Website

https://www.exquisiteeventrentals.com/

New Year's Eve Tequila Punch Recipe

New Year's Eve Tequila Punch Recipe

Ingredients
8 cups diced fresh fruits, such as melon, pineapple, apples, pears, and halved grapes
4 cups chilled silver tequila
3 cups chilled dry Champagne
3 cups chilled Sauternes
1/2 cup simple syrup or to taste
Juice of one lime

Directions:
In large punch bowl, combine all ingredients and stir over ice.

The Date I Will Never Forget

December 30th, 1998 is a date I will never forget. Mommy suffered with Pancreatic and Liver Cancer for 6 months. She was diagnosed on my birthday (June 23rd). For 6 months I never seen my mother show signs of pain, defeat or uncertainty. Instead, what I saw was a strong mother, grandmother & daughter who knew the word of God. I was the one she was praying for. She prayed that God would give me strength when he called her to glory land. I can recall when the doctor said that my mother wouldn't live to see Thanksgiving, but God said otherwise. He allowed her to also see Christmas with her family and friends. I had a superwoman of a mother and NO ONE can ever replace her. She was a friend, confidant, counselor, giver, woman of God and touched every person's heart she encountered and she always spoke her mind. At 4:59pm as she was gently slipping away from us, she looked at me as I was rubbing her legs and she had a smile on her face. I was always her "tammy". My oldest brother looked at me and said "Tammy, mom is ready to rest but she want to make sure you are alright.” It took every ounce of strength inside me to look at mommy and tell her "mommy, I'm going to be alright." When she heard those words, she took her last breath.

Pantone Color of the year 2013

Pantone color of the year 2013

Check out this site...http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21055&from=hp

Cupcake Skewers

This is an excellent concept. The foam squares, wrapped up in silvery gray posterboard,

Ceiling/Chair Decor in Plastic Table Cloth

This is such an awesome idea and very beautiful +cee.charles@hotmal.com

Chevron Table Runners

I am absolutely falling in love with Chevron table runners. They will make any table look fabulous.  They are here to stay!!!

Kids Food Station

If you are having a wedding and kids will be attending, it would be ideal to have a food station specifically for the kids. Such items would include: mini pizzas, french fries, veggies w/dip and chicken fingers or chicken nuggets. This will be fun for the kids and mind relaxing for you in regards to planning a menu for them. Hey... how about also having pasta included on their station. Awesome!

Rental Items

Chair covers and navy blue chair sash provided by none other than Exquisite Event Rentals & Planning

http://simplysavannahevents.blogspot.com/2012/10/sneak-peak-simply-wed-melissa-antonio.html

Our Christmas Tree

Here's our Christmas tree with no presents.  In our house, we still believe in Santa Claus and don't want to spoil things for our little man Kayden. Of course kids always believed in Santa until they got to a certain age. We're not going to confuse him with not believing in Santa because he hears it so much at school. So check out our tree and our handsome Kayden. 

Strauss Studios

I love the work that Michael Strauss and his staff can do when they are working on any type of event. Looking forward to working together again Strauss Studios

Monday Affirmation

Wedding Planner: Wedding Gallery

Wedding Planner: Wedding Gallery: https://www.exquisiteeventrentals.com/gallery2/

Wedding Gallery

https://www.exquisiteeventrentals.com/gallery2/

Tips for An Outside Wedding

I’ve been asked to plan several outside events. Given that we have no control over mother nature, it’s a grand idea to have a back up plan. With that being said, I’ve listed some tips that hopefully will be taken into consideration for any type of outside event.

• Choose an outdoor location that also has an indoor facility. Choose a  venue that has a designated area to host your nuptials as well as a ballroom that you can reserve in the event it storms on your celebration. For the most part, my outdoor wedding clients have hosted just their ceremony and maybe cocktail hour outside, but held the reception indoors. This is ideal, but if you wish to host your entire event outdoors then another option, if your outdoor wedding site does not have an indoor facility, is to reserve a nearby chapel. Some chapels do have
  both ceremony and reception facilities available. This will cost you some extra money, but it is well worth it if you want the festivities to continue, that is if it is safe to continue.

• Monitor the weather forecast the week of your wedding. If you have chosen an outdoor wedding location that has an indoor facility and the site manager calls you up and tells you that it is going to storm and ask if you would like to go ahead and set everything up inside, then do so. Especially, if you can see the storm coming with your bare eyes and the meteorologists has predicted in his or her forecast that there is a high percentage that it is going to rain. There is no need to inconvenience your guests, because you are hoping that the storm will miraculously move in the opposite direction. You are not that special.

