Sparkle! Parties & Event Management

We Love Birthdays!!!

2012-01-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You!

I may be a little biased especially because my own birthday is just days away but thought I'd share just a few of the must haves for a fabulous birthday celebration for any age!

You must:

Surround yourself with friends and family and don't forget to take lots of pictures to capture all the memorable moments.

Have great food and drink! By all means, don't forget a birthday celebration is not complete without birthday cake!

Most importantly...HAVE FUN!!!

Sometimes people get so overwhelmed with all the planning that they forget to enjoy themselves when their guests arrive. Remember to take some time for yourself to celebrate you and your next adventure (no depression here about getting older, just excited about another year to get better:-)

Cheers,
Leslie

Click here for more planning tips just in time for your next birthday celebration

Happy New Year from Sparkle! Parties & Events

2012-01-04T03:50:00.000-08:00

2011 was quite a year and I can't thank you all enough for the opportunities either as a new client, vendor or a fantastic supporter. Words can't express enough how grateful I am for your continued support and referrals it makes what I do little easier and I am so honored to have played a small part in your celebrations, THANK YOU!!!

Happy New Year! I hope your Holidays were filled with great times with family and friends and you welcomed 2012 in big way. I love new beginnings and this Holiday season I was not alone in the thought. It appears that love was definitely in the air and I wish to extend my congratulations to all the newly engaged couples! (not to mention all of the celebrity engagements, from the Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin, Stephen Tyler, John Legend to Lebron James and list continues to grow.)

Photo Credit: Donald Darling

Honestly, I love to hear that so many people still believe in true love and it'll be great to see all that 2012 holds for celebrity weddings but we'd love to hear your story! Your story is just as noteworthy. What an amazing new journey for you in 2012! So let's talk...How did he pop the question???

Cheers to your 2012 and I hope it is filled with lots of Sparkle!

Leslie

Are You Prepared For Disaster...Even On YOUR Special Day???

2011-08-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

For those of us living on the East Coast we have experienced two natural disasters in less than 7 days and to say it's wrecked a little havoc would be an understatement. We've been caught off guard by an earthquake with a 5.8 magnitude followed by Hurricane Irene which forced us all to immediately gather our families, emergency supplies and prepare our homes for the worst. But what if your wedding or other special event is scheduled during such a time when Mother Nature is so unpredictable? What are you supposed to do when you've spent months pouring over exquisite details for your treasured day?

HAVE YOU CAN CONSIDERED WEDDING INSURANCE?

With more than 15 years of experience in special events, I'd like to think of myself as a seasoned professional. However there may be times when even the best planner needs to have an even better contingency plan for life's unexpected challenges because as strange as it seems sometimes there are challenges that we just can't avoid.

Imagine it...you've finally selected the most beautiful garden location ever or you're dreaming of a Winter Wonderland but within the week of your most special day the forecast suddenly calls for a downpour! Or what do you do if the Winter Wonderland that you imagined is right outside your door buried under 4-ft of snow? What are you going to do now? Can you even handle any more stress? Probably not if you've decided to DIY your entire event. Make no mistake there is nothing wrong with wanting to take a hands on approach to your event planning but bear in mind that you may spend months, days and long hours to assure all goes smoothly for the "big" event, perhaps even referring to the infamous Farmer's Almanac for added weather security. But let's be honest, do YOU really have the energy to create a back-up event plan so closely to your day?

ISN'T YOUR EVENT WORTH THE EXTRA EFFORT???

LET'S TALK ABOUT FAMILY DRAMA...HOW TO AVOID IT BEFORE YOU GET TO THE ALTAR!

2011-05-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I decided to head to the movies to check out Jumping the Broom (for research purposes, of course:-) but clearly so did a lot of others because it ranked No. 3 in the box office. Not to give away too much about the movie details for those of you have not seen it yet, it's clearly a classic love story about a girl who meets the man of her dreams. Then the couple begins planning an elegant wedding in the exclusive backdrop of Martha's Vineyard. Who doesn't love to see a beautiful love story unfold right? However the movie presents a very common wedding stressor for couples no matter your family status, background, or budget...dealing with FAMILY!!!

