Cupcakes and Cocktails

Ladies Night is always a lot of fun and giggles when the ladies get together. I decided to host one for a group of ladies that felt like they needed one day out of the month to just relax and be around other diverse women as themselves. I came up with the theme Cupcakes and Cocktails because nothing is better than having a gourmet cupcake and a fun cocktail drink.

I picked the color palette of pink,black and white to be that pop of color for the room. Of course the cupcakes were the center of attention. I decided to get a variety of different ones to match the personalities of all the ladies. We even took the Wii out and had a great time trying to figure out how to play the game.

Here are a few pictures we took of that great night. ENJOY

Trish

Night Club Themed Retirement Party

I had the honor of creating a fabulous Retirement Party for a lady that was retiring from the Coast Guard after 20 years. When we spoke it was like an automatic connection since her name also was Tricia. I thought that was just fate to work with someone with the same name. She expressed to me that she wanted her event to be fun with a lot of dancing, intimate seating and a great ambiance of color and lights.

I took her thoughts and created a Miami Chic Night Club theme. It worked out perfect and she was speechless. The color pallette we chose was purple and lime green.We took that information and created fabulous layout, which ended up being a night she would always remember.

Take a peek into the room and ENJOY!

Trish

Alicia Keys Butterfly Inspired Baby Shower Montage

There is a boom of celebrity babies popping up for the year of 2010. I wanted to to share my vision as a designer on how I would orchestrate a fabulous baby shower for one of my favorite singers Mrs. Alicia Keys.

We all know that she finally announced that she was pregnant by Switz Beats and they are truly happy for the new baby to arrive. But has Mrs. Alicia though about how she would do her baby shower? Well I have and thought it would be nice to share some ideas on what she could do if she was expecting a girl. By looking at some of her pictures,I have an idea by her size that maybe her baby is due in December but of course that is just my opinion.

I decide to pick a butterfly themed baby shower. Alicia's first song that she wrote was titled "Buttefrlyz" and I wanted to bring in elements of all of her favorite things that she would share if she had a little girl.




I really love the color purple and found out that Alicia Keys favorite color is purple so of course that would be the ideal color to choose. I would probably add in silver with touches of pink to give it more of a chic look. Her favorite kind of cake is vanilla ice cream with chocolate fudge so I would want to create maybe a layered ice cream cake that had her favorite color for icing with some butterflies touches. Now seeing as though she is pregnant I would offer her guest different shots of milk in shot glass for a more elegant yet classic feel. Alicia is unable to drink whole milk so of course I would bring out her favorite which would be almond milk and offer a variety of whole,skim,chocolate,strawberry and of course almond milk to her guest with some butterfly cookies stirring sticks.

I would layer the tables with different shades of purple to bring out depth and it soften it a bit.To keep the butterfly theme going I found this really cute butterfly cage to be the centerpiece which would hold live butterflies. Of course many of you may say butterflies are more for spring or summer themed events but who made that rule? You should not have to be limited to do what you like during certain times of the year. Her guest favors would be either little sterling silver butterfly jewelry boxes or perfume bottles with the crystal bottoms.

If you could do a celebrity baby shower, who would you pick and what you do?

Beautiful Backdrops

Have you ever been in banquet room and the walls where just horrendous? Nothing about the color of paint or wall paper screamed and said that your event was elegant or chic. Do you just settle for the ugliness or do you try to come up with an alternative idea?

Backdrops seem to cure most of the problems. Of course there are many different kinds to choose from and you have to pick which one will fit with the look you are trying to achieve. Check out some of these really cool ideas for backdrops that I have found.

Stage Backdrops:
Stage backdrops consist of drapes with many fabrics to choose from and mobile frames that connect to the stage to hold up the drapes. Perfect to put behind a speaker, head table and runways



Sheer Drapes:
Can be used to hide unpleasant looking walls or give your room a airy feel to it.



Vintage Ribbon Backdrop:
Which can be made out of any stylish ribbon to match the decor of your event.You can mix and match your ribbons.Just have fun picking out different textures and seeing what will be a hit.



