The Extinction of Marriage?!

Rumour has it that fewer and fewer couples are actually taking the traditional step in their relationship and getting married. However, this is not necessarily a rumour. Couples are increasingly more skeptical of 'tying the knot' than they were 50 years ago.

Recently statistics show a 32% decline in marriage from the 1960s among adults, according to research by Time Magazine. These statistics decline even more sharply among those under the age of 30, with only 26% actually married. Part of this survey also asked the question if young adults thought marriage was heading to extinction. The results are shocking with nearly 44% of respondents believing that the future of holy matrimony would eventually become obsolete. So why is this the case? What is making marriage an obsolete idea for future generations? Well, to sum it up quickly, children are becoming afraid of commitment from seeing the failed marriages of their parents, cheating is another significant factor... one respondent comments "People have been cheating forever. It's more about what you have with who you are with, not what you call it." With this we are seeing a substantial increase in co-habitation of young couples. Something that has nearly doubled since 1990, around 44% of respondents saying they have co-habited with a significant other at some point. So the big questions here for us is how this will affect the wedding indutry. It does seem quite scary to think that young people believe marriage is headed for extinction!

So I will ask you this:

What are your thoughts and opinions?

Do you think marriage is heading for extinction?


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/more_say_don_to_nups_tq1p7qq2D6KtV4elNMOShI#ixzz162OiZ3Qq



-Jennifer

Your Fall Harvest Wedding



This past weekend, we at Elite Events had our first taste of a fall wedding this year. This makes it quite official to us that summer has come and gone, and the fall season is quickly making itself known. It feels as if the summer has flown by and now we barely have a chance to think about it! But you should stop and think about how beautiful a Fall wedding could be. The majority of newly wed couples are fixated on having a beautiful summer wedding. However, with summer being the peak season, prices are steep and space is limited, so why not consider a fall affair!



Set-up at Langdon Hall, Cambridge ON, Fall 2010 Wedding



There are so many beautiful ideas that can come with the change in season, and fall hosts one of the vast color pallets available. Fall is a time for warm, welcoming feelings, and that is exactly what you will feel with this genre of decor for your wedding. Consider a harvest theme, by incorporating fresh apples, gourds, and pumpkins. Fall is a season that plays on all senses, so take a look at some of these beautiful fall wedding pictures, and the possibilities are endless for your fall harvest themed wedding.



-Jennifer

Corporate Events

On Tuesday, September 14th, 2010, Elite Events Management helped Marshall Truck and Trailer pull together what turned out to be an amazing customer appreciation day! From 11:00am - 3:00pm customers stopped by for some delicious hamburgers and sausages fresh from Denningers, while enjoying music by Marco from DJ Perri. Customers played "Spin to Win" to win one of many great prizes from Marshall Truck and Trailer, while also having the chance to enter into the large draw of an assortment of Golf Clubs, Trips, and more! There was a great turn out, and the weather cooperated with sun and the occasional cloud. We at Elite Events learned that corporate events do take more planning and attention to ensure a worry free event, and that the right publicity and promotion can bring strong positive results! Overall we are pleased with the success of this event and are looking forward to working with Marshall Truck and Trailer in the near future!

Ancaster Wedding Show

Incase you missed it, this past weekend on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 Elite Events Management exhibited at the Ancaster Wedding Show at the Ancaster Fairgrounds, from 10:00am - 5:00pm. Brides to be, along with many mother, friends, grooms, and families lined up eager to enter and see the 100+ vendors from all across Ontario. From DJs, Photographers, Florists, and many many more, the vendors pulled out all the stops to impress the newly engages couples.

We, Elite Events Management, were located near the entrance, displaying our show stopping Candy Buffet's! And they were a HUGE hit! With the crowd nearing 200-300 guests at times we were very busy. Check out our Facebook page for some great snap shots of the Candy Buffet set up. Some other great vendors worth a mention were: Shkank Inc. a Toronto designer specializing in couture custom made dresses, check them out at www.shkank.com and Sticks and Stems Floral Studio, a Waterdown based floral design company, at www.sticksandstems.ca.

Overall this tradeshow was a great success, and we had such a great time meeting all the soon to be wed couples. We truly love the energy and excitement that radiats from the brides and are looking froward to working with those we met! So keep an eye out for Elite Events at the next local wedding tradeshow, you will have to come and check us out to see what next surprise we will be exhibiting!

