Happy Holidays!

Hello Everyone!

I hope that all of you have been able to do most if not all of your Holiday shopping. I finally finished mine yesterday and I am so happy I was able to do everything on time and not have to run around doing last minute shopping. I learned my lesson a couple of years ago when I really thought that I would be able to do all my shopping on the morning of the 24th in 34th street. My attitude that morning was, "Ah, I have Macy's, I have the mall on 33th and Sixth Avenue... it shouldn't be so bad." Well... boy was I wrong! There were mobs and mobs of people on the street, in the stores, lines that were unbelievably long. Needless to say, I got home so exhausted that it just took the whole Christmas spirit away.

Well, on a quick note I would like to let you all know that my team and I are going to take a little holiday break and will be closed from December 23, 2008 until January 5th, 2009.

If you have any inquiries please visit our website: www.detaildivaevents.com
and fill out the questionnaire or you can email me directly at ketty@detaildivaevents.com

I will also like to take this time to wish you all HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I also want to thank you for your continuous support and for reading my blog. 2009 will be a very exciting year for DETAIL DIVA EVENTS with our plans to expand and offer many more services to future brides and grooms and everyone else planning memorable event!

Best Wishes,
Ketty Gonzalez

Planning my daughter's first birthday party

Well time is flying by so fast I don't know what to think of it! Yesterday my daughter turned 11 months old which means I only have 4 weeks to plan her first birthday. As I was sitting making my to-do list I said to myself, "Why not blog about it?" So here I am, once again in front of the computer. We have chosen the Hugs and Stitches theme for her and we are running wild with it! Here are some of my tips... I usually suggest to everyone planning a kids party to start planning 6 weeks ahead. Unfortunately many of us are very busy and before we know it we only have (like me) 4 weeks to plan. DON'T PANIC IT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED!

• If possible, begin planning your party 4-5 weeks in advance. Allowing plenty of time for on-line shopping, cake orders and enlisting any friends or family you may want to help

• Pick a theme. Whether it's an elaborate royal kingdom theme, or something easier, like your child's favorite color, selecting a theme will help you organize your thoughts. You'll then plan all of your party supply purchases, party games and decorations around that theme

• Children remember what they did at a party, much more than what they ate, what the plates and napkins looked like or whether the house was spotless. Don't sweat the little details!

• The best party times are......1:00 - 3:00 or 2:00 - 4:00. You won't need to serve a meal but a few finger foods are advised. For little ones try 10:00am -11:30 to work around nap time.

PARTY GAMES
No one should go home a loser! Competitive games are enjoyable only for the people who win. A party should be fun...Avoid tears by selecting games where everyone gets a chance to succeed. For example, if it's a game like musical chairs, when a player is called "out", assign that player the task of playing the music. After one round, that player will rejoin the group. Better yet, plan a few cooperative games, in which the whole gang faces a challenge, such as following a treasure map, then they each receive a prize or split the treasure evenly.

Be Prepared!!!
Try setting up your party in activity stations to lead the children in the direction of the party focus. The stations need not be fancy or expensive. The birthday child can pick what they want to do i.e. blocks at one station, dollhouse at another, play dough at another etc.
You should not need more than four stations. Prepare ALL of the activities, games etc. before the party. This enables you to focus on the kids when the party begins.

Ask a friend , family member or neighbor to help with the party. It's likely you have a neighborhood teenager who would love to help, when offered a few dollars for their time.

Party Favors
In choosing party favors, it's better to spend more creativity than money. Give a wonderful thank you item/items that reflects the party theme; a flower pot and seeds for a garden party, modeling clay for an art party. You can even send the kids home with a treasure they've made during the party. The birthday child should hand out the favors. This will remind her to say "thank you".

For the Parents
Many times parents drop off the children and then pick them up about half an hour before it ends or if they are like my friends and family they stay the entire time. Which I'm perfectly okay with because to us is more of a culture thing so we are used to it. Anyway, either way I always suggest some coffee & tea with maybe some cookies & donuts or finger foods with some sort of non-alcoholic beverage for the parents. You can set a table away from the area where the children will be and offer these goodies to the parents while they socialize amongst each other. Don't worry too much about catering to them, after all, it is a kids party. Just set the table and that should be good enough.

Remember to have fun and enjoy the celebration of your child's birth!

I hope you have found these tips helpful... until next time....

