Jackie Ducci Events Blog

Our recent Gala to benefit Hearts & Homes for Youth was a great success! The event consisted of a cocktail reception followed by a dinner and awards presentation, as well as a brief live auction. All ran smoothly and the crowd gave us, as well as HHY, lots of positive feedback on their experience at the Gala. This was HHY’s first annual awards Gala, and it was a pleasure working with them to pull it off. We are already looking forward to next year!

Hearts and Homes for Youth is an impressive organization on so many levels, and their strong ability to fundraise and attract VIP guests such as John Walsh, Leon Harris, Dorris Buffet, Vi Ripken, and many more is a true testament to the phenomenal work that they do. To find out more about HHY, take a look at their website: www.hh4y.com.

To see coverage of this event on WJLA’s evening news, click the link below:

http://www.criticalmention.com/report/7588×20618.htm

The Perfect Event LLC landed a fabulous media hit this month!  Company President Jackie Ducci was quoted in South Florida CEO magazine’s December issue in an article regarding corporate holiday party etiquette and tips.

An online copy of the piece can be found by going to the following link:

http://www.southfloridaceo.com/article671.html

I am thrilled to announce the The Perfect Event’s new location in Bethesda, MD! Our move is now complete, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Our new office is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Bethesda. Being situated here is ideal for company, as it provides us easy access to hundreds of fabulous vendors and venues. Clients will benefit from this new location as well; we now boast easy access by car, free parking, and metro accessibility (we are 1 block from the Bethesda metro station!) Come check us out!

Our updated contact information is as follows:

The Perfect Event LLC

4903 Edgemoor Lane, #313
Bethesda, MD 20814
phone: 301-760-7617
fax: 301-760-7763

Many engaged couples set winter wedding dates. Having a winter wedding can be absolutely beautiful, but it does present some unique planning and style challenges. One common area of wedding planning that many brides struggle with is what type of flowers will work best in a winter wedding scheme. Definitely consult with your florist about what types of blooms they recommend, but I have a few favorites of my own:

• White roses
• Mums
• Lilies of any color
• Eucalyptus in a lighter shade

And my top choice (especially for evening, formal weddings): Red roses with holly berries mixed in - gorgeous and totally appropriate for December weddings.

There is a LOT to think about when selecting attire for a bridal party! (Style, color, time of year, overall look, cost, coordination, trends, traditions, etc. etc.) I’ve compiled some advice on how to go about selecting ensembles that will work perfectly for you AND the very special people who will play a key role in the big day!

* For bridesmaids, dresses should be coordinating BUT (contrary to popular belief) they do NOT have to match exactly! To spice things up a bit, consider having your bridesmaids dress in gowns that have the same style but in different colors, or different styles in the same color. If done right, this strategy can be absolutely beautiful, and look fabulous in your pictures. It also allows each of your bridesmaids some freedom to select a dress style or color of dress that she feels suits her body and coloring the best - something that many bridesmaids never have the chance to do. Your girls will thank you for it! You can also consider having a unifying accessory (like a wrap or sash) that each girl will wear in order to bring all of the different styles/colors together into a more unified look.

* To save money, don’t be afraid to branch out and look for bridesmaid dresses in places other than traditional bridal shops. It is very possible that you will stumble across a dress that you like, and your girls will likely save a bundle on the cost.

* This may sound obvious, but when selecting dresses, keep in mind the time of day and year that your wedding will take place, and exercise your common sense! For example, a spaghetti strap pastel colored dress may be perfect for a daytime wedding in April, but would be inappropriate for a formal winter wedding held after dark. Don’t select dresses solely because they are pretty; make sure that they fit into the overall scheme of your wedding, too.

* For the groomsmen, they should match but do NOT have to wear the same suit or tux as the groom. The bride stands out from her bridesmaids, so I think it can look totally appropriate to have the groom dressed in a slightly different color suit or tux than his groomsmen.

* Definitely be sure that the groomsmen have ties/bow ties that coordinating and fit in with the color scheme of the bridesmaids’ dresses. While some elements of the overall look of the bridal party may be different, this strategy will provide some continuity amongst everyone.

Months ago during my first meeting a potential wedding client, I was having a bit of a difficult time convincing her to sign my contract. She was hesitant to hire a wedding planner because her wedding venue already provided an on-site event coordinator. Her logic was, if the venue is already providing someone to help with major planning issues and oversee things on the day-of, why bring a second planner into the mix?

