Thursday, March 29, 2012

Wedding Vendors: Tipping Cheat Sheet

I hear the question all the time, “Should I tip my vendors”? My answer is yes and then sometimes I say, well it all depends.   

I know your pockets are already getting a little light after having to dig deep for so many other wedding expenses, so the thought of shelling out gratuities on top of that can be a tad daunting and a little tricky.  Well don’t worry because unless the contract with said vendor is specific about including it, you otherwise are not obligated.

However, please note that some vendors will be expecting gratuity; this is when you have to consider everything on a case-by-case situation. There are some general rules of thumb like: Don’t tip business owners. You should only tip their employees but if the service is beyond exceptional then please tip the owner; so I say always tip vendors whose service exceeds your expectations; always send thank-you notes, they are much appreciated as your words can be a recommendation for the vendor; tips are usually handed out the day of the wedding, and since it’s your wedding day you shouldn’t have to worry about money, so assign a trusted person with the responsibility of tipping your vendors, such as your wedding planner, best man, maid of honor, or a parent.

Provided is a cheat sheet, so read on.





Happy Planning
De’Vonda J. Manning
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tip Tuesday: How To Create the Smokey Eye

Creating a smoky eye has often times been considered one those sophisticated, amazing makeup techniques only the pros knew how to do. But once you break down the process it’s not that hard.

Smokey Eyes has been a popular style for quite some time and there no sign this trend is dying. Below we show you step-by-step instruction on how to get the perfect smokey eye. The key is…PROPER BLENDING. You want to make sure colors are blended together perfectly.  It’s also important to pair light base colors with rich dark colors.



Step-by-Step:
1. Prepare your face: Put on moisturizer and any foundation; apply concealer on your eyelids to prime them; add blush.

2. Start with the base shadow: Cover your lid and the crease with a medium shade.

3. Add a darker layer: Work the shadow in the upper third of the lid, starting at the outside.

4. Add the darkest layer: Using a contour brush, work the darkest color into the crease, making a "V" around the outside corner.

5. Finish with the highlighter: Sweep on the brow bone and the inner corners of the eye.

6. Apply eyeliner: Apply along the top edge of the upper lash line and bottom edge of lower lash line. 

7. Soften: Use a contour brush to soften the eyeliner, and a sponge or cotton swab to clean up any stray marks

9. Finish: Curl lashes, add mascara and any lip color.



INSIDER TIPS:
You can make a smoky eye with any color family. The secret is to go from lighter to darker shadow as you go from lid's lower edge to crease.

Keep you lips nude. When applying strong makeup (like smokey eyes or red lips) put the focus on either eyes or lips, never both.
Liner doesn’t always have to come in pencil form.  Professional Makeup Artist know eyeshadows make some of the best eyeliners. To achieve this, take an eyeliner brush, wet it, then day wet brush into the dark shadow. This allows for a deep precise line. You can also use the dark shadows without wetting brush first. Either way, eyeliner is necessary for smokey eye.

Get the Look: Build a bold, smoky eye with CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 3 Kit Shadow in Dazzling Metallics or get more personalized suggestions with Style360


Happy Planning
De’Vonda J. Manning
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Monday, March 26, 2012

Come Visit Us this Weekend!

Simply Lavish Weddings & Events will be at the always exciting Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show at Marriott Crabtree Valley this weekend, Sunday April 1st at 1 pm -4:30 pm.
This will be PWG first bridal show of the year.

Was Santa good to you on Christmas? Did you bring in the New Year, saying Happy New Year!! & Yes, I’ll Marry You? Or, did your special someone propose to you on Valentine's Day? Well, stop on by our booth and let us celebrate with you!! Our booth and books are filled with wedding inspiration for you brides-to-be and not to mention SLWE is looking forward to meeting you!

We will have a Door Prize Drawing for a gift with a ($55 value) and if you book services with us on that day, then you will receive a 10% bridal show discount.



Will You Be the Next Simply Lavish bride?

Please stop by, say hi, and let us help you plan your dream day!  See you this weekend!

Happy Planning
De’Vonda J. Manning
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Perfect Wedding Linen

Linens! Linens!  I must say it is my favorite detail while planning events.  I love the process of dressing up the tables & chairs. 
You first need to understand that your wedding décor speaks volumes about who you are. It is suppose to reflect your personality, your style, and will set the tone for your event. What I love is that the use of linen adds color to an otherwise boring event space; it can also add texture and depth to your tables.

The different categories to consider when choosing linen are: table cloths, table runners, table overlays, napkins, chair covers, chair pads, chair ties, chair bands, and chair caps. There are so many styles to choose from, like pintuck, lamour, Bengaline, damask, classic (least expensive), crinkle, chiffon, and stripe, just to name a few. In order to gain ideas, I say look through magazines, go to fabric stores, look through pantone colors, search online, and of course visit linen rental companies and browse their showrooms. 

If you live in the Triangle, NC (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and surrounding areas), then some great sources for high-quality linens are Classic Party Rentals, Party Reflections, CE Rentals.

Some of my online favorites from afar that I've used:  BBj Linen, Wildflower Linen, and Cloth Connection. Take a look at these tables and be inspired.

ENJOY THE VIEW!

Linens by Classic Party Rentals


Lines by Party Reflections


Linens by CE Rentals







Linens by Wildflower Linens


Linens by Cloth Connection
 


Linens by BBj Linen
 
Happy Planning
De’Vonda J. Manning
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