• Send out rain cards with your invitations. First up, your guests should be aware that your wedding will be taking place outdoors. In addition to this, you need to let them know of your backup plan in the event that inclement weather occurs. This is especially important if your outdoor wedding site does not have any indoor facilities that can accommodate you and your guests and you have arranged for an alternate location. Rain cards are an enclosure that you can include in your invitation set and they are the best way to inform your guests of your backup plan should it rain. In this way, they will know ahead of time where to go if it rains as opposed to having to call and or wander around trying to figure out where to go.

• Take precautions even if you are having a tent wedding. Tent weddings can be really nice, but you still need to be prepared ahead of time should it rain or storm. Tents for the most part serve their purpose of providing shade from the sun and shelter in case it rains. In addition, they are pretty sturdy and actually have to be inspected upon setup to make sure they are in compliance with your city’s wind and fire codes as mentioned previously. But, what if heavy rain occurs and you do not have at least flooring? Well, the ground will soak even if you have a tent. So, my advice here is to consider at the very least adding flooring for the entire dimension of the tent if your budget permits you to do so. Imagine having to walk around in wet and muddy shoes (and feet).

Bright, Bold and Beautiful Colors for 2012

Fashion trends with 2012 brides are not afraid to add a little color! This year the colors are brighter and bolder. Hot hues like tangerine, bright pink and Kelly green are popular along with jewel tones paired with a chocolate brown or black. I wrote a blog about the trendy fashion bridal color for 2012 but I have to write again about this because the latest brides are not afraid to take risks.

I just love it when brides take risk and mix vibrant colors like orange and pink. Elegant and Timeless: Muted colors like cloudy blue, dusty pinks and pear are gaining popularity. Colors like chocolate brown, champagne, chestnut and beige are always timeless and classic. Unexpected: Opposites attract, just like in life sometimes the oddest pair makes the perfect couple. Like navy blue and paired with a light pink or yellow and charcoal grey.
SN: Throw in a pair of Kelly Green heels for a fabulous effect!!!!!!!!

The Latest and Greatest 2012 Wedding Trends

I’m back!!! 

This may sound counterproductive coming from wedding planner, right? but it’s all about you. The year 2012 is that it’s all about you, your appreciation of your guests and NOT doing the same thing that you saw your friends doing last year.

• White weddings are in! OK? White weddings are always in… they are elegant, romantic and beautiful when paired with crystal, platinum or silver accents. You just need to decide if a White Wedding fits your personality
• Return to Glam! Vintage, 1930’s black and white rarely goes out of fashion – beautiful accents of art deco, black and white checked dance floor, vintage touches and some feathers. It’s all in the details and your personality
• Black Wedding Gowns! Really Vera?  Trend setter Vera Wang is showcasing BLACK wedding gowns at bridal markets and making a big splash
• Desserts and a ‘Good Night Kiss’ will get bigger than ever…. While wedding cakes will remain a MAJOR focus of every wedding , other desserts will remain in the spot light
• Cupcakes, cookie bars and candy bars are here for at least one more season – putting a personal twist on these will be the key. Favorite flavors, family recipes and displays incorporating personal touches will be what make it yours
• Photos booths are here to stay – guests love having fun – fun twists on the original, fun props or multiple copies they can put into a guest book for you and your fiance make it memorable

Lounge Style Area

I just love this lounge style setting area. A relaxing setting for your guests to be when the sun goes down for any event.

Cell Phone Etiquette

Excuse me, would you be so kind to turn off your cell phone during the ceremony?  This has become a norm these days with cell phones ringing during a sacred ceremony and to me, it’s just rude. If the guest doesn’t want to turn it off, they can either turn it on vibrate or leave the ceremony. What phone call can be that serious to receive during a wedding ceremony? Would you want this to happen during your special moment? I wouldn’t think so.  Here are some ways to remind guests to turn off their cell phones during your special day.

• Print a tasteful little notice in your program ceremony, saying: “We wish to remind you to please turn off your cell phone and refrain from using your cell phone during the wedding ceremony. Thank you!”

• You could notify everyone as they sign a guest book when entering the ceremony site. Have an attendant direct guests to sign the book. Next to the book post an attractive sign (perhaps in a picture frame) next to the book. You could use the same wording as above, ‘reminding’ your guests to turn off their cell phones

Our Chair Sashes

Just to tease you with some of the chair sashes we carry.  :)  Contact us if you want to see more.

