I love Pinterest, I find it inspiring, creative and just downright fun.  I have really enjoyed finding great pins and seeing them repinned by brides to be and even current and former Red Letter brides!  I imagine many newly engaged and soon to be engaged woman pinning away day and night, while their significant other wonders, what are they doing?

Well guys you are no longer on the outside looking in, there is now Gentlemint, a manly version of Pinterest where you Tack instead of Pin.  I just applied for my invite but I promise I won’t tack  peonies, veils or DIY wedding projects. (wink)

So far the biggest difference I have seen is the aesthetic however creativity is in the eye of the beholder and honestly, the Felted Guinness Beer Soap (see below) would make a great groomsmen gift- guess I need to make  a best of Gentlemint board on Pinterest!

Till next time I hope your next celebration is a “Red Letter Day”

At the beginning of a year it is common to name the “top trends” for the next 12 months, here is my favorite list for 2012. However I think  it is time for some “trends” to take the leap and become traditions.  Below is my top five list of those trends:

Charity Favors: Crystal bottle stoppers and seed packets with your wedding date on them can be cute, however in my experience items like this are left behind more than 50% of the time. A charity favor, promotes a good cause and will not be relegated to a junk drawer or worse a garbage can. I really like the I Do Foundation as they make the donation process very easy and also have a huge variety of charitable causes to choose from. You can also go directly to a charity itself, I have clients that will be doing their favors through the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.  Charitable donations in lieu of take home favors is a great way to honor a cause you as a couple support.

Smaller Weddings: The average wedding size for 2011 nationally according to Brides magazine was 152.  Smaller weddings can mean a smaller budget, so if your budget is tight the easiest way to cut costs is to cut your guest list. Smaller weddings also allow a more personal experience for you, your wedding party and your guests. Examples include: inviting everyone to the rehearsal dinner, using long dining tables versus traditional round tables and most importantly celebrating with your nearest and dearest friends and family. A  past Red Letter bride honored all of her guests by placing two Phalaenopsis orchids at each place-setting. With 70 guests this cost under $150 with 200 guests the cost would have been much more, this simple touch spoke to the personal feel of an intimate wedding.

 

Personal Details: I really believe this is already a tradition but it is still mentioned as a trend every year. Each couple wants a unique wedding to reflect who they are in personality and style. This can be a custom designed logo like the one below that a past Red Letter couple had used throughout their wedding planning. Other ways to personalize include naming each table after an important part of your lives, a signature drink during cocktails that reflects you as a couple or it can be your beloved pug dog as the ring bearer. The options are endless.

 

Alternative Dining Styles: The sit down dinner will always be popular because of formality and ease of service. But there are so many different twists for food service that are no longer just trendy. My current favorite is family style. The best way to do this is have the protein served on a plate to each guest and then offer a variety of sides (starches and veggies) on the table to choose from. The cocktail reception is also a great alternative as it allows mixing and mingling for your guests and a variety in the types of food served either with passed hors d’oeuvre or food stations.

Guest Experiences: The candy buffet, the hot chocolate station, the photobooth, the nitro ice cream etc. these are all experiential for your guest. It allows them to participate in the party atmosphere, by either putting together the most amazing godiva and kahula hot chocolate or taking the craziest pictures with a crown and boa. These are the aspects of the wedding the guests will be talking about long after the last dance.

 

So readers? What do you think are these trends ready to become traditions? What other trends would you like to see evolve?

Till next time I hope your next special event is a Red Letter Day!

You have found the perfect partner, the ring is gorgeous and now you can start planning the most amazing wedding-yours!  While certainly excited you are also probably feeling overwhelmed with all the to do’s you have before your I do’s.  Here are the top five things you should do now to kick off your wedding planning adventure!

Tip #1: Set your budget:This is the most important first step in wedding planning.  Your budget will guide everything.  Budget should include all costs. Also this is a great time to discuss if parents will be contributing and how much.

Tip #2: Prioritize: Now that you have a budget start dividing it up among your costs.  Rule of thumb is that 50% of your budget will go toward your reception costs (venue, food and beverage) How the remaining 50% is spent is your decision, do you want a band or a DJ, do you care if there are live flowers or just candles on the table?  These are the decisions that should be made before you email or call the first vendor.

