Woody/Brown Wedding

We had so much fun Directing this Shin Dig...The bride and her mom were SO creative with the deco, we were impressed with the outcome. Heres a sneak peek!!!!

AISLE STYLE-Power Planners Workshop

I've been contemplating hosting a seminar for local event specialists for years, and 2012 has finally presented itself ripe for the event. Its detrimental to any profession to recieve training and continuing education in order to further your craft, but ESPECIALLY in the ever trend setting event planning industry. Yet, there is a lack of teachable moments outside of youtube. This is where Aisle Style 2012 comes into play. This Networking opportunity will not only set a forum for event planners to convene but also to share ideas, learn marketing strategies, as well as gather information that can increase their bottom line. Surely there are PLENTY of folks out there that would love to get into this market, but have absolutely have no idea how to sustain a business. This education will seperate the men from the boys per se. New planners and more season planers alike will have the chance to gain something Aisle Style. Topics will include, but arent limited to: Marketing 101, Planner Plagerism, and Cost of Services. There will also be time for planners to decorate a table for two in the Power Planners Competition. Aisle Style will be held August 4, 2012 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, from 10-2, at the Delta Rivers Nature Center. Registration is $25.00 which includes lunch. Please RSVP with For A Moment Like This Special Events at 870-872-2965 in order to recieve a registration packet by email. See ya there!

BEAUTIFUL Flip Flops

WOW!!!! I ran across these cuties while surfing the net and Im going to see if I can begin creating my own lil magic for a few special chicks in my life. Lets see how this experiment goes....But..in the meanwhile, feel free to check out www.polkadotbirthday.com to get your lil princess a pair for her pretty lil feet.

Planner Plagerism!

I was having a discussion with a fellow local planner on yesterday, and we decided that it was about time that this be said..and here I was thinking that it was just I who felt this way..glad Im not alone! *drumroll please* If you are a planner, there is a certain level of integrity that must be shown. Nothing irritates me more, than to view a planners 'work' via photo and it showcases arrangements, food spreads, decorations, etc. that were not put in place or physically done by the planner/planners crew themselves. This leads to misrepresentation. A client can potentially view photos and be led to believe that you can produce a certain event 'look,' which you yourself are unable to accomplish. Leading clients to utilize your vendor list as a way to gain favor from your vendors due to continued use is unfair. Its a beautiful thing to be connected to vendors and have a great referral working relationship, but if its in an effort to gain free products, writeoffs, or services from them in the future, it lacks integrity. I always feel sorry for folks that go to a paticular planner based upon photos that they've seen, thinking that they are going to get a full service planner, and be led off into various directions to a full list of vendors that produce the look for the planners. This raises the cost of your bottom line folks! Not only will you have to pay the planner's fee....but you will also have to cut in ALL of ther buddies(vendors) as well. So...when you are looking for a planner...be SURE that you select a FULL SERVICE event firm that has the ability to make your arrangements, decorate your event, plan your special day with you, direct it, as well as OWNS a majority of the rentals you may seek. Do not seek a planner that will immediately push a vendor list in your face and make you 'pay up' so that they can continue a favorable relationship with various businesses who will inevitable give them free merchandise for frequent usage in the future. Yes, some pictures look beautiful...but you have to add up the cost IN the picture. The logo may say Quintessential Events...but in actuality you may be paying Quintessential Events, Shepperd's Florist, Brown Sugar Bake Shop, Florals R Us, Henry's Rentals, plus delivery! (catch my drift?) Now dont get me wrong, I love my vendors, but NEVER EVER do I take special write offs or free items because of the amount of business that I send their way. I'd rather give those discounts to a couple with a tight budget or for the kid that deserves a great birthday party on a budget. A true planner wishes to make your day special because they have PASSION for what they do, not because their eyes are GREEN with dollar signs. So in closing, planners...decorators...please do the industry a favor...ONLY POST YOUR WORK...not a vendors work. Dont be a Planner Plagerizer *Getting off my soapbox*

Cupcake Bar

Recently, I had the honor of decorating an end of the year dance for a local Little Rock School. The theme was BITTERSWEET...and trust me...I went CRAZY with the sweets theme. Candy and cupcakes were EVERYWHERE! I especially LOVED the cupcake bar that I created. All flavors! It was heavenly. The youth had fun and I had fun decorating and eating. *smile* So here is a peek at what my crew accomplished in a matter of TWO HOURS after the lunch bell rang. GO HORACE MANN JR. HIGH SCHOOL! Thanks to Ms. Karla Rice for hiring the best event planning firm in the state.

Tatum/Gilmore Wedding Goodness

Just wanted to take a moment and shine a light one such a cute couple. The Tautm Gilmore Weddding was a JOY to direct, filled with so many hilarious personalities. Trust me, fun was had by all. I love love loved the Bridesmaids 'Real Housewives of Pine Bluff, Arkansas' concept. #Cute! I hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed this wedding.

Olive You!!!!!