Fall Weddings

Wedding Ideas

September, October and November are the most popular months of the year for weddings. With rustic leaves falling, beautiful foliage in oranges, browns and yellows, and cool or mild weather, many brides-to be may choose and outdoor wedding for fall.

If you are having a September or October wedding, consider having the entire wedding outdoors. You can cut flower costs by using the outdoor site as your ceremony site and reception area.

Favors

Give a favor in keeping with the season such as a beautiful apple tied with a gold ribbon, or a bottle of maple syrup. If you have a sweet tooth, give guests caramel apples wrapped in cellophane, or give a DIY kit of a caramel apple recipe with all the ingredients they’ll need – a perfect apple, some caramels, and a Popsicle stick. Help your guests decorate for the season by giving them mini pumpkins, or an ear of ornamental corn tied with some wheat and a pretty fall ribbon.

Fall Wedding Cake

Really you can serve any wedding cake at a fall wedding, but you can add to your autumn theme by serving a spiced cake or a spiced chocolate cake. Consider having an all chocolate cake, decorated with marzipan fruit. Or omit the cake altogether to serve pumpkin bread and apple, pecan and pumpkin pie.

Seasonal Weddings

Seasonal weddings are based around specific holidays. Seasonal weddings take place on or around special holidays, such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and yes, even Halloween!

Seasonal weddings have their advantages and disadvantages. One advantage to seasonal weddings is the fact that the site may already be decorated for the holiday so your client can save money on decorations. Churches are often decorated for Christmas, or a restaurant may be decorated for Valentine’s Day. One disadvantage to seasonal weddings is the fact that some florists may charge more for flowers during busy seasons, so your client may end up with a higher floral bill if the site isn’t already decorated.

But if your client is set on a particular holiday, there are advantages beyond saving money on decorations. You can plan free activities for the reception, such as attending a city fireworks display, or having a Christmas carol sing-a-long at your home for close friends and relatives. The point is that seasonal weddings are flexible, so use your creativity to make suggestions; even if your suggestion seems outrageous to you, your client may love it.

The Cake

Traditionally, guests brought sweet breads or cakes as gifts to the couple. As the guests arrived, the gifts were stacked in a tower-shaped pile. That was the start of today’s wedding cake. The wedding cake holds a place of honor at weddings, as it symbolizes happiness, good fortune, and a shared life together. While the three-tiered cake is the traditional standard, it is not the rule. A cake can be a sheet cake, or made into a special shape, or it can be many tiers high. No matter what the style, special attention needs to be paid to make sure the cake is beautiful as the cake-cutting ceremony is a focal point of the celebration. Cakes may be decorated with frosting,  flowers, even fountains, and of course, may be topped with a cake topper such as the traditional bride and groom.

Themed Weddings

Theme weddings can be based on the couple’s personal interests, favorite place or time in history or on a style they like, such as Country Western. The theme need not to be out of the ordinary – it may even be as simple as a particular color scheme such as black and white.

Weddings based on a couple’s interests or activities include sports-themes, such as a wedding on a basketball court, or for the more adventurous, a sky-diving wedding.  Perhaps the couple has an interest in boats, in which case the ceremony can take place on a yacht, at the beach or ship side before they take their honeymoon on a Caribbean cruise. If the couple has an interest in the equestrian arts, they could be married at a racetrack, or ride horses during the ceremony. Or maybe they’re both musicians – invitations could be printed to resemble musical scores, or music boxes used as centerpieces.  Theme weddings bring elements together to reflect personal interests or fantasies.

Directions to Your Event

Make sure guests know where they’re going. As easy as online map programs are to use, sometimes the directions are wrong (most programs are not up to date) . You can ask your venue sites for printouts of recommended driving directions, which they often keep in stock for weddings and will give to you for free, also test out the routes yourself.

Organization is a Plus

The more organized you are, the less chance there is that something will go wrong. Buy a notebook to keep all your wedding information in it. Receipts, contracts, ideas, etc. You might also want to get notebooks for your maid of honor/bridesmaids, and maybe consider one for the best man. Put info such as dates, times, locations, and duties. This will keep everyone organized as well, and minimize the chance of someone missing a fitting date or rehearsal time.

Being Grateful

As planners, we spend so much of our time and energy working to make others happy that it’s easy to overlook the things we have to be grateful for.  For me, I often think I overlook my family because I am so focused on our business.  Knowing that I have an understandable husband who stands with me through thick and thin and son who knows that mommy will drop ANYTHING at the sound of his voice to help him in need, makes me a proud mom, wife, entrepreneur, and friend.