Ketty

Ways to Save on Centerpieces

There is no doubt that in planning your wedding, you’ve spent a bundle on a sumptuous feast, a great band, and the honeymoon of your dreams. And though you want your wedding photos to look like those in magazines, you’re probably also looking for ways to save money without sacrificing good taste. Is that even possible? Absolutely! Spend your money where it counts most. The savings will come in handy when you put together your own simple yet elegant centerpieces.

The best centerpieces are those that draw the eye to the beauty of the entire table. When arranging your table displays, remember that size matters! Your centerpiece shouldn’t be too obvious or overpower the place settings. Think of it as putting together an outfit. For the best results, everything on your table should complement everything else.

Here are some great ideas for glamorous, low-cost table decorations. Before making your decision, consider the style of your reception, the time of day or night, the season, and the mood you wish to set.

Theme Wedding

If your wedding has a theme, it can be lots of fun to use items associated with it for your centerpiece. For example, if you are getting married at the beach, you can fill a big, round fishbowl halfway with sand and beautiful shells. If your reception is close to the winter holidays, you may like a big, white bowl filled with silver and/or gold ornaments. And if your wedding is on New Year’s Eve, a container of sparkly wands, pinwheels, noisemakers, and festive blowouts will allow your guests to ring in your new life and the New Year when the time is right!

Sentimental Savvy

For a personal touch (and to make your folks cry), think nostalgia! Choose two medium-sized silver or gold picture frames for each table. Put a picture of you when you were a child in one and a picture of your new husband as a child in the other. Next, set up the frames facing away from one another, and then behind the frames and around the bottom, place greens, sparkly garlands, loose ribbon, or a topiary to hide the backs of the frames and to complete this sweet ensemble. You may also arrange 3-5 frames in a cluster and then fill them with your favorite family photos. This will encourage your guests to mingle as they walk around to view all the pictures!

Another new choice in centerpieces is cupcakes! Simply use a small cake tier, place it in the center of the table, and fill each level with cupcakes topped with your choice of white or colored frosting and sprinkled with sparkling sugar. Maybe the baker in your family will offer to make them as a wedding gift to you. This simple and delicious idea will be a big hit with your guests. I mean, who doesn’t like cupcakes?

The Natural Look

In keeping with a more natural or “green” scheme, wildflowers are a great choice. Simply gather bunches of dried flowers and various stems and leaves, and then hang them over the edges of wide baskets or arrange them in odd-shaped jars, old water pitchers, or kettles. To add some shimmer, try spraying silver or gold spray paint on some of the branches or leaves (or pinecones, if in season).

Citrus is also a nice organic choice. Just fill a large, clear bowl with one type of fruit (usually lemons, limes, or oranges) and coordinate your place cards, china, or glassware in the same color as your fruit selection. To add a little more detail to this clever choice, wrap each lemon, lime, or orange with the same color ribbon, tying a small, tight bow on each.

You can also arrange a single fruit choice in tall, square, or cylindrical clear glass vases. For an extra boost, insert some long-stemmed greens or flowers in the center.

Another way of displaying your fruit choice is by slicing it up! Fill tall, clear vases with lots of quarter-inch slices of lemons or limes, add water, and you’re done! This look can be changed up by using shorter vases and topping off each with a fresh flower. This option not only looks sophisticated, but it gives off a great aroma!

Fresh-Cut Flowers

Although a little more expensive, the simplest and most elegant décor usually involves fresh-cut flowers. The best thing about flowers is that there are so many types, sizes, and colors, and there are just as many ways to display your favorite ones. For example, you may choose yellow roses for your spring wedding, lilies for a black-and-white evening affair, or daisies for a relaxed afternoon soiree.

A single red rose standing alone in a tall, clear vase surrounded by a handful of rose petals around the base is the statement of the uncomplicated and sophisticated bride. Change the rose to a gardenia for a less formal look, or replace the vases with old, water-filled champagne bottles to add antique charm. For a more creative and romantic look, circle 5-10 flowered teacups and saucers in the center of your table. Then fill each teacup with water and add your choice of flower to sit on top. In the center of the grouping, simply add a small vase full of the same flower, and fin! A great way to get your family more involved (if you dare) is to ask aunts, cousins, and grandparents to lend you their china teacups. The variety of patterns will provide much to talk about!

Ketty

Should we get CupCakes instead of a Wedding Cake?

I wanted to share the new trend of Cupcakes as Wedding Cakes.

