Are You Planning a Spring Wedding? Here Is What You Need to Know

Spring is a perfect time to get married!  The start of warmer weather and the beautiful blossoms blooming which is exactly why over 20% of brides and grooms choose to get married during the spring.   There are a few things that need consideration when planning a spring wedding such as planning around spring break when hotels can be hard to come by.  Here is how you can pull off the perfect spring wedding, remember our wedding consultants are always here to help!

Wilt Proof Wedding Flowers for Spring and Summer Weddings

Spring is when everything is in bloom.  There are a huge selection of flowers and greenery in bloom.  Brides have access to colorful peonies, sweet peas, lily of the valley, daffodils, hyacinths, lilacs, and tulips.  Not only are there a number of different flowers to choose from, Mother Nature offers a perfect backdrop of spring colors from cherry blossoms, wheat grass, dogwood, moss, and herbs.

When you stick to flowers that are in season not only are they fresher, they are more affordable.  Spring flowers and blooms when used in arrangements for weddings offer an incredibly feminine feel to your event.  If you prefer something more understated and elegant consider using one color theme and incorporating ivy or other types of flowing greenery. 

Bringing the Best of Spring to the Menu

Temperatures are on the rise however it is far from hot for most springtime weddings.  A crisp cocktail with fresh appetizers is perfect for the pre-dinner cocktail hour(s).  It will start the fresh vibe of your wedding off on the right foot.  Try a light white wine sangria that includes fresh spring fruits or an effortless muddled strawberry mojito.  Consider fresh flavored martinis including mango, watermelon, and cucumber. 

For meal time work with a caterer that specializes in bringing the seasons best ingredients to the table.  Highlight artichokes, asparagus, carrots, morels, and more.  Springtime fruits can add color and flavor to plating using apricots, mangoes, pineapple, and rhubarb.  Your food should be reflective of the season, working with the flavors of the season instead of against them will bring the best menu for your family and friends. 

Enjoying Spring Flavors and Colors Even in Your Wedding Cake

There are so many benefits to having a spring wedding and being able to use color flowers that won’t wilt from heat to decorate your wedding cake.  It’s easy to turn your wedding cake into an ultimate showstopper with fresh spring flowers.  Choose a cake flavor that embraces the flavors of spring.  Of course, chocolate cake is always a good idea especially when you enhance it with the flavors of spring like a strawberry filling.  Thankfully you don’t have to settle on fondant as you often do in the heat of the summer because all types of frosting work during the crisp temperatures of spring.

Endless Options for Guest Attire During Spring Weddings

There are simply more options for wedding guests and your wedding party when it comes to participating in a spring wedding.  Hemlines can be shorter, fabrics can be lighters, and there are endless colors that work.  The dress code for springtime weddings can be more low-key no matter what time of day it is. 

Weddings, no matter what time of year they happen in, are a joyous occasion that mark a momentous change in your relationship.  When you choose the date for your wedding embrace the season it falls in and take all the best qualities and bring them out during the wedding planning process.

​ Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.

Deciding If Hiring A Wedding Planner Is The Right Thing To Do

There are so many decisions a bride and groom need to make; one of the most important decisions being whether to hire a wedding planner or to go it alone.  We hear so many brides that have decided to forgo hiring a wedding planner regretting their decision in the end.  They go through all the reason why they didn’t think they needed to hire a professional and realize in the end most of those were the same reasons why they should have. 

The Most Common Reasons Brides Decide Not to Hire A Wedding Planner

  • We will bond over finding vendors and going to vendor appointments
  • We will make better more informed decisions doing the work ourselves
  • We can save money
  • We won’t be forced into using the planners go to suppliers
  • We won’t have to run our consideration by anyone else

