AE Events: 2013 Year in Review

What a year 2013 has been for us!  We count our many blessings as we say goodbye to one fab year and HELLO to a new one. 

January rang in the New Year with Dan and Alicia's fantastic New Year's Eve celebration. Oh how we loved this evening!  A&D and their family remain dear friends.

Image courtesy Red Gallery Photography 

Check out more prettiness courtesy of the talented Red Gallery Photo.   And Studio Z Films.  

February brought us back to one of our favorite events of the year and one with an amazing and touching cause: The Black Tie Blue Jackets Style Show.  It's such an honor to be involved. 

Image courtesy of Capital Style

See footage from the 2013 event.  We can't wait for 2014! 

May kicked off a busy summer for us with three events...

Heather and Willy's charmingly perfect Downtown wedding...

Image courtesy Rouxby Photography

...which was also recently featured on Style Me Pretty! 

Ashley and Tom's swanky soiree at the Ivory Room...

Image courtesy of Red Gallery Photo

...we just ADORED these two!  

And, another one of our favorite recurring events...The Nicklaus Museum Dinner for Nationwide Financial/The Memorial Tournament.   

Photo Courtesy of Andy Mahr

See more here!  Gosh, we sure were proud of this event. 

June brought us Maggie and Quinn's uber special wedding in Knox County...these high school sweethearts and their families are about as lovely as they come. 

Photo courtesy of Lauryn Byrdy photography

 See more here! And one of the most touching wedding vids ever. 

July brought us a trip to our favorite part of the country - WINE COUNTRY, for our best friend's wedding.  It was such a special experience to be in the wedding and to play a large part in the planning process.  Cheers to G&B.   Love you!

Image courtesy of Mike Arick 

See more love, pretty, and happy here...

July also brought the wedding of Emily and Nick.  Super sweet affair at the Columbus Museum of Art for a super sweet couple.

Image courtesy of January Newbanks

August brought the first of two big bits of news for AE Events.  Brittany Sitz, our long-time intern, starting with us as our first full-time employee.  Brittany has been an important part of AE and it's been great to have her official.  

Image courtesy of Ink and Ivory Design Studio

September came with another of our favorite yearly events - the always fabulous Rowe Fashion Show celebrating it's 5th year (and 5 years with us, too)!  This event is near and dear to us for several reasons:  Maren Roth (owner) was our first friend in Columbus and the Rowe Show was one of the first events we booked when we launched AE.  We cannot thank Maren and Rowe enough for the constant support, friendship, and fashion advice.  xx

October was also filled with fun.  It was Adrianne and Sherman's birthdays, as well as, we had Lauren and Ed's amazing affair at the Columbus Museum of Art. This event and our beautiful bride were grace and elegance through and through. 

And here is a little teaser video - their day was just so special!

October also brought to Leah and Tom's wedding.  Brittany did an amazing job planning and executing while Adrianne had the honor of being in the wedding.  Leah and Tom are so in love and truly epitomized what it means to be a bride and a groom.  

We also embarked on a site inspection to the British Virgin Islands for our special client and friends, Lacey and Blake.  Man, this sure is a tough job! 

November and December have been filled with friends, food, fun, new clients, and the holidays. 

January begins with yours truly speaking at the 2014 Columbus Bride Show and then we zip off to Ft. Worth, TX for the Nationwide Financial Sales Summit.

We have also been keeping very busy the past couple of months with our second peice of exciting news.  We have moved into our very own darling cottage.  We can't wait to share it with you!

It's been a fabulous year.  We love our job, we love our clients (past, present, AND future), and we love life.   Cheers, my dears.  xx, AE 

Wednesday Wednesday: An Invitation to Remember

Every bride wants an invitation that is so beautiful and unique that guests agree, it is just too lovely to throw away!  Brides are making trendy statements with 3D invitations, patterns and pops of color to make sure that their invitation stands out amongst the others!

3D

Forget about the plain envelope and flat card.  Brides are taking invitations to the next level with pocket folds, bellybands and booklets to make sure their wedding invitations are not missed!

