Planning Soon for a Wedding in June: Bride's Plans

On the last blog post, we talked about the immediate stages in planning a wedding quickly. This post is the follow up of planning a wedding soon. Now that you've gotten the basics taken care of (I hope so), now we're going to go into warped speed to get to the bride's plans and the groom's stand.

I hope that you took advantage of the free budget planner from the last blog. If not, there's still the opportunity to go and get it! It is a lifesaver and helps to guide you throughout this process of planning your wedding, whether it's soon in June or later in October. Most planners give you a checklist to plan your wedding at least one year in advance, but when he pops the question or she finally says "yes," you might want to go ahead and move fast forward ahead.

This blog post, we're going to wrap up everything neatly with a bow and cross all "t's" and dot all "i's". So here we go:

Perfect Planning

Alright, you have your maid or matron of honor in place, and it's her duty to get things kicked off and get your engagement or bridal shower on the roll. I suggest that elaborate planning is not the way to go. Nice restaurants where you can rent out rooms are a hit for quick planning. Another nice place is a convention or community center or even your place of worship. Make sure you're checking your budget, and communicating with your maid/matron of honor on how much you have to spend so that the vendor and venue research stays within the time and budget for your wedding.

The Perfect Dress

Have you been biting your nails in search of the perfect wedding dress? Stop biting and take into consideration these nifty tips that can help streamline your search just in the nick of time. Wedding dresses can be found on sales sites, yard sales, trade sites, consignment stores, as well as bridal shops that have discounted dresses. Your perfect dress doesn't have to be the most expensive thing in your budget. Remember, you have to live after the wedding! You want a dress that speaks to your personality and compliment you as well as the occasion. Keep checking and have a sketch in your mind or on paper of what you want and do thorough searches for what you'd like. Keep in mind also that you have minimal time for fittings and if dieting to get in your dress is on your to-do list, make sure you purchase your dress at least one size larger, because most retail or wholesale outlets run their dresses a size smaller.

Who's Coming

This has to be one of the most stressful checklist items for any wedding, whether you plan six months in advance or two years in advance. Guessing who's coming can be nerve-wrecking when you're working on a budget and with limited time. Your guest list plays a crucial role in your wedding planning because it determines how much food your caterer makes, the size of your venue, as well as how much to spend on miscellaneous items like plates, forks, drinkware as well as paper and stationery for invitations and programs. Narrow down your list by speaking with the groom and going over your budget. It's important that you keep that guide in front of you. If you both have a large family, have an intimate setting with the immediate family and friends, and plan a nice large get-together some time down the road that just serves as a reception or welcome to the newlyweds. You want to also make sure that you account for out-of-town guests and search for hotels, inns, and other accommodations for your guests. Make sure that you're being considerate of their budgets as well to come and share in your special day.

The Cake

The wedding cake is the next to most important checklist item to a bride. The groom may not care what the cake looks like, just as long as it tastes good, but even in that, there is a process to finding just the right cake. Take your time and shop around. Go to social media and post recommendations on cake decorators and bakers. Make sure that you have your amount on what you intend to spend on the cake, your colors, your designs, as well as how many you plan to feed. All of this information is a time saver when consulting with a cake vendor. Schedule at least two tasting appointments to make sure that it fits into your schedule as well as the vendor's. And one mistake some brides make is that they don't take someone with them. Have a second opinion! Your taste buds and your companion's taste buds may be different. You want the cake to please you - but remember your guests are eating it too. And this also goes for the caterers. Use these same tips when planning your menu and arrangements for your food for your reception, rehearsal dinner or special meals. (Click HERE for 10 questions to ask your cake baker. Courtesy of theknot.com)

Entertainment

Are you planning on having entertainment at your reception? What about the ceremony? Who is singing, dancing, speaking, etc.? Get these people in line early on, and make sure you provide them with an itinerary of your rehearsals as well as expectations of them. Some brides leave it up to their entertainment and vendors, and then have a headache on their big day because they didn't spell out the expectations clearly. If you're hiring a DJ, make sure you give them a song list or a list of what is not acceptable to play. Make it clear how the payment arrangements will be as well as time expectations on when they are to arrive, where they are to set up, what part of the service they are to play and when they can break down to leave.

Planning a wedding is work. There is no easy way to plan it, but it can be done with strategic planning and budgeting. A wedding in June doesn't have to be thrown together, or condensed. You can have the day of your dreams with the right mindset and goal to get it done. And remember, it's not all about the big day, but about sharing with those you love the special day of being one with your partner forever.

