Although there may never be an end to the paper trial, much of today’s wedding planning business is done virtually. Contracts and proposal are being sent via email, scanned back, and then saved in a wedding file rather than printed out and placed in the overflowing wedding binder. The virtual wedding file creates a platform where you can easily access all the information you need from your computer or even your phone. This may seem like a scary notion to those of us who have always organized our lives in the form of print-outs and taking hand-written notes!

The advantage of having all of your wedding information at your finger tips is that it can be accessed from almost anywhere and let’s face it, sometimes you just need to get a bit of planning done at work!

At All About Events, we have found (and begun using!) three online wedding planning tools that can make it a bit easier for those of us who might miss the color coded, divider filled, planning binder… namely me.

 Mint.com (www.mint.com)

Now, don’t let this application fool you – it will not manage your wedding budget like we will here at AAE as it will not tell you when balances are due and how much you owe each vendor. However, it will help you see your wedding budget alongside your “everything else” budget. Mint combines all of your accounts (savings, checking, credit cards, student loans, investments, you name it!) and gives you a comprehensive overview of your financial life. You are able to create budgets, including a wedding budget, and then tag expenditures so they fall under a specific budget. Mint even sends you alerts when accounts are low or you have overspent on a certain budget. This online tool can be used on your computer or downloaded to your phone as an app.

Remember the Milk (www.rememberthemilk.com)

Raise your hand if you constantly forget things you just reminded yourself to do – ME! No matter how many post-it notes I have, I always seem to forget something. Well, Remember the Milk has solved that problem! This is a virtual to-do list but on steroids. You can create multiple to-do lists and add tasks that need to be completed today, tomorrow, or three months from now. You can also connect RTM to your calendar and email so it will send alerts when tasks are to be completed. Again, RTM can be used on you computer or as an app.

All Seated (www.allseated.com)

This online tool is my favorite by far (and it has a lot to do with the super cute penguins who serve as site guides). Seating arrangements are one of the most time consuming and frustrating aspects of event planning. Not to mention the less than appealing wall décor created by posterboards and post-its as you attempt to place your guests in their seats. All Seated allows you to upload your guest list, manage RSVPs and design a floor plan to seat your guests where you would like. All easily adjustable with the click of a mouse. You can view/print reports and invite others to share in the seating chart fun with you (planners, caterers, future Mother-In-Laws, etc.).

Happy Planning! ~ Courtney 

Thoughts of your honeymoon should illicit a relaxing “ahhhhhhhhh” not a screaming “AHHHHHH!” Here are a few quick tips to make sure your enjoying your honeymoon, not stressing about it.

1. Call your credit card company and let them know you will be traveling.

Make sure you call, even if you are not traveling out of the country. With fraud and identity theft being the highest it’s ever been, credit card company may freeze your account if they see spending in foreign or tropical area’s. Most accounts are frozen until the card company speaks with you to confirm the purchases, but if you cannot be reached because of your destination than this can cause major issues.

2. Research driving guidelines and regulations before you leave.

If you plan on renting a car during your vacation, double-check the driving laws and requirements in the specific county/region/city. One information source may tell you that you will only need your state driver’s license to operate a vehicle while visiting while in reality, you need to apply for a temporary license which has become more frequent in some counties. It’s always best to familiarize yourself with these laws before you travel anyway so take a few hours to do your research! Same goes for listing the address and contact information for the nearest hospitals and police stations to where you are staying.

3. Stop newspaper deliveries and ask a family member or neighbor to pick up the mail and check on your home.

News papers piling up in the driveway and overflowing mail is the number one sign that you are traveling. Even if your travels have you away for just a week, it is important to make plans to have mail, papers, and packages picked up or stopped so those passerby’s can’t tell your home is unattended. In addition, ask trusted neighbor to check on your house every few days to make sure there was no major flooding after a storm and to water your plants!

