The First Dance | Despina Craig Events

Your First Dance as Mr. & Mrs. | Despina Craig Events

One of the first things you get to do as husband and wife is celebrate your relationship and special day with a couple's dance. From choosing a song to perfecting your moves, the first dance can be quite the process in itself. However, it is important to put time and effort into arranging this part of your wedding, as it is something you and many of your guests will remember forever!

Choosing a Song

Naturally, it may not be easy to automatically agree on the song you do your first dance to. Although it is easy to recognize all the differences between you and your partner's song preferences, look for commonalities. Do you share a like for a certain artist, genre, or style? What is a song that can represent your journey and relationship as a couple?

These are good questions to ask yourselves when choosing a first dance song. The most important thing to remember is that the song should be memorable and make you both happy. This could include a fun, upbeat song and dance, or a traditional, romantic, classic song and slow dance. There is no "right" way to go when it comes to this!

The Moves

Depending on your preferences, you may feel the need to have some type of choreography prepared for your first dance. Dance classes can be a fun and useful activity to do with your partner as part of planning the wedding. Although this is a possibility to consider, do not feel obligated to take dance classes or know your moves prior to your special day. Some couples may simply choose a song, and dance on the spot to it. When your song is more of a classic and entails typical slow dancing with your partner, dance classes may be unnecessary. If you select an untraditional tune that is better paired with specific movements or choreography, dance classes or practices prior to the event are not a bad idea.

Kick off your journey as newly weds in a positive and memorable way by customizing and perfecting your first dance!

Customization | Despina Craig Events

Customize Your Special Day | Despina Craig Events

Although coordinating and arranging those tiny details stresses you out the most, it is what makes your event unique and special. The sky is the limit when it comes to customization for your wedding or special event; you can customize pretty much anything imaginable!

Coasters

Beverages are a big part of every wedding. From the bar to simple refreshments, almost every guest has a glass in hand. Coasters are a great detail to customize that both you and your guests will appreciate. Above is a customized laser cut coaster made of natural cork. 

TIP: If you have a wedding hashtag, a coaster may be a great spot to place it! See more on wedding hashtags at http://despinacraigevents.blogspot.com/2015/08/chooseyourweddinghashtag-despina-craig.html 

Cake Toppers

A customized cake topper draws all the right type of attention. What better way to celebrate the new 

Mr. & Mrs. than with a 3D mini version of them at the top of the cake? A customized cake topper contributes to making your day, event, and celebration that much more unique and memorable.

  

Cufflinks

Customize the cufflinks of the groom and his side of the wedding party! This may seem like an extremely minor thing to pay attention to. However, cufflinks are often visible to guests at the event as well as in photographs of the event. Photographs are one of the only ways you can relive your special day and remember specific moments forever. If cufflinks are going to be any sort of a distraction in a photograph, assure they are drawing attention in a positive way by customizing them! 

These are just a few examples of customization for a wedding or special event. See more ideas and possibilities at https://www.43layers.com  ! 

#ChooseYourWeddingHashtag | Despina Craig Events

#WeddingHashtags | Despina Craig Events

With social media rising like it is today, a hashtag (#) for a wedding or special event is a great idea!

How To Choose One
This is your day. Your wedding hashtag can and should be whatever pleases you. It is not a bad idea to come up with something funny or clever. These types of hashtags tend to stick with people, and may encourage guests to use it more. However, do not feel obligated to create something that is clever or humorous. Something simple or specific can also encourage guests to use to hashtag frequently.

Considering that hashtags are now used on almost every form of social media, the problem may arise that your desired hashtag is already taken.
TIP: If your hashtag is already taken, try adding something unique (that is also relevant to your event) to it. A date, location, or anything else specific at the end of the hashtag will make it more unique. Ex: #MrandMrsSmith could be transformed to #MrandMrsSmithSF or #MrandMrsSmith2014

How To Encourage Guests To Use Your Hashtag
Although your guests may appreciate your hashtag or find it charming or clever, that does not necessarily mean they will use it. Some may forget about it when posting photos, so it is a good idea to remind them about it in a variety of ways. You can place your wedding hashtag anywhere! This could include table stationary, near food or refreshment areas, or near entrances and exits. Find a way to place your hashtag near anything that might be photographed!

TIP: Photo booths are a lot of fun at weddings, and a great way to advertise your hashtag! Your hashtag can be on props and, as seen below, on the printed photos that guests get to take home!

Why Create a Wedding Hashtag?

A simple hashtag is more useful and powerful than one might imagine. Once a hashtag is formed, anyone who sees it on any form of social media can click on it, and every photo with that hashtag will then appear. If a lot of guests use the hashtag, it will be a great way to see a large amount of photos from your special day all at once. In this way, hashtags create albums of photos from your special day! A wedding or special event hashtag is a great way to see and capture pictures, but more importantly- moments, that a hired photographer may not have captured.