The Most Common Reasons Brides Wish They Would Have Hired A Wedding Planner

  • Planning a wedding and the mundane tasks involved throughout the process are not always fun.  There are aspects that brides and grooms enjoy such as dinner sampling and cake testing however, they are still involved in those aspects even when hiring a professional planner to assist in making their big dream what they picture.  The part that isn’t fun, finding vendors, coordinating tastings, and keeping track of how much they each cost.  A wedding planners’ job is to allow you to enjoy the fun aspects of wedding planning without the behind the scenes stress.
  • Planning the perfect party for your closest friends and family doesn’t happen without a little stress.  The stress of planning a wedding takes away a lot of the romance.  The last thing you want as a bride or groom is to deal with the stress and exhaustion of dealing with everyone’s drama, opinions, and overall meddling.  Thankfully wedding planners know exactly how to deal with people getting in the way of making your day anything less than perfect.  Their specialty is bringing your dream to life, not your mothers-in-laws dream. 
  • It turns out that choosing vendors to work with is not as easy as most people think it will be.  It turns out that a lot of vendors are very charismatic and are great at telling people what they want to hear vs actual performance.  Wedding planners have a preferred list of vendors because they have actually seen the vendors in action and know who to work with and who to steer away from.  Having seen a vendor performing is a far better indicator of what to expect during your wedding than a simple face to face interview one time.  Yes, you can learn a little from online reviews but who is to say those sources are trustworthy? 
  • Planning a wedding takes a lot of time.  Instead of getting to enjoy your engagement you are running around like a chicken with its head cut off when planning a wedding without the help of a planner.  It is a planner’s job to create the perfect evening for you.  This is what their time is devoted to so that you can focus on your own job and relationship.

This list could go on and on.  When deciding if hiring a wedding planner is right for you and your wedding start by talking to a newly married couple that didn’t.  It will soon be clear how the services of a wedding consultant/planner will benefit you!

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.

I Just Got Engaged! Where Should I Start?

Yay, you just got engaged and get to marry your best friend for life!  Once the love of your life has finally popped the question, the ring is securely in place on hand, your tears have passed, and you have announced to the world you are getting married it is time to get started on the hard part, planning a wedding.

At this point if you are breathing at a quicker pace don’t worry, we will get you breathing normally in just a few minutes.  Anxiety is just one of the many feeling’s brides will experience when planning a wedding.  One thing that can help with this overwhelming feeling, is to of course hire help from a wedding consultant/planner to help but we will get to that in a little bit.

Here Are Some of The First Steps to Take Once You Have Taken the Plunge and Gotten Engaged

Take Some Time to Just Be Together

Our world is so full of ways to connect to the outside world that sometimes we forget to take time to just live within the moment.  Our first piece of advice surrounding your engagement centers around social media; take time to just live in the moment, don’t rush to announce your engagement the minute it occurs.  Yes, it is a happy moment and the news is share worthy but the announcement doesn’t have to occur the moment it happens.

The electricity of the moment is something that cannot be recreated so just soak it in.  There should be no pressure to start calling people or letting the world of social media in just yet.  Instead, try taking a day or two to let it set in.  Share the moment with one another and just savor the secret of your engagement between the two of you without others input for just a little bit.  When the chaos of planning a wedding begins you will be glad you did.

Announce Your Engagement to Your Parents, Family, Important People in Your Life, & Then the World

It might be tempting to put a picture online right away but hold back, the people closest to you should be the first people in line to hear your news.  There is a hierarchy to announcing good news.  Milestones in your life are something that your parents should hear about before your middle school teacher. Instead of texting try actually picking up the phone to make this announcement to your family if you can’t be there in person.

Make Sure Your Ring Is Properly Sized and Insured

Yes, the plan is to always present a properly fitting ring however, sometimes this just doesn’t occur.  If your ring doesn’t fit properly it is important to take it to be properly sized, yes you will be without it for a little while, but you don’t have to risk it slipping off into the abyss of missing jewelry.  The next step is to take the time to have it properly insured.  Insuring your ring is the only way in which it will be replaced if it gets lost without you having to purchase a new one.

Choose Your Wedding Party and Plan an Engagement Party

There aren’t a lot of important decisions that you need to make once you are engaged but if you think you want an engagement party, right after you are engaged is the time to do it.  An engagement party is a great time to bring the families together to mingle.  It is also a great opportunity to choose and announce your bridal party.  Most brides and grooms have these people in mind long before becoming engaged.

