Party Favors Aren't Just for Weddings

By Cherie Johnson

Photo from | freedigitalphotos.net

One of the many things a bride has to consider is the favors that will adorn the tabletops at her reception. Since party favors are usually marketed to brides, however, most party planners bypass the charming addition that they make for any occasion. Affordably priced and useful, party favors help liven up a gathering, and party planners who want to add a little panache incorporate their various party favor ideas into a celebration to provide guests with a special memento. And regardless of the nature of the gathering, just remember that party favors are no longer solely meant for weddings. Here are some party favor ideas to get you thinking creatively!

• Anniversary: Whether it’s the first or the 50th time, celebrating the bonds of marriage is a special affair for both the couple and their family members. Often, anniversary celebrations are thrown secretly for the couple who have no hand in its planning. Friends and family choose the cake or dessert, the decorations and invitations; occasionally, they also choose to incorporate party favors into the festivities, which are always a big hit. Anniversary favors, usually a spin-off from wedding favors, herald love in all its forms and are available in a variety of different styles, colors and shapes; popular party favor ideas include handy wine bottle stoppers, personalized champagne flutes (so everyone can toast the happily married couple!) and always useful barware sets.

• Baby Shower: It’s an exciting but hectic time when it comes to being a mother, and everyone wants to help out by providing assistance, advice, gifts, and, of course, by throwing a baby shower for the mom-to-be! With trays of delicious finger foods and cute baby gifts, the expectant mother and her friends celebrate the momentous occasion. And the perfect way to decorate each attendee’s spot at the table is with functional baby shower party favors, such as cheese graters, salt and pepper shakers, measuring spoons and timers – all of which have a fun, festive baby shower theme.

• Birthday Party: Birthday party favors, which make excellent grab bag gifts or table decorations, are perfect no matter how old the ‘birthday girl or boy’ is. For children’s birthdays, selecting age appropriate party favors, such as lip balm, candy in personalized favor tins and picture frames are ideal; while, for an older teen’s or adult’s get together, party favor ideas such as candles, ice cream scoops, pens and bookmarks not only help guests reminisce but are also fully functional.

• Bridal Shower: This get together is one of the bride’s most cherished events; she has time to mingle with her best friends and just kick back and relax. Planning the bridal shower is often relegated to the maid of honor or other close friend who takes care of all the responsibilities of selecting a theme, sending out invitations, choosing a caterer (or cooking it herself) and decorating the space festively. Providing just an extra touch of personalization, bridal shower party favors are a classy, thoughtful way to help your guests remember the party and thank them for coming. Whatever party favor ideas you choose – from candles and photo albums to monogrammed make-up bags and coasters, your guests will have a stylish memento to remember the festivities long after they end.

• Graduation Party: From high school to college and beyond, the graduate in your life deserves a little recognition for his or her hard work over the years. And what’s the perfect way to celebrate? With a party, of course! From a cook out to a day at the beach, there are just as many party favor ideas to complement whatever theme you choose, including customizable favor tins, memorable photo frames, and stylish, yet feminine koozies to keep those drinks cold all summer long.

• Quinceanera: Celebrating the day when a girl turns 15 – a rite of passage for many – is an important milestone and one that has been planned for months. Dressed entirely in white, she looks forward to this day, sharing in the festivities with her friends and family members. While planning the big after party, finding a way to thank the guests for their attendance is a necessity! Along with the food and entertainment, decorating the tables with festive party favors for all who showed up is a great way to say thanks. From manicure and pedicure sets for the younger attendees to candles and personalized shot glasses for the older folks, there are many different party favor ideas to show your appreciation.

Keep the Memories Alive

The perfect place setting or little thank you gift for any get together is a party favor! Regardless of whether the event you’re throwing is for yourself or a loved one, party favors add a special touch to any affair. Small, customizable and affordable, party favors keep the memories alive long after the party is over.

Cherie Johnson is the founder and owner ofCreative Wedding Favors, a one-stop shop for personalized, unique baby and bridal shower, graduation, quinceañera, anniversary, and wedding favors, helping countless couples and families make their big events a success. Cherie's wedding advice has appeared on several websites including Little Wedding Guide, Wedding Lenox, and The Wedding Source. Before she launched her company in 2006, Cherie worked as a professional wedding photographer, capturing the most special moments of the bride and groom's big day. For more information on Creative Wedding Favors or to find a variety of colorful, customizable gifts and favors, please visit www.CreativeWeddingFavors.com.

Tips for Successful Corporate Event Planning

By Kathryn Dawson

Have you been selected to plan your company's next conference? Have you just volunteered to organize the next party? It is understandable if you are a bundle of nerves. Relax! Corporate event planning need not be the tortuous ordeal you think it is. Here are some tips for making the next event smooth and successful.

Initial Considerations for Corporate Event Planning
Corporate event planning begins with a consideration of the look and feel you wish the event to have. Think about what kind of event you are holding, what the reason for the event or celebration is and what you wish to accomplish. Is it just conference management  or do you have to deal with arranging the business accommodation as well? Keep in mind that a relaxed state of mind can help you make better decisions and plan more effectively.

Planning Your Event
The actual process of corporate event planning becomes easier once you have defined the basic parameters.

Make a checklist -- Create a checklist to provide a step-by-step guide to organizing and executing a special event.

Make a budget -- If you are organizing a corporate event, you may have already been given the budget for it. Ensure that the budget is specific, and include revenue opportunities (sponsorship, ticket sales, donations, etc.) as well as expenses (printing, permits, insurance, speakers, food, supplies, security, etc.).

Maintain a record -- This is important not only for the expenses, but for each activity you have undertaken. This will help you keep track of all the various elements you need to consider and the progress you are making with them.

Conference facilities -- The location and site of the event are critical to its success. Selecting a site is more than just finding out available rooms. The factors that you may need to consider are room capacity, purpose of event, need for ramps, podium and stage, special equipment and furniture.

Have plenty of food and drinks -- A critical factor for corporate event planning is the catering. The kind of food you will serve and careful decisions of whether it will be lunch, snack foods, dinner, buffet or a sit down, make a huge difference in conference management. If you intend to serve alcohol, you will have to ensure that there are designed drivers to transport those who may be drinking during the event.

Plan publicity and marketing -- Great publicity and marketing are critical in successful corporate event planning. There are many different methods you can use. You can consider supplementing paid advertising with inexpensive fliers, handouts, email messages and word of mouth.

Speaker or entertainer -- Booking a speaker or entertainer can be tricky and add to the cost. However, this can also make your event extremely successful. Weigh the pros and cons of having a speaker or entertainer.

Arrange for parking -- All major events require ample parking space that is easily accessible from the event site. Ensure that the parking is convenient and that people do not have to walk too far to the venue site. If you have delivery trucks, caterers or special equipment being brought to the event, you will need to make sure everyone knows the best location for unloading.

Evaluate the event -- An often ignored but important element of corporate event planning is evaluation. Create an evaluation form to hand out at the end of the event. Make it anonymous and short. You may even ask for direct verbal feedback.

Finally, once your event is over, take time to reflect back on it. Consider the entire corporate event planning process and the feedback you received. Were the guests who were provided with business accommodation comfortable? Did your conference management ensure a truly successful business event? Retrospection can help you continuously improve your planning and organizing skills.

Kathryn Dawson writes articles about Keele Conference and Events, providing complete conference management and corporate event planning, as well as a selection of en-suite business accommodation designed to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

{Source; Photo Credit}

Questions You Should Ask Wedding Planners

Thinking about hiring a wedding planner? Here are a few questions you should be sure to ask:

1. Will the consultant commit to your budget and not push you towards things you can't afford?

2. Will the consultant create a master plan outlining all the little details, from the announcement to the leopard-print decor? This will give you an idea of her/his organizational skills and how willing she/he is to keep you in the loop on everything.

3. Can the consultant identify the best and most unique places in your area that fit your wedding size, style and budget?
4. Is the consultant familiar with the best photographers, florists, caterers, bands and DJs in your price range? Can he/she briefly describe the positives they bring to the table? (Ask yourself: Does your consultant seem to be both educated and passionate?)

5. Will the consultant be able to get you any discounts with vendors? Consultants bring volume to favored vendors; many times, the vendors will return the favor by lowering prices or throwing in some extras.

6. Will the consultant read over the vendor contracts for you? Does he/she know the common traps to look out for?

For seven more questions to ask, check out 13 Questions to Ask Wedding Planners. Looking for a wedding planner in the DMV area? Check out our website, AnointedAffairs.com.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the blog of Anointed Affairs Weddings and Events!

Anointed Affairs is a premier wedding service based near Washington, DC specializing in wedding planning and coordination. They also coordinate other events such as retirements, networking socials, anniversary parties and more.

We created this blog to share wedding tips, ideas and resources to aid you in your wedding planning process.

If you have any questions or have something you want to read, send us an email at anointedaffairs@comcast.net or leave a comment.

We look forward to serving you!