Registering for Wedding Gifts

It’s one of the best parts about getting married – creating your wedding registry. Here are some tips to keep in mind to make the most out of your registry with the least amount of stress.

1.    Register Early

Friends and relatives will be looking to buy wedding gifts as soon as you get engaged. You don’t need to complete your registry list right away, but it’s good to have a selection for guests to browse.

2.   Do it together

You may have to drag him to the store, but it’s important you do it together since the gifts are for both of you. It’s only fair that you both have a say.

3.   Skip the non-essentials

Do you really need a pasta maker? Or a fondue pot? These items will get purchased and you’ll quickly realize that all they do is take up space.

4.   Don’t register for duplicate items

If you register at more than one place, make sure you print the list from your first registry and have it handy when you do the second one.

5.   Be prepared to return duplicate or unwanted gifts

More than likely you’ll receive a few duplicate gifts. Schedule a day to return things for cash or store credit whenever possible.

Most importantly, remember practical is best and you register for things you want and will use. Don’t forget to send thank you notes for all the gifts you receive!

Have fun! Scan away!

AFA Event Management to Partner With InterMutual Partners

Orlando, Florida: AFA Event Management is proud to announce their newest partnership with InterMutual Partners. After months of careful deliberation, InterMutual Partners has agreed to exclusively engage AFA for all of their event planning needs. By providing premier event coordination and planning services, AFA will allow InterMutual Partners to concentrate on growing their portfolio of corporate entities.

“We are very excited about this partnership” stated Jesse Friend, CEO, AFA Event Management. “AFA has a lot to offer InterMutual Partners in the way of successful, flawless meetings and conventions. We are excited for all the possibilities this partnership will present.”

AFA Event Management is a full service meeting and event management company based in Orlando, Florida. AFA conceptualizes and implements meetings and events of all sizes. AFA maintains national strategic vendor relationships and has extensive professional industry knowledge which allows them to execute meetings at all levels. Their understanding of customer service and eye for detail has set them apart from their competition.

CONTACT:
Hannah Courtelis
A Friend Affair Event Planning
407.423.9011
hannah@afriendaffair.com
@afriendaffair
www.afriendaffair.com

Wedding Trends for 2012

The new year is officially upon us and before you know it your 2012 wedding will be here. With the new year comes new trends and fashions in the wedding world, so we thought we’d share what we expect to be some of the hottest trends this year.

-       Glamour. Vintage, black and white, and feathers - all pieces that are timeless. They will continue to be a hot trend in 2012. But don’t fret if this isn’t you – remember your wedding should be a reflection of you and your fiancé (not someone else’s dream).

-       Mix-and-match dresses. So long to the one size fits all dress for your bridal party, this year expect to see maids wearing mix-and-match dresses that flatter their figures. To top it off,  shoes will more than likely be fun and have their own personality. Think bright accent colors with a neutral dress.

-       Black. Yes, we said black and when we say we black we’re talking about wedding gowns. Not kidding. This trend comes come from the one and only Vera Wang who has been showcasing these black wedding gowns and they actually were a huge hit. It’ll be interesting to see if this trend makes a splash with the general public.

-       Sweets and Treats. Say goodbye to the cupcake and candy bar trend of last season and say hello to cookies and dessert tables in 2012. We’re expecting to see doughnuts, pies and other various homemade treats to adorn the dessert tables. And groom’s, get excited because the traditional groom’s cake might just be making a comeback!

Whatever the trends may be, don’t forget it’s all about you! Let’s see what 2012 will bring.

Image Courtesy of The Beauty Bridal

Engagement Season

The holidays are prime time for new engagements. In fact, over 33% of proposals happen between Thanksgiving and New Years. For those of you that found that little box with a sparkling diamond in your stocking or brought in the New Year with a diamond gracing your ring finger – CONGRATULATIONS! You are now officially a bride-to-be.  And for those of you that weren’t so lucky, share this infographic from HeartsonFire.com with your significant other as a subtle hint. J

For those brides-to-be, you probably can’t wait to get started planning. But before you start to wreck havoc on the wedding magazines, books and Recycledbride.com here are a few things to keep in mind:

1.     Enjoy. Take some time and enjoy being engaged before you start jumping into dresses, venues, centerpieces and flowers. Once your start, it’s hard to stop.

