Planning a Summer Barbeque

Ahhhh....Summertime! You know what that means, fun festivals, summer weddings, outdoor concerts, fireworks and summer barbeques with friends and family.

Let's focus for a minute on the summer barbeque. Doesn't that make you think of sunshine, delicious smells and good food eaten in even better company?

Here's a few tips on planning and hosting a great outdoor barbeque!

• Put together a rocking menu
• Pick good cuts/quality meat
• Pick a theme if you want; walk the aisles of your local party supply for ideas
• Drinks: People are going to be thirsty make sure to offer lemonades, water, sodas, beer, wine coolers maybe even a fun signature drink
• Do as much prep work as possible before the guests arrive, so you can chat too while the grill is fired up
• Have ample seating available. Picnic tables are always fun for the kids
• Have a back-up plan in case it rains, let guests know up front if you will need to reschedule if it rains or if they should plan to come rain or shine
• Let your guests bring side dishes. This gives lots of variety. You might even get to try something you have never had before!
• Have activities for kids. Bored kids will make their own fun and it might not be so fun for you.
• Finally thank your guests for coming and mention that you'd love to have them back again

Enjoy the Rest of Your Summer!

Planner Angie AKA "WallStreet"

"Let's Budget This!"

We are nominated on the "A" List!

We are so excited!

Please vote for us!

The Best of TheIndyChannel.com "A" list is a list of businesses in the Indy area placed in different categories and a winner is picked by the most votes. We would love for you to vote for us as the best Event Planners!

Just click on this link and it will take you right to Absolute Agenda's voting page!

http://wrtv.cityvoter.com/absolute-agenda/biz/368063

Let's Vote This!

~Details Diva (Erin)~

"Let's Plan This!"

Attn Maid-of-Honors! Need help planning your Bridal Shower?

One of my strengths in Absolute Agenda is finalizing all the little details. Here's my tips on planning your Bridal Shower!

As the Maid-of-Honor you must be BFF with the Bride, or why else would she pick you?!!? :) So don't think of it as your obligation, think of it as throwing a party for your best friend! And who doesn't like a party?!?

3 MONTHS AHEAD:

1. Ask the bride what kind of shower she wants! All women or Co-Ed? Spa or Tea Party? Themed or Formal? Customize it for your BFF!


2. Set the date: usually 1-2 months ahead of the wedding. Be careful of holidays and guests travel time.


3. Make reservations if needed (Restuarant, Spa, etc)


4. Create the guest list with the Bride

2 MONTHS AHEAD

1. Send out "Save the Date" cards and call out of town guests to give them advance notice so that they can make travel plans.


2. Set a budget (Include the bridesmaids to help with tasks and budget)


3. Finalize theme and plan decor


4. Order the cake/baked goods from bakery


5. Create a menu

1 MONTH AHEAD

1. Send out invitations (Don't forget to insert registry cards!)


2. Finalize the menu


3. Purchase decor and purchase a memory book for bride for shower


4. Purchase favors for guests


5. Assign tasks to bridesmaids

2 WEEKS AHEAD

1. Find your outfit for the shower


2. Purchase your gift


3. Begin to purchase items for the menus (especially hard to find items) and organize recipes if needed


4. Pick up serving ware, punch bowls, etc if needed


5. Place a flower order if desired


6. Purchase alcohol if your are serving cocktails

1 WEEK AHEAD

1. Confirm reservations and RSVPs


2. Assemble decor and favors if needed


3. Purchase any food items still needed


4. Prepare shower games and activities (if needed)

1 DAY AHEAD

1. Prepare any food items that can be prepared ahead of time


2. Touch base with bridesmaids and their tasks


3. Run last minute errands


4. Organize and place shower items in car if going to another location. If shower is at your house, begin decorating

THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!

1. Finish preparing food


2. Decorate and lay out the favors, flowers, food, and drinks


3. Locate and prepare a gift area for guests to place gifts when they arrive


4. Be ready to greet guests at least 30 minutes prior to the shower


5. Breathe and enjoy the party with your BFF!

Take pride in the fact that you are planning a very special day for a beloved friend! Have fun and be creative! Remember it's the little details that are most noticed and treasured!