There are so many ways your baker can customize your cupcakes. Plus, cupcakes make great alternatives for weddings on a budget.

When ordering your cake ask your baker to assist you in planning a decor to match your theme or your wedding colors.

Beautiful Spring Colors

This is a very elegant and elaborate presentation.

Following your wedding colors is a fun way to personalize your cupcakes

You can also use fresh flowers to give it that elegant and personal touch in accordance with the flowers being used for the brides bouquet.

CAES Class with Samantha and Jenny

On October 24th I had the honor to meet two of my favorite celebrity Wedding Planners Samantha Goldberg and Jenny Orsini stars of the T.V. show "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" I signed up for their one day course/seminar that was held at the beautiful Skyland Manor in Ringwood, NJ. These ladies are awesome and they taught us so much about the business that I went home thinking and thinking and going over everything they had to say. It gave me fresh outlook about this business and how much fun it can be if you handle things in the proper way. The best part of the course was being able to hear it from the pros and that indeed was PRICELESS. We all had a great time with them they made us feel comfortable and that meant alot to me. (BTW I'm the one in the very center with the camouflage top) Thank you Samantha and Jenny you girls are AWESOME!

Mom & Son Bonding

I finally had the day off today only to run around with family errands. I did some much needed shopping and was able to spend the day with my teenage son. He was home today because of the holiday and I decided to invite him to go shopping with me in New Jersey (my second home). It's amazing how your kids will talk to you while you are driving. I really think it's because we can't really look at them as we drive (LOL!). Although I have a baby girl at home and wonderful husband I only wanted my son to go with me because we were due for some MOM & SON BONDING and it was great. I hate to admit this but he actually taught me something new about the Mine Calendar (?).

Well, today I wanted to inform all women with small business that I am part of a great group called Unique-Women-In-Business. It's a Yahoo group and these women are absolutely incredible. Most of them own Etsy shops and most of the products are handmade. We also have wonderful members who are either Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, etc representatives. The group also welcomes women who are only interested in shopping. So, if that describes you then by all means join us today.

Membership is by invitation ONLY so if you are interested in joining please click on the Yahoo banner on the right hand side of the screen and don't forget to mention Detail Diva Events invited you.

I will definitely talk about events and weddings on my blog but I also want to take the time and feature some of my new found friends to give my blog a different twist and hopefully make it more interesting. Until next time!

Oh, I almost forgot... some have asked me what's my website. Well, if you scroll down to the very bottom I have a clickable banner there or you can just type the following into your search button the www.detaildivaevents.com

Ketty

Wow! My first time blogging...

I can't believe I am actually going to give blogging a try. I've always said I am so much better at talking in person than actually writing, specially writing about me. I hope that anyone here reading actually enjoys what I have to say. So welcome to my world! Now let me introduce myself....

My name is Ketty and I am a Certified Wedding & Event Specialist which really means, I am a wedding and event planner. My business is located in New York City and we also service Northern and Central New Jersey. I decided to become a planner and actually go through all the motions of opening my own business because I believe everyone needs assistance during these celebrations so that they can be present in the moment not worrying about what they need to do or where they need to be. Able to just relax and enjoy the celebration at hand. It could be a party of 30 or 300, having someone there to coordinate and handle anything that might arise is the peace of mind you want so you can enjoy the event. Keeping in mind your idea of a perfect day, realizing a budget and using all of our resources to make your event one to remember is our goal.

Whether it’s a consultation to get ideas flowing, putting a plan together or coordinating the entire event I want to be there for my clients. With my experience, research and planning, along with a certification of professional bridal consultant and a desire to help others with their planning needs,“Detail Diva Events" was born. I have a fresh approach and a “can do” attitude along with a great deal of passion for what I do which are reflected in my work.

After helping many friends with parties and doing my own wedding I knew immediately that this was my passion. I found out that every event, big and small needs a planner. I remember walking into the reception area and looking at everything to make sure it was there, instead of just enjoying the moment. I have a knack of making things happen no matter where you want your event. I take the approach of good listening, careful and thorough planning, creative ideas coming to life and follow up on every detail very seriously. The planning experience for all involved can be fun and fulfilling when you stay in the right frame of mind and always remember that the event is a celebration of life. With life’s busy schedule, it’s nice to have at least one day where it's all about you.

My goal with this blog is to assist as many brides-to-be with wedding tips and also to assist anyone else who is planning an event big or small. So please check back from time to time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ketty