Full Circle Eventi – Making Imagination A Reality

Since I was a little girl, I’ve had a fascination with Asian art, architecture, costumes and makeup. If I could have dressed up like a geisha, I probably would have. The simplicity and beauty of Asian designs lend well to many mediums, including wedding receptions. Although I’m not a Feng Shui expert, I love the minimalist approach it creates to maximize the purpose of a space. I first came across these cute little bamboo place cards from Beau Coup and that sparked the idea to create a board. In looking for inspiration, I found these incredibly striking table designs at TensionNOT. Unique, elegant, and simplistic, there are several options for table centerpieces and room décor!  From these designs the color scheme was chosen – Orange, Pink and Green.  A very organic palate.

I hope you love it as much as I did making it!

Lia

It’s Black Friday, and if you are reading this, that means you are missing out on the 42″ plasma screen TV at Walmart that just got marked down from $199 to $10. Well . . . maybe not exactly. Black Friday is a long standing retailer tradition since the 1960s. The term “Black Friday” was coined to mark the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. And it is the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States. The best deals are supposed to be displayed and some of the most outrageous people show up trying to get the last cabbage patch doll (I know, I’m dating myself a bit).

To the retail industry, Black Friday is all about escaping from the red to the black, and making a profit. Which really means: “Show me the money!” Be it Gold or Silver, metals are the currency of Black Friday.

Thanks Pam for sparking this Black Friday Imagination Board. I present you black and metallic, every retailers dream! Are you Platinum, Gold, or Titanium?

All the dresses are from an amazing designer I discovered when researching this imagination board, Mexican born couture designer, Alberto Rodriguez. I fell so in love with his designs, I stopped looking at any other dresses!

All things bright and beautiful . . . I remember singing these words every year about this time. If I recall correctly, it’s all about giving thanks for the blessings we receive daily on this earth. It’s Thanksgiving or at least in the United States, what a perfect time to express the things for which I am grateful.

I am grateful for my parents who were in the pioneering of multiracial families. From them, I inherited cultural acceptance and curiosity that has led to a life of exploration and now self fulfillment sharing my knowledge with couples and others daily.

Family is very important to me, and something I am eternally grateful. They make you laugh, they make you cry, they make you think, but they are always there for you. Family is more than the people who raised you; it is your network of support. This includes many friends who have been there for you over the years and continue to support you and your endeavors. I am eternally grateful to my family for encouraging me to be anything I want to be, do anything I want to do and instill in me a fire, a passion and a drive in life. Without them, I wouldn’t strive to bring you the best every day.

I am also grateful for my teachers. Those who have shown me glimpses into other worlds and lit the fire that drives Full Circle Eventi. My language teachers took me on journeys through Germany and France, Russia and Spain. My professors in college introduced me to Asian theatre, which ignited a cultural passion. My music professors imparted rich European knowledge through gift of music and guided me to the richness of Bali and other South Asian countries. My dance instructors directed me down paths to the Middle East, Brazil, Ireland and Polynesia.

I am grateful for friends who have embraced my curiosity and welcomed me into their cultural circle. I was blessed to have personal guides into many cultures, learning first hand many of the traditions I share with you..

I am grateful for the experiences I have had to travel to foreign countries, from Germany & France, to Greece & Spain. I have been immersed in these countries and experienced their uniqueness.

I am blessed with these experiences and the knowledge I have acquired over the years. I have a passion for all things cultural, and I am grateful that I am able to use my knowledge for good. I am grateful to introduce traditions to people every day and celebrate the beauty that is diversity. I am grateful for my couples who share intimate moments with me and allow me to assist them in celebrating their heritage.

Thanks for making me a part of your day.

What are you grateful for?

I told you about my trip to the hardware store last week and the beginning of the Mandap/Chuppah build. I’m still in the process of getting all the pieces cut. Unfortunately, the hardware store will not cut your pieces, as I had read in others DIY posts. So it’s up to you, or someone you know to cut the lengths you need. With that said, here are a few things to keep in mind when you begin your build.