The Five Senses | Despina Craig Events

 THE MAGIC IS IN THE DETAILS & COMES FROM APPEALING TO ALL THE SENSES!

Your very own five senses can guide you in forming and customizing the perfect special event. If anyone needs a reminder, these five senses include the following:

SEE | HEAR| SMELL|TASTE |FEEL

Vision:

What do you desire for your guests to see? How do you envision your wedding (or alternate special gathering)? Everyone can agree that how the venue looks is very important to most hosts and guests. From choosing the venue, to customizing the lighting, to desired minor details and unique decor- make sure that you and your guests have a pleasant visual experience. 

TIP: Enhance the visual experience through details such as the proper floral arrangements, notable lighting, or even unique cake toppers as shown below! See more on lighting at Lighten Up! , and more on unique cake toppers at Buzzfeed.com. 

Hearing:

What do you want to hear on your special day? What do you want your guests to hear? This most commonly refers to music. Music has the ability to influence our moods and emotions; use this to your advantage! 

Smell:

What scent(s) do you want to fill your venue? Smell can be easily forgotten, but is very important. Anything too strong or unpleasant can negatively affect your guests' experiences at your event. Be selective when choosing specific scents or items with bold scents for your venue. 

TIP: Candles can be an elegant and romantic addition to your special event, and, of course, positively contribute to the aroma!

Tasting:

What do you want your guests to eat? Do you have a particular meal that will enhance your special day? Even if food is not at the top of your priority list, feed yourself and your guests well! No one has a fun time on an empty stomach. Amazing food choices can make your event very memorable for your guests. 

Feeling:

How do you want your guests to feel? This sense has two parts within it: physical feeling and emotional or internal feeling. Physical feeling can involve specific texture and fabric choices for your event (see intricate table cloth below). This sounds like minor detailing, which it may be, but that does not change its importance. Concrete and physical memories can be very influential to someone. As for emotional feelings, the other four senses very much determine this one. If you customize what your guests see, hear, smell, and taste- you can assume that they will feel great at your special event! 

Use your five senses to your advantage when planning your special event. You and your guests can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel whatever and however you desire!

Lighten Up | Despina Craig Events

Lighten Up!

Weddings include investments in many things- some essential, and some just desired. One might debate which category Lighting falls into, and this post is to clarify: Lighting is an essential investment when it comes to special events! By investing in quality lighting for a wedding (or any special event), the bride and groom have complete control over their special day. Lighting can dramatically influence how the venue looks, the atmosphere of the event, and even the mood of the hosts and guests. Learn how to brighten up your event!

Color: 
A venue can be drastically transformed through a tinted glow, or even multiple tinted glows. Colors can enhance, hide, or completely change various parts of the room as well as the items or people in it. 

These photos, courtesy of Hartmann Studios, exemplify Amber Glow. The different shades of amber accented throughout these venues have created an elegant and joyful atmosphere. 

TIP: An Amber Glow is also known for enhancing how guests look as well!

Uplighting:
      Uplighting is a technique that can control how the dimensions of a room appear by dramatically projecting light that begins at the bottom and aims upward. The combination of uplighting with the right colors, textures, and structures can be very powerful.

Various forms of uplighting exemplified by Luminous Designs (top) and Augie Chang Photography (bottom).

Patterns:

     Proper lighting has the ability to project specific patterns on walls, floors, ceilings, or other surfaces in a venue. This is referred to as Pattern Wash. This can make a plain surface far more complex and interesting, as well as draw peoples’ attention to certain spots of a room. This same idea is available through Monogram Logo Projection, where a specific icon, name, or logo can be projected onto the desired surface.

In the photo on the top, the dance floor is beautifully highlighted thanks to a classy and notable pattern being projected through lighting. On the bottom you’ll see a hotel’s logo being projected on their rooftop restaurant for all guests and customers to see.

Accent Lighting: Pin Spotting

It’s all in the name! Pin spotting can accent very specific parts of a venue, from seating cards, to small pieces of décor. Pin spotting will draw all eyes on your wedding cake, impressive centerpieces, or anything else you might desire!

     The difference is astonishing between a centerpiece with and without pin spotting! Pin spotting is an important form of lighting because if a bride, groom, or any special events host wants to invest in detail oriented items, he or she needs to invest in lighting as well in order for these details to be recognized and appreciated.  (Photo on the left: SEK Wedding Lighting)

Many brides feel their wedding cake is a very important part of their special day. If that is you, make sure to enhance and draw attention to your fabulous cake through pin spotting or some sort of accent lighting!

