Double Duty Weekend (event recap)

A few months ago, I was contacted by a client that I worked with last year. She wanted to throw a party for her husband’s 40th birthday. I was honored that she valued my work enough to hire me again, and we got right away! I was able to find an amazing venue, but it wasn’t available on her desired date. After some thought, she decided to book the venue, and change the date. That’s how I ended up pulling double duty.

Saturday afternoon, I hosted a pre-Mother’s Day event at the Holiday Inn Express in Longview, TX. It was a blast! I was able to work with some really amazing vendors.

This Silpada table was so cute!

There was shopping, girl talk, and even raffle prizes!

Our VIP ticket holders were able to retreat to a quiter area where they enjoyed refreshments, facials, massages, and a hand-scrub spa treatment. 

 

 

 

I want to thank my mother-in-law for not only helping me set-up, but for staying to ensure the venue was put back together. She had to pitch-in so I could leave early, and drive to Dallas for the 40th birthday party!!

 

I was exhausted when I arrived, but I was able to set-up in record time. My client wanted a very elegant look for the event so we decided to go with gold.

In order to add some visual variety, I did not use matching centerpieces. However, each table had a mate on the other side of the room.

The stage was set for the birthday boy.

The best part of the evening for me was this smile on the birthday boy’s face.

I love what I do, but I’m soooo glad I survived my double duty weekend!

If you have an event that you need help with, contact Visions by Vaughn. Your first consultation is always complimentary.

 

My Last 1st Birthday Party

I am done with 1st birthday parties. Let me explain. My youngest, my last born, my last baby turned one on February 2. His middle name is Leonidas, which has garnered him the nickname Leo. We celebrated Leo’s first year of life with a lion themed party. Here are a few of the highlights.

This year, I’ve decided to add at least one personalized element to my kids’ parties. I purchased these letters from Hobby Lobby. I wanted to paint little paw prints on them, but I didn’t think of that until just before the party and I didn’t think the paint would dry in time.

 

 I kept the idea of personalized items going with these cute lion paw cookies. I ordered these from Divine Desserts of Longview, TX. I sent a quick message to Erica Minter, and she gave me exactly what I had envisioned.

Erica also made this gorgeous cake and cupcakes! 

I searched high and low for lion themed party bags, but I could find any. I purchased plain orange paper sacks from the dollar store, and decorated them with foam stickers that I purchased from Hobby Lobby. I filled the bag with chocolate candies (in orange wrappers), more foam stickers, and a ring with a lion face. 

The pictures that I am sharing are ones that I took with my cellphone, but I did have a professional photographer there. I think that is one of the best decisions I made. I was able to be in the moment, and not have to worry about capturing the special moments.

What milestones will you be celebrating this year? Comment below and share.

I’m Done!

In the midst of dealing with a teething baby, a sick husband, and my own illness, I finished my last event of the year. It was an African themed 1ST birthday party that featured a traditional blessing ceremony complete with bongos and a DJ. I learned a lot from this planning process, and I will be taking these lessons with me into the new year.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that I have to reel in my kindness. I try to give my clients at least one surprise for their event. However, what I find myself doing is going overboard, and when I look at my receipts I’ve spent most of my profits. I still intend to throw in something extra, but I will be a little more prudent with my choices.

I’ve also learned that free costs. In an effort to save my clients money, I have been known to put together decorations, wash linens, and even bake. While all of these things are free to the client, they cost me time and in some instances a little bit of my sanity. Going forward, I will be offering these services as a la carte options.

I am thankful to have been a part of so many wonderful celebrations this year. I am looking forward to making next year even better. The rest of the year will be dedicated to improving my website, and making some policy changes. I will also be taking on an intern, so if you or someone you know is interested, and lives in the East Texas area, email visionsbyvaughn@gmail.com.

If you are hosting an event next year, and you would like Visions by Vaughn LLC to assist you, contact us to get started http://www.visionsbyvaughn.com.

