Fall Back 2016

That's Right, It is time to change those clocks back an hour. 

This Sunday, November 6th, 2016, at 2 AM the clocks change.  So before you go to bed set them back 1 hour. No that doesn't mean you get to stay up 1 additional hour.  But it does means that you gain 1 hour. (or get to act like its a part of groundhogs day and repeat 1 hour of your life!

So Saturday night or first thing Sunday morning. Set those clocks.  And it is a good reminder to also change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

And while most of us now have devises that will do this for us it is important to remember to change the clocks in your car, on the stove/microwave and even in the office (maybe before you leave on Friday, so that Monday you don't have a worse day when you realize it is not right) ;)

Happy Fall! 

Events by Lisa Marie

Event & Wedding Planning

3841 SW Hall Blvd

Beaverton, OR 97005

Spring Forward (yep it's time)

Hey Friends, Guess what?  Its time to spring forward on Sunday morning (March 8th, 2015) .  So before heading off to bed make sure you set all those clocks ahead 1 hour.  The only ones you don't need to worry about are your computers, phones or other web/satellite based clocks.   

And don't forget those clocks in your car.  Some will not spring forward on their own!

Happy Spring

Events by Lisa Marie

Save or Spluge

So you are engaged and now planning the wedding.  You are looking at dates and venues and wondering how much it will all cost.  Well there is GOOD NEWS.  As you plan your budget we have a few tips for you. 

1. First thing is to pick the one or two items you want to splurge on.
2. Make a list of all the things you will need.  (we can help you create this list as it will differ for each couple)
3. Put these items in order of importance.
4. Decide which things you can cut back on. (Maybe you don't need 3 signature drinks)
5. Decide which areas you can do yourself and which you need to hire out to the professionals.
6. Start researching and watch for deals.
7. While the idea of a large wedding might entice you it can quickly add up. Think about it this way. Per person food alone for a good buffet can run you between $30-60 per person.  Plus there are appetizers, drinks and desserts.  Then there is the added cost of tables, chairs, linens, plateware & decorations.  Some of these may be added into your venue or catering packages, Others may not. So that 200 person wedding can cost a lot more than that 125 person wedding and may make it so that you are unable to splurge on the items you really want.

There are also additional tips that can help you with deciding on what to save on and what to splurge on.

1. When picking the items you want to splurge on pick the things that mean the most to you.  If you really HAVE to have a specific dress then use that as your splurge.  If it is an amazing cake and great food pick that.  Just keep in mind that you can not splurge on everything.

2. Make a list of things that you really want for your wedding.  Remembering that you do not need everything that everyone else has had.  You may not want a photo booth or tons of flowers on your table.  You may instead want candles and other decor on your tables and want to spend a little more on videography instead of a photo booth.

3. Create your importance list.  You may have things you put at the very bottom that you are ok not doing in case you run out of money.  But at least this way you have a list to work from and helps to make sure that you spend your money on the things you really want.

4. What can you cut back on?  Do you really NEED 3 passed appetizers?  Can you get away with 2?  Do you need a full bar or instead can you do 2 signature drinks with beer and wine?  Talk to your florist, they can usually suggest a flower that can be supplemented to help cut back on some of the cost or help recommend ways you can use your ceremony flowers for your reception as well.

5. What can you do yourself?  What needs to be done by professionals.  Favors - You can usually do on the more budget friendly side and can be done by yourself.  You can also do some of your decor by yourself and sometimes you can do your programs.  Biggest thing to remember is that some things you think you can do yourself may not be a cost savings.  If you are inexperienced or do not know what things cost from different vendors you may not be saving yourself time.  With Favors our biggest cost saver is this - Make the favor something consumable.  These are the most popular ones and the ones we very rarely have left over.  And unless you want them at each persons seat you do not need to have one for every person who RSVP'd to your wedding.  Someone may not attend at the last minute, Couples may only take 1, Parents may not want their children to have one, and so on.  It is ok to only make 75 for a guest count of 100, otherwise at the end of the night you may end up looking at 25-30 extras that you spent good money on.

Most importantly, Even if you don't think it is in your budget sit down and chat with a wedding planner.  An experienced knowledgable planner can help guide you thru the process and direct you towards the right vendors and ideas that will be within your budget.

Thanks for reading today's blog article.

Lisa Marie

Events by Lisa Marie

Eventsbylisamarie.com

503-830-7779

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Want to schedule a consultation with us? Give us a call and we can set up a time that works best for you.

Cyber Week Specials

Yep that's right, we are running some cyber week specials. See below for the specials that we are running for Monday and Tuesday and keep checking back to our blog and facebook page for more this week.

