You are currently browsing the Mike Staff blog archives for February, 2010.
|
Happy Friday! Before all you Detroit Area Brides start your weekend, here’s some wedding humor. This stand-up clip is from Scottish comedian Peter Kay, entitled “Family Weddings.”
Although the whole bit is clever, my favorite starts at 6:40. Check it out…
Does this sound like a wedding you’ve been to?
Want to avoid the cheesy DJ in the clip?
Click here to have a brief meeting with a classy and fun Mike Staff Productions’ DJ.
I was reading through The Knot today, and I found this article under Wedding Budgets. I know all you Detroit Area Brides are looking to save some cash where ever you can, so here is some tips to help..
Reception
1. Cut the guest list. This will slash your catering costs and save on invitations and even the number of centerpieces.
2. Think off-peak season and save thousands!
3. Hold your ceremony and reception in one spot — it will cut travel time for vendors you pay by the hour.
4. Skip the Saturday wedding.
5. Have bigger tables so you need fewer centerpieces and tablecloths.
6. Shop the off-season for extra decor — get modern black vases on sale after Halloween and pretty pink ones after Valentine’s Day.
Flowers
7. Use more greenery than flowers.
8. Swap out costly flowers — did you know peonies can be five times more expensive than roses?
9. Stick to just one or two kinds of flowers.
10. Buy flowers that are in season.
11. Include non-florals, like lanterns.
Food & Drink
12. Serve entree duets.
13. Skip the main course — apps and drinks are fine too.
14. Offer beer, wine, and a signature cocktail instead of a full bar.
15. Serve comfort foods like barbecue chicken, mac and cheese, and corn. It’s fun and often cheaper.
16. Skip the champagne toast.
Cakes
17. Order a small one or two-tiered cake and then supplement cake with a larger sheet cake (hidden back in the kitchen).
18. Keep the add-ons simple.
19. Use fresh flowers, not sugar ones.
20. Reuse ceremony flowers for the cake table.
21. Skip exotic fillings like guava and mango.
Stationery & Favors
22. Get single-page invites to save on postage.
23. Give out one favor per couple.
24. Make your cake the favors.
25. Have favors double as escort cards.
26. Email your save-the-dates.
27. Make your own menu cards, escort cards, and wedding favor packaging.
Photo, Video & Music
28. Have a photographer you love but can’t afford the prices? Ask them if they have a second shooter who will do your wedding for less.
29. Hire a single maned camera team.
30. Hire a DJ who can do both the ceremony and the reception.
Did you know that bundling services is a great way to save money at your wedding?
Click here to learn more about combining award winning services AND saving money!
Looking for a hot song to have your bridal party make their entrance to or add to your “Must Play” List. Check out the #1 song on the charts: “Tik Tok” by Ke$ha.
Love it or hate it, this song will be in your head for the rest of the night.
Want to include your favorite song at your reception?
Click here for a brief meeting to start planning your reception music.
I was talking to a bride today, and she is stressing over what her parents are going to wear. Although fashion isn’t by forte, I do have some insight on the subject.
This is a big day for parents, but it’s not their day. Offer suggestions as to what they wear. They will appreciate your insight. Many Southeast Michigan brides choose colors for the moms that coordinate with the bridesmaids, but don’t match exactly. Have your moms try on classy, elegant, but low-key dresses. This will make her feel comfortable 
and beautiful on your day.
For the dads, having them in the same tuxes or suits as the groomsmen is a great idea. It will look sharp in pictures as well as really make them feel included.
Want more insight about planning the perfect wedding?
Click here for brief meeting to discuss all your wedding plans.
I was emailed this video today, and I just had to share it with all you Southeast Michigan brides. I know it doesn’t have a direct relation to your wedding planning, but I thought you would get a kick out of looking at dresses colored other than white and ivory.
Check it out:
Want to have your guest oooh-ing and ahh-ing at your reception?
Click here for a brief meeting to start your breathtaking planing.
I just wanted to share a great “First Dance” song with you.
“I Just Call You Mine” by Martina McBride. Hopefully this is how you Detroit Area brides are feeling about your man:
Want to start planning your perfect First Dance with your perfect person?
