Justin+Megan

A fall wedding in Indiana can be tricky. The weather can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It is especially difficult when the bride and groom live in a different state! Although there was some rain on their wedding day, Justin and Megan didn't let that stop them from having an amazing wedding. They always say a little rain on your wedding day is good luck. Enjoy!





 

Congratulations to Justin & Megan. Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day. If you would like to see more check out our Facebook page or website: www.jcroweevents.com

 

 

Jenny



Luau Themed Party

It has been an amazing but crazy busy summer in my house. This summer was a milestone for my hubby who turned the big 3-0!! So of course I had to throw him a great party to celebrate. Along with any party come lots of DIY projects. He chose to do a luau themed party and I wanted to keep it from looking to kid-like so here’s how I did a grownup luau party.

First thing people see when the walk up to a party…the welcome sign! Super cute, easy to make and pretty cheap.

Pick up a wreath at a craft store and umbrellas from a party store and you’re ½ way done. One tip: Break about 2 inches off the bottom of the umbrellas before sticking them into the wreath so they are a little sturdier. I typed up a little welcome sign and hung it on the front door with a little ribbon.

I like to make sure people know what is being served so I typed up menu cards and placed them in luau themed frames.



I kept the décor pretty simple. I didn’t want to have to spend a ton of money but if I was going to buy something I wanted to make sure I could reuse it for another party. I think the only thing I haven’t figured out how to recycle is the leis, but give me time and I just might come up with something.

Everyone LOVED the vases! I got compliments left and right about how good they looked. All I did was add some shells on the bottom and a few drops of food coloring. It’s so easy!

What birthday party would be complete without a beer cake and cupcakes?? Next blog, I will show you a step-by-step guide on how I made my own cupcake stands.

Luau themed parties are no longer just for the kiddos anymore! Hope you all enjoyed my version of a grownup luau party. What great themed parties have you been to lately? Would love to see pictures and ideas for our next party.

Jenny

Keeping Bachelorette Parties Classy

Recently I threw my sister-in-law a bachelorette party. I wanted everyone to have great time and enjoy the night but keep it classy at the same time.
First up was the goodie bags. Who doesn't love free stuff?? Since it is a bachelorette party, I included a "hangover kit." My kit included:

- Gatorade

-Granola Bar

-Peanut Butter Crackers

-Tylenol

-Pepto

-Hair Tie

-Breath mints

I also added a picture frame (in her wedding colors) and glam drinking glass.
I found the glasses at Old Time Pottery for 98 cents a piece. I bought the gems at the craft store in the dollar bin in a variety of colors. You can use any glue that works on glass but I highly recommend using a glue that has a small tip for precision application.

For my sister-in-law's glass I did a little something extra...

Keep the party going by making fantastic punch. A real crowd pleaser is my Adult Pink Lemonade. Here's the recipe:

1 pink lemonade concentrate (thawed)

1 1/2 c. vodka

6 beers

I know it sounds a little strange but it tastes like fizzy pink lemonade. Everyone loves it. I make it for every party, plus it's pink!

Hope this helps give you some great ideas for the next party you are hosting.

-Jenny

Making your Wedding Shadow Box

Making your Wedding Shadow Box

Ever wonder what to do with all those important treasures like your bouquet, toasting glasses and cake topper after your wedding?  Don’t put them back into the boxes they came in and store them on a shelf. Brides often get their dresses preserved; pictures are made into beautiful photo albums and framed throughout the house. Some items are just too big to put into scrapbooks and honestly how often are you going to drink out of those toasting glasses? Why not keep them on display in a wedding shadow box.

Most flower preservation shops offer a shadow box service for brides. They usually take about 2-3 weeks to get them done but they can be expensive. Pricing varies depending on size of the shadow box and additional design work but usually starts at $150.

For those DIY brides, making your shadow box is simple. There are a few things to purchase and then it’s just a matter of picking out which items to put in the box. Any local craft store should have a variety of sizes and styles of shadow boxes.  Suggested items to put in the box:

-Toasting glasses

-Cake knife and server

-Bridal bouquet (may want to take out some of the flowers to make it fit better)

-Cake topper

-Garter

-Invitation/Menu Card/Place Card

-Picture of Bride & Groom

-Any other special items wore for the wedding (Your something old, new, borrowed or blue)

Just to tie it all together you can add in your colors with ribbons (which you probably still have left over from the wedding).

