Today is May 4, 2020. Currently, the Asheville area is under a Stay at Home order that allows only essential business and travel, and restricts gatherings of more than 10 people, even on private property, unless they are all members of the same family. Our Governor, Roy Cooper, is planning to begin to ease these restrictions in three phases over the next three months, as long as our infection rates continue to decline.

What does this mean for events? I have researched state and local government sites, and scanned the blogs of our national event planning organizations, including the Event Safety Alliance, NACE, the Natl Restaurant Association, the Convention Management Association, and others, to come up with an answers. Here is my summary of what the current thinking is nationally:

Phase 1: May. Events still restricted to 10 people or less. Attendees must wash hands, avoid physical contact, stay 6 feet apart,  and face coverings highly recommended but not required. Some state, local, and federal parks may reopen. No food or drink service at events. Current restrictions on interstate travel still in effect, with travelers required to self-quarantine for 2 weeks if they have come from out of state or out of the country. Hotels and similar lodging may re-open under strict capacity guidelines. Elevators limited to 1 at a time. Strict sanitization with approved anti-viral products required before, during, and after event.

Phase 2: June. Gatherings of up to 25 people are allowed (in some cases, up to 25% of capacity). Restaurants and venues may reopen, but capacity is limited. Event permits may be required. Tables must be spaced 6 feet apart, with no more than 6 per table, chairs spread out, no bar service, no buffets, and all food and drink must be delivered table side by workers with gloves and masks, so plated or boxed meals are ideal. Use of disposable dishes, flatware, and glassware required. Bottled or canned beverages preferred over open containers. Trash cans must use liners, and be emptied frequently; Step cans preferred. Linens must be laundered in hot water after every event, and all surfaces, including chairs, cleaned. Workers must stay 6 feet apart in the kitchen and prep areas. Keep staff/guest contact to a minimum, e.g., once to deliver food to table, once to replenish, and once to bus, after guests have left. Elevators may carry up to 2 people. Ubers, limos, shuttles and buses must limit the number of riders. Guests should enter and exit events through different doors, or in phases. The same with suppliers, and vendors. Guest books, photo booths, bars, self-serve drink stations, and other activity stations where people might line up are discouraged, unless a line management system that keeps people 6 feet apart is used. A check-in station is strongly encouraged, with guests signing their name and contact information in case later tracing is needed. (Possibly: Have guests answer a few screening questions, and turn those away who are sick or who have travelled from a hot spot. Temperature checks optional for guests, but not for staff.) Have hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, and masks for guests who want them. For ceremonies, participants should walk single-file. All venues and vendors involved with the event are encouraged to have general liability insurance in case of an outbreak traced to the event. (Some companies are dropping coverage for pandemics; read your policy carefully and shop around.) Hosts should likewise have event insurance that covers an outbreak.

Phase 3: July. Gatherings of up to 50 people (or 50% of capacity) allowed, with the same restrictions as before. Special event permits may be required, not just for alcohol. Bars may reopen, but there should be more servers per guest (currently, one bartender per 50 people is recommended), no lines at the bar, strict cleanliness must be adhered to, servers must wear gloves, and bottled or canned drinks preferred over open containers. Self-service food or drinks still discouraged. Elevators may carry up to 4 people. More people allowed in buses and shuttles. Staff and vendor safety training mandated. With Covid-19 still active, hand washing, hand sanitizer, no physical contact, and social distancing still required. Salons may re-open. Air BnB/VRBO's may reopen. Hotels can take more guests. Fewer restrictions on interstate travel, except for those traveling from hot spots. International travel still discouraged.

Phase 4 (August - December) Gatherings of up to 100 people allowed, with same restrictions as in the first 3 phases. Hotels, restaurants and bars may go up to 75% capacity. Local authorities may require inspections or more conditions to issue permits for events, especially assurance that the venue is adhering to strict sanitation protocols. Reusable china, flatware and glassware may be used again, but MUST be run through a sanitizing dishwashing machine. Travel and lodging restrictions eased. 