-Jennifer

CLiC Backyard BBQ - Event Review

Last night was the CLiC Backyard BBQ. It was a wonderful night under the stars, not too hot and luckily it did not rain!! The event was held at the beautiful Hamilton Art Gallery. Every time I go to the Gallery I realize how beautiful it is. As an event planner I see many lovely buildings, but I have to say the Art Gallery really stands out due to the uniqueness of the building and also because of its modern appeal. There really is not one other venue in the greater Hamilton area that has such a modern feel, it is definitely one of a kind. Many people do not know that they can rent the space out for different events, so I just wanted to share with you all that you can, and they also have different rooms that can hold a variety of numbers! And you should at least look into using the Gallery for your next event!! If you are looking for something that stands out, I would strongly suggest it!

Anyway, back to the event; CLiC hosts a variety of events throughout the year, this was the summer event, and we were definitely celebrating the summer season! During the event they had a curator showing a new collection, they had DJ Johnny Angels 78 SPIN – OUT, he was spinning vintage 78 RPM’s, they has a water colour painting demonstration and also, they were showing a new artists collection that was for rent or purchase. It definitely had a old fashioned beach party feel, of course on the menu was watermelon, pulled pork, bean salads and corn on the cob. I definitely think it was a great event, I really appreciated the dedication and effort that went into planning it, as this is something I notice. If anyone is interested in the Hamilton Art Gallery, and they are a young professional I would suggest joining CLiC, becoming a member and really take advantage of everything they have to offer from networking opportunities to art sales, and really everything and anything to do with the Gallery.

Keeping it Fresh!

As an event planner there's more that goes on than just planning someones event for them. As both Lindsay and I have mentioned before in previous posts, you have to think of ALL the little details, communicate, design, mediate...etc. So I find it extremely important to keep up on all the latest trends and new ideas out there in the wedding and event industry. Brides for example are constantly wanting something that will bring a flare of uniqueness to their wedding, something that will make people talk. So we are constantly on the Internet, browsing through magazines (http://www.todaysbride.ca/,http://www.weddingbells.ca/ ) , and watching the latest wedding shows on TLC (http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/weddings) (LOL). This is important because we are the experts, the ones who are giving the professional opinion, so essentially it is our job to be able to provide our clients with the most recent up and coming trends and ideas. I personally love doing this, it is always amazing to see someones face when you suggest that special idea that just blows their mind! So again, we hope you are enjoying our posts and hope some of these things we blog about spark ideas of your own, and inspire you to think outside of the box!

~Jennifer

Everything in between...

Events in general are to celebrate something. In life we like to celebrate the milestones and everything in between that we can make into a party with friends and family. Usually, when we are hired for events we are told that this is a very special occasion because...every reason is different, however, the commonality would be that it is important to that particular group.

Every time we meet with a client we try to find out why exactly this event has to be so special. It is very important for a planner to understand the goal behind the event. Once we have this knowledge we are able to put ourselves into that persons perspective, hence creating the event of their dreams...(hopefully so)! It is a really unique experience getting to know someone to realize their motives for having an event, and it is something that I personally really enjoy. I get to create something for my clients that ultimately does not only represent myself but also the person who has hired me. I love being able to deliver for someone and create something that is bigger and better then they could have even thought of, but it is something that they wanted...it sounds strange, but this is true. I recently had a client say to me, ``Wow I would have never been able to describe this to you, but this is exactly what I wanted for this event, (Sarah Miller).``

This is why choosing Elite Events Management is the right decision for you. We will create the event of your dreams, that leaves a lasting memory for all those who attend.

Lindsay

A Little Lesson in Etiquette

Ok, here it is all you recently engaged couples open those ears for a little lesson in etiquette. Soon to be brides take some notes, we are going to discuss Wedding Invitation Etiquette. There are three common invitation faux pas to avoid when writing and wording your invitations.

"Mr. and Mrs. ... plus family"
You wedding is in most regards a family affair. But how are you supposed to send out invitations to a whole family and how can you word this eloquently? Answer: Include all the names of the family members. Everyone should be properly addressed when invited to your wedding and this should be stated clearly on the card. For those families who have children above the age of 18, there should be separate invitations sent, even if they still do live in their parents home.

"No Boxed Gifts"
Lets answer this one strait up. It is not good etiquette to discuss gifts ANYWHERE on the invitations. Any registry information should be kept off of the invite. A gift is just as it sounds "a gift" it should not be something that is mandatory, and people should not be obliged to give one (this is a whole other topic in etiquette). If you are concerned about this and still do prefer to have no boxed gifts, just money, speak with your bridal party and spread the information by word of mouth. If you are still going to set up a registry, consider having a wedding website to post this link, along with other important details of your wedding.