Shadow boxes are a great way to showcase important pieces from your special day. Keep those memories out for not only you but for others to see.  Don’t let them be put away and only brought out on special occasions.

DIY vs. BUY

When I see a great idea on Pinterest or in a picture, my first thought is “How can I make that?” I am a huge fan of DIY projects. Taking an idea and making it my own brings a smile to my face.  There are some definite rules to follow when deciding to DIY or BUY.

Time: Most time people who post craft ideas on blogs are very good at it and have some knowledge or experience. This being said, if they said it only takes 30 minutes to make it, give yourself at least double the time. I made my first diaper cake for a friend’s baby shower and it turned out great, but only after it took me 30 minutes to roll all the diapers up.

(Side Note: I got all my decorations from the Dollar Store. Great place to find decorative items.)

Purchasing Items: Make sure to buy extras! I cannot stress this enough. You will make mistakes and you want to make sure to have plenty of backups. Making your own wedding invites?  It’s a great way to cut costs, but please buy extra envelopes and paper. Chances are that if you don’t buy extras, when you go back to buy more the store will be sold out of whatever you need. Don’t let that be an added stress.  I made these adorable glasses for a bachelorette party but sure enough when I went back they were no longer there and the only ones they had cost about $6 MORE than the original stones.

Think ahead: One of my favorite things is reusing wine bottles. This is not only a green way to go but can do double duty and hardly cost you anything. First, drink your wine then wash and pull off all the labels. Then paint the bottles any color you choose and decoration to them. They are beautiful centerpieces and great vases. The only additional cost here is paint. Talk about an inexpensive way to add a personal touch to any event.  If it is something you are thinking about doing, tell friends and family to keep theirs as well.

Be realistic: I saved the most important rule for last. Crafting is fun but can be time consuming and stressful. If you are 2 months away from your wedding date, don’t take on a project that requires two hours a night for the next 2 months. With showers, bachelorette parties and everyday life adding a major project into the mix will make you want to pull your hair out. Some ideas are better left on your Pinterest board for another time.

Hope this helps figure out which decision works best for your project. Good luck and remember to call J. Crowe Event’s for more details on how we can help plan your next event.

Jenny

J. Crowe Events
www.wix.com/jcroweevents/jcroweevents

Jcroweevents@gmail.com

317-442-5808

A Walk Down Wedding-Memory Lane

I love going through photos of wedding I have been lucky enough to be a part of, so I decided that I would share one with all of you today. This was a beautiful wedding at the Statehouse. The bride and groom were great to work with and they could not wait to be married. I loved the pops of color they added with their flowers and her red lips! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.




First look on the Canal




See what I am talking about? Look at the POPS!



 

The Statehouse is a gorgous backdrop for a wedding.





 I have said it before and I will say it again, I love my job and love the people I get to work with to make memorable weddings. Thank you all for being amazing:
Photographer: Nicole Neff Photography
Florist: Sweet Pea Floral Design
Makeup: Audrey Delello
All the lovely people at the Statehouse and Sahm's.

Thanks again Matt and Jaimie for letting us be a part of your big day. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

To Favor or Not to Favor?

Myth: You must have favors for your guests at your wedding.

Wrong! Let me first start off by saying a wedding favor can be a great way to say thank-you to your family and friends for sharing your special day with you. I cannot count how many times I am cleaning up after a wedding and filling boxes back up with favors that guests have left behind.   If you are going to give favors at your wedding actually put some thought into them.

Wedding favors can run from $1 to $15 per favor and there are many great options that you can choose from. You will want to get enough so that each guest can have one or give them away by couples (this works best if you are using place cards).

Make sure that your favor somehow ties into the theme of your wedding.

If you are doing a “green” wedding, give away potted flowers (or seed packets) that match your colors. If you are on a tight budget use potted herbs as centerpieces and then have guests take their favorite home with them.

Photo: http://weddingdish.thinklikeabride.com/

Are you a real foodie? Give out your favorite hot sauce or spice rub. Maybe locally brewed ale with a homemade label is the way to go.



Photo: http://www.heartloveweddings.com/



Want to give something more meaningful? Make a donation in each guest’s name to your favorite charity. If you have lost someone to cancer, this is great way to acknowledge them at your wedding. Check out Justgive.org for a listing of charities.

