometimes minute to minute basis. You can imagine how excited I am to have our new blog ready to go AND to have twice as many potential readers now that I am working with Sarah :mrgreen: .

I will be bringing some of the series from my old blog over to this one, and we will also be starting some new series. For all of you readers who are looking to get in shape this summer, or before your next big event, we have teamed up with Vertex Fitness to provide weekly tips on working out, eating healthy, and getting your body to look and feel the way you want. We are also working on finding a travel agent to team up with that can keep all of our readers up to date on the newest and hottest spots to travel or honeymoon at.  Of course we will also continue to blog about all of our recent events, as well as the latest and greatest advancements in the event industry.

As you can probably tell, I’m super excited about all of the recent changes we’ve made. I look forward to interacting with all of you – industry partners and clients alike – on our blog, and hope you enjoy all of the exciting and helpful content we will be adding.

Have a great day!

- Renee McIntyre

Photo Credit: Erin Duffy Photography

Logo Design: Opaque White Design

www.allaboutevents.us

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