Select a Theme:

What could be more joyful than a party to celebrate a new arrival? A baby shower is a time to celebrate new life and help the mother-to-be prepare for her new arrival. When it comes to deciding on a theme, there are several important factors to consider… First, where will the party be located? Will it be held inside or out? For example, if the party is at the park, you may want to consider incorporating these elements into your theme. Secondly, it is important to take the mother’s preferences into consideration. What are some of the things that she likes? What are her favorite colors or flowers? And, finally, you can’t go wrong with utilizing the nursery theme as the party theme. When choosing your theme, it is important to have fun and include thoughtful touches. Your guests will sense your enthusiasm, making the party that much more memorable. 

Pick a Host:

When it comes to picking a host for a baby shower, there are lots of options. Hosts can include a close family member, such as a mother, aunt or cousin, a close friend, or even a co-worker. There will be many people who will want to throw a baby shower for an expectant mother, especially a first-time mother, so it is important that everyone agrees on who will host the shower. This will assure no one will feel left out. If multiple people would like to throw a baby shower, consider co-hosting or holding several small luncheons individually. Luncheons could include a cookout with the in-laws, lunch with co-workers or tea with the girls. 

Choose a Menu:

The baby shower menu is very important. People always remember the food. So, be sure to put thought into your menu and make it memorable. Since there will be a variety of different tastes, be sure to have an assortment of options. Keep last minute work to a minimum by choosing food that can be prepared quickly or can be served at room temperature. If you decide to caterer your party, your cater will work with you to chose appetizers that will be appropriate for your theme and location. Another option would be to ask guests to bring their favorite dish. There’s no shame in a potluck, just be sure to indicate that your guests are expected to bring something on your invitations.   

Let’s Play a Game:

Gift opening is the main event, but another activity can enliven the gathering. There are tons of baby shower game ideas on the web, so be sure to do some research. Some fun games to consider are “Guess the Mommy’s Tummy Size,” “Never Say Baby,” or “Finish the Baby Nursery Rhyme.” And, don’t forget to have writing utensils on hand and game prizes for the winners.

What to Give?

Choosing a baby shower gift can feel overwhelming. When a family member or close friend is expecting a baby, you want to find the most perfect gift possible. So, here are some tips to help you chose the perfect baby shower gift. 1) Ask if there is a registry. This is a sure fire way to make sure you chose a gift the mother-to-be will love. 2) Consider the time of year that the baby will be born. Winter babies will need snuggly warm clothes, while summer babies will need lighter clothing and sun hats. 3) Go for practical. Every new baby will need baby bottles and diapers, so give the parents a hand by purchasing some of these items as a baby shower gift.

Many of us love hosting parties and weddings in stunning outdoor locations.  As you are narrowing down the date of your event, you should check historic averages around your desired date to make sure that the weather at that time of year is generally good.  But one thing that is predictable when planning an outdoor event is that weather is UNpredictable.  But here are several tips to help you navigate the inevitable unpredictability.

Windy – Windproof candles with hurricane lanterns or tall candle holders.

Hot – Your cake baker will guide you well, but keep in mind that if your cake will be outdoors in hot weather or placed where the sun will beam upon its gloriousness, fondant or marzipan is a better choice over buttercream.

Sunny – Face guests with back to sun.

Chilly – Provide a big basket with throw blankets for your guests.  For weddings, you can even have them personalized and use them as your party favors.

Rainy – If you will have electronic needs for a speaker or band, determine with the venue or band how best to keep the electronics and wiring protected from water.  You want to have an electrifying event, but not in a bad way.

Hot – Offer mini bottles of water, lemonade or flavored sparkling water in a big drink bucket full of ice before your ceremony or event gets underway.  You can even order water bottles with personalized labels.

Chilly – Serve hot tea or coffee all throughout the event, and especially before sending your guests out into the cold to go home.

Sunny – If chairs will be in the sun, don’t use metal chairs that could burn your guests.

Hot – Make fans out of the programs with a Popsicle stick glued to one end.

Windy – Use small fishing weights at the end of your veil to keep the veil from blowing around, or opt for a pretty headpiece or clips.

