Weddings small but important details

Colorado Weddings with Jennifer Lane A Memory Lane Event

Bustling a gown – always takes a few min’s even when you have a professional with 19 years experience and has done hundreds doing it.  You want the bustle to stay so your gown doesn’t become ruined while your dancing that night.  Be patient even with 2-3 people assisting, it will take a good few minutes.  Relax with a glass of Champagne or white wine while we get you ready for your party.

It's best to have a professional assist with this however we all know that bridesmaids love to do it.  A Professional like A Memory Lane Event, is on hand to sew the bustle in place, should it fall to reduce the wear & tear on your dress.

Bridal bags.  It's important to have items on hand that you think you'll never need, such as band-aids, deodorant, clear nail polish & lotion.  You'd be surprised how many of these items are needed in the bridal party through out the night.  Another must have.  Tide's stain stick.  There's many more items that you need in the all important bridal bag.  Hire a professional  such as A Memory Lane Event & Wedding to have the best stocked bridal bag.

Out door events, wedding ceremony or receptions

Summer weddings with  Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event

Justin and Reliegh

Spring & summer has its snow and rain showers and fall has its early blizzards and more rain thus providing Coloradoans with unpredictable and sometimes severe weather.  Combine that with our occasional flooding and you never know what surprises the weather will have in store for your special day. Be flexible and hire a professional planner and coordinator such as A Memory Lane Event & Wedding who will prep you for alternatives and be prepared in the off chance that there is a change in the weather. Don’t risk your wedding day memories. When planning an outside wedding ceremony &.or reception have a back up plan. We’ve had couples who have wanted an outside sunset wedding in spring, summer or fall without a back up plan a particular couple we worked with last fall would have been getting married at the lake in 31 degree weather & snow.  Two days before and two days later we had 50-60 degree days and it would have worked great.  We’ve had other couples who have wanted to have an out side ceremony in a beautifully landscaped garden area.  It was easy to see how tempting it was to have a wedding there, just stunning. 20 minutes before the ceremony the heavens opened up and began to flood the area where the ceremony was set to take place.  If we hadn’t arranged a back up plan it would have been disastrous. Our staff of 16 quickly ran out in the down pour and moved all of the chairs, reset the second indoor area and dried all of the chairs.  The wedding was still able to take place on time.  The rain finally stopped just after dinner service was over. Pre-ceremony photos had to be taken after the wedding which did delay the reception somewhat.  Remember that even with the best measures taken, if the bride is outside at any point the hem will get dirty.  This is usually true for perfect weather days as well.  The couples and their families were all in good spirits despite the storm and the extra hassles that always accompany bad weather. Just be mindful of outside weddings.  Weather is never predictable, especially in Colorado so make sure you discuss backup plans, that will provide adequate room for all of your guests with your professional planner/ coordinator.  Call A Memory Lane Event & Wedding  today for your free consult.  303-513-2364

How to save money

 How to save money on your event or wedding.  We all want the best for the least amount of bang so here's some things to pay attention to.

Fully furnished Locations
Choose a fully equipped space.  The less you have to rent, the better.  Many restaurants and clubs will supply tables, chairs, linens and most party ware.  You'd be surprised how quickly these items and delivery all add up.

Single setting for Ceremony & Reception
Hold the ceremony and reception at the same site.  You'll pay one rental fee and bypass transportation costs.  If the site does not have separate rooms for the ceremony and reception you may incur extra labor costs for the "turning" of the room, however it will be a lot less expensive then the rental of two locations..

Dates & Times of year to book your event or wedding for
Book off-season (like February), off-hours (like morning) or off-days (like Monday-Thursday).  Or have your Saturday reception at a restaurant that's closed on weekends.  Business-district locales often offer reduced rates for weddings held on their off-nights.  Mid morning or mid after noon receptions are easier on the pocket book as well, where you can serve appetizers or Mini meals i.e. host a brunch, luncheon, cocktail party, or full tea reception, which will cost less than dinner and full dance.
 

Seek out perks where you can.  It never hurts to ask.
Host your wedding in a hotel ballroom and you could be eligible for discounted room rates for your guests, free airport shuttle service and even a free honeymoon suite.
 

Built-in beauty of your location.  In most cases working with what is at the location is the best alternative.  Sometimes you need to bring your vision to another location with decor options, however, its less expensive to hold your reception in a decorative locale.  Perhaps a roof pool with a wrought-iron fence and amazing view may supply all the grandeur you need, while a forest in autumn, ablaze in golden leaves, cuts flower costs.

