Category: Wedding


Ways to Entertain Your Wedding Guests

April 29th, 2012 — 10:47pm

Weddings are about bringing friends and family together to celebrate your special day. For guests, the best moments are witnessing the ceremony, enjoying the meal, and then hitting the dance floor. You can keep the party going with these entertaining ideas:

Take Them for a Ride

Transport guests from your ceremony to your reception tourist-style. You can do this by hiring a local tour company to pick everyone up and take them on a brief tour of the area as they make their way to your reception space.

Do It Yourself Photo Booth

Make your own backdrop, props, or gag items to create a theme for the booth. The best part is that the possibilities are endless. For example: Set up a faux wall and cover it with wallpaper and various vintage frames, cutting out the spaces where the pictures would usually be. Guests can pop their heads in and out to pose for photos with one another. You can even arrange for a photographer to snap the pictures, or set up a camera with an automatic setting to let guests control the shoot.

Hire a Live Artist

An artist will set up a canvas and quietly paint a picture of the event as it is taking place. While he or she works, your guests can watch, and throughout the evening check back to see how the painting is going. Plus, it’s the ultimate keepsake.

Make the Meal the Center of Attention

If you have a favorite local vendor hire them to serve dessert or a late-night snack at your reception. This idea is great for park weddings or outdoor receptions, and perfect for the summer or fall season!

Wine-Tasting Stations

Host a beer or wine tasting station. Display top picks from the bride and groom to make it personal, ore hire a sommelier to introduce the wine and teach each guest how to properly cleanse their palate. Also, consider giving out monogrammed wine bottle holders as favors for guests to take home.

Book a Comedian

Hire a professional jokester to work the room. Whether she’s doing a stand-up routine, or just warming up the crowd between meals, the right comedian will know what is and isn’t appropriate material for the occasion.

Create a Game Night Theme

Have a different game on each table and post easy step-by-step instructions to remind guests how to play. Avoid those that have a difficult setup or takedown and complicated game play; opt for simple favorites like Scrabble, Checkers, Connect Four, Uno, or Sorry!

Set Up a Sand Art Station

If you’re getting married on beachside or going for a nautical theme, think about having a sand art station at your reception. Guests can visit the table and watch a live demo on how to transform sand into lovely keepsakes; then they can build their own personalized favors to take home.

Making Your Reunion Party A Success

March 26th, 2012 — 5:30pm

Reunions are a great time for reaching out and reconnecting with people. Whether it is a class or a family reunion, you are planning, keep track of all the details to ensure a successful event.

Get Help, Get Organized, Stay Organized:

Involve people in the planning process to make it easier for you while allowing others a chance in the event’s success. Make a list of areas you will need help with, and select people to run the different committees who have a strong sense of organization and timelines. This might include party invitations, site arrangements, transportation, food, games, activities and cleanup. Have your committees keep records of all they do and compile them in a reunion binder that you can hand off to next year’s planner.

Plan a Budget

Elect someone within your committee to be a treasurer. This person should be good with money and good with letting you know you are going over budget. Keep accurate records of all expenses. You may want to set up a special checking account to help keep track of revenues and expenses, or you may want to hold a fundraiser to increase your budget.

Choose a Date and Location

Once you have chosen a date, decide where the gathering will be held. Choosing the right location is a key part of a successful reunion. Consider the activities planned and pick a location conducive to those activities. Wherever you look, consider the services available, capacity, cost, accessibility, restrooms and availability.

Invitations

Send your first save-the-date invitation as soon as you’ve decided on a date and location. You should provide between 12 and 16 months notice, to guarantee attendance. That way people can put the reunion on their calendars early. Send a reminder a couple of weeks before the gathering. If you still haven’t heard from some people a week or so before the event, contact them to ensure attendance.

Plan Your Food

Having the right food can make or break your reunion. Check with guest about food allergies or aversions before choosing food. If your reunion will be held at a restaurant, get a list of options and create a couple of menus that fit within your budget.

 Plan Activities

Decide what games and activities will be appropriate for your gathering and your theme. Think about who’s going to be there and what types of things they enjoy. Ice Breakers are a great way to relieve the anxieties associated with spending time with people you haven’t seen in years. Taylor your activities to the age range of people in your reunion party.

