A blog about all things Nigerian wedding/event decor related with relevant tips, ideas and advice. It is a spinoff of our main website www.christinescreatives.com
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Dubbler - the 'new' cool kid on the block
So... we just found out about this new cool voice messaging app called dubbler! We think its super awesome and just gave it a test drive. It allows you to record voice notes for up to 60seconds, and then allows you to share it with your friends and followers across multiple social media platforms.
Since you were all so fabulous at spotting the differences in our last 2
"spot the difference" games, we figured we could give you something a
little more challenging. Try this puzzle and let us know what you think. Enjoy!!!
So you were selected as the
honorary event planner/host at your workplace; you planned the perfect
event - food, drinks, decor, music, theme - the whole shebang. Everything on
point! You are super proud of yourself and pat yourself on the back!
You can see everyone's enjoying the live band while chowing down on the 3
course meal, all of a sudden you hear one of the guests shriek "Ewww.... there's a fly in my drink!" What do you do? (a) size her up and down, then
decide whether or not she's V.I.P enough to deserve your attention (b) pretend
you didn't hear a thing - after all you are only the event planner/host and not the 'help'? (3) be the perfect host and get one of the servers to
replace the drink... for real, how would you deal with the situation?
There are a few things to consider when it comes to event hosting etiquette. Regardless of the type of event - cocktail,
gala, workshop, barbeque, luncheon - it is your responsibility as the host to ensure that
every guest (regardless of VIP status) is adequately taken care of.
Obviously, it is fine to assign specific servers to VIP guests, however, you need to
ensure that your other guests are not neglected.
If you are planning/hosting an event soon, below are some hosting etiquette you could consider for your next event:
Ensure all your guests have food and drinks within a reasonable period of time. The last thing you
want is people complaining about not having enough food and drinks at the
event
Ensure alcoholic beverages are put away at least 1 – 2 hours
before the event ends (this reduces the risk of people driving home intoxicated. It’s
your party – you set the rules!)
Mingle – make sure you are available to your guests, and that you
are moving around and making small talk. Do not hangout with only one group of
guests, that could make other guests feel less important
Make sure everyone is having a great time! Introduce guests who
may have come alone to other guests. This will ensure no one feels left out
One last thing, make sure the music volume is at a comfortable
level so people can hear themselves when they chat at the tables, and those who
feel like dancing can also dance.
Now that you have these 'perfect-host' tips, how would you respond to the guest who found a fly in her drink? :) . Have a great time
planning/hosting your next event and enjoy the video below! Cheers!!!
"Real Housewife" gets married in a gorgeous grey wedding dress
"Real Housewives of Miami" star Adrianna De Moura gets married.
I am not a "Real Housewives" fan, but when i saw this wedding dress (or wedding dresses lol) I couldn't resist sharing. Adrianna De Moura of the "Real Housewives of Miami" got married over the weekend, and wore a beautiful one shouldered grey wedding dress - gorgeous! Also, she carried a bouquet of lilac orchids, which complemented her dress perfectly. In an interesting twist, the other "housewives" wore white dresses that could easily have been mistaken as wedding dresses.
Mothers are special... Yesterday was Mother's day, and I am incredibly thankful for my mum.
As a daughter, I am thankful for her tough love, her words of wisdom, her strength during difficult times, her dedication to family and friends, her desire to help the less fortunate, her business acumen and her appreciation of life. I have learnt so much from her - how to laugh, how to cry and how to be strong in the face of adversity. Make no mistake, my mum is not perfect - like everyone of us she is flawed, but that is what makes her the uniquely beautiful woman that she is. Our perceived flaws make us work towards being better, and that is what shapes us and develops our character.
I am dedicating this video to my mum and all the mothers out there who don't realize how truly beautiful they are. Stay beautiful!
Centerpieces: Your event is your own production... make it a true reflection of you
As we wait patiently for the Great Gatsby to be released in movies tonight, we figured we would write a Gatsby themed blog today about centerpieces.
As we all know (hopefully), it
is important that your guests feel welcome when they attend an event
that you are hosting. Food is a universal way of making guests feel
welcome at your home or event, and so is the ambiance you create. You
want guests to leave with pleasant experiences that they'll talk about
with nostalgia for years to come. Think about the Oscars or the MET gala - its the creativity in the fashion, the music, the decor, the venue - pretty much the whole production that keeps people talking and keeps these events newsworthy. Your event is your own production. It leaves an impression in people's minds of the kind of individual you may be.