1. Identify the building material you want to use. There are two types of PVC pipe for general purchase. The first, and most common, you can find at your local hardware store (Home Depot is my choice). This PVC is used for general contract plumbing and while it is white, there are unsightly red ink markings down the length of it. There are also numerous black bar codes on the PVC as well. The other option is called furniture or medical grade PVC. From what I have read, it is a bit stronger, as it is created to withstand human weight. On the up side there are no markings on the outside, and it comes in numerous colors, white being the most popular. The down side is it is more expensive, sometime $1-2 more per foot. I found some great suppliers of here and here.
   
   1. I chose to go with the standard PVC from the hardware store, mainly for cost cutting purposes, and also cause I was anxious to start building and didn’t want to wait until the product came in.
      
   2. Picking your pipe diameter is dependent on your needs as well. I would suggest working with 1 ¼” to 1 ½“. I chose to work with 1 ¼” pipe to ensure that any fabric casings I created wouldn’t need to be any larger than 2″ and it had sufficient stability.
      
2. Determine what size you want the final product. I suggest keeping the height of the unit 8′. You want to ensure everyone will be able to pass under it easily. Second question is the shape. Do you want it to be completely square (6′x6′ or 8′x8′) or something in between (6′x8′). Knowing this will ensure you buy enough PVC without buying too much.
   
   1. For Example, I originally chose to build my unit 8′x8′x8, in order to have plenty of room for several people underneath. After reviewing the space I allotted to place for the structure, I decided I would be better off with a 6′x6′x8′ structure. Since the pieces of PVC come 10′ in length (at Home Depot, at Lowe’s they are only 9′ in length), I determined I could build the 6′x6′ structure as well as purchase the additional pipe to create a 8′ structure.
      
   2. Here is how it all laid out. I determined I needed 10-10′ PVC pipes. 4 of them were dedicated to creating 6′ pieces. Those 4 pieces left me with 4-4′ pipes in the end, and with a coupling, this would give me 2 of 8′ legs. I would then need an additional 2 pieces of pipe to create the other two legs. Unfortunately, this leaves me with 2-2′ useless pipes (but I will find a purpose for them in the long run!)
      
   3. Now as I already mentioned, I decided to have an 8′ structure available as well. This meant, with the legs in place from the first structure, I would only need to purchase 4 additional pieces of pipe, for a total of 10.
      
3. Will you need to transport this item or is it a permanent structure?
   
   1. If you do not need to transport the item, or will only be erecting it once, maybe twice, you might consider keeping the poles in their maximum length. So if your structure is 6′x6′x8′ then you would have 4-6′ poles and 4-8′ poles.
      
   2. For me, it was very important that I could erect the structure quickly and transport if from location to location. With that in mind, I kept all the PVC pieces to a maximum of 4′. This way all the pieces could fit into a bag and be carried away.
      
   3. To accommodate the portability, I am using 8 couplings to join my 3′ and 4′ poles. These items are readily found at the local hardware store and are inexpensive. Each end of the pole fits snugly into the connector and the combined length will give you your desired product.
      
4. Extra pieces. If you chose to go with the local hardware store, there are items you will need to purchase that they do not carry. If you order your PVC, just make sure you include them in your order.
   
   1. First and foremost, there is an elbow or corner piece that will hold your structure together. This will allow you to attach the top corners of the structure, giving you smooth right angles. You will need a total of four.
      
   2. I was fortunate enough to call around to a local pipe store, which carried them in stock, so I did not have to order mine. The best price I found in my research was at USP Home.
      
   3. You will also need a flange, or a foot base. I have seen many options, from flower pots filled with cement, to cake pans filled with cement.
      

      .
      
      

      The last thing I wanted to worry about was carrying around heavy cement items. Since my partner and I are not She-Rah, I wanted something comparable, but not so cumbersome. Aside from that, in any display, the pots or pans would need to be covered so they wouldn’t be an eye sore. I knew that the bases needed to be wide to give stability to the structure. In my research, I came across foot flanges that are used by Pipe and Drape companies.
      

      
      (from i.weiss.com)
      

      The problem I had with this idea again was the cost. I didn’t want to spend as much on just the bases as I did for everything else. That is where the 3 hours in Home Depot came in last week.
      

