Should Your “Best Friend” Be In Your Wedding? (Philadelphia Event Planner)

I am finally back and settled after an amazing trip to Rome.  Last week I came back to a full email inbox and lots of work to do, but I am finally caught up.  I have had several inquiries as to when I will be getting my blog together about the trip.  I will be getting the first post together tomorrow to share with everyone.  I have lots of stories to tell and many experiences to share.

We flew back into Philadelphia on Tuesday March 30th.  My fiance and I got engaged on October 18th.  Since then I have been telling myself (and everyone else) that we would start our wedding planning after the trip.  When I sat down to my computer and glanced at the date on March 31st, I realized we better get on the ball, as our wedding is in just over a year.  This brought on the first wedding argument.

As I have mentioned before, I have an adorably sweet pug named Dutchess.  She is our world, and spoiled as though she is our first child.  I told my fiance how great I thought it would be for her to be at either the ceremony or reception.  She is such a big part of our lives, and I couldn’t picture having such an important day without her.  Unfortunately, Tim does not feel the same way.  He finds it a little ridiculous  that I would want her to be involved, and thinks it will be “too much of a distraction and a hassle”.  (For anyone who is taking his side, please note this is the same guy who fought tooth and nail to have a chimpanzee dressed in a tuxedo stand curbside with the valet to open our guests car doors as they arrive.  We’re talking about an animal that is known for throwing it’s own feces around! )

In an attempt to plead my case I put my event planner hat on and referenced every article and statistic I had ever read regarding the increasing popularity of pets in weddings, but to no avail.  He just won’t budge.  However; if any of you are interested in how to incorporate your fuzzy friends into your big day, below are some tips and considerations.

What part will they play?

Think about the flow of your day as well as the level of formality.  If you are having an outdoor wedding in a rustic barn-like setting, having your dog serve as your ring bearer could be a great idea.  On the other hand if you are having a very formal wedding at a Cathedral, maybe it is best to wait until after the ceremony to have him join you.  Be sure to ask your ceremony and reception venue if they allow pets.  If they do not, you can still find ways to incorporate your pets.  Perhaps you can leave some extra time between the ceremony and reception to go to a local park and have them included in some of the photos.

Have someone on-site to assist.

Although you want your pet to be there with you at your wedding.  You want to enjoy your day, and won’t want them to monopolize all your time.  Be sure to hire someone that works with pets to take care of them throughout the day (maybe a local dog walker), or ask a family member or friend who is familiar with them.  Whoever will be taking care of them, make sure you let them know not to allow your pet to be fed by guests, or to wander off into flowers that may have been sprayed with harmful pesticides.

What if they don’t do what you expect?

Do you have an easy-going personality, or is it extremely important to you that everything go perfectly as planned during your wedding?  If your dog starts barking during your vows because it sees a bird outside in a tree will it ruin your day?  No matter how well trained your pet is, instincts can not be helped.  Will you be able to deal with some unexpected occurrences?

Take some time to answer these questions to yourself honestly.  If you are going to involve your pets, you need to be sure it is right for you.  There are also many ways that you can represent your pet at your wedding without having them present.  If you are looking for some ideas, feel free to contact us.

Beer and Wings Again?? ~ Some New Ideas for Father’s Day

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~Clarence Budington Kelland

It’s time for Father’s Day again!  Some may find Mother’s Day to be more challenging to find a great gift and create the perfect day, knowing that Dad would be content with a few beers, pizza, and watching the game. . . so I am challenging you!  Just because Dad would be content with that, doesn’t mean he wouldn’t appreciate something more!  This year do something creative and special he will really enjoy, he deserves it   Don’t worry, if you are sitting there stumped, here are some ideas we have put together for great gifts that he hasn’t seen a thousand times, and some things going on in the Philadelphia area this weekend.

First we’d like to share some gifts we have researched that we think Dad will love.

• Get him something personalized from Shutterfly.com.  Turn your photos into anything you can think of.  Of course they have the basic cards and stationary, but there is so much more.  Does your Dad love to play poker. . . get your pictures printed on a deck of cards, computer genius. . .get it on a mouse pad, or you can even get a decal of yourself or his grand kids to put on the wall of his man cave

• Has your Dad always longed for fame?  If so, he will love our next gift idea.  WeMakeTheNews.com will create a custom framed personalized newspaper article.  All you have to do is give them a few pictures and some information, and they will handle all the writing and design.  It is sure to be a gift that will be a great conversational piece over the years, and each time it comes up Dad will think of you.