Create a Timeline

The one question you will be asked over and over again is in regard to the wedding date.  It is not required to choose a wedding date upon getting engaged you should expect it at least once a day.  It is important however once a date is chosen to create a timeline to keep you on the same page as your partner.  The wedding can be anywhere from weeks to months to years away, the importance of a timeline doesn’t change.

Start Booking

Once you have set a date and created a timeline you are set to start booking vendors.  This is when most couples decide to call in the big guns and look into hiring a professional wedding planner to help.  The last thing you want is for your relationship to start to center for the sole purpose to plan for this day.  To alleviate that wedding consultants can help by taking your vision, completing the leg work, and let you make the end decisions.  This is an easy way to ensure that your time is not completely devoted only to planning a wedding but instead to better your relationship as you head into a new realm together.

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.

It Is True, Wedding Planners Do It All

When it comes to planning a wedding the spectrum of brides ranges from those who have absolutely no idea what they are doing to those who believe that after they have planned their own wedding, they should quit their jobs and plan weddings full-time.  It is pretty obvious that brides who have no idea where to start would hire a wedding planner to help them through the planning and execution of their big day however, for brides that feel like they have it under control or where money is tight the answer might not be as clear cut. 

Should you hire a wedding planner?

YES! All brides, no matter if they have a clue or not can benefit from the experience, industry connections, and extra hands that a wedding planner offers to their big day. 

A wedding planner not only saves brides and grooms time but also money.  Choosing to hire a wedding planner is wise.  In actuality, the money spent on a wedding planner is often recouped by brides and groom in a multitude of ways. Consider the days off that you would have to take if planning your wedding without the help of a planner.  Days off without pay to visit vendors and scope out venues.  Think about all the lost connections as well.  Wedding planners have connection within the industry that brides and grooms don’t.  These connections can lead to big savings.  It is not uncommon for vendors to offer discounts to brides and grooms who book them through certain wedding planners. 

Wedding consultants can really help stretch a wedding parties’ budget.  After planning so many weddings, consultants know what is important, what aspects are going to have an impact and what aspects will get overlooked.  Although releasing 20 doves may seem like a good idea, the same affect can be had from just two and save a ton of money.  What seems like a small decision can wind up costing brides and grooms’ big bucks.  Wedding planners can help guide them into better decisions that offer the same impact.  

Wedding planners will always be on your side.  They fight for what you want and work for you to keep your vision in mind when working with vendors and YOUR FAMILY.  It is true, not all fairy tale weddings occur without some hiccups from the people throwing their two sense in the mix which can often derail an already stressed out bride’s ability to make decisions.  Thankfully when you hire a wedding planner to help make your magical day come to life all they want is to bring your dream to life.  They will fight for your wants and needs.  They take your unique vision and eliminate the opinions of others to make it happen. 

The journey from “Will you marry me” to “I Do” is a long one.  Many brides have told us that by the end they just run out of fight.  A wedding planner doesn’t let this happen.  If you want an outdoor wedding even if it looks like it is going to rain, a wedding planner will fight to bring your vision to light up to the very last minute.  They will be out drying chairs if it stops 5 minutes before you are walking down the aisle and if the rain looks like it won’t be stopping, we do our best to turn the indoors into an outdoor paradise for you.  

Wedding planners bring the level of stress down a hundred notches.  Let’s face it, brides are under a lot of stress.  Vendors often mention that it way more difficult to work with a bride, groom or their parents then it is to work with a planner.  Wedding planners streamline the process, thus decreasing the overall stress that participants from all angles are experiencing. 

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.

Wedding Professionals: Difference Between Planners, Designers, & Coordinators

Planning a wedding takes a great deal of time.  Many brides don’t have enough hours in the day to make this happen the way they want without the help of a professional.  There are several different professionals that play a role in making your big day come to a reality.  Some confusion comes from who they need to hire vs who is unnecessary.  This will basically come down to how much time and effort you, the bride, wants to put into planning your wedding.  Below we will look into the difference between wedding coordinators, wedding planners, and wedding designers.  These are the three key professionals that are hired to make your wedding dreams come to life.  Here we will find out exactly what role each plays in making your big day go off without a hitch. 