Chilly – Some bridal parties have been known to use little heat packs wrapped in the base of their bridal bouquets or in their pockets.  We suggest searching for non-toxic, reusable ones.

Hot – Leave flowers indoors until last minute or they will wilt.

Windy – prevent place cards from blowing away with a weighted down ribbon or place card holders

Sunny – Have a basket on hand filled with samples of sunscreen.

Chilly – Don’t forget outwear that will compliment your dress or the groom’s tux.

Rainy – purchase several personalized umbrellas or umbrellas in the colors of your wedding for your ushers to assist guests into the venue.

Buggy – Mind the anthills.  If you see them around your event location, ask the venue if they would make sure to eliminate them prior to the event.  And ask if they will spray the area prior to the vendor for the flying insects like mosquitoes.  Place citronella torches and candles around the area to help fight mosquitoes, too.

Chilly – Help your guests fight that slightly chilly air by renting outdoor patio heaters.

Sunny – Consider your elderly or sun-sensitive guests and try to have some chairs for them in a shady location to watch the ceremony.

Soft or Soggy Soil – If your bridesmaids will be walking down a grassy aisle, allow them to wear shoes with heels that won’t sink into the soil.

Rainy – It’s wise to ask if the outdoor location you are eyeing for your event has a facility that can act as a back-up rain location…or consider using tents.  There are even heating & cooling options for framed tents (tents with sides).

Rainy – Ask the venue if they provide or can suggest some pathway options to tent locations if it does rain.  Tents are great for keeping you dry, but if you are walking through mud puddles to get inside them, it sure dampens the occasion.

Chilly – If the weather is a bit nippy than expected and guests will be waiting for the bridal processional to begin, make sure you provide a basic coffee/hot tea station so your guests will be “sipping” pretty while waiting.

Hot or Rainy - When you meet with your hairdresser for your trial run to see what works best with your attire, ask her to provide some options not only for perfect weather but inclement weather as well.  You can then decide on an option for great weather and an option for rainy weather.  That way, you have no surprises or disappointments with the hairstyle on the day of…you will be happy with either choice.

Rainy – Consider an area inside the tent for placing umbrellas, goulashes, and wet raincoats.

Rainy – Don’t forget foot mats at entrances of your tents so as little mud and water is tracked in as possible; these mats are something you could also get personalized.

A few final thoughts:

Waterproof makeup is a must for those many teary moments, but make sure you also tell your makeup person how your skin tends to respond to the various kinds of weather so that she can be prepared with any additional tools you may need for humid, rainy or hot days.

If your outdoor location has exceptional landscaping & flowers planted around the ceremony site, consider utilizing the space in a way that it creates built in décor.  This could also save you some money in your floral budget.

If you are planning on having fire pits or bonfires (as long as they are permitted at the event site, of course), be very prepared with ways to put out fires that are becoming out of control.  Safety is key here.

Think of the view from your guests’ eyes…Don’t allow your videographers to set up in an aisle or other location that will block the view.  And tall candles and décor can look stunning and beautiful when looking at the room overall, but often, these items prevent guests from seeing the action.

Finally, a nice thing to do for your event is to construct a newsletter to email to your guests several days in advance, giving them some helpful hints on how to prepare for the expected type of weather during the event.

Have any outdoor fiascos you had to overcome for your event?  Share with our viewers so they can learn how to head these obstacles off at the pass.

One of the most challenging parts of the entire wedding process is coming up with a “theme.”  For me personally, it was the hardest.  For most brides, you are not only trying to make your vision a reality, but you are also thinking about the opinions of your mother, soon-to-be husband, as well as your well meaning bridal party. This can be overwhelming for anyone.   So, today, I wanted to give you some insight into my wedding “theme” and how it came about.  Hopefully it will give you some INSPIRATION!!

