Color Blocking

You may have heard how hot color blocking is this year. It's popping up in interior design, fashion design, and event design. This dress caught my eye while thumbing through the summer Boden catalog tonight. And serves as a perfect example of how color blocking works.

Don't you think this dress would make the most wonderful bridesmaid dress? Pair it with that amazing clutch and you have the perfect ensemble. Best of all, it's under $100!

~Jodi
{photo credit - Boden}

Christmas in February?

Over here at In Any Event, it is! So many great 'gifts' this past week. Signed a new client that I am really excited about. Received not one but two {!} boxes full of amazing books to add to our library {titles include Fantasty Weddings by Preston Bailey, Wedding Chic by Colin Cowie, Simple Stunning Wedding Flowers by Karen Bussen and lots more!}. Signed on the dotted line for an amazing new website. Purchased new office furniture for myself and beautiful excutive office furniture for CPA. Received great news about potential publication in an amazing magazine. So much to be thankful for. So many blessings. Life is good.

~Jodi

*photo credit: Diva Girls Party and Stuff

Introducing...Designs by Robyn Love

Have you ever looked at photos from our events and wondered who did the calligraphy? Well, I'm proud to tell you. Her name is Robyn Steele and she owns Designs by Robyn Love. I think she's one of the hottest secrets in the state of Michigan!

We began working with Robyn about a year ago and we haven't looked back since! Her amazing ability to 'copy' a font on the invitation is something I have never seen before. In my experience, calligraphers often specialize in just a few fonts. This is limiting for me because each client I work with wants to see something new and fresh. Robyn can offer that in the world of hand lettering. She's mastered some pretty amazing fonts for me and she does it with excitement!

Robyn's prices are very reasonable which makes her accessible to every bride on every budget. Be sure to check out her website and blog. And tell her I sent you!

~Jodi

PS - Robyn's running a great special right now. You can read more about it here.

Quote of the Day

“It's really easy to defiantly declare "I don't have time for (fill in the blank) because I am a mother with three kids". I make time for networking, blogging, learning, and reading because it pays the bills. I also make time for playing, reading bedtime stories and running in the park, because it pays the heart. I never use my children as an excuse as to why I can't do something. It's like using motherhood as crutch. My children and husband aren't liabilities or casualties of my hard work; they are my motivation for it.”

- Terrica Skaggs of Fabuluxe Inc, tells The Smart Planner on using your family as an inspiration to succeed rather than an excuse for not being able to achieve your goals.

~Jodi

Star Struck by Tara

I'll admit it. I was star struck while at The Special Event 2009. By who, you ask? Well, Tara Guerard of Soiree, that's who.

As I was looking at the great new products available at 10 Strawberry Street, I glanced over and realized I was standing next to the Tara. You know, the one who has Martha Stewart on speed dial. The one who's considered the 'it' girl of the South. The one who produces some of the most beautiful events I have ever seen!

Instead of introducing myself, I got all tongue tied. Crazy, I know. So, last night as I was trying to fall sleep, I thought about all of the things I would have asked her. 'Where does your inspiration come from?' 'How do you balance a young family and a thriving business?''Did you enjoy the book writing process and what was it like?' You know, just the kinds of questions that any other star-struck planner would ask!

Then I got to thinking, maybe many of you don't know about Soiree or Tara's book, Southern Weddings. Or even her amazing invitation company, The Lettered Olive. So if you don't, you simply must check her out. Because you won't be disappointed!

~Jodi

Day 3- The Special Event 2009

Jenn and I spent a lot of Day 3 walking up and down the trade show floor. We saw a ton of great new products and companies that I want to tell you about. Here's a highlight of my favs:

• La Tavola Linen was the star of the show, in my opinion! Sasha Souza talked about this company in her lecture so I was excited to speak with them and learn more about their products. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. Their linens are simply fabulous. And the price point is remarkable. The average rental cost per couture linen is between $35-$55. An excellent price for the quality!
• 10 Strawberry Street has some great new tableware on the market for 2009. This company supplies rental establishments with their chargers, china, flatware, stemware and serving pieces. I'm fortunate that my friends at Special Events Rental are willing to purchase items that I like for their rental inventory. Oooh, do I have a list for them!
• Flyboy Naturals offers the most scrumptious eco-friendly freeze-dried rose petals I have ever seen. The colors they offer are just magnificent. And you should have seen the way they displayed them in their booth: in darling acyclic boxes and tubes stacked on top of each other in graduating colors and hues. It was just beautiful!
• The Chameleon Chair Collection needs no introduction. They're just that fabulous. I hope 2009 brings the opportunity to use these amazing chairs because I'm a little bored with the chivari chair these days.
• Dream World Backdrops offered a product that I haven't needed in the past but may in the future. Now I know where to go! This company had some of the best looking backdrops I have ever seen. Usually I think backdrops look tacky. These didn't, though. They were very classy and I am so happy to add them to my coffers of knowledge.
• You all know I love the linens offered by Resource One. Well, their booth didn't disappoint and they even rolled out a new company at the show called the Linen Lounge. This sister company offers great linens at a much lower cost than those found at Resource One. Do check them out!
• Solia is a company based in France that sells some of the most creative designer food packaging I have ever seen. I was down-right giddy as I inspected the mini-dishes for single portions. It was all so stinkin' cute I wanted it all!
• The final find of the the day was Liquid Lava flooring. This amazing product literally has liquid sealed within the panels. When it's stepped on or touched, the liquid moves and swirls around one's feet and hands. In addition to the flooring, they also offer great cafe tables using the same liquid technology. Great stuff!

There were some other great booths on the floor including Wildflower Linen, BBJ Linen and The Cloth Connection. Linens were truly the highlight on the floor this year. Which further proves my theory that you can't have a beautiful event without beautiful linens!

~Jodi

Day 2 -The Special Event 2009

The highlight today (Wednesday) was the sold-out Wedding Luncheon at the Hard Rock Hotel. We had purchased VIP tickets that allowed us to view the cutting-edge tabletop designs an hour before other attendees. All I can say is AMAZING! But, you haven’t even heard the best news!

The keynote speaker was Carley Roney, editor-in-chief of The Knot, Inc. During her address she talked about today’s modern bride; what she likes, what she doesn’t like, and what she wants out of her big day. She showed images of rooms that today’s bride wants. {Okay dear blog readers, brace yourself!} And up pops a photo of our August wedding on the big screen! Can you even believe it? Unfortunately, I was trying to locate my Blackberry on the floor but Jenn hit me so hard when it came up, I nearly fell out of my seat!

I approached Carely after her speech to tell her she made my WEEK by placing an event we designed on the big screen. She apologized for not giving me credit. Oh please, like I was even thinking about that!

Blogs: Why Your Website Isn't Enough - Robyn Bomar of Mix, Mingle, GLOW

This was a greatly anticipated class. And boy did it deliver! I learned so many things about blogging that I didn't know. You're sure to see A LOT of changes to this blog over the next couple of weeks. I can't wait to implement all that I learned.

...But Are You Making Any Money - Marley Majcher of The Party Goddess

Suffice it to say, this was my favorite class of the week! I've been reading Marley's blog for over a year now and her stories make me laugh so hard that I want to cry! And she's just as funny in person.

I learned so many wonderful tips and tricks that make an event planning business even more profitable . I even learned some accounting practices that will help make dear CPA's life a little easier, too!

The Party Goddess is offering a great tool for all of you out there that want to be an event planner. She has named this new service, How to Be a Party Goddess. Simply go to the website and sign-up to receive free, informative emails that take you through the process, step-by-step. I signed up for this service even though I've been in the business for 15 years. And I really love what I've been reading. She's also offering one-on-one business coaching for more in-depth review {that's not free, though}.

Following Marley's class, Jenn and I had the privilege of enjoying cocktails with The Party Goddess and Robyn of Mix, Mingle, GLOW. What a privilege it was to have Marley answer so many questions with such candor. I so appreciated the time she took to answer some of the burning industry questions I've had that only someone of her stature could clarify for me.

Day 2 was such a great day for me. My head was spinning by the time it hit the pillow but I learned the most that day. No question about it.

~Jodi