Think outside the box. 
Sites that don't specialize in weddings but host a variety of events may have a lower per-guest cost such as a VFW (you do have to know someone who is a member). Consider an aquarium, lighthouse, jazz club or bed-and-breakfast or a lodge.  Perhaps a large mountain weekly rental home would fit your needs as well as give you a location for your honeymoon.  You may need to consider the bathroom situation if you're going to have more then a few guests.

Hidden fees; yes they can be everywhere
Beware of outdoor locations that charge site fees or require special permits.  Botanical gardens, for example, can charge up to $10,000 in grounds fees.  Also there can be cake cutting fees & corkage fees on liquor costs.

Great outdoors
Rent a pole tent. With sweeping, peaked roofs, these tents are the most classic option, and the most affordable.  Depending upon the size & In most locations, you will need a professional to set up & take down the tent.  You should also consider the time of year.  In Colorado as we all know, if you don't like the weather wait 5 min's and maybe you'll like what comes next.  It's always a good idea to have sides, if it is really nice, you can always pull the sides back & tie them.  However, if & when the weather changes, being able to close them is great.  In rare instances, it may leak, a professional coordinator can be hired to handle these types of situations.

Simple chic
Choose plain plastic tenting over pricier chiffon or silk.  Its not as pretty in person, but is less expensive then the fabric costs, rentals & labor.  Also using centerpieces that can be re-used as perhaps bridal party gifts or parent gifts is always a good way to save funds.

Members only
Check into professional and social memberships.  Members of golf clubs or alumni associations, for example, may be eligible for substantial discounts.

Intimate options
Consider cutting the guest list.  When you add everything up, including food, liquor costs & the price of your centerpieces, you can be paying up to $300 per person.  Cutting a few people can save you substantially.  Its tough to deal with hurt feelings, but you can always throw an amazing anniversary party a few years down the road.  You can always consider renting out space at a smaller hotel or restaurant.  For example, a smaller venue or off the beaten path venue may have a lovely private room that costs much less than space at a mega-hot spot.

What to include in your contracts

1. State the date, time and head count of the reception.  
2. Note the name of the person in charge of your event, in most cases, you will want to spring for a coordinator to handle all the details.  This includes the scheduling on when to arrive for set up, when vendors should arrive.  It is much less stressful on you & your families if you have someone in charge of all of the details so you can have fun and don't have more items to add to your stress level on the day of.  You don't want to have horror stories like I've heard such as the DJ arriving at the reception venue 3 hours before the ceremony started at the church and leaving 3 hours before the reception ended.  Or that the florist got lost because the details of where to be and when were left out of the contract & no time line was prepared.  You don't want vendors calling you lost on the day of while you're trying to get ready to walk down the aisle.  You especially do not want there to be a shortage of food or beverage for your guests because the caterer wasn't contacted with the final head count.  Instead make your last couple weeks and the day of your wedding enjoyable for you and your families by hiring a professional coordinator to handle all of the final details who will ensure that all of your directions and envisioned details happen as expected.  Call A Memory Lane Event in Denver and have piece of mind.
   Create a repercussions clause (such as a partial refund) in case of venue snags, such as a broken air conditioner or double booking of a room for the same time & place.  Yes it can happen if details are not firmed up early.
   Note the agreed-upon price and what the fee covers. This should be in your contract, have your professional planner & coordinator check to be sure that it is covered.
   Create a payment schedule listing the exact due dates of the security deposit and balance.
   Make sure the cancellation and postponement policy are included. Note whether you will be refunded your deposit if you don't stick to the contracted date.
   Get the gratuity amount in writing if it is not included in the overall estimate.
   Note overtime fees.
   Detail any rules regarding decorations, food, beverages and noise levels, as well as fines for transgression of such rules. Several locations will not allow lit candles or confetti.  Using them will forfeit your deposits.

Gay, Lesbian & Hetro- sexual events & weddings / special unions

Pridefest in Colorado

As a businesswoman and professional event & wedding/special union planner and coordinator who has both traditional, alternative, nontraditional and sometimes offbeat clients, not to mention folks who like their events & weddings to have the look & fell of expensive while they themselves are more laid back and unpretentious.  I was very interested in what was being said about the language uses in contracts.  Since I work with a lot of same sex couples, I decided to review the language I was using in my agreements to make sure that it encompasses everyone that I work and uses inclusive language.  I now use client instead of bride & groom and couple when its referring to both.  I also have a place for the couple to have contact information for their wedding party with the couple specifying for whom the contact info is for and what position in the wedding party they hold.