This is an ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE favor for bridal shower guests! The 'Olive You' themed favor is simply an elegant bottle of Olive Oil used for cooking. This would be ideal for the Italian bride or even the bride that loves to cook. I have attended a Pots and Pans shower where the guest supply the bride-to-be with kitchen utensils, and this would have been a great addition to not only the decor, but to the kitchens of all that attended as well. This great idea can be purchased from www.topweddingfavors.com!

Tis The Season For...Debutantes?!

If you know me...you know that I love ALL things pretty. Including young girls! The Debutante season has arrived....yielding such beauty, grandeur, & excitement. Becoming a deb is an honor reserved for young ladies that are exemplary in their communities and are selected to be honored in a splendid way. It is a time for etiquette enrichment, preparation for the ball, and of course...shopping for the magical white ball gown. As sponsors of the 5th Annual Christian Debutante Promenade & Cotillion, we at FAMLT Events take pride in creating the ULTIMATE WHITE DRESS Experience over and over and over again. Hosting a Cotillion is just as fun as participating in one. Take a peek at our Debutante excellance through the years!

OHHH I LOVE PRESTON BAILEY!!!!

Needless to say, Preston Bailey is the bomb.com! He is reknowned for his dramatic works of art that he creates with florals. Always the creative genius, Preston has a wide range of event work, but his specialty is...drumroll please...WEDDINGS! His sense of style and design is outrageous, and he is an ICON in the event planning industry. Enjoy these pics of his work...I know I did!

Happy Anniversary Mr. President/1st Lady

Today marks the 19th weddign anniversary for America's First Lady and President. WOW! What a recipe for longevity. These two are surely in for many more years of holy matrimony.

We're BAAAACCCKKKK!!!!!

I know, I know, I know...you've probably been wondering, whats the hold up on the blog writing. Well, our lives have been pretty hectic making the world all the more beautiful, but...never fear...I PROMISE to do better! (smile) So buckle your seat belts and get ready to explore the wonderful world of the FAMLT Special Events blog.

Happy 1st Anniversary To The Eppersons!

We at FAMLT Events would like to wish one of our 2010 couples a HAPPY Anniversary! Last fall, we had the priveledge to work with Mr. & Mrs. Gregory and Edith Epperson. As expected they were a very chic couple and a joy to work with so we HAD to share our FAV pic of Edith making her breath taking walk down the aisle before hundreds of guests. We wish the two, many more years of wedded bliss!

Happy Anniversary to One of Our Fab Couples

WOW...we cant believe it has already been ONE year! We LOVE to let our couples SHINE, not only on their special day but also on our website forever! awwwwww...we know, we know...sweet huh? Last March, Candi & Abe Phillips entrusted 'For A Moment Like This' Special Events with handling all of the details of their wedding day from start to finish. I've never seen a couple so trusting, so we couldnt let them down, we HAD to deliver our best! Not only was everything just PERFECT, it proved to be a memorable event for us as well. We wish them many more happy years to come and we are thankful for the opportunity to get them down the aisle last year. Enjoy these pictures as we walk down memory lane......

Love At First BITE...The Coutour Cookie Bar

My love for cookies really had me craving some milk and chocolate chip sweeties this morning, but then a bell went off in my SPIRIT! IM GOING TO NEED A COOKIE BAR AT MY NEXT EVENT!!!! I am astounded with the idea of a cute lil martini glass and a cookie hanging in the balance...BLISS, thus I decided to share this great idea with my readers and PRAY that you all wont judge me for having a sweet tooth and subjecting my guests to have one as well. I mean, who WOULDNT love to get a small glass of milk and a cookie during cocktail hour at a wedding or during a cute debutante ball for girls? I know I would! So enjoy this sweet treat and be sure to call us at 'For A Moment Like This' Special Events to lay it out for you...please expect us to eat a few in the process.lol

Heart ya,

The Ultimate Consultant

Jumping The Broom

Wow...how BEAUTIFUL! There is nothing more special than tailoring your wedding day to fit your specific culture. One way of doing so in the African American culture is by 'Jumping The Broom.' The tradition of 'Jumping The Broom' originated in Africa, and was brought to the Americas by slaves that were not legally allowed to marry. Slaves were not privy to having large ornate ceremonies or sometimes not even an ordained officiant, thus they would decorate a sweeping broom with flowers, place it on the ground, hold hands, and jump over it at the same time. The broom would then be placed in the cabin of the couple as a reminder of their bond. This was special, because it was their very own 'I now pronounce you'...moment straight from the motherland.
The jumping of the broom is said to symbolize the sweeping away of all former things, and starting love anew with your spouse. I think this is AMAZING and ORGANIC.
Today, many couples pay homage to their ancestors by jumping over the broom after the wedding ceremony or as they walk into the reception and are introduced to their guests. Regardless, what place you choose to put it into your ceremony, it will surely add for a delightful addition.