Photo and Graphic Design done by our friend Ink and Ivory Design Studio 

Patterned

Patterns are on the rise AND we LOVE them!  From backing to borders to bellybands to liners - you cannot go wrong!  Patterns are also a great way to introduce your theme and set the tone for your BIG DAY.  

Photos courtsey of Micky Chase Jewelry and Oh So Beautiful Paper

Pop of Color

Don't be afraid of experimenting with a little bit of color when it comes to invitations!  While, save the dates have traditionally lent themselves more easily to color, don't fret about carrying it right on through to your invitation.   We love using colored paper and special ink treatments (such as foil stamping) to achieve color that wows.  

Photos courtsey of Marilyn Keepsakes and Parrott Design Studio 

Ask Ady: Many guests have yet to RSVP!

Image & Design Courtesy of our Talented Friends at Ink and Ivory Design Studio 

Dear Ady,

My RSVP date for my wedding has recently come and gone.  Of 275 guests invited, only 175 have RSVP'd.  I don't understand what's holding the RSVP's up and I need to know final numbers.  I am getting quite frustrated with this rudeness and I don't know what to do?

Please help,

Losing It In Louisiana

Dear LIIL, 

Oh!  You poor thing...you are experiencing one of the most unnecessary frustrations of wedding planning, but take heart, your guests are not the only 'less than prompt' responders.  This is an extremely common (although, AHEM GUESTS, unacceptable) phenomenon.   

Here's what to do...
Since your RSVP date has now come and gone, it's time to start personally contacting guests to ask for their RSVP.  Do not do this alone!  Recruit your family and fiance to reach out, as well.  Divide the list and assign your helpers their contacts and a date you would like them to have the answer by.  

Now, here is the hard part, try your very best to put on your gracious host hat and stay calm and lovely when making your calls/sending your emails.  These folks are your dearly beloved and even though they have not followed proper RSVP etiquette, it is not your job to remind them of this.  A simple, sweet email/phone call is all you need to get your answer and move on to the next.  

Word to Guests - please take RSVP's seriously.  For weddings or any events.  Knowing whether or not you will attend is very important to these final, stressful, stages of planning.  Take heart and do your part - don't make that poor bride call you!  

xoxo, 

Ady  

Wedding Wednesday: Ask Ady!

Ask Ady!  I don't want to attend my ex's wedding solo!  

Image courtesy of our ever-talented friends at Ink and Ivory Design Studio

Dear Ady, 

I was originally invited to my ex-boyfriends wedding (an ex from 10+ years ago).  We have remained very good friends.  When the save the date arrived my boyfriend at the time and I were invited together and both planned to attend.  Said boyfriend and I have now broken up and the wedding invitation I received did not include a guest.  I don’t know why but it bothered me, but also, I don’t want to attend solo.   Should I ask the groom, my long-time friend and ex, if I can bring a date?   Or is that inappropriate?

Helpless in Hoboken, 

Ellie, Hoboken, NJ

Dear Ellie, 

You should not ask to bring a date if your hosts did not specify on the invitation that you may.  Often times, the bride and groom prefer to keep their guest list limited to only those that they know personally, hence, your most recent ex being invited initially.  Since they chose to leave "and guest" off the invitation, they have sent a clear message that they would prefer that just you attend their wedding. 

Furthermore, examine the reasons why you would be hesitant to attend alone.  If you will be uncomfortable to see your ex get married, or won't know anyone at your table, for examples, I say it's probably best to not attend at all.  Having a "wingman" attend with you will not make any of the reasons you are hesitant better.  Again, you may want to give these reasons further thought - 9 times out of 10, ex's getting married bring up well-buried emotions no matter HOW long you have been out of the relationship.  You know best if you fall into the 9 category, or are the 1 who was able to move on with no strings attached.  

My advice?  Send a lovely gift and your best wishes. 

I hope I "Helped you in Hoboken!"  :) 

- Ady