When I was engaged in March, the only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted a FALL wedding and that I wanted a consistent theme to make my decision process easier.  (It allows you to eliminate ideas that do not fit within the pre-determined theme)  After about 2 weeks of dreaming in my mind, the debate begins:  I wanted unique, my mom wanted traditional; I wanted rustic, my mom wanted elegant; I wanted grass green, my mom wanted golds; I wanted outdoors, my mom and fiancé could only think about the possible torrential down pours.  After about a month of that large discrepancy in vision, we finally had a breakthrough!!  PEACOCK FEATHERS.  That one idea brought peace, unity, and a plan.  Teal Bridesmaid dresses; Peacock feathers in the bouquets and centerpieces to make them feel more rustic. Save-The-Dates, Invitations, and Programs embellished with peacock feather to bring the theme to every aspect of the day.  That one decision made every other decision easier.

One additional great thing about the Peacock is the meaning behind it:  THE PEACOCK IS A SYMBOL OF BEAUTY, PROSPERITY, ROYALTY, AND PEACE. SINCE PEACOCKS ARE PURE AT HEART,LOYAL, AND FAITHFUL TO THEIR PARTNERS,THEY ARE ALSO A SYMBOL OF ETERNAL LOVE.

The Peacock Theme may not be best for your big day, but I tell you all this to let you know how important your theme is to your entire planning process!  If you are stumped, please give us a call!  We are here to turn YOUR VISION into a reality!

Valentines Day is coming up!!  We love this day, celebrating all awash in pink & red.  It’s not just for the attached and betrothed, however.  We have a friend who hosts a Valentines Day party specifically for singles.  Each attendee is to bring a person of the opposite sex that they think would be a great catch.  This could be a co-worker with whom you have no chemistry with yourself or even an ex.  Either way, this person should have some specifically winning traits that the guest thinks are special and would be attractive to others.  Not always is a love match made, but there are indeed always friendships created.

There are many themes that you can use for your Valentine’s Day Party.  Following are just a few suggestions:

• February is American Heart Month.  And heart disease is the #1 killer of women!  You could offer up heart healthy food & drink at a party, celebrating your guests’ hearts.  Make nametags from hearts cut out of construction paper, string heart decorations throughout the party site, offer up veges, fruit, hummus, and other heart healthy foods.  Create alcoholic-free drink alternatives with pomegranate juice or other heart healthy, high antioxidant juices.  Of course, these can be added to alcoholic drinks, too.  You could even go the distance by having a friend that is a doctor conduct free blood pressure checks at the party.
• February is also National Weddings Month.  If you happen to have a large number of married couples as friends, then figure out ways to celebrate marriage at your Valentine’s party.  Have all the couples keep drinking their drinks with intertwined arms.  Conduct a fun “Newlywed Game”.  Ask each couple to tell the story of how they met.  Have each couple say what they love about each other.
• Have a Champagne & Chocolate party.  It’s the romantic version of a Wine & Cheese party.  Ask each of your guests to either bring a different kind of chocolate or champagne.  Chop up some pieces of the chocolate where you can for offering small bites.  Then set the different kinds of chocolates around the party room so guests can sample with their champagne.  You can write the kind of chocolate on pre-folded cards you make so that people don’t have to keep asking what they are.  Or better yet, have the guests guess the elements of the chocolate, then tell them what it is.
• Designate your party with a Celebrity Couples theme.  Have your guests dress up as celebrity couples or famous pairs.  Who else could say they had Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Shaggy & Scooby Doo all at the same party?!!
• Don’t forget the kids!  Of course, they love the yummy candy heart and Valentine themed candy.  But get them active by setting up a Valentine’s scavenger hunt in the backyard, hiding little candies in heart shaped “eggs” that you can find at the party stores.  Or have a Valentine’s heart decorating contest by providing the kids with construction paper and decorating crafts.  They can then take that home and give their parents a very special Valentine.
• If you have a few select best friends who are couples, then you could arrange a weekend couples retreat at a nearby Bed & Breakfast.  You could organize a nice relaxing visit to a nearby winery Saturday afternoon, then a hot air balloon flight Sunday morning.
• Mix up your decorating.  Who says everything has to be red & pink?  Go with Purple & Gold, or Red & Gold, or any other unusual and great combination you can think of for your party decorations.  You can even ask your guests to dress in these specific colors so you have a sea of your chosen colors.  Offer up food or drinks that complement the colors, too.