   4. Here is what I developed; pictures will be in the next post. I took a 3″ toilet flange and placed the wider part down. With the assistance of the Home Depot staff, I found a condenser piece that took the 3″ hole opening down to 1 ½“. The pipe I chose to use was 1 ¼” but I liked the fact the pipe ran through the entire base and touched the floor. This would ensure that the 8′ structure remained 8′ and not add inches. There were no adaption pieces to accommodate the ¼” space and the Home Depot staff member had no other suggestion.
      
   5. Here is where my brain went to work. I traipsed around the store looking for a rubber casing I could place on the bottom half of the pipe. The rubber against the plastic would ensure a tight fit. However, I was not very successful. I finally happened upon some rubber washers used in sinks and drains. After finding the right size piece, I was in business. The entire structure held together snugly. But I still wasn’t happy; each washer would cost me $2.50. The final product, rubber bands. I ran over to Office Max and grabbed a bag of large rubber bands. It took 8 rubber bands wrapped on each other, but they worked better than the washer and the whole bag cost me $1.99. A much better solution.
      

That’s a bit to digest for this week, but I should have the final structure in place to show you next week. Then onto decor!

It’s Tuesday, and time for another tradition. This one is near and dear to my heart as I know this couple personally and they are the sweetest and cutest couple ever. Sandra and Nick come from different backgrounds but found beautiful ways to celebrate their marriage on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It was a pleasure working with both of them and experiencing more unique traditions.

Customarily a Spanish bride wears black silk with a black lace veil on her wedding day, but Sandra chose a more modern dress of white silk with a traditional array of orange blossoms. Orange blossoms are the traditional choice of flowers, signifying a life of happiness and fulfillment for the couple.

She carried, or rather wore, a very unique bouquet/wrist-let of delicate orange blossoms complimented with yellow and white roses. Traditionally the bride would embroider the shirt for the groom, but Nick chose a subtle palate to match his bride with a white suit with a blush colored shirt.

The featured tradition here is the interchange of “arras” or passing of coins. As part of the ceremony, the groom presents the bride with 13 coins usually presented in a special bag, box or tray, symbolizing the groom’s commitment to his new bride and his vow to support her. The bride carries the coins which are then blessed by the minister during the ceremony. Afterward, the coins are kept as part of the family’s heritage.

The coins above are similar to the coins the couple used. As the coin tradition is also common in Filipino weddings, I grabbed this image from My Barong. I love the cultural tid-bits they shared on their website about the coins:

“The Wedding Coins have come to symbolize more than just prosperity. Today’s couples embrace life & face the world together in a more mutually supportive way than ever before. Each coin in our “Unity Coins” set has a unique design, representing one of thirteen universal tenets of marriage:

~:~ Love ~:~ Trust ~:~ Commitment ~:~ Respect ~:~ Joy ~:~ Happiness ~:~ Harmony ~:~ Wisdom ~:~ Unity ~:~ Nurturing ~:~ Caring ~:~ Cooperation ~:~ Peace ~:~

The symbolic use of coins in a wedding ceremony is a tradition in many different religions, cultures & countries. The “Unity Coins” designs have influences from all over the world, including the “Celtic Marriage Knot” (which is on the backside of each coin), the Adinkra (Asante people of Ghana and Ivory Coast) symbol for Wisdom, & the Chinese “Yin & Yang,” to name a few.”

As with most cultures, the wedding rings are a significant part of the ceremony as well as a symbol of the union between the bride and groom. Americans are accustomed to wearing wedding rings on the ring finger of the left hand, but Spanish wedding traditions are different. The bride and groom wear wedding rings on the right hand, which is common in most European countries. As the groom is from American and the bride from Spain, they agreed to wear their rings on the left hand while in the United States and right while in Europe.

The reception was held in a traditional manor, in a local restaurant. The groom passed out cigars as a traditional party favor to his guest, while the bride gave small pins to be worn upside down by the unmarried ladies during the festivities. The Spanish tradition (and another less embracing version of the bouquet toss) believes if the pin is lost during the reception; the lady who loses it will be the next in line to marry. I love it!

Congratulations to our beautiful couple. They recently celebrated 2 years of marriage and are expecting their first child in December.