4. Make copies of EVERYTHING!

And make a more than one! If you happen to misplace your passport or credit card or God forbid they are stolen, it is important to have copies for reference. It is smart to put multiple copies of your documents in different locations so you will have another copy to go to if something happens. It doesn’t hurt to mention here the importance of utilizing the hotel safes during your stay. Just set a reminder to check the safe before checking out of the hotel! If your documents are stolen, Put out a fraud alert. Just call one of these credit-reporting agencies. When you place a fraud alert, the agency you contacted reports it to the others. Experian – 1-888-397-3742 or Equifax – 1-888-766-0008.

• Set your lights on timers.

Timers are relatively inexpensive and connect right to the wall outlet and your light plug (for floor and table lamps). This will save you the trouble of asking someone to check in on your house every night. The timers can be set to stay on all night, just a few hours during dinner time, early evening, or in the morning.

Safe Travels from All About Events – www.allaboutevents.us

Sarah and I have had quite a year at All About Events and we are very excited for what 2013 has in store. As we reflect back on 2012, we wanted to share some tips and tricks for those planning a wedding in the New Year. Here is our 2012 Planning COUNTDOWN!

10. Call anyone BUT the bride!
Make sure you pass along the wedding day timeline to your bridal party and family members well in advance so they can plan accordingly. If you have a few forgetful individuals (or those who will ask questions regardless of how many times you told them) consider creating a pamphlet to give out to the bridal party and VIPs. This should include the day-of schedule, locations and addresses, and most importantly phone numbers! There is no reason for a bridal party member to call and ask you where they should be at what time. If they have a question direct them to your coordinator, Best Man, Maid of Honor, anyone but you!

9. Don’t cut corners.
The biggest mistake you can make is trying to save money in areas that deserve the most attention – venue, photography, menu, entertainment…or whatever aspect is most important to you. We cannot stress enough how important it to spend the money here, even if it means saving in other areas. Example: If you are having a tented wedding for 200 guests and you are offered a tent option that max’s at that amount but it is in your budget… go bigger! You will be happier and so will your guests.

8. To give or not to give?
We often see the bride or Mother of the Bride paying for the bridesmaids and VIP women to have their hair and make-up done as their gift for being a part of the wedding. This is an extremely generous gift as these services are not inexpensive and the bill can rack up quickly. We recommend offering to pay for one service and letting the ladies choose whether they want to pay for the other. We also recommend covering the cost of hair, as many brides want the girls to look uniform in a hair style and some ladies would rather do their own make-up. Your maids will be thrilled that you offered to pay for one service, so don’t dip into your honeymoon fund to pay for both.

7. DIY escort and place cards
If you decide to create the escort/place cards yourself they should be in alphabetical order when you are done, not organized by table number. It will take your guests too much time to find their name if they are organized by table. Plus, your wedding planner or catering director will appreciate the time you took to put them in proper order, as we end up alphabetizing the cards which takes us away from setting up.

6. Presentation Showers are the way to go
Although this may be an out-of-the-box concept for those traditional brides and older women guests, presentation showers are becoming more popular in bridal shower planning. For those who are unfamiliar, a presentation shower differs from a traditional bridal shower because guests bring their presents unwrapped to be displayed for the bride. The bride then moves around the room and admires her gifts (while thanking the guests individually as she moves through) as opposed to sitting in a chair and opening each gift in front of the guests. The list of positives are endless: it creates a more free-flowing and welcoming atmosphere for your guests, takes some of the pressure off you as the Guest of Honor if you don’t like the spotlight, there is no long list of gifts and who bought them (each present is tagged with the givers name), and it cuts down on time!

5. Less is always more
The less you have to take home at the end of the night, the better.  Although everyone loves the personal touches you integrate into your wedding and purchasing décor items can sometimes save on the budget, it may be more hassle after the wedding. Unless you have a later use for 24 vases of various sizes, 12 mirror mats, and 100 wallet size picture frames that your guests didn’t know they could take home, consider renting or purchasing double-duty favors.