• If your father is a little more low key, maybe he would just enjoy some personalized wall art from www.photowow.com featuring himself, his kids, or his grand kids.  “Turn your cherished memories into marvelous masterpieces”.  These works of art are sure to get some attention.  The pictures are created on canvas.  There are many different options and styles to choose from, below is just one example of the neat products they can produce.

• And now for the busy career dad who is always rushing out the door, but has a hard time getting it all together in the morning.  Get him the Smart Finder 4 – in 1.  You can use this gadget to find your keys, glasses, wallet, remote control, etc.  You can find this time saving gadget on www.cgets.com.

• A gift certificate for a day out on the golf course with some buddies.  If you would like to make it a gift from the family, add in some new golf clubs or some items from www.pebblebeach.com . . . OR if you are really looking to hit a home run send him to play at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the world’s great golf venue’s that was recently voted #1 on the list of “Tour Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek.  They are running a special for every 2 night stay that is booked and completed by August 31st they will give Dad a free room upgrade.  Very cool!
  

So now you have given Dad his amazingly cool gift, which took all of five minutes, what should you do for the rest of day??  Here are a few things going on in the Philadelphia area this Father’s Day Weekend.

If there is nothing more your Dad enjoys then a relaxing night at home, why not find some ways to make it special.  Get some of your favorite pictures throughout the years blown up at your local staples or kinkos and place them around the yard with some other nice touches, then serve his favorite meal with the family outside.  For bonus points have a cold case of his favorite beer on hand.

If your Dad prefers being out and about there are several things to do this weekend.  Take him for a dinner cruise on The Spirit of Philadelphia, the cruise will include a delicious all you can eat buffet, professional DJ’s to keep the ambiance and the party going all night, and some of the most breathtaking views of the city.  Be sure to call in advance for reservations.

For the historic Dad, you can attend the Father’s Day Celebration at The National Constitution Center.  This weekend in addition to honoring our Founding Father’s, the NCC will also be celebrating and explaining the lives of several of Rome’s emperors.

If your Father is an adventurer take him on a kayaking adventure being presented by the Hidden River Outfitters and the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant who have teamed up to provide kayaking tours of the Schuylkill River.  Each river adventure includes instructions, equipment, and a guided tour and meal at the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant.

Here are just a few ideas to get you started on making this weekend a Father’s Day to remember.  There are tons of options in the Philadelphia area.  “What did I get my Dad for Father’s Day?” you might be wondering, well you’ll just have to wait to find out because of course he is my number one reader.  Happy Father’s Day Dad!

Gartner Studios Invitations (Philadelphia, Bucks County Event Planner)

Over the weekend my parents had my fiance’s parents over for dinner.  During the evening the topic of an engagement party came up.  They discussed everybody’s schedules, and since we have already been engaged for about six months, they wanted to make it soon.  The only date that could work is less then a month away, and of course on a week we have three other events occurring. . . so here’s to the fourth

I am very excited for the party, as it will be our first “wedding activity”; however I am also feeling a little panicked.  Ever since I began planning events nine years ago, the simple celebratory party became non-existent among my family members.  Every party we have has a theme with matching decor, drinks, etc. down to the smallest detail.  So now we have less then a month to pull this all together, don’t worry. . . I work best under pressure.

First thing’s first – invitations.  The date was picked on Sunday evening, so we need to have the invitations out by tomorrow at the latest.  My first concern was how we were going to create/find eye appealing invitations, get our guest list together, gather all our guests addresses, and send them out, all before Friday.

Target and Gartner Studios to the rescue!  We stopped at Target in desperation, hoping to find something that would meet my standards (I’m pretty picky).  We headed over to the stationary section and there it was,  an invitation kit that does a great job of imitating professionally crafted invitations.  It even comes with cards that can be used to print response cards on (which I will no doubt be using for my thank you notes .  Inside the box are easy step by step instructions on how to find the template online to type your wording in, as well as directions on how to set your page margins on your printer.  They came out looking fabulous!  I am beyond pleased with them.

If you would like to get these for your next party, they can only be purchased at Target or on Target’s website, as well as on Gartner Studio’s website.  On their site you will also find gifts, favors, and some great decor ideas.

P.S. – Although these invitations are beautiful, and I would suggest them for any party, unless your budget simply doesn’t allow it, stick with the pros for your wedding invites.  There is no substitution for the hand crafted work of an artist.