Phase 4 restrictions may be extended up to 2 years if there if the percentage of new infections does not decline sufficiently. A surge in the percent of new cases may trigger a return to an earlier phase.

Phase 5: The Future. (These is conjecture based on my research.) 100% capacity returns, but the concept of capacity changes. Safety inspections may move from the Fire Marshal's office to a new authority, who will determine capcacity based not only on safety in case of emergency, but also on preventing transmission of infectious diseases. Possibly, staff, vendors, and attendees must provide proof that they are Covid-19 free (based on an antibody test.) OSHA requires safety and health training for anyone who comes into contact with the public.  Stricter Serv-Safe standards, and new standards for bartenders. Suppliers offer more anti-microbial products. Increased emphasis on healthy indoor air, with new types of filters for HVAC systems, humidity controls, and increased fresh air intake. Businesses closed on Sunday for Deep Clean Day. A number of lawsuits related to the Coranavirus Outbreak and the management of it surface. Supreme Court determines whether or not a pandemic is a fource majeure event or not. As a result, changes in event insurance and general liability occur. Vendors require clients to turn in head counts earlier, so they can assure numbers match what has been approved. Smaller events strongly encouraged, with discounts for weekday events and events under 50 people. Outdoor venues and those with lots of windows become even more popular. Stricter rules on tented events, with sides discouraged. Inspection may be required for tents. Handshakes, fist-bumps, kissing, hugs, and high-fives go the way of the dinosaurs :(

Please comment if you are aware of additional rules that are coming down the pipeline!

Some tips from our friends at Limos Charlotte, serving the Asheville and Charlotte areas. For more information, head over to www.limoscharlotte.com or call them at (704) 981-6704.
 
Are you planning a wedding? Hiring the right vendors is half the battle! Remember, transportation plays a huge role in events like weddings, whether you're looking to carry your wedding party or as a shuttle for guests. The timeliness and professionalism of your tranportation provider is more important than you think. Here are some pointers to reference when you're looking for the best wedding transportation.
 
It's vital to choose a company with experience. This means they have been to your destination in the past, know the route, and any other stops along the way like good wedding picture locations. You want to have the most efficient company at your wedding, and one that doesn't have to figure out where to park the bus, or turn around, or when to pick you up. Make sure to ask about their experience with your venue during your initial phone call or meeting to ensure you're making the best decision. And it never hurts to ask about the individual driver’s experience, and how they are vetted  - whether through background checks and/or drug testing.
 
Another smart move is to plan on reserving a bigger vehicle than what you think you will need. We say this because transportation providers don't set the sizing capacities for vehicles; departments of transportation are responsible for that. The thing is, they only consider one seat to be around fourteen inches! Often times, adults take up much more space than this, especially if they are wearing dresses with fully-lined skirts. It's also a good idea to leave space for your photographer or videographer as well, because there are a lot of moments to be captured while en route to the wedding destination.
 
Whatever you do, make sure that you totally understand the contents of the contract that you will sign when you've locked down your transportation vendor. Each contract will vary from one company to the next. Is alcohol allowed? What happens if people are running late – at what point will you be charged overtime? Is the number of people final, or can you squeeze in a few more at the last minute? If the drivers are working all night, do they require meals? It's also good to be informed about what they consider to be damage so that you're on the same page!
 
Also make sure you are clear on the pricing. While one company might advertise a price that includes everything, another may say that they do, but add in fees for regular things like gas and mileage. And don’t forget your drivers. Some companies require a driver tip; for others it is optional. Either way, it is customary in this area to make sure they get at least 20% for their hard work. To make it easier, put the tip in cash in an envelope and give to your day of coordinator to hand out at the end of their run.
 
Keeping this information in mind will lead you to the best transportation solution for your wedding, and a seamless experience for your guests. And, lastly, remember to slow down and enjoy the process yourself!