Wedding Planners

Wedding planners are logistic professionals.  From managing vendors, negotiating contracts, and day of execution wedding planners take any guess work out of the day.  The make planning the wedding as smooth and easy as possible for brides and grooms.  A wedding planner will track your budget and ensure everyone, and everything is in place.  Wedding planners help brides make the details of the day become a reality.  Wedding planners often put in between 80 to 250 hours planning for your big day.  The more people and pieces that are involved in the wedding the more hours they will need to spend creating perfection for your day.

Duties of A Wedding Planner

  • Provide referrals to vendors
  • Schedule and attend all meetings with vendors
  • Negotiate vendor contracts
  • Helps determine and manage the wedding budget
  • Attends location viewings and food tastings
  • Suggest ideas and coordinate design details
  • Coordinates hotels and transportation
  • Supervise the rehearsal
  • Manages everything on the day of your wedding
  • Creates a detailed timeline
  • Handles wedding party, guests, and vendors
  • Executes the on-site design vision

Brides should hire a wedding planner when:

  • They have a budget that allows for it
  • Want the least amount of wedding stress possible
  • Have a demanding career and therefore little time for planning
  • Are organizationally challenged
  • Are on a tight time frame
  • Want an event that includes multiple events
  • Are putting on a destination wedding
  • The wedding/reception are being thrown somewhere other than a traditional hotel, banquet room, or restaurant

Wedding Designer

Wedding designers have one specific role and that is to ensure that your wedding is aesthetically pleasing.  They have nothing to do with negotiations or appointments.  Wedding designers consult brides on anything and everything to do with the design of your venue.  This includes everything from the floor plan, lighting, flowers, furniture, linens, and such.  Planners create a cohesive, stylish, and chic look that creates the ambiance that the bride desires.  Wedding designers are artists and can truly transform a blank banquet room into a canvas that represents the bride and groom. They usually work about 40 hours to make your vision come true.

Duties of A Wedding Designer

  • Works with the bride to create a wedding design concept
  • Provides guidance in creating a color palette
  • Manages the décor budget including the florist, rentals, lighting, and stationary
  • Locate and contract special props and equipment
  • Visits the site to devise a layout and identify potential areas of concern
  • Makes sure all decorate elements are in place on-site the day of the wedding

Brides should hire a wedding designer when:

  • Décor is the most important aspect of your wedding
  • You are organized and logistically savvy but are lacking creativity
  • You want a specific theme
  • There are too many wedding styles you like, and you can’t choose one

Wedding Coordinators/Consultants

Wedding coordinators is focused on the logistics of the event however don’t usually get involved with the process until closer to the day up until the end. Wedding consultants are a second set of eyes that in theory are double checking what has been done to plan the wedding up until this point and work as the point person on the day of the wedding.  Wedding coordinators confirm vendor contracts, make sure vendor are paid their final payments, create a day of timeline, coordinate guest counts, and such.  Wedding coordinators unlike wedding planners have nothing to do with budgeting for the wedding or earlier vendor contacts. They bring the end game all together for brides as the wedding day approaches.  They usually put in about 25 hours during to help ensure the bride is set up and ready for her big day.

Duties of A Wedding Coordinator

  • Meets with the bride and groom about 4 to 8 weeks before the wedding to see what has been done up to this point
  • Reviews vendors their signed contracts and confirming the logistics of the day
  • Creates a detailed timeline & floor plan
  • Complete day of final walk throughs at the ceremony and reception site
  • Considers any overlooked details
  • Supervises the rehearsal
  • Oversees wedding day events

Brides should hire a wedding coordinator/consultant when:

  • You want to play an active role in planning your wedding but want help at the end to make sure nothing has been missed
  • You are an extremely organized bride that is very detailed oriented
  • The budget for your wedding isn’t large enough to employ a wedding planner

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.

I Just Got Engaged, Should I Hire A Wedding Planner?

The simple answer to this question, YES!  If you want to keep your sanity when planning your wedding the first person you will want to hire is a professional wedding planner

Preparing for a wedding can turn into a full-time job.  If you are a working bride, like many are, this is a huge time commitment that many people can’t take on without serious assistance.  Every element of planning a wedding from interviewing and hiring vendors, choosing décor, and managing family is important and often overwhelming.  A professional wedding planner can help weed through your options and help make the whole process far more enjoyable than struggling to do it all on your own.