Earth Day! Be Green In Your Home And In Your Events.(Philadelphia, New Jersey, Event Planner)

As you may or may not know today is earth day. Some common misconceptions about “going green” or becoming “eco-friendly” are that it will take a substantial amount of extra time out of your day, and that it is much more expensive then your current lifestyle. There are actually many simple substitutions you can make in your daily lifestyle that will help the environment without costing you a penny, and in many cases can even save you money. Here are just a couple that I found in a article by bankrate.com titled 153 Ways to go Green .

Stop the junk mail

If you are interested in reading the rest of the article it describes easy ways to go green in your home, at work and school, with technology, with food, and at play.

There are also many ways to go green with your event or wedding.

Invitations

• There are several types of recycled paper. You can also get “Tree Free Paper” which is made of hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, or banana stalks
• Create Save The Date thumbdrives with PDF files containing all information and a link to a website that will be updated as more information becomes available for the event or wedding.
• There are invitations available that contain seed within the invitation.  After the wedding invitees can plant the invitation in their garden, which will eventually grow into a plant or flower.

Favors

• Make a charitable donation in lieu of a traditional favor.  Donating to an environmental cause gets you double points.
  
• Bamboo
• Soy candles
• Use potted plants as centerpieces and allow guests to take them home.
  

Location

• Consider where the majority of your guests are coming from.  Will they have to travel far?  Destination weddings can be beautiful, but damage the environment from all that traveling.  Hosting your wedding locally will be more eco-friendly.
• Have the ceremony and reception in the same venue.  Reducing the travel necessary for your guests, therefore reducing the carbon footprint.

Food & Decor

• Use a caterer that purchases their product locally.
• Obtain your flowers from a florist who uses local and organic farms.
• If you are looking for something exotic look for a wildflower grower at your local farmers market.

Attire

• Think vintage!  Shop at a vintage store for your wedding dress or tuxedo.
• Donate your dress to charity after the wedding.
• Buy a dress or tux that you would wear again.

Honeymoon

• Use a travel agent who specializes in eco-friendly trips who will ensure the location and other details are environmentally sensetive.
• Rent a hybrid car.
• Look for a location that may involve off the beaten path types of adventures.  Get involved with nature.
• Stay in a hotel that recycles.  Leave a note for the cleaning staff asking them not to replace your towels every day, but every third day instead.

There are many more options and ideas. If you are interested in having a green event please contact us for further information.

Think Big ~ EventQuip (Philadelphia Event Planner)

Donald Trump has been a public icon that I have followed closely since the beginning of my college career, when I really became interested in Business.  I many times find myself mesmorized by his ability to make deals, run effective organizations, and strive for excellence in every aspect of his brand.  In my career, if I can master half of his magnificence and business sense I will retire feeling successful.  One of my favorite books by Mr. Trump is Think Big.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit EventQuip in Lansdale.  During the tour of their facility, I couldn’t help but think of “The Donald”.  Everything EventQuip does is BIG.  Their organizational skills are incredible.  I have never seen such a multitude of equipment so neatly arranged, and efficiently categorized.  EVERYTHING was in place.  There was not so much as a single bolt lying on the floor.  As the tour continued I began to feel as though I was going through Willy Wonka’s Choclate Factory.  I was beyond impressed.  My favorite part of the tour was seeing the washing machine they use for the tents.  It looked just like the one I have at home, except about 65 times bigger and made of what appeared to be a steel-like material.

As Michael Sardanopoli, my gracious tour guide, explained the procedures they follow it became clear to me why EventQuip is known as “thee” tenting company in the Philadelphia area and surrounding counties.  Every  precaution imaginable is taken to insure the saftey of their clients and their guests/customers.  There is never a detail overlooked.  If Mr. Trump where looking to buy into the tenting industry, I would be sure to let him know where to start

Hats off to Ed Knight, Michael Sardonopoli, and the entire staff of EventQuip for creating and maintaining such a cohesively and efficiently run organization!

www.EventQuip.com

Do As The Romans Do. (Philadelphia Event Planner)

**This is the second part of the previous blog. If you haven’t read it, go back and catch up **

So. . . now that we had come up with this amazing idea, that would be the “surprise trip of a lifetime”, we had a LOT of planning to do.  We started by talking to all of her friends, and seeing if they would like to join us.  Seven of my mom’s friends were ecstatic to come along, making a group of 13.  13 people in Rome, now that’s a party!

We contacted my mom’s supervisor at work to let her know that she would be taking some vacation time.  Then we started the planning, the concocting of our story, and how we would get her there.