Tip #3: Find your ceremony and reception location:  Although it sounds fun to go dress shopping right away, you first should have your venue and date set before doing anything else.  The date and location set the tone for the rest of the wedding.

Tip #4: Search out and collect ideas: whether it is a manila folder,, an I-Pad or a pinterest account start collecting ideas you like/want for your wedding. Share these with your vendors so they understand your style.  Don’t worry about whether they are in your budget-the job of your vendors is to figure out how to incorporate these concepts into your price point.  You may not get everything you want but you should be able to get the look and feel you love.

Tip #5: Get organized. Buy a binder/planner. I recommend a basic three ring binder from Staples or Office Max that you can customize with tabs and pockets.  Keep all of your vendor proposals, contracts, handouts from wedding shows etc in it. Bring it to your vendor appointments and go through it once a month to purge unneeded items.

Bonus Tip #1:  Hire a wedding planner: A planner can make sure that the budget you set is being used effectively, provide creative solutions to issues and also take the wedding stress off of your shoulders. A good wedding planner will let you be as involved as you want to be. As this Red Letter bride explains, a planner is indispensable in the wedding planning process.

If you cannot afford a full service planner then PLEASE have a wedding day manager, let an expert worry about the details of the day so you can have fun and enjoy the wedding you have spent so much time perfecting and planning.

Bonus Tip #2: Book an Inspiration Session: If you are creatively stuck-and just are looking for creative and fun ideas for your wedding, contact us to book an inspiration session.

Congratulations on your engagement and till next time I hope your wedding planning results in a fabulous “Red Letter Day”

With the recent closing of wedding venue Montefiori in the Chicago Suburbs and with so many newly engaged couples just starting their wedding planning, I thought it was a good time to talk about wedding insurance and how to protect the investment you are making in your wedding.

Special thanks to Wedsafe for detailed information and the policy quote.

Frequently asked questions about protecting your wedding investment:

Why would I need wedding insurance?

Things happen, natural disasters, bankruptcies and illness.  While you don’t want to think about these negative things on your wedding day, you should be prepared.  Your wedding is not only a monetary investment but an emotional one as well. Wedding insurance can recoup your money if things go wrong and give you piece of mind.

How do I get wedding insurance?

The two most popular carriers are Wedsafe which is part of AON and Protectmywedding which is part of Travelers you can fill out information online and receive an instant quote.  The policy is then emailed to you.  If you prefer to work with a person each company has agents that you can reach through a toll free number.

How much does it cost?

Pricing varies from company to company however, I went on Wedsafe.com and asked for $50,000 of cancellation/postponement coverage for a July wedding in Illinois, in addition the policy has coverage for $12,500 for extra expenses, $3,000 for photography and video, $3,000 in gifts, $3,000 in special attire, $3,000 in loss of deposits and $1,000 professional counseling. The total price was $350. Insurance for a $50,000 wedding costs you less than 1% of your total budget.

What does it cover?

Whenever buying insurance make sure you read all of the restrictions on coverage and the specific exclusions.  The main items that are covered are:

• Bankruptcy of vendors
• No show vendors
• Damage to wedding attire
• Theft of wedding gifts
• Cancellation or postponement due to severe weather
• Illness or injury of the bride, groom and immediate family that causes cancellation of wedding
• Cancelled military leave
• Non recoverable honeymoon expenses due to cancellation or postponement of the wedding

What doesn’t it cover?

• Cancellation due to change of heart
• Lack of funds to pay for the wedding (unless it falls under the unemployment clause)
• Weather conditions that do not force cancellation or make the event venue unsafe or unusable.

To see a sample policy go here

Is there a difference between, wedding insurance and event liability insurance?

Yes, wedding insurance covers your costs that you incur contracting with vendors. Event liability insurance covers damages that may incur as a result of your wedding.  In addition you can name your venue as an additional insured on a policy.  For example if you are getting married at a Chicago Park District property, you are required to have event liability insurance; other venues may require it as well.