HOW ARE YOU KEEPING THE PEACE WITH YOUR FUTURE IN-LAWS WHILE PLANNING YOUR WEDDING???

I wish that I could wave a magic wand and whisk away all drama but alas I cannot (so much for wishful thinking). Much to my dismay weddings and funerals tend to bring out the best and worst out of family. So then how should one handle the pressures of wedding planning and dealing with all the extra drama that the family is beginning to throw your way in buckets???

Just a few suggestions to consider:

Yes, it's YOUR day but let's be mindful that a wedding is a celebration of the union of two people. Those two people came from two different families who both are equally excited about such a wonderful moment in your lives. Think about coordinating a casual event that will allow both families to get to know one another before the wedding.

Your mom (or mother-in-law) is overly involved in your planning and you are losing your vision! Wedding planning much like marriage is about making compromises. Pick and choose your battles wisely, sometimes you can easily incorporate your mom's ideas in ways that make both of you happy.

You have a relative or close friend that loves to share after a few cocktails. Just the thought of this one makes me cringe for some couples but this is where you'll need to establish a "plan of action" for just such an occasion. From assigning a "wing man" to run interference in the event that inappropriate comments start to surface to cutting the drinks off to said offender.

Every girl is entitled to her "perfect" wedding but more importantly a wedding is about joining two new families and what better gift to begin a happy marriage than the gift of a peace between the new families!

Tips to Planning Your Wedding With Ease

2011-03-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of OneWed

"Wedding season is just around the corner and we are ready to talk all about your wedding!"

Join us every Wednesday (aka "Wedding Wednesday") as we open our FaceBook discussion board to your wedding planning questions. From addressing invitations to preparing for your honeymoon, let us help get you to the alter with ease.

Not sure where to start your planning? Overwhelmed by your checklist? Have some last minute questions about your Spring/Summer wedding?

Make sure your special day is a fab wedding to-do and not a blah wedding don't. Join our FB page for awesome tips on how to be a bride who can truly kick her heels up!

Talk to you soon xoxo!

Daddy's Sweetheart ~ A Celebration for Fathers and Daughters

2011-02-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

"A daughter may outgrow your lap but she will never outgrow your heart." ~ Unknown

Make plans to join us as we celebrate the special bond between daddies and daughters on Sunday, February 13, 2011!

As a mom of twin girls I was tired of hearing all the negative stories about absent fathers so I decided that Valentine's Day would be the perfect time to celebrate all the dads who are actively guiding their daughter's footsteps everyday. Enjoy an afternoon of dancing, sweet treats and more with your little sweetheart with time left to share with your special Valentine too!

Click Here to Get Your Tickets Now!

Be one of the first of the first 50 registrants to join our "Daddy Wall of Fame" and you'll be automatically entered into our drawing for the ultimate daddy and daughter "date" night.

A portion of the event's proceeds to benefit the Priceless Gown Project
http://www.pricelessgownproject.org/

BEFORE YOU SAVE YOUR DATE...

2011-01-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

We heard that you said YES!!!

PICK YOUR BRIDAL PARTY? PURCHASE YOUR WEDDING FAVORS?

HEAD TO THE BRIDAL SALON TO FIND THE DRESS OF YOUR DREAMS?

Yes, there are lots of wonderful details that need to be taken care of as you begin to plan your most treasured day but are you unsure where you should start?

Before you do anything:

1. SET A BUDGET - One of the most difficult parts of wedding planning is developing a budget. Plain and simple weddings are expensive and costs can easily spiral out of control faster than you think. So I can't express enough how significant it is to be honest about how much you can really afford to spend. Keep in mind that you must begin your married life after your wedding day. So set a realistic budget and a plan of action of how to meet the financial goals.