First we needed somewhere to stay, so we started looking around on all the top travel sites.  There are some gorgeous hotels, with amazing architecture, but so many of them only had rooms for two, which began to get pretty pricey.  We decided to see if we could find apartments to rent, which worked out to be much more cost effective, until my dad upgraded ours to the lap of luxury   He insisted that it’s a once in a lifetime trip, and we should enjoy it.  (Hey, I wasn’t going to argue)

We then began researching the area to plan our itinerary, and search for the perfect spot to host my mother’s birthday dinner.  We will be visiting all of the great tourist spots, shopping, and since we are Catholic, we acquired tickets to go to the Vatican for Mass on Palm Sunday.

My sister and my dad went out and bought her clothes for the trip, new make-up, and everything she would need.  My mom is VERY perceptive, if one thing was out of place she would notice (this is how I often found myself in trouble as a teen.  I was never as good at covering my tracks as I thought I was).  We couldn’t risk her realizing that something was missing, so new everything it was.

Now that we had her bag packed and tucked away in a closet she would never look in, we had to think about how we could get her there without her knowing.  We didn’t want to tell her about the trip until we were already on our way to the airport, so we tried to think of what would be in the same direction.  Longwood Gardens is a location our family has grown very fond of over the past year, and it just so happens to be in the same direction  as. . . you guessed it, The Philadelphia Airport.

My dad and I put together a fake email about a special Longwood Gardens, and an Authentic Italian Restaurant (the actual restaurant we will be having her birthday dinner at in Rome) was having for one night only.  This special was conveniently being held the week of her birthday.  It involves an hour tour of Longwood Gardens beautiful orchid display, followed by a five course dinner with fine Italian wines at the restaurant just down the road.  She bought it, and found it so thoughtful of us to find something she would enjoy so much (boy is she in for a shock )  My wonderfully amazing fiance has all the bags in his car, and will drive down to the airport and meet us there.  Meanwhile, while I am in the car with my family, about half way to the airport, we will ask her to type the address of the restaurant into the GPS, and when she asks for the city, we will tell her Rome.  I will, of course, be videotaping inconspicuously from the back seat, and will youtube her reaction for all to see!  Once we get to the terminal, all her friends will be waiting there already, which will be surprise number two!

I can’t wait to get back and begin my next blog series “The Ultimate Surprise Party”.  Stay tuned!

Who’s Monroe (Philadelphia Event Planner)

Each time I introduce myself and my company I always get the same question, “Who’s Monroe?” After having a blog for over a year, I suppose this is a post that should have come sooner, but better late then never. I do believe that curiosity creates intrigue.

The simple answer is that the company is named after my grandmother, however it is a more detailed story then that.

From a very young age, as I’m sure many girls did, adored Marilyn Monroe, her beauty, her sex appeal, etc. The older I got, and the more I learned about her my interest continued to grow.

My grandmother and I were very close, and she knew my love for Marilyn Monroe.  In many ways I saw her in the same light as Marilyn Monroe.  She did not have a great deal of money, but she was always well dressed and glamorous and her name was Norma Jean, just like Marilyn Monroe, or so I was told.

My grandmother battled cancer and won twice!  She is my hero!  What’s even better is through everything she endured during her life she never lost her good spirits and love for all adventures, people, and experiences.

On April 5th, 2005, Norma Grande passed away.  Although she had a very strong will to live, her body had had enough.  At this time I was 22, and in my senior year at Temple University studying Tourism & Hospitality Management with a focus in Event Planning.  I was leaving class when I got the call.  I was devastated.  My grandmother was always my unconditional supporter, and one of my best friends.

The next few days of planning the funeral and making arrangements went by in a flash (which is what inspired me to provide funeral assistance as a service provided by Events by Monroe).  The morning of the funeral I drove over to Resurrection in Northeast Philadelphia (a bit of useless info . . my father was the first baby ever christened there) to attend the funeral mass.  I walked in and took several funeral cards to keep for memories.  As I turned the card over a wave of nausea and panic came over me.  The funeral director had made an unforgivable mistake!  She had written my grandmother’s name as Norma Eleanor instead of Norma Jean!!  I dashed over to where my father was speaking to my cousin and said “Excuse my interruption Dad, but they wrote the wrong name on the funeral cards!  How could this happen?”  My father looked at me like I had three heads and said “What are you talking about?  They have the correct spelling.”  I continued to argue that they had written the wrong middle name.  My dad explained to me that I must be mistaken and that my grandmother’s middle name is and always was Eleanor.  I think my father and I realized what was going on at the same time and just smiled.