5 Event Trends I’m Ready To Kiss Goodbye

I want to start this blog post off by saying that I appreciate all of my clients, and I love the world of event planning. I realize that although I have planned and attended many events, for my clients it’s probably their first wedding, or baby shower, or housewarming party so everything is new to them. However, there are a few event trends I’m ready to let go of.

1. Rustic/Shabby Chic Decor 
   This trend took the wedding world by storm, but now I’m seeing it at birthday parties and baby showers as well. I have had my fill of burlap, lace, and hay bales. If you really want a shabby chic event, then just use one or two shabby elements and pump up the chic.
2. Buffet Style Meals 
   Many people choose buffet style meals in an effort to cut costs and provide variety to their guests. However, I’ve noticed that when my clients opt for buffets, they end up with a lot of left over food because they tend to over  purchase in an effort to ensure the food will last. If a seated/plated meal is not your style, then you might consider food stations. This will give your guests variety, and add some movement to your event.
3. Silk Flowers 
   When I got married, many, many moons ago, I decided to use silk flowers because I thought it would be cheaper. Well, I was wrong then, and many of you guys are wrong now. In order to get the look of real flowers, you will probably end up spending several hundred dollars on silk florals. Your best bet is to figure out which flowers will be in season at the time of your event, and to go local to save on shipping costs.
4. Bubble Send Offs
   This trend really just pertains to weddings. Many couples opt for a bubble send off to, again, save money. I get that you are on a budget, which is why I think you shouldn’t waste your money on those little bottles of bubbles that will do nothing but annoy your guests. If a bubble send off is really what you want, then rent a bubble machine. Place it by the exit, and turn it on a few minutes before you plan on leaving. The pictures will come out great!
5. Hiring Amateurs 
   I know that we all have to start somewhere. In fact, I’m still in the building stages, and I’m so glad that people have trusted my potential. So when I talk about hiring amateurs, I’m not talking about those who are just new in business. I’m talking about the people who lack experience, training, business knowledge, and who don’t respect the event planning world. Whatever the occasion, wedding, baby shower, business opening, fundraiser, it’s important to you so you shouldn’t hire a hobbyist to help pull it off.

There you have it. Five event trends I wish would go away. Now, if you are planning to have any of these elements at your event, that is totally fine. It’s your event, and you should have what you want. I just needed to get a few things off my chest. Comment below and tell me if there is an event trend you’d like to kiss goodbye.

My Mom’s 55th Birthday Party

My mother recently turned 55. From what I can gather, the 50th and 60th birthdays are popular celebrations, and 55 is just in between. Well, when my mom turned 50 I was living 1500 miles away, and still adjusting to be a mom of 2 little girls. So this year we both decided to do it up big.

I am a native Houstonian and we have lots of family there so my mother decided to host a 3-day event in Houston. Friday night was game night, Saturday was a BBQ, and Sunday morning we had a brunch. Here are a few things I learned from this process.

~I am done with the USPS! One of the things that my mom really wanted to do was play a gamed called Po-Ke-No. I had never heard of it, but I was able to order it through Amazon. Because of schedules, I was not going to be able to make it to game night so I decided to mail the game to my family in Houston. I put it in the mail on Wednesday and paid for 2-day guaranteed delivery. The game still has not arrived.

~I need more storage containers. When my family travels for any length of time, we usually have a ton of bags. This time, I packed 2 bags for clothing, and put the party supplies into a large plastic storage container. This was such a time saver! I (ok my husband) was able to take the container out, and I knew I had everything I needed for set up. I didn’t have to rummage through a bunch of bags and boxes to find what I needed. 

~Communication is key! I am not really a late night person, and I don’t like to keep my kiddos out late. So I decided that the party would start at 2:00pm on Saturday. This was a huge mistake. I should have consulted with my mother to find out the best start time. I was not aware of other family events going on so most of the guests did not arrive until after 5:00. I think going forward I will have my clients do a quick heat check of their guests to figure out the best dates and times for attendance.