 14 Snapchat Filters to Make Your Wedding Extra Memorable
MARCH 9, 2017 | BY FTD FRESH (Used by permission)
 
Make your wedding day a truly memorable occasion with FTD’s custom Snapchat filters! With these lovely, pre-designed filters, you’ll be able to impress friends and family with your very own Snapchat geo-filter, personalized specifically for your big day. After selecting and customizing one of the fourteen available filters, you will be able to upload your custom filter directly to Snapchat, choosing what days, times, and the geographic area in which your filter will be available. You can find FTD’s original article on their blog at: https://www.ftd.com/blog/share/wedding-snapchat-filters

Your wedding day is certainly a day that you’ll want your guests to remember. Chances are you already picked out a hashtag to represent your big day, so that your closest friends and family can share their favorite memories on social media. But did you know that you can create your own on-demand Snapchat filter to represent your wedding? Having a unique Snapchat filter for your wedding is a great way to not only impress your guests but to make your wedding extra memorable!

Creating your own filter is actually quite simple! We even went ahead and did most of the work for you with our 14 floral-inspired wedding templates below using example wedding photos to help you visualize the final product. Simply choose a template, and enter the bride’s and groom’s names, their initials, or the wedding date by clicking on the text fields. Once you’ve inputted the appropriate wedding details, click on the “Save This Filter” button and your customized filter will appear in a popup window. Just right click on the image and click “Save Image As” to download the filter.

Voila! You’ve just created a unique wedding Snapchat filter! Please note that the downloaded filter will not include the photo shown, and will have a transparent background that’s ready to go.

SAVE SNAPCHAT FILTER After you’ve downloaded your Snapchat filter, simply upload it to Snapchat on their On-Demand Geofilters page. Note that geofilters can only be created on desktop devices so you won’t be able to find this functionality on your mobile app.

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be asked to input additional details about your wedding, such as the location, time and area in which you’d like the filter to be available. Important note: Be sure to upload your filter 3-4 days in advance to allow plenty of time for your filter to get approved. On the day of your wedding, you’ll be delighted to find your special Snapchat filter available for all your guests to enjoy. You can find out more details about the uploading process here: https://www.snapchat.com/on-demand.

Planning a wedding can certainly be stressful and overwhelming, so we hope that we’ve helped you check at least one item off the list with our unique wedding Snapchat filter templates. If you’re looking for the best flowers to feature at your wedding, check out our Pantone wedding flower ideas, or creative wedding centerpiece ideas! For more wedding inspiration, visit our wedding collection to get the creative juices flowing!

A Wedding Loan Option
​Unsecured loans, also called personal loans or signature loans, involve borrowing money without putting up any collateral. LendingTree personal loan offers allow you to shop for the best rates and terms for personal loans up to $35,000.

What Are Wedding Loans?
The cost of the average 2016 wedding was $35,329, according to the XO Group. It’s the highest recorded average, and a heavy price to pay to walk down the aisle. It’s one that most people can’t float even with savings. To finance these costs, many couples turn to wedding loans. Wedding loans aren’t something your financial institution will have on their register of products. Rather, they will issue you a personal loan you can use to finance wedding expenses. When you get a personal loan, you will receive all your money upfront. You can get an unsecured personal loan for your wedding — which means you won’t have to put up any collateral — but you will have to make monthly payments throughout a set term. Personal loans come with either fixed or variable interest rates. Fixed rates tend to look higher when you’re comparing loan options, but because they stay stable throughout the course of your loan term, your loan payments and costs are predictable. Variable rates change with the market, so you may see increased rates after you start paying, making monthly payments less predictable. With good credit and a favorable debt-to-income ratio, you may be able to get a personal loan with an interest rate much lower than a credit card APR, but rates vary widely by lender, loan term, loan amount and application qualifications.

