The Wedding Wand

To Do's for I Do's!

2012-02-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

You’re ENGAGED!!!!!!!!! Tears, hugs & kisses!! Then you look down at the perfect ring and suddenly can’t quiet the question, “Now What?” We’ve made a brief but VERY important list of “To do’s” before you say that life changing “I do!”

1. Pick up the phone!! First rule after he pops the question, PICK UP THE PHONE!! Call your friends and family BEFORE you post your new bling onto Facebook! Trust me! The people closest to you will appreciate it! They will not be happy if they find out through Facebook or the grapevine.

2. Ring a Ling!! It’s important that you get your ring sized and insured right away. The brides that don’t do this find that they have lost the very ring that he proposed with and they can’t do anything about it!

3. Get a Wedding Planner! And No, I don’t mean one like FRAAANCK’ from Father of the Bride!! I’m referring to that awesome app on your iPhone or the one you can order right online to keep you organized!

4. Don’t be late to set a date!! People will bug you about this! You don’t have to set an exact date, but an answer like “early Spring” or “next Fall” will do!

5. Size Matters!!! It is important to outline the size of your wedding and you must talk to your parents before doing so. Ask them for an ideal list and take it from there. Without an idea of size, you can’t determine a budget, which means you can’t even start dreaming realistically (oxy-moron) without knowing how to dream!

Place Cards Complacent!!

2012-01-31T12:35:00.000-08:00

For years, brides have set up a 6 foot table with traditional, folding, stand up place cards. Really girls? BORING!!!

We are women, and MUCH more creative then that!!! The small things are what make your wedding memorable! And the place cards are the FIRST thing your guests see when they arrive. Shouldn't this make a statement? Don't you think your guests deserve a little more of a "wow factor" then that? I'd say so!

If you are doing a beach theme and you want to keep your guests "ooing and ahhing" take a look at these beach chairs in the sand or the sand dollars!!!

Flower Anyone??? How about your Spring wedding has flower place cards sprouting from fresh green grass?

And last but definitely not least, the "kill two birds with one stone" idea of doubling your place cards as your favor! This rustic themed wedding did maple syrup and place cards as one! We love it!

So when you sit down to give your guests a seat, remember, do it in style!!!

Bridal Shows- Tricks of the Trade!

2012-01-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

Bridal shows are something each and every bride should experience!! They can be somewhat overwhelming so that's why we decided to give you tips on attending!

Be Picky!! Don't just attend the first free bridal show! Usually the ones that cost money and that are more on the small side can be better then the huge "free for all" shows. The vendors can sometimes be more qualified at boutique bridal shows then those that are at big convention centers. These shows are more intimate and are great for first time bridal show brides. It will give you experience and be less chaotic.

Create a Seperate Email! Before going to the show, start a new email account that is strictly for wedding information!! During your walk through at the shows, the vendors will ask for your email and then send you information. In doing this, you will be more organized.

Bring a Friend! You may want to consider bringing your groom, maid of honor or mom. It's good to have someone to bounce ideas off of, as well as be there to help you with all the goodies that you will get.

What to Bring? Bring a pen and some paper. You may find a dress designer that you never heard of during the fashion show or come up with an idea that you didn't think of earlier. When you get home you can review all of your notes to help you with the planning!

Visit as Many Vendors as Possible! Certain shows may have a scavenger hunt where you win something if you get all of your vendors stamped,but others may not require you to see every vendor. It is in your best interest to see them all!! Each vendor has something to share and great ideas! If you visit their booth on the day of the show they may offer a bridal show discount.

Expect a good time! If you go with the right attitude and a level of expectation, it should be a great time!! Wear comfortable shoes for walking and talk to other brides, it may get you some great ideas and even new friends! A big plus? You get to taste some delicious food and yummy cake!

We hope to see you at the next show!

