Budget Tight? Where to Squeeze....

So, money is tight, but that does not mean parties need to be cancelled. Celebrations are a huge part of life and money should not stand in the way of a fabulous gathering. Yes, money is a big part of planning and putting on an event with friends and family, so I wanted to share with you some tips on saving money on your budget and getting the most bang for your buck. 

1. Say no to an open bar! Open bars are a huge drain on your budget. Whether its a wedding, graduation party, birthday etc, open bars can suck you dry. But, I know people still need their potions for parties. So here is my suggestion. Select a lovely red, and white wine that you enjoy, maybe a beer that ties into a memory for the party or occasion, and then select a specialty cocktail. Having the simple combination of beer, wine, and a specialty drink covers your bases and everyone can select something that they like best. Speciality cocktails are HUGE right now. People are designing drinks, giving them custom names, mainly for event branding purposes, and this really makes a statement and gets people excited! For example, you select a smooth Merlot, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc and then have a Pomegranate and Cranberry Martini- that you name Love Potion #9 on the menu that will really make you look, first of all, super trendy, and second of all, no one will suspect that you are trimming your budget down. 

2. Use a single bloom for centerpieces. To me, nothing is more stunning, and simple than one beautiful bloom in a small vase repeated throughout an event. This keeps costs down and style way up. First select a flower that matches the mood and purpose of the event. Think rose=romance/drama, tulip=playful, light orchid=modern/chic etc! Once your bloom is picked, go the dollar store, Michael's, or even a Pier 1 or Ikea to select some skinny vases. Plop down the vases on tables, buffets, cake tables and let blooms really speak for themselves. This technique is elegant and simple.

Here is an example of an even simpler way to utilize your glasses if you are having an event at home. This mason jar makes a homey yet fun statement with a single pink rose. This is such an easy way to keep your stress down while looking simply stunning! 

3. Go the email route! If the event is casual enough to not have formal invitation, send an evite, or an e-mail invitation to your attendees. There are so many cool ways to utilize the internet when it comes to events. Evite is a free online service that allows you to pick a template and fill in your event information. Then you add your guest's email addresses and poof your cost is ZERO and everyone is invited. This system also tracks RSVP's. Another cool site that offers invitations is Sendomatic. This website has a small fee but is free from advertising. This website is a great resource to all you event interested people out there. It offers ideas, trends, tips, etc! This one tracks RSVP's as well. This money saving tip is also environmentally friendly. I am always looking for ways to keep mother nature happy and limiting paper products is always a way to reduce out footprint on the earth. 

Attention ALL Atlanta Brides

Are you looking for a wedding dress? Are the prices of wedding dresses overwhelming you? You are in luck because Filene's Basement is putting on The Running of the Bride. This is a world famous event taking place on March 20th in Buckhead. There will be over 2,200 beautiful gowns from international designers and super labels! In addition there will also be couture styles to choose from if that is something you are dying to try on. And I am saving the best for last because the prices will surprise you. Filene's is taking 70-95% off these finds for your big day. Find dresses that you would normally pay between $900-10,ooo and actually pay $250-700. Doors open at 8:00am and I would encourage you not to be late! Dresses will be going fast.

Just beware of: long lines, over bearing brides, extreme competition, and out right mean behavior. I suggest keeping a sense of peace in your mind and heart as you walk into the store.

Check out their website to fully prepare yourself! It looks to me like Brides, in the past, have invited friends, bridesmaids, mothers, etc to help in this frenzied environment.

Good Luck!

The Bridesmaid Dress Dilemma

So you just got engaged and now the task ahead of you is HUGE! There are so many decisions to be made and opinions to take into account, and mothers and grandmothers to please, etc (you get the point.) I wanted to share some thoughts and trends on picking your bridal party attire. The days of boring wedding gear are out. Today's bridal parties are sleek and stylish. No longer do you need to order 8 plain, a-line dresses that you yourself would never wear again. In fact, brides are becoming more bold in their choices, and this is leading to more brand names, patterns, and fun in the bridesmaid dress department.

In 2009 I will personally be in 3 weddings and I think that number is climbing with some many of my friends getting engaged. So with all this love in the air and weddings to attend I have been researching wedding attire. To create a more modern look for your bridal party here are some stores that you might have never thought about to look for bridesmaid dresses. Anthropologie is a wonderful resource to find dresses with personality. They have an array of different styles, colors, and patterns that will cater to your personality and desires. Also try Nicole Miller! This designer's dresses are absolutely flawless. While these dresses can be expensive their quality and fit are truly something to rave about. There is a section devoted to bridesmaids, but I think all of her dresses would work nicely. Obviously Jcrew is always a crowd pleaser, classy and chic. They always have simple, stunning numbers that are sure to be easy on the eye and a little easier on the wallet than Nicole Miller. Do you have a "beachy" theme for your wedding, Lilly Pulitzer's dresses might be the perfect way to incorporate bright colors and cool patterns.

There are also a few bridal companies that are producing more modern cocktail dresses. Dessy is one of my favorites. They have so many different styles to choose from and almost any color you can think of. They have a few different collections so make sure your search is extensive on their websites. Dessy dresses are usually only available at bridal stores or formal wear stores.

If you have a certain color in mind but trust your friends to pick out something fabulous, give them a color swab so that everyone's "bright red" matches. You can go to Home Depot and grab paint samples of your color and then pass them out to your bridal party. This is a cost effective way to keep your bridesmaid's on the right track. Remember to give some specifications, such as "knee length", or "empire waste" so there is a sense of cohesiveness.

The whole purpose of this post was to suggest some out of the box ideas for your wedding party. What will best fit your vision? Don't be afraid of doing something in a less traditional way! Ultimately your bridesmaids will be extremely happy to be a part of your wedding, but think how confident they will feel in a dress that they love as well and will wear again.

Welcome to Effortless Entertaining

Hello! My name is Jaimi Lynn and I have a passion for creating events and everything that goes along with them. From recipes, to decor, to logistics, I seriously love it all. I wanted to share some of my passion with you that is why Effortless Entertaining was born. Maybe some of my tips will even assist you as you put on a birthday party for your spouse or host a Superbowl party for the block. Don't be mislead by the name of this blog, entertaining is NEVER effortless, in fact it is quite the opposite, but my goal is always to make it look effortless and simple.

The first thing I always think about when planning a party or event is the goal of this soiree? Why are people gathering together? If its to celebrate, keep that in the forefront of your mind as you plan. If the purpose is to learn, or to grieve, keep that in mind as well.

Picking a menu for a party can be tricky, especially with so many taste buds to think of. My advise is to keep it simple, yet never boring. Have classic dishes with unexpected elements of surprise and fun for your guests to keep coming back for more. Also you will see in the recipes I select to feature here will be mainly vegetarian or fish centric and when it comes to sweets, you will find that I LOVE to bake so there will never be a shortage of treats to look through.

I can't wait to get started! Hope you enjoy this as much as I am!

Love,

Jaimi Lynn