Promoting Your Event With Social Media

Social Media has become an intricate part  that is woven into the fabric of  marketing and advertising. If you have a business, event, or ministry it is almost a faux pas if you don't have social media connected to it.

Social media is the marketing snapshot of the technological world we live in, and it is very important that you have it, not only to just have it, but to use it and use it wisely.

I want to share some tips on how to get the most out of social media for your events. First, if you are on Facebook, start an event page. This is an electronic invitation that you can use to reach many by saving dollars and time. The response measurement is also great. Once people accept your invitation, you can gauge how many you will have in attendance and feedback after your event has ended.

With an Facebook event page, you can customize your banner with your brand also, which makes it easier for invitees to recognize it and also share it with others. You can post reminders and also other things such as promo videos to bring awareness and encourage attendance to your event.

Another way you can use social media is with Pinterest. It is also good for promoting your event by designing a Pinterest pin where you can add solutions on how your event will solve problems for your attendees. You already know that pictures are worth a 1,000 words, and Pinterest pins can give wonderful snapshots of your brand to be used to attract people to your event.

And also Instagram is great for picture-perfect promotions of your event. If you aren't a graphic designer, hire one to design awesome pictures and ads to post to your Instagram page that can serve as your personal marketing coordinator to attendees and potential attendees.

Video media platforms such as Periscope and Blab are new to the social media scene that are the next "happening" for TV advertising and marketing. Use them to do one-on-one interviews and promos. These videos can also provide more information about who you are, why you're hosting the event, and what attendees can expect to gain from the event. Your attendees can receive a personal hello and invitation from you via video.

Using social media can do wonders for your event. Just posting the event on social media is not enough to garner a great attendance. You have to "market" the marketing tool. Use social media the same way you would use any other marketing platform. Purchasing ads or promoting your event page or Instagram ads are other ways to build attention to your event. But the whole "skinny" on this is your content. It is key to designing the best-seen pins and posts. Also target market research is necessary to ensure you are producing social media marketing ads that will be successful. You want to attract the right audience with the right content and the right graphics.

Another tip I want to give about using social media, is that posting once is not enough. You have encourage your audience with multiple "reminder" ads and posts. Start your marketing at least four weeks in advance and post "reminders" weekly to keep your brand and event before your audience.

I also suggest to use vibrant and eye-catching colors and legible fonts that will speak volumes to what your event is about and who you want to attend. Social media can help build great attendance by leaps and bounds if used properly. Social media can help you gain better relationships and networking opportunities from it as well. Don't count social media out if you are not a really tech-savvy person, yet you have a great event that you want to share with the world. Select platforms you are most comfortable with and utilize them to draw great attendees to your events, as well as use it to keep great records for your research and recap of your events. Social media can be your event's best friend!

The Power of Words

New Year's resolutions have been somewhat replaced by New Year affirmations. I tend to like affirmations better, because I've realized that words have power. There is something about speaking positive things over yourself, your business, your ventures, your family and your network.

I remember when I was in school, they used to say: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. And for a long time, I believed that. But the older I got, and the more experiences I encountered in life, I found that saying not to be so true after all. Words have a power that is like no other.

I know you're probably wondering what does this have to do with event planning. Well, as you plan your calendar year of great programs, initiatives, and events, set the tone from number one by declaring a positive outcome. And know this, positive outcomes are not always measured in great attendance, large amounts of money, or world-wide recognition. The positive outcome is what you learned from the event experience as a planner and how it will prepare you for the next one. Each experience is a stepping stone that matures you in your niche, and matures your relationship with your target audience.

Affirmations motivate you and can put things into perspective for you. As an event consultant, that is one of my gifts that I offer my clients. When they've had enough and feel they can do no more, it is my responsibility to provide them encouraging words and motivation to see it all to the end. Words are so powerful, and can change the atmosphere from chaotic to order. Seek to find your power in the words you speak.

I'd like to challenge you to start this year off with speaking positively. Find an affirmation word that will describe your year and describe your motivation as you plan, prepare, and promote great events and programs for 2016. My affirmation word this year is: PRESS. And I chose this word, because this will the second year that I will have been in business for myself, and I realize that the closer I get to my "prize," the more tests and lessons I'm going to encounter and learn. So, I'm speaking over my business now that I'm going to press on regardless of what comes ahead, and I'm going to press through for my clients when they feel like they're ready to throw in the towel and give up. What about you? What words are important to you and your success for 2016?