Click here for a brief meeting.
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a N.A.C.E. (National Association of Catering Executives) event last night. It was great to see a lot of our friends who also work in the wedding industry. One of my favorite people, Rachel Cytacki, owner of All Things Creative, was also there and she volunteered to guest blog about what we learned last night about colors, decorations and upcoming trends in the wedding world:
Planning your wedding or any special event can be a huge undertaking for anyone, but if you’re doing it for the firs
t time, just knowing where to start can be a daunting task. I want to share not the trends with you but tips on how to pull your entire event together and great ways to get you started.
The first thing you should do when planning any event is have a theme or color scheme in mind so that when you are visiting venues you will know what works and what won’t. I assisted with a wedding and the bride chose yellow as her main color which was such a brilliant choice because her facility décor was gold and yellow. I’ve also seen an event where the decor of the room was red and gold and the bride chose hot pink and lime green for her wedding colors, it didn’t flow as well. The look and feel of the room will dictate the look and feel of the event. A popular trend right now is choosing a historic site. Typically these facilities have so much character you can cut down on décor, which will in turn save you money.
Most everyone wants their event to feel special and personal. While a monogram is a great way to personalize your event, it has been popular for the past few years. Come up with a new way to personalize your event without getting too carried away. Some great ideas are using a favorite quote, poem, line from a movie or song, and printing them on your invitations, place cards, and table numbers. Another way to add a personal touch would be incorporating family photos through out the room. I saw a wedding, where the bride took a
framed picture of every family member cutting their wedding cake, and placed them on her cake table. It was cool to see all of the different wedding styles.
On to the trends… Colors for this season and next are going to be bold, lots of turquoise, all shades of purple, pinks, and metallics. Black and white is classic, adding a pop of color will make the look fresh and trendy.
Another big trend for this season and next is offering a soft seating area. Creating a lounge space in your reception room near the bar will allow your guests to mingle and enjoy the wedding. You can frame the space with a fabric drapery and add some couches with pillows and end tables; you can decorate the space with pictures, flowers, and 
candles. Most rental company in your area should be able to accommodate your request for a soft seating area.
I hope this has been helpful for you. Remember that you can always call on the experts at Mike Staff Productions or me, Rachel, for help planning your special event. Good luck and happy planning!
Want to start your wedding planning now?
Click here for a brief meeting.
About the Author
Rachel Cytacki has been in the wedding industry for over 12 years. With that time comes a wealth of knowledge and relationships making her and All Things Creative a leading choice for wedding and event planning throughout Michigan. Rachel’s goal is to assist you in planning your event so you can enjoy the day with your family and friends.
Choosing the perfect music for your wedding reception may be harder than you think. You may love techno, but your Grandmother may leave early, shaking her head in she hears drum and bass during dinner. Check out this email I got from a DJ who worked with the bride and groom to compose the perfect music to keep everyone happy at their reception.
“Definitely had a unique situation musically for a wedding I DJ’d recently. The bride and groom requested an odd mix for the cocktail hour. They wanted stuff by - and I quote - “the Cure, the Smiths, Depeche Mode, Echo & the Bunnymen.” 80’s alternative stuff.
Now, personally, this stuff is RIGHT up my alley. However, all of these bands tend to have songs about break-ups, depression, darkness and such; but I did come up with a set list of appropriate material from these bands that seemed to go over quite well, and didn’t upset the older folks.
Then came the kicker…they wanted something to compliment this for dinner music. But they left me to my own devices to find it. So with some homework, I came up with not one, but FOUR different possibilities for them to choose from.
The one they liked best was:
Option 4 - the Vitamin String Quartet doing classical versions of the same alternative 80’s tracks. I didn’t realize they had done a string version of “It’s the End of the World as We Know It…”, but they did. The couple REALLY liked this, as did their bridal party, who apparently played a game of “guess the song” during dinner (”Was that ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’???”). Most everyone else didn’t really notice and assumed it was some classical piece. But it worked!
There was a full dance floor all night. Nice people having a GREAT time, and enjoying the fact that this wasn’t “just another wedding”. The energy was huge.
But as usual, it all boiled down to the Monday conversation. They were able to properly convey what they wanted, and they gave me LOTS to go on. They weren’t hugely demanding with a big song list, and they also placed their trust in me and let me do what I do.”
Want to start planning your unique reception music?
Click here for a brief meeting.
Wait no longer Detroit Area Brides! Here are the Tweets we promised last Thursday from Herbert and Zylmyra Fisher, the world’s longest married couple at 85 years and counting. Pretty powerful stuff!
Question 1: What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?
Answer: With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure. Divorce was NEVER an option – or even a thought.
Question 2: How did you know your spouse was the right one?
Answer: We grew up together & were best friends before we married. A friend is for life – our marriage has lasted a lifetime.
Question 3: Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?
Answer: We wouldn’t change a thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other and our family.
Question 4: What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there?
Answer from Zelmyra: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith – when you meet him, you’ll know.
Question 5: What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?
Answer: Respect, support and communication with each other. Be faithful, honest, and true. Love each other with ALL of your heart.
Question 6: What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?
Answer: A hard worker and good provider. The 1920s were hard, but Herbert wanted and provided the best for us. I married a good man!
Question 7: What is your best Valentines Day memory?
Answer from Zelmyra: I cook dinner EVERY day. Herbert left work early and surprised me- he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook!
Answer from Herbert: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her and she could relax – the look on her face and the clean plate made my day!
Question 8: You got married very young – how did you both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?
Answer: “Everyone who plants a seed and harvests the crop celebrates together” We are individuals, but accomplish more together.
Question 9: What is your fondest memory of your 85- year marriage?
Answer: Our legacy: 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
Question 10: Does communication get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?
Answer: The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.
Question 11: How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long periods of time?
Answer from Herbert: We were apart for 2 months when Zelmyra was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life. Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children; otherwise I would have lost my mind.
Question 12: At the end of a bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?
Answer: Remember marriage is not a contest – never kepp score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win.
Question 13: Is fighting important?
Answer: NEVER physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree, and fight for what really matters. Learn to bend – not break!
Question 14: What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?
Answer: We are both Christians and believe in God. Marriage is a commitment to the Lord. We pray with and for each other every day.
Those last ones are the kickers! I agree 100%! I stick to the same principles everyday with my wife and I can only hope - or should I say ‘pray’ - that one day I can be in Herbert and Zylmyra’s place.
Want to start your marriage celebration planning?
Click here for brief meeting with our wedding consultants.
Valentines Day is only two days away and if you brides are anything like me, you have yet to plan something. If the task of the day’s activities have been delegated to you, have no worries. I found 7 romantic, simple, non-traditional, budget friendly ways to spend your day.
1. Play Games. Buy your love a new board game. It will last longer than flowers and chocolates, and will make you laugh more than a cheesy card. Two games that I recommend are Fact or Crap or Things. Lots of fun for groups, but easy to come up with a way to play one-on-one.
2. Lay low. Finally watch that movie the two of you missed in theaters and get your favorite take out. Not having to do dishes leaves more time for cuddling.
3. Make it Sweet. Try making your favorite desserts from scratch - sorry no powder and water mixes this time. Plus, what is better than seeing your man in an apron and getting to lick the batter.
4. Party! It is probably safe to say that your friends haven’t planned their day yet either. H
ave everyone bring a dish and spend the night tellling mushy love stories, horrible bad dates nightmares, and everything in between.
5. Decorate. A personal favorite artistic activity of mine is to paint pottery at a local stores. You pick out your dish, mug, vase, ect and paint away. They will bake it for you and Voile! a piece of dustable love.
6. Pamper Each Other. Grab your body lotion, nail polish, and rubbing oils. Give each other full body massages. It is a great way to relax without spending the big $$. Maybe your man will throw in a pedi at the end, too. 
7. Sip, Sip, Enjoy… Go wine tasting. Check with any specialty wine stores in your area; some 
offer free (or really cheap) wine-tastings. Grab your favorite bottle and head home to relax the night away.
Want more romantic, simple, budget friendly planning ideas?
Click here for a brief meeting.