Essence of Events, LLC

At Essence of Events, LLC, we have plenty of experience with dealing with brides on their wedding day. We know the ins and outs of what makes the pre-ceremony moments the best, and what (and what not) to do in those hours, and moments, leading up to your walk down the aisle.

With all our knowledge, we wanted to pass some advice on to you. So, whether your big day is right around the corner, not for another year, or you’re looking for some tips to make any pre-event gathering run more smoothly, just read ahead for our best advice.

Gather everything you plan on wearing to your wedding beforehand. This includes the dress, accessories, shoes, shapewear, veil, and any other extras. Once you get to the bridal suite, or wherever you are getting dressed, lay everything out to see if you’re missing anything. It’s always better to be prepared and know ahead of time than be scrambling at the last minute. Lists and worksheets are our best friends here at Essence of Events, so every time you purchase something you plan on wearing the day of your wedding, add it to the list so you don’t forget it.

Have your bridal party wear something similar. For great group shots, have your bridal attendees wear coordinating bathrobes; you can give them as gifts! If you plan on having your photographer present while you’re getting dressed, no one wants their photograph taken in a pair of old sweatpants and college Tshirt.

Don’t try any new beauty products or treatments. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes a bride can make on their big day. Just perform your regular morning routine; clean, moisturize, tweeze, and pamper your skin (just don’t put on makeup). Make sure you don’t put on anything you haven’t already taken for a test run. No red, blotchy, or itchy skin for you!

Eat! Don’t worry; your dress is going to fit! You’ve been eating up until this day, haven’t you? You might be a bundle of nerves, but you have nothing to worry about. Treat yourself to a big breakfast, and then snack throughout the day. Just remember to avoid anything too salty – they make you retain water.

Don’t drink pre-ceremony(or at least pace yourself). You want this day to be crystal-clear in your memory, and this is going to be a long day. If you start drinking at 10:00 in the morning, chances are, things are going to be looking pretty hazy come reception time. Of course a champagne toast with the bridesmaids is fine, but just don’t over compensate for the jitters.

Pack essentials in a small clutch. But have your maid of honor be responsible for it. A bride should never be caught with a clutch, no matter how cute. Pack tissues, lip gloss, oil absorbing sheets, a Tide stain pen, and a comb. Of course Essence of Events always has a Wedding "Things To Bring" List. Remember, being prepared never hurts.

Don’t be the point-person for guests. This is your day, and you should be as relaxed as possible. That's what hiring a Wedding Planner from Essence of Events, LLC is there to take care of. Essence of Events, LLC Wedding Planners can provide checklists for day-of duties and responsibilities to your maid of honor, the groomsmen, ushers, or anyone else who can yield guest’s questions, tip vendors, and handle last-minute emergencies (ideally, you shouldn’t even know about any emergencies!). Make sure your vendors have two contact numbers that aren’t yours, be sure everyone knows their roles, and be quick to ask for help if you need it.

For wedding planning services from Essence of Events, LLC or for any additional information on preparation for your wedding day contact us at 253.292.1482 or contact@essenceofevents.com

Summer wedding season is rapidly approaching, which means there is a good possibility that your wedding is right around the corner. You’ve already selected your dress months ago, plus all the accessories, jewelry, shoes and other necessities that go with it. But your groom has far few things that go into his wedding day attire.

In many cases, your future husband-to-be could care less about what he’s wearing on the big day; he’s just excited to finally be married to you. But you still want him looking his best!

Of course there are a variety of different suits and wedding day attire he can chose from, with your careful guidance, of course, but there isn’t much personality between each one. You’re marrying your man because of who he is; the quirks and his individuality that makes him unique and different from everyone else, what he wears should also reflect that.

The boutonniere is this season’s biggest trend, and how you’re going to help your man (and the rest of his crew’s) formal wear stand out from the crowd!

Historically, the boutonniere was just a carnation in a button hole, but today it has transformed into a work of art. Having unique floral’s will also tie into the theme of your event; dramatic, casual, or unique. Whatever style you’re aiming for, these boutonnieres will make the wedding cohesive, and add something exciting to your groom’s otherwise potentially drab ensemble.

Take a look at some of these boutonnieres to see a sample of what your future husband could be modeling on the big day.

One-of-a-kind flowers make for a distinctive boutonniere.

I love the pops of oranges and succulents used in these. They are all different, too, which makes them more special and unique.

Using thistles instead of flowers is not only a huge trend right now, it also means if you want to keep the boutonniere for a memory, it’ll dry and store really well.

Different choices instead of flowers.

These couples both decided to opt out of traditional boutonnieres all together. One couple use golf tees, another chose buttons, while the third used pinwheels. Anything is possible with some imagination!

Essence of Events is not only a full-service wedding planning and coordination company; we also are available for all of your floral needs. Rest assured that with some of nature’s beauty, and our event planner’s professional abilities, Essence of Events, LLC will add ambiance requested to any event.

Whether you are looking for unique boutonnieres, like the ones above, centerpieces, garlands, bouquets, corsages, or any other floral related need, Essence of Events will be able to assist you.

