I can’t tell you how much I love this video! I’ve only seen it on TV two times. All the other times I’ve asked Anthony to show me on his hand-held…. he’s sick of me.

OMGosh… I can watch this 10x and laugh every single time! The only other time that I thought a commercial was truely funny was in the late 80s - early 90s when Edy’s Ice Cream made that running baby in the walker… remember that?

When people talk about Perfect Settings it almost becomes synonymous with weddings. Weddings are about 60% of our market. The other 40% is normally parties that require more space than just your living room. We host a ton of rehearsal dinners, anniversary parties and milestone birthday parties in addition to showers - both bridal and baby. The Mayor of Columbia is expecting a grand baby…. well they actually had their baby a week ago (if you ask me they had a toddler) at any rate, the Mayor’s wife decided to host her daughter in law’s baby shower here at Perfect Settings. It was such a lovely afternoon and very tastefully done.

The next time you’re looking for more than just your living room space do think of us.

For you brides that are always on the lookout for something cool, amazing and fun…

The following was written by me for the Columbia Register.
So you got through the tears at the drop-off door of Kindergarten. Now you’re wondering what happened to all of those years in between. Your baby is graduating. Having had two children graduate from high school then college, I can relate. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of having a blast for your graduate. This is an amazing time for him when friends, schools and lives will change. He’s really looking forward to it. So do I hear a party is in order? I’m glad you agree.
Parties have come a long way from mini-frankfurters with mortarboard toothpicks in them. Gone are the days of formal sit down meals, as well. Today’s kids are looking for the hip, the great and the wonderful as a way to part from the alma mater.
I belong to a coordinator’s web site where we share ideas, accomplishments (and on occasion frustrations) with each other. These coordinators come from all over the globe. I like to think I rub elbows with some of the most talented and popular coordinators of this nation. What I’ve learned over the last few years is that there are a lot of new trendy ideas out there for graduation parties that seem to come to Lancaster County by horse and buggy. Sometimes the horse and buggy never manages to make it here. For example, did you know you can have custom made fruit roll ups for your graduation party? You can choose the flavor then have an emblem or figure etched into them. Lots of kids have their year and school name cut out of the fruit rollups. There’s also a lot of energy around having food stations. Quesadillas, hot dogs, slushies, mini burgers, popcorn, pizza and cotton candy stations are very popular right now. Kids like fast food done fast. What’s better is that they are making their own meals and all you have to provide are the fixin’s.
Those are the relatively new trends but some of the old ones are still alive: photo stamps of your graduate as a baby or toddler (you place these on the invitations. Yes, they are real U.S. postage stamps.), the all too familiar candy bar station. All of the candy must be in school colors. It wouldn’t be cool any other way. Lastly, the most popular old trend? Chocolate fountains. I can’t tell you how many chocolate fountains I’ve seen in the last 5 years. I’ll be happy when all of those motors die.
Ironically, however, is that kids are always drawn to the least expected items that are the least expensive… a basket of dollar store toys. Glowsticks, leis, Mardi Gras beads, oversized glasses and sunglasses, hats, horns, paper yoyos (sometimes called Chinese yoyos), false teeth, gross false teeth, ostrich feathers, bouncy balls… the sillier the better. They may be graduating from high school but they’re still kids.
If you are thinking you would love to have a party but can’t afford to have some of the popular trends, think about this; have one graduation party for your child in conjunction with some of his best friends. This way you’re killing lots of birds with one stone. Everyone will be there and a joint effort from all of the parents to tackle this party can be done. It doesn’t seem so daunting when there are people that have a common goal accomplishing the task. Be sure to have a meeting of the minds with an agenda. Ask the grads what it is that they want and be sure to validate everyone’s suggestions.
While it seems that a mere RSVP request is straightforward enough, you’ll find that high schoolers are the worst at this simple task. My suggestion would be to have all RSVPs sent to a MySpace or Facebook page or have them texted to you. Kids spend the most time at these places. Why not have them make their time valuable at a familiar place for them? We have to go where kids are most comfortable. That or spend an afternoon calling each and everyone one of the invitees only to get voicemail that is prefaced with four minutes of hip-hop music.
Just remember; the party is not for you. You may have been the one waking him up for the last 12 years for school but in the end it’s his accomplishment and no one can be more proud than your graduate.

Good question! So how many people ARE attending your event? This question comes up before my facility tour. I often try to narrow the questions down over the phone or via email. That way I’m not really wasting a client’s time. They’re on a fact-finding mission and there’s no need to come here if their party is too large or too small. So the conversation normally goes like this:
How many people are you expecting for your event?
175-200 people

Let’s stop there. Really. How many people do you truly know? 200? Seriously? I’ve been in the industry for quite a while. I can tell you that the average person (non-ethnic I should add) has 125 people come to their wedding. That’s on average. When I sign a client and they tell me they have 200 people coming to the wedding/event I normally ask “have you drafted your invitation list yet?” the answer is always “not yet but we know a lot of people” How in the world are you to look at venues if you haven’t put together your invitation list? What if your guest count gets inflated to 225 and your venue can only accommodate 200? What if your list is just 95 and your venue’s minimum is 100 - and on top of that the per plate cost is $100 per person? In either of the situations you have just created yourself a little bit of a problem… Be an informed consumer. Go into the planning process with the notion that you are a savvy consumer that is armed with the proper information to make an informed decision. How would you know otherwise if the venue is a good fit for you? How do you know you are getting value for your money? I’m always amazed at how many people buy on emotion during the planning process and not buy for value.
I often encourage people that call to look around before coming here. I want them really to know that signing at Perfect Settings is really a solid decision based on the fact gathering.

Us Magazine and WeddingChannel.com just announced their yearly Dream Wedding program. They’re looking for engaged couples with inspirational stories. Their reward is a full blown Celebrity Style Wedding… all expenses paid. Sounds good to me.
Pass it on!!

Us Magazine’s give away.

I recently bought a new car after years of denying myself the pleasure.

Tell me that doesn’t look like a Wedding Planner’s car!

The funniest thing happened though…. one of my very best friends bought the same car. Same car, same color, same model, same everything. I knew I liked her.

With all of the hustle and bustle of the season, I think this says it all….

Whenever a best man or maid of honor takes a microphone at the reception to toast the bride and groom… I take a deep breath and hope for the best. Often times wedding planners express the fact that there’s no real way to NOT be friends with some clients. You, therefore, find out the ins and outs of their personal lives.

I have to say, though, that the story below has never happened to me at a wedding… and I’ll pray that it never does…. not matter how true or untrue it is!

Bride sues guest over outburst.

Do take a minute to check this out… it would be good to have a prior conversation, with whomever is doing the toast, that they not be sloshed before taking the mic.

“How do I remember my _____ at the Ceremony?” I’m asked pretty often. I have two thoughts on this… first (and foremost) you don’t want everyone bursting out into tears at the remembrance of your dear aunt Peg that died tragically and secondly, let’s do this tastefully. After all, we’re celebrating a very joyous occasion.
Some of the things that I’ve suggested or have helped with:
placing a red rose where the person would have sat
tying a ribbon around the chair where they would have sat
ringing a bell during the ceremony
adding verbiage to the program telling everyone that you’re missing this person
a picture and candle placed near the sign-in book
a picture in the program
a moment of silence directed by the pastor
taking the bride’s bouquet to the cemetery after the ceremony

Keep the occasion joyous but prioritize what’s important to you.