When planning your next event,consider trying out a backdrop and see how it transform the room.

Keeping Motivated in the Event Planning World

I wanted to take this time to talk about what I go through as a designer in the event planning industry. I wasn't quite sure if I should even discuss my feelings in a blog, however that is what your blog is for.To talk about what you are going through, what you feel, your trials and tribulations and your accomplishments. So I decided to dedicate this post on how I keep from getting De-Motivated in this industry.

It's summer time now and you would think that everyone that is a planner is flourishing. But to the contrary some of us are either at a standstill or just getting by however we can. Yes it is true that many brides get married in the spring and summer but I also think that is depends on where you are located whether or not you will be busy. We all know what they say "It's about who you know" and who I am referring to is the Hotel Catering Sales Mangers. If your not on the preferred vendors list you pretty much will not hear from them because they already have their favorites. So you have to work really hard and network with them to get your name out there and to show them you can be a great representation of what they consider a top knotch planner. Now you ask yourself, " Is that fair?" And we all know the answer to that question. No! but it's what it is.

I figured out that it is all about re-inventing yourself and the products that you offer to your clients. If I take a look at what I offer, I am not only a designer but I also have a rental company. I made it like that to be able to offer a one stop shop to my clients.It is such a pain when you have a bride that wants chair covers and sashes and you are the one designing the wedding and she has to go to several other vendors to get what she needs.Just being able to provide unique services that will benefit the clients is a plus.It's all about how you present the product to them to help make the process easier.

Working with the local vendors in a big thing. You have got to create a great working relationship with the local photographers,rental companies and bakers. These people are key in your network, because there is always an opportunity to refer clients to one another. But the problem is so many of us think we can do it all by ourselves and that is not the case. I find that when you create a bond with the local vendor it helps to get your name out there and also creates a great working relationship because they are normally the first names to roll of the tongue when someone asks do you have someone. However, just by having these great connections are no more good to you or me if we don't keep in contact with each other. It's like you fade into the sunset and you both kinda forget about each other. Then your all upset when your not getting the referrals because the bond has been broken.We as planners need to work harder on preserving all the great connections that we have made through out our careers.

Staying motivated is hard if you don't have the will power to want to succeed. It is so easy to just give up and say that your business is not doing well so therefore your quiting or taking time off. But I refuse to give up because I am a go-getter. I love a challenge and when I see that things might be slow, I focus on other things that I can make better in my business. Planners seem to forget that just because you have a wedding every weekend or a party that other things need attention as far as networking, education in the field, getting feedback from your previous clients on how to better what you do. There is just so much that can be done but because we focus on the dollars we of course forget about the other areas and would rather just throw in the towel then to find a solution on how to get back on top of the game.

My question to you is "Are you a go-getter or just a wannna be?" And when things get bad are you a quitter or fighter?

When you see your motivation decreasing do to lack work, or customers not needing what you have to offer at this time because of their financial situation,what will you do to survive in this industry?

New Website Launch- Ostrich Feathers by Pure Dymonds

Hello Everyone,

We are so excited to announce that we now offer a site that you can not only rent but also purchase your Ostrich Feather Centerpieces. We are now doing Full Service Setup/ Breakdown and Removals for several states. If you are looking to rent our centerpieces, rest your mind that we will take care of all the setup and the breakdown for you so that you may enjoy your event.

Please take a moment to visit us at http://www.ostrichfeathersbypuredymonds.com

Ostrich Feather Centerpieces for your Next Event

Want to add a classy look to your next event? Then why not consider purchasing or renting Ostrich Feather Centerpieces. These lovely centerpieces come in an array of different color in feathers. Pure Dymonds Events now offers these centerpieces not only just for renting but you can now purchase them for keeps.

If you have an event and would like to play off the color scheme why not add accents of those colors in your feathers. Whether it is an Black Tie Affair or a Bridal Shower these centerpieces will give your event that "WOW" factor.

If you are interested in purchasing or renting these centerpieces please contact us for a price quote.Below is an idea of what each kit comes with. We offer many different colors in feathers to tie your event all together.