4. Don’t choose a wedding professional based on budget!
Just because you have set a budget for your big day and have a general idea of how much you want to spend on each of your professionals, do not pigeon hole yourself into your budget. If you find a photographer that you absolutely love, don’t be put off by their starting package rates or the price the originally quote you. There is always a way to work with your budget. If you discuss how much you were thinking to spend, most professionals are happy to work with you.

3. Surprise your guests
We’ve seen a lot of fun ways to surprise your guests over the years. Have your catering staff flood the dance floor butlering mini cups of Rita’s Water Ice at the end of a summer tented reception! Or as your guests leave the reception have a candy bar, gourmet popcorn bar, or our signature “Taste of Philly Station” set up so they can fill a bag of goodies to enjoy at home or back at the hotel. Does your ballroom have ‘airwalls’ or pipe and drape? Have a grand revel of a dessert display shortly after cake cutting.

2. It’s never too late to change professionals!
There is no such thing as too late when you are choosing your wedding professionals months in advance. Just because your wedding date is drawing near, don’t stay with a professional who is not working out. If you are not happy with your hair after three trials, go to another stylist! There is no reason for you to stress about a professional you are not totally comfortable with on your wedding day.

1. THIS IS YOUR DAY, EXPERIENCE IT!
We can not stress this enough at All About Events and why we encourage every couple to work with a planner/coordinator, even if it’s not us! You shouldn’t be concerned about the cake being in the right spot, if the band shows up late, or worried that guests will miss their transportation to the reception. This is the day you have been waiting months or even years for, experience every moment of it.

Happy Planning and Happy New Year! ~ Sarah & Courtney

1. “Enjoy your engagement!” – The love of your life got on one knee flashed a ring that took your breath away. Take a week or two to enjoy that moment and to celebrate with your fiancé and family before lining up venue appointments and price shopping the next morning. There are a few important steps that should be taken before you get started, so don’t rush out the door!

2. “Write it down” – Having an accurate count of how many guests you are inviting to the wedding is extremely important before going to see wedding venues. Take time to write out your guest list, including the lists from both sets of parents. You may be surprised to see the number you had estimated is not the number that you end up with once the list is written out.

3. “Include the groom” – Sometimes a women’s instinct is to turn to her mom or maid of honor for planning help, but don’t forget about your other half! Ask your fiancé what aspects of the planning are important to him and let him have input in those decisions. If he isn’t interested in any particular planning aspect, ask for his opinion in selecting the entertainment, the photographer, or the dinner menu. The more you can do together the better so the wedding reflects you both.

4. “Choose a larger venue” – Every venue has a capacity of how many guest fit inside their ballroom. If your guest list is around 200, look for a venue that fits 225-250. If you are planning on booking a 10 piece band or want a larger dance floor, discuss these items with the venue director or your planner in advance as they take up more space inside a room. Along the same lines, if you have 200 guests and the ballroom seats 500, the space may be too large so talk to your planner about what you can do to help fill extra space (i.e. photo booth, large dessert display, pipe and drape).

5. “Hold off on asking your bridal party” – Don’t jump the gun by asking your bridal party to be in your wedding before you have picked a date and booked the venue. The date, time of year, and location may be a factor in whether or not a friend can commit to being a part of the wedding so secure the date and location first, then find a creative way of asking your friend and family to be a part of your bridal party.

6. “Steer clear of becoming a Bridezilla” – I cringe every time I watch the reality TV show “Bridezilla”. Be gracious throughout every aspect of the planning, it will make the process stress free and enjoyable for everyone involved. Be sure to discuss a comfortable budget with your parents, do not demand money or show them expensive figures without having an idea of what they are offering to spend. Do not boss your bridesmaid around or expect too much out of them, and hire a planner if the details become overwhelming! Wedding planners can take a ton of the weight off your shoulders and they act as the fairy Godmother every bride needs throughout the planning process and on the wedding day.