Why get a wedding loan?
Wedding loans can help you avoid potentially undesirable situations like dipping into your savings or using credit cards with high interest rates to cover the costs of the celebration. It can also allow you to avoid asking family for money, but if you’re comfortable with that and can get a 0 percent interest loan from a family member, that may be a good route to take. It would allow you to spread out the costs of the event without incurring interest charges or loan origination fees. However, you may not have family members who are able to loan such a large sum, or you may be wary of the strain such a large loan would place on your relationship. Borrowing money for a wedding could also help you preserve your savings. A solid emergency fund is an important financial tool to have at your disposal, and you may want to keep that money where it is should a catastrophe pop up. Keep in mind that if your savings is allocated to something like a home purchase, though, taking out a large personal loan may affect how much money you can borrow for a mortgage, or even put your approval in jeopardy. Wedding loans may help you afford the day of your dreams, but be careful: You want to be sure you can afford any loan you take out.

The risks of financing your wedding
Financing your wedding may be able to help you afford more in the moment, but it can lead to financial stress down the line. Not only will you have to repay the money you borrowed to afford a great venue or invite more guests, but you’ll also have to repay interest.  Tara Falcone, a certified financial planner  and owner of ReisUP LLC, cautions against financing your big day.
“If you cannot afford a luxurious wedding upfront, you’re still not going to be able afford it with a credit card or personal loan,” she says. Merging finances with your partner “is tricky, anyways,” she says. “The last thing you should do is put a heavy debt burden on the relationship from the get-go.”  Money problems are one of the top three causes for divorce, according to the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts. (The other two, incompatibility and infidelity). Adding debt to a new marriage could start problems early on. The money you have to allocate toward repaying a wedding loan could make it harder for you to reach other financial goals, like saving up to buy a house, have children or get out of student loan debt.

How to get a personal loan
If you are interested in getting a personal loan to fund your wedding day, the first thing you’ll want to do is some comparison shopping. You can use this tool to see who is offering the best rates and terms for your specific situation.
Here are some of the line items you’ll want to consider:

• Loan amount. How much will the lender let you borrow?
• APR. APR includes both interest rate and any origination fees, and it is the most effective way to compare the costs of financing across a range of lenders and products.
• Term. Your term is the amount of time you will be repaying your loan. Longer loan terms tend to have lower interest rates, but you’ll be paying a lower interest rate over a longer period of time. In many cases, this makes longer loan terms more expensive despite a lower APR.

Once you’ve identified a handful of lenders, fill out the application. Most will allow you to do so online. Be prepared with all of your basic identifying information, including your Social Security number and address, along with documentation to verify your income. Paperwork requirements can vary from lender to lender. Know that you do not have to be married to take out a joint loan for your wedding. You will need to put both partners’ information on your application, and understand that you will both be financially responsible for repayment, regardless of what happens to your marriage or individual employment situations down the line. If one partner has a stronger credit history than the other, it may be more advantageous to have the partner with the better credit apply on his/her own. This is especially true if the partner with the less-desirable credit score has low or no income.

How to get the best rate
Lenders will determine your interest rate based on a number of different factors, including your credit history and income.
For a personal loan, having a DTI below 36 percent is considered good, and a good way to improve it is by paying off your debt.  (When looking at your credit history, one of the determining factors will be your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. A debt-to-income ratio is calculated by dividing total recurring monthly debt by gross monthly income. For example, if your monthly debts equal $1,000 and your gross monthly income is $4,000, your DTI ratio is $1,000 / $4,000 = 0.25 or 25 percent.
Lenders prefer for borrowers to have a debt-to-income ratio of less than 36 percent, with no more than 28 percent of that debt being paid toward the mortgage. Generally, it’s difficult for a borrower with a DTI ratio greater than 43 percent to be qualified for a loan.)  Paying off revolving debt (e.g. credit cards) will also help you improve your credit utilization rate. This number looks at how much credit you have extended to you, versus how much you are actually using. Using a small amount of your available credit can have a positive effect on your credit score, which can help you qualify for lower interest rates when you are borrowing money. You could also work to improve your DTI and credit utilization by increasing your income and, as a result, pay more toward your debt. Go for that promotion at work. Bring up salary at your annual performance review. Start a side hustle. The more documentable income you bring in, the better. Plus, you can use that extra cash to save for your wedding so you won’t feel like you have to finance it.

