Venue Me || How to Choose Your Venue

Time is ticking on finding the perfect wedding venue. No one said this would be an easy task. On another thought, you really may have no clue what to do when it comes to scouting out a venue and figuring out the next steps. I’m here to tell you that this is your first step after the engagement because your entire wedding hinges on the location of your ceremony and reception (of course, this is easier when both at same location). The venue sets the tone and allows you to select colors, styles, and food choices that fit your preferences.


Close To Home

Choosing a venue close to home saves time and money. This allows you to closely monitor all the special details and take tours of the venue open houses. This is a great way to select local vendors and have a green, eco-friendly wedding. Arizona also provides gorgeous sunsets and many fine venues that range from reception only sites to full-service resorts. Some venues require your vendor choices be selected from a preapproved list. This may help you find ease at “shopping” at once but may limit your favorite photographer that you can’t live without.

Stateside Selections

In all its beautiful colors and landscape, Arizona does miss the unmistakable beachside views that you yearn to see in your pictures. You may find wish to for a beach wedding soaking up the rays on the beach. Take a weekend trip six months or more prior to wedding to meet with potential vendors. Contact area venues for their vendor recommendations as this will be a current referral (vendor lists are seldom updated online).

Tropical or International Calling Card

The economy is not the only factor driving this exciting romance getaway. Your friends and family play a large part in attendance on your day. Determine if your friends and family will need a passport and/or visa for your destination wedding. I strongly recommend using a travel planner for booking hotel and flights. The Swine Flu was a big roadblock for weddings and honeymooners in 2009 causing resort closures all over. Be prepared for any unexplained natural or biomedical disaster and renovations that may leave you stranded. Destination weddings can truly be a breathtaking and magical experience for you and your guests when planned out.

Stay tuned for the BLUEman coming up on Monday at 3:33 p.m.

Also, don't forget to enter the Blissful Blueprint Contest. There is about 2 weeks left until we select 3 lucky brides!

Flying…Can Be Humorous

Over the past month I’ve took three trips either work related or for pleasure. It got me thinking. Flying can sometimes be rather fun, but only if you have the right personnel that help to make it fun.

Take in point the quick flight to Vegas. People are often cheerful because they are on their way with the thoughts of pulling the slot at the right time to win that jackpot, or thinking they will clean house at the blackjack or poker tables. The flight attendants, on Southwest anyway, will take care of you. If you’re headed there for your bachelor party or bachelorette party and let them know it, they will likely assist in liquoring you up, with no cost out of your pockets. Heck, you need that money to hand to get you going on running the tables, right? This fun and exciting time catching a plane to a destination is much like taking that flight out on the start of your honeymoon. On your honeymoon, you just can’t wait to get there and see the places you’ve want to see…most likely after the bedroom…

But the flight back, that’s the downer. Coming back from Vegas, everyone is depressed because they lost a couple hundred or in some of the worst cases, a couple grand. But there is always that one person that is happy as all, because he hit it big, at least in his mind he did. This can be compared to the flight home post-honeymoon. You wish your time with your new found life partner could last even longer while laying on the beach on some exotic island, but now you're back to life as it was and is…only this time, you have that person officially by your side.

So what are some fun things a flight attendant or gate keeper might say to brighten you day, or at least make you laugh and bring a smile to your face, on either your journey to or from your vacations or business ventures?

Recently I waited in the “A” boarding line and a lady approached the ticket check-in with her boarding pass and she was on her cell phone (it was also 6:30 in the morning). The guy said to her, “Who you calling this early in the morning? If you were calling me I’d be pissed.”

One time, after everyone boarded the plane, the gate keeper spoke over the intercom saying, “I’ve enjoyed my time on the ground with you all as we waited to board the plane.” Silence in the galley. “No…seriously.” Still some silence. “And I’ll be the first to say that I’m happy to see you leave.” Then laughter rang about. How’s that for some fun before an early morning flight?

Anyway, point being, it’s nice to fly with a little humor, makes sitting in a plane for three hours not too bad of an experience right from the get-go.

Have some experiences you’d like to share? Post your fun flying experiences in the comments section below, if you wish.

Oh, and by the way guys, be sure to point your bride to www.blueprintaffairs.com to enter the Blissful Blueprint Contest.  It's a chance for you to win a day-of-wedding coordinator for your wedding, which will save her the stress of having to worry about bringing the whole day together.  Earn the brownie points and give it a shot.  But hurry, contest ends February 12, 2010.

