Jan 14, 2019 | vendors
You can have that freshly made-up look without harming your skin!
Sometimes you get that emergency call and you have to be prepared. This time, it was from a bride who was getting ready for her engagement session. She said that she doesn’t usually wear much make-up, but she wanted to wear make-up for photos. The problem was that she had such sensitive skin that she couldn’t find anything that worked for her. Did I know of anyone who could help?
Fortunately, I do know someone: Jenny of Lena Rose Beauty. When I’ve talked to her, I have always been impressed by the breadth of her knowledge about cosmetics and their ingredients. She is passionate about making sure that everything that goes on your skin is safe and non-toxic. And she has built that passion into a full-service spa and beauty boutique.
One of the things I really like about her approach is her commitment to sticking to the science. She can tell you all about parabens (for example) and why they shouldn’t go on your skin. That always gives me the feeling that her knowledge can be trusted, and that is not a quality that is always easy to come by.
So, if you need clean make-up or other beauty services, or if you want to support an eco-friendly local business, now you know where to look first.
Jan 7, 2019 | wedding planning
Having happy wedding guests starts with good communication. Photo by Becca Heuer Photography.
I always say that the things a planner can do for you are not limited to the ones you think of readily. Yes, sure, I can recommend excellent caterers and steer you clear of all sorts of pitfalls. Yes, I can likely save you money and time. But it’s the unexpected things I can do that are (in my opinion) my real value (See this post and this one for some of my previous thoughts on this subject.)
And I would say that one of the most valuable things I bring to the table is my ability to improve communications. I’ll give you a few examples.
A couple I was working with were interested in seeing a particular venue. Since I was doing only partial planning for them, it was their responsibility to contact the venue to arrange for a tour. They emailed the venue but never heard back. I was able to reach my contact at the venue and make an introduction after it became clear that the original message had gotten lost in transit.
Another time, a photographer I had recommended missed a message that had come in on a busy weekend and didn’t know that a couple was interested in hiring him. After a quick message from me, he noticed the missing message and was able to get back to them.
And, of course, a lot of what I do is to facilitate communication among the various vendors on any project. Since we all have to work together–and our work is all dependent on one another–much of my planning time is spent making sure that the caterer, the DJ, and the photographer all agree on the timeline for the event. I also facilitate communication among the caterer, the bakery, and the beverage supplier. And between the venue and the florist–and so many other things.
In many ways, the job of the planner is all about communication. Everyone needs to know what is going on, and someone has to make sure that they do. This isn’t something you’ll ever see, but it is one of the most important parts of planning any event. And it’s something a good planner can make sure always happens so that your wedding or other event goes off as planned.
Dec 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
Happy New Year! Photo courtesy of Sprungphoto.com.
Happy New Year to all! If you just got engaged, please accept my congratulations. Enjoy your engagement. There’s no time like it. And remember to leave plenty of time to spend with your spouse-to-be, even while you are busy planning your wedding.
Dec 24, 2018 | Uncategorized
For those who celebrate right around now, I’d like to offer my best wishes for your holidays. May all your dreams come true!
Dec 17, 2018 | Parties and Special Events
Here’s the “guest book” for the sports fan!
I just worked on one of the best bar mitzvah parties I can imagine, which has prompted some thoughts on what kinds of parties are really appreciated by the guests.
As far as I can tell, the standard, Saturday evening party following a bar or bat mitzvah is dinner and a DJ for dancing. That was pretty common when I was that age, and (according to the 13-year-old I was talking with recently) that is how a lot of them still are. And that’s great, if you have both teens and adults at the party who really like to dance.
But what about when one group (or both) doesn’t really like to dance? Should you still hire a DJ? What are the other options? Actually, there are a lot.
The family I just worked with decided that they wanted a low-key party, nothing too fancy. And they followed the interests of their son, who really (really!) loves sports. They rented a community center that has both a party room and a gym, and they brought in a company that does giant, inflatable games. They filled the gym with games (and cool lighting and fun music). And everyone loved it. The kids, arriving at the party, went running into the gym with lots of sounds of “Ooooh, wow!” The adults had a great time in the other room with a selfie station, a corn hole game, some music, and adult beverages–or watching the kids play the games in the gym. There was a dinner buffet, so everyone ate when they weren’t too busy playing. And it was one of the most fun parties for all involved.
So, what can you do if you are planning a similar celebration? Not everyone is as into sports as this young man, but most kids of 13 have something that they are interested in. If your child is, say, into chess and so are all their friends, you can bring in a chess expert to teach or run a tournament. Or have a live chess game with the kids as players. Or, if your kid loves art or theatre or music, there are plenty of organizations that would love to run activities for your party. (Check with your local park district or favorite arts organization that runs summer camps to see what they have to offer for parties.)
Pretty much any interest can become both the theme and the activity at a party. And if it’s something the kids at the party love, anyhow, they will all have a great time. And maybe even the adults will enjoy it, too!
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