So now- you know! Lighting should not be considered optional for your special day. Although it can be a big investment, lighting is a vital component in customizing your event. These tips and ideas will aid in creating the perfect atmosphere for your special event!

TIP: See opportunities for uplighting rentals at www.rentuplights.com. (Nationwide service!)

Do's & Don'ts of Wedding Planning | Despina Craig Events

DON’T’S…

TRADITIONS

• DON’T follow tradition just because you feel obligated. Create something personalized and magical. It’s your day, your event, your style. There are no rules!

TRENDS

• DON’T follow trends unless something resonates with you, try to express your uniqueness as a couple and incorporate that personal distinctive style into your wedding. Your Wedding should be a reflection of you! 

CASH BAR

• DON’T ever have a cash bar – that is a major no-no. If funds are an issue, than serve only beer and wine and incorporate one or two signature cocktails. 

SPEECHES

•  DON’T let your wedding become an open mic night. It is important to determine who is making speeches in advance and suggests a time limit for their toasts. Five minutes is a good rule of thumb to follow. Your guests will thank you!

NEW WEDDING SHOES

•  DON’T wear brand new shoes on your wedding day. The last thing you want is for your feet to be sore, achy and uncomfortable. Break them in; wear them around the house for a few days. 

EATING

• DON’T forget to eat throughout the day. It can be easy to forget with all the excitement. Having some snacks close by will ensure that the bridal party has enough energy to make it to the last dance.

SOMETHING GOING WRONG

• DON’T worry about the small stuff! Something will almost always not go as exactly planned, so be prepared. Whatever it is, you will look back on it and laugh, so enjoy this special time, no one will notice.

DO’s...

TRADITIONS

•  DO bring in new and existing traditions that are meaningful and important to you and your family. These traditions define who you are, and incorporating them into your wedding is significant in expressing you as a couple on your wedding day.

VENDORS

• DO advise your vendors in writing about what you do and don’t want at your wedding. For example, provide a “A do not play list” to your DJ or Band and “A must take list” for your photographer.

WEDDING CONTACT LIST

• DO create a contact list of all your vendor /service providers to have at the wedding and delegate someone to oversee the list in-case of an emergency.

WEDDING DAY EMERGENCY KIT

•  DO put together a wedding day emergency kit. View list here-> DIY The Brides Emergency Kit 

WEDDING PLANNER

• DO build into your budget and hire a trained full-service wedding planner or at the very least secure the “The Month of Wedding Service”.  There is a wealth of information online today on how to plan a wedding but until you actually do it, you will be surprised at the amount of work and details that are involved and it can be overwhelming. Your wedding day is one of the most important days that you will remember for the rest of your life. Hiring a wedding planner that will oversee all the details and make sure your event is executed flawlessly, will leave you stress free while you enjoy this magical and memorable day. 

Tip: Client connection must be present, you must completely like and trust your wedding planner.

Junior Prom Event

Junior prom| craneway pavilion

The Craneway Pavilion is a big giant white canvas, this waterfront warehouse located in the historic Ford Assembly Plant. A true "hidden gem"! The open warehouse-like building was the perfect place for the TL Junior Prom Dance which was held in the "Craneway Skyway Center" located on the second floor.

 One hundred and ninety six guests walked the white carpet and stopped to have their picture taken in-front of the step & repeat banner with their prom date or friends, prior to proceeding into the event.

Once the photos were taken, students proceeded down the white carpet and were greeted with a champagne flute glass, filled with lemonade and topped with cotton candy. 

The signature drink called the  "TL Twister" was served with pink or blue cotton candy, once the cotton candy hit the lemonade the color of the drink changed.

We hung large latex balloons from ceiling beams over the dance area, and surrounded the perimeter of the dance floor area with white leather sofas, ottomans, tables and added magenta colored pillows for a pop of color. Each table had battery operated wax candles that illuminated different colors by a remote control

Cocktail tables draped in white satin linen with battery operated votive's and two refreshment lighted stations where setup.

A customized fabric banner sign hung over the appetizer and dessert station.

To add a little personalization the schools logo the "Trojan" was edible and placed on short bread cookies.

To entertain students not dancing an air hockey and pool table was available for their entertainment.

Pink Shutters spacious and modern photo booth dressed in black and white offered props for some fun shots. Photos where printed instantly and accessible online.  A great way for all students to remember this amazing and memorable event.

View video advertisement from Pink Shutters Photo Booth!

The evening look with all the up -lights .

Vendor Credits

Rentals:   Big4PartyRentals, Encore Event Rentals , Hertz Equipment Rentals

Photographer:  Henley Photography

Pink Shutter Photo Booth:Pink Shutter Photo Booth

Transportation:California Wine Tours

Banners: www.stickersbanners.com

Carpet Runner:RugStreet

Location: Craneway Pavilion