New Year's Eve

I would love to wish all of the supporters of B & R Events a very lovely New Year's Eve. Spend it with your loved ones and please make sure that you are safe with your festivities. You will be hearing more from us in the new year!

Oh, the bargains to be had!

I am utterly in love with this time of year. For the lucky brides who are planning upcoming fall or winter weddings, this is the best time of year to find the best decor bargains! Many different stores, such as Pottery Barn and Hobby Lobby, have so many times that are marked up to 50% off. This makes adding in detail so much easier.

The Man...

I try to not post about my personal life, because this is supposed to be a blog about wedding planning.

I am going to make an exception this time.

Darren is my adorable husband. He just had his birthday yesterday, and he is always so great at finding the perfect holiday gifts.

I am fortunate because he is such a hard worker, and if B & R Events plans your affair, you are more than likely going to see him somewhere behind the scenes, even if he technically isn't on the pay roll.

I love him so dearly, that I honestly cannot imagine my life without him. He makes my life so enjoyable and fun.

So, here is to the birthday boy!

-Samantha

New Looks

If you haven't been to our site in a while, you probably aren't aware that we have had a makeover! Please check it out and let us know what you think...

And finally...

charitable favors. Many brides are choosing to donate money to a cause that is important to them. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure is one of the more popular charities and makes contributions to the fight against breast cancer.

Other ideas include:

savedarfur.org

aspca.org

alz.org

salvationarmyusa.org

And so many charities to promote the awareness of global warming.

You can make sure that your guests are aware of the donation by putting cards on the tables at the reception, putting a blurb in the ceremony program, or even having the DJ make an announcement.

Favor Fun, part deux

On to the usable category...

Let it be an item that your guests will actually use. Think about your family and friends, what are their rituals and how do they like to have fun?

If your family enjoys wine, maybe a wine stopper. Firefighters and policemen abundant on your guest list? Maybe some koozies would be a good idea. Music lovers at your shin dig? A custom CD. Be creative, and then the packaging can match the scheme of your wedding.

Favor fun

Favors can fall into 3 categorie: edible, usable, or charitable.
One of the biggest trends in weddings for the past two years has been the candy buffet. Lovely clear vases filled with yummy candies in your wedding color scheme. Not only is this favor delicious, but about pleasing to the eye. What is better yet, some people have picked up on the trend and offer catering for the candy buffet.
For some really cool professional ideas, check out http://www.candycatering.com/

Food for food's sake

Big question: dinner or cocktail reception?
I never have a definitive answer for this. I know what I prefer, and that is to have a full meal with some place to sit. Most guests are fine as long as they do not have to hit Taco Bell on the way home.
The other issue is, the cocktail reception is going to cost the same, if not more, than the plated dinner or dinner buffet. This may raise some eyebrows, but if you really think about it, the staff is having to clear more plate, more food per item is being made, there is usually some sort of chef's action area, and the list goes on.

If you are truly worried about the cost of food, and you have exhausted all your options elsewhere, I would suggest perhaps having a lunch or even a brunch if you do not mind getting married earlier in the day. If you want to keep the later ceremony time, inquire to your catering representative about a dessert reception.