Here it is , the end of the night and it is time to tip all of the individuals who helped make your event so successful ! While the standard tip of any balance is 15-20% whether owner or not, nothing means more to a service provider than a thoughtfully written thank you note.  Don’t skimp – if the service met your expectations and agreed upon services , thank that company/person.

People not to forget:

• Waitstaff
• Chef
• Limo/Bus Drivers
• Cake/Dessert Delivery Person
• Valet
• Concierge
• Bellman

Plan ahead, set aside money.  Give to a close friend/event planner to distribute for you so you can celebrate and play the role of the effortless host/hostess. Enjoy !

Welcome to Spring !!  Look at these amazing flowers commissioned from KD+J Botanica in Westport .  Photography by JAG Studios.  Read about the entire wedding here.

Floral design by KD+J Botanica

Floral design by KD+J Botanica

Bouquets by KD+J Botanica

Selecting a Wedding Invitation can be a daunting task for some.  There are many stores which offer a wide selection that can be viewed in person but online purchases are becoming more and more popular.  One of my favorite sites for invitations is Etsy.

There are so many wonderful designs to choose from on Etsy.  Designs are available from popular retailers as well as new and up and coming soloentrepreneurs .  Take a peek at some of these fun options……..

Twig Sprint Studio via Etsy

Cooper Jane Design via Etsy

Wiley Valentine Shower Invite via Etsy

Today we honor the grateful spirit of lent ,and remember our own roots. Traci,our CEO, began her career as an entrepreneur in the event planning arena more than a decade ago.  At the time she was one of a select few embarking on a career that specialized in weddings.  Wedding planners are everywhere today , as they should be.  Every bride should have an advocate on their side. Someone to direct , advise , create and assist in navigating one of the most special days in a families lives.

Estate Wedding captured by M. Benedicte Verley

Once a small business, it grew quite large and Traci and her companies events were featured in many magazines and online media channels.  They planned weddings in Metro New York and as far away as Barbados.

The event planning business shifted and Traci wanted to get closer to her own professional roots and embrace marketing along with events.

25 Thompson was born in 2011 out of both passions  : marketing and events.

Jill Cohen photographed by Bruce Plotkin

What are you grateful for ? Where did you start ? What drives you? We would love to know !

Wadsworth Atheneum photographed by Bruce Plotkin

This logo is a favorite of mine that I found on Pinterest

Why I LOVE it:

The color palette is modern and clean.  Contact information is clear and easy to read.  The touch of the envelope liner is the accent that takes this stationery suite to the next level.  The edging color on the sides of the business card is also incredibly gorgeous.

This design was created by Twig and Thistle .

Photography by Justin and Mary

Work with The Best

Working with the right team of professionals will ensure a smooth planning and production process.  Interview your team carefully and select those who have the tenure and talent to deliver what is needed.

Timing is Everything

Allow for enough planning time.  If you are planning an event in a Venue it can often take a year or more to get the exact day of week and room you are looking for.

Entertaining at Home is Costly

While entertaining at home is quite lovely it can often cost twice as much as entertaining outside of the home.  Rentals of furniture , chairs, plates, glasses are often not considered.  A caterer and a staff must also be hired. Entertaining at home may also requires a tent , extensive lighting and other extra’s like valet companies, generators and much more.

Conceptualize

Pick a Concept or Theme. It is much easier to stick to a design plan and make important decision when those decisions are based on an overall concept or theme for your event.

Event Insurance

Always investigate Event Insurance – always !  With the weather and natural disasters we have experienced not to mention the world climate – it is imperative to insure the work you have done and monies you have paid for your event. If you event needs to be rescheduled – you have the ability to do that with the proper insurance.

I adore Tea and this inforgraphic I found today while reading an article from another tea lover simply made my day ! This infographic combines my love of entertaining + events with a brilliant marketing infographic. Thank you for creating this Confused.com

In his own words ….

Connecticut Wedding image by Bruce Plotkin

The stars were in perfect alignment for our good friends Jen and Tim on the day of their wedding this past October. The rain, which had been threatening all week, held off long enough for the folks at Sperry Tents to pitch their beautiful tent in New Haven’s Edgerton Park, and by the wedding day, there was no rain at all. Their ceremony took place at The Church of St. Mary in downtown New Haven, perhaps the prettiest church I’ve ever seen. With catering by Barcelona (how could you go wrong?), music by the simply outrageous Cafe Wha’s House Band, flowers by Sharon Elizabeth, wedding cake by the extraordinary Hope Wright-Martell of A Little Imagination Cakes, Jen in her amazing Lilly Pulitzer “Lindsey” gown by Beth Chapman of White Dress by the Shore and Traci Garceau of 25 Thompson coordinating the entire day, it was everything they could have hoped for. A honor, of course, to have been included in their celebration, and an added bonus having the chance to hang with some of Jen and Tim’s good friends, who we’re lucky enough to call our friends as well.

……………………………..

To see the stunning images of this amazing wedding – hop on over to the blog of the super talented  Bruce Plotkin

What would you do if you had no fear ? 

This is a great exercise for business owners.  It is amazing to think about what you would do or could accomplish if fear was NOT a factor.

Would you?

• Invest in a new product?
• Hire more employees?
• Attend a Seminar or Conference?
• Host a Networking Event
• Launch into a new Market?
• Take a Vacation?
• Invite a Competitor to Lunch?
• Seek out an Investor?

Each of us holds a fear or set of fears that distracts from our ability to be our very best.  Some of us are better at being able to compartmentalize our fears more appropriately than others.  Facing fears takes practice and is a true skill.

Try this easy tip to help you overcome a fear…

Ask yourself what the worst case scenario is of a risk that you would like to take but are fearful of? When you narrow it down to the absolute most miserable end result – ask yourself if you could handle that.  Chances are that indeed, YES you can and probably already have in your business.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy”
Dale Carnegie

Don’t let fear stand in the way of making you a stand out ! Shift your thoughts and let fear be the catalyst that projects your company into wild success.

Image via 5th Ape at Flickr

Now is the time to get your Company Profile on Linked In !

TIP – Before you jump in – plan to spend at least 30 -60 minutes on setting up your company and its profile.  You will need to have your logo, company description, keywords and url’s for Twitter and your Blog Feed to begin the basics.

Add Your Company

Place your company name in the search field.  If you are not there ” add” your company.  Enter your company email address and then verify your company via the link they will send you.  You will need to have an email address that is the same as your domain name for this. Gmail , Hotmail etc.. will not work for this log in.

Administrator

Add yourself as an employee and also as an Administrator.  This will allow you to be able to post company status updates . Remember to post updates frequently.

Company Basics

Enter information on the type of company you are , when founded , key links to find you , where you are located, and how many employees you have.

Products and Services

What do you provide ? Products, Services or Both ? Add them. Offer key information and why your company would be most beneficial if selected for these services.

Following You !

Once you are listed – other companies can follow you and your company.  Once this begins it is very important to post regular updates so your followers are up to speed on the latest and greatest you are offering or involved in.

Analytics

In the past on profile pages you needed to create a bit.ly profile to track analytics.  The new company pages offer robust analytics.  You can not only track who is following and visiting your page but you can also compare yourself to similar companies and learn which content is most relevant to those who are visiting you.  Take advantage of this information and put it to work for you by tweaking your company information to better meet the needs of your visitors.

Linked In Company pages offer a great platform in a very professional setting.  Reach out and be heard today !