If you are having a home wedding it is an absolute MUST to have event liability insurance to cover any potential guest injuries or mishaps in and around your home.  To get event liability coverage you can add a rider to the home owner policy of the bride, groom, parents of the couple etc.  If you don’t want to do that or don’t have homeowners insurance you can take out a separate policy also through wedsafe and protectmywedding.

What other “safeguards” should I think about when planning my wedding?

Insurance is great, as a wedding planner I often recommend it.  However you can also do the following to protect yourself whether you take the next step in getting a policy or not.

• All of your vendors should have a written and signed contract which delineates what they will do for your wedding.  I review contracts all the time for my clients and it is amazing how vague some are. Don’t just sign a contract a vendor gives you, read it, make sure you understand it and ask for changes that you want.

• When possible pay for deposits with a credit card.  You will have more luck getting money back from the credit card company if there is a monetary dispute with a vendor.  If you do pay by check, make a copy of the check before sending it, and write in the memo what the payment is for, i.e. Final payment for photography service

• Ask for references, while there are a lot of newer vendors that are fantastic and can be less expensive, try and work with established vendors as much as possible, and actually call or email the references that are provided.

• Work with a planner, this is not just self promotion, a planner knows the best of the best in the industry and we will ensure you have a good contract.  Also should something unforeseen happen you will have someone ready to get your wedding back on track if you have to find a new florist because they have closed or the venue gets hit by a tornado.

• Be organized, keep all of your contracts, copies of cancelled checks, credit card statements even email communications regarding your wedding together in one place.  Should you have to take a vendor to court or make a strong case to them for a refund of a deposit you will have all of your paperwork in line and ready.

Your wedding is a once in a lifetime investment, make sure it is protected.  We would love to hear your comments about insurance and protecting yourself during wedding planning.

Till next time I hope your next celebration is a Red Letter Day

This year my husband Greg and I are having a Holiday Party  our own Red Letter Event in our home for friends, neighbors and colleagues. As a professional party planner I know how to make a plan, set a budget, choose a theme, color palette and decorate however I still get stressed when planning a party.

These 5 tips will alleviate my stress and provide the luxury of being a guest at the party! Hope you find these house party pointers helpful as we enter into the holiday celebration season:

Know your space and use it wisely-Our home is not designed for an elaborate sit down dinner party, but the layout is perfect for an open house, cocktail party.  The kitchen, living room and dining room flow together making it easy to mix and mingle.  Also the lower level family room is a perfect location for the bar and has additional seating.  Evaluate your home and the amount of people that can comfortably fit and look for ways to optimize for example we are removing large furniture to make the space more open.

Outsource as much as you can-I love to cook and bake but putting together food and beverage for 50+ does not allow me to enjoy myself the days leading up to the party. Northshore Caterers will provide an elegant buffet featuring sliced beef tenderloin and appetizers. I will supplement the food with a delish homemade spinach dip and casual munchies.  We will have 1 server and 1 bartender so I don’t have to worry about refreshing the food, cleaning up plates or mixing cocktails. The desserts will be supplied by Cacao Sweets and Treats. I don’t own every size and color of linen so I am renting them from Windy City Linen.   I am very happy to have such a great vendor team that will allow me to enjoy my party and guests.

Stay focused-Why are you throwing the party?  Our reason is to bring together our diverse circle of friends and to visit with them during the holidays.  As a planner I am bombarded with ideas and concepts for parties and I have had to narrow down what the evening is about-a sophisticated cocktail party focused on mingling. Our theme  ‘Tis the Season Soiree sets the tone for the evening and everything from decor to food follow. When you come up with a concept and stick to it, the details easily fall into place.

Be a gracious hostess/host- Talk to everyone and be a social butterfly, this is the night to mix and mingle. Introduce people who may have mutual interests to generate good conversations, make sure everyone knows where the food, bar and the bathroom are and most importantly make sure your guests are having fun. In addition think ahead, we have rented a coat rack because December in Chicago can have snow, rain, sleet or all three we wanted to make sure our guests have a place to put their coat, scarf etc.

Relax-This is the hardest for me, I want everything to be PERFECT. But honestly your guests won’t know that 1 hour before the party the homemade fudge melted (just don’t serve it) or that your grand idea for hanging lighted garland around each door frame didn’t quite work out.  These are your friends they are not there to criticize your party planning but to have fun, so as long as you have a smile on your face, a welcoming home and cheer to spare the party will be a success.