Kit includes :

Vase, Off White feathers&foam; bouquet holders to keep feathers in place .

•Easy to assemble!

These centerpieces may be rented or purchased.

We now carry two sizes:


40" Drab Centerpiece

1 - 24" White Eiffel Tower Vase, made from high quality glass.

25pcs. of 12"-16" Ostrich Drab Feathers ( body feathers ). Off White is our most popular color for these centerpieces. These make beautiful centerpieces; however, if you wish to get the fuller affect, you may want to add a few extra feathers to your order. This will be an additional charge.
.

Foam Bouquet Holders to hold the feathers in place.

These make great wedding centerpieces or table decorations for any event.

Floralytes are additional and are available in white, amber, orange, red, blue, green, teal, pink. At times we may be able to order other colors so just ask.

Customer is required to pay for all shipping and taxes


40" Femme Wing Centerpiece

Same as above except:
20pcs. of 14"-17" Long Ostrich Femme Wing Feathers . Off White is our most popular color for these centerpieces.


For more information visit us at :http://www.puredymondsevents.com

Centerpiece Design for Dress for Success Suit & Salad Luncheon

It was such a pleasure to be asked to be apart of a special event such as Dress for Success. I was contacted by Blair Presley to see if I would like to do the design for their centerpieces for the luncheon. Of course I said yes because it was for a good cause and I believe in giving back. After speaking with the Director Mrs. Deborah Dandridge I was able to take her ides and make it come to life with our vision and it turned out beautiful.

We decided to go with centerpieces that were high and try to bring some outside natural elements to the piece. After completing the design to show to the client come to find out Lily's where Mrs. Deborah's favorite and she had no idea that was my main flower of choice.

I would like to give special thanks to Greg Boyd from GregbStudios for taking such fabulous pictures of our work. He was able to catch the richness of the lilys and make the piece come alive in the photos. You can check out more of his work by visiting him at http://www.gregbstudios.com

Excited to Annouce We now offer Couture Baby Shower,Couture Bridal Luncheons and Kids Parties.

We are so happy to let everyone know that we now offer 3 fabulous new services. We offer Couture Baby Showers,Couture Bridal Luncheons and Themed Kids Parties. We decided to offer these services because most people are tired of the same old baby and kids parties. They tend to be quite drab and boring. There really isn't any bright colors or things to look at. Mom's are tired of doing the Chucky Cheese parties and want something fresh and new. Now there is nothing wrong with going to these places but after awhile it becomes really stale.

Offering these services will be something new and fresh that the adults and children will love. Our events will be totally designed with the client in mind to match their favorite color, food, or even favorite item. We would like to bring a more adult feel for our co-ed baby showers.


Photo Credit:Rhee Bevere / via The Flirty Guide


The children's parties will focus on a much grander scale such as their favorite children's TV character to their favorite foods,toys and more. We love exploring with color and want to show our versatility with using different texture and patterns to tie the whole event together.


Please visit us at http://www.puredymondsevents.com to book your one of a kind Couture Party. We customize these parties to fit the client needs.We hope you tell your friends and families of our new service addition and we hope to hear from you soon.



~~TRISH

Been Gone for a Minute but I am Back!!

So, I have been gone for awhile, but I am 100% back and totally revitalized. I had to take some time off for me and get refocused. So that is what I did and now I am back. I have decided to get on a healthy kick and start working out. I have joined the Insanity Workout Movement. I have decided to take this journey to reshape my body,mind and soul. I needed to be a better me to give you a better me. I have been working out with Insanity for 7 weeks strong now and just love it. I am definitely transforming and feeling better. If you have never heard about the Insanity program it is almost like P90x but just a 60 day program instead of a 90 day. I hope to continue on to do P90x.If you would like to follow my journey you can by going here. If you have any questions or need advice just feel free to drop me a note.

If you are a bride or someone that just wants to look and feel great, this program will help to take off the inches so that you can get into that wedding dress and overall just give you more energy to feel better through out the day.

