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10 classic and romantic First Dance Songs

4/20/2018

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The first dance....it's such a beautiful part of a wedding reception and a special moment for the newly married couple. It can also make many brides and grooms incredibly nervous! If you're not used to dancing in front of people it can be a little scary. It's important to have a great song to dance to that you and your spouse love and one that will put you at ease the minute you step on the dance floor.
Here (in no particular order) are 10 classic and romantic first dance songs that will make this part of your wedding planning as easy as 1,2, 3!
  1. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
  2. Everything  - Michael Buble
  3. All of Me  - John Legend
  4. A Thousan Years - Christina Perri
  5. At Last - Etta James
  6. Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
  7. My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
  8. The Way You Look Tonight -  Frank Sinatra
  9. Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
  10. Make You Feel My Love - Adele
What other songs would you add to the list?  For more great tips read our blogs and follow us on Instagram and Pinterest! 
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What To Expect During Our Initial Consultation

4/13/2018

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Image by www.pexels.com
The first step in booking our event planning, design and/or coordination services involves an initial consultation which can be done over the phone, in person or with the use of technology these days - Skype or FaceTime.  All methods work well and we try to make it as easy as possible by being accessible in a variety of ways.
​An initial consultation can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. The more questions you ask or the more details we cover the longer the consultation will be.  Schedule a phone consultation when you know you have at least 30 minutes without any distractions so that we can make the most of our time without interruptions. 
If you are not sure you need an Event Planner or just want to clarify what we offer and how we can help you, a consultation is a great way to get all your questions answered so you can make an informed decision.  
To serve our clients the best we can, we need to get to know more about you, your event and how we can be the most beneficial to you. A consultation not only helps us understand what you need but it also allows us to get to know more about each other which will determine if we are good fit to partner together. ​
Here are some things you should do prior to our call or meeting.
  1. ​Review our website, About page and list of services we offer. 
  2. Follow us on social media to see tips, ideas and images of other events and weddings.
  3. Write down questions you want to ask about our services, pricing and/or packages.
  4. Determine what your event or wedding budget is. Additionally, for weddings, what you are willing to spend on wedding planning/design/coordination services.
  5. Create a Pinterest board about your event or wedding and start saving images you see that you would like to re-create. Determine a color scheme, theme, and/or what the style of your event will be.
  6. Gather information about any event/wedding details you have already secured such as your venue, event vendors or any other details​.
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Image by www.pexels.com
Here are some things we will go over together during our call or meeting.
  1. What type of event you are planning (meeting, fundraiser, wedding, etc)
  2. Details and logistics - the date of your event, time, location and number of guests, 
  3. The theme, style or vision you have for your event.
  4. The purpose of your event (if not a wedding) and what feeling you want your guests to have during the event.  What is the outcome you hope to achieve.
  5. What services you are looking for that we can provide. (What services are most needed and would be the most beneficial to you.)
  6. Personal questions about you, your background, where you live, etc. If you are planning a wedding, we will also ask how you and your fiance met, when you got engaged and how he or she proposed!
  7. Also if you are planning a wedding, we may ask about your families, parents and people closest to you. We'll discuss details about your wedding party and who will be most involved in the planning process. (Your, your fiance, your parents, etc).
  8. What is the event or wedding budget. We will discuss all event services and prices so you have a clear understanding of what we can offer. We will then discuss your budget and how much you are able to spend on these services. You can estimate if you are not sure exactly how much you can spend. It helps to have a number you are comfortable with in mind.
Towards the end of the conversation we will summarize what we discussed to make sure we have all the details correct. If at that point you are interested in a proposal we'll take all the information you gave us and write a formal proposal to send you to review. 

There is no obligation after our initial consultation to book our services (but we hope you do)! We are happy to talk with you and answer any questions you have!
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Schedule your FREE initial consultation here and let's get started! 
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5 Fun and Easy Baby Shower Games Your Guests Can Do While Sitting Down!

4/11/2018

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Image provided by www.pexels.com
Not a fan of baby shower games? Are you planning a baby shower for a friend or relative and need some fresh ideas? Here are 5 fun baby shower games that anyone can do (and enjoy),  without having to leave their dessert!
1.  Baby Books Emoji Pictionary - Guests try to figure out the title of children's books using only the emojis on the card.  Get these cute  Baby Books Emoji Pictionary cards from Zazzle.
Baby Books Emoji Pictionary Game Gold Baby Shower Card
Baby Books Emoji Pictionary Game Gold Baby Shower Card
by PaperPassionDesigns
2.  Baby Word Scramble - Guests have 5 minutes to unscramble words. The person with the most correct words wins! Get this Sweet Blue & Gray Elephant Word Game Notepad from Zazzle. 
Sweet Blue & Gray Elephant Baby Shower Word Game Notepad
Sweet Blue & Gray Elephant Baby Shower Word Game Notepad
by DesignsbyDonnaSiggy
3.  Price is Right - Guests fill in the dollar amount for each item listed. The total of all items is then added up. The guest with the closest number to the actual cost wins! Get these adorable Woodland Fall/Winter Baby Shower Price Game Cards from Zazzle.
Woodland Fall / Winter Baby Shower Price Game Card
Woodland Fall / Winter Baby Shower Price Game Card
by PrettyInviting
4.  Baby Bingo - Guests fill in items they think mommy-to-be will receive. As gifts are opened items are checked off. The first guest who gets 5 in a row wins! Get these beautiful and elegant Cream White Rose Floral Baby Bingo Cards from Zazzle.
Cream White Rose Floral Baby Shower Bingo Game Card
Cream White Rose Floral Baby Shower Bingo Game Card
by CardHunter
5.  Name That Baby Food - Guests use sight, smell and taste to identify a variety of baby foods. The person with the most correct answers wins! Get these Little Man Baby Food Game Cards from Zazzle. 
Little Man Baby Shower Game, Baby Food, Diaper Flyer
Little Man Baby Shower Game, Baby Food, Diaper Flyer
by DeReimerDeSign
Did you know Gatherings for Good plans, designs and coordinates baby showers, bridal showers, engagement parties, birthdays and many other social  events? Contact us today to get started planning your next event! 
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Common Wedding Terms You'll Hear When Planning Your Wedding