Don’t forget to wear those silly heart ties and socks, or that red boa that you have stuffed in the back of your closet!  Take these suggestions above and go forth and make merry…or maybe even marry ; )

We would LOVE if you would share with us any Valentine party tips you have.  Leave a Comment!

Hello All The Trim readers… I really wanted to write a blog about shopping for THE RING!!! However, seeing as to how I have never bought a diamond I went to the best source I know… MY HUSBAND! Since he did an absolutely AMAZING job purchasing my engagement ring I asked him to share some of his thoughts on the subject…

When thinking about purchasing an engagement ring, there are different angles us men take when approaching such a momentous decision. First of all, you need to think about whether you want the engagement experience to be a total surprise or somewhat of a foregone conclusion that she is expecting, but doesn’t know exactly when it’s coming. That single decision will guide you in the rest of the process. I will assume the purpose of this posting is that a surprising shock is what a man wants when he pops the question. If so, then listening and research will play a large part of what kind of ring you purchase.

There are 4 major categories of choices that will need to be addressed. These are what the industry calls the 4 C’s: color, clarity, cut, and carat. Color is the hue of the diamond, which in any case, the less color in the stone, the better and more expensive. Clarity has to do with how many imperfections exist in the stone. Obviously, the less imperfections, the more highly regarded the gem. Cut is the shape of the diamond. The most common ones are princess (square) cut, marquis (diamond shaped) cut, round (circular) cut, and cushion (square with rounded corners). Carat is the measurement of the diamond. Yeah, the bigger the better in most cases, but budgets will only allow so much, and you can get a diamond with the right shape, cut, and clarity that can offset the actual size of the stone. This is where asking as many questions as possible of the retailer you are considering comes in very handy.

Next, you will need to decide what kind of setting, and band that will fit best for your choice of cut. This choice is close to equally as important for your purchase, as your woman wants to wow others when showing her ring off, not only the stone, but all aspects of the ring. There are so many different varieties of bands and settings that I’m not going to venture into trying to break them down for you.

As I eluded to earlier, listening is very important when making these choices. The best way is to make subtle hints as to noticing others’ rings and asking her what she thinks of them. Then, draw your conclusions about your purchase from the small comments she makes about various rings she has seen others wearing when given the opportunity. Make mental notes, and remember the smallest details about her preferences. Really though, it’s not that complicated, but the last tip I will give you is to choose a top-notch diamond distributor who will work with you and not pressure you about your purchase.

If surprising her with a ring you picked out by yourself scares you, and you want to just make sure of what she will like, then take her with you and browse. But, I promise you, if you do the research and pay attention to her with the intention of shocking her with a great ring, she will cherish the ring much more. If you are dating a woman whom you don’t feel ultimately trusts you in making that type of decision, then, well, that’s another issue that I won’t get into here.

Happy Shopping!!!

Here’s how the story goes.  Your soon to be husband has just swept you off your feet with the most extravagant, well thought out wedding proposal in history… in the car at the stop light. (Another blog for another day).  Anyway, let’s face it, the very first thing our mind goes to when we think of the day is not the table linens, centerpieces, or even the location, it’s the DRESS.  Whether lace, satin, organza, or tulle, your wedding dress sets the theme for your wedding.  As a recent bride myself, I wanted to share a few experiences and thoughts that really helped me during this monumental search… (Maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but it feels as though it is.)

1.  Be selective with who you bring with you.  I will say that out of all the things I did, this was what I did right.  I had watched enough Say Yes to the Dress to know that you should keep your “posse” small.  My first trip was just my mom, my MOH, and me.  They were great at bringing out what I really thought about the dress: how it made me feel, what just wasn’t right, etc.  They were also very willing to give their opinions…when asked.  If you want to include the rest of your bridal party, invite them to the salon for your fitting!  Now let me say something to everyone attending the appointments with the Bride-To-Be.  Remember, it is HER DAY!  If she wants a dress that looks like a down blanket, it doesn’t matter.  IT’S HER DAY. You can only give constructive opinions…when asked.

