Event Planning in Melbourne - Sticker Shock

In light of today's economy, very few of us are experiencing stress-free spending. So, when planning a wedding, anniversary, bar mitzvah or a celebration to remind us that good things are ahead, we are mindful of costs and getting the most "Bang for our Buck". As an event planner, I am my clients' conscientious consumer and I am there to guide them to options that cost less. Here's a tip...,flowers eat up a huge portion of any decorating budget so when picking flowers keep with seasonal blooms & the bigger the flower, the more visual volume and the fewer stems used. Also, when choosing linens avoid the specialty linens & stick to standard polyester cloths that come in a huge assortment of colors. Other price considerations are deliveries and after-hour late-night pickups. Accept help from family & friends. If no one has a truck, consider a local truck rental company...there are some truck rentals available for just $20 a day. They supply the truck & friends supply the muscle. Good Luck saving those extra dollars!

Event Planning in Melbourne - Your Wedding Colors

Often times when brides come to me to discuss their color choices, I am surprised that they have not considered the colors of the season. This isn't to say that those colors are chiseled in stone but certainly can be inspirational when deciding on the hues. For example, a beautiful fall wedding could illustrate the richness of the harvest with its tones of ambers & oranges and a lovely spring wedding could exemplify new life with its pastels. Regardless of what colors you choose, remember to take a look outside at Mother Nature's color palette because she definitely has an eye for perfection. Here's a tip...don't always rely on nature to produce that "natural" look, especially where moss and leaves are concerned. Use only the store-bought kind on surfaces that your guests will touch, as "the real deal" often holds small (but hungry) bugs.

Event Planning in Melbourne - Fun Table Tops

The fun of planning & designing Bar & Bat Mitzvahs is that the inner child can come out. I have learned not to take myself too seriously and I'm always ready for the unexpected! Smile & proceed to plan B, C or sometimes Z especially when planning a child's event. At this particular bar mitzvah, I had the pleasure of working with a wonderful young man and his parents. He was a die hard Yankee fan & wanted only baseball at his party. We used the jersey material that is used for baseball team's practice tees to serve as the overlay of the table. Foam bats formed the centerpiece with a 36" diameter baseball. Out of PVC we created the Yankee Stadium Fascade which adorned the perimeter of the room. Go Yankees! Eventfully yours, Betsy

Event Planning in Melbourne - Happy Guests Make a Fabulous Party

If you are expecting out of towners for your upcoming event, here are some tips to help to keep them comfortable & happy. When planning an event, I make certain that my client's guests upon checking into the hotel, are greeted with a gift package. This will let them know how thankful you are that they chose to attend your special event. The package should include: an itinerary of the weekend's events; a map of the area; a list of your favorite eateries as well as a guide to local points of interest; a list of local hair salons & spas. I always include some midnights snacks such as: bottled water, mints, tea bags & if the event is in my home town of Melbourne, Florida, a box of Grimaldi's chocolate covered potato chips that we are now known for. Attach a welcome note for an extra-personal touch!

Event Planning in Melbourne - Signature Drinks

At a recent fund raiser that raised monies for a cardiac care unit at a local hospital, I was fortunate enough to work with a group of people that were wonderful. They entrusted in me the task to turn an ordinary gymnasium into a upscale nightspot & the result was spectacular! One suggestion that I made was to introduce a signature drink at the event & the "Heartini" was born. As this is an annual event, guests will anticipate what next year's creation will be. Here's a tip...for a small intimate dinner party name the signature drink after the guest of honor. Your guests will most certainly enjoy!

Event Planning in Melbourne - Going the Extra Green Mile

As an event planner & designer, my job is to keep an eye on costs and to be a good consumer for my client; but as a citizen of planet earth, I must be as eco-savvy as possible while not bruising my client's budget. Here's a tip...Going Green can be something as simply as using rental vases that you can return and they will be reused; using recycled paper products for your invitations, programs & guest cards; opting for locally grown flowers or offering take home, potted orchids that can continue to be enjoyed by your guests long after the event is over.

Often times, clients are concerned that they won't be able to afford a Green Event but I tell my clients that ethically, we can't afford to not go green!

Event Planning in Melbourne - Mixing Fashion with Floral

At a recent Bridal Expo, I used a table topper that we coined "Couture Yourself" for a Bridal Couture theme. This is definitely for a future bride or any young woman who is a "fashionista" & is looking for a tabletopper who will definitely "wow" her guests. I mixed fashion with floral to create this fabulous centerpiece. I used an old seamstress mannequin and created the top of the gown with white carnations and pinned tulle at the bottom to create the skirt. The dress was also adorned with rhinestones and pink & white strands of pearls to create the belt. If I was creating this look for many tables, I would stretch those budgetary dollars by incorporating other fashion ideas on some tables and not use the mannequins on every table. This will not only save dollars but add interest.

Event Planning in Melbourne - Satisfy all of the Senses

The best events should arouse every sense. The space should look fabulous, should smell delicious, should introduce great textures to feel luxurious and should have music playing from the moment your guests arrive. Beware of the "Kiss of Death"....at a recent function that I attended but was not involved in the event design, guests start arriving to a room that was dead silent. Immediately the guests were made to feel that they arrived too early and were incredibly uncomfortable for the remainder of the evening. So if the entertainment is not scheduled to begin until after cocktails, make sure arrangements are made for some type of music to be playing as guests arrive.

Here's a tip....if the kitchen is far from the guest area & you can't enjoy the smells coming out of the kitchen, aromas such as scented candles and potpourri help create an ambiance that will entice your guests. A quick and easy recipe for citrus potpourri is: Slice fresh lemons and oranges with cloves and cinnamon sticks, place in a pot and simmer over a low heat. The wonderful aroma will permeate the entire space & guests will most certainly enjoy!

Event Planning in Melbourne - Creativity Can Come Cheap

Creativity doesn't have to cost big dollars. Here's a tip for you....try a little food coloring! At a recent bridal shower that I was hired to be the event decorator, I used very tall cylinder vases to decorate the tables and to house the beautiful flowers that the hostess requested. Because it was a spring shower, I wanted to introduce all of the colors of the season so instead of filling the cylinders with plain water, I added a drop of food coloring in each vase to create a rainbow of colors and topped them with bands of ribbons. The effect was lovely! The guests were amazed at the effect & the client was so pleased that her special bridal shower is definitely one that will be remembered.