Schedule your complimentary consultation by December 7th and let us know which Cyber Special you want.  Only one may be applied to your final "package" and as the week goes on they will get bigger and better.

Monday - Events by Lisa Marie

Book a 3 hour consultation package (or gift certificate for a 3 hour consultation) and get a Mini Wedding Day Emergency Kit for free.  (a $40 Value)

Portland Bridal Boot Camp

Order the Advocare 24 Day Challenge by Friday and get it at 30% off shipped directly to you.  Comment on the Facebook page and we will email you additional information. Must be ordered by December 1st.  A great way to cleanse the system after all the Holiday eating. :)

Tuesday - Events by Lisa Marie

Book a 5 hours consultation package (or a gift certificate for a 5 hour consultation) and get a Mini Wedding Day Emergency Kit for free (a $40 value) and a $25 Gift Certificate to Henry's Tavern

Portland Bridal Boot Camp

Order the Advocare 24 Day Challenge by Friday and get it at 30% off shipped directly to you.  Comment on the Facebook page and we will email you additional information. Must be ordered by December 1st.  A great way to cleanse the system after all the Holiday eating. :)

Stay tuned as we will post Wednesday and Thursday's Cyber deals on Wednesday night. :)

Events by Lisa Marie

503-830-7779

Taking you from Vision to Reality

Hip, Fun, Sassy and Stylish Event & Wedding Planning

Portland Oregon

Emergency Wedding Kits

Every couple wants a perfect day.  Well there are times when a few things may need to be fixed, altered or worked on.  Because of this even couple who do not hire a coordinator should be prepared.  This means having an emergency wedding kit on hand.  The good news is you can put this together months in advance and have it on hand and ready to go, or you can buy them at The Wedding Cottage

When putting your kit together we recommend getting an inexpensive tub or tote with a locking top and handle to carry it.

The Basic Kit
2 - bottles of water                        2 - protein/granola bars             1 - package of almonds
1 - bottle pain reliever                   1 - basic first aide kit
1- bottle unscented lotion              1- toothbrush/ toothpaste          1 - bottle mouthwash
1 - package bobby pins                  1 - package of hair ties             1 - bottle hair spray 
1 - package safety pins                  1- travel sized sewing kit
1- package of kleenex                    1 - tide stick                              1- lint roller

This has most of the items you will need to get you thru your day.  Below is what we have and some pictures of how we pack out kits.

First we have very extensive kits because as we set up and manage your day there are a lot of little things that may happen and need to be taken care of.  So over the last 5 years our kits have continued to grow.

First is what we call our Bathroom Kit and below is a picture of it and what all is included.

First it comes in an easy to carry box with a handle.  Inside you will find.

3- tampons
2- pads
6- wisps (disposable toothbrushes)
1- package of cough drops
1- package Chloraseptic throat lozenges
1- bottle Aleve
1- bottle of Tylenol (we keep both since some people can't have one or the other)
1- bottle unscented lotion
1- Dove Powder Deodorant
1- package oil blotters
1- package kleenex
1- package puff pads
1 - package of each black & tan hair ties  
1 - dental floss                                                                       1 - bottle hand sanitizer
1 - package bobby pins                                                          1- tub of toothpaste
1 - tub of clear gloss                                                               1 - bottle of Visine
1 - bottle of baby powder                                                       1 - package of Tums
1 - 3 different sized mirrors                                                   1 - eyeshadow applicators
1 - bottle of hair spray                                                            1 - Manicure set
1 - travel shampoo & Conditioner                                          1 - razor & shave cream

Keep in mind this is still only a selection of what all in in there.   We also add things that you will need just for your wedding like finger nail polish in the color you are wearing.

Next we have our Sewing Kits.

This kit is the most used and has lots of items in it.  The picture is missing a few items but here is a list of what we bring.
1 - full travel sewing kits with 20 different colors of thread, sissors, needles, pins, and more
1 - hot glue gun and glue sticks
1 - bottle of gold safety pins (2 different sizes)
1 - bottle of silver safety pins (2 different sizes)
1 - package Deodorant Removing Sponges
1 - package of fabric glues
1 - package of Body Tape (to stick your dress to you)
1- package of fashion tape (for your dress)
1 - Lint Roller
1 - bottle of boutonniere pins
1 - package of Kleenex
1 - Tide Stick
1- package Shout Wipes

Then there is our extras tub.  This tub has all sorts of extras that are often needed for set up, getting ready and during the reception.