2.  Communicate with your bridal dress consultant.  Not only have I been a bride, but I have been a bridesmaid attending a wedding dress appointment.  The worst trips I have been a part of are when the bride and the consultant are speaking a different language.  Be sure and tell her if you DO or DON’T like something.  (The train is too long, I want more bling, this fabric isn’t right.)  Her job is to bring the perfect dress for YOU, not the dress she wants you to buy.

3.  Keep an open mind… When I started out on my first trip to try on dresses, I did what every new Bride-To-Be does.  I timelessly searched online and printed out 30 dress options, gave them to the consultant, and was convinced my dress was one of these.  I soon found out a mermaid style just wasn’t flattering on my figure, tulle made me look like a ballerina, and a stark white dress made me look like a zombie.  I had to open my mind and be willing to try on different dress shapes, styles, and colors.

Lastly, Have Fun, Don’t Stress.  Out of all my pre-wedding appointments, searching for the dress was the most FUN!  Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself when something doesn’t look like you wanted it to. Remember that at the end of this, you are going to be marrying the person you love.  And he will marry you no matter what your dress looks like!

Those are this recent bride’s thoughts.  Let’s hear from others who have had this experience, whether it was last month or 40 years ago!!

All the Trim would like to wish you all a Happy New Year 2011! Our hopes are for us all to have a great year, full of celebrations.  We look forward to the upcoming wedding season and would like to share a unique trend that we are eager to see become the everyday standard, not just for weddings but for all celebrations big and small.

More & more people are trying to support their local farmers by purchasing designated local county or state grown food from supermarkets & Farmer’s Markets.  And some are even becoming members of Community Supported Agriculture clubs, clubs in which you share the work and the rewards along with farmers.  Using sustainably grown foods not only supports the local economy to help keep our farmers in business but also puts yummier, fresher food on our tables and is a more environmentally sound choice.

We are now seeing more brides joining this movement by asking if caterers utilize local foods as much as possible in their creation of menus.  An even more interesting trend is that savvy brides are looking to find local wineries and featuring those wines at their receptions.  We love this idea, as wineries are as much a part of our farming community as those who grow grains, meats, dairy and vegetables.  You can click here to find local wineries in your area.  Also check for locally, state-driven websites about wineries that will likely give you more detailed info, write-ups and articles on each winery.  And don’t forget to seek out local beer breweries, too!

We encourage you to educate yourself about your local farming community.  Here in North Carolina, we have a great website that is dedicated to this purpose: Know Your Farms.  This website gives you information about Community Support Agriculture, the Annual Know Your Farms Farm Tour, links to local farms, and more.  Do an Internet search for local food programs & farm tours in your community, and do your part to help our farmers provide us great tasting food year round.  A great place to start is at this Mother Earth News webpage, which has several websites that you can use to search out these local farms and find out more about the benefits of eating local foods.

Please have a delightful 2011 opening yourself up to all the wonders our local farms, wineries & breweries have to offer.

Have you featured local food, wine or beer at your event? Click “Leave a Comment” below and tell us about your experience and offer our viewers any helpful hints or good questions to ask caterers or wineries before providing this at their events.

Have a delightfully wonderful 2011 opening yourself up to all the wonders our local farms, wineries & breweries have to offer.

With a Hot Cocoa Bar!  This is a thing we love to see at any winter party but especially around the holidays.  And it’s a trend that is taking suit after the Dessert Bars & Candy Bars many are featuring at their events.

You can get a basic 30-cup stainless steel hot water urn either online or at places like Target for about $30 to $35.  Then you can either get variety packets of premixed hot cocoa like Swiss Miss, Hershey’s Chocolate syrup, or serve your favorite brand of canned cocoa powder for mixing with sugar and other additions to sweeten it up.  Don’t forget to have a smaller pot or urn with some warmed milk or Half & Half for those who like to have a creamier or thicker hot chocolate mixture.  For mugs, you can always hit the thrift stores to get a random variety of mugs, adding a casual and amusing spin, or you can go sophisticated with formal matching coffee cups and mugs.