Confirm Your Bookings

About a month or so before your event, contact all your vendors to make sure everything is in place for the event.

Follow Up After The Reunion Party

Send thank you notes to all the vendors, volunteers, and anyone who helped in the planning of the reunion party. Post pictures of the reunion, and send a newsletter to those who couldn’t make it to recount the reunion details.

 

 

Tips on How To Survive the Upcoming Wedding Season

March 19th, 2012 — 4:51pm

Weddings are not just expensive for the bride and groom but for fellow guests too! We all know there is no fun in staying home, so go ahead enjoy the celebrations with these money-saving tips.

Think of everything you need to do in order to be a great guest at a wedding: have a fabulous dress, a gift for the soon to be newlywed couple, and get yourself to the ceremony. All of these things are necessary, and this is just for one wedding! So, forget worrying about all of your upcoming purchases with these tips, and focus more on having a great time.

  1. Stay Ahead of the Game – We all have a little procrastination in ourselves, but don’t wait to purchase a wedding gift. People tend to buy the lower-priced items on the registry first, so make sure you pick an option that is in your price range, giving you a larger selection to choose from.
  2. Being Personal – Wedding gifts tend to add up, especially if you are a good friend of the bride. Starting with the engagement party, then bridal shower, and we can’t forget the bachelorette party; all of these events accumulate. So, make it personal by putting a picture of them from the early days of their relationship in a classy chic frame. If you are not that close, than a bottle of wine that will age perfectly is a safe bet.
  3. Save your Bridesmaids Dress – Let’s face it, when are you ever going to wear your bridesmaids dress again. The chances are slim to none. When deciding on a dress, see if you can negotiate a group discount for the bridal party. Also alterations run high, try and find a local seamstress who charges less than bridal shops.
  4. Destination Wedding – Everyone loves an out of town wedding, but they do add onto to previous expenses. Booking your flight in advance is a great way to secure a cheaper flight.

There are an endless amount of ways to save on a tight budget, so shop in your friends’ closets, do your own makeup, and even consider looking for items listed on the registry on a different site. These tips will help you make your way through wedding season gracefully without breaking the bank.

Guide To Throwing A Sweet 16

February 26th, 2012 — 2:14pm

Turning 16 for some girls is anticipated almost as much as a wedding day. While for others, it’s just as special as any other birthday. Whether you’re planning a big bash or a smaller get together, here are a 8 simple steps to follow for a successful sweet 16 party:

Define Your Budget

Discuss with your teen how much you’re willing to spend. Also, involve her in the distribution of how and on what the budget will be spent. Like any other party, Sweet 16s can really add up if you do not set boundaries and expectations. Including your daughter in the budget discussions will help her understand and appreciate why you can say yes to some requests and have to say no to others.

Prepare a Guest List

In general, the more people your daughter invites, the more the party will cost affecting your overall budget. Take into consider your daughter’s desires. She might just want to get together with a close group of friends for a concert or have a day at the spa.

Set a Date and Location                                                                  

Choosing a date and venue for the party is usually the most challenging part in preparing for the event because it depends on where her birthday lands on the calendar. If it happens to fall around Christmas, or during other busy times of the year, be sure to book the location well ahead of time. This will minimize the chances of having to compete with office holiday parties or graduation events. It is always a good idea to send out “save-the-date” cards or e-mail messages if you’re worried about guests being overbooked.

Some venues to consider include: hotel ballrooms, public parks, barns, grange halls, dance clubs, restaurants, sports facilities, and your own backyard.

Choose a Theme

It is not necessary to choose a theme, but it can be fun. Some popular themes are princess, Hollywood, rock star, Mardi Gras, Pretty in Pink, sugar and spice, luau, and fairytales. The theme also can be a chance to highlight your teen’s personal interests, such as equestrian sports or ballet.

Select the Vendors

Some Sweet 16s can become as elaborate as weddings, so consider attending a bridal fair to compare prices among caterers, disc jockeys, and other service providers. You can also save money by tapping into your own talent. Have a friend help you prepare food ahead of time. The birthday girl herself might want to download her own music playlist instead of hiring a DJ.