2. GUEST LIST - Now that you have set your budget, it's time to create your guest list. Make sure that you can really afford the number of people that you continue to add to your list. Remember this is the fastest way to exceed your budget.

Lengthy guest list = Greater food and beverage costs!

3. DEFINE YOUR OBJECTIVE - Seems a little odd but more couples should sit down to determine what's important for each other for their wedding day. Would you like a traditional ceremony? Intimate or elaborate reception? DJ or band?(yes, it's your groom's special day too so be sure to listen to his input to help create a wedding that's especially yours!)

Trust me, I am in no way trying to throw a wrench in your newly engaged bliss but it would be a disadvantage to you and me if we don't discuss the difficult parts first. After you've made some solid decisions then we can work on your Sparkle!

Surviving the Company Holiday Party: A Guide to Holiday Party Etiquette

2010-11-29T09:13:00.000-08:00

From the archive of Sparkle! Parties & Event Management:

It's always a good idea to address this annually much like a performance review.

It's always been interesting to see the behavior of all that didn't take the advice. Following are just some tips to help you survive the company Holiday party:

• If your company permits you to bring your spouse/family this is not a free for all. Please remember that this is not your last supper!

• Truly, I understand that you earned that promotion or long overdue raise but this is not the time to share your feelings about it. No matter how generous your boss has appeared to be the last few weeks, the Holidays always change a person's mood at least until Jan. 2nd.

• Do we really need to go over the rules of alcohol consumption with your colleagues? Plain and simple, DO NOT OVERINDULGE! It will be all over the building by the time you return to work or worse.

• To my beautiful ladies, now is not the time to put on your most provocative cocktail dress. Yes your male counterparts will enjoy it but do you want your coworkers to remember you based on your work performance or as the one wearing that sexy red number? Quite simply watch the plunging necklines and short hemlines.

Ultimately, we all need a refresh on the party etiquette. Many of us forget that the Company party is an extension of our professional lives. Therefore we must be mindful of how much of our hair we really let down.

Happy Holidays!

Leslie

You're Engaged...Now It's Time to Choose The "Perfect" Date!

2010-11-21T12:36:00.000-08:00

You've dated for months (or even years in some cases) and your fiancee has finally popped the question...first off congratulatons and welcome to the wonderful world of wedding planning!

From this point on your entire life will be almost unrecognizable until you reach the alter, in which case I assure many couples that your loving soulmate will return to you true to form:-) As a new bride-to-be your world will now become a flurry of any and everything wedding related from bridal shows to gown fittings and of course you must have your "bestie" in tow to endure all of your new adventures.

I've been catching up on my favorite blogs lately and of course the world is now enamored with the newly engaged Prince William and Kate Middleton (who wouldn't love to see a real Royal wedding?) Well it seems there are a few brides in England who aren't so excited. Apparently they too are newly engaged and very concerned about their own wedding dates because it just may fall on the same date as the Royal couple (which by the way the official wedding date has not been made public yet, yikes!). Could you imagine months of planning your special day only to be upstaged by the nuptials of the Royal couple? Nonetheless, I was curious how will you go about selecting your perfect date? Are you concerned about sharing your date with a celebrity? How about a close family member or best friend? Are you prepared to engage in a Bridal War for your perfect date or simply make an adjustment?

Just a little something to think about,

Leslie

Are you a bride on budget? Or are you newly engaged with no idea where to start?

2010-09-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

You've dreamed of this day since you were a little girl but can't afford to break the bank?

The reality is EVERY bride is on a budget. Recently, I was given the challenge of creating a wonderful upcoming wedding for a bride...no problem, right? The challenge was we were to keep her within her budget of $15k, it must be amazing and the food also must be good. Hmm. Never one to admit defeat, I embraced my new bride but not before sharing with her a few key tips:

#1 - You must have an open mind! I can't share enough how important this is in planning especially when you may have limited budget. Yes, you absolutely can have a dream wedding but you must be honest with what you can afford to spend.