Using centerpieces on guest tables is
one of the ways to create a comfortable welcoming atmosphere for your
guests. Items that can be used for centerpieces are only limited by your
imagination. Flowers, decorative birdcages, lanterns, fruit bowls,
framed pictures, crystals, candles, gold fishes, feathers .... Anything really. Ok well, maybe not everything. There a few things you may want to consider before selecting your centerpieces: Read more »
English: Bouquet of yellow roses, red flowers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Studies show that most women love flowers, and can typically remember when last they received flowers (The research was conducted in 2005 by The Michael Cohen Group.). Flowers makes women feel special, loved and appreciated. The interesting thing is that the flowers that we give do not necessarily have to be big bouquets, and they do not have to be roses either. As cliche as it may sound, it is the thought the counts. I've heard guys say, 'eh but they are only flowers - and they'll die soon anyways'. Trust me on this one guys, flowers will soften her heart and will most likely make her more receptive to you. Read more »
Revlon Entice 190 - My new favorite nail color :).
The original topic I wanted to blog about today was "Celebrity bouquet look a-likes". I planned to look for nice Nigerian celebrity wedding bouquet pictures online, was going to compare them to pictures of wedding bouquets made by Christine's Creatives, and then write about how to plan a Nigerian celebrity wedding on a budget... Wellll that didn't happen now did it? I started my research for wedding pictures, and celebrity wedding after celebrity wedding, all i could find was major DRAMA. Kai!! From stories of Nollywood stars who married other people's husbands, to a Nollywood actor who was planning a 'secret' second wedding - without the knowledge of the first wife (*Akiyesi God is watching you in 3D!). Seeing as I couldn't find any drama-free Nigerian celebrity, I figured I would write about my new favorite nail color - Revlon Entice 190! Read more »
Essential tools for event planning... Whether you are a seasoned event planner or a bride planning her wedding, it is essential to know what tools you have available to you. There are tons of tools available to make the event planning process easier, and we will be featuring one of our favorites today - the 3D Event and Space Design Application by EVENTS clique.
3D Event designer allows you to design an event space in 2D or 3D by dragging and Read more »
First Impressions... closing the deal - or maybe not.
Flowers at office receptions or waiting areas
create an inviting environment for potential clients
"How you come across to others is too important to be left to chance. - Phil Geldart"
When
a client walks through the doors of your office, what do you think
their first impression is? Do they walk into an unkempt yard or an
uninviting office? Or has your organization mastered the art of managing your clients experiences from end to end?
If your goal is to close the deal, then you may
want to ensure that your client's experience from the first time they
come in contact with your organization, up until the time they make
their decision, is very well managed - by you. Interestingly enough, it is the little things that will differentiate you from your competition. You and the competition may have the same products, but the way you treat a potential customer may be the deal-maker or deal-breaker.
Here are 3 quick tips you may want to consider:
Sound professional when you (or the receptionist) pick(s) up a phone call. This is usually the first opportunitythe customer has to make an opinion about your organization. When the phone is picked up, ensure that there is no distracting background noise, and that there is a quick salutation, introduction and offer to help.This assures the caller that you are engaged in the conversation and willing to provide answers/solutions to their inquiries/problems.
Ensure your organization's office space is clean and very well manicured. Make the environment as inviting as possible. Consider simple things such as, ensuring there is hand soap/hand towels in the washrooms, offering cookies and drinks in the waiting area, putting fresh or silk flower arrangements in the waiting area and providing complimentary magazines for your guests to read while waiting.
Present your products to the client - with Confidence. In short, this is your opportunity to shine. You need to let the client know that you understand the problem and that you have a solution. If you are having a face to face discussion with the client, ensure you are sitting or standing up straight (no slouching) and maintain eye contact. If you are asked a question you do not know the answer to, be honest about it andassure the client that you will get back to him/her within a specified timeframe - make sure it is a realistic timeframe so that you can keep your promise. At the end of the meeting make sure you re-iterate your understanding of the clients need and your ability to meet that need.
Then Close the Deal. Ask the client how soon they need your services, and advice him/her of your availability. If you were unable to close the deal at the meeting, ask how soon they intend to make a decision and then follow up within the timeframe they specified. Make sure you request their contact information and send a note of thanks after the meeting.
As we all know, closing the deal has a lot to do with 'how you package the product'. However, closing the next deal with the same customer is about 'how you delivered on the original deal'.