Advantages of Hiring A Wedding Planner

Wedding Planners Shoulder the Responsibility

Tasks related to planning a wedding take up a great deal of time.  When you are working full-time and want to still have a social life, you may find that you just don’t have the time it takes to keep up.  When you hire a wedding planner you are handing off the more time-consuming tasks of scheduling appointments, working with vendors, and the nitty-gritty details of the day itself. 

Budgeting and Scheduling

Most couples try to stick to a strict wedding budget when planning a wedding.  Often times brides that are going it alone stop considering the budget as they become overwhelmed and opt for easy over budgeting.  Wedding planners are here to make sure that doesn’t happen.  There is no need to go into extreme debt to have the day you have always envisioned without stress while making it happen.  Because of the relationships that exist between wedding consultants and vendors they are often able to reach deals that brides alone cannot.  On top of scoring big with industry connections they can also help to make sure that vendors scheduling works into your already tight schedule so that you aren’t missing work or social events in order to plan. 

Inside Knowledge and Connections

Wedding planners are in constant contact with a wide range of florists, DJs, bands, stationary experts, bridal salons, hair salons, photographers, and videographers. After listening to what you want for your day, they can match you with vendors they know jive with your vibe.  This means that you, as a bride, don’t have to spend hours searching Google, scheduling appointments, and sifting through it all.  Another benefit, the connection that wedding planners have with vendors.  This will help with negotiations, paperwork, and contracts.  Fundamentals of wedding planning that need to occur but that don’t need you stressing over them.

New Ideas

Many new brides have file folders of Pinterest pictures of their ideal wedding.  Sometimes they get stuck in a rut thinking about only these visions of the perfect event and forget to stop and consider new, original ideas that can’t be found on Pinterest.  From unique centerpieces, memorable desserts, custom vows, wedding planners are perfect at bouncing ideas back and forth with their brides.  Brainstorming with a professional is priceless.

Priceless Advice and Day of Assistance

A wedding planner is a best friend without the overly close connection.  This is a priceless investment.  Believe is or not, your best friend will not want to hear about your wedding non-stop from the minute you get engaged until your big day.  A wedding planner however, it is their job to be as obsessed about your wedding day as you are.  They can help with meddling mothers-in-law, dramatic divorced parents, bridal shower disagreements, appropriate dates, and everything in between.  When the big day comes a wedding planner literally makes sure you are stress free and that the day you have planned comes to light without a hitch.  She will be there for issues, if they happen to occur, so that you have nothing to worry about expect meeting your best friend at the end of the aisle and committing your lives to one another.

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.

Planning for The Best New Year’s Yet


New Year’s Eve is the BIGGEST party night of the year and the Event Planners at Event Planning DC are here to help!   Not everyone is a “party person” so that is why we are here to help.  Whether you are planning a party at your home or at a location there are a few creative ideas for celebrating with your family and friends. Below you will find some top tips for planning an event to remember.

Snack Trays

Instead of planning a huge elaborate meal consider snack trays to feed your guests throughout the evening.  Cheese, meats, and cracker trays, fruit and veggie trays, nut samplers, chips and popcorn trays, hummus and pita  platters, dessert trays, and more. 

Karaoke

Nobody can resist a microphone!  Karaoke is a crowd favorite.  If you have a speaker, a microphone, and a computer you can have a karaoke party. Whether you choose to sing popular Christmas tunes or piano bar songs people will love to sing along. Karaoke is a great ice breaker and gets people enjoying the moment.

Photo Booths and Props

Photo booths are all the rage and are easier then ever to set up and execute.  Grab a back drop,some basic props and costumes, a camera, and get ready to click away!  A photo booth works for all age groups and is a great way collect memories from your event.

Themed Party

Any type of theme will work, they are all fun and can be inclusive to everyone at the party. Decorations, food, music, and attire can all match the theme to make it legit.  One of the most popular New Year’s Eve themes is The Great Gatsby. If you want something a bit more festive and fun, try a beach party in the middle of the winter. 