Until next Monday at 3:33 p.m., take care…

Blissful Blueprint Contest

Blissful Blueprint Contest


Blueprint Affairs, a wedding and event planning business serving the Metro Phoenix area, would like to present three lucky brides with their own dream wedding. Due to recent struggles in the economy, more than ever brides are feeling the stress of their wedding day, and we are offering three lucky brides a wedding day gift. We will be selecting our Blissful Blueprint brides during Valentine’s Day weekend. The criteria will be based on your ability to describe your romantic engagement and how you envision your romantic wedding day. Bliss is in the air! You will be entering to win a FREE Day-of-Wedding Coordinator for a stress-free special day.

We will meet together at least 30 days prior to your wedding to review all your vendor contracts. During our meeting we can discuss a wedding day timeline, review the vendors for your wedding day, and go over your ceremony and reception needs.

As your personal wedding coordinator, we will bring together all the special details so that you and your family can enjoy your day. This also includes one (1) hour for rehearsal day to prepare the entire wedding party for your walk down the aisle. Handled with grace and full preparation, you will feel at ease with a stress-free wedding you have always imagined.

Entry Information: To enter, email contest@blueprintaffairs.com with the following information, which must be received no later than February 12, 2010:

1. Bride Name and Contact Information
2. Groom Name and Contact Information
3. Wedding Date and Wedding Location
4. Describe your romantic proposal: (limit to 300 words)
5. Describe how you envision your romantic wedding day: (limit 300 words)



RULES AND REGULATIONS
• One entry per couple.
• You must be 18 years of age and a resident of Arizona to enter.
• Winners will be posted on the blog and www.blueprintaffairs.com.
• Prize must be claimed within two weeks of notification.
• The prize is not transferable to any other person nor is it redeemable for monetary value.
• Blueprint Affairs reserve the right to use the winner's name and photographs for publicity purposes.
• The day-of-wedding coordination package is for a maximum of 125 guests.
• Winner will be responsible for tax and gratuity for all contracted wedding vendors.
• Your wedding must take place no earlier than March 15, 2010, and no later than September 30, 2010.
• The wedding date may not conflict with any pre-existing Blueprint Affairs wedding and/or event booking dates.
• No substitution for the prize is allowed.
• Wedding and reception must be held within the Phoenix Metro area.
• Winners may choose to upgrade the wedding package with Blueprint Affairs at their own expense.

Venue Me || Great Perks!

Finding the perfect venue really has its advantages. If you search for a venue site that really suits you, be sure to ask if they have amenities that will benefit you and your fiancé. The best way to really enjoy the week leading up to your wedding and on the wedding day is by soaking in the experience. This is the one time that your family will enjoy pampering and relaxing (with you). Check the venue website for special accommodations and the concierge for any services they recommend.


FREE Anyone?

All your wedding planning will eventually surmount to the one big day, and I give you permission to enjoy it. In many cases, the golf club you booked will also provide your fiancé and a small group of his friends a free round of golf (including the golf carts) on the wedding day. I’m really into relaxing so the spa area is where you would find me. Check out the spa area, pool, and massage services available at your venue. Booking your room and wedding day services also prompts them with special promotions for the bride and groom.

Take Me There

You may find it easy to wake up and walk outside your door to your own personal chauffeur service. Many hotels and venues also provide free shuttle service to and from your rehearsal dinner. In some cases, you may organize shuttle services for all your wedding guests from the hotel to the wedding site (if driving to two different locations). This saves your guests the hassle of finding parking and allows those who want to indulge in alcohol, a safe way home.

Just In Case!

During your travels (either by plane or across town), you may need to have your dress and your bridesmaid dresses steamed. The upright steamers are a hassle to carry with you so check on borrowing the venue’s site machine. Or, look for a dry cleaning service near your venue to take your dress for a quick fix. It’s best to hang your dress outside the bag to prevent deep wrinkles. Don’t forget to take your emergency wedding day kit with you because things do happen and you want to be prepared.

Guys Only...

What can be better than a weekend away from work? How about a weekend just for the guys! This is not something you get to do every month…it might only become a reality for you once or twice a year, but the guys only trip is just as much a fabric of our being as drinking beer and eating wings. We need that time to unwind and socialize with those that know us better than ourselves, our friends.

So what are the destinations close by that you could head off to with the guys? A short hour or so flight or a nice five to seven hour drive, and you could be in an array of different places, including San Diego, L.A. and of course the ultimate, Vegas! But if you’re like me, you enjoy going back to the college you graduated from in the Midwest, in the cold blistering snow, to hang with your friends and watch a few basketball games. Hit the old college bars you used to hang out at, grab a bite at your favorite pizzeria and even catch a game or two while critiquing the student sections latest chants and celebration styles.