#2 - Cut that guest list! Do I really have you share this one? The bulk of all your wedding costs will be increased or reduced right here with your per person food and beverage costs. Eliminate the little people. Yes, I am bold enough to say it no children with the exception of the children who may be in the wedding party. This means the couple's children (if they have any), the flower girl, ring bearer, bell ringer or whatever your designation may be.

#3 - Nix the bar. I know this one will probably create a little bit of tension for some of you but this again goes back to #2. If you cannot afford to provide an open bar for your guests then nix it all together (and please do not confuse your guests with an hour of open bar which then changes into a cash bar for the remainder of the evening. In fact, nix the entire notion of a cash bar entirely! (if you really want my opinion on weddings and cash bars feel free to send me an email:-) Don't get me wrong there are still some wonderful options that you can provide your guests for cocktails that won't break the bank.

#4 - Avoid peak days/times. Seems simple enough right? You would be surprised by the amount of money that you save when you consider planning your date during the months of November to April. You may even be able to choose your favorite venue...have I got your attention now? Don't be afraid to think outside the box - consider brunch or a luncheon vs an evening reception.

#5 - Your Wedding Gown. You could save hundreds of dollars alone by considering some alternatives: gaither your best gal pals and your running shoes and head off to the Running of the Brides (sponsored by Filene's Basement http://www.filenesbasement.com/ ). Prefer something less chaotic (and actually one of my favorites), then try the Brides Against Breast Cancer (http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/) trunk shows that provide thousands of dresses (including lots of couture gowns). Not only is it a way to save money on the cost of your wedding dress but the proceeds from the gown sales support survivors of breast cancer!

***Bonus (especially for the DIY brides): think you can do without the costs of a wedding planner/coordinator? Well, who do you think is going to be your best advocate for the cost savings? Who's going to offer you all those fab suggestions and advice? Who's going to make sure that all your hard work on those personal touches doesn't go unnoticed?

Talk to you soon, xoxo!

Leslie

It's Christmas in July!!!

2010-07-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Some may ask, why are you already thinking about Christmas are you delirious (especially since the temperates are easily reaching 100+ not including the humidity in the Washington Metro)???

No, I assure you that the heat is not melting my brain. Now is the perfect time to start planning your company's annual Holiday party. Why you ask? Well, considering there are only 3 premium weekends to to choose from it would be to your advantage to get a ahead of the game. Reserving your date now allows you your choice of your favorite venue on your preferred date. Not only that, you could take advantage of early bird discounts for booking now and what boss doesn't like to hear that you saved the company a little money. Lastly, if you do it now that's one less thing on your to-do list because we all know that things are crazy at the end of the year!

Let's talk soon, xoxo!

Leslie

Wedding Planning...grooms can do it too!

2010-05-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't it his day too? What if your groom wants to do more than pick his own tux?

Once I accompanied a young couple for their tasting. We sat down at a beautifully appointed table. The server provided the preselected courses for the couples review and we began to confirm the preferred choices for the final menu selection when all of a sudden the bride becomes completely unglued. Why you ask? As best I can tell the groom had the audacity to select his choice of accompaniment for his entrée selection. “You can’t have the rice! It’s my wedding and we will be having garlic mashed potatoes and that’s final!” Are you serious? What is the harm in allowing your groom to make a choice or two? Yes, I know “my groom says it’s my day and he doesn’t care or he keeps messing up the two things I asked him to do already.”

More often than not, your groom will not be as excited about the wedding planning as he is about making you is wife. Lately, there have been a growing number of grooms who want to take a more active role in planning the big day (with a handful taking complete control over the planning but that’s still few and far between so ladies don’t become totally unglued yet:-) What better way to begin your new life than to have dual participation for such a special day. So for grooms who want to take a more active role but have no clue where to start there are lots of great sites just for you. One of my favorites is the http://www.themanregistry.com/, it's a fantastic online resource that offers grooms guidance and advice on everything related to wedding planning (from how to select the perfect engagement ring to resources for planning the honeymoon) and all from a man's point of view.