Greets and Eats

Good food and good hostesses go hand-in-hand. I've never been to a place where the food was so great without excellent service. It is important that if you're planning on hosting a New Year's Eve bash or get-together, that you be an exemplary host.

Great hosting tips include setting the atmosphere. Provide a relaxing ambiance and promote your theme well. Don't over-do it, just do enough to set the tone for your party.

Many people don't comment on decorations, but believe me, they matter. Loud colors and over exaggerated props can damper a party quicker than flat soda. Be subtle, but engaging. A nice tablecloth and a few table centerpieces will do just nicely.

Music. Everyone LOVES music. I may be old, but loud music is such a turn-off at a party. You can't hear your conversations, it makes your head hurt, and blaring music is hard to listen to. Make sure your music is in harmony with your decorations - subtle, but engaging.

As a host, be polite. Be well-dressed whether it's a house party or elegant soiree. Have your clothes ironed and neat, and wear a smile. This may seem elementary, but many people don't understand how being a great host is just as important to the success of a party just as much as the food and entertainment. If you have guests that are not familiar with your venue (whether it's your house or the local community center), show them where the restrooms are, politely inform them on certain "house rules" such as no smoking inside, you're welcome to go out on the balcony, (if you're serving alcohol) drinks will be served at whatever time, etc. And take their coats, or inform them where they can hang their coats. If you're doing potluck, show them where they can set their dish. Thank and compliment them on bringing their dish for the party. These small things go a long way in producing a great vibe for your party, and locks in guests for your parties to come.

Now, my favorite part of the party: the food. Finger foods are nice, but if you're doing something a little more upscale, keep up with your theme - subtle, but engaging You don't want to overwhelm your guests palates with fifty million flavors and varieties. You want them to be able to enjoy the food as well as the entertainment. Make sure your menu is colorful. Have some vibrant colors and also various textures. Some people like crunchy stuff, some like soft stuff, some like sweet, sour, etc. You get the point. The purpose of a party is to invite people to have a good time. Give the people what they want. There is no greater party than having good greets and good eats.

The Gift of 2015

This is the last month in the year. So much has happened and many moves have been made. Now it's time to sit back and reflect on the year.

What events were successful? Did you start a business, and what strides did you make? What were your failures? What changes are you looking to make in 2016?

In reflection, don't forget the gift that you received in 2015. Every success and failure was a gift. See each success as giving you more gumption to move forward and be creative. Take account that your failures educated you, and gave you the opportunity to explore new ways to improve yourself. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the budgets, the guest lists, the decorations, venues, and forget the lessons we learned and how we grew from amateur to professional.

Don't miss the gift in looking at how much money you made - or didn't make. Take into account each client that failed to pay, each vendor that supplied the wrong items, and each cake that was delivered to the wrong address. Take note on how each success and failure fit into what your goals were for 2015, and how they will improve 2016 or just plain need to be discarded.

The end of the year is reflection time. Look at the good and what you think was the bad. Every experience has a gift attached. All of them teach you something about yourself that you didn't know before, and opens a level of creativity that you never knew existed. So, as you celebrate your wins, don't miss the gift in it all.

Put A Lid On It

Now that Black Friday and Shop Small weekend and Cyber Monday is done, we can breathe a little bit. Well, not really. Now we have to scramble for Christmas. Biting and chewing nails to come up with some hip and catchy Christmas specials and deals, because this is the time of year that people spend money, right?

We jump on the bandwagon quickly to sell. But what kind of Pandora's box are we opening? Do we rush to push out the deals, and not focus on how to market our businesses?

It's very important that we must market our business and push the solution to what our clients really need. Am I against sales or discounts? No, but the focus shouldn't be so much on the sales and discounts, but more on marketing the business, and building the brand. Building your brand will do more to establish trust and longevity with your clients than just pushing the sale. Promote who you are and why you are in business to give your clients that comfort that regardless of what they're in need of, you are on their top list to get it.

If you run an event planning service, offer some helpful tips during the holiday season. Put a lid on it that "salesy" catering service that costs an arm and both legs to boost your commission. Just plainly appeal to the gift of empathy and sympathy to your clients. Even gift certificates are nice, but what your clients would appreciate most is that you understand what they're going through in planning a wedding or putting together a holiday shindig with the stress, budget, flowers - and let's not leave out dealing with the uncooperative staff.