Send the Invitations

Make sure to send out the invitations three to five weeks in advance. The tradition for Sweet 16s is that the birthday girl hand-delivers the invites herself, or with the help of friends.

 Write the Menu

Choose foods that are easy to eat standing up. Most likely your guests will be standing and mingling around rather than sitting down for a formal meal.

The trend for Sweet 16 cakes is to make them multi-tiered, but in bright colors to distinguish them from wedding cakes. A smaller cake works just as well.

Set the Itinerary

Compose a rough timeline for the party. When will the music begin? When will the food be served? What time to cut the cake? And what time will the party end?

Comments Off | Sweet 16 party, Wedding

Wedding Flower Basics

December 7th, 2011 — 7:35pm

Your wedding flowers will be one of the most photographed details of your wedding, so it’s important to pick wedding centerpieces and wedding bouquets that truly fit your wedding style and decor. To make your flower searching adventure a little easier here are some tips to guide you on your search for the right flowers.

First, find flower types that you love by searching through wedding magazines, the Internet, and even visiting a florist. This will allow you to visually see the type of flowers available to you. Remember that  certain flowers are only available during a certain season of the year. While on your search you will also find a host of wedding centerpiece ideas and other flowers ranging in style from casual and rustic, to formal and glamorous.

You can even search for wedding flowers by color so you can be sure to pick wedding bouquets and wedding centerpieces that match your wedding color palette. Once you’ve decided which wedding flower  arrangements you want, then it’s time to find a florist who can make it all happen for you. Finding a florist for your wedding day can be tough so take your time and do a little research. Once you’ve made an appointment with one, be sure to bring pictures of wedding flowers that you like (your version of pink may be different than your florist’s). Before you talk with your florist about your ideal wedding flowers, make sure you have wedding centerpiece ideas and bouquets in mind, but that you also have your wedding flower budget. Depending on what you’re looking for, your wedding flowers could end up taking up a large portion of your budget. So keep that in mind and prioritize so that no matter what, you end up with the wedding flowers of your choice!

Comments Off | Wedding, wedding decor

Keeping Your Event Under Budget

October 28th, 2011 — 3:29pm

Corporate events may be organized for various reasons:  to inform, convey, induce trial, sell, express, and have fun.  Planning is the key to the success of your corporate event or even any hospitality event. Staying within your event budget is always important to any business venture. Some tips that will not only help you meet your event budget, but also bring you well under your budget include carefully planning:

“Budgeting”

Event planning “budgeting” is the most essential component of event planning. Remember to take into account all the components that are going into your event before settling on a specific event budget. Remember to increase older expenses because unforeseen events such as inclement weather, additional postage and mailings, entertainment substitutes, can occur when you least expect them. Review expenses daily to catch any errors early. Communicate budget restrictions with your venue and contractors, also let venues know your budget and they will work with you. Be flexible with your event date, as this can even reduce rates!

The Location

Choosing the right location is an important part of the success of any event. You can find the best possible venue at a decent price by doing research on some venues that meet your corporate event requirements.  Researching venues online will also save you time. Contacting your local Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau about possible venue options will save you and your staff from making tons of phone calls. By using local destinations, your costs will be considerably less rather than if you decided to take everyone into a distant major city.

Contract Guidelines

Remember to always look at all the options. Communicate the value of your business and prepare a detailed request for proposal for all aspects of your event.  Ask for everything you want at the very beginning. Include all pricing in the contract and review every item in your contract with your staff, vendor, and venue to ensure there are no surprises.

Food/Beverage Choices

Discuss your menu directly with the chef, while communicating event ideas and budget concerns. The chef will know what is in season, and what can be purchased locally for less. When offering coffee or tea purchase at a large quantity if possible rather than paying a “per-cup” fee.  Discuss with the chef over whether or not reducing portion size is a way of reducing the menu costs. Review the different service options to find out which would be most cost-effective, but still maintain the feel of the event. Seek sponsors for the event, such as wineries or microbreweries, who can supply the liquor, as this may significantly reduce your liquor costs. In addition, reduce the time for the cocktail hour by fifteen minutes to a half hour.