~Detail Diva (Erin)~
"Let's Plan This!"

Are you Cool?

A better question would be "how are you going to keep your guests cool this summer at your event?"

Picture this, your event is set to go. The food is perfect, the dance floor looks great, the centerpieces are fabulous, your guests arrive wearing their trendy best. Everything is perfect at the arrival and then it starts getting hot,

too hot and guests are fanning and blotting and looking at their watches. Nothing can kill your outdoor event faster than the hotness factor. Follow me as I list some rules for keeping your tented event cool this summer.

Coolness rule #1 Every 100 square feet of tent requires 1 ton of cooling. As an example if you have a 40x60 tent you would need a 25-ton cooling unit. You will need to consider the number of guests and the amount of lighting you plan to use also. These factors can increase the need for more A/C.

Coolness rule #2 Be prepared to pay approximately $1 to $2 per square foot of tent space for A/C

Coolness rule #3 Be sure to visit the A/C provider's showroom and ask questions. You want to know how potential problems are going to be handled. Will a tech be on site for the event, or will you have to contact them and wait for arrival if something goes wrong.

Some tips to keep in mind when choosing your tent for a summer event: Look for a sidewall that has a seal and tent doors instead of flaps or openings, this will keep cool air in and help keep heat out. Air conditioning in a tent can’t be seen, but if it’s too hot or cold in the tent during your event, it’s the only thing your guests are going to remember. Don’t make the mistake of not budgeting or under budgeting for it.

Play it cool this summer!

Planner Angie

Your Perfect Tan for Down the Aisle.

Now it is time for that perfect tan. But most brides aren't familiar with tanning. And you don't want to look like a lobster on the day of your wedding. So what is a bride to do? Simple, try a spray on tan to get your base going and then start going to a tanning bed. Here is what you need to do. About 2 months prior to the wedding you want to start consistently exfoliating your skin and hydrating it with a good healthy lotion. After about a week of this then you can use a micro-mist self tanning spray. Use the spray about 2-3 times a week. Start out with shade #2 and then bump up to #3. Also start your tanning sessions by going for 5 minutes for a week then each week bump it up 5 more minutes until you are up to 20 minutes per session. With the combination of the tanning spray and the tanning sessions your tan will be flawless.

Green it Like you Mean it...

Green. Everyone is doing it. Do you feel like you should be too??


Pinching pennies, streamlining budgets and looking for ways to re-use and be organic are thoughts many of us have when planning an event.


There are several ways to be earth friendly while staying within budget for your corporate or private event. First skip the traditional paper invitations and corporate literature and go online instead. You can save hundreds of dollars on paper, stamps, ink and envelopes by going online.


For decor use potted plants that can be taken home as a favor by guests or re-used for another event.


For food, going organic for your menu doesn't mean you have to bust your food budget. Choose budget friendly veggie and poultry dishes. Also fore go the plastic water bottles and use filtered water in carafes. If you are offering bar drinks at your event there are many companies making organic alcohol available.


In the end the misconception is that being green will cost more than not. But actually you can cut costs and be green. Ethically we can't afford to not go green.


So for your next corporate of private event consider talking with Absolute Agenda to green it like you mean it!!



Planner Angie

Ambient Lighting Can Help Set the Mood...

Let's talk about Ambient Lighting! The definition of ambient lighting is: Ambient lighting is diffused light (often colored, using "gels") that sets the mood of a room or outdoor area and provides basic illumination over a broad area, often adding a decorative touch, and very often as "uplighting."

We love uplighting and mood lighting! It really creates atmosphere around a room or outdoor area and it can really be customized for your theme. Just by adding one uplight in each corner of the room or around landscaping outside it can totally change the look of an area. Add a colored gel to the light and the room can be transformed to match the mood of your event!

Here are a few pics to demonstrate the difference that ambient lighting can do for your event!

Before/After

Simple

Beautiful