So ladies you have no reason to cringe when your groom says he wants to help out more with your special day but just in case you're still not having that:

The Man Registry - Groom's Guide to Dealing with Bridezilla

Best wishes,

Leslie

It's Earth Day and Here are 10 Cool Ways To Have a Green Wedding!

2010-04-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

In honor of Earth Day I think it's up to each of us to try to do our part especially in the business of special events where it's very easy to quickly overindulge in decadent food and drink, lavish decor, exquisite florals, luxury transportation, etc. Let's start today to alter a little of our thinking as we begin to plan. Have you noticed that lately it's becoming much easier to produce an event that is friendlier to mother earth yet doesn't compromise style or elegance? Don't know where to start with your "green" event planning? Well take a look at some of these simple ways to make some "green"-er choices when planning your next soiree!

Leslie

10 Ways to have a Green Wedding (Courtesy of Wedding Aces)

New Year and It’s Time for Something New for You (the busy Professional)!

2010-02-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is off to a fantastic start to the New Year! Over the Holiday season Sparkle! Parties & Event Management was eagerly preparing for the arrival of 2010! Not only are we looking forward to a fantastic new wedding season but I couldn’t wait to tell you about what’s new for 2010.

Beginning January 1, 2010, Sparkle! Parties & Event Management began offering concierge services especially tailored for today’s busy professional, small business owner or individual. Wondering if a concierge service is right for you? Ask yourself the following:

Are you finding yourself short on time but your inbox keeps growing?

Not to mention you have a growing list of clients and a calendar full of commitments and your assistant is already swamped!

or

Are you a Small Business Owner looking for a little professional support?

Then why not consider Sparkle! Parties & Event Management to help you balance your schedule. Let us fill in all the details while you continue with your business day as usual.

Concierge Services Include:

Entertainment:

• Restaurant Reservations

• Sporting Events/Tours

• Movie and Theater Tickets

• Referrals for Special Events & other services

Personal Shopping:

• Thank You Cards/Gifts

• Reminder Services

• Unique Gift Ideas

Meetings & Travel Arrangements:

• Coordinate Private Car Services

• Make Hotel and Travel Plans

• Arrange Spouses Events

• Arrange Team Building./Incentive Events

Contact Us Today for Your Complimentary Consultation

It's My Birthday and I Have Something Special For You!

2010-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

The thing I love most about birthdays is that you get the opportunity to celebrate something fabulous with the people who mean the most to you (not to mention the great gifts)! With that in mind, I decided that this year I wanted to share my special day with some very special people too.

My gift to one lucky couple is free wedding planning* for your special day!

Simply share your proposal story...that's it! The lucky couple will be randomly selected and who wouldn't love the chance to win free wedding planning. Although I love to celebrate, don't delay all submissions must be received by Monday, January 25, 2010 (11:59pm). Send all entries to rsvp@sparklepartiesandevents.com

Good Luck!

Leslie

Winning Couple to be contacted via email and will be provided with a service contract from Sparkle! Parties & Event Management. Free wedding planning offer is valid until December 31, 2010. Winners will be subject to all standard terms and conditions of Sparkle! Party & Event Management Contracts. *Day of Coordinaton Service

It's Your Wedding Day...Can You Afford to Do it Again?

2009-10-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a wedding. In fact, it's been years since I've actually attended someone's wedding as a "guest". So determined to be on my best guest behavior I was ready to participate as an observer and I told myself that I would not spend the entire event "working". Quite honestly there is a lot to be gained from the experience of other planners and event professionals so I anticipated the chance to admire the accomplishments of a fellow professional.

Well, I did learn something...I learned that as planners we need to constantly remind our brides of the do's and don'ts of wedding planning and etiquette.