Other ways to finance a wedding
If a personal loan doesn’t sound like the right solution for you, there are other options. Falcone, the financial planner, used a credit card with a 12-month, 0-percent APR promo to pay some of her wedding expenses upfront. “We could technically afford our wedding, but we didn’t want to dip into savings,” she says. “We used it for large, upfront expenses. The caterer, for example. We made sure to pay it off in full, chunk by chunk, over the course of six months. We could do that at 0-percent interest with no financing costs.”  Because she paid off her balance in full before the promotional rate expired, she was able to maintain her savings and dodge paying any interest on her wedding expenses. If you have good credit, you may be able to qualify for a credit card with such a financing promotion — with some offers available now, you could get nearly two years of interest-free financing on new purchases. Another option is a home equity line of credit (HELOC), if you’re a homeowner and have equity in your home. When you have a HELOC, you can tap it for specific amounts of money when you need it.

How to use a wedding loan responsibly
If you choose to pursue a personal loan, you’ll need to know how much money you need up front. It’s important to not borrow more than you need. If you do, you’ll end up paying unnecessary interest. On top of not borrowing more than you need to pay your wedding bills, you also want to make sure you keep your wedding budget in a range where you’ll be able to reasonably pay off your debt. Missing loan payments can significantly damage your credit standing, which could hurt your ability to rent a home, get a mortgage or, in some cases, get a job. To avoid these pitfalls, sit down with your partner and figure out how much you can reasonably afford to pay each month. Then, weigh your budget against the personal loan quotes you receive. If your wedding expenses will result in a monthly bill that will exceed your budget, you must lower your wedding expenses.

How to avoid financing a wedding with loans or credit
Falcone passionately warns against the dangers of financing a wedding you can’t currently afford. She also has some tips for keeping your costs down so you won’t have to apply for credit in the first place. First, for her wedding, she kept her guest list as small as possible. The same XO Group study that found the record-setting average wedding expenditures also found that cost per guest had gone up over previous years. Consequently, one of the most effective ways to cut your wedding costs is to limit your guest list. Falcone also looked at the resale market. For example, she wanted a very specific — and very expensive — wedding dress for her big day. She researched what she might be able to sell it for after she and her husband had exchanged vows. “I knew I’d be able to sell it for roughly half of what I paid for it,” she says. “I essentially split the cost with another bride.” Finally, she negotiated and stuck firmly to her budget with each vendor. “Whenever a company or a provider hears the term ‘wedding,’ for whatever reason, instantly the prices jack up,” she says. “If you have a set budget in mind for food, venue, music, a photographer or flowers, make sure you go into the meetings with that number, and don’t budge. A lot of times they’ll be willing to work with you rather than lose your business.” Falcone also notes that while the decision will have to be weighed for each individual couple, waiting to get married in order to save for a more lavish event is another option. If you must have a big, expensive wedding, she recommends this over going into debt.

For the full article and additional financial advice, visit www.lendingtree.com/personal/wedding/#what-are-wedding-loans

Recorded at the Wedding Festival on Saturday, February 4 at the US Cellular Center in Asheville.

Hello I'm Eleanor Campbell with Events for You. I’ve been a wedding planner in Asheville for over 23 years.  I've worked most of the venues in the area and have encountered all kinds of situations, good and bad, and worked with every type of wedding from a small budget to a large budget. I am here to answer your questions – anything to do with weddings. No question is too dumb! Who’s got a question for me??
 
Q: Where do I start?
Answer: Great question! The first thing to start with is the venue, because a lot of venues book up quickly. Asheville is a very popular destination for weddings right now, and certain times of the year – spring and fall – are also very popular. So, first look at venues. There are some great ones here today. Then take a look at your budget. Now, both of these require knowing how many people are coming. So, next, work on your guest list. Once you know how many people, and how much you have to spend, that will help you narrow down the venue.
 