7. “Develop a budget” – This can be the scariest part of the process but it is crucial to develop a budget before getting started. You can find helpful budget tools online, or for a more personal experience take advantage of All About Event’s Budget Workbook. There are over a dozen aspects of the wedding to budget for, so have the conversation with both sets of parents to see what everyone is willing to contribute or pay for. Now-a-days, it is common for couples to contribute financially to their own weddings one way or another.

Congratulations and Happy Planning! For more tips and advice, visit www.AllAboutEvents.us.

Now I may be partial but next to the dress, I think that the cake makes an impression and statement about the wedding and the couple that can be just as important. The cake is a singular, visual display that relies on its own beauty (AND taste) to make it’s first and lasting impression on every guest at your wedding. Don’t skim over this very important decision for your most important day.

Let me quickly run down a few important points in starting this process. And keep in mind, this should be FUN….it’s cake after all! Find a reputable, professional cake designer. As with any decision for your wedding, finding a company that fits who you are is a great first step. Check out their portfolio. Are their cakes creative, neat, and professional looking? If so, call to set up an appointment. Some bakeries may charge for this, but most offer complimentary tastings. This is your opportunity to ask questions. What ingredients do they use? How do they bake their cakes? When do they bake their cakes? If you want a cake that is as delicious as it is beautiful, be sure to also research what past clients have said about their cakes in reviews online.

About design. Let your cake designer know the things you like, and don’t like. Give some explanations as to the overall style & feel you’re going with for the wedding. Then let your cake designer go to work and create a unique cake that fits you perfectly. You didn’t pick a dress out of a book, but rather because when you slipped it on it was perfect for you. So let your cake designer create a look that is equally as perfect.

Okay, there are lots of other checklist items for the cake, but flavor & design are the ones that should make the cake process a fun one, so be sure it is.

With most decisions about your wedding, there are current trends that can push you (or scare you) in one direction or another. Different tier heights are popular, and we love it! Having a tier taller than the others, or a tier shorter than the others, or both, creates interest and draws ones attention to the cake. It can create a fun look, or create elegance and elongate the cake.

We’ve also been seeing ruffles. Always sweet & romantic. Ruffles horizontally, ruffles vertically, and ruffles flowing from all directions. This look is often influenced from the brides dress. If the dress is soft & romantic, pulling that feel onto the cake is a great way to create an overall style to the wedding. But don’t let trends fool you into what you chose. Be sure you know what you like, and trust your instincts.

And listen, be sure to eat a slice of cake at the wedding. Talk to your caterer or venue about how the cake is served. Some venues box it all up for your guests to take home. Some serve it as the dessert. Or a combination of both is often an option. The cake should be something your guests leave talking about, just like the dress. So whether the guests get to take some home or are served a slice at the reception, let them ALL eat cake!

Bridal showers originated back in the 1890′s when six bridesmaids decided to shower their friend with gifts of things she needed for her home so that she and her fiance could afford to pay for their wedding. This was a simple gesture that turned out to be one of the most practiced traditions that takes place before a wedding.

Today, showers are hosted by the bridesmaids and are as grand as ever. Invited to the shower is a list of women who are close to the bride. When the day of the shower arrives, the bride walks into a room with a cascading tower of purple and white wrapped gifts from Bed Bath & Beyond for her to open. As this tradition has grown, so has the list of women who are invited, and in turn, the amount of gifts a bride is showered with has increased tremendously.  Because of the overwhelming amount of gifts the bride receives, showers can be in the upwards of 3-5 hours as it is custom to open each gift and thank each guest.

Presentation Showers are considered the “new age” way of hosting a bridal shower. Guests are asked to bring their gift unwrapped with the exception of a bow so the gifts can easily be taken out of the box and displayed on tables and shelves for the bride to see. A name card is placed with each gift so that recognition can be given to the guest that brought the gift. When it is time for the bride to be presented with her gifts, she walks up to the beautiful display and because of the name cards, has the opportunity to still thank each guest. The presentation replaces the custom of opening each gift, but it leaves more time for the the bride to enjoy playing fun “bridal shower” themed games with her guests.