DON'T - Don't make your guests wait! I still can't believe that some think that this is acceptable. Why would you want to go through all the trouble to plan such a special day to ruin the grand event by starting more than an 1 1/2 hours behind the designated time? Not only is it terribly rude but it gets to be quite costly and in today's economy family's are becoming more cost conscious. Why set a budget just to blow it on wedding day to pay the additional charges to the caterer, dj, or venue simply because you elect to be "fashionably" late?

DO - Take the time to mingle with your guests during the reception and be sure to thank them for coming. No, it doesn't have to be as formal as a receiving line but a quick acknowledgement to let your friends and family know that you appreciate that they took the time to join you to celebrate your special day.

DON'T - Don't hide all of your planning details because it's so unfortunate to watch all the brides hard work go unnoticed. Again, why go to all the trouble of creating personalized favors, escort cards, specialty tables? Do I need to tell you that setting up your escort cards after the entree has been served is a waste of time? Or placing your favors on a table in a dark corner will easily go unnoticed?

DO - Create a wedding itinerary and share it with all the professionals needed to make sure that your special day runs smoothly. There is nothing worse than having bored guests (bored guests quickly become disappearing guests)

DON'T - Don't be afraid to admit that you need a little help while planning your wedding. Most people don't plan weddings everyday and there are lots of details to attend to which can easily become overwhelming for today's brides.

DO - Hire a professional wedding planner. Your wedding will be the most treasured day of your life and why entrust all the details with someone who doesn't understand how to execute your vision? More importantly someone who is unaware of the fact that your wedding does not run on auto-pilot.

Even those with moderate budgets can benefit from the services of a professional planner. Why wouldn't you want have someone who can assist you with cost saving tips, creative ideas and overall wedding protocols. Think you can't afford a planner? Contrary to what you may think, most planners can tailor a package especially for your needs.

DO - Take the time to meet with more than one planner to see who may be the best fit for you. Remember, that your co-worker, married girlfriend or godmother may not always be the best choice. Although their intentions may be good sometimes these ladies like to use your wedding day for their "do-over" moment. Ladies, please understand that wedding planning is about more than wearing a beautiful dress. No matter how much you hate to admit, it's a production that requires someone to help keep you focused on your budget, that can be objective, knowledgeable and creative.

Note: if everything looks and runs effortlessly on wedding day you can bet there was a hard working planner involved!

Inside Sparkle! Parties & Event Management

2009-09-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Leslie Collier, Principal Planner/Owner

I am a native Washingtonian, mother of two and self-proclaimed multi-tasking diva! I think I've always had this deep passion for event planning because I love to be the "hostess". It's just been so natural for me:-) I've always seemed to be the one assuring that everyone is having a great time. Besides who doesn't love a great party especially if you don't have to clean up, lol! With more than 15 years in the catering and events industry, I bring a greater understanding to each client by having a working knowledge of the special events industry from both front and back of the house. In addition to being well versed in event planning, coordination and etiquette I think that it's important to always stay up to date with the latest trends (especially in food and beverage) because as hard as you work on the beautiful decor...guests seem to always remember the chicken! My goal is to not only provide every client with an event that shines but one that leaves your guests with a memorable experience!

In addition to Sparkle! Parties & Events, I am the current Director for the Priceless Gown Project. A non-profit organization that collects "gently" used formal attire (ie. bridesmaids, cocktail or prom dresses) and distributes them annually to financially challenged young women so that they may attend events such as the Prom. The Project began 5 years ago and is devoted to encouraging self-esteem and peer socialization through our annual boutiques. Sparkle! Parties & Events began working with the Priceless Gown Project last Fall and personally I look forward to our upcoming year in which we are expanding the Project's outreach into the Washington DC Metro.

Again, I welcome you to the inside peek at Sparkle! Parties & Events, I hope that you enjoy it. Now let's all take a moment to rejuvenate and gear up for the beginning of a fantastic party season!

Leslie

P.S. -did I tell you that I was also a Twitter addict? Follow us @sparkleparties:-)