Ok, let me start by saying I am not the fanatic or “Twilighter” enthusiast some of best friends are, but I can recognize a good thing when it’s there! While I passed this information to Pam of Events by Pam, since she is a passionate “Twilighter,” I have to share this information here at Full Circle Eventi. Vampirism could be considered a culture, right! And it’s day and night, so very opposite cultures that fused together to create amazing imagery and an over the top but very elegant event. Thanks to Lindsey Tropf owner of Pure: Photography by Lindsey Tropf for this AMAZING display of artistry. All the vendors who contributed to this photo-shoot are below!

The hardest thing for me is to pick images to share here. But check out Lindsey’s blog and the entire daylight and TWILIGHT spread

I will admit, I’ve always had a fascination with Vampires, and love Anne Rice.  Maybe after this inspiration board, I’ll need to run right out and watch Twilight, and become a Twilighter myself!

The Vendors:

Concept & Event Stationery | Unique Designs | www.daretobunique.com
Photography | Pure: Photography by Lindsey Tropf | www.purebylindsey.com
Concept Designer: Flowers & Tablescape | The Event Divas | www.theeventdivas.net
Cake | Posh Pastry | www.poshpastry.com
Hair | Stephanie & Lonie Carpenter from Mode Salon | www.amodesalon.com
Makeup | Sarah Hunter from Mode Salon | www.amodesalon.com
Accessories | Kari Roy | www.kariroy.net
Female Model | Chanel Bird | chanelb17@aol.com
Male Model | Bobby Swan
Wedding Dress | Solution’s Bridal | www.solutionsbridal.com
Tux | Tuxedo Junction | www.tuxedojunction.com
Linen Rentals | Celebration’s Catering | www.celebrations-catering.com

Editorial update:  I have been informed that I have mislabeled Twilight followers as “Twilighters.”  I apologize and do not wish to offend any “TwiHards” out there.  Please note that I am a passionate vampire follower!  Thanks Pam for setting me straight!

It’s relatively common knowledge that advertising makes the world go round. Recently the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which oversees regulations related to blogging and social media decided to get more involved in the “advertising.” The new regulations require anyone paying for advertising space or getting paid to advertise someone else’s services or products to disclose that information to their readers. For a network dependent market like the wedding industry this will have a major impact.

What does this means to the wedding industry? Any paid advertisement in a magazine’s website’s or blog’s vendor directory must disclose a vendor paid to be listed. To display one of the blog badges indicating membership must be disclosed if vendor paid to be included. Blogs and sites that a vendor advertises with will also have to disclose that their memberships are paid advertising, regardless of how extensive their research and selection process may be. If a blog features your work in an editorial post, and you are one of their advertisers, they will have to disclose that as well, even if it is not a “sponsored post”. If you see a badge or a site’s logo on a vendors press and award page, there should also be a disclosure that they actually paid a membership.

What this means to you, dear reader? When you are reading wedding websites (like The Knot and Brides), blogs. Facebook pages, Twitter, and other posts, keep in mind:

• If the poster is receiving money for a post, they must disclose this information. For example, if a florist pays a wedding consultant to blog about their services, the consultant is responsible to inform the reader they have been paid to do the write up.
  
• If a website is receiving money to list preferred and featured vendors, they must disclose this information. For example, if a vendor or consultant pays the website to have a “premium” or featured vendor spot on their website, the website host is responsible to inform the reader they have been paid to list the client.
  
• If the poster received a product to review for a post, they must disclose this information. So if a camera company sends a photographer the latest gear to play with and write about, the photographer has to disclose that they received the product for free.
  

The FTC can fine each violation of these regulations for up to $11,000 per post beginning December 1^st.

You can read the release on the FTC Act here.

The intent of the FTC is that vendors are honest about money changing hands for the privilege of being listed on another site. Again, these regulations apply to blogs, websites, Twitter, Facebook, and other areas of social media.

Recently I read a post from Splendid Communications owner, Liene, and I will also be adopting *C idea Trish Hay (a graphic artist Liene works with) to denote a tweet about a client. From now on you’ll see a *C at the end of any tweet I do that promotes a client of Full Circle Eventi in some fashion. I am including this information on my Twitter page to include this information so anyone who visits that page knows what the symbol stands for in tweets.

I am fortunate to work with companies in which I believe in 100%, so you won’t see much change in my writing or posts, just the added disclosure symbol that shows I do have a specific interest in the success of a particular company.