The girls of All About Events planned and produced this shower pictured above. Sarah owns the shelves and delivered them to Rivercrest Country Club the morning of the shower. Courtney ran the “gift check in” as guests arrived, and the bridesmaids took the checked in gifts and put them out on the display shelves. When the bride walked the room, the first thing she did was gasp at all of her gifts on display.

For more information on presentation showers produced by All About Events, please contact Sarah Morrison at 267-825-4248 or Sarah@allaboutevents.us.

Earlier this month, the anticipated nuptials of Kirby and Joe took place on a gorgeous fall day. After almost a full year of planning with All About Events, an all-star team of wedding professionals came together to make this a flawless day for the couple. Their team of wedding professionals included Rachel Beck Photography, Branded Productions, J Scott Catering, and Robertson Flowers.

Kirby and Joe tied the knot at St. Aloysius in Pottstown, PA and continued the celebration at the Phoenixville Foundry. The Foundry is a truly unique venue; with its modern-industrial feel, high ceilings and jaw dropping chandlers. The romantic fall decor looked out of this world inside the Foundry.

Candy Apple place cards served a dual purpose as at tasty favor for guests and those with a sweet tooth stocked up on fall-themed candy as they left the reception.

From the cake to the card catcher, Kirby and Joe’s purple and orange color scheme ran throughout the reception. Even the flower girl and ring bearer got to rock purple!

The space overall looked warm and inviting. It was easy to see that the guests felt at home and were honored to a part of Kirby and Joe’s special day. So was All About Events!

~ Happy Planning! Sarah and Courtney

267.627.2525 ~ www.allaboutevents.us

Your wedding day is going to fly by with the blink of an eye– trust us, we do this every weekend! Often we notice our couples spending 90% of their time and money planning the reception while putting almost no thought into planning their ceremony. Yes….ceremonies should be planned too! Wedding ceremonies held at a Catholic church are traditionally very long and are filled with readings and religious hymns. But those of you who have been to ceremonies outside of the church may notice how quick they are. Sometimes it seems as soon as the bride is down the aisle, the couple is walking back as husband and wife. Below are seven of our favorite suggestions to beef up your wedding ceremony!

“Tie the Knot” with your guests: Pass out pieces of ribbon or string to your guests, have them line up and individually tie the string around you and your fiancé’s wrists. Guests offer advise and wishes of love as they tie the string around the bride and grooms wrists’. Your guests will feel honored to be a part of your ceremony (and saves you for doing a reciving line!) – Offbeat Bride (http://offbeatbride.com/2012/10/string-tying-ceremony)

Plant A Tree: If you are having your wedding on family property or the site of your future home, what a beautiful way to literally watch your love grow! How sweet it would be to sit under that tree with your children and grandchildren down the road?

Readings from friends and family: Aside from any religious readings that may be taking place during your ceremony, ask those closest to you (perhaps those who didn’t make it into the bridal party) to recite your favorite poems or reading.

Love Revival Box: You and your fiancé write each other love letters the night before your wedding expressing how you feel at that moment and how excited you are to be married to one another in a few short hours. Instead of exchanging these notes the next day, plan to lock them in a box along with a bottle of wine during the ceremony. If the road gets rocky in the future, open the box, drink the wine and remind each other of the love you shared. If your lucky, you will never need to open the box!

Unity Marbles: Similar to the unity candle or sand blending traditions, you and your hubby blend marbles into a bowl together. You can also ask the bridal party, family members, or even all the guests to grab a marble an join it as it symbolizes the blending of families.

You Are Dismissed: Really trying to find a way around the whole receiving line? Try dismissing your guests one by one out of their seats! Guests will feel honored that you are taking the time to speak to each of them and will be thankful that they don’t have to wait in a long line.

Who wears the pants?: Make it known that you and your man are truly partners in this marriage and have “pants cutting” portion of your ceremony. This symbolizes the shared responsibility and power in the relationship.

We hope this romantic and fun idea’s help you add some personality to your wedding that will always be remembered by you and your guests.