Our Next Shows Include:

1/29/2012- 12:00 noon - 3 pm
Embassy Suites Hunt Valley

2/25/2012- 12:00 noon - 4 pm
Pier 5 - A Harbor Magic Hotel

3/11/2012 - 1:00 pm -4pm
Oxon Hill Manor

From Shabby Chic.....to Sexy and Sleek

2012-01-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

Many brides are looking for
inspiration and are searching for the answer to “what is cutting edge?” The
wedding themes over the past few years have evolved to both “sleek and modern”
or have gone backwards with time to a very “rustic and simple” feel. At Party Plus, we’ve perfected the two
looks!
In October we participated in a
styled shoot with some of the wedding extraordinaires at Bayside Bride. The setting- an old barn at Richardson’s Farm
that was turned into a whimsical space with twinkle lights dripping from the
ceiling and lanterns that kept it fun and up to date. The tables were dressed in pure white linens,
and at the center of each table was a gorgeous bright orange pumpkin that was
dug out to house the florals that represented every color of fall. On the back

of each chivari chair were shiny red apples that hung like a banner from one
side to the other, adding a country impression. There were also fresh cut logs
that stood in as pedestals for the delicious pies that took the place of a
traditional wedding cake. The “I do”
carved pumpkins at the barn doors topped it off!
A few days ago we took to the
other end of the spectrum and stepped into the modern world with photographer
Justin Price at The Inn at Henderson’s Wharf.
With elegant plush pewter linens draping the tables, mixed in with
touches of bold colors like cobalt blue and fuchsia, we made a statement!! Purple and blue perception glasses gave the
table just the right attitude, while the silver sprayed leaves on the white
roses and pale hydrangea flowers by Baltimore Florist, left the table somewhere
elegantly in the future. Our beautiful
bride, Amy Marie Hyson, gave the shoot the exact touch of sultriness that we
were looking for. Thank you to all of our vendors that participated! Without you we couldn’t make magic!

"If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail!"

2012-01-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

It's your wedding day, the flowers have arrived but are not what you envisioned. Your mom looks gorgeous but her panty hose ripped, she needs to spend the time with her little girl on her big day, and everyone is busy doing what they need to do. You look into the reception space and the seating is wrong and YOU still need to finish getting ready!

This is not a story, this is reality. Every wedding has it's hiccups. Maybe not these exact hiccups but it will have it's little problems- just like everything does. But don't worry, because YOU HIRED A WEDDING PLANNER! Charlotte, the event planner, has picked up the panty hose, rearranged the flowers, and fixed the seating chart. Meanwhile, you are sitting in the hair dressers chair, sipping champagne, with ear buds in your ear listening to Micheal Buble' on your iPod.

Many brides think that planning their wedding is going to be fun, easy, and stress free. They want to be DIY brides (Do It Yourself). But as the event gets closer, they realize how many details still need to be ironed out and they don't plan for the "little things." Being a bride is exciting and happens once in a lifetime for most of us, so we take on a lot of stress to make everything just right! This is where an event planner swoops in with her magic iron and takes the wrinkles out.

Event Planners usually have packages that they offer. It is broken down into 3 traditional ways: Day of Event, Partial and Full. Determining what kind of package is best for you depends on different factors. Are you a working women? Are you creative? Do you have the time and patience?

Day Of Event: You are creative, work part time, handle the stress of planning well but need someone the day of your wedding to take care of "the little things." This way you can be relaxed, stress free, and just take in what your special day means.

Partial: You are creative, have an idea what you want but don't know where to start and work full time. Your wedding planner will help you iron out the details, give you guidance, help you with a timeline, budget and also be there the day of your wedding to give you that feeling "everything is being taken care of."

Full: You work 40+ hours a week, you don't have an idea where to start and your creative bone is missing, you are going to hire an event planner to be your best friend for the next year! And this is not an exaggeration. You will go to appointments with caterers, florists, venues and so on together. You will budget together and create together. This will ensure that your wedding is everything you ever dreamed of. So don't fret, there are people out there that are just dying to plan your special day!

Our preferred event planner is of the MAJOR LEAGUES. She meets people and within 15 minutes understands their vision. EVERY bone in her body is creative and the bond that she makes with her bride and groom is long lasting. She feigns for the moment that she steps back at one of her events and sees what she has done. Charlotte Jarrett is one of kind and is known for making everything she touches the same. Visit www.charlottejarrett.com to see her passion or call 1.800.TENTING for details.