Game Night

 This is a great option when planning an event that involves families and people of all ages.  Whether it is board games or competitive Wii competition, or a combination of the two it is a perfect way to gap the age difference and bring everyone together as one. 

Makeovers

This may not be a night time activity but how much better is a makeover party when bringing in a New Year. Start the night with the girls getting your hair, nails, toes, and a purchasing a new outfit for your big evening out. 

Movie/Fort Night

This is a great party event when bringing your family together.  It is a special time for cousins to unite under a massive living room fort and some good movies. 

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at https://www.eventplanningdc.com.



Here Comes the Holidays!

The holidays are upon us!  Of course, we all know what this means… PARTY TIME!  There is no better way then to start getting in the spirit of the season than with a company holiday party.  Although company parties can become the source of water cooler stories for years to come, they are the perfect time to get to know the people you spend eight to ten hours a day with.

Yes, some co-workers will take this opportunity to enjoy a few beverages which can lead to some tipsy revelations, funky dancing, or perhaps some mild filtration it will also be a time for some fun and entertainment. Corporate holiday parties are similar to that once a year wedding we are all excited to attend, they allow employees to have a little fun and reward them for the hard work that has been put in throughout the year.

Below are some ultra-exciting corporate party ideas to ensure your event is something that your employees enjoy.

Company Olympics

Instead of running, swimming, skiing, and so on create a few fun events that employees can participate in for prizes.  Consider creating teams by randomly drawing names and have them compete in fun games like wine cork shooting ranges, team table tennis with one partner blind folded, bouncy ball basketball using mason jars as baskets, balancing by the books, and so on.  You really can come up with just about anything to create a night of activity and unexpected team bonding.

Rent an Indoor Field

What better way to get to know your employees and them one another than to rent an indoor athletic field for a game of kickball, softball, flag football, and more.  After the game, surprise employees with an entertainer that is able to set up a stage and perform for them after they have cleaned up and are ready to party.

Take Over a Museum/Zoo

How awesome would it be to attend a corporate event in a venue that is normally over crowded and unable to be enjoyed.  Think about having the Smithsonian, the Shedd Aquarium, or San Francisco Zoo all to yourselves to enjoy.  Having food and drink stations throughout for employees to enjoy.  What a treat it would be to have time to enjoy something so amazing without the crowds, just your co-workers and their families.

A Bar Crawl

Not all places of employment would consider this but a less conservative, smaller company might see this as a perfect opportunity to let loose.  Rent rooms for each employee and a company party bus to explore several bars throughout the area without having to worry about driving and getting home.

Of course, your corporate party needs to be planned with your company and employees in mind.  No matter what type of event you decide on you have to be prepared for a bit of “backlash” by outsiders uninterested in participating in activities outside of normal business hours.  As an employer your job is to plan for the masses and make sure to give your employees an experience that lets them know just how appreciated they are!

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at http://www.eventplanningdc.com.

Event Planning DC Helps with Your Corporate Holiday Party Ideas

If you haven’t started planning for your company’s holiday party, it’s time to start!  Our experts are on the job to assist in planning a bash that your crew will actually be excited to come to.  Corporate events don’t need to live up to their stale reputation, it is 2018 and having a good time with your co-workers is trending!  Here are some tips to create a corporate event that stands out to your employees for years to come.

Choose a Theme

Nothing turns a frown upside down faster than a party with a theme!  Even your typical drinks and dinner event goes from ho-hum to something better when a theme is stuck to it.  Think about it, you will be talking about how Donna from HR won the ugly sweater contest with her hideous, super flash, glitter, punk sweater for holiday parties to come.  Here are some other ideas:

  • Create a wonderland with fake snow, twinkling lights, and all white décor
  • Have members of your staff vote on a decade and dress like they are from that era
  • Create a tropical resort or cozy cabin
  • Choose a color theme
  • Invite people of different cultures to share recipes pot luck style

Entice Them with Prizes

Winning something is always fun.  Think about prizes that truly connect with your employees and budget.  Consider the following ideas:

  • Gift cards
  • Gadgets
  • Paid time off
  • Tickets

Activities That Break the Ice

Games aren’t just for kids anymore.  Plan an activity that helps loosen everyone up and get to know each other better.  Activities where people have to work together are popular at corporate holiday events as it works as a team builder but in a non-formal setting.  Try the following:

  • Charades
  • Scavenger hunts
  • Movie trivia
  • Assemble gingerbread houses
  • Decorate cookies

Some other fun ideas are:

  • Give back to the community by helping others or hold a toy/food drive.
  • Bring in some entertainment like a comic or hypnotist
  • Do a gift exchange or secret Santa
  • Do a group outing like to play laser tag, an escape room, or karaoke

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at http://www.eventplanningdc.com.

Wedding Fights to Avoid as An Engaged Couple

Every couple wants the wedding of their dreams without the expense of their relationship.  Here are common but avoidable fights couples often experiencing when planning a wedding and how they can be handled.

Different Sized Guest Lists and Unequal Family Contributions

There are a number of solutions to help avoid the issue of uncontrolled guest lists and unequal family contributions.  This like many other times finances and family will be involved must be met as you would any business situation.  One approach is to set boundaries immediately with the number of guests each family can invite and how much they will be required to contribute to cover the cost.

Another approach, especially if the bride and groom are paying for the wedding together is to break it down, “This is the cost of your guest list, this is the cost of my guest list.  It seems as if there is an imbalance, can you address this with your family to see if they are willing to chip in and if they are not able to then how can we make the wedding more affordable, so everyone can come or how can we trim down your families guest list to fit within our budget.”   Compromising in financial situation is something that will be required throughout marriage.  Learning how to properly handle financial issues now will help prevent a lot of headaches down the road.

Lack of Interest in Wedding Planning

Many brides are so excited to plan for their wedding day.  It is a day they have thought about forever and are anxious to be detailing each and every intricacy of the day. The problem arises when brides see that their grooms are lacking their enthusiasm.

It is crucial that brides remember that although they have been thinking about this day since they were a little girl most grooms haven’t thought about it even once.  Most grooms don’t really want to be involved in each and every decision and are happy as long as their bride is happy.  What brides need to do to combat what they see as a lack of interest on the groom’s part is to get them involved in areas of the wedding that actually matter to them.  If they are into music hand that over to them.  If you have a foodie on your hands invite them to take charge of the menu.  It is important to be honest with your soon to be spouse and to speak honestly about a division of labor and where interests lay.

Allocation of Wedding Funds

When planning a wedding most often the first thing that is discussed is the budget.  Problems can arise quickly if a detailed allocation of funds has not been agreed upon.  Are you eyeing a four-thousand-dollar dress?  Does your spouse have their heart set on a two week, all inclusive honeymoon?  You can instantly see how problems can occur.

Unfortunately, when you are working with a large sum of money it is crucial that the two of you meet in the middle with how and on what the money will be spent.  This may require some give and take but, in the end, it is important to recognize the end goal, a happy life spent together.  After much thought you may see how a four-thousand-dollar dress you will wear one night is slightly impractical when you can spend two solid weeks together away from the stresses of the real world to enjoy your new husband and wife status.

As wedding consultants, we have seen some of the littlest arguments turn into something ugly, fast.  It is important to remember that although you want this day to be as magical as you always dreamed, it is in fact just that, one day.  Make sure that the small loop holes you are experiencing before the walk down the aisle are not bigger hidden issues looming in the dark.  Work together to make sure that a mole hill isn’t turned into a mountain.  At the end of the day what really matters is that you are marrying the individual you will spend the rest of your life with even if they don’t care about the pink napkins or choose invitations fit for a kids fifth birthday party.

Event Planning DC provides full event planning, partial event planning, month-of (day-of) event coordination, event styling/design and decorating services throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with access to local and national vendors who may provide additional services suitable for your event and budget.  We pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality event coordination, giving you and your guests the perfect day, no matter what the occasion including exclusive corporate and non-profit events, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, community events and milestone celebrations.  More information can be found online at http://www.eventplanningdc.com.