~I work pretty well in a pinch. My original plan was to purchase floral arrangements from a local florist, but that did not work out. On the day of the party, I knew that I needed a little something extra to jazz up the decor. I

White Hydrangea and Pink Roses

decided to go to the grocery store to purchase some flowers. There were not any pre-made arrangements that would fit in with our color scheme (pink and black) so I decided to buy a few bunches and put them together myself. I was very pleased at the way the arrangements turned out. So much so that I plan on taking a floral design class in the near future.

I’m so glad that I was able to celebrate with my mother this year. She had a great time, and I had to opportunity to challenge myself and learn new things. Happy Birthday Mom!

Fun Fact Friday: Birthday Edition

Let’s just get right to it. Here are five fun facts about birthdays!

☆Accounting for 9% of all of the birthdays in the world, August is the most popular birthday month. 

☆In 1989, the world’s largest birthday cake was created to celebrate the 100th birthday of Ft. Payne, Alabama. The cake weighed 128, 238 pounds and used 16, 209 pounds of icing! 

☆Two billion birthday cards are sent every year. 

☆15 million is the average number of people celebrating a birthday today (and every day around the world)! 

☆The Sultan of Brunei hosted the world’s most expensive birthday party to celebrate his 50th birthday. The cost? $27.2 million! Three concerts featuring Michael Jackson cost $16 million of the total cost.

Comment below, and tell me a fun fact about your birthday!

What’s New With Visions by Vaughn

It’s currently 12:06pm here in East Texas, and so far I’ve dropped the hubby off at work, cooked breakfast, completed 4 diaper changes, nursed the baby more times than I can keep track of, done a live Periscope broadcast, started a load of laundry, sent out 3 proposals, and I just put lunch in the oven. Being a work-at-home is pretty much non-stop, but I love my life and I’m really excited about what is on the horizon for my business.

I jumped into this event planning world over 4 years ago, and at the time I was really only focused on weddings. While brides are still make up a good chunk of my client list, I’m glad to be working with parents to plan birthday parties, helping business owners with their events, and I’m thankful to be able to work with churches and ministries on their projects.

One of the things that I have been working on recently is acquiring decor items. I currently have vases, candle sticks, votive holders, table runners, and more. Right now, I only offer these items as add-on options to my planning clients. My goal is to build up my inventory and open a rental and design division of Visions by Vaughn.

What does this mean? This means that people who are only looking for a decorator or a few rental items to pull their event together will be able to find what they need with my company. I am looking forward to acquiring more items, expanding my business, and educating myself on how to better serve you.

What other services would you like to see Visions by Vaughn offer? Comment below and let me know.

Fun Fact Friday: All About Quinceaneras

In Latin American cultures, the transition from girlhood to womanhood is a special time, not only for a girl herself, but for her family and even community. Traditionally, in the eyes of Latin American communities, the 15th birthday has marked the point of a girl’s maturity. So, to celebrate this significant birthday, families throw elaborate birthday parties called quinceañeras. This is similar to a “sweet 16” party in the United States, but the quinceañera tradition has older roots and religious implications, making it more similar to a bat mitzvah from the Jewish tradition. Today’s quinceañera has evolved into elaborate celebrations that rival glamorous weddings.

• The typical price tag for a quinceañera today is about $15,000. That’s a sharp increase from a decade ago when the typical celebration cost between $5,000 and $10,000.
• Quinceañeras today incorporate more colors and jewelry than they used to. Traditionally, girls would stick with white or light pink dresses. 
• The event is no longer exclusively for Latin American families, or those who are particularly religious. Many now skip the traditional Mass altogether.
•  For generations, the tiara has been very symbolic of the quince celebration itself. Now, girls use anything that can go on your hair – whether that’s a headband that has some type of embroidery, or even feather-head pieces. 

