You have asked and I have answered. It's my job to do so!

Hello Everyone!

I have received many messages of people asking how they can access my site and where are we located. So, I thought I would post our information again.

Please bookmark my website www.detaildivaevents.com and if you have any questions or you know of a bride-to-be who may be interested in our services you can email me directly at ketty@detaildivaevents.com

Here's a preview of my website!

OUR SERVICES

Detail Diva Events not only specialize in Weddings, we also specialize in the following services.

ANNIVERSARY PARTY

RETIREMENT PARTY

BIRTHDAY PARTY

SWEET SIXTEEN

BABY SHOWER

BRIDAL SHOWER

SMALL CORPORATE EVENTS

Please contact us for a free consultation so we can create a customized package for your special event.

Remember no budget is too small to have a memorable event!

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation

ABOUT ME

My name is Ketty Gonzalez and 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 we are here for you.
We can be involved in as little or as much as you want.

With 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. A fresh approach and
a “can do” attitude along with a great deal of passion for
what I do 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 offer personal service and an emotional refuge for anything that arises accented with a smile.

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.

Since all events are different in one way or another I can custom design a package just for you. Pricing depends on guest count, location, set up requirements etc. and can be discussed for customization.
You can also pick from one of my specialty packages. I will personally handle the coordination of your event.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Do we have to send "Save the Date" cards?

Hello!

I know it has taken me a while to write again and I apologize to all whom follow my blog. I have been re-organizing and creating new folders and new everything else for my future clients. I feel very confident that 2009 is going to be our year, "Detail Diva Events Year". I must admit that with everything that is happening with the economy everyone feels they can't afford extras or at least feel that they should hold on to what they have and spend it wisely. The good thing is, I have done 3 meetings this month and all three 3 couples have asked for the "Day of Wedding" package. Although I am used to having clients wanting the "Full Wedding" package it still feels good to know that couples still want to get married and still feel they can use our service just not to a certain extent which is perfectly fine with me and I also consider it a very SMART move. Only you as an individual knows how hard you work for your money and therefore determine where and how your money should be spent. As a wedding planner I feel that I will still be able to be part of their VERY SPECIAL day and still take away the stress off when their special day is here.

Today, I decided to discuss this VERY famous question "Do we really have to send save-the-date cards?" Here are some tips and hopefully it will help you determine if you need to. Every situation is different so it's really up to the couple to figure if it's necessary.

As destination weddings and three-day weekends have become m
ore standard, so have save-the-dates. And if you're marrying during high travel time like a holiday weekend or summer in a beach town, a save-the-date is an expected courtesy. Of course, you don't have to send one if you don't want to, but it will give guests a heads up about your wedding plans. Between travel arrangements and busy schedules, deciding to send a save-the-date will increase guest chance of attending your celebration. That's the goal, right?

As a general rule, it's best to start spreading the news at around six months prior to the ceremony (eight months for faraway locale). This gives guests plenty of time to book their travel, save a bit of cash, and ask for days off from work. Any earlier, and they may toss the notice aside. Any later, and it may as well be an invitation.

Should you send save-the-date to everyone on your list? The answer is no, just to the people that you want to come to your wedding. Once these are in the mail there's no turning back. Seriously though, a save-the-date is essentially an early invitation to the wedding and even if you have shared wedding details with some guests, you still need to send them one (bridesmaid, siblings, and parents too).

What's the best way to announce your wedding date to the masses? Take the formality of your wedding into account then consider wording your save-the-date more casual, I would say about 10 percent more casual.

Please remember if you have any questions or would like more ideas you can email me ketty@detaildivaevents.com Until next time!!!

Why It's Important To Hire A Wedding Planner - A Brides Story

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year to you all! I was trying to stay away from blogging and doing all the twenty thousand things I do but I just couldn't hold back today after reading the following blog about a bride who regrets not hiring a wedding planner.

Many newly engaged couples begin planning the details of their wedding with so many ideas and questions running through their minds. In addition to deciding the date and location, one important detail they must discuss is whether or not to hire a wedding planner.

I came across this post that shares a story of a heartbroken bride who decided not to hire a professional wedding planner. As I was reading I kept telling myself, "Ketty you hear this all the time." Every time someone comes up to me and tells me how things just "didn't go as planned" or "let me tell you my horror story" I really feel sorry because so much work goes into planning and to see it all just crumble it really brakes my heart.

This story is something I want to share with you all because I feel it will make many of you realize why hiring a wedding planner is something to consider. Here's the bride story in her own words:

“I hated all of the planning and felt so tired, stressed and sick of it all. I had so much stress even the week before and my venue treated me like dog doo doo the day and night before my event...I have been overcome with depression and anxiety over imperfect details. Most notably is that the day seems like a blur and this is most likely due to the fact that no matter how many times I asked, no one would get me some lunch...My husband felt as I did - starving! We felt like there were a million people around when we were taking pictures and no one thought to get some damn food. Anyway, I felt like this seriously compromised my day. The photos seem like a blur, not sure if they will even come out well, everything was so chaotic. We were 40 minutes late for pics. My bridesmaids would not let me wear a watch and yet kept horrible time. All I can think is that I wish I hadn't bought into what everyone was telling me about how this was my day, that everyone would take care of me, I could just relax and enjoy it, one BM said she promised that everything would be as I wanted...It was awful and my fault in it is that I should never have trusted or given others so much control and power over making sure I was taken care of.”

If you or someone you know is planning a wedding or special event in the New York City or New Jersey area you can find out more information about my services by visiting
www.detaildivaevents.com

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.