2.     Don’t buy anything. Well, not right away anyway. You might find great vases that you think will be perfect for your centerpieces and even better they are on sale. So you can’t pass them up, right? Wrong. More than likely, you don’t have a clear vision for your wedding yet, you probably haven’t looked at inspiration photos and most importantly, you probably don’t have any idea what the layout of the room is or how big your tables are. You might think you are saving money or checking things off your list, but in the long run you will probably spend more money because the items that you thought were a must have at the beginning, will find their way to Goodwill because they don’t fit with your vision.

3.     When’s the big day? You’ve probably already been asked, when’s the big date? Don’t feel pressured to pick a date right away even though everyone will ask you. Your wedding date will be with you forever, so keep this in mind when you make your decision.

4.     Bridal party. You may know who you want to stand up with you, but choose carefully and wait until closer to the wedding to do so. Many brides end up regretting their bridal party choices because they chose to soon.

Last but not least, have fun and enjoy this special time of your lives!

A Friend Affair Launch Event Raises $1,000 for GKTW!

On 11-11-11, A Friend Affair Event Planning presented A Friend Affair Launch Party, benefiting Give Kids The World (GKTW)! The event included food, fashion, music & cocktails located on the rooftop of Star Tower in beautiful Downtown Orlando!! Fashion Designs were contributed by Lydia Love, Megan Lester & Layla Friend. Music by DJ Freefall.

A portion of the proceeds from the event was donated to Give Kids The World. This amount totaled $1,000!

The A Friend Affair Event Planning team would like to thank the following vendors for contributing to this event's success: Party Guys, Inc, So Cool Events, DJ Freefall, and Pearsons Catering.

Keep your eyes peeled for future A Friend Affair events!

Lavender is on the rise for Spring 2012 Weddings

As winter looms on the horizon, it’s time for two things: engagement season, and prepping for Spring 2012 weddings. In fact, springtime is the most difficult time of the season to select the perfect wedding colors.  After all, we have Easter (pastels), St. Patrick’s day (green), Valentine’s Day (red), White Day (white), Arbor Day (?), etc.  With all these standard color options, it can be difficult for brides to select colors that compliment their style, while integrating with their perfect day.

If you are celebrating your wedding in Spring 2012, this is our preferred color scheme for the upcoming Spring 2012 wedding season:

Lavender purple, white, and grey accents

These colors seem to be universal, and can truly be used at any time of the year.  The Knot offers a great selection of lavender accents, gifts, decorations, and party favors.  View the knot’s lavender selection. 

If you are integrating lavender into your wedding, it is also beneficial to supply a lavender toss.  Ask any bride that had a seed toss at her wedding, and she will tell you that she was finding seeds for days (not to mention they can hurt).

A lavender toss is a lightweight, soft toss, and they smell beautiful!  A great example of a lavender toss set can be found at Martha Stewart Weddings.

Of course, in the end, wedding colors come down to taste.  So, whether you are seeking a loud, neon, or a soft pastel, don’t let the season completely dictate your personal preference. 

 

A Friend Affair Event Planning Teams with Give Kids the World!

A Friend Affair Event Planning presents A Friend Affair Launch Party, benefiting Give Kids The World! Food, fashion, music & cocktails located on the rooftop of Star Tower in beautiful Downtown Orlando!! Fashion Designs contributed by Lydia Love, Megan Lester & Layla Friend. Music by DJ Freefall.

A Portion of the proceeds will be donated to Give Kids The World. Come enjoy a Happy Hour to celebrate the launch of our company and contribute to a great cause!!! This is a ticketed event, so please purchase your tickets here!

Tickets are $20 and will include a complimentary drink, champagne toast and raffle ticket to win GREAT prizes!! If you have any questions, please feel free to call Jesse at (407) 538-2729.

We look forward to seeing you there!
- Hannah, Layla, and Jesse