Quinceañeras, Sweet 16, and bat mitzvahs are all very special occasions. I still remeber my 16th birthday party. Comment below and tell me about the event that marked your entrance into adulthood.

5 Unique Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

I love my children, but I’m so glad I’m done with birthday parties for the year. This year we had Strawberry Shortcake, Princesses and Pirates, Rock ‘n Roll Luau, and Team Umizoomi. The youngest will turn 1 next year so that makes a total of 5 birthday parties. Yikes! I’m a sucker for a good theme, and like any good event planner, I’ve already started researching for next year. Here are 5 themes that I think are too cool not to share.

1. Minute to Win It
   I used to love watching the TV show, and my family and I have even played a few of the games. With just a few household items you can entertain your guests, and create some great memories.
2.  Mystery/Clue 
   Everyone loves a good who done it. Your little guests will have a great time playing detective by finding clues, interviewing suspects, and solving a “crime.” Get the party started with these free printables.
3. Painting/Art Party
   Coloring books are trending for adults now, but they are still pretty popular with the kiddie crowd. Think coloring books, crayons, and water colors. For super-sized fun, hang up a plain white sheet and give the kids squirt bottles filled with paint. They will love it! 
4. Dance Party
   There is so much you can do with this theme: musical chairs, dance off, and choreography challenge. Most local dance schools rent out space and will even have a student or teacher available to teach your guests a few moves.
5. Glow In the Dark 
   If you have a tween, they will love this idea! To turn the fun up a notch, cut open a few glow sticks and use them to make glow in the dark bubbles.

If these themes don’t work for you, then check out my Pinterest board dedicated to kids’ party themes. Comment below and share your ideas for a unique child’s birthday party theme.

Three Tips For Photographing Tots (guest post)

If you have ever tried to snap photos of a little one, then you know what a daunting task that can be. I think that sometimes even the professionals have a hard time with it; especially when it comes to taking photos at birthday parties. I have hired photographers to take photos at birthday parties, and at the end of the day I felt like I just didn’t get any of the shots I was expecting. As I thought about this, I realized that both photographers and parents could use a little advice. I asked Josselyne Hutchins of JLondon Images to help us out with this one.

From the perspective of a mother and photographer

To Photographers:

1-     Come down to the child’s level. From an adult’s point of view, the images of the child will appear from a bird’s eye view. 9/10 this is not the photographer’s objective. The best shots of children are taken from their vantage point. In addition, better images of the child/children are produced. 

2-     At a birthday party, refrain from asking the child/children to turn and say “cheese“all the time. Capture the children playing and if you would like to take a group picture be sure to give them a more fun word to say, for example “Elmo”, “summer” or “birthday”. If you choose to do count down before snapping from three, make sure you snap on two or one. This also creates a better image. 

3-     Do not be afraid to get close. Some individuals do not feel comfortable getting closer to the child or children. Some may be able to use their zoom lens if applicable. In some cases lighting will not allow you to produce a quality image via a zoom lens and so it is just better to shoot closer to the subject. Do not be afraid of the children. They are probably more scared of you then you are of them.

 

To Parents:

1-     Prepare your child or children for what is about to happen. Introduce them to the photographer some moments before the event. Children react well and feel more safe when they know what will happen as opposed to being surprised with strangers, especially one giving directions from behind a camera.

2-     Create a safe environment. Depending on the age of your child, the younger he/she is the more secure they will feel in a familiar environment. This will play out in the images taken. 

3-     Trust your photographer. If you believe you have chosen the right person for the job, you have prepared them and have explained your expectations, and then you have permission to enjoy the party with your child. It is as much your celebration as it is your child’s.  This can be “taken” as a weird pointer, but some parents are so nervous (or excited), that if they are following the photographer around constantly giving direction, it can make  it very challenging for the photographer to be as creative as needed.

I want to thank Josselyne for helping all of us out. To learn more about Josselyne, and to see her work, please visit her website. Do you have a great tip for take pictures of little ones? Comment below and share it!