Now for the fun part!  You can have all sorts of imaginative things on hand so your guests can make their very own hot chocolate concoction.  Some suggestions are:

• Mini candy peppermint and cinnamon canes for stirring and flavoring
• Rock Candy stirrers
• Marshmallows big and small
• Mini chocolate chips
• Reddi Whip or Cool Whip
• Salt (like they use for the Salted Hot Chocolate at Starbucks)
• Spices like ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg
• Eggnog
• Yummy extracts like orange or almond
• Candy sprinkles
• Red hots
• Fun colored crystal sugar (and non-calorie sweeteners for those who dare)

You can throw in some adult options with Baily’s, Rum or Grand Marnier, too.  And of course, don’t forget to fill out the table with edible yummies like Biscotti, Gingersnaps, or Oatmeal Cookies.

Finally, provide seasonal holiday serving spoons and utensils for stirring up all this yummy stuff into great mixtures of chocolate joy.

Do you have a suggestion on how to make a Hot Cocoa bar even more outstanding?  Let us know by leaving a comment.  And we at All the Trim Events wish you and your taste buds a Happy & Tasty Holiday!

As you may know from our previous blog posts, All The Trim had the opportunity to plan the Charlotte East Community Partners 4th Annual Black Tie Gala. Forgive us for tooting our own horn, but we received such a kind recommendation from Jeanie Welch, Secretary of CECP, we wanted to share it with you.

I am writing to recommend All the Trim Events By Design as an event planning company. I became familiar with this firm when its principals planned and coordinated the 4th Annual Black Tie Gala of the Charlotte East Community Partners, a local civic organization of which I am currently secretary. The Black Tie Gala is our principal fund raising event and showcases the positive aspects of our community. It is attended by local political and civic leaders and benefits a local non-profit organization.

All the Trim did an outstanding job of facilitating our 2010 Gala. The staff had several creative ideas, was flexible in meeting our needs, and had an amazing work ethic in making the gala a success. In all aspects of planning, including selecting a caterer, developing the Gala theme, decorating the venue, and printing of the tickets and programs, they handled their responsibilities with professionalism and enthusiasm.

In closing, I heartily recommend All the Trim Events by Design as an event planning firm for its creativity, integrity, and enthusiasm.

Vellum wrapped Photo Lantern centerpieces featuring East Charlotte landmarks like the Vanlandingham Estate

Just wanted to update you on our most recent event, Charlotte East Community Partners 4th Annual Charlotte East Black Tie Gala.  We so enjoyed working with this great organization in making their Gala a success this year.  We discussed with them their theme and fine-tuned our final Inspiration Board according to their comments.  We then moved forward in making those ideas into a green & white themed reality with a slight environmental twist.  We used natural materials like curly willow, birch branches, ferns, snapdragons, Bells of Ireland, pebbles, moss and more!  We also diligently worked upon the important part of tying in the businesses and neighborhood communities of East Charlotte.  One of our favorite ideas was making vellum photo box lanterns that had photos of various East Charlotte landmarks.

As you can see from one of our previous blogs, we did a terrarium project with the Boys & Girls Club kids and featured those in the silent auction on a special Terrarium Table.  The silent auction featured everything from jewelry to art to gift certificates from local businesses, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club located on Milton Road in East Charlotte.  Next to the Terrarium Table, we had a Wish Tree where all of the attendees wrote their wishes for the future of East Charlotte and were able to read each other’s vision for this wonderfully diverse area of Charlotte.

The band kept everyone entertained, and the food was amazing!!  We even had a green & white dessert and candy bar.  It was packed with white chocolate covered pretzels, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, muffins, rock candy lollipops, Andes mints, green candy coated almonds, apple pie taffy and tons more!  YUM.  We definitely advise you take a look at the Charlotte Museum of History, as this venue is gorgeous and added to the drama we hoped to infuse for this event.  We want to thank all of the vendors and volunteers that had a part in this event.  They were all wonderful, and we hope to work with them in the future.  Please take a look at the other photos from this event in the Gallery in the Corporate Events album.