Every Step of the Way...

You spend months, maybe even over a year planning your special day. You look into all of the details, making sure that everything flows from the invitations to the flowers to the wardrobe. While you work hard to have each item reflect the overall theme, there are times when gaps occur. 

Often, clients of ours do not have time to do a walk through of their entire day. We at Rothweiler Event Design (www.rothweilereventdesign.com) do a complete walk through anywhere from 3-5 times before the day of the event. We take pictures of every angle from floor to ceiling, because your guests will be drawn to every inch of the space. This means that even though your venue might have some candles on the fireplace mantle, if they don't fit your design, they need to be substituted with something that does.

Your event planner will most likely walk through your venue space within the first month after signing the contract together. This is a rough walk to get a general idea of the canvas they can work with. As the date gets closer, the walk throughs increase, and are often done with other vendors from florists to furniture companies. One of the most important pieces of putting together an event, is knowing the space inside and out in the correct lighting. 

Our next wedding space will be utilizing an entire building with multiple rooms. It would be silly to just have the florist concentrate on the centerpieces, when there is so much more to decorate. Besides draping the walls in something different, we'll be adding flowers in unexpected places to go with the "garden" theme our bride fell in love with on day one. We recently walked through the venue with the florist as if we were guests, and our eyes went to all of those spaces that just seemed empty. While we're not going over the top, we're just looking to make the room come together. This is the same principle you would use when decorating your home.

What about your last event? Did you work your signature color into every room? How did you add your little touches at places like the bar or even the washroom? Let us know how you kept your theme going in every inch of your venue!

Color Combos

We were recently interviewed on our thoughts about color combinations....the dos and don'ts, the best way to make a decision, what matches the best...

Many times couples can't decide on what their favorite color is, and they feel like they have a lack of direction. She likes pastels and pinks, he likes grays and silvers, and they agree that all of them are beautiful. But the best way to choose a color palette is to work with the basics.

It's very important to finalize the date of your wedding so that you know what season you will be in. Take some time to do a quick google search and find out the flowers that are in season for your area. Do those flowers fit the image that you want for your wedding day and if so, what colors do they come in? 

Next would be to decide how you want each and every room to look. What magazines and websites are you drawn to? Are you more of a "Style me Pretty" bride, or does Grace Ormonde really inspire you? Look at the colors that are being used for those styles and ask yourself if you're drawn to them. Can you see the flowers in your head and do you want to put your bridal party in those colors?

The colors that you choose should flow from moment to moment without being overpowering. Whether you decide to have just one color in varying shades, or mix it up with three complimentary colors, make sure these details are present in everything including your invitations right down to the linens.

What colors have you selected for the big day, and was it a challenge? Tell us your story and you might be featured in an upcoming blog!

 

Another Wedding, Another Show

Flash! Bam! Showtime!

Whether it's a reality television show, the movies, or a publication of a no budget wedding, frequently, a wedding becomes a show. When really, it should be about you two showing your love.

Brides and grooms can get overwhelmed with wanting their special day to stand out. Pressured to have a theme and lots of glitter, they find any way to go over the top so their guests will talk about their wedding for years to come. Now, there really is nothing wrong with glitter (though you can never really get it out of your hair), but we think a wedding shouldn't be a spectacle, just for the sake of being a spectacle. It's not about making your guests talk about how high the centerpieces are, and where you found dancing elephants for your reception. It's about the two of you.

When planning your wedding, draw upon the romance and friendship that you share with your other half. Use your favorite colors, most memorable trips, and inside jokes to bring the wedding to life. Perhaps you both love camping, but you're having your reception inside a hall lined with marble and you love sparkle and bling. Well, you can't go camping without the stars above. Consider hiring a lighting technician to put stars on the ceiling so that when your guests enter from the cocktail hour, they are swept away into the romance that you two share. 

Being over the top and putting on a show is perfectly acceptable. Just make sure that you're showing everyone your love first. Happy planning!

