Full Circle Eventi

Wedding Etiquette | 5 Easy Steps for a DIY Save the Date

lmoore

Apr 28 |08:01

As you all know, one of my favorite spots to visit weekly, if not daily is Maharani Weddings. It is truly a South Asian Cultural Haven. With that said, I wanted to share with you more fantastic finds from her site! Last week she posted from one of her rani’s 5 Easy Steps for creating DIY save the date cards. What I like about these cards, is they are more functional than the average card. The bride chose to include a personal family recipe along with the heads up to her guest about her upcoming wedding! What a great way to get people involved. Checkout her tip to create your own Save the Dates!

After much creative brainstorming, I decided to design my own Save the Date recipe card magnet, complete with directions and a sample of masala. I know… this sounds a little tricky, but if you read on right here, you will see how easy it can come together.

Step 1:

You need a great digital picture of you and your new husband-to-be! Why not utilize one of those fabulous engagement photos you splurged on? I picked out a great shot of us with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. To reflect the Indian fusion tone, I chose a shot where my fiancé was wearing American clothes, and I was in a sari.

Step 2:

Next, pick a great, simple recipe. Indian food has so many fabulous yummy things you can choose from. Maybe a family recipe passed down to you? Maybe something that you and your fiancé enjoy to eat together? For us, I found an Indian masala that reflected a fusion of our names. Mine is Anar, meaning pomegranate. My husband’s is Dan…. I found the perfect masala in the aisle of the Indian grocery store, Anardana! It is pomegranate seeds (ground or whole) that give great flavors in vegetarian curries and even meat dishes. I bought a couple bags and then got to work.

Step 3:

Ideally, you have a good editing program like Adobe Photoshop or something similar. If not, you can paste your picture into a blank Microsoft word document and use text boxes to write over your photo. Or, if you don’t have a good photo with enough blank background space, use a big text box, fill in with a color of your choice, and paste your cropped digital photo on top. There are endless possibilities here, so be creative. Just remember to include the date of your event, your website (if you have one), and the recipe. I tried to keep everything the size of a postcard. Once complete, copy and paste your masterpiece a few times in order to print more than one on each page. Print copies (preferably in color laser) on a light toned paper (plain white works just fine). If you don’t have a good printer, you can always go to your local photocopy store.

Step 4:

I chose to laminate my recipe cards as I felt they would be more durable this way, and also look more like a real magnet. For me, my fiancé and I went to Kinko’s and used their paper cutter and laminator (hint: fit as many as you can on to one lamination sheet to save money). After, go to your local craft store and buy a roll of self-adhesive magnet tape. It’s very reasonable in price and easy to cut with a regular pair of scissors. I cut one inch strips and attached two to the backside of each laminated recipe card. My Save the Date recipe magnets were complete!

Step 5:

An optional step is to include a bit of the recipe with each card. When I was at the craft store, I bought a bunch of mini organza bags and filled each one with a teaspoon of anardana masala. I stuck the magnet and bag of spice in large card-sized envelopes (also easily bought at the craft store) and glue gunned the envelope shut (it can be slightly bulky). I printed out labels at home for all my addressees and sent them off in the mail. You can avoid the bulky bag and magnets to save on shipping costs. Simply use your laminated card as a postcard! Or, print on heavy cardstock and sign a personal note on the back!

I must have received a hundred phone calls once my Save the Dates were received by our guests. Some of my girlfriends even tried the recipe the first night they got it! Probably the most liked feature was that these creative magnets were homemade, creative, and set the tone for the upcoming wedding activities. Nothing can beat a DIY creative idea in your family and friend’s mailboxes!

Fantastic idea, right!!! I just love her creativity and challenge you to something similar. What creative ways can you send out save the date cards to your friends and family to add that extra special personal touch? Feel free to share with all of us by leaving a comment below!

Real Talk | Why DIY is not for Everyone

lmoore

Apr 5 |18:30

I was recently scouring the internet, when I came across a great article for all of your Do-It-Yourself (DIY) brides out there. I am an absolute DIY type of gal, but I have come to learn there is value in hiring the professional, but more on my experience later. I want to share with you some great insight adapted from Ester of My Bride Story article.

I’m sure a lot of you have visited the tons inspiration blogs that are taking over the blog world. They are all filled with awesome DIY ideas, but I do want to point out that being a DIY bride may not be worth it for some.

Yes, Martha Stewart and other savvy brides may encourage and inspire you to DIY flowers, invitations, and all your stationary, but it certainly is not for everyone. You may think, “When am I ever going to get the chance to craft and do projects like these”? Or maybe you want to save money or make the day more personal with the little details, but let me be honest with you all; I don’t recommend DIY projects for those who don’t have a lot of time on their hands and for brides who aren’t too talented at being crafty (sorry for being so blunt). You may imagine DIY projects to be fairly easy, especially with the tutorials, but sometimes after you buy all the materials and start putting things together, you quickly realize it is not as easy as you thought it would be. It might even lead to being disappointed and discouraged by the end results. Yes, you might be saving a few bucks here and there but don’t forget to calculate the time and effort you have to put in.

By no means am I writing this entry to discourage the savvy brides out there to DIY, because there are a lot of brides that blow me away by their talent and ideas. However, if you are not much of a crafty person I would definitely think twice before you run to Michaels. Reality is doing a DIY wedding/projects is very time consuming for the bride. People/vendors are called professionals for a reason- they have the skill, knowledge and artistic ability. Plainly put, they know what they are doing; I mean that is what we are paying them for right? We might be dealing with the same materials and flowers that the professionals are using but the results can be quite different.