I will share pictures from the party after the fact-whether all goes to plan or not!

Till next time I hope your next special event or holiday celebration is a Red Letter Day

 

 

The newly engaged are bombarded with pictures and ideas from blogs and magazines. How do you cut through all the clutter and put together your UNIQUE wedding? Red Letter Event Planning is pleased to now offer Inspiration Sessions for $99 ideal for those that are trying to crystallize their wedding vision into a cohesive look and feel. When you book you will receive:

• One 30 minute idea meeting
• One color palette recommendation
• Two digital inspiration boards
• A short list of the most creative and fun wedding websites so you can continue to be inspired

When we meet we will discuss your ideas for the wedding and how to incorporate your personal style into the Big Day. You can use this information to communicate your vision to the professionals you will be working with.  And if you decide to book any other planning services with Red Letter Event Planning your fee will be credited back to you.  This service is a must have first step in your Chicago wedding planning however you may have some questions such as:

What is an Inspiration Board?

An Inspiration Board is a collection of pictures, textures and concepts that reflect the look and feel you want for your wedding.

How is an Inspiration Board used?

Quite simply it is used to guide how the elements of your wedding are put together from color scheme to decor style.  The exact items on the board may not be used but their form and function inspires the design overall.

For example this board was created for the Designers Challenge ChicagoStyle Weddings Shoot.

Here are some of the pictures from the shoot itself  (All photos courtesy of Gerber+Scarpelli Weddings

So are you ready to book your inspiration session? Contact us to set up your appointment we look forward to providing you wedding planning inspiration.

Till next time I hope your next special event is a Red Letter Day!

Raazia and Samar wanted to celebrate their son’s 1st and their daughters 3rd birthdays with an elegant party for adults and children. Red Letter Event Planning put together this inspiration board as a first step in planning.  Inspiration boards are a great first step in planning to get the right look and feel for the event.

In order to transform this client’s backyard, from Chicagoland suburbia into an Enchanted Garden we started with a beautiful white tent. Inside the tent were hanging paper lanterns in the green and orange color palette and a magnificent and unique floral chandelier, dripping with wired floral and candles.

 

The centerpieces were mini manzita trees on which hung crystal drops, gerber daisies, hydrangeas and roses.

We didn’t want to forget about the 30+ kids that would be attending though so we set up a separate area with kids sized tables and chairs and whimsical lollipop and pinwheel centerpieces designed by Red Letter Event Planning. At each placesetting there was a coloring book and crayons for each of the little guests.

Every time we look at the pictures we are literally swept away to this Red Letter Event planned enchanted afternoon in the Chicago suburbs and we hope you are too. Thanks to all of the great vendors that made this event a true “Red Letter Day”:
Windy City Linen, Phillips Flowers, Taste of Home Catering, Syp Event Photo and Party Central

Till next time I hope your next special event is a Red Letter Day

In the wedding planning world, the time between Thanksgiving and New Years is known as engagement season-more people get engaged in this time frame than any other time of year. So if you are anticipating a sparkly bauble on your finger soon, I highly recommend learning how to make “Engagement Chicken”. Learn more about the legend here:

My best friend and I also took on the challenge when we thought we had found “the one” and sure enough she just celebrated her tenth wedding anniversary in September and it will be eight years this December for my husband and I! Be careful who you serve this delicious dish to; you may be signing up for more than dinner!

Recipe

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 medium lemons
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice
• Kosher or Sea Salt Ground black pepper

• Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat 400 degrees. Wash chicken inside and out with cold water, remove giblets, then let the chicken drain, cavity down in a colander until it reaches room temperature (15 minutes or so).

• Pat dry with paper towels. Pour lemon juice all over chicken, inside and outside.

• Season with salt and pepper. Prick the whole lemons three times with a fork and place deep inside the cavity. (Tip: If the lemons are hard, roll on countertop with palm to get juices flowing)
• Place the bird breast-side down on a rack in a roasting pan. Lower heat to 350 degrees and bake uncovered 15 minutes.

