Event Planning Exam Study Guide 4 (Weddings)

The 5 steps of event planning
1. Research 2. Design 3. Planning 4. Coordination 5. Evaluation

1. Method for developing event design
Brainstorm:
ice breaker
there are NO bad ideas
always encourage participation
Limit planning time to 20 mins
evaluate after

2. Method for developing event design
Mind mapping:
An idea organizing method that can also build creativity
Mind map branches are always curved
One word per branch
word should be the size f the branch
curvy lines
use lots of color, and images
start with center word or image

What to do when setting up your event planning business
Gain Event Planning Skills and Experience - Determine Your Event Planning Market/Forte - Develop a Business Plan - Designate Which Business Entity Fits Best for Your Firm - Obtain Business Insurance - Develop Your Network of Suppliers and Staffing Resources.

Who and in what year started the white wedding dress trend?
Queen Victoria in 1840

what did white dresses signify in the old days
wealth

who was the second person to wear a white wedding dress and in what year?
Princess Grace 1956

Who was the third person to wear a white wedding dress and in what year?
Princess Dianna 1981

What was the reason for Medieval weddings
To show power and money

What colors were general worn for Medieval weddings and what did the colors signify?
Blue: Purity
Poor couples wore there best clothes
Purple: Wealth, made from seashells
Green: Peasants wore it

What is the average price for a wedding gown currently?
$1,500

Why do women save wedding dresses?
Sentiment, For their daughters, Tradition

Ring Styles
Pave: see my diamonds than you do metal
Vintage: Edwardian made with fine metal work
Colored
Stacked: series of rings
Eternity Rings: Stones go around entire ring

High Prong issues?
get caught on things, to loose, snagging

Additional Ring Styles
Fede Rings: Clasped hands
Claddagh: hands mean friends, heart means love, crown means loyalty
Gimmel: interlocking bands form a whole

Which order are the rings placed on your finger in the ceremony and why?
Wedding band goes on first so its closer to your heart

Examples of what flowers are used for
Home arrangement, boutonnieres, Altar arrangement, bouquets

Flowers Do's and Don'ts
choose a trustworthy florist, avoid weird scented, add florist to planning team early, see the big pictures, budget for flowers

Blue meaning
calm, serenity, tranquility, peace, openness

Purple Meaning
royalty, pride, success, ceremony, dignity

White meaning
Purity, innocence, humility, simple beauty

Orange Meaning
Energy, passion for life, warmth, confidence, enthusiasm

Peach Meaning
Thankfulness, friendship, gratitude, tenderness

Green
Youth, optimism, health, good fortune, renewal

Lavender
Grace, reinforcement, elegance

Pink
friendly love, joy, innocent happiness, caring

Red
passionate love, desire, beauty, courage, heat

Yellow
New life, New beginnings, Happiness

oldest record of wedding vows
1549 in the book of common prayer

How were the poor and rich wed back in the day
Poor by consent, Rich by contract

What's the current vow trend
write your own

how many countries is same sex marriage allowed in?
25 countries

Ceremony Music Order
Processional, Bride Entrance, Interlude, Recessional, Postlude

What is Processional Music
Begins as the immediate family members are seated

What music is played for the Bride's Entrance?
Here comes the bride, or the boy I'm going to marry

What is interlude music?
Played during the ceremony to signify special moments or transitions

What are Recessional Songs?
Played as couple/wedding party leaves ceremony, it should be bright happy music

What is Postlude Music and who should you hire for it
Played as the wedding guests leave the ceremony
soloist, trio, violinist, flute, harp, vocalist w/ music etc.

Things to think about with the reception music
space available
cost of DJ $350-3,500
cost of Band $1,300-10,000
contracts 4-5 hrs
Booking and overtime fees
what to do between breaks that band takes
variety of people
father-daughter, mother-son dance

Catering Styles
Buffet vs. table service
Buffet- Straight line vs. scramble
Table service- Russian vs. American style
Self- Catered Self

On-site Catering Examples
Banquet halls, hotels

Onsite Catering Pros
Great facility, lots of décor, parking, trained staff, they have everything you'd need

Self Catering Info
need to do order and pick up, table top décor, set up and clean up, you can get any food, cheaper

Self Catering Examples
The family cooks/grills, order/pick up, Potluck

The family cooks/grills examples
Plan the menu, test food before hand, table décor, large grills extra propane, set up and clean up

Potluck
track who brings what, need to store food properly, set up/clean up, food safety, table top and decor

Wedding Catering Trends
Dim Sum and dumplings, tea leaf bars, specialty cocktails, raw bar, cheese bar, vegan/vegetarian, food trucks, desserts, breakfast bars

What to consider when choosing a caterer
budget, recommendations, tastings, narrow down to top 3, menu selection and service, read contract carefully

history of wedding cakes
started off as romans using loafs of bread at weddings which meant luck, prosperity and fertility
Middle age used biscuits and stacked them then kissed the top for luck
17th century they put frosting on biscuits