Entertainment/Speakers

When looking for a keynote speaker or guest speaker, look into industry experts in your area so you can save on travel expenditures. The earlier you book your entertainment or speakers, the better.  When selecting entertainment go with a group that has some versatility instead of booking multiple groups. Always see the speaker, DJ, or group in action before hiring them—always check references!

Audio/Visual Requirements

Schedule a meeting with your AV provider to discuss the program for the event and what equipment is essential. Bring your own extension cords and surge protectors so you are prepared just in case you need them rather than running out to purchase them.  When ordering screens, don’t order draping, and always reconfirm the audio/visual needs for your speakers or entertainment several times before the event.

Comments Off | Corporate Event, Wedding

How To Choose The Right Wedding Location—Three Things to Reflect Upon

September 2nd, 2011 — 4:45pm

1. Who are you inviting, and how mobile are they?

Is your dream wedding small or a Broadway-worthy production? Your answer may determine the location. Why? Even though the day is about you, it’s also about your guests. If your closest friends all have children, is it fair to request their presence at a safari wedding in Africa? If many of your relatives are elderly, can you expect them to make it safely to the beach? You won’t be able to please everyone, but consider making a compromise or two if it means your loved ones will attend.

2.  Do you want a religious ceremony?

Over fifty percent of couples who wed a few years ago had it in a church.  A few things to consider:

a)  A traditional religious ceremony may have to be held in a place of reverence, so be sure to ask right away.  (In that case,
book the date at your place of worship before you book your reception site.)  Also, some religious establishments frown upon elaborate decorations or flowers as well as skin-baring dresses, so inquire about these details.

b)  If you and your fiancé have different religious beliefs, consider having the ceremony at a neutral location, such as a country club. Talk early on with both families about your decisions.

c)  If organized religion does not play a role in your lives but you want to incorporate a spiritual element, consider hosting the ceremony in a natural setting, such as a beach or a park (be sure to ask about a permit).

 3.  How much work are you willing―or do you want―to take on?

Depending on the location, you may have to do some heavy lifting. Before you commit to an “I do”-it-yourself undertaking, weigh the pluses and minuses of these settings:

a)  An exclusive site: You may have your heart set on a big wedding-day hoedown in a picturesque barn, but who’s going to clear everything out, take in the animals?  There’s also Mother Nature to keep in mind. If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony or
reception, you’ll need a backup plan in the case of rain, which means twice as much work.

b)  A reception hall: The organization usually has a one-size-fits-all feel, but its staff is probably well equipped to take care of
the dirty work for you, which may include―and this is important―post-party cleanup.

If you are looking forward to the perfect wedding go for Northampton Valley Country Club for an “all under one roof” solution!

Comments Off | Wedding

Get Ready For Casual Or Formal Wedding Planning In Bucks Country

June 30th, 2011 — 9:36am

There are several special events in a person’s life that he or she remembers forever. They are so special that even others are not left untouched by the event’s magic. One such occasion is a wedding. It not only unites two souls, but starts a new chapter in the lives of all who are involved with the persons.

People always want to have a perfect wedding day, but in the fast moving world they often cannot find enough time to plan one. There is no denying that a reception done for a big wedding cannot be managed by just a few people. However, if done without proper planning, the plans may produce a string of catastrophes and embarrassment for a lifetime.

It is advisable to hire professional people who look after your wedding arrangements—whether formal or casual—while you get the opportunity to enjoy each moment, tension free. After all, it’s your day and you should carefully remember every detail. Northampton Valley Country Club helps provides the best competitive prices and the best in the class services in the Bucks County. Once you hire us, all your tensions become ours so that you can relish all the exquisite wedding experiences that we provide; regardless of whether you choose a casual or formal wedding theme.

A wedding comprises of various elements that go with the theme:  from the wedding dress to the cake; from the food menu to the flowers, and the décor. If you don’t have enough time to do all of that in detail, it is best to have Northampton Valley Country Club at your service. We understand the importance of your wedding, and make your dream of a perfect wedding comes true.