1 - package of straws for the bride
1 - package Wet Ones
1 - package Lysol Wipes
1 - package of clear 3M hooks to hang things with
1 - pair of sissors
1 - tin of altoids
1 - package of first aide gloves
1 - first aide kit
10 - packets of Spark (sugar free energy drink)
3 - packets of peanuts
4 - granola bars
3 - lighters
3 - pens
1 - picture hanging set
1 - roll of fishing line
1- roll of regular and double sided tape
1 - roll of scrapbook tape
                                                           
1 - package sharpies                                                                1 - package dry erase markers
10 - table stands                                                                      1 - staple gun
1 - package of chalk                                                                3 - nice pens
1 - hammer                                                                              10 - nails
1 - multi use screwdriver                                                         10 - screws
1 - wire cutter

You may notice that there are some things we have in there twice.  There are a few things we keep lots of and therefore add them to different tubs in the kit.

 Lastly we always keep things in our kit that will help with entertaining the younger crowd during the reception. We always keep a minimum of 10 coloring kits.  These kits include a small coloring book, stickers and a small packet of crayons.  We have found that often times after dinner the younger kids need something to keep them busy.  This gives them something to sit and do so that their parents can relax and have a little bit of fun as well.  This is something that is always in our kits so it is just an added bonus to our client.

We believe that anything we can do to make your day a more pleasant one we will.  That includes making sure your guests are enjoying themselves no matter what age they are.



So you may be asking what we bring all this in?  Well here is a picture of the kit we use.  It has wheels so it is easy to roll.  We also have different compartments for different things so that each of our coordinators knows where things are and it is easy to get to them. 

Please note that we will add things that relate directly to your wedding to each kit.  So this may be adding some ribbon in your wedding color, bug spray or sun screen.  We may also bring an extra supply of candles and votives if we feel they may be needed and all of this can still fit in these kits.

So join us and become part of the Events by Lisa Marie family as a bride and groom.  Let us make sure your special day is a fantastic one.  Our wedding planners and specialists have experience making indoor or outdoor, large or small weddings a smashing success.

Lisa Marie

Events by Lisa Marie

503-830-7779

Butterfly Botanical Babyshower

The Stork is coming! The stork is coming! The joyous news of a new baby is here. 

 So much change is touching your lives as you are busy planning and preparing for your child’s arrival. Your friends have asked to plan a special day dedicated just for you.  The guest of honor should be showered with love and support at a beautiful and relaxing celebration. Let us help plan this memorable day for you…..and of course that little one too!

 

Butterfly Botanical

In April we coordinated a baby shower for Kristina and Baby Karly. Held at a private residence, we were able to achieve the perfect intimate setting she sought.  Upon receiving the invitations created by Sunny with Puddle Jumpin Cards, guests were given an exciting glimpse of what was to come.

A Butterfly Botanical theme was created to match Karly’s nursery which is pink, brown and white.  Guests were greeted into a secret garden oasis created by fresh flower bouquets and elegantly displayed plants throughout the rooms.  Butterflies fluttered out of iron cages and pedestals lifted white candles sitting in moss wreaths.  Lanterns were tiered from the ceiling along with butterfly garland, transforming the living room and giving it an outdoor feel. 

 

The baby shower began late morning which called for a delicious brunch spread by Elephants Delicatessen.  Pastry platter, Quiches and fresh fruit were served, along with delicate cupcakes of all sorts.  Food and drink labels, created with pink flowers adorning them, sat elevated in the top of tree topiaries.  A little classy extra, was our pink wine spritzer poured into champagne glasses with personalized butterfly charms.  We wanted to signify that this is a day to treat yourself.

What is a baby shower without games? Based on Kristina’s personality we picked three games to play.  As guests arrived they were given Baby pins, to keep them you could not cross your arms or ankles.  The second was Baby trivia which you can pick up at any local store or you can custom make.  Lastly, we had baby food tasting using three different flavors to create difficulty.  Pre portion out into sample cups before the baby shower starts.  This way you can carry them all out on a tray as you begin the game.

To show our appreciation for attendance, each guest took home a lovely personalized thank you bag.  It was an amazing baby shower filled with laughter and love. Best of all, it was a day dedicated to Kristina & Karly.

This is just one of the many baby showers we can create for our clients.  We have packages ranging design/ décor planning to full coordination.  Call today to set up your consultation and see how we can relieve the stress and add the fun and elegance to your baby shower.

Huge thank you to Stacy Hamilton with Simply Candid Images for the great photos. 

Jessica - Coordinator

Lisa Marie, Meranda, Summer, Alycia, Taylor and Madison

Eventsbylisamarie.com

503-830-7779

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Importance of a Professional?