I love giving gifts, but I'm learning that the best gifts to give in business are the ones that appeal to the need more than the wants. Put a lid on pushing clients to open up Pandora's box to frenzied shopping of gadgets and frills, and just simply open a gift of meeting the need.

Ideas to Give

Sooo, Christmas is right around the corner. People are saving their pennies for Black Friday and already scribbling down their lists and marking down electronics at Wal-Mart and Target as we speak.

This is usually the most generous part of the year for companies and for individuals alike. I like it when I see people giving. I also like to see what they give and whose like they're going to bring joy to.

And that brings me to my point of this post. Giving can mean different things to different people, but I love it when people give. Giving doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Just as long as it comes from the heart and is the best you can give, I say do it.

Although we are in an upswing in the economy, money still isn't growing on the nearest tree limbs.  So, I thought I'd provide a few ideas for giving this year that I believe would be great for family members, clients, co-workers or employees.

1. Gift baskets. They are the new cool thing when you're not exactly rolling the dough. You can even make them yourself, which puts a pretty nice personal touch and I like to include things I know people like such as fruit or snacks. Gift baskets don't exactly have be food-based, and can include books, CDs, socks, crochet kits etc. They're really nice gift givers.

2. Gift cards. They are not as personal, but they are pretty nice gifts for businesses. Now there are graphic designers that can personalize them for you with cute pictures or logos. I think having a designed photo of a funny office moment or office party selfie or group photo would go nice to personalize for co-workers or employees. For customers or clients, add something that you know your client likes. If your client is a pet lover, have a picture of the dog, cat, bird, etc. on it. 

3. Throw blankets or snugglies. Some may think that's corny, but these still made my list because of the cold weather coming upon us. They are pretty nice for co-workers and family members. If you want to personalize them, get a graphic designer to embroider a name on it. Match it with a nice coffee mug and you've got a pretty nifty gift.

4. Gas cards. Who in their right mind would turn their nose up at a gas card? Yeah, gas prices are pretty low, but we all still need gas. You can put them in a nice greeting card and they are pretty reasonable ranging from 20 to 100 upload amounts. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

5. And good ole cash. No one would turn down cash. I think that anything above 20 bucks is a nice gift for family members. Even children won't turn down money. I've known some to do money jars, where they put an unspecified amount of cash in a Mason jar and decorate the jar as a gift, or do a money tree. Whether you choose to "dress" your cash or not, it's still a great gift that no one will turn down.

I hope these ideas will be of a help to you in making decisions for your gift-giving as you stress out over holiday menus, decorating, and activity planning. 

Are You Hitting the Mark?

Defining your target market is very important when you're planning an event. I have a few tips to help shape your event as you're planning to make a large impact on your community, as well as on your pockets.

Numero Uno: Identify who you are planning it for. Nix the idea of saying you're planning for women. Women fall into a goo-gob of categories. Is this for single moms, working moms, single working moms, moms over 30?, women over 30?, women who like to ski, etc. Make sure you are specific. Knowing this off the bat will help design and cater your event.

Nombre Deux: Make sure you know the NEEDS of your market. Planning an event with a theme in regards to providing daycare to women who have no children, nor are planning to have children will only reap you a few women who are just coming out of sheer curiosity or because you almost held them up at gunpoint to come to support you. Develop creative ways to find the answers. Social media is the "in-thing" now. Post surveys (small ones) to ask around about what people think. People love to show off their knowledge. Incorporate that to get information. Create contests to get other people's opinions. Those work pretty well also.

Number Three: Create engaging content. Get their ideas and implement them in developing content that will engage your attendees. You need to have something at the event that will not only solve their problem, or provide for their need, but it will also be something that's interesting to them. Give them more than just your product or service. Provide them with speakers that are sympathetic to their problem or need and games or entertainment that can relate to them in a positive and educating way. 

If you are trying to sell your health supplements to a crowd of vegans, having an icebreaker game called pin the tail on pig might not go over well with them. For example, when I did my launch party for my virtual assistant business, we played The Weakest Link. The questions related to business topics that I knew that my attendees were not as familiar with as I was. This showed two things: they learned that they possibly needed these skills to grow their business, and they saw that I was versed (or least knowledgeable) on the subject and could HELP them. 

Whatever you decide to do, make sure your event is not about you. Make it about the attendees. If you're trying to sell something or get recognized, don't put that at the forefront of your purpose for the event. Your target market is your blueprint in developing the event. So, take into consideration these tips to make sure that you hit the mark. Success is waiting on you!