My grandmother had told me her name was Norma Jean for all those years because she felt like it could be one more way for us to relate to each other.  It is obviously how she always wanted me to remember her.  So now every time I hand out a business card, or go to my website, etc.  I can think of her the way she wanted me to see her.

I love having this as my company name because it not only keeps my grandmother as a constant memory, but it also aids in many of the decisions I make.  When faced with a challenge, or a tough ethical decision, I always think about what she would have done, and use her as a guide.  It has worked out great so far

Romance in New Hope (Philadelphia Event Planner)

Last month the associated press published an article noting the 10 MostRomantic Places to Visit in America. http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle272347510_most_romantic_places_to_visit_in.html?cat=16.  I was excited to see New Hope, PA included in the list.  It is one of my favorite places to spend a sunny day, and also is where I will be marrying my fiance next April

When we began looking at venues we first went to Font Hill Castle in Doylestown, which is an absolutely gorgeous venue.  I was sold from the moment we pulled down the classic tree lined driveway.  Jack Skudris, owner of memorable affairs, took us on a thorough tour of the facility, and spent a great amount of time discussing the many options they offer.  We left the meeting ready to go home and sign the contract.

I am extremely organized and always on the ball with planning my clients weddings and events.  Lucky for me, I am a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to my own.  After thinking about it for a few weeks we came to the conclusion that it just wouldn’t work with our budget (Yes. . . even event planners have a wedding budget ).  I came across the reception site we would book completely by accident.  In fact, I was working on a client’s wedding when I found it.  I had not been to the venue yet, but had seen it on Memorable Affairs website, when I decided it would be a good option for my clients.  I scheduled a meeting with Pat Kor to check it out before taking my clients.

The venue is Occasions, and is located right in New Hope in Union Square.  I fell in love with the rich colors, extensive decor, and chic modern vibe.  I couldn’t believe the pricing, and how much they included in their package.  I can honestly say you will not get more for your money anywhere else in the Philadelphia or surrounding areas, and I have a lot of experience to base this comparison on.  They even include linens and napkins of any color you want for no additional charge.  This is virtually unheard of!  I regretted that I hadn’t been out to see this location sooner.  The pictures they have, although beautiful, do not do the location justice.  You really need to see if for yourself, and feel the energy of the building.  In addition to my love for the location, working with the staff of memorable affairs has been just as amazing of an experience.  They are always available, and will schedule their meetings at your convenience, not theirs.

Needless to say, this is where my reception is booked.  I can’t wait to start planning all the details.  The fact that it is in New Hope makes it all that much better.  I love the uniqueness of New Hope, the shops, bed and breakfasts, art, etc.  I am also excited to be able to make our wedding a destination weekend without our guests having to travel far.  I will be blogging about the whole planning process as I mentioned in a blog a while back, and would love feedback.  Although I have been to New Hope many times, I would love some advice on good spots for photos.  So.. to all my readers and photographers out there, what are your favorite spots in New Hope for pictures??  Help me out

Photos : Provided by Memorable Affairs

Great New Ad Thanks to Opaque White Design (Philadelphia Event Planner)

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Stephanie Wells for doing such an amazing job on our new ad that will be featured in Mainline & Bucks Life Magazine starting in May

I have known for 20 years.  Watching her grow as an artist and explore new areas has been an amazing journey.  She is extremely talented in graphic design as you can see, in addition to photography and many other creative forms of design.  Her photography is one of my favorite aspects of her art.  She has a great way of finding and portraying the beauty of the forgotten.  Her work is extremely intriguing.  If you have the time please take a look at some of the work she has done.  Her site is still in the works of being put together, but it shows a small sample of what she could do for you or your company.   You can also contact her through Facebook.   Thanks Steph!

http://web.mac.com/opaquewhitedesign

Congratulations Mike & Erica! (Philadelphia Event Planner)

I have been meaning to get this post (and several others) up all week, our office has just been very busy!  Last Friday great friends of my fiance and myself got engaged and we couldn’t be more happy for them!  Mike and Erica began dating last spring, and have been inseparable ever since.  Erica has a very fun loving spirit, and Mike is ecstatic to have found her.  It wasn’t long before he knew that he had met the girl he just had to spend the rest of his life with.  They are an amazing couple, and incredible friends.  They are also parents to two adorable pugs, Donovan & Kali, who love to play with our adorable pug   We wish them great happiness, and can’t wait to see how the wedding plans come along.  Feel free to congratulate them in our comment section!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You can hear all the details from Erica in the comment section…