Of course, if driving long hours or flying out of state is not an option for you, you can plan an in town guys weekend. Big time golfers, consider staying at a golf resort and hitting the links. Perhaps your timing is right in line with the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Then you could not only golf, but hook yourselves up with VIP treatment and watch how the pros do it.

Whatever your guy’s weekend might be, the point is, you need to have one. It brings sanity to your crazy world, and allows you to let loose with those guys you know you can let loose with. But the key to a very successful, not going to get in trouble guys trip, is to have that friend in the group that knows how to make sure boundaries are not crossed. They will protect you from going overboard and make sure that everyone returns back to reality with their heads held high.

So guys, plan your weekends wisely, enjoy them, have fun, be safe, and return home to your loved one in one piece. Do those things and your sure to have plenty more guy’s trips to come.

Be sure to log-on next Monday at 3:33 p.m. for the latest blog on the Male Perspective.

Venue Me || Bring Your Fiance

After my Open House visit last night with the Boojum Tree in Phoenix, I realized that there is more to searching for a venue. The one fine element includes your fiancé. I have always heard how many fiancé’s are either stuck at home or arrive kicking and screaming to the venue. Last night was such a surprise to hear each fiancé engrossed in the conversation and asking thoughtful questions. I have to wonder what the new shift in newly engaged couples has been to provoke such a bonding experience in wedding planning. Many of you are shaking your heads that this will never be your fiancé. Heck this is football season and sports or not, some men are hard to convince.

Sports Junkie

A little extra thought is required so think of the evening possibilities when it comes to your Sports Junkie. Consider the scheduled venues to not overlap on his favorite game night. This is a good time to clue into what team he roots for and check the game rosters. Make a checklist of your favorite venues and focus your attention on those open houses. This may include scouting out the local pubs and sports bars close to the venue. He will be thrilled that you helped him catch the live action immediately following your venue venture.

Late Nighter

Working a full-time job for your Late Nighter may not be flexible for a weekday walkthrough. Being thoughtful to present your fiancé with available dates and times to schedule a one-on-one walk through with the event staff is ideal. Many locations provide weeknight and weekend tours. This will show your fiancé how important the venue selection process is to you and help him keep his calendar in order. Try to not overwhelm yourself or your fiancé with too many appointments in one week. Pace yourself and have fun. Bringing snacks or a quick bite after work for him will also ease his hunger pains and help him be more agreeable.

Not His Thing

Some men prefer to have the bride do all the planning and the cliché is “they just show up at the wedding”. Your wedding is meant to represent a day that joins both of you in a loving, committed relationship. In this case, think like a man and schedule venue tours around things that really interest him. Many vendors including cake, DJ, photography, and catering will indulge different sides of his personality with their presented services. I always find that the cake and catering vendors strike it easy with the groom’s by offering delicious samples. Do your research on what your fiancé likes because he may just buddy up with the DJ over their favorite 80’s rock tunes.

Check out BLUEman the Male Perspective every Monday at 3:33 pm to learn more.

OPEN BAR...Sort of

You’ve picked the venue. The band is all lined up. The flowers are set to be delivered. The food you’ve chosen will wow your guests. What’s left to decide other than the obvious: to open bar or not to open bar? That could be one of the biggest questions of all.


In today’s weddings, men are fronting the financial responsibility just as much as women are. The traditional ways of a woman’s family paying for the wedding are less and less apparent. And let’s face it…you need all the money you can hold onto so that your life post-wedding is not off to a rocky financial start.

So how can you save a little dough and still provide a nice experience for your VIPs? As a man, you want an open bar. Let’s be honest with ourselves, when you’re invited to a wedding, one of the very first thoughts to pop into your head as a man is “open bar?” You want to drink, you want to let loose, and will gladly do so if it’s not on your dime. But now you’re the groom. Now you have to step up, right?

There are several options. Other than the obvious to have it open all night, or to a certain time in the night, you could limit the open bar for the cocktail part of your reception, the one-hour post-ceremony, while your wedding party is taking pictures. The only downfall is people will see that open bar window, and take full advantage. Plus, if someone is halfway done with their drink and decides they don’t really like it, they will leave it behind and go pick up something else. That just cost you $8 in leftover alcohol. As my dad always said, no beer gets left behind…but sad to say, people do ignore that idea.

But here is an option that worked, it can help you plan to spend no more than you can afford: Drink Tickets. By creating drink tickets, you can choose to take care of your VIPS (your parents and bridal party members) or everyone at the wedding reception. If you have 17 people in your bridal party, including