By allowing my couples to define themselves in whatever terms they feel comfortable, I can get the best way to approach using wedding language with them and their vendors so we're all on the same page.  I had several same sex couples who called their union a wedding, although they were entering a domestic partnership.  It was important to them to call it a wedding because after all their relationship was a union of themselves and their love, the celebration, and many of the typical wedding traditions.  Opening the door to my clients so that they can use whatever language they feel comfortable using will create a much more relaxed planner-coordinator / client relationship which is what I strive for.  I want my clients to feel comfortable enough around me to be themselves.  How else can I make sure that their true personality, flair and style are represented in their event or wedding.

This could be you, Commitment Services by A Memory Lane Event

The goal was to make language changes that are pretty simple yet obvious, so that it would be pretty invisible to all of my clients, regardless of gender or orientation.  The whole point for me being that I want my clients to tell me what they want, what is important to them and how they want their event or wedding to be viewed.

The language is important in client documentation and client relationships due to the huge debates going on in the US right now about gay marriage, some of it boils down to language.  As a professional, I feel its my responsibility to make my clients comfortable and help them feel great in their decision for their really important life event.  I don't want anything that I do or say to get in the way of their enjoyment, their engagement, planning and especially on the day of.  I especially do not want the language I use to alienate anyone.

One of the big thing is to try not to make assumptions about someone's role in the wedding.  A lesbian couple may both refer to themselves as brides, yet might recoil at the idea of a dual bride cake topper; two men may refer to themselves as grooms, but will get decked out in Vegas-style drag during the reception.  Yes I've actually had a wedding that did this a few years ago while guests were asked to dress in drag as well.  I've even a couple of my heterosexual couples sometimes prefer to be called partners instead of husband or wife. I think the most important thing is to listen closely to your clients, respond accordingly, and be flexible!  Weddings are stressful enough for the couple without us professionals adding to it for our clients.

Inclusiveness is not just about gender and sexual orientation but one can express inclusiveness towards age, race, ability, and much more.  Allowing your client to express who she or he is will open up a lot of potential for how you work with them and what opportunities lie ahead for you.

I love being a part of each couples special day.  My job is never boring because every event & special union planning and coordinating process is unique!  My favorite part of the planning is making everything come together the morning on the day of while ensuring and knowing that the couples vision for their wedding has become a reality. I've enjoyed planing parties since I was a teen and decided to make it a career.  Those who do not use a professional planner and coordinator or decide to in the planning process, usually they wish they had after their wedding.  Please don't let that be you.  For meetings, I wear anything from jeans to a suit, depending on my style for the day!  For weddings & special unions, we, meaning myself and my staff all wear black dresses, or dress pants with a while dress shirt or blouse with our favorite accessories. 

In addition to coordination and planning, I am decor designer and do floral arrangements, both fresh & silks.  Every decor design and set up is different and completely based upon the couples decisions. 

I view every wedding/special union as unique and all equally special. But as with any wedding couple, I hope each and every one of our gay &/or LBGT community weddings and special unions will be filled with love between the couple, family, and friends.  Of course, fabulous details that are off the hook would be awesome!
My favorite moment is when the couple is exiting the ceremony with all their guests celebrating and in the middle of the reception when everyone is filled with excitement and having fun.  Its so exciting to finally see the couple wed especially after many months of planning. I find that the gay / LBGT community weddings are usually more sentimental than most heterosexual weddings.  Hetro sexual couples and usually the women tend to plan their wedding almost exactly like their friends, or sisters, or mothers.  They usually want everything to look like it is from a bridal magazine, which I don't have a problem with & excel at.  However my gay and lesbian couples tend to be more unique in their thinking, They have such obstacles to overcome in their lives that they want their day to really reflect their love not just be a great party.  Either way your choosing to make your wedding / special union, we can assist you in making memorable and dazzling with  a diamond quality.

Just as with weddings and special unions, every event should be unique.  Any celebration, whether it is a wedding, birthday party, or even corporate event, should have its own identity and reflect the guest(s) of honor &/or the company's spirit.

Weddings / special unions, no matter what the size have many moving parts, choose your planner / coordinator that can keep things seamlessly under control without breaking a sweat!  Choose someone who take's pride in their work with a team beside them.  You want the planner / coordinator that always strives to exceed their clients expectations.  When it comes to planning the most important day in your life, you only get to do it once, so we have to do it right!  Choose A Memory Lane Event in Denver to assist you in planning a dazzling special occasion that will last in memories for a lifetime and has a diamond quality.

