The Bridal Expo Cornwall 2009

The Bridal Expo is a unique concept in Cornwall. The show is geared at the modern bride; but who is the "modern bride" anyway?

Well... here are a few tips for recognizing her: The modern bride is the bride who is taking control of her wedding (instead of handing the reigns over to her mother or mother-in-law); the modern bride is a do-it-yourselfer and has her hands in at least one creative project for her wedding; the modern bride is budget-conscious because she works and she's contributing a big chunk of her own money into her wedding; and the modern bride doesn't have time to mess around - she wants the best of everything she can afford and she has little time to find it all.

Do any of these descriptions sound like you?

This show is geared at helping brides set a path for their wedding to create the best possible event that they can with the resources at their disposal. The show boasts a roster of the Cornwall's top wedding vendors who you can interview and book at your leisure (this will cut back on much of the research time you would have spent on your wedding). But this isn't where the show is unique - the show is truly unique in it's presentations and seminars. This is where you'll have a chance to learn a bit of DIY info to really put you in the best possible shape to take on the planning ahead.

So keep your calendar open for Sunday, November 8 and ask a friend to keep her day free as well (or hey, you could take your fiance). Doors open at 12-noon.

For more information check out The Bridal Expo Website and Register today!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Rental Calculator

Okay... so this is going to seem like a plug but it's really not meant to be.

I'm often asked to calculate the cost of rentals that a couple will need for their wedding; here's a little tip to help you determine how much you should budget for your rental needs. To start off, your wedding venue is going to be a big factor in determining what you need. First, look at what the venue has for your use. Does it have tables? chairs? linen? dishes and flatware? Does it have a podium? a mic? etc. etc.

If you're trying to save money do your best to make use of the items that come with the space. Once you know what you do have it's time start figuring out what you'll have to rent. When it comes to figuring out the cost for everything I often go to the Cody Party Centre website (see... that's where the "plug" comes in). Now, I don't necessarily always use Cody for rentals but the prices they have posted are comparable to other rental companies (although you can get some items for less if you shop around a bit).

The reason I automatically go to the Cody website is because they have a great calculator that you can use to tally up your costs quickly. Simply enter in the units you'll need for each item and click "Add to Rental Cart" at the bottom. Regardless of whether or not you're placing your order with Cody you have a quick tabulation that you can plug into your budget as a guideline.

To calculate your rental items click here to navigate to the Cody Party Centre website. Then click on Party Rentals or Linen Rentals on the left-hand side of the screen.

Cheers!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Now THAT'S a Dance Party!

Why doesn't anything like this ever happen to me when I'm at the train station?!



Happy Friday!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Learning "Creative"

I, like most people, developed the belief at some point that "being creative" is a gift that some people have and others don't. I associated creativity with being artistic - being able to paint, draw, or create beautiful things. There are tons of creative people in the wedding industry; just as there are in interior design and in fashion.

I've recently changed the way I look at creativity thanks to the book Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko. The book was written based on the premise that creativity is a skill, and that, like any other skill, it can be learned, developed, and perfected. This book is full of practical techniques that can be used to exercise your own creativity.

I highly recommend this book for anyone working in a creative industry and I recommend it even more highly to anyone who doesn't work in a creative industry. When it comes right down to it, creativity is an ability to generate ideas. The more ideas one can generate in a short amount of time the more creative one could be said to be. What line of work is free from problems that need solving? None. And problems are solved by creative thinkers - the people with the ideas.

Check out some of the Thinkertoys' Tips to Become an Idea Person and start your creative workout!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Seth Godin's blog is one of my favourites to read. Seth is witty, to the point, and he has a marvelous gift for explaining things that, in the end, appear to be simple common sense. I often find myelf nodding at my computer as I read thinking, "Well, yeah... obviously!".

I love the blog primarily for the wonderful business and marketting advice that it shares; however, many of Seth's "rants" (many of his posts take this form) turn out to be wonderful life lessons too. His recent post titled "Winning on the uphills" is one of my favourites to date. Definetly worth a read.

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Bye Bye Chair Covers

Remember the puffy-sleeved dresses of the '80s? Well in case you've forgotten, here's a reminder:

Yikes!

Well, thankfully, those days are long gone. However, just as the puffy sleeve became more tailored and fitting and, in many cases, disappeared completely, so too the chair covers with the big puffy sashes will eventually bow out. See any resemblance?
In 2010 we'll be seeing a lot more sleek spandex covers when covers are used at all. It's all about clean, sleek, and well-tailored.

We can't completely do away with chairs the way we have with sleeves and straps but we can make them "disappear" so as to expose the beauty underneath! I mean, really, if you're going to invest time and money into creating a beautiful table setting with gorgeous linens and dazzling centerpieces why on earth would you want to hide it all behind a big puffy chair?!

In the coming years we'll see a lot less emphasis on chairs and more emphasis on the table itself. But how do you make the chair disappear? Well, here are a couple of ideas:


Chiavari - The Spaghetti Strap:

The barely-there chair that adds a touch of beauty and elegance without taking anything away.


Chiavari's can be decorated with a little cap, some ribbon, or other pieces of subtle fabric or florals so that you don't lose the beauty of the chair (or the table) underneath. When this is done right, it adds a simple touch of elegance or fun and doesn't hide or deter from the overall look.



Acrylic - The Strapless Gown:

This is the closest you'll get to making your chairs disappear completely (for now, anyway). These clear acrylic chairs really allow you to show off the full beauty of the tables underneath and the overall effect is dazzling!

How will you make your chairs fit?

Cheers!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Unique Engagement Rings

If you type "engagement ring" into Google you're going to wind up with hundreds of pages containing image after image of beautiful diamond rings. But maybe you're not a diamond-kinda-girl? Maybe you're looking for something special? Something unique? Something a little more... you?

If that's the case, I've got just the thing to get you started! I've selected a handful of beautiful engagement rings that are absolutely stunning but that contain something other than clear white diamonds as their focal point.

I love these pearl engagement rings.

Another great option is to go with a coloured diamond or a different precious gem (the black diamonds are really stunning!).

These wooden engagement rings are my new favourite find! They are absolutely beautiful and, if you go about it the right way, they would serve as an appropriate eco-friendly touch as well.

Okay, this one is a bit of a cheater because it does have a diamond in it... but it's still very unique!

These rings are fabulous! The man's ring has a piece of wood where the gem would traditionally be placed.

Hope that gets the wheels turning! Now go out there and find your perfect ring!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination