Choosing A Wedding Planner

If you watched "Father of the Bride" with Steve Martin, the wedding planner played by Martin Short was a hilarious interpretation of a job that is serious business. "Frahnk" (or Frank), as he was called, flitted about managing all of the details of the elaborate wedding. But, a real wedding consultant or planner can be an invaluable tool in making your day a real joy. There are several available wedding planning books that outline all of the necessary tasks to plan a wedding and gives you a timeline. While it's great information for learning what nedds to be done, it will not do any of the jobs for you. An average wedding take around 200 hours to plan. Can you spare 200 hours. A wedding planner can take care of all of the legwork for you so that you can go on with your life and enjoy the planning process.

Many brides assume a wedding planner is an expensive luxury. However, often a good wedding planner can save you both time and money.

How do you shop for a wedding planner? Just as you should do when you look for any type of service professional, you can ask friends and family for recommendations. If you can get a word-of-mouth referral, this is better than an advertisement. If you don't know anyone who has used a planner, you can always look in local bride publications and bridal shows.

Once you have a few potential leads you will need to interview the wedding planner candidates. You are hiring them for an important job, and you need to have confidence that they share your "vision" for your special day. See how willing they are to take suggestions and see what they will do with the ideas that you already have. Do they have doubts about their ability to fulfill your needs? This is a yellow flag, but see why they have concerns before you make a judgment. Once you have interviewed a few planners you are ready to make your decision and get to work.

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DON'T WAIT. Good wedding planners and vendors are often booked a year or more in advance. The sooner you contact them, the more they will be able to do for you.

Most wedding consultants charge a fee of around 10 percent of the cost of the wedding. This is standard-and it is worth it for the peace of mind it will give you. At Pierce Events we provide service discounts from vendors that often can off set the planner cost.

Meet your perspective planner, ask plenty of questions and ask for images of weddings they have done in the past. Do not be shy about contacting references. The planner you choose will be an important partner. You should trust and be comfortable with that person.

We would be honored to speak with you about your wedding day an answer all of your question. We invite you to contact us.

Pierce Events offers complete event planning, production and management services for corporate, social and non-profit events. For more information and other helpful tips visit our website at www.pierceevents.net

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Choosing A Wedding Planner

The Power of Live Entertainment at Special Events

It has been more than 25 years since Guy Laliberté first formed Cirque du Soleil from a band of colorful street performers in Quebec and, it seems, almost as long since cirque-style shows started showing up at events. Why do cirque acts stay strong? Maybe it's because no other type of entertainment is at once so physically primal and so perfectly adaptable to corporate messaging. Oh — and let's not forget the awesome costumes.


Michael Manzenet of Los Angeles-based cirque company Wonderworld Entertainment says that in an event market where every vendor must justify its price, “The value of cirque entertainment is the ‘wow’ factor” — its ability to capture and hold attendees' attention. His troupe's formidable talents — many members hail from Cirque du Soleil productions including Mystere, O and Ka — are particularly well-suited to distraction-packed environments such as trade shows, where aerialists performing on logo-imprinted lengths of chiffon and acrobats handling delicate or technologically complex new products are highly effective at drawing in show-goers. “If your booth has quality [performers] showcasing your products, it's going to get noticed,” Manzenet states. “Crowds will come and expand your customer base.”

For internal corporate events, particularly incentive and sales programs, cirque performances — which showcase mere mortals overcoming such huge obstacles as gravity itself — can be “extremely motivating,” says Sam Trego of San Diego-based Imagination Entertainment, which stages both public and private-event cirque and Broadway-style productions. He points out that pacing and location of entertainment — whether the client selects Imagination's popular Viaggio by Il Circo extravaganza or a slightly less death-defying musical theater production — is key. “Placing the right entertainment in the right place in the event will always lead to a desired response,” he notes. “I will always remember what a rather well-known insurance meeting planner told me about our shows: ‘Sam, your shows are the golf of our program.’ I said, ‘Golf?’ She said, ‘Absolutely. Your show productions create a feeling level in my audience that is conducive to good business. You have no idea how much money we make because of the good feeling you create in the ballroom with your shows.’

Pierce Events offers complete event planning, production and management services for corporate, social and non-profit events. For more information and other helpful tips visit our website at www.pierceevents.net ◦

The Power of Live Entertainment at Special Events

How Much Do You Cost?

When a bride contacts us usually the first question asked is "How Much Do You Charge?" While cost is an understandable concern, just as important is the question "What do I get for my money?"

A Bride who chooses a company based strictly on price is asking for trouble. Not all wedding vendors are the same. Then good ones tend to charge more. The problem is Brides do not have an accurate measuring tool.

I tell prospective clients straight out if they are shopping for the cheapest service we will lose that competition every time. There are many vendors who choose to lower pricing, offer discounts and gimmicks and they are free to do so. At Pierce Events we offer custom designed events and in doing so, the number of Weddings we accept has to be limited. Therefor we have to be able to make a living with the wedding we do accept. We dedicate our self to making sure your "vision" becomes reality. While we never spend a dime foolishly, our events often come at a higher price because the quality we offer is above and beyond others.

One of the main reasons Brides suffer from sticker shock is because of price comparisons. One of the first places Brides go is the Internet. When you start perusing you will see price ranges. It our natural reaction to focus on the lowest price. We don't publish our pricing for that reason.

Take a look at Craigslist in your city. You will find ads from wedding DJ's offering services as low as $150. (Stay away from them. Trust me.) If you are expecting a $400service because you saw Internet prices, and a wedding vendor gives you a price of $1200, you are bound to gasp and think "This guy is nuts".

So what is a bride to do? Take a moment to decide what is most important to you on your wedding day. Is it food, entertainment, flowers, photographs, the ice sculpture? Put all those items in order of importance. Spend more on the things at the top of your list. Do you homework! Ask to speak to past clients. Meet face to face with vendors or planners. Give them a chance to show you why they charge what they charge and what you get in return.

We always ask Brides "How important is this to you?" We work full time to make your dream come true. It's not about hiring a worker, it's finding a match and building a relationship wherein you trust your planner with a once in a lifetime event...your Wedding.

Let's be honest, planning a Wedding is a really big deal. The typical Bride has a full time job, a busy social life, doing things with 2 sets of families now and so much more that her wedding planning is truly overwhelming. That's why we do what we do.

Price is important. I have never met a Bride with an unlimited budget. However finding a person or company that you can trust is priceless. We would love the opportunity to earn your trust. Contact us to schedule a meeting. Don't worry, the meeting is free.

Pierce Events offers complete event planning, production and management services for weddings, corporate, social and non-profit events. For more information and other helpful tips visit our website at www.pierceevents.net ◦

How Much Do You Cost?

Holiday Cheer

Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us and they all want a drink!

Holiday entertaining offers a great time to explore some creative libations. The folks at Pierce Events are offering up some great beverage ideas that are sure to please.

Cheers from us to you!

Red & White Martini
2 oz. Vodka
11/2 oz. Menthol Schnapps
½ oz. light cream or half and half
Mini candy cane

Combine ingredients, shake on ice and strain in a martini glass. Hang mini candy cane on the rim.

Jamaican Christmas
1 oz. Blue Curacao
1 oz. Malibu
1 oz. Midori Melon Liquor
Crème de Banana
2 oz. pineapple juice

Shake and stain on ice in a highball glass and garnish with a pineapple spear and an umbrella

Snow Angel
1 oz. Vanilla Schnapps
1 oz. Baily's Irish Crème
1 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur

Combine ingredients in shaker. Shake and strain into a cordial glass.

Ginger Snap Martini
1 1/4 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. Frangelico
1/4 oz. Goldschlager
1/2 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps
2 oz. ginger ale or ginger beer

dash of ground ginger
dash of cinnamon
dash of ground clove
dash of allspice

Pour all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into Martini glass. Splash ginger ale on top to fill. Stir gently.

Pierce Events offers complete event planning, production and management services for corporate, social and non-profit events. For more information and other helpful tips visit our website at http://www.pierceevents.net/ ◦

Holiday Cheer

A New Ticketing Service for Nonprofit Events

CharityHappenings, an online calendar of fund-raisers, recently launched a free service that allows nonprofits to list, promote, and sell tickets for events via its Web site. After creating an account, planners enter information into predefined fields to create a ticketing page that can be customized to represent the look and feel of an event. Users can also add information about sponsors, display auction items, collect donations, and promote an organization's mission.

When guests click on a link to the site, an invitation image (created and uploaded by the nonprofit) pops up, saving money on printing and mailing costs. While there is no charge to use the service, CharityHappenings charges 99 cents plus a 3 percent fee per attendee (up to $7.49) at the point of sale. (The nonprofit can determine whether it or the attendees will pay the service fee based upon the specific ticket type.)

Pierce Events offers complete event planning, production and management services for corporate, social and non-profit events. For more information and other helpful tips visit our website at www.pierceevents.net

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A New Ticketing Service for Nonprofit Events

Go for Launch

If you have a retail store, night club, or any other business, you need a way to stand out from your competition. Companies spend billions of dollars to market, brand and attract customer attention. But how do you showcase a product, location or service without breaking the bank? A LAUNCH EVENT!

What better way to launch something special—and grab plenty of attention—than with an unforgettable special event? Pierce Events creates fun interactive events that are totally hassle free. With years of promotional experience we stage events that intrigue, invite and capture the attention of customers.

The battle for holiday dollars has already begun many of our clients already understand the value and importance of our retail events. Create a dome that immerses customers in your brand experience, host and entertainment lounge that offers an oasis in the midst of holiday shopping. Entice the sense with light, sound, scents, touch and tasty treats. We make you stand out with holiday promotions, midnight sales, grand openings. Music and lights attract attention. When customers are having fun they are ready to spend. Let us show you how you can draw customers and stand out.

Pierce Events offers complete event planning, production and management services for corporate, social and non-profit events. For more information and other helpful tips visit our website at www.pierceevents.net

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Go for Launch

Back to School Sounds

It's back to school time. Hard to believe it but it's true.

Once again we kick off the third year of our "Clean Beats" program. We offer clean wholesome entertainment for all age groups so you can entertain without worring about what songs might pop up. We never play anything offensive in lyrics or subject matter. Each week we review the latest "Safe Songs" for school dances.

For more information call us at 724-986-6939

This list below is primarily designed for events at Middle and High schools:

Artist Title Featuring
Taio Cruz Dynamite
Katy Perry California Gurls Snoop Dog
B.O.B Airplanes Hayley Williams
Usher OMG Will I am
Usher DJ Got Us Fallin In Love Pitbull
Eminem Love The Way You Lie Rihanna
Travie McCoy Billionaire Bruno Mars
Mike Posner Cooler Than Me
Jason Derula Ridin Solo
Lady Gaga Alajandro
Tao Cruz Break Your Heart Ludacris
B.O.B MAGIC Rivers Cuomo
Enrique Iglesias I Like It Pitbull
Sean Kingston Letting Go (Dutty Love)
Black Eyed Peas Rock That Body
Drake Find your Love
New Boyz Break My Bank Iyaz
Ready Set Love Like Woe
Flo Rida Club can't Handle Me D Guetta
Nicki Minaj Your Love
3OH!3 My First Kiss Ke$ha
Katy Perry Teenage Dream
Ke$ha Your Love is my Drug
Jay Sean 2012 (It ain't the end of the world"
Jay-Z Young Forever Mr. Hudson
Bruno Mars Just the way you are
Cali Swag District Teach Me How to Dougie
Justin Bieber Somebody to Love

Recurrents- (Still popular- but off the chart)
Jason Derula In My Head
Justin Bieber Baby Ludacris
LaRoux Bulletproof
Timberland If We ever Meet again Katy Perry
KE$ha Tic Toc
Selena Gomez & The Scene Naturally
Black Eyed Peas Imma Be
B.O.B. Nothing on you Bruno Mars
Trey Songz Say Aah

DO NOT PLAYLIST ADDS
New Rick Ross Blowin Money Fast
New Chris Brown Deuces
New Drake Fancy
New Richard Vission/Static Revenge I Like That Ludacris
New Far East Movement Like a G6
Glasses Malone I Get Doe
Soulja Boy Pretty Boy Swag
Kanye West Power

Pierce Events offers complete event planning, production and management services for corporate, social and non-profit events. For more information and other helpful tips visit our website at www.pierceevents.net ◦

Back to School Sounds