The Engagement Party Replacement...Save The Dates

Back in the day...and I do mean BACK. lol When a couple became engaged it was customary to have a celebration in order to 'Publicly Announce' your upcoming marriage. Well Im sorry to inform you but....the engagement party in 2011 is almost POINTLESS! Technology has taken the place of the party. Unless its a surprise proposal party then the guests that attend already KNOW of your engagement. And lets face it folks, the economy just isnt what it used to be. Please dont get me wrong, if its absolutely necessary for you to kick off your engagement with a party just to announce your upcoming wedding, then by all means, do what you like. But please, I am begging you to keep in mind that an event of this nature can NOT have all of the 'fat trimmed off.' You MUST go luxe or go home. Why host a party that is cheaply done and give your guests the impression that your wedding will be along the same lines? Its too big of a risk. And if you are ANYTHING like me, Im a girl that was born with GLITTER in my veins and would like to have a bridal shower, wedding shower, bachelorette party, etc....dont PLAGUE your close friends with having to feel as if they have to continually GIFT you until you say 'I Do.'
Now days most couples forego having an engagement party and opt for more controlled and affordable ways to give loved ones a first PEEK into their engagement by starting wedding websites as well as sending out posh Save The Date Cards. I must admit...Save The Date Cards EXCITE me!!! I love love love the ones that feature pictures of the love birds from a couples photo session. It does my heart good to look in my mailbox and pull out something PRETTY! Recently, I received one such pretty in the mail from a college friend that I am assisting with a long distance wedding in Wisconsin...I was FLOORED by how her wedding date 9-10-11 is now STUCK in my head. I said all of that to say this...dont LIMIT yourself to sharing the excitment of your love with only the guests that can make it to an engagement party, instead, SPREAD the love economically by looking into wedding websites and Save The Date cards. Trust me....it's a great investment! check out the weddingpaperdivas.com for these pretties featured here.

Baby Shower Inspiration

I LOVE spring time! This is the time of year when a lot of new things arrive on the scene...flowers...butterflies...you get the idea.lol This is also my FAV time of year for showers. Theres NOTHING like having a good party in celebration of a new milestone in a loved ones life. So since I'm in a showering mood, I decided to shower my beloved readers with baby goodness! Get your umbrellas out! The teal/chocolate zebra giraffe combo for a baby shower was irresistible and I couldnt help but put a few things together for ya. The lemonade packages were just TOO chic. Hope this INSPIRES!

The NEW Baby Shower Conversation Piece

Sorry mommies...but the new center of attraction at baby showers now-a-days may be a tough competition between you..and...the diaper cake. I know, I know, I know, kinda sad huh? But pretty showers require pretty things. And there is nothing we as women like to do at showers more than ohhhh and ahhhh. So its IMPERATIVE that you deliver not only the baby, but the ohhhhing and ahhhing dynamic! Diaper cakes are becoming a new fad. Not only are they usable AFTER the shower, they create a pretty centerpiece for your gift table. They can be as simple or elaborately decorated as you please. We here at FAMLT Events create pretty diaper cakes to your specifications. If you can dream it up, we can whip it up! We have featured Jungle and Tahitian themed diaper cakes for those mommies that are hosting 'out of the box' baby showers soon. Contact us for your diaper or towel cake needs.

The Perfect Bridal Shower Gift

Okay soooo Spring is almost here and with it usually come a LOT of bridal showers. If you are anything like me, you are ALWAYS stumped about finding the PERFECT gift for the bride. My mind always races between questions like, 'Whats appropriate? What would she like to have? Will this be a gift that can serve her well into her marriage?' So, for those of us that are OBSSESED with gifting correctly, I have found a solution! Yes...I did.lol www.beau-coup.com features BEAUTIFUL jewelry boxes, that they engrave with the name of the bride or her new initials. This is a SPLENDID idea for a gift. I got EXCITED when I saw how feminine and gorgeous these jewelry boxes are. Check em out!

Love Is In the Air!

Happy Valentine's Day Readers!!!!!! This is my FAV holiday and of course today may mean something far more special for many of you. Valentine's Day usually brings with it the quintessential bling..yes...engagement rings. How exciting! Now I KNOW that this is such an exciting time for many soon to be brides and I know that you are anxious to choose flowers and bridal party members, but I have one simple request.....DONT DO ANYTHING! I know it sounds weird for a wedding professional to encourage newly engaged couples to NOT PLAN, but hey, you want the truth dont you? In my professional opinion, couples should wait at LEAST 30 days until they start the planning process. This will give you an opportunity to bask in the glory of each other before the chaos begins. It will also give you and everyone else surrounding you a moment to prioritize. So please, I repeat please, take your hands off of the wedding! And back away slowly!
You will have plenty of time to fret over wedding details after your month grace period. You'll feel more confident in your decisions, less worried, and able to think more clarivoyently when the planning does in fact begin. On another note, when you DO begin your wedding planning..leave it to us at For A Moment Like This Events...and leave the worrying to us.