Decoding the Dress Code for your guests

Weddings by A Memory Lane Event, Jennifer Lane

Before you can tell your guests what to or not to wear to an event, you need to understand each dress code directive.  These can sometimes can become confusing since most non-celebrity people do not attend many formal type events on a regular basis.  We'd like to take the confusion out of it for you.

White Tie:  Unless you pal around with royalty, you'll need to rent your attire.  White tie attire is a black tail coat that sits at the waist.  Matching black pants.  White bow tie, white pique shirt and a white vest.  Women would wear floor length ball gowns.

Black Tie:  Men wear tuxedo's; women wear floor length gowns or cocktail dresses that go beyond the "little black dress" such as ruffles, sequins or other embellishments.

Black Tie Optional:  Tuxedos and suits are equally appropriate for male guests.  Women can waer either a cocktail dress or a straight floor length gown, but not a ball gown.

Cocktail attire:  Men wear suits; women arrive in knee length dresses or dressy pants paired with silk, chiffon or otherwise evening appropriate blouse.

Festive attire:  Although somewhat frustratingly vague, this allows guests to have fun with their attire.  The fashion forward and daring will take it as a license to wear whatever they please, and others will probably stick to cocktail looks.

No dress code:  Guests will take their cues from the time of day, season and location of the wedding. 

Weddings by A Memory Lane Event

In Denver Colorado, no dress code can mean that people will arrive in blue jeans.  If you're wanting people to arrive more dressed up you should include in your invites a dress code.  For more assistance contact Jennifer at A Memory Lane Event today for your complimentary phone consult.  http://www.amemorylaneevent.com/

Eye Candy to have or not have

Rock Candy Centerpieces

Besides great food at a party, it's always wonderful to have some hot servers to accompany the hot food. Okay, I know you're thinking this may seem trivial or superficial, but let's think about this: The devil is in the details. If you're going to oversee all the other crucial details of your event, why not ensure that there's some great eye candy to go along with the main entree? Remember your guests. One woman's eye candy may not be eye candy to another. It's also fun to have interactive servers or moving centerpieces at your cocktail hour. Dancers are great entertainment during the cocktail hour or having “statutes” hold the cocktail hour appetizers for your guests, occasionally moving positions and locations

On a semi-related, but semi-not side note enough to not add this thought--I really dislike when waiters are asked to wear tuxes at a black tie affair. It's confusing to distinguish the servers from the guests and can cause some awkward moments. I can't tell you how many times I've been at a formal event as a guest and I've had other guests come up to me to ask for a drink or where bar or restroom is. (talk about profiling).

Why A Memory Lane Event & Wedding in Denver

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life; yet, it can be one of the most stressful days. This is one of many reasons why hiring a wedding planner is so vitally important. A good wedding coordinator can help you save money and stay within your budget. She'll help keep you organized and make sure you do not overlook any details. It's unfortunate, but a fact that Murphy's Law is always a factor - your planner, such as A Memory Lane Event & Wedding will handle emergencies, find solutions, and keep you from feeling any unnecessary stress.



Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event

Having successfully organized over 1,500 beautiful weddings and events, Jennifer and her team can give you the ultimate wedding planning experience. Her sincere and fun sense of humor will make every step of the planning procedure smooth, painless and the day of enjoyable & entertaining!

First, a bride-to-be, needs a groom or a life partner. Next—and almost as important—she needs the expert assistance of event & wedding planner Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event. Although other wedding planners may excel at arranging for the flowers, caterer, and music, Jennifer stands alone in charm, truth, quick humor, and calm professionalism she brings to a truly demanding job. Her easygoing attitude makes for an efficient planning process that turns out to be enjoyable, too. Jennifer Lane's A Memory Lane Events & Weddings assists you in covering it all from the booking of the venue, buying the gown, tailoring the perfect dress, someone to be there for fittings, assisting with the guest list, selecting the menu, right through being the one to take your personal items at the end of the night and returning them to you after the honeymoon. Make sure that your wedding dazzles with a diamond quality & hire Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event & Wedding.

We not only plan & coordinate weddings in Denver, but in all of Colorado, anywhere in the US & internationally. We also only take one event or wedding per week so our clients have our undivided attention. Call now. 303-513-2364