• Remove from oven and turn breast side up (use wooden spoons!); return to oven for 35 minutes more.

• Test for doneness-insert meat thermometer in the thigh-temperature should read 180 degrees or juices should run clear when chicken is pricked with a fork. Continue baking if necessary. Let chicken stand for a few minutes before carving.

• Serve with juices on top.

If you REALLY want to wow your fiancé to be I highly recommend watching this video on how to properly carve a roast chicken.

 

Enjoy and let us know if Engagement Chicken worked for you also if there are other “fall in love forever” recipes you want to share please do so in the comments.

Last week I saw the movie Bridesmaids. The main movie plot revolves around the relationship between the Bride, Lillian and her best friend and Maid of Honor, Annie.

As I watched the movie, I thought of how the job of Maid of Honor is so important but can be difficult.  As a result I put together these top 3 tips from the movie for the current and future Maid of Honor’s out there.

1) Be organized. The Bride may need your help coordinating dress appointments or get togethers with the other bridesmaids.  In the movie, Annie shows up with the whole bridal party at a dress shop without an appointment and is told they cannot see any dresses.  This sets up a funny scene in the movie but in real life this would be a very embarrassing scenario for the Maid of Honor and the Bride.  If you don’t have a date/calendar book get one, google calendar is a great option as well.

2) Stay Calm The bride to be will have a ton of stresses, with family issues and with all the decisions she has to make as she takes this important step in her life. As Maid of Honor it your job to be drama free and take stress off the bride.  Be a sounding board and shoulder for her to lean on.  In the movie, Annie complains to the bride Lillian, about petty issues and she definitely brings MAJOR drama to every situation, which is good for a movie but not for real life.  Keep your complaints to yourself and let the bride enjoy herself with all aspects of the wedding planning.

3) Friendship is one of the strongest bonds All relationships have ups and downs but the bond of friendship between a Maid of Honor and a Bride will survive less than flattering dresses and other bridesmaids that you don’t get along with.  In the movie, Annie is the only one the bride, Lillian listens to when she gets cold feet right before the wedding.When Annie tells her everything will work out, she trusts her and goes on to have a beautiful wedding with her Maid of Honor standing right beside her. Annie tells the bride, Lillian “You are the one that is blazing the trail for me, so I will know what to expect”

Brides-treat your Maid of Honor like gold and you will be repaid in platinum.

Maid of Honor’s-Follow these 3 lessons from a cute, romantic comedy to forge a life long friendship.

Did you see Bridesmaids? Do you think these lessons hold true? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Till next time I hope your next event is a Red Letter Day

As the wedding of the decade is upon us this Friday, we have heard so many details but I wanted to share one more  I came across this video regarding the post-wedding Queen’s reception at Buckingham Palace.  The details coming out about the receoption are amazing, 10,000 bite sized canapes will be served a few cold, a few hot and savory and even a few sweet ones.  All have been personally approved by Prince William and Kate Middleton (as well as tasted!) There are 21 chefs that are putting this portion of the party together   There is also someone who will ensure each canape has the right color, texture, tempertaure and taste.  (what a HARD job)

Cocktail parties are a great way to celebrate a wedding or other special event.  When planning a cocktail party whether it is for 600 royal guests or 60 of your closest friends there are a few rules of thumb to follow:

• Allow 1-2 drinks per guest per hour
• Each bottle of wine will yield 4-5 glasses
• One bottle of champagne yields 6 glasses
• For food plan on 1-2 pieces per hour per person if party is not during a mealtime, if it is during a mealtime up that to 2-3 pieces per person per hour

Attention to detail is paramount as it should be for any wedding or life celebration.  Overseeing this part of the wedding prep is the Deputy Master of the Household, Edward Griffiths aka the wedding planner who said “No detail is too small”.  Kate and Prince William are lucky to have someone who is meticulous and can troubleshoot any issues that may arise.  In my opinion everyone should at least have a wedding day manager on their big day whether they are a princess or not!

For those that want to watch the Royal wedding it will televised on every station but also live streamed on YouTube.  Set your clocks early if you are in Chicago-Processional starts at 4 am CT.

Till next time I hope your next special event is a Red Letter Day