For example, (a true story!) one of my clients called me frustrated and disappointed a couple weeks ago about her invitations. Her friend had offered to help design the invites and at that time the bride was thinking it couldn’t be too hard to print out the invites on her own once the design was completed. Unfortunately, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. She went to two different Paper Source locations to get the right color paper and when she finally got to Kinko’s to print out the invites the printer kept jamming because the paper was too thick. After many attempts to print out the invites my bride had no choice but to go back to Paper Source to purchase a thinner paper. Who knew printing invites could give you such a headache and we didn’t even get to the part about cutting the invites correctly, taping the papers together, getting all the addresses from your guests, and sending out the invites on TIME! Whew!

As I mentioned before, I have had my experience with DIY projects that have become more work than I thought. Recently I picked up the task of creating a floral display on one of my booths. I decided to tackle the project without a clear outline of what I wanted to accomplish, only some beautiful flowers. Unlike the bride above who had to buy different paper in the long run and spending more money, I ended up buying more flowers than I needed for the project, in turn still overspending. What’s worse, a project that would take a florist maybe an hour took me 4, and frustration set in really early. What I learned is the elaborate jobs should be left for the professionals.

With that said, here are some things to keep in mind if you are considering to DIY some things for your wedding:

1) Am I savvy? Do I like to put together crafty things?

2) Is this project doable? Can I finish it in time before the wedding?

3) Do I have family and friends who can help me? Always have a back-up plan but never take them for granted. (PLEASE take some time to read this entry I wrote a while back)

4) Who is going to help me transfer and set it up? I HIGHLY recommend that you hire at least a “Day of Coordinator” even if you are trying to save money.

So for those that LIKE to get their hands a little dirty, I encourage you to think outside the box and go all out with your creativity!

What kind of projects have you taken on yourself for your wedding? What was your experience and what would you do different? What kind of bride are you—DIY or a Professional Hirer?

Simple Mandap/Chuppah~Part II

lmoore

Nov 25 |09:00

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.

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.
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.
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.
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!

DIY – Trip to Home Depot

lmoore

Nov 16 |22:54

Recently, I spent nearly 2 hours in Home Depot, not counting the numerous hours I spent online researching products and pricing to build the main item of my display in the upcoming Brides to Be Shows in January. I decided to use a mandap/chuppah/canopy as the focal point of the booth. Mandaps, are used in the Indian/Hindu ceremonies like the chuppah is in Jewish ceremonies. I love items that cross cultural borders! Of course, the mandap and chuppah are not isolated to a cultural festivity; then can be used as a simple canopy over anyone’s ceremony. It creates a beautiful backdrop for pictures. I’ve also seen the idea used over sweetheart and cake tables. Oh so many ways to use it!

Since the average pipe and drape company here in Michigan quoted me $800 for a day, plus an additional $50 for the second day, I had to find another way to make it cost efficient. I had lots of inspiration from all over the country. There are some elaborate mandap designs out there. Here are a few of my favorites.(Design by Sachi Sood Partyland Flowers & Event Decor)

As you can see, they can be quite elaborate, or simplistic. Of course my favorite is from Mandap World. The pillar wood work alone is breathtaking.

(from Mandap World)

Of course, I can’t design something like this in a flash, so I opted for the more simplistic designs often found in chuppahs.

(from Flower Duet)(from Congregation Beth Tivah)(from Happily Every Chuppah)

(from Fifty Flowers) (from Monterey Rentals)

Ok so they’re not always simplistic

But back to Home Depot. I decided to build my mandap/chuppah out of PVC pipe. Relatively inexpensive, sturdy and easy to work with. I developed an initial plan and then set out to make it a reality. I came across a couple great DIY sites providing a bit of construction guidance. My favorite is Blue Bouquet. They created a chuppah for a local synagogue. What I loved about their design is the simplicity of the structure and the lights! Prior to seeing their design, I never thought about adding lights. They also did a great job with the bases. Most of the time, people put them in flower pots and add plaster of paris or cement, but unless you want to decorate them every time, they can be quite ugly. I like the idea of using a cake pan to hold the pole, but don’t know if that is the direction I want to go yet.

I’ve done things a little bit differently, as you will see, but the same basic properties are there. And it’s always fun to come up with ideas even the hardware guy would never have thought of as a solution, especially when he admits it. All the parts are in place, now time to build. More details to come . . .

Vera Wang Trunk Show at Maria’s Bridal Couture

lmoore

Nov 9 |20:44

Recently I stopped by Maria’s Bridal Couture in West Bloomfield to catch up on what is happening during the slow season. Since recently closing the Maria’s Bridal in downtown Rochester, Nadica was busy trying to gather and redistribute the items in that store into the new one. At the same time she was preparing for a Vera Wang Trunk Show. The trunk show was this last weekend. Orchard Lake Mall, which is were the new bridal store is located, decided to put on an event called All Things Wedding during this last weekend as well. I haven’t been able to check in yet, but I am sure they had a good deal of traffic.

I decided, with the Trunk Show and the All Things Wedding event, it was a good time to do some extra advertising. After searching around, I found a great deal on print your own invitations at Michael’s and went to town designing an elegant advertisement for this weekend.

“Invitations” introduced Full Circle Eventi to the West Bloomfield market in writing:

All the items had to be printed separately and then assembled. The kit came with the sleeve, the invitation card, and the response card, which I used for the coupon. Chocolate and Ivory Bride’s Laser Cut invitations created an elegant statement with the purple accent printing.

Close up on the “Invitation” wording. Very similar to intro page of the website.

Added bonus for Maria’s Bridal Couture clients. Referral from the bridal store is getting them a huge 30% discount on any wedding planning packages. That is an awesome saving!