Happy Valentine's Day.....let's get married!

Last February, over 2 BILLION dollars was spent at the jewelry store...and yes, plenty of that went to sparkly diamond rings so that "the" question could be popped! Whether you're already planning your wedding, or are still waiting for that ring, we wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day!

That said, Valentine's Day is (not surprisingly) one of the more popular days of the year to get engaged. Other holidays that people prefer are Christmas, Thanksgiving, and yes, even New Year's Eve. In the wedding industry, we like to call this time of the year "engagement season". Many vendors will see a huge rush of newly engaged brides and grooms rush to their doors wanting to start the planning process right around this time. Keep this in mind if you're one of the lucky ones to get a ring put on your finger on Cupid's holiday! 

The first step, after showing off the bling, is to start interviewing wedding coordinators. We are the glue that will hold your day together and the best friend to be with you every step of the way. Whether you're looking to walk down the aisle before the next Valentine's Day, or you want to take your time and explore your options, the wedding planner is the first person you call. We'll be able to talk to you about your vision and really guide you to the right venue and the right vendors. 

Don't bask in the shine of that pretty new ring too long though, because those vendors that are on the top of your list, will be on the top of someone else's that got proposed to today! Brides and grooms that are able to secure their number one choice of vendor in each category will always find the wedding planning process less stressful than others who wait.

So Happy Valentine's Day to all of those couples out there! Make sure your first phone call is to us so we can get started on planning that special day!

B is for Beautiful

Once the date is picked, many brides vow to lose weight and start taking care of themselves. Whether it's a new gym membership, trips to the spa once a month, or getting that makeover from your stylist, every bride is different. We asked some of our brides what their beauty regime is leading up to the big day.

Many of our brides said that looking amazing in their gown was their number one priority. A few even hired a personal trainer. Since many of our ladies reside in the very cold state of New Jersey, they don't get that outside running time anymore. Because of this, many have picked up some work out gear for their house. Two of our brides said they are even looking into hiring a nutritionist to switch up their diet.

Of course, as the big day gets even closer, the beauty regime steps up. This can be anything from piling on the spray tans, religiously taking your make up off at night, and deep conditioning your lovely locks. 

What about you? What are you doing to look picture perfect for that big day? Do you have any secrets you want to share with other brides? Tell us right here!

 

Cirque de Wedding

It's amazing how inspiration can strike. A bride says the word "carnival" and instantly, we're thinking about how to make it work. Brides with this theme in mind, typically want to incorporate the outdoors, which means bringing in some tents. Instead of just having your basic white tent, why not take it up a notch, and have a full on carnival!

If you're tenting different areas for your cocktail hour and then reception, save the carnival tent for the reception to really "wow" your guests. But don't stop there! 

This is a great time to hire performers. Whether you bring animals onto the property, or have someone breathing fire, a circus theme allows for these performers to be there without stealing your show. Food trucks, a big trend right now, are also perfect for this type of event. Who doesn't love a little late night funnel cake and cotton candy?

What do you think? Is the circus right for your wedding or next big event? Tell us how you would really kick it up a notch!

Christmas Lights: Not Just for Santa Anymore

Lighting is one of the key components of any major event, and there is no end to what is now possible. Whether you want stars on the ceiling, or every wall to be washed in pink, anything can happen.

A major trend is using Christmas lights year round. We used to see them for weddings around the holidays, to add a little extra magic to the air. Now, we see them outside, wrapped around oak trees and twinkling during the summer nights.

One of the best parts of using Christmas lights is the versatility. You can use big white bulbs strung across the outside dancefloor, or tiny blue lights to cool off your reception room. There is really nothing "Christmas" anymore about these lights, and it's an affordable way to add a little sparkle. We've even used white lights inside hanging mason jars to give that "lighting bug in a jar" look to a fall wedding on a farm. No matter your location, venue hall or bed and breakfast, Christmas lights are a great way to add to your event.

What is the most creative way you've seen these lights used?