Q. Speaking of budget, how do I set a budget? What is a reasonable budget?
A. Another great question! I’ve worked with budgets anywhere from 5000 to 25,000. In this area, I'd say the average is about 10-15,000. Can you do a wedding for 100 bucks? Maybe. Can you do it for thousand? Yes! How can you do that? Get married at a church and have a small reception in the reception hall with cake and punch and that’s it. It goes up from there as you add more things. So how do you create a budget? Look at what you and your fiancé want to spend -- how much cash do you have? Do you want to take out a credit card or a loan to add to that? No? Then talk to both sets of parents -- see what they're willing to contribute. Grandparents, maybe? After that, that's your budget. Budget still tight? The best way to stay within that budget is to limit the size of your guest list.

Next question?
Q. I have a niece who is nine years old -- should she be a flower girl or is she a junior bridesmaid? What is the age cut off?
A. Generally flower girls are ages 4 to 8 and junior bridesmaids 8-14, so she's right in the middle. A lot of it depends on her age and maturity level. So if she is a shy nine-year-old she might do better as a junior bridesmaid -- that way she's just walking in the line with the other girls. If she is a real ham and loves to be the center of attention -- flower girl. (Speaking of which, she might steal the show from you – so think about if that would bother you beforehand!) The flower girl’s job is to spread flower petals for the bride to walk on. No need to make it too complicated. Anyone over six, you can ask them if they would like to be a flower girl or a bridesmaid and they can probably tell you. If they say yes, great, go with it. But if they say no, you've got to accept their answer  --  bugging them about it every time you see them or having their mom force them to do it just because you think you have to have a ring bearer never works. Lots of tears. What are ring bearers anyway? Why do we have ring bearers? You know, in the old days, it was a custom to have little boys carry the train of the bride. They walked behind her, carrying her train. They were “train bearers”. As trains got shorter, they came up with the idea of having them carry the rings. I don't know how many of you would trust your five year old nephew with your wedding rings, right? [Laughter] So the ring bearer thing is kind of going away. What I see more now is a young man carrying a sign that says “here comes the bride” -- again – no need to make it too complicated.  What about doggy ringbearers? Anyone thinking of having their dog as a ringbearer? [show of hands] That is a great idea, too.  Just remember, with dogs, as with young children, they are a little hard to control – so they may get to that date and they may not want to walk down the aisle. Always have a backup plan  -- whether it’s their mom or a bridesmaid or a groomsman stepping in to take their hand.
 
OK next question
Q. Someone asked about day of coordinators. What do day of coordinators do?
A. In the old days we were called wedding planners. That was the first person you called after you got engaged. They would guide you through the process of selecting vendors and venues and flowers et cetera, et cetera. In the ‘80s, people like Martha Stewart starting putting out books and magazines about wedding planning, and then came the internet, so most people now have all the tools and resources they needed to plan their own weddings. Thanks, Martha, you just about put us out of business! [laughter] So, you may not need a planner anymore, but you still need someone to help you that day. Because the venue is only focused on their part of things, the caterer is only focused on the food, the photographer only cares about the photos, et cetera, et cetera, so who is looking out for you? Because, after all, that day you should be off getting ready and hanging with your friends -- it's really hard for you to do your own set up and make up at the same time! And it's really not fair to ask your mom or your aunt to do it, because they need to get ready for the wedding, too. A day of coordinator is concerned with making sure things go right -- making sure your vendors get set up in the right place, making sure your decorations get put in the right place, making sure the first dance and cake cutting happen at the right time. The day-of takes your place that day and directs things and keep things running smoothly. A lot of the venues are now requiring a day of coordinator. Because people are bringing in more decorations and games and corn hole and giant guestbook boards et cetera et cetera, and that is way more than their staff can set up and still get all their stuff set up. The day of coordinator also handles any emergencies, and I can tell you that comes up a lot! Your Aunt Betty may be a great organizer, but can she handle it if the flowers don't show up -- can she run to the grocery store and makes some quickie flower arrangements for you? What if the musicians get lost? Does she have a violinist on speed dial? There’s all kinds of things that come up. What if the heat or air conditioning goes out at the venue? That's not something you want to be worrying about when you're out there dancing!
 