Many people think they can save money on their wedding by choosing vendors not professionals.  Below is a brief article of some questions you need to ask those who will be participating in your special day.  You WANT/NEED professionals at your wedding.  Not just vendors or Hobbyists.  You will have a much more enjoyable time and the wedding will be more successful, still need to save some money in the budget?  That’s just fine there are lots of ways to do that and still get your professionals.    

Here are some basic questions you need to ask any wedding professional you are meeting with for your wedding. Q=Questions, R=Reason the questions needs to be asked.

Q. Are you licensed with the state?
R. If they are not you may have less help if something goes wrong, and most people who are NOT licensed with the state are more of Hobbyist and less Professionals. 

Q. How long have you been in BUSINESS?
R. Make sure you ask business not industry.  Some people can say they have been in the industry but not in business for themselves.  New Business’ are fine to book with but you will want to make sure that they have all their paperwork, time-lines, contracts and business in order.   Also if they are new to owning their own business as for referral from past clients.

Q. Can I look at your Portfolio?
R. This will give you a glimpse into the type of work they have produced.  Make sure that they have a variety of images, events or ideas they can show you.  If they only have one or two events in their portfolio then they may not have the depth or experience you will be looking for.

Q. Ask to see a copy of their contract while in your consultation.
R. You will want to read through it before it is given to you to sign.  If there is something in the contract that would prevent you from signing it you will want to know before a proposal is given to you with the contract.  This will also give you a chance to ask questions about anything in or not in the contract.

Q. Ask if they have business insurance, If yes ask for a copy of their COI.
R. You want to know that they have taken the time to protect THEIR business.  If they have taken the time to do this most likely they are going to also take care of you.

Q. Ask for some testimonials or reference from past clients
R. There are a lot of online reference sites.  This is a good way to check and see how happy past clients really are.  Chances are if they are listed even without a testimonial they are less of a hobbyist.  If they have testimonials you can read them.

Keep in mind these are just a FEW of the questions you will want to ask.  We can work with you on additional questions that are professional specific during a consultation.

For additional support in choosing Professionals contact us now for a complimentary consultation.

Events by Lisa Marie

www.eventsbylisamarie.com

www.facebook.com/eventsbylisamarie

503-830-7779

Reasons to hire a Wedding and Event Planner

There are many reasons a Wedding Planner, Coordinator or Specialist may be for you.  Some of which may include stress management, budget control and time.  Planning a wedding takes a lot of time and energy both physically and emotionally.  So why not sit down with a Planner or Specialist who can help guide you through the process.  Below are some details as to how a Wedding Planner/Specialist can help make your wedding run smoothly and have it be enjoyable for all involved. 

Stress – There are many decisions that need to be made and many have an intense timeline that needs to be followed.  Professionals need to be found, interviewed and booked, dresses need to be picked out and ordered in time to have them arrive and be fitted, Invitations need to be sent out with RSVP’s being tracked.  Centerpieces need to be designed to fit the overall theme.  All these things can make planning a wedding stressful but can also be things a Planner does for you thus reducing your stress and creating a memorable and fun wedding.

Budget – How many times do you get married?  Many people are not familiar with what venues cost, or how much they should pay per person for catering.  Wedding Planners/Specialists have the ability to help you wade through the proposals and negotiate them down or cut out what you do not need so that you are sticking to the budget.  They also know where to go for the items you need within the budget you have.

Time – you may just not have enough time to be able to plan your wedding.  Because of this you may fall victim to thoughts and ideas others have for you.  By hiring a Wedding Planner/Specialist you are able to plan your wedding the way you want it done while still having time to live your life. We also have no relation to your family and friends and can tell  them NO.  Creating your perfect day not theirs.

Things to consider- Day of Coordinators are fabulous when you want to plan things yourself but still want the comfort of knowing things will come together.  Regardless of if you have lots of decoration you want set up or a big grand entrance to be organized, a Day of Coordinator can make your wedding relaxing and fun.  They take on all the stress of completing the set up, managing the timeline, notifying other professionals and making sure things run smoothly.  Who wants to be in the bathroom when the best man tells the DJ he is ready for the toast.  NOT THE BRIDE that's why hiring a planner to help with your day is a good idea. We are there so that you, your husband, family and friends can all enjoy the day without having to worry about all the little details.

Why Hire Us?

Simple – We have experience with weddings from 50-500 guests, we listen to your vision and make suggestions based on what you are looking for, we work hard to make your day perfect and we are budget friendly.  We can help you negotiate many of your contracts to help you SAVE money as well as having an inventory of our own for you to rental, keeping your cost lower by not having to buy them.  Additionally we have happy clients and years of experience in the industry.

Lisa Marie

Events by Lisa Marie

Wedding and Event Specialist