To schedule your free, initial consultation, and to find out about more of our services and get your wedding and event questions answered, email us at contact@essenceofevents.com or call 253.292.1482

Written by Samantha Macrae

The atmosphere and entertainment of your wedding can sometimes make or break the night. Whether you want the mood of the event to reflect glamorous sophistication or a feel-good party time, the entertainer you hire needs to represent both you as a couple, and the style of the day.

Essence of Events has compiled a few tips to help you find the best band that will suit your wedding day. Because although you may have spent no end of time fussing over the centerpieces, when the guests leave, it’ll be the bad wedding band that’ll stick in their mind, and no one wants that!

Determine your budget: It would be great if everyone had the ability to spend whatever they wanted on their weddings, but in reality, everyone works within a budget. Sitting down and looking at a budget breakdown, and then deciding what percentage you can realistically spend on entertainment is important; prioritize you needs and determine what you really want. You can pay a little extra for a band you love, and lower the budget elsewhere. Being happy with your choices at the end of the day is what it’s all about.

Think about what kind of band you want: Not all bands are the same, and they definitely aren’t created equal. A band that only plays one style of music, say Motown/R&B or a tribute band, isn’t going to have the same range and song variety that a versatile entertainment band will. If you love 80s music, it doesn’t mean your guests will. If you’re having a themed wedding, like a Roaring Twenties style, perhaps you could add some of that flavor into the mix. But start thinking about what types of music and songs you’d like to hear at your wedding, and go from there.

Consider size: If you have a huge wedding hall or ballroom for a 300 person wedding, you probably want to hire a larger band, than say, a four person string quartet. At the same time, if you’re having an intimate 50 guest wedding at a private residence, hiring a full band would not be appropriate. Remember, if you hire larger bands, they often come with extras, like their own lighting and sound equipment, so although these are great bonuses; they do come with added costs. Make sure you understand exactly what you are getting before you sign.

Listen to samples: Just because their website is professional, doesn’t mean the band can actually carry a note. The only way you’ll truly know how good a band sounds is if you listen to a live sample, watch videos of past performances, or attend an event where they are playing. Check to see what reviews they have, or if they can provide references. Don’t just book a band because your cousin Suzie’s best friend Kate said they were good. Someone’s idea of good music may be different than yours.

Give yourself enough time: Make sure you do enough research, and book ahead. Don’t put hiring a band off until the last minute. While entertainment may not be at the forefront of your mind, it certainly is for a lot of other brides. Coincidently, wedding season (May-September) starts around Prom time, and ends when Homecoming starts. Schools are going to be snatching up your entertainment options, if other brides haven’t, just like the limo services.

Pick a band you trust: This is an important day; make sure you take the time to talk with the band or band leader beforehand. Professional bands should offer free consultations which allow you the opportunities to talk about your expectations and get to know each other’s personalities. They are there to help you create memories, make sure you feel comfortable around them; the band is there to make your day the best it can be.

For more music and entertainment tips, plus other wedding day advice, contact Essence of Events today. To schedule you initial consultation, email us at contact@essenceofevents.com or call 253.292.1482

Written by Samantha Macrae

Photo booths are increasingly popular for weddings nowadays. The appeal is all there; capture candid shots of your guests that you want to keep, and give them a cute memento to take home with them that they’ll want to keep, long after the festivities are over.

Photo booths start at about $500 and increase from there, so unless you have budgeted for that expense, and most couples haven’t, it is usually just a fun afterthought, here is a way to get the photo booth feel, without the expense.

To DIY your own photo booth, you’ll just need an iPad or tablet, some props, and a backdrop; you can either rent one, make one, or just use a plain wall in your venue.

If you, or a friend or family member, has an iPad or tablet, let your guests take photos with that. The larger screen will make it easy to see and there is always the option for retaking photos that you don’t like.

Once your guests have taken their photos with the props, either ones you have made, purchased, or rented, they can upload their photo to a wedding Instagram account you’ve created for the day, Twitter, or Facebook on the tablet, or if you connect it to a printer, then they can take immediate copies home with them. (To learn more about using social media and crowdsourcing on your wedding day, click here!)

Voila! A photo booth that will be just as fun, but at the fraction of the cost!

But, if you are dead-set on having a photo booth with an established, professional photographer, and your budget is thisclose to allowing you to squeeze one in there, consider Tie It With Us. They are a media group who photograph weddings and events, and customize their packages to suit your budgets.

Tie It With Us does have some excellent packages that include photo booths, along with all your other wedding day photography. The Story package for $1495 and Absolute Package $1995 both have a green-screen instant print wedding booth included, along with all the other brilliant extra’s these guys offer, like a matted print for your guests to sign, all day coverage, two photographers, and much more.

To see what else this company can do for you, visit their website or click here to view all of their packages and see which one would be best for you.

To get more creative, unique, and budget friendly ideas for you wedding or event, and to get certified vendor referrals, contact one of our coordinators today to get all of your questions answered. To schedule your free, initial consultation, email us at contact@essenceofevents.com or call 253.292.1482

Written by Samantha Macrae