4/5/2018

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Going into a planning meeting with a wedding vendor can be a little overwhelming and confusing if you don't know some of the lingo! If you're pondering over the difference between an "Arch and an "Arbor or have no clue what a "First Look" is, don't worry! We're here to help you figure it all out! Here are a few terms you will most likely hear during the wedding planning process!
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Aisle Marker - Decorations used to "mark" or define the aisle the wedding party walks down. Hanging floral baskets or herbs from each chair, floral chair ties, wood or iron lanterns, paper cones filled with confetti, beautiful greenery, soft fabric, mason jars and pedestal flower arrangements are all common types of aisle markers that add beauty and style to your ceremony space. They can be simple or elaborate depending on your taste and budget.
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Arbor - A structure that serves as a shelter for the wedding couple to stand under during an outdoor ceremony. Arbors can come in different shapes and sizes. They are typically made up of a variety of materials such as twigs, branches, vines and/or flowers and is where the couple exchanges their wedding vows.
Arch - Typically arches are rounded structures used in outdoor wedding ceremonies that serve as a focal point. Most commonly arches are made of wood, plastic or wrought iron and are often decorated with fabric and/or flowers. The couple can choose to stand underneath or directly in front of an arch during their ceremony.
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BEO - A BEO or Banquet Event Order,  is a document created by the wedding caterer or venue outlining the details of your wedding including your menu, guest count, time of your event and room set up that staff members follow in order to execute all logistics correctly.

Corkage Fee - The amount charged by a restaurant or venue to open each bottle of wine or liquor brought in and bought elsewhere to serve at your event.
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First Look -  An intimate moment arranged by a photographer before a wedding ceremony for the two spouses to see each other. Typically a location is determined and agreed upon beforehand. The couple is brought to the location separately where their surprised and authentic reactions to seeing each other for the first time are captured in photos.

Passed - Referring to food or beverages that are tray "passed" during the cocktail hour portion of a wedding reception.
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Pin Spot - Pertaining to lighting, it is a focused beam of light that shines directly onto an object such as a centerpiece or cake to draw attention.

Prelude - Referring to music that is played before the wedding ceremony by live musicians or a DJ as guests arrive and take their seats. Prelude music is the first thing they hear upon arriving at the venue and sets the tone for the wedding ceremony.

Processional - The music that is played to signal the start of the wedding ceremony to which the wedding party, family members and bride and/or groom walk to.
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Recessional - The music that is played at the end of the wedding ceremony that the couple exits to after the pronouncement of marriage. 

Room Flip - Changing the ceremony space into the reception space. This is often done at a venue where you are using one space for the entire day. The venue staff typically will re-set or "flip" the room once the ceremony is complete during the cocktail hour while guests are away.  When they return, the space has been transformed for the reception to take place.

Seating Chart -  A way to display to your guests which table they are assigned to. This is often used in lieu of escort cards. Seating charts are best placed in the front entrance of the reception venue for guests to view upon arriving and can be an additional part of your wedding decor. 

Tablescape - The artistic style, design and arrangement of table top items and how they work together cohesively to enhance a space such as your dinner tables, cake or dessert tables, gift table, and head table for a wedding reception.
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Venue Coordinator - An employee at a wedding venue that assists the couple with details pertaining to securing the venue for their wedding date, contract negotiations and all services provided by the venue. They are responsible for delivering their contracted services when it comes to the use of the venue and ensuring the couple follows the venue's rules and guidelines. In some cases food, beverages and rental items can be arranged through the Venue Coordinator depending on the venue and what they offer.

A Venue Coordinator is different from a Wedding Coordinator.  A Venue Coordinator typically is not involved in any of the planning details other than what comes with the use of their facility. A Wedding Coordinator handles all of the couple's planning needs from the start which can include wedding design, layout creation coordinating rental needs, vendor procurement, wedding day timeline creation, rehearsal coordination as well as provide the couple with  invaluable expertise, guidance and support throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. 

No matter where you are in your wedding planning stages, Gatherings for Good can help! Visit our weddings page and email us today and see all the ways we can help you create the wedding you always dreamed of!
All photos provided by www.pexels.com
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    Image: Kacie Jean Phototography

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    Brenda Cali is a professionally trained Wedding Consultant and plans a variety of social and corporate events.

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  • About
  • Services
    • Parties, Non-Profit & Corporate Events
    • Wedding Packages >
      • Wedding FAQ
    • Elopements, Vow Renewals & Micro Weddings
    • Memorial Services & Celebration of Life
  • XOXO
  • Blog
  • Styled
  • Contact