Choose Professional Photographers for Great Memories

Collins Metu Photographer

 Great memories are made even greater by great photographers. I know this a strange statement coming from someone that is not a photographer but it's the truth. I must give kudos to the excellent professional photographers out there because a professional photographer can make something out of very little. A professional photographer knows what equipment to use, how much lighting or flash is necessary for light challenged situations and they know exactly how to position themselves to get the perfect shot.


Zasey Photography

 These are things to remember when you are thinking about getting a friend of the family or other family member to be your photographer. Yes, they may have a digital camera, but do they know how to use it. A professional photographer is also less likely to get caught up in the wedding celebration and family festivities, so he or she will tend to get a broad range of photos of all the happenings and all the guests at your wedding. When you choose a family member or friend, you may end up with a hundred photos of the new baby, who made their debut at your wedding. Kids are cute but, you are the bride and groom after all.

Sonny Randon Photography Studio

Just a little sage advice from this wedding planner; when working with your wedding budget, make sure you hire the best, professional photographer your investment dollar can afford. If you want great memories that you will enjoy for years to come, there is no other option. Not sure about who to select, we can help you choose from the many professional options out there. That's what we are here for.

Stay tuned for more trendy, wedding and event planning ideas, brought to you by Alpha Prosperity Events.


Event & Wedding Planner
Alpha Prosperity Events  
Houston ~ Missouri City ~ New Orleans





Wedding Do's and Don'ts from the Guest's Perspective

One of my event assistants attended a wedding recently and she came back with a list full of things that she found interesting about this wedding. I don’t think she ever considered herself a wedding expert but I must say when it comes to wedding and event coordination, she has definitely been taking notes. Here, we share with you some “Do’s and Don’ts,” from the wedding guest's perspective.

Hire a Wedding Coordinator ~ If you are going to have a wedding guest list of anything over 100 people you should hire someone to organize particular highpoints and activities of the wedding. A wedding coordinator would be beneficial to create timelines to keep things flowing and to keep all players/vendors in the know about when things are happening or when tasks need to be done. Don't leave this task to a family member; they want to enjoy the wedding too.

Don’t Skimp on the Entertainment ~ When hiring a band or DJ, make sure they have the ability to act as the Master of Ceremony. If you have to skimp here, make sure your wedding coordinator can step into this role. Your guests will be very disappointed if you start cutting your cake and they aren't ready with their camera or they are in the restroom and miss the whole thing because there was no emcee to announce what was happening. We have some great recommendations if you need help in this department.

Discuss the Dress Code with the Entertainment ~ Make sure it is clear what they will be wearing while performing. It won't look very cohesive if your guests are dressed in cocktail attire and the band or DJ is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

Greet Your Guests ~ As the bride and groom, you made the choice to invite three hundred people to your wedding. I can only assume that you made that choice because all of these people are near and dear to you in some form or fashion. Make sure you get around, visiting every table to speak to as many guests as possible. Of course, you may still miss some people but no one can say you didn't make the effort. My assistant was so disappointed and felt slighted because after traveling quite a distance, and buying a very nice gift, the bride never walked around to say hello to her or any other guests.

Just a little trendy advice from the guests you are inviting to your wedding. Hope you were paying attention.



Event & Wedding Planner
Alpha Prosperity Events
Southwest Houston ~ New Orleans

Dreaming Past Others' Limitations

Don't you find it dissapointing when well-meaning family members or close friends are so unsupportive of your dreams? How do you dream past it?  How do you not let their limitations, limit you?

Well, this is definitely not a new issue. Since the beginning of time, someone was always questioning another persons vision, direction, goals or dreams. When you have an inkling of an idea or vision that you want to accomplish, trust me that idea will be challenged or questioned. It's not always meant to snuff out your dream or plan but often times it causes one to change direction or focus. It happened to us as children, when we dreamed of being an actress or ballerina.  It happened to us as teens, when we wanted to travel the world or attend an out of state college. It happened to us as adults when we wanted to start our own business or purchase a new home.

By now I am sure you have related to one or two of these. The point is we had a dream or vision that didn't coincide with someone else's. This same dilemma happens to so many brides and grooms to be. Through all of the planning, so many people have gotten involved and pushed their own vision that you no longer see any of the dreams or wishes of the bride or groom.  I deal with this as well, especially where my event planning business is concerned. This business is not for everyone and not everyone is ready for the work or risks that one takes when owning a business.

So how do I dream past others' limitations?  Well, I seek guidance from God first. I have found that when I do this, I am able to discern what is best. I meditate on scripture and positive quotes of motivation. I also surround myself with positive others, like supportive family members, business coaches and other business professionals that will give me the information and support that I need to accomplish my plan or task.  But, be warned. When seeking out others, be prepared that you may get an opinion that has the ability to deflate or derail your whole plan, if you let it. It's okay to seek solicited advice from credible others but understand that their visions or fears do not have to become yours. 

Don't let the well meaning intentions or ideas of others hinder or change your vision. In planning your life, business or event, you may realize that there are people who don't want to see you happy or successful. Put these type of people in a category off to the side (the side you don't visit very often,) and keep right on going with your planning, as you intended. Keep your eyes on your goals and on the "who, what, and why of it all." You may find that you have to make some changes here or there but it's okay if you are true to yourself and know that you followed your dream and vision and not someone else's.