Q. What does a day of Coordinator cost?
A. You know, the price varies depending on how many hours they're going to be there and how big your wedding is. If you’re having a big wedding, they're going to need more than one person there. It also depends whether they do any planning with you ahead of time. I would say in this town it's anywhere from $500-$1500.

Q. Do we need wedding insurance?
A. That's a great question. Wedding insurance is a little bit different from your car or renters insurance. That’s insuring property if something bad happens. But wedding insurance is insuring you if something bad happens. But that is a good place to start. Ask your current agent, or have your parents ask theirs if they are throwing the wedding, are we covered if something happens? What if there’s an accident at the wedding or after the wedding because of alcohol? Now, wedding insurance covers that and more - We had a situation recently where a very popular wedding venue burned down – we got those clients relocated, but we still don't know if they're going to get their deposits back –  so wedding insurance covers things like that. You lose your rings, your little sister plays dress up in the mud in your wedding dress, there’s a hurricane in Florida and your honeymoon city gets evacuated…It's very easy to get online. It costs between 100 and 200 dollars and it's well worth it.
 
Q. We’re doing our own food and bar and the venue says we need a licensed bartender, where do I find one?
A. Yes, even if they didn’t require it, you need a professional bartender for the same reasons we talked about with insurance. What if something happens? There's not really a bartending license but there are tests they can take that show that they know the alcohol laws. You want someone with experience. You really don't want to put your friend in a situation of having to tell someone that they've had too much to drink. But what you really do want to do is protect yourself. We’ve had situations where someone was overserved at a wedding and later had an accident -- the hosts are getting sued, the couple is getting sued, the caterer is getting sued -- so you really don't want to put yourself in that situation. Look for an event staffing service – there are a couple here – or a mobile bartending service. Perfect Mix Mobile Bartending is here at the show – go see Dave over there and ask him about it. Professional bartenders can also tell you how many bartenders to have, help you figure out how much alcohol to order, help you create some really cool signature cocktails – all kinds of things. They can make the party fun while still keeping things safe.
 
So I think that is about all the time we have for now, Please feel free to come by and see me in booth 303, Events for You, if you have any more questions. And enjoy the rest of the show! 

We are proud to be featured on Thumbtack.com's local vendor blog this month. If you are not familiar with Thumbtack, it's a site similar to an Angie's List, Care.com, or Gigmasters where you can search for all kinds of professionals, but they specialize in what I call creative professionals -- events, wellness, and lessons of all kinds. It's a very popular site for brides to find vendors, because with just a few clicks, you get qualified professionals to contact YOU, without revealing too much personal information.  Most of them will even give you a price up front. This could save you HOURS versus searching Google, emailing the vendors you like, waiting for a response and then emailiing back and forth til they have enough informaiton to give you a quote. It's a free service, so check it out. http://www/thumbtack.com

Now here's a link to the article about us...
https://www.thumbtack.com/nc/morganton/wedding-planners/

(p.s. This interview was for wedding planners in Morganton, NC, but we go anywhere in Western North Carolina, or Upstate South Carolina, and Charleston, SC.)

Q: Everyone says I need an emergency kit for the day of the wedding.  But what really needs to go in it?

A: We always bring a stocked emergency kit to weddings we coordinate.  We also bring a tool kit. But if your day of coordinator or venue does not provide one, here’s what you really need.

A wedding emergency kit could include any number of things, but focus on things that you, the bride, might need to get ready. Think makeup, hairspray, deodorant, body powder, rollers, hairpins, curling iron, shaving cream and razor, snack, mints, water, and your pain reliever of choice. For getting dressed, an iron (emptied of water-don’t want to drip on the dress), safety pins, body tape (prevents wardrobe malfunctions), strapless bra tape, moleskin or Band-Aids (in case of loose shoes or blisters), and scissors. 
 
