5 Things You Probably Forgot to Add to Your Event Budget

photo via Evantine Design

My biggest piece of advice to clients who are just beginning the event planning process is to set an event budget and stick to it.  The best way to do this is to come up with the total dollar amount that you are comfortable spending on your event and work backwards from there.  Many of my clients don't want to face that final number - some feel that number will be too low, while others feel they are being too extravagant.  Regardless of the reason that you may not want to face "the number", keep in mind that any special celebration, whether it is a Wedding, Mitzvah or Sweet 16, can be creatively planned within any budget. Trust me when I tell you that by knowing what you are working with in terms of budget from the beginning, you will eliminate a lot of stress and will be able to enjoy the planning process.

When creating a budget, everyone remembers to account for the larger expenses such as catering and entertainment costs, decor and photography, but here is a list of 5 things that your will most likely forget to add to your budget....

1.  Vendor Tips

2.  Postage

3.  Hair and Make-up

4.  Welcome Bags for Out of Town Guests

5.  Escort Cards, Menus and othe printed items

While these aren't huge expenses compared to something like your catering bill, they do add up quickly so be sure to keep them in mind. 

Enjoy!

REAL BAR MITZVAH...Fly Away with Gabe

Gabe is a 13 year old with a passion for aviation-he has attended flight school and event piloted a plane.  For his Bar Mitzvah celebration his mom worked with Dana Nestel of THE WRITE OCCASION  and Jeffrey Fox of FOX VENTURES to transform THE SUNSET ROOM BY WOLFGANG PUCK at National Harbor into an airport where friends and family partied to their destination.  I loved working with Dana and Jeffrey to create the logo and finishing touches for this special event.

Gabe's mom and Dana wanted the logo to represent Gabe's "airline".  They loved both of the logos that I designed so they "mixed and matched" them throughout the celebration.  Mixing and matching 2 similar logos has become a popular option for many of my clients.

When Gabe's guests arrived at The Sunset Room, they checked in at the "ticket counter" that FOX Ventures built.  I absolutely loved the boarding pass escort cards that we created for this event.

While the adults checked to their flights, Gabe's friends proceeded directly to the First Class Lounge for fun. 

After the cocktail hour, guests found their "Airline Gates" for lunch and then they partied until they reached their destination with MC Ice of GLYDE PRODUCTIONS.  The adult tables were named after airlines and for the centerpieces, Fox Ventures created airplanes out of frosted plexiglass.  The airline logos were etched on the airplanes.

 There were lots of first class finishing touches throughout the party.  I especially loved the mini airplanes with Gabe's logo which hung from the ceiling in the cocktail space.

A very special thank you to AMANDA GILLEY for these photographs to share.

Enjoy!

Loving Lampshade Centerpieces

photo via Linzi Events

I love the look of lampshade centerpieces.  Whether you use them on all of your tables or on just a few, they are a great way to bring a little drama to your decor.

photo via mkPhoto

A great decor company can customize lampshade centerpieces with your event logo making them perfect for Mitzvah and Sweet 16 celebrations...

photo via Designer Event Chicago

photo via Beautiful Blooms

And since I absolutely love the idea of personalizing events with photos, I adore these lampshades...

photo via Chad David Kraus Photography

Enjoy!

FAVORITE FAVORS FOR SPRING...Bella Capri Scrunch Pants and Performance Shorts

Loving Bella's Capri Scrunch Pants as a favor for your girl guests.  Available in Dark Grey Heather (this charcoal grey is the new black for spring!), Deep Heather Grey (a lighter athletic grey) and black, these sweats are soft, comfy and totally trendy.

And for the boys... Gildan's Performace Shorts with Pockets are always a FAVORITE.  Available in black, navy, charcoal, red and sport grey, these shorts offer superior moisture wicking and antimicrobial properties - always an added bonus for a teenage boy favor.

For more infomation on Bella's Capri Scrunch Pants and Gildan's Performance Shorts, CLICK HERE.  I would love to work with you to customize these shorts and pants for your event.

Enjoy!