Rustic Candlesticks

"A pair of marvelous candlesticks transforms any table"

-Carolyne Roehm

The tablescape above is styled by Carolyne Roehm for an autumn lunch. The candlesticks complete the rustic, autumnal look and give great texture and complexity to the setting.

(Picture Source: House Beautiful, November 2008)

Ballard Design offers the following antler candlesticks. Set of 2 Antler Candlesticks
Largest: 12"H x 9"W x 8"D :: Purchase at http://www.ballarddesigns.com/

Certifications and Education

One of the most common questions I get asked is "How did I become an event and meeting planner?" Well, my answer is long, but some great advice is to reach out and or join the many professional societies for event professionals. Here is a rundown:
(Source: Successful Meeting Magazine, July 09, 2008, Corrie Dosh)

TOP MEETINGS INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS
CMP – Certified Meeting Professional The Convention Industry Council awards this designation based on professional experience and a written examination. Considered the foremost certification program of today's meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry, the CMP program recognizes individuals who have achieved the industry's highest standard of professionalism. CMPs must be recertified every five years.To apply: www.conventionindustry.org

CMM – Certification in Meeting Management This designation offered by Meeting Professionals International began in Europe. As the first university co-developed professional designation (with the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University), the program blends a traditional educational framework with a hands-on, interactive setting. CMM candidates take part in an intensive four-step process that includes pre-residency, residency, examination, and post-residency components. Pre-residency involves active participation in an MPI learning group using online technology and a variety of reading assignments; residency includes a four-and-a-half-day full-immersion course and examination; and finally, there is a post-residency business project.To apply: www.mpiweb.org

CAE – Certified Association Executive The American Society of Association Executives awards this certification to designate association professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of association management. The program, founded in 1960, comprises a written test and 75 hours of broad-based qualifying professional development within the past five years.To apply: www.asaecenter.org

CEM – Certified Exposition Manager The International Association of Exhibitions & Events offers the designation to those who complete a nine-part program within three years. The program is composed of seven mandatory courses and two courses chosen from five available electives. Advanced-level courses are also available for CEMs to continue their professional education and obtain recertification.To apply: www.iaee.com

CITE – Certified Incentive Travel Executive The Society of Incentive & Travel Executives awards this designation to those who demonstrate their extensive knowledge of the industry and achieve its highest standard of excellence. To be approved, applicants must complete six steps within a year, including a three-hour exam, an original research paper, and earning 100 qualifying experience points.To apply: www.site-intl.org

CSEP – Certified Special Events Professional The International Special Events Society awards this based on education, performance, experience, and service to the industry. It reflects a commitment to professional conduct and ethics. To earn the designation, applicants must pass a written examination and earn 35 professional industry points.To apply: www.ises.com
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Check out these other certifications available for those in the meetings industry:
American Hotel and Lodging Association (www.ahla.com): Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP), Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA), Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS), Certified Lodging Manager (CLM), Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE), Master Hotel Supplier (MHS),
Association of Destination Management Executives (www.adme.org): Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP); Accredited Destination Management Company (ADMC)
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (www.hsmai.org): Certified in Hospitality Sales Competencies (CHSC); Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME)
National Association of Catering Executives (www.nace.net): Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE)
National Speakers Association (www.nsaspeaker.org): Certified Speaking Professional (CSP)
PMPN Meetings With Impact (www.pmpn.com): Certified Medical Meeting Manager (CMMM)
Trade Show Exhibitors Association (www.tsea.org): Certified Manager of Exhibits (CME)

Just in time for Harvest Celebrations...

Gourmet websites that carry exotic ingredients are an important vendor to keep in your "back pocket." They can supply fruits, plants and vegetables that can add the wow-factor to a centerpiece, buffet or decor set. For instance, if you're having a desert oasis theme, where can you find cactus pads? Here are 2 websites to add to your favorites:

> www.friedas.com
> www.melissas.com

Photo credit: Friedas; Idea Source: Real Simple

Stellar Tips...

Event Planners know we must learn from each others' wins and losses. ConventionPlanit.com collected a ton of tips from meeting and event planners as part of its Stellar Tip Contest. Check out the entire list at:
http://www.conventionplanit.com/stellar_tip_archive_n.php

One of the most common submissions had to do with emergency/SOS kits for planners. In my opinion, different events require different emergency kits. I wouldn't pack the same kit for a formal wedding that I would for a small pharmaceutical dinner! What would a physician do with double-sided tape!

That said, I am working on a post that details my emergency kit components for the various event types. More to come!