Last night was the monthly meeting for National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) held in my backyard at Blumz . . . by JRDesigns in Ferndale. It was a tailgating party for all the event professionals. Pizza, soda, BYOB, cookies, and lots of great conversation and networking.

Ooooh, it’s like being a kid in a candy store, from the moment you walk in the door, So many ideas race through my head as I walk through their displays. Blumz is inspirational. I’ve spent hours speaking to Rochelle, Jerome, Robbin, Dawn and the rest of the creative staff at Blumz, and highly recommend their amazing designs. Flowers, linens, invitations, gifts, lighting, décor and cakes, Blumz has an impressive display for all types of events.

I took lots of photos of their vignettes, and honestly, the hardest part is selecting which one to share with you now. Of course, being the holiday season, they have their Christmas displays, including a turquoise tree in the front window. I’ve been told, their location in Detroit has a pink one to match. So, here are a couple of those images (in case you’re working on your Holiday displays).

If you’re interested, they have an upcoming Holiday Decorating class. A Christmas Tree decoration class at the Ferndale location, December 2, 2009. For further information, check out Blumz. . . by JRDesigns.

Of course, being all things cultural, I was naturally drawn to their red and black Asian theme display at the foyer. Absolutely stunning and fantastic reception theme! I am drawn to the colors and the use of unusual items to make a bold statement.

I am simply in love with all the style, pizzazz and panache demonstrated in these photos. I can’t wait to work with the team again! And I just got an invitation to another upcoming event at Blumz . . .! My head is spinning with anticipation. Till next time!

Do you ever page through wedding magazines, love everything they have cover to cover, and wonder how to incorporate it all into your big day?

Do you want to wear a bird cage veil, a wedding gown and a sari in the same day?

Do you debate on adding events to your wedding week, just so you can wear every type of outfit you have ever dreamed of?

Reader questions fill my inbox everyday and I am always DE-lighted to help brides plan their fairytale weddings.  The one thing I notice is a lot of brides ask questions when they are looking for a bit of direction.  Like, “what colors should I chose” or “do you think that we should have a band or DJ.”

Many of these types of questions can be answered by looking at your individual taste.  All our brides-to-be are unique, fabulous, and have a style of their own, and your wedding day should be a reflection of that!

With that said, here is the creation of the newest inspiration board.

If you’d like to submit your own ideas, send your inspiration board to submission@fullcircleeventi.com.

Tuesday’s is about traditions. Be it modern American tradition, cultural traditions, or fusion traditions, today is dedicated to discussing part of the Wedding, Ceremony, and Reception. Tuesday’s will feature couples celebrating their weddings and their traditions. The layout will include the layout of the day, location, and all the cultural elements, such as Henna Party, the signing of the Ketubah, Sangeet, Rope Ceremony, Pinning the Veil, Seven Steps, Dancing in the Hog Trough, etc.

If you are a bride to be or a newlywed and would like to share your upcoming or recent ceremony and reception traditions, we’d love to hear from you. Send your submissions to be featured to submission@fullcircleeventi.com. Please include pictures (especially any that feature the tradition), and a short write up on the day layout, where the ceremony and reception took place, and a list of the cultural traditions you implemented. We’d love to hear from you and feature you in one of our upcoming posts.

For today, we’re featuring a great replacement for the bridal bouquet toss. I’ve seen some nasty fights in my days, could be called a true cat fight to win the bouquet. At one recent wedding, I would have called a personal foul on one of the guest in any basketball court (over the back). But she held on for dear life. In fact both of them did.

Do you want to incorporate a fun, non-humiliating, find-out-who-will-marry-next tradition into your wedding? Do you dread standing up with other girls while the DJ plays Single Ladies or Girls Just Wanna Have Fun for the traditional and often humiliating bouquet toss?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, I have a great idea for you.

Instead of tossing a bouquet and subjecting their girlfriends to bodily harm, Turkish brides use shoes. No we are not tossing shoes instead of flowers. Before the ceremony, the single women autograph the sole of the bride’s wedding shoe. You can do this with just your bridesmaids or you can include it as an activity at your bridal showers, After the shoes have made their way down the aisle and danced the night away, Turkish legend has it that the person whose name has faded the least will be the next to marry.

Just one more reason to enjoy dancing the night away!