Event & Wedding Planner
Alpha Prosperity Events
Southwest Houston ~ New Orleans

Baby Shower - Blossoming in Springtime

Keeping in sync with my recent post on planning a baby shower, I wanted to share some ideas and themes of my own. I recently had the pleasure of planning a fun baby shower for a client that was expecting twins. The twins arrival was expected around springtime so she wanted a springtime theme, and the colors had to be yellow, lime green and gray. I had a lot of fun putting this together even with a very minimal budget. Small budgets don't have to be restricting if you just use a little imagination and don't box yourself into using traditional baby shower items and decor.

We decided to use "springtime like" items such as baskets of spring flowers, garden stepping stones, butterflies and birds with baby birds nests. Balloons were a given because they always add a festive flavor to small showers and parties.

My first inspiration for the springtime theme came from the idea of bird nests with baby bird eggs. I was able to find some grapevine wreaths to help create the bird nests. It was a very cost effective option. Hobby Lobby carried them in a bunch of six. Candy coated almonds were a great filler for the bird eggs.

Instead of doing a guest sign-in book, we did individual blessing cards, where guests were able to write something more heartfelt to the mom-to-be. I created the blessing cards myself so they were personalized for my client, for the occasion.


There were the usual baby shower games to include the famous "baby shower bingo." When finding great prizes for your games, consider home spa items like lotions, bath gels or jewelry. I got all of the gift or prize items from my wonderful rep at Avon. You get some very nice gifts and you support some of the many fund raising causes that Avon helps support. A huge thank you goes out to my Avon rep, Pam Zackory for her wonderful support. There was food, fellowship and fun and a great time was had by all.


Event & Wedding Planner
Alpha Prosperity Events
Southwest Houston ~ Richmond/Rosenberg ~ New Orleans

My Wedding Trend Favorites of 2009

As you know, 2009 is about to come to a close but I think there are a few trends from 2009 that just may travel into the new year. You know the saying, "Everything old is new again." I also like the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Some of my favorite trends from 2009 that I hope to see in 2010 -

* Bird Cage Veils - Talk about chic and trendy. I just can't say enough about this beautiful headpiece, and BirdcageVeils.com has some of the best I have seen. Melody Ginn has done a great job with these beautiful veils. You can find her at BridalVeils.com

Source: BirdcageVeils.com

* Backyard Weddings - Interested in this trend, check out our previous posts, here.

* Landscape Decor - A woodsy topiary used as centerpiece, tree bark or greenery used as centerpieces or place setting decor, vases filled with simple blooms and greenery.

Source - Fresh Blooms of Houston

* Groom's Cake - Remember the gray armadillo from Steel Magnolias? This southern tradition has evolved into a way for the bride to do something special for her groom.

Source: Sonny Randon Photography

* The Dress - Ultimately, you are who people came to see, not the dress. Pick the dress you feel best in, the one that makes you shine even more.

* Favors with Meaning - There is nothing worse than spending money on favors and finding that most of your guests won't enjoy them, let alone remember your wedding when they look at it.

* Dances that Wow- the popularity of all the dancing shows and dance studios have prompted brides and grooms to create their perfect first dance as a married couple.

*Hire a Day of Coordinator - Hire a professional wedding coordinator for the final weeks before the wedding. They are the experts at making sure those last-minute details get done, and you can't beat the great pair of extra hands that come with a wealth of knowledge and "quick-fixes" to boot.

Event & Wedding Coordinator
Alpha Prosperity Events
Southwest Houston ~ Richmond/Rosenberg ~ New Orleans

Backyard Weddings - Hot Trend for 2010

One of the hot wedding trends for 2010 is the backyard wedding. While getting married at home is not necessarily cheaper, it does allow for a more personal, intimate ceremony and reception. Intimate weddings allow the bride to enjoy her day and connect with all of the people that are important to both she and her husband to be. There is no worse feeling than having a huge wedding and you can't remember who was there, let alone if you got to spend time with dear Aunt Martha, who traveled all the way from London for your big day.

Some tips to remember when planning an intimate wedding ceremony at home:

1. Hire a professional wedding planner or coordinator to assist with those last minute "murphy issues" that will arise. At home weddings are not as easy to pull off as one may think. There are space issues to be considered, and furniture and equipment rentals to be coordinated. Your coordinator can help you stay on budget, because issues can come up that will stress your budget to the max, like canopy rentals, or parking for guests. And, of course, your wedding coordinator will be able to assist you with selecting the best vendors for your budget and wedding style.
2. Be realistic about space issues and what is possible at your home. No matter how big you think your backyard is, 300 people in a neighborhood backyard is unrealistic. Be aware of noise and parking restrictions within your area.
   
3. There are no limitations to your style and dress decor. You can use as much imagination as you like. You can be as casual or as formal as you want. Give clues to the style and tone of your wedding through your invitations and decor. You want your guests to be comfortable in their style of dress as well.
4. Keep in mind your wedding date and normal weather trends for your area. An outdoor wedding in July - September in the Houston or New Orleans areas is not impossible but you want to be prepared for the humidity, and heat as well as the many tropical storms or hurricanes that can pop up this time of the year. Create a plan to keep yourself as well as your guests comfortable.
   

Click here for more info about wedding trends for 2010.