"No Children"
If you would prefer an adults only affair it is perfectly fine, that is your choice and is accepted. Now to avoid any confusion about this you must word your invitation to those you only want to attend. Traditionally only those named are invited, but one step further is to provide an RSVP card with the names already written on it. If an RSVP comes back with the children written on, a polite phone call will do to straighten out the misunderstanding. 

Well I hope all you brides to be have taken notes and understand a little bit more of proper wedding etiquette. Remember if you are unsure consult a professional, you do not want to be faced with an embarrassing situation!

-Jennifer

Under the Stars...Event Review

Last night we had the privilege of being apart of the Under the Stars dinner/dance at the 50 Point Marina. This was a fundraising event with funds going to both the Conservation Authority Charity and The Children's Charity of Hope. It was the forth year of this dinner dance charity fundraiser, and this was the first year Elite Events Management was involved. With our involvement the number of guests was increased by over 50% and this year they raised over $2000 compared to $700 last year.

At the beginning of the day we were worried that the weather was not going to cooperate with us and since this was an outside event we needed the weather on our side. We had our fingers crossed and it worked because the weather pulled through and it did not rain. However, it was a bit chilly but when the dancing started that breeze really felt great! Since we were able to have the amazing Mr. DJ Perri at this event, everyone was up dancing the entire night, it was a Gidget style dance party outside under the stars! It was definitely a night to remember, a summer sensation that surpassed our expectations.

Destination Spectacular - Your Top Ten

With the heat of the summer coming to an end, and August finally rolling around the summer wedding season is almost done for 2010. Another great year to celebrate a summer wedding has just about come to a close but many of you have a less traditional idea in mind for the wedding of your dreams. Not worrying about what the weather will be like here with the ever changing seasons, many have jumped on a plane and flown down south or across the world with their loved ones to celebrate their marriage in a foreign country.

So here you go everyone, the Top Ten destinations for those considering a destination wedding. And all you Canadians will be proud to note the special Ontario destination that made this list!

1) Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

2) Las Vegas, Nevada

3) Mayan Riviera, Mexico

4) Venice, Italy

5) Ocho Rios, Jamaica

6) Bordeaux, France

7) Maui, Hawaii

8) Muskoka, Ontario

9) Palm Beach, Aruba

10) Barcelona, Spain

There it is! Top Ten places to have a destination wedding, to see more information about the Top Ten choices please check the Fall/Winter issue of Wedding Bells Magazine.

-Jennifer

Balancing Life in the Service Industry

Working in the event industry may seem like a dream come true, to be part of creating something that will bring joy and happiness, excitement and fun to all those attending the event. From planning a wedding, the single most important day in many couples lives, to the perfect birthday bash, it all seems like an exciting thing to be apart of but when you are the one planning there are some key hurdles and points to overcome and keep in mind. Specifically you must learn quickly how to work with different types of people. Two areas that are important to understand are the dynamic personalities out there and being consistent with communication.


Personalities


This world is full of different people, which makes it, of course, unique! However, its an important point to keep in mind when working in a service industry, where you are dealing with new people every day. Everyone has different way of interacting, different way of conveying a message and as someone who has to decipher exactly what someone wants, you have to be in tune with different personalities. Ive found that listening is the most important thing to do when having an initial conversation with the client. Secondly is to ask the right questions. You want to pull out as much information and learn the most about that person in your initial meeting. You will learn quickly how things with progress based on their responses, and determine what the best mode of communication with that person is. I've always told me self just remember that understanding and patience are two things you must never take for granted.

Open Communication


Being able to understand and be patient with a client is essential, but there is alot more than this when it comes to actually implementing the plan you have created with them. You must be able to keep consistent communication with the client. Always making them aware of any changes or bumps along the road when it comes to your booking and confirming their appointments and meetings with vendors. Again this can come back to the personality of your client, some may find it their mission every day to send you many emails, with questions, concerns etc. Others may be silent, until you probe them with questions. Its important to recognize a balance for yourself and between you and your client when communicating. Like any business operating in the service industry creating a positive client experience is essential. It is positive word of mouth that will build your blossoming business, and capture you some great referrals.


So, now you have read two major areas of concern that are essential to the event planning industry. Every job is different and will not always run as smooth as you would like it to, but I find that if you keep a clear head and listen while asking the right questions you can avoid plenty of headaches and misunderstandings.