It’s a legitimate question, and one that prevents many engaged couples from hiring an independent wedding coordinator. We’re all on a budget… who wants to pay for a service that they don’t need?

Well, the reality is that most couples DO need the services of an event/wedding coordinator, whether their venue provides one or not. Here’s why:

1. Event planners who work at specific venues are always going to have the facility’s interest in mind first and foremost (and rightfully so, it’s their job.) Sure, there are many on-site event planners who take great care of their clients. At the end of the day, however, they are employed by that venue and must answer to their supervisor at the site. By contrast, an independent event planner works solely for the client (YOU), and should ALWAYS be willing and able to go to bat for you before anyone else. When planning any important event, isn’t it nice to know that you’ve got an industry professional by your side every step of the way, always protecting your best interests? I think so.

2. Independent planners can almost always provide a broader range of services. An on-site event planner can be great at helping you with the venue and catering, but what about all of the other miscellaneous things you will need? (Photographer? Transportation? Entertainment? Invitations? Décor? Staffing? Novelty items? Creative touches? The list could go on and on!) On-site planners may be able to make a few recommendations, but a good independent planner will have a wealth of connections and be able to give you tons of creative vendor options within your budget.

Still not convinced? Let’s get back to my client’s story…

She did sign on to work with me after all. Now that it has been a few months and we are just a 2 short weeks from her wedding date, I recently called the venue to set up a site walk-through. What I discovered during that phone call shocked me… and my client!

When I asked for the on-site coordinator by name, I was told by the operator that she was out of the office until further notice. When I asked if she would be back at work by my client’s wedding date, I was told, “No.” They would not provide ANY other information, and had never even notified me OR my client until now! Imagine my surprise… and the relief of my client that despite this bump in the road, she still had a wedding coordinator in place (me!) Had she not signed on to work with me, she would now be stuck without a planner, a mere 2 weeks from her wedding date. Talk about a nightmare!

Back when I originally told this particular client how important it is to work with an independent event coordinator, she looked at me skeptically, and reluctantly signed the contract.

She is definitely thanking me now!

Sure, flowers can be beautiful, and have traditionally made great centerpieces at all types of special events. However, let’s face it - they are predictable and far too commonly used. Creating pretty flower centerpieces is always a safe option, but no matter how great they look, your guests will tend to greet them with a yawn.

Consider spicing up your tabletops with creative and UNIQUE centerpieces. They will serve as a delightful surprise to your guests, and keep people talking long after the party’s conclusion! Need inspiration? Here are some ideas…

Try experimenting with candle arrangements. If you have theme colors for your event, find a variety of candles in all different sizes and shapes that fit the overall aesthetic scheme. Arrange the candles so that the tallest are in the middle and the smaller ones are toward the outside, enabling the guests to see all of them. Especially if you are smart about your color and shape choices, groups of candles can create gorgeous centerpieces, as well as contribute a warm glow to any table.

Use fruit! One popular trend I have seen is to arrange fruits (or even veggies) in tall cylinders or clear bowls as centerpieces. Be sure to match the foods you choose to the current season. For example, a mix of crisp apples is a great choice for a fall event, whereas pineapples would be perfect for summer.

Consider using plants other than flowers. Non-flower types of vegetation can be great centerpieces, particularly for more naturalistic, outdoorsy events or event themes. For example, bamboo is lovely choice for a zen themed event. You can complete the look by placing the bamboo in chunky vases along with some tall grass or leaves. For an added touch, add in some brown rocks and tie pretty white ribbon around the vase.

Incorporate your theme! Get creative and pick a non-flower centerpiece that fits the theme of your event. Take large vases or martini shaped glasses and fill them with anything - candy hearts for a Valentine’s party, golf and/or tennis balls for a sports theme, large decorated masks for Mardi Gras, fish bowls (with real fish!) for an under the sea event, etc. The possibilities are really endless - don’t be afraid to think outside the box!
Still stuck on flowers?

If you are set on using flowers, there are still ways to spice them up a bit. For example, play around with the size and shape of your arrangements.

Try using very tall vases (multiple feet high) which allow the flower arrangement to perch up high, and have a few of the blossoms spilling out over the top.

Another technique that works well for small tables is to use single flowers in unique vases, such as old fashioned coke bottles or something similar, that people will not expect. The look can be very dramatic if done correctly.

Use your imagination and have fun!