Etsy for your wedding... and events

I love etsy.com. I could get lost on that site for hours! I find it the best marketplace for finding anything custom. I'd use these talented vendors for social and corporate events too!

-invitations
-monogram
-jewelry
-programs
-accessories
-favors
-decor
-and more!

Visit: http://www.etsy.com/category_top.php?top_tag=weddings

Tablecards by Cheer Up Cherup: http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=5534410

Greening your Events

I previously mentioned the presentation by Greg Christian that I attended at BizBash Chicago. I'd like to share further learnings that I hope are as profound for you as they were for me.

Here are some notations on how Greg makes his events/kitchen green:

• zero-waste kitchen
• cooking oils > biofuels
• increase % of organic and local ingredients
• sustainable seafood
• fair-trade tea and coffee
• free employee meal(s)

Greg urges event planners to put "green" questions/requirements into our RFPs. I think this is such a fantastic idea. It forces the hotels/convention centers to go green and think about their footprint. Here are some starting points:

• Specify that a certain percentage of food must be local and/or organic
• Specify use of "green" alcohol - at least beer and wine
• Ensure hotel recycles
• Ask that extra food be donated to a local shelter

Additionally, you can get specific. For example, Fiji Water is the most sustainable bottled water brand in the world - ask for it. (Although filtered water is preferred, we all know that it is not always well-received by event guests.)

Here are some additional sources to learn more:

• B Corporation: The new coporate standard for social and environmental performance. http://www.bcorporation.net/
• Green Meeting Industry Council: http://www.greenmeetings.info/
• Greg Christian: http://www.gregchristian.com/
• Monteray Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch: see what seafood you should eat at different times of the year: http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/SeafoodWatch.asp
• Review Greg's presentation: http://www.bizbash.com/chicago/tradeshow/presentation/2008/

"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
— from the World Commission on Environment and Development’s(the Brundtland Commission) report

Our Common Future (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987).

BizBash Chicago

I was lucky to be able to attend the 1st annual BizBash Conference in Chicago last week. I have some amazing learnings to share this coming week including one that really will make you expand your "going green" event knowledge. Greg Christian, who is a well-known Chicago caterer (for Harpo Studios and others), presented a dynamic, educational presentation about how event planners can easily make events "green" by including specifics in the RFP process (brilliant!) and doing a little extra research. It was fantastic! More to come...

Here is a link to the BizBash Editorial on the event: http://www.bizbash.com/chicago/content/editorial/e12323.php

Fabulous Find...

These are so fabulous and cool! Cupcake flags! The perfect personalization for any event: baby shower, bridal shower or wedding. Check them out at http://www.notepolish.com/

Those hot summer nights...

My apologies that I have not posted lately. It's been a busy time transitioning my personal and professional life from North Carolina to Indiana! I am looking forward to building my business in the Indianapolis area over the next few months.

However, let's not forget the good news: SUMMER IS HERE! My favorite summer events are ones at home with friends and family - gathering for good food, cold drinks and late nights on the porch by candlelight. One of my favorite designs for a backyard soiree is vintage chic using fun, bright colors... I've used items from Anthropologie for my inspiration board below showcasing this style.

Anthropologie is a fantastic place to buy inexpensive, high-impact tablewares for any event - including the most formal gatherings. Check there for fun items to enhance tables, buffets, chairs and lighting.

Small Packages for Good Things

Karen Smallbone is a fabulous boutique favor company in Canada. Her ideas and items have appeared all over the Web and publications. I find her handmade favors to be a fun and refreshing departure from traditional event favors. Her custom labels are a great idea for a wedding, sweet sixteen, or baby shower. Website: http://www.karensmallbone.com/

Meeting of the Minds

Meetings Media released their Meetings Trends for 2008. I found the following to be most notable:

· It seems that of the men that are in the event/meetings profession, most of them are independent planners while a majority of women are either corporate- or association-based.
· In 2008, most event budgets either stayed the same or increased. {Note: To me, that illustrates that the corporation, association or client sees the importance of events within their overall brand strategy. }
· I thought it interesting to see the vast difference in the placement of the importance of the attrition policy and guest room technology for Association planners versus Independent planners. {Note: I have an extreme dislike for attrition charges and have been known to scare some hotel sales executives!}
Read all about 2008 Meeting Trends: http://www.meetingsfocus.com/pdf/2008_meetings_trends_results.pdf

Which brings me to introduce you to one of my favorite Meeting Planning websites: Meetings Focus {http://www.meetingsfocus.com/}. I first came in contact with them through their great meetings and events magazine. Also check out their Best of List: www.meetingsfocus.com/bestofawards {Note: I always get asked my favorite event venue. My absolute favorite both personally and professionally is the Wynn Las Vegas.}

Meetings Focus, along with mPoint, has a very useful and extensive database for venues and city-specific contacts. {Note: Its been know that I tend to became slightly addicted to mpoint.com and their online system when I need a multi-city RFP – its fabulous!}

Event Rentals

Event Planners work collaboratively with Event Rental Companies everyday. They supply our events with everything from crystal chandeliers to white tents to state-of-the-art projection screens.