Good luck to others starting out in the industry!

~Jennifer

Events are Everywhere

I recently had someone say to me, how do you make a living doing events...I paused for a second because I thought this was a very strange question. However, after thinking about it, I totally see why people would think that. So this is about events and how they surround us...and how I can make a living doing what I love!

Events happen every day around us, and most people do not even realize some of these ‘things’ would even be considered an event. The obvious events are those that are more talked about, such as weddings, fundraisers and golf tournaments. Events can be very small to extremely large. G20 (in Toronto) is a great example of a large scale event; where as ‘reading time’ at a local library is an example of a small event.

Events are a great way to get publicity, obviously the media would be more interested in going to a store opening if it is a bigger production with special people invited because this then becomes something the public would be interested in, therefore it is ‘newsworthy’ and also considered an event. The reason I think events get overlooked sometimes is because most people do not understand the organization that goes into planning one.

There is always a purpose for events, be it publicity, fundraising, celebrating or givebacks/kickbacks and it is the job of the event planner to ensure the purpose of the event is successfully completed. I know with every event Elite Events does, it is our sole mission to create something that leaves a lasting impression on those who attend and without that you cannot have a successful event.

Events are everywhere!

Check out the Video Clip below to see Lindsay of Elite Events Management at the 

Toronto Honda Indy July 17, 2010

-Lindsay

The Candy Bar

Whats the huge new trend in the choice of wedding favors for 2010? It's an interactive piece of art at your wedding, and is known as a "Candy Bar" or Candy Buffet" a wildly popular favor choice this year. A candy bar can actually be economical in terms of saving on wedding favors for your wedding.

The average cost of a wedding favor is about 3% of your over all budget but anywhere between $5-$15 per guest or per couple. This can add up quickly is you are on a budget. Therefore not only is the candy bar a focal point at your wedding but it is extremely cost efficient. One can purchase take away bags/boxes/ or tins from as little as $0.25! And if you stick to candy that excludes chocolate and any other specialty (expensive) assortments you can create a candy bar for well under your initial budget.

Candy comes in all shapes and colors and can add that pop to your wedding decor, and keep your guests talking throughout the night about it. One thing to also consider when budgeting for a candy bar is the jars and glassware. These can get pricey fast! So your best option is to rent. Renting can range any where between $100-$300 for jars and decor. So keep this in mind when totaling your overall expenses for favors. Ideally you are looking at $350.00 for everything, for a medium sized wedding of approximately 100 guests. Which is only $3.50 per person!

This is a great option if you are stumped for favor ideas, and want something a little less traditional. It is easy enough to do it yourself, but for a showstopping masterpiece its always good to go to the professionals for advice!


-Jennifer

Hiring a Wedding Planner - Pros and Cons

So you are now engaged and the first thought that runs through your mind is... "WOW where should I start with planning my wedding?!" Yes it is a daunting question and does require a ton of detail, research, and patience! You will probably think of hiring a wedding consultant, or full wedding coordinator. Depending on your income level you may not think it’s in the budget to do so. But a key fact here is that wedding planners are professionals of the wedding industry and have an inside key to good prices and reliable professionals without you having to go through the screening process.



But before you make your decision to hire a wedding planner or not, consider the following points:


How much time and patience do you have?

• Is your wedding going to be a large affair or an intimate gathering? Large weddings can range from hundreds to thousands of guests and also require in the excess of 300 hours planning! Depending on your life style, your career, and the support you have from family and friends you may not have the required time to find, contact, negotiate, and finalize all of your wedding plans. A wedding planner can save you the added stress when it comes to organizing your wedding, and you may even want to consider day-of coordination if your budget is a little tighter. Remember this is your big day; you want to be stress free and see it run smoothly so ration your time accordingly and call for help from a professional if you start to feel overwhelmed.

Let’s talk about money!

• Hiring a wedding planner can serious help reduce your expenses when it comes to finding and negotiating with the venue, DJ, photographer etc. Wedding planners tend to charge in a variation of three different forms: Most charge a percentage of total budget ranging from 10-20%, others charge a flat fee or by the hour. Flat Fees can range from $1,000-$5,000 depending on the size and scope of your wedding. Hourly rates range from and easy $50.00 - $150.00 per hour depending on the involvement and expertise of your coordinator. If a wedding planner is in your budget make sure you acquire a written contract and pricing list for the services you are receiving to ensure you fully understand how you will be charged.

