New Items and Services

Larry Odom of Focus Photography has a registry program. Here's how it works. If you choose Larry as your photographer, you can register at his store. Pick out all the things you would like. Let your co-workers, friends, family know you are registered with Focus Photography. They can either call Larry or stop by. Your friends/family contribute to or buy the items you want. Larry contacts you so you can later send the appropriate ‘thank-you’ notes. Now what is so great about this is that 1) you can get a top-quality photographer that perhaps otherwise didn’t fit into your budget 2) you can get all the neat extras that, maybe, you otherwise wouldn’t. Extras like a hard-back book with your wedding pictures or supe r classy wedding albums with pull out pages or an upgrade to your wedding photography. Larry told me he started this program so brides on a budget could have all the things that brides with ‘sky is the limit’ budgets have. You can contact Larry for more info (501) 223-5322 or www.focusphotographybylarryodom.com   I have to add that Larry is one of the nicest men you will ever meet. You'll know exactly what I mean within the first minute of speaking with him.

 

The other neat & new thing is:  The Village Event Center now has an on-line forum. You can log on and ask any wedding related or facility-rental question you have. You get to chat with a real human. They provide information about their rental site as well as referrals to other wedding-vendors that they have worked with or worked for. They say, 'if our rental location isn't what you had in mind, then we'll help find one to better suit you'--they mean it, too. The forum is live Mondays and Fridays from 9-10am. You can check out The Village Event center here  www.village-eventcenter.org they have links to their forum site on the Home page and on the Contact Us page.

 

Music-We like live music and DJs equally. We like a duo called Suite Elegante. They are a harp and flute duo. They are fantastic. You can reach them at (501) 835-8827 or www.suiteelegante.com  We really like the following DJs. Ugly Ed Johnson from Alice 107.7 www.uglyed.com. We love Ed because he has great equipment and only plays edited music. He is dependable and has all kinds of music from every genre you can think of. 

 

Budget saving tip: A bride was upset because she and her baker had a misunderstanding. The bride was being charged for three cake stands @ almost $100 each. The misunderstanding occurred because the bride wanted satellite cakes instead of the regular tiered cake. (Satellite-when the cakes are separate not tiered. Three or four separate cakes instead of one tall cake.) The bride contacted her caterer with the problem. The caterer and florist got together and made gorgeous cake stands for almost no money. Ask your baker about cake stands. Are they rentals or do you have to purchase them or can you provide your own. If you can provide your own, consider it. A glass cube with lcd or led up-lights are just as nice and m ight be free if your caterer has extras. Don’t forget about cake cutting. Ask your caterer or baker about the cake cutting service. Do they provide it and what is the cost?

 

Rentals: If your budget allows, rent as many things as you can. One bride mentioned that she was on her way out the door after the ceremony, when she glanced back and saw her mom and sister through the kitchen doors of the reception hall, washing an enormous stack of dishes. With rental dishes you can send dirty dishes back to the rental company. They have to wash them anyway and it is expected. Tents, tables, chairs, dance floor, candelabras, colonnade, linens, china, glassware, chafers, gazebo, silverware, chair covers can all be rented from Party Time Rentals. You can reach Party Time Rentals at 1-800-794-6953 or www.partytimerentalandevents.com

 

Budget Saving Hint: Do you have a friend who can create awesome cake designs? Order several white ‘birthday’ cakes and let your friend do their magic. Then find inexpensive cake stands to display your beautiful but inexpensive satellite wedding cakes.

 

Wedding/Reception/Party Site: There’s a relatively new rental location for you to think about. The Foster-Robinson House. This place is great for smaller events such as smaller weddings and rehearsal dinners. It is a great place for outdoor weddings. It is upscale. You can check them out at (501) 786-0469 or www.fosterrobinson.com  This rental location is owned by Deanna Fleming of Catering Creations.It is a gorgeous huge old historic house with a big  beautiful yard with a fish pond. You will love Deanna!

 

Photography: Darrick Wilson Photography (501) 219-2568. What I like about this photographer is that Darrick and his wife work as a team. You get two for the price of one. His wife assists the bride with her poses and the lighting while Darrick concentrates on shooting the best photograph. You can see examples of their work www.darrickwilsonphotography.com

 

Word-of-Mouth  (I've heard but haven't seen for myself): 1) That Hendrix College in Conway has an outdoor Chapel that they rent for outdoor weddings. 2) I have heard over and over and over that Sissy's Log Cabin is the best place to shop for jewelry. Women have told me how nice Sissy is and how she made them feel important and like a valued customer.

 

HomeContest & NewsletterPlanning & ResourcesAsk The ExpertBride's Room-changing your name & moreEngagement StoriesFree Wedding TipsAdvertise With UsLegal © 2008 Arkansas Wedding Ideas - All Rights Reserved