Another type of emergency kit is the one that you carry with you that day, in your purse. But since you probably don't want to carry a purse all day, these are things that you put in a little bag to give to your maid of honor or your wedding coordinator to hold for you. Things I would include in your personal emergency kit are: lipstick and powder for quick makeup touchups (you’ll be surprised how shiny you get and how faded your lipstick gets during the day), tissues or a pretty hanky (those are tears of joy, I’m sure), mints, maybe even a mini toothbrush and toothpaste (it's a long night). I like to include a shout wipe for quick stain removal, an emory board, and a piece of white chalk that can also be used to cover stains on shoes. 
 
(In some parts of the country, brides need to carry a purse to accept monetary gifts directly from the guests. That’s pretty uncommon in the South.  Most guests will put their cash or checks in a card and leave on the gift table.)

Another type of emergency is the honeymoon kit. Remember that everything you need for your honeymoon – clothes, make-up etc. -- needs to be packed and ready to go at the end of the day. You may not have time to go back to the dressing room or hotel that night, so either pack that the day before and just drop in the makeup that you need, or have a duplicate set. If the honeymoon bag is packed and ready to go, someone can just grab it and throw it in the getaway vehicle and you are on your way.

As for everyone else, I think it’s sweet when the bride gives the groom a handkerchief monogrammed with their new initials to carry that day. That’s also a nice gift for moms and mothers in law. Tins of mints with your initials are also readily available from places like Oriental Trading, and are fun to share with the rest of the wedding party. They might appreciate some snacks,  too. But you don’t have to get fancy with that. Granola bars and bottles of water will suffice.

Other than that, all you really need is a  smile! Because no matter what happens -- if things don't go exactly as planned, if you forget something, or if there is an actual emergency -- your smile will let everyone know that it's all okay.

1.  Turkeys. Yes, we have turkeys, deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels,  foxes, ducks, geese, and an occasional coyote! Wildlife noises and messes are something we mountaineers are familiar with, but they can mess with your perfect outdoor party setting. Allow a little extra time in the morning for cleanup just in case. Also, any of these creatures can hold up your wedding party as they take their time crossing the road (well, not the coyotes and foxes – they’re pretty fast!) So allow a little extra travel time, especially in the more remote areas. 

2.  Motorcycles. Our mountain curves are popular with motorcycle riders, so be aware that an unmuffled parade could pass your outdoor location just as you say, “I Do.” Some locations also experience loud noise from helicopters (hospital airlifts are more common here), planes, and weekend hunters. Think about having the ceremony indoors where you can control the noise level.

 3.  GPS Errors. Here GPS stands for “General Path Suggestion.” It just does not work very well in some of our mountain communities. Also, you might find that cell phone coverage is non-existent in some areas, so don’t count on finding your way using only your phone. Before you head out, I would check your destination's website directions page for advice. Print it. Or bring a map. And a compass.

 4.  Traffic. It’s not the city traffic that you might be used to, but, unfortunately, our founding pioneers never anticipated the popularity of the mountains when they planned the roads around here. Around five o’clock, some of the main roads can get really congested, and there are few alternate routes. Also, there are train tracks that run right through the center of some
of our towns, and the trains run on unpredictable schedules. Again, allow some extra travel time, particularly during the fall, when slow-driving sightseers (we call them “leaf-lookers”) really slow things down.

5.  Weather. Weather changes quickly here in the mountains. In the summer we can have hot, sunny days, but we can also have a thunderstorm from 2 to 4 in the afternoon. In the spring, rain can change to hail or snow in a matter of minutes. March, April and November are particularly tricky in this respect. Have a backup plan. Most rental companies will allow you to put tents, heaters, and  fans on standby for a small fee. See more advice about this on my Weather Page.

6.  Southern Ways. We may be in the mountains, but we are still in the South.  There’s just a slower pace of life here. Even our internet runs slower. Don’t be surprised if it takes your vendors a few days to respond to your calls or emails. Try to be patient with us. If you have not heard back after three or four days, then I would try again. We were probably just out shooing some geese off the lawn,  repairing damage from a hail storm, or stuck in traffic (see above).