Follow me here and watch me transform---www.jerzeediva1.wordpress.com

Interview with Photographer Parris Whittingham

(Photo by: Amber Knowles).

Thursday night was packed with alot of fun with my guest Parris Whittingham.He is a New York wedding photographer on a quest to document remarkable love stories and the people who make them possible. In 2008, he was recognized by the Wedding Photography Directory (WPD) as a “Top Pick Wedding Photographer”. His engagement photography and wedding photography has been featured twice on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. I wanted to interview him because not only was he a person who extended their hand out to me with such kindness but I also felt like he was a go-getter that I wanted to let the world know about.Check out some of his work and listen to the interview. ENJOY!








Photos: Parris Whittingham Photography.

Interview with Preeti Shah of Spotlight Style

This evening I had a really great conversation with Preeti Shah from Spotlight Style located in New York. Her attention to detail when planning multicultural events is definitely top knotch. Preeti Shah's love for planning different cultural events/weddings have taken her around the world and it was a pleasure in having her share some of these experiences with us today. ENJOY!

Interview with Katie Martin of Elegance & Simplicity Inc.

Today was definitely a great morning when I interviewed Katie Martin owner of Elegance & Simplicity, Inc. which is located in Washington, DC. Ms. Martin not only knows all about planning eco-beautiful weddings but she is also a wedding expert contributor for over 75 blogs, magazines and websites in the world. Ms. Martin is was able to share with us some valuable information on how to go green when planning your event and what we can do as a society to go green with everything that we do. Stay for awhile and listen to our interview. ENJOY!

Interview with Diann Valentine

I had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely Diann Valentine. She is not only an author, but she is also the host of “Wedding Day” not to mention a fabulous invitation designer. I am so grateful that she was able to be a guest on my show and was willing to share her knowledge and expertise on design and decor for doing events. This is definitely one interview you are going to want to listen too. ENJOY!

Interview with Donnie Brown from "Who's Wedding is it Anyway"

WOW! Another fabulous interview with Celebrity Wedding Planner Donnie Brown. This interview was a must listen.He not only has experience in the planning field but also in floral design. Still making it in this industry 30 years later this is a planner that you must meet one day. But if you can't here is look into our interview. Donnie Brown will also be a one of the guest speakers at Wedding Week 2010
that will be in Norfolk,Virginia on March 24-28. I hope you will be able to make this fabulous event. ENJOY!

Be featured as "I Plan Events"

To be featured as "I Plan Events" please submit questions and a recent photo to
info(at)puredymondsevents.com

We will review all entries and select a featured "I Plan Events"

Good Luck!

Name:
Location:
Company:
Years in Business:
Website:
Blog:

What is your niche? (Wedding Planner, Events Planner,Corporate Planner,…)
What inspired you to open your own business?
What is the one thing that makes your company stand out? You can only use 3 words?
If you could give back to the community, what would you do?
How do you create balance with what you do?

Sweet Tooth Buffet

At one point in time all anyone could think of was Candy Buffets. But now we have out grown that idea and are always seeking for something new. Well, I am a lover of sweet things and I thought that expanding on other ideas that it would have your pallet watering for something new such as a Cookie, Brownie,Doughnut or even a Ice cream Buffet.









I think if it is something that you really like why not share it with your family and guests. It could be as simple as having all different kinds of flavors of cookies that you have enjoyed in your childhood. Or maybe scooping your favorite flavored ice cream with all the best toppings ever. Nothing is set in stone and being creative will get your party the "WOW" factor. If we never step out of the box then we never know if your idea would have worked. At your next dinner party or wedding reception try incorporating your favorite snack as your "Sweet Tooth Buffet".

Interview with Janie Medley from The Bride's Cafe

I had the pleasure of interviewing Janie Medley of The Bride's Cafe and JM Flora Designs. It was so refreshing to have a chance to speak with another planner as myself but someone that also specialized in floral design.I would like to share this this interview, so please click the link below.ENJOY!