Cake traditions
cutting cake together as symbol of supporting each other, save top for 1 year anniversary, adding different charms in the cake and they all had different meanings, cake in the face

What charms did they put in the cakes
ship, heart, carriage, horseshoe, ring

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue history
Comes from old English rhyme, bride wears or carries them with her

Something old meaning
continuity

something new meaning
optimism

something borrowed meaning
happiness

something blue meaning
purity, love, fidelity

First kiss history and meaning
Roman origin, couple joins souls, life long commitment

Rice history
Ancient tradition, considered a life giving seed

Bouquet and Boutonniere history/meaning
bouquets: good luck
boutonnieres: came from tradition of wearing wife's colors

Garter and bouquet toss history and meaning
Garter toss originated in 14th century, bouquet toss takes place after garter toss, you can toss multiple

Traditional dance examples
mother-son, father-daughter, chicken, hokey pokey, electric slide, Macarena, cotton eye joe

Favors for guests
research cool ones, should be 1/2% of budget, something related to wedding couple, Cellophane wrap is cheap but good,

toasts
to honor bide and groom, an honor to be asked to toast, 2 minutes or less, bride and groom should make toast to thank guests

Hispanic wedding traditions
Catholic
13 coins are given to bride and groom
orange often used
El Laso is rope put around bride and groom
guests will gather around couple in shape of a heart
tradition for bride to war black which represents 'til death do we part'
Flamingo Dance

Jewish Weddings Khalla and Chatan
guest carry bride and groom out while they're linked by cloth
day when sins are forgiven
Khalla(Bride)
Chatan(Groom)
bride and groom are separated for a week before the wedding
mother breaks plate in symbol of permanence, chuppah there home is open to everyone
2 glasses of wine which they drink as the Blessing of Betrothed and 7 blessings then smash the glass, they wear rings on index finger

Indian/Hidu Weddings
henna art on forearm/hand of bride
lots of jewelry
very colorful weddings often multiple days long
couple washes feet with milk or water to purify
marigolds
ceremony conducted in Sanskrit
bride is given by father
hands need to be held before sacred fire to give unity and they practice their 7 vows and 7 steps

Asian/Buddhist Weddings
simple ceremonies
social ceremony not really religious
they go to the court for legal aspects and go to temple for a blessing
lots of candles + incents
The Buddhist principles are displayed love, respect, honor, generosity
they believe in not harming life, mediation, transformation and wisdom

African
Traditional headwear
groom will ask permission of father to marry his daughter by knocking on the door
they jump the broom to symbolize sweeping away the past
they cross sticks to resemble a strong rooted harmonious marriage
they have an ancestor liberation ceremony
Eat Kola nuts to promote health
tie a knot in rope to unify the couple
they taste lemon, vinegar, cayenne and honey(4 elements) to symbolize staying strong through every aspect of the marriage
Kenneth cloth

Middle East/Muslim Wedding (Qabool)
Marriage is a contract
Qabool which means the groom asks the bride 3 times to marry him and she responds yes 3 times
Bride and groom may not see each other during wedding
Meher which is money or possessions paid or promised to pay by the groom, or by groom's father, to the bride at the time of marriage, that legally becomes her property
anyone can perform the wedding
some marriages are arranged
pre wedding festivities with the relatives

Rehearsal Dinner
Meal after Wedding rehearsal
can be formal or informal
chance for bride/groom to thank wedding party
should be open invitation for the guests of a destination wedding

Bridal Party Gifts
thank you gifts, you should be personal and thoughtful
some ideas:
day at the spa, gift certificate etc.

Post-Wedding Brunch
Its not always necessary but should be considered when there's a destination wedding or a hotel, and it gives you time to see out of town guests

What to consider with Table Top Dinning
The physical aspect: eating, the emotional: connectedness, and psychological: happiness and support
make sure decorations match the occasion, work with a caterer to set up a menu

What to consider when making Invitations
texture and artwork
if someone is married or in a serious relationship, invite both
don't invite people for presents

Décor Element Examples/Considerations
Center pieces, make sure they don't block line of sight at tables
Tall center pieces create dramatic effect

What are pillars generally used for and what to consider
people get married under them
they create a good focal design
you can drape them with fabrics
make sure they are secured

Bridal shower requirements
Ask bride for guest list, choose a theme, use gift registry, get favors for guests,

What are some bridal shower trends and games
Destination showers, activity showers, lessons, couples showers
Games: how well do you know the bride, 20 questions, toilet paper bride, Bridal Bingo

Bachelor and bachelorette Parties
strippers, drinking, gambling, bungee jumping

The basic of choosing a venue
it should make design easy, some clients will have a venue selected or dreams that might need your guidance, no matter what you need to make their dream work within the constraints

What to think bout when choosing an on sight or off sight venue
On Sight Venues: have full kitchen, furnishing essentials facilities
Off Sight Venues: can be more unique but are often more expensive about 35% more of the cost

You need to visit the Venues before hand why?
no amount of conversation or pictures will satisfy, need to see the size, color, character, style