It is usual for people these days to have a themed wedding. They may be casual or formal, but one thing that is most essential is whether or not the guests have a lasting impression of your wedding. The location, the food, the ambience, and the timing all need to be on spot for the perfect wedding. Northampton Valley Country Club has great locations that look picture perfect for every occasion. With many years of experience in the field we provide premium services in such great details that you would normally pass up without paying much notice.

If you are looking forward to the perfect wedding in Bucks County, go for Northampton Valley Country Club for an “all under one roof” solution. Indeed, you will enjoy your wedding more than anyone else has!

Let us plan your elegant wedding

May 5th, 2011 — 11:16am

Your big day is coming up. Your wedding! You’ve been dreaming about this day since you were a little girl. Every-thing’s beginning to fall into place now. You’ve set the date. You’ve got the venue arranged. You have your guest list organized, and invitations are on their way out to everyone. You’ve even picked out your dress, and your bridesmaid’s dresses. Everything is coming together, and all you want is for all your plans to come together perfectly, making your wedding day as special as you’ve dreamed.

Wedding is something everyone remembers to life. And in today’s fast life no one has time to donate their productive hours to shopping and arrangements but one has dream to have elegant and different kind of wedding which make people feel special to participate in.

Due to work and less leisure one cannot compromise with happiness and personal harmony so we at Northampton Valley Country Club provide all solutions to your happiness from small get together to a lavish wedding, we at Northampton Valley Country Club are ready to help you with a well qualified and experienced team to assist you at every obstacle.

We’re honored to feature only the most highly recommended wedding professionals in Bucks County, Pennsylvania so you can relax and plan your wedding with confidence. You’ll find stunning wedding photography, artistic video and film, gorgeous wedding dresses, distinctive wedding locations and the most beautiful wedding cakes, flowers, invitations and decor available anywhere.

When it comes to plan where the tables would go, stage will stand up and visitors will be sitting it takes huge timing and good planning and you don’t have that,  so save your time and let Northampton Valley Country Club be at your service.

3 Things to consider before hiring banquet for wedding ceremony

February 23rd, 2011 — 9:44am

If you intend to hire the services of a professional banquet service for your wedding ceremony then you have to analyze the banquet company’s past and current work to record, types of services offered and total expenses involved. However, you may also have to clearly evaluate other vital factors before you may decide the finest banquet service for your wedding ceremony. You have to make it sure that the banquet company has the right tools and equipments that can facilitate your banquet requirements. You can easily select the type of theme for your wedding ceremony as well. On the other hand, several banquet company’s have professional wedding planners that can arrange each and every thing for your wedding ceremony in the most splendid way. Chair covers, type of chairs, type of dining tables, decorative flowers, ornamented show pieces, chandeliers and cake presentation are some of the vital factors that are addressed by any banquet organizer.

Table covers and the specific kind of fabric that may be used for the decoration purposes of all the chairs, tables and dining tables must be of highest value and superiority without any shortcomings. The service staff must be adequately dressed as per the selected theme of the wedding ceremony. Any type of difference in the costume of the service staff may not give a decent impression. Hence, you have to make it sure that all the required arrangements are fully completed by a banquet organizer in the most flawless manner before the function begins. Any type of rectification must be done adequately before the wedding ceremony starts. You should make a complete list of all the invited guests before you may decide to hire the services of a banquet company. On the other hand, the banquet hall and the overall space must be adequate so that it can accommodate the number of invited guests easily.

The overall facilities and amenities including all the dining tables, table covers and types of seating chairs along with the cutlery and crockery must be adequate so that all the arrangements must be able to satisfy the general expectations in the most authentic way without any shortcomings. However, it is often recommended to hire the services of a professional wedding planner that may be able to handle all the arrangements in the most thorough and professional manner. The reception hall should be effectively decorated as per the requirement and desire of the client.

The lunch or dinner hall must have all the required facilities so that the invited guests may not feel any type of inconvenience. Before selecting the services of a banquet company for your wedding ceremony you can also ask for additional music band or live DJ session as well in order to give live entertainment to the invited guests. Lunch or dinner can also be prepared as per the requirement and desire of the client. In the end you can also bargain with the banquet organizer in order to gain discounts or reductions.

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