Signature Drinks for Your Wedding

I always asked myself why don't people create a signature drink for their wedding? And most of the time I don't get an answer or they tell me they never really thought about it. Well, I thought it would be nice to touch on the topic real quick.

Creating a signature drink for your wedding or event is a fabulous idea that not only will "WOW" the crowd but will also have your guest remember your event because you did something out of the norm. Creating a signature drink doesn't need to be difficult. It can be a alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. Just even changing the color of a basic punch drink from red to blue and make an impact. You can take your favorite drink and give it a name to really create a buzz at your wedding.

Here are a few drinks that I have found that might work for you. ENJOY!

Raspberry Cosmo
A touch of Rasberry Vodka to your Cosmopolitan. 1 part Stirrings Cosmopolitan Mixer 1 part raspberry vodka Combine Cosmopolitan Mixer with vodka and plenty of ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Pour into martini glass. (Brunch, Cinco de Mayo

Lady Bleu
A classy, blueberry toast 2 parts Stirrings Wild Blueberry Martini Mixer Champagne Layer ingredients (start with Mixer first) in a Champagne glass. (Blue, Brunch, Champagne/Prosecco, Fall/Winter, Girls Night Out, Layered, Spring/Summer

Classic Bellini
Our version of the classic cocktail created at the famed Harry's Bar in Venice. Cheers! 1 part Stirrings Bellini Mixer 3 parts chilled Champagne or sparkling wine Pour Stirrings Bellini Mixer into Champagne flute and fill flute with Champagne

Lemon Blueberry Crumb Cake
Just like Mom used to make! A sweet mix of Lemon Drop and Wild Blueberry Mixers with Vanilla Stoli. 1 part Stirrings Lemon Drop Mixer 1 part Stirrings Wild Blueberry Mixer 2 parts Vanilla Stoli Vodka Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice. Cover

Watermelon Cooler
Refreshing and pretty with a perfect mixture of Watermelon Mixer, watermelon vodka and Authentic Grenadine. 2 parts Stirrings Watermelon Mixer (chilled) 1 part Smirnoff Watermelon Vodka (chilled) 1/3 part Stirrings Authentic Grenadine Garnish: 4 s

Consider getting Married on a Disney Cruise

For couples looking for a more non-traditional destination wedding, Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings offers themed weddings -- from an enchanting Cinderella-like Wedding in the Magic Kingdom Park or a Hollywood extravaganza in Disney's Hollywood Studios to international-themed nuptials at Epcot and a safari-themed reception at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons continues to push the envelope of destination weddings and honeymoons and continues to solidify its position as a leading industry expert. They continue to monitor emerging trends within the Weddings and Honeymoons Industry and collaborate with other experts in the business in order to deliver a world class product at an affordable price.


http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/video/index#cruise

Please visit them online:http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/

Interview with Wedding Week 2010 guest speaker Linyette Richardson-Hall of "Who's Wedding is it Anyway"

I have had the pleasure of interviewing one of Wedding Weeks 2010 guest speaker Linyette Richardson-Hall from "Who's Wedding is it Anyway".She is an extraordinary event planner that will be coming to Norfolk, Virginia to hold a class on the topic "Make that Money Honey" on March 28th. If you love her work and follow her on twitter then you can actually attend her class in person.
If you would like to attend her class and also Wedding Week 2010 with our other guest speakers please visit us at http://www.weddingweek2010.info

Sit back and listen to this fabulous interview we had. ENJOY!!

Grand Affairs Bridal Show

We had the opportunity in participating in a wonderful bridal show.This show was comprised of many different types of vendors such as florists,planners,caterers,photographers and more. We decided to do a different approach and create a one stop show for our brides to be. We decided to display or tablescape artistry with lighting and drapery. We then incorporated a really great preferred vendor we use which was the photo booth. We found that by being able to create a one stop shop for your brides makes the decision making quite easy for them. Here are a few pics from the show. ENJOY!









Pictures are courtesy of Tidewater Productions( they provided lighting and drapery)
Photobooth(http://www.VirginiaPhotoBoothsandMore.com)