Archive for the ‘Event Planning’ Category

Halloween On A Budget

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Love Halloween parties but are concerned about the cost this year?  Don’t let the poor economy take the night away.  There are plenty of economical ways to have your party and treats too.  A popular DIY treat is the White Chocolate Covered Marshmallows. These wonderful sweets not only work as a tasty treat but also can double as a decoration.

Or try the Halloween Monster Appetizer; this will add delight to any table.

Halloween decorations and costumes are for only one night of the year, so you need to be cost effective in your purchases.  The Poundland stores have a good selection at the right price.

DIY Balloon Effects

Monday, August 4th, 2008

One of the more interesting types of balloon decorations is the “exploding balloon”. Well they don’t really explode as you would normally think of an explosion but it does provide a great effect. An exploding balloon is a large balloon stuffed with many small balloons so that when the large balloon is pierced, the small balloons spray in every direction to make it look like an explosion. Typically you use a 36” clear balloon stuffed with 60 to 70 five inch balloons.

The difficulty is if you want to pierce the balloon from a distance or to have multiple balloons explode at once. You could have a person stand next to each balloon with a stick pin. Well maybe not! For a professional who decorates for large events many times a year, there is a “Balloon Exploder” http://www.conwinonline.com/shop/shop.asp?pid=86200 kit that works well but this is expensive for some one wanting to decorate their own event.

So an alternative is to use the DIY Exploding Balloon. The idea is to be able to burst one or more large balloons at a specific time and from across the room. It is very surprising to the guests when the balloon explodes in the center of a wedding or anniversary reception.

For more information, go to DIY Exploding Balloon for assembly instructions.

White Dove Releases or is it a Pigeon Release?

Monday, June 9th, 2008

The tradition of releasing white doves at weddings and funerals has become increasing popular. You may be surprised to know that white doves are domesticated birds that can not survive in the wild. These Ringneck Doves come in a variety of colors, are easily kept in captivity, have a gentle nature but don’t last long outside the cage. So why would anyone want to release these beautiful white doves knowing that their existence would be short lived.

 

To the rescue comes the white racing or homing pigeon. White racing pigeons and the white doves look much the same, the difference is mainly in size. Doves are smaller with pointed tails while pigeons are stockier with rounded tails. Most people will not be able to tell the difference.

 

So the popular white dove releases at special events are said to be “dove releases” but any ethical business will use the white racing pigeons. These racing pigeons will more easily survive after being released. These pigeons have been selectively bred to return home immediately after being released, safe and sound.

 

If you are planning a special event and want to symbolize the love, devotion, peace and unity of the white dove, always use a White Dove Release Professional and the white racing pigeons.

Birthday Party Depression

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Here is a topic that needs more attention. Parents, usually mothers, can get depressed when faced with their child’s upcoming birthday party. There is so much to consider; the number of guests, the location, the entertainment, the competition with their friends birthday parties and the ever increasing cost. When the parent wants the best for their child and can’t bear to have them be disappointed on their birthday, it is very easy to fall into the “got’ a have” circumstance. Is this today’s culture or is it some type of obsession?

 

In many cases, the party costs have gotten “out of hand” with custom cakes at $1000, party rental places at $500 for four hours, an entertainer at $300 and party favors at $20 per guest. There are birthday parties that rival weddings, costing tens of thousands of dollars. The driving force is the parent’s need to provide the best or the need to compete with your their friend’s birthday parties or both.

 

Younger children do not care about the expensive cakes, the over-the-top entertainment or how their party compares to their friends party. These children just want to have fun. Older children who request the extravagant party and have no real sense of costs, parents just need to take control.

 

Here are some ideas to help keep the cost under control:

  • Make the cake and other food items yourself. A standard cake usually tastes just as good as or better than your custom designed cake anyway.
  • Keep the guest list to only close friends and family.
  • The location can be your home or backyard or the local park.
  • Choose a mid afternoon party time to save from serving a full meal.
  • For activities, do art projects and yard games.
  • Make the invitations yourself.
  • Plan a budget and stay with it.

 

Remember that the way to keep the cost of any event low is to keep thinking on a smaller scale and be more active in the planning, the cooking, the creating and the activities.