Photo: The Knot

Don’t go generic just because you think you have to have them, be creative. They can leave a lasting impression or be a waste of money. Favors are a great way to make your wedding more memorable.

Contracts: Read before Signing

Many brides get wrapped up in all their wedding excitement before the big day and forget to do the most important thing...read vendor contracts BEFORE signing!!

Yes, I know it might sound simple and it is simple. Here are the major points to look for in a contract:

• Your wedding date- make sure it's correct!
• Times- start to finish times, that includes what time they will arrive for setup and exactly what time they will begin closing up shop.
• Pricing- taxes, gratuities, overtime hourly rates (check availablity)
• "Package" details- if buying one, get a detailed list of what services that includes
• Cancellation/Refund Policy- just in case of an emergency on either side!!
• Contact Information- contact name, phone number, email
• Dress Code- what that vendor will be wearing at your wedding. You don't want to have a photographer show up in jeans to a black-tie wedding
• Rental Information- itemized list of what you are renting, when and where they are to be returned and in what condition they need to be in when you return them (think linens- do they need to be back on the hangers and in bags they came in?)

This is the basic information any vendor should provide in a contract so if it's not there, DON'T sign. Ask them to include any information that is missing. Make sure you get the exact service you are paying for.

Good luck and leave any questions you may have or contact J. Crowe Events for additional help!

Jenny

Picnic-Chic Photoshoot

I love not only planning events but also coming up with designs and doing mock setups. I have been very fortunate to meet many wonderful people in this great industry and love being able to work together to make beautiful ideas come together. I adore outdoor weddings and could not wait to do a picnic-chic photoshoot.

The bride did a fantastic job and looked beautiful. Makeup was done by Audrey Delello and hair by Kristine Lindsay at Beauty First. 

If you have never heard of Sweet Pea Floral Design, you need to go check out their website immediately. Kaeley is not only super talented but she is such a wonderful person. She designed and donated all the floral arrangements. She nailed the the picnic vibe!





Chris La Mar with Linen Hero provided the perfect linens for the day. The burlap runner took the table to the next level. The hot pink cake table linen matched the flowers exactly and made them pop. Heavenly Sweets helped out by allowing us to use one of their out-of-this-world cakes. Isn't it amazing?!

If I can give any bride a piece of advice it is to put extra thought into the details and pull everything together with details. I used ribbon on the candles and table number to coordinate them with the centerpieces, cake and linens.

Without great photographers, I would have been standing in a field with a great table setup and bride but no one else would have been able to enjoy seeing all my hard work. Cory + Jackie are super easy to work with and they take awesome photographs!! If you need a photographer, I highly recommend this team.

Thank you again to all the people who helped out and allowed me to create and design this photoshoot. I could not have done it without each and everyone of you!

Get the most for your dollar

To all the couples who got engaged over the holidays or are getting married in 2012, I would like to start off by saying CONGRATS!!! What an exciting time in your life.

Ask any event planner and the most important and critical step to planning a wedding to determining a budget. I have never met a bride who did not have a budget for her big day. The size of the budget varies with each wedding but the one thing that stays the same is every bride wants her wedding to be the most special day of her life.

Not only is the dollar amount important but what you get for that amount is even more important. Here are some budget friendly ideas that will give you more "bang for your buck."

Table Numbers:
Get creative with the way you "number" your tables. Assign each table a name or number that has some meaning. Where the couple met, where they got engaged, went of their frist date and other special places or dates that relate to the couple.
Plan early and pick up 8x10 picture frames from garage sales or craft stores. They do not need to all match and remember a can of paint can do wonders.
Add a picture of the couple and the story behind the name or number of the table. This will give the guests something to do while sitting at the table, a reason to go around to other tables and they will get to know more about the couple!

The best part of this idea is what you can do after your wedding day. Take the print outs and bind them together to make a memory book to keep and show others. All those frames will come in handy once you get the pictures from your wedding. You will definatly want to enlarge and display plenty of pictures in all those frames.

To make the most out of your budget, find ways to reuse items that you bought for your wedding day. Get creative and make your wedding stand out by showing off your personality. Continue to check in with J. Crowe Events for more budget friendly ideas.  Happy planning!!