Are you crafty or a Do-It-Yourself'er?

• If you like to browse through fabric stores and create your own clothes? Love to visit the local craft store and scrap book, knit, or make jewellery? Have you taken some do-it-yourself cake baking or floral arranging classes? Enjoy getting your hand dirty in any crafty activity? Well then your wedding is probably your dream come true when it comes to the ultimate crafty task! If you are this independent person, planning the details of the wedding might be something you want to venture through on your own. There are many workbooks for wedding preparations available to purchase to help guide you along the path to your ultimate do-it-yourself wedding. These books are great but remember on your day of, with the spot light on you, who will ensure things will be running smoothly? You might be the perfect candidate for day-of coordination. So keep this in the back of your mind, just in case!

Are you the Haggling type?

• When faced with the daunting task of finding your essential wedding services, there will be a lot of negotiating, bartering and haggling! So keep that in mind. If you are loud and love the challenge to get the best deal then this will be a breeze for you, however those who aren’t as savvy with the process of negotiation may consider hiring a helping hand. Your wedding planner is there to advise you on the right decisions and they do know best. There are a lot of scammers out there who are out there for your money, so be careful, know what you are getting yourself into, and seek professional advice.

Do you like planning?

• Ultimately if you are considering to a DIY wedding you have to like to plan, organize, negotiate, work well under stress, and be able to seriously multitask! This is not an easy job to take on, hence the reason why there is a wedding planning industry out there. You have to think in the 360 degree of things. You will have to find, make and send invitations, keep track of your RRSP's, create a guest list, seating chart, negotiate venues, open bar options, food options, keep in mind any allergies of guests, arrange for an officiate, place for the ceremony, favours, decor, flowers, dresses, tuxes, rings, transportation and SO much more! So consider your own ability to stay on task, meet deadlines, and remain calm under pressure!

A wedding planner can allow of an easy transition from the initial planning steps to the final wedding day product. They are the professionals here just like any other industry, they have the expertise and knowledge of planning weddings. So consider all of the details while making this decision, and remember it’s never too late, whether it is 1 year, 1 month, or 1 week prior to your wedding to call for help!


~ Jennifer

For the Budget Conscious Bride...

There will be many weddings this summer of 2010, as the peak wedding season approaches us with speed. And with weddings comes expenses, very LARGE expense! The average cost of a wedding today is about $32,000. This is a large price tag for the average couple, probably the largest a newlywed couple will face other than the purchase of their first home. Some may be lucky enough to have generous parents, or relatives who will help them through this giant feat, but many will be paying this bill themselves, with a combination of money saved and some form of credit.

With these economic times shining such a dim light, brides to be are shopping around, trying to find the best deal, while also trying to stretch their budget and make their wedding day the most spectacular day possible. So with that I am here to offer some helpful hints and thrifty tips on how to save a few dollars on your wedding this year!

Tip Number One:

Do your research! It is extremely important to shop around, especially if you are new to the art of wedding planning. The best way to get the most reliable and accurate feedback is to ask around. Ask your friends and family members who have been married in the past few years. This should be your first point of contact, because it is these people who will give you an honest and truthful answer. Another suggestion is that brides sign up to attend various bridal shows. These shows are great, and have some great exhibitors. There is alot of competition out there and you will need to learn how to decipher through all of the potential choices. So become familiar with this industry, and your choices will be that much easier.

Tip Number Two:

Do you really need a summer wedding? June, July and August are the most popular months to tie the knot, and the industry is well aware of this. You can look at spending up to 50% more on the venue, photographer, DJ etc. for having a wedding in this prime wedding season. So think twice, about the necessity of a summer wedding, you might want to opt for a spring, or fall wedding, when the business has slowed. The other thing to think about is the day of the week. Traditionally Saturday is the popular day to choose but this again is a prime day of the week, and comes with a premium. Consider these things while you are in the planning process of your wedding.

Tip Number Three:

Hire a Professional. Planning a wedding is a overwhelming task, with many details both small and large and you must make sure that you do not miss anything. From a professional standpoint it is a smart investment to hire help in the planning process. Hiring a wedding planner may seem to be something that is not in your budget, especially for the budget conscious bride of these times, however one of the key task of a wedding planner is to find you the best deals. The wedding industry is the wedding planner’s home turf, they have worked with many industry professionals and have established strong relationships. They therefore have the power to get the best deals and save YOU alot of money!

Check back for more money saving tips!

~Jennifer

Elite Events Management