I’m grateful for my wonderful team that are always there for us in a moments notice.  God has blessed us in so many ways that we will forever remain steadfast because we know where our help comes from.

Manhattan Cocktail Recipe - Please drink responsibly

Ingredients

2 ounces bourbon

1 ounce sweet vermouth

orange bitters

cherry

Tools

shaker

strainer

cocktail glass

Preparation

Fill a shaker half full of ice.

Combine 3-4 dashes orange bitters, bourbon and sweet vermouth.

Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Wedding Dresses with Pocket

Wedding dresses with pockets are back again in 2013 and wedding designers all over are showing their pocket love! I would love to see a bride in a designer’s wedding dress with pockets. Imagine, now the bride can store small items in their pockets and still look BEAUTIFUL! Just don’t put your cell phone in there….that is an absolute NO, NO!!!

Couture Cake Topper

This cake topper takes my breath away!!!!!!  I love it

http://www.couturecakejewelry.com/

Couture Jewelry by Margaret Rower

Loving couture jewelry at this moment.

I love Margaret Rowe’s couture jewelry collection. This is for anyone that want to step out BOLD and FIERCE!

http://www.margaretrowe.com/MargaretRowe-Bracelets.php

Spreading Christmas Cheer

I’m officially in the Christmas spirit and will be spreading it all over the place. There are some ways you can spread Christmas cheer to others without spending much or no money at all.

• You can offer to help an elderly person with housework or assist with putting up Christmas decor
• Baking goodies and taking it to a homeless shelter
• Volunteer to help the elderly with their Christmas shopping
• Visit a total stranger in the hospital and give them a Christmas gift
• Invite a friend over for conversation
• Anonymously donate money through your church to give to a specific family that has fallen on hard times
• Randomly call a friend and tell them you love them
• Always have a smile on your face and love in your heart
• Singing Christmas carols with your children will always make them happy

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

2013 New Trends - Strawberry Desserts Martini Glasses

Dessert tables and/or bars are changing the way meals are presented and served at weddings!!!! This craze is awesome for the any bride getting married in 2013. Everyone has seen the cupcake dessert table, but wouldn’t it be unique, awesome, and chic to see a strawberry dessert martini glass dessert table?  I would think so.

Veggie Bar

I have just fallen in love all over again!!!!!!!!! Looks delicious!!!!

Cake Shooter

I was looking for the cake call “naked cake” and came across this interesting and must do cake shooters.

2013 New Trending Wedding Colors

Strawberry Tower

I think I would honestly do something drastic, different, unique, and just out of the norm. Would you?

Wedding Tips

You can save money on your wedding with miscellaneous items. A few items that you would benefit from would include:

• Plan your bridal shower where gift cards are accepted
• If you need assistance with catering, don’t be afraid to ask the bridal party to help contribute to this. This can be their wedding gift to you
• If you and your future husband are considering building a new house, you may want to consider registering at Lowes or Home Depot
• You can have a money box bridal shower. Trust me, this money would be of great use towards the wedding
• Always try to get an all inclusive wedding package - More brides and grooms are choosing all inclusive wedding packages. With everyone’s extremely busy lifestyles, buying a complete wedding package you can customize to your own tastes and desires

What Does RSVP Mean?

google.com states meaning for R.S.V.P. stands for the French phrase, “répondez, s’il vous plaît,” which literally translates to “respond if you please,” or more simply, “please respond.”

When you accept an invitation, it would be very rude  not respond back.  Let’s face it, this is an Emily Post “must”

• Respond in a way as politely as possible
• You don’t have to provide a reason if you decline the invite
• If you are not sure you can make it, just say that “at this moment, I am not sure if I can make it but as soon as I work out my schedule, I will let you know.”
• If the hostess has taken the time to send you an invite with a self-addressed stamped envelope, it won’t take long to decide if you are attending and drop the invite back off in the mail

Honestly, How Much Can You Really Afford?

When it comes to the word “budget”, everyone doesn’t like to discuss it when you are having a big event. But let’s face it…..budget is the top priority and realistic.

• How much can each of you contribute?
• How many people will be attending?
• Are  you going to have a 3 course meal?

Reality check…..the number one factor that affects the budget,  is the number of guests that will be attending. Every bride wants a big wedding with all the trimming and invite around 200-300 people. But can you really pull this off on a tight budget?

Remember, more people attending equals more mouths to feed, which means more food and drinks, which comes to a total of MORE MONEY!