For example, a great Event Rental Company can help transform a simple hotel ballroom into a South Pacific Celebration! Below are some snapshots from a client appreciation event for Misys Healthcare Systems. The venue was the Reno Hilton and we worked with vendors to transform the room into a beach oasis. The event was complete with totem poles, tiki torches, robo-surfing, henna tattoos, tiki bars, beach bands, and more!

But, the magic and wonder that rentals can bring to an event are not just a resource for professional planners. Whether you are planning a small affair or a large event, I definitely recommend stopping by a fabulous event rental company. Many of them only have minimums if you require delivery. Here are some suggestions on how you could use them:
Small dinner: plates, linens, wine glasses, candelabras, extra seating and tables, etc.
Wedding: tent, round tables and/or buffets, cutlery, linens, serving items, lighting, etc.
Large events: seating, lighting, theme décor, games, pipe and drape, etc.

Here is a snapshot of a Hospitality Suite using rentals at the Wynn in Las Vegas (one of my favorite venues). It was truly a gorgeous set.

Some of the top in the Event Rental Companies are:
Midwest: www.chicagopartyrental.com, www.hallsrental.com
West: www.butlerrents.com, www.townandcountryeventrentals.com, www.wcep.com, pedersens.com, www.rentedelegance.com
East: www.broadwaypartyrentals.com, www.dcrental.com
South: www.grandeventrentals.com, www.linenswithpanache.com
Southwest: www.aztecusa.com/cart
National: www.classicpartyrentals.com, www.karls.com, www.mmspecialevents.com
International: www.boels.com, www.chairmanmills.com, www.spaceworks.co.uk, www.thorns.co.uk

Font Envy

Since working at Salutations, I have become enamored with font. I’ve had the privilege of working with the best stationers and feel the proper use of font is one of the (if not the) most important part of a invitation design decision.

However, I am guessing that you are wondering how one could be so passionate about a typeface? Well, the right font can transform the entire impression given by an invitation, announcement, menu, mailer, or business communication. A font can turn a simple piece of paper from modern to traditional.

So, I hope you’re inspired and will give the fonts in your life some thought. My two favorite font sites are:

1. http://www.veer.com/


2. http://www.dafont.com/

And, my favorite fonts are:

Source: www.veer.com; Top (L-R) Burgues; Feel; Bottom: Wesley.

And, since I always like to include a little snippet of background on my posts, here’s some fun facts about the five of the most popular fonts:*

Bodoni: Giambattista Bodoni’s namesake font, often found in women’s magazines, came into fashion at the end of the 1700s and enjoyed a resurgence in the early 1900s.

Caslon: Designed by Englishmen William Caslon in the mid-1700s, this robust serif typeface appears in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Garamond: French type designer Claude Garamond created this typeface almost 500 years ago. It appears everywhere – from Apple’s text copy to ads for Abercrombie & Fitch.

Helvetica: Last year’s documentary Helvetica celebrated the 50th anniversary of this minimalist sans serif typeface, designed by Eduard Hoffmann and Max Miedinger for a Swiss type foundry.

Time New Roman: Commissioned by the Times of London in 1931, this tight, readable serif typeface is a popular choice for book text. All personal computers come equipped with this font.

*Real Simple, March 2008.

Real Simple

Real Simple is one of my favorite magazines. The clean lines, reader-friendly layout and useful tips have me waiting by my mailbox each month.

My favorite tip? Using a clothespin to clamp the nail while you hammer it into the wall (thus eliminating the inevitable injury of your fingertips). When I read that, it was a huge aha moment and I was forever indebted to the Editors of Real Simple.

Now, the magazine that helps us make life easier is expanding to guide us through our events. Real Simple has released Real Simple Weddings and I have found the ideas, once again, to be useful and full of aha moments for the planner ~ regardless of the type of event. So, grab one or steal a glance while at the bookstore ~ even if you're not a bride. 160 pages; $12.95