So, you’ve got a party coming up, and you are doing the planning yourself. You want the event to be nice, but you (like so many other people) are on a tight budget. So far, you’ve been doing a good job of keeping your costs down; you were able to get your invitations, theme decor, and basic party supplies for free or for a very low price. You’re feeling great, and it’s looking like you’ll get to throw your bash UNDER budget… until you start investigating catering options!

Professional catering can be very expensive. Hosting even a small, simple cocktail party of 30 or so people can run up a catering bill of well over $1,000, and of course the sky is the limit! Many people planning their own events are not prepared for this level of expense, and do not take it into account when they think about budgeting for their party. Don’t let this happen to you, and don’t let it discourage you either.

There ARE ways to keep your catering costs under control! Here are some tips:

1) Avoid foods that need to be special ordered or that are out of season. For example, depending on where you live, many fruits and veggies are going to be tougher to come by (and therefore more expensive) in the winter months than the summer months. Try to avoid shellfish and other seafood as well, as they tend to have a higher price tag.

2) Choose menu options that are simple to prepare. For example, something simple like chicken skewers are going to be much easier to prep than a complex and delicate canape, which is quite labor intensive. The more time your caterer’s staff has to spend preparing the food, the more you are going to be charged.

3) Consider doing a “drop-off” arrangement rather than having the catering company staff your event. Especially if your party is small, there is no reason that catering staff needs to be present to serve the food. Many of my clients opt to have the caterer drop all the food off to the party venue, and then set it up themselves buffet style. It definitely helps if you have a chaffing dish or two (assuming you have ordered hot food items), and someone will have to be responsible for replenishing the buffet throughout the evening. This does create more work for you, but you will save hundreds of dollars (or more) because you will not be paying for any catering staff; your bill will include only food costs and a delivery charge.

4) Do your homework. You should look for a caterer who is reputable, but also reasonably priced. In the DC area there are tons of catering companies, all in different price ranges. If you ask for a price quote on an identical list of hors d’oeuvres from 5 different companies, you may be shocked at the discrepancy in their bottom lines. Investigate a few different caterers and their pricing proposals before making a final decision as to who you will hire - your wallet will thank you!

5) Work with an event planner. It sounds counter-intuitive, but hiring a planner can actually SAVE you money. Because planners work with various caterers all the time (and serve as a source of referrals for catering companies), caterers like to keep their event planners happy. Often this means that they give planners significant discounts (which the planner can then apply to you, the client.) Caterers also tend to negotiate more with an event planner than they would with their other clients. Again, caterers want to keep their event planners happy, so they will often apply generous discounts and go the extra mile to negotiate costs when dealing with them. Take advantage of this yourself by working with a good event planner. It will get your costs down AND save you lots of aggravation!

Happy partying!

Beautiful weather, good food, great wine, new friends, private luxury accommodations… sound like a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

We thought so too!

On April 29, 2007, Jackie Ducci Events joined forces with Robert Cavanaugh of Adventure Wine to officially kick off our series of wine events.

What a great day we had! The group convened late Sunday morning at White Flint Mall in Bethesda, MD, where we got acquainted, started our day with a champagne toast, and boarded our luxury tour bus provided by Rick Romano of TouringCompany.com. From there we drove into beautiful Virginia Wine Country, while enjoying a catered lunch along the way.

Our first stop was Prince Michel winery, where Robert conducted a private wine tasting and seminar for our group. Everyone got to enjoy some great wines, and actually learned something, too! We then got a private tour of the winery, followed by some time to browse the gift shop and sample more wines.

Stop #2 was the nearby Horton winery. At Horton we took another tour and spent a great deal of time in the tasting room, sampling a wide array of white wines, red wines, sparkling wines, and some truly amazing fruit flavored wines (my favorite!) Everyone had an opportunity to purchase some of the wines to take home, and you can bet that we all took advantage!

After Horton, the group boarded the tour bus and we were on our way back to Bethesda. Everyone had an absolute blast; the feedback from participants was so positive, in fact, that Robert, Rick, and I are planning on holding more public events like this every month. We will do more of these winery tours, but we are also discussing different ideas, like pairing wine tastings with other activities (everything from horseback riding to oil painting!)

Any wine enthusiasts out there? I’m putting a mailing list together which will include information on future wine events… if you’d like to be on it, let me know!

We here at The Perfect Event are so excited to have our new blog up and running!

We believe that this site will be an invaluable tool in communicating with you, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity.

Stay tuned for lots of party and event planning tips and tricks, industry trends, information about our current clients and projects, and so much more!

Cheers,
Jackie Ducci
President, The Perfect Event LLC