New Trend: All-Inclusive Weddings

23 May

(C) ASHLEY BROOKE PHOTOGRAPHYIt seems everywhere I look these days there are wedding vendors that are “branching out” to include more and more talents….DJ’s that offer wedding planning, Photographers whose wife can do flowers and so on. Do they do this because they are truly talented in many areas or are times tough and they need a larger chunk of your budget? The idea for this blog came when I just saw a print ad for a venue that offers the following: Location, Flowers, Photography, Cake, DJ, Food and Décor.

All-inclusive weddings have their pro side. They are easy. With one choice, you select all of your wedding vendors and write one check… leaving you to fuss over the optional details of your day. It could make it less stressful for the busy or overwhelmed bride who doesn’t want to hassle with the details.

They come with a lot more cons in my book. With one choice, you select all of your wedding vendors, with no assurances of their work. This is a con because you should choose the vendors that are best for you. If you want a wedding that is unique, original and “you”, then you need to choose the vendors that will give you what you’re looking for. Otherwise, your wedding will be just like every other cookie-cutter wedding… and how very vanilla!

You can’t be a master in all things weddings. I believe that you need to follow your skills and your heart. Usually, that can’t be everything. For the vendor that offers flowers, photography, food and more…. How can they possibly be THE BEST in all those areas? I suggest to my clients to find the best photographer, the best florist and so on. When they put together their “Dream Team”, their vision comes to life in a magical and special way… creating a one-of-a-kind event that guests remember for a long time.

You have no control. You are left to cross your fingers and hope that the vendors booked have what you want, offer the service you deserve and will deliver when it comes to your big day – you’re left with no guarantees. If you really want to be involved in planning your big day, all-inclusive weddings are not the way to go.

As I was writing this blog, it occurred to me that Wedding Planners essentially offer this same service to their clients, but with A LOT more choices and much more exclusivity! Finding the right planner will take the stress off of you!

  • They recommend quality and trusted vendors that fit your style and your needs.
  • You get to decide who the best vendors are for your wedding without any of the research!
  • You pick the services you want, and your planner will make sure it happens.
  • Custom creative designs and décor to make your event not only spectacular, but also original.
  • Your planner will keep you within budget and on-track.

So, if you like the ease that an all-inclusive wedding will bring, but want something unique and original…. hire a wedding planner who shares your vision, we promise it’ll be the single best decision you make!

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MME is Growing! Meet Our NEW MERRYMAKER …

20 Apr

 Ashley Bodenheimer, Event Consultant

From Kat:
I am so happy to introduce y’all to our newest merrymaker, Ashley, who  joins Merrymaking Events from Grandover Resort in Greensboro. I met Ashley years ago and we instantly hit it off, having a lot in common…. down to attending the same college! I am thrilled to welcome such a positive energy to the Merrymaking Events team. I know her attention to detail and wonderful attitude will make many dream weddings become a reality. She is wonderful to work with and a great person to know. Welcome to the team, Ashley!

From Ashley:
I’m a southern woman that exudes class and LOVES to radiate true southern hospitality. I’m carefully considerate of my clients’ feelings and personality through the planning process and am a friend and ally through it all.

I strive to give you what you want with a TWIST. My sassy attitude with a sweet southern drawl proves it easy to get what we want with HONEY (You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.) Like any true southerner, schmoozing is what I do best! Chatting up vendors to get the best prices and services is my forte.

After earning a B.S. in Communication, I joined forces with the American Cancer Society planning social events including galas, golf tournaments, etc.

Realizing I had a knack for planning and executing social events I wanted to move on to strictly weddings and celebrations. I went to work planning weddings and special events for one of North Carolina’s exclusive resorts, The Grandover Resort in Greensboro. Working in a hotel setting, I learned how to focus on logistics, but had very little opportunity to showcase my creativity. I love to create new ideas and watching them flourish.

Business, like Love, is all about the timing. Having known Kat for some years, when the chance to work with Merrymaking Events corresponded with “good timing” in my personal life, I decided it was the perfect time to live out my dream.

I’ll sweep you off your feet with fresh ideas and my calming sense of professionalism. I want to plan YOUR perfect day so give me a call and we can schedule a consultation where we’ll sit a spell and chat about your big day.

Let’s get started!
Ashley@merrymakingevents.com

Q & A With Ashley:

Hometown: Wallburg, NC

One word that describes me best: Energetic

My favorite drink: Diet Mtn. Dew

Best restaurant for a date night with my hubby: Oso Tavern- High
Point,  NC Delish!

My favorite things to do with my kids: I have 2: My 2-yr-old boy
(Boe) and a 1-month-old (Claire). I love to sit with Boe in
the morning when there’s no one else up, drink coffee and watch
cartoons.  I also love taking them on vacation and playing outside.

My favorite wedding trend:  Vintage Everything…lace, mis-matched
china and romance.

Best wedding color combo ever:  Tangerine and yellow with a splash of pink.

My favorite moment of any wedding day: The moments right before the
bride walks down the aisle with her father.

Flower that is most like me: Tulip (soft and subtle, yet vibrant.)

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The Lovely Find

18 Apr

Merrymaking Events is now a Vendor listed on The Lovely Find! If you haven’t yet checked out this site, you must pop on over there and check it out!

They feature everything about a Southern Wedding…. and we love that. Although we don’t focus on a specific style of bride, or type of event (’cause we can do them all) … we love to throw a truly Southern affair!

What do y’all think of a Southern Wedding?

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Can You Have a Flowerless Wedding?

14 Mar

When you think of a wedding, you probably think of wedding flowers. In most weddings, they are everywhere. In the girls’ hands, on the guys’ tux, in the centerpieces and as part of the ceremony. Sometimes, the bride even has a few in her hair.

Recently, I have had several requests for “Flowerless Weddings”. I know, I know … it sounds crazy. You’re probably thinking, “Kat, why would anyone want to omit the beautiful flowers at their wedding?!”

Maybe they’re allergic, trying to be Eco-friendly or they hate flowers. Perhaps it’s just not their style or they don’t want to spend money on something that will last a few days at most. Flowers can be one of the most expensive parts of your wedding.

Being the creative person that I am… I have found some beautiful alternatives to flowers for your special day. I bet the guests won’t even miss the beautiful flowers with these options!

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In Search of the Perfect Wedding Location

5 Mar
The search for the perfect location is where many of the newly engaged start their wedding planning. They set out to look at every location in the area until they find the one that makes their heart skip and their vision become a reality. Sometimes, that happens quickly and sometimes it can take quite some time (and a few emotional meltdowns) until you find one that fits your needs.

Once you find that “perfect place” it’s easy to get swept up in all of the joy and sign the contract before you really know what you’re getting. There are some important things to consider before you select the location.

Continue reading →

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Celebrate the Small Things (and The Big Things) in Life!

20 Feb

I believe in celebrating the little things in life… life is just too short not to!  I believe that when you have family and friends surrounding you … every moment you spend with them is a celebration. As an event planner, I am always so thrilled to be invited to be a part of my client’s special moments…. For I understand and appreciate how personal those moments are.  It is in those moments, that we weave together memories that become engrained into our history, as an individual and as a family.

In my own life, I love celebrating milestones with my wonderful family and friends… and like to share them with all of you. This past weekend, we hosted a celebration for a special event in my life, my son Matthew was baptized. For us Catholics, this is a BIG celebration and so we threw quite a party… hey, why not?

After the baptism, we did a small dove release thanks to Wings of Love. The scripture tells about how God came down as a Dove…. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” The beautiful doves from Wings of Love was such a special celebration for us… and it made it just a little more special! Continue reading →

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Love @ Brookberry Farm

15 Feb

I met my bride, Melissa, at a wedding show and we instantly clicked by our shared love for the Florida Gators! When planning her wedding, it was important to her to have a truly unique wedding venue and an awesome “throw down” of a party. She wanted it to be different than her friend’s weddings. She wanted to show her guest a great time & celebrate as if they were rock stars, which is where her “theme” came to life. They got married on the beautiful green courtyard. The barn was transformed inside to include the Red Carpet, fog machines and dance music to be more of a VIP After party lounge (by invite only!).

The creative couple really made the day their own with personal touches, hand painted signs and even including their precious bulldogs into the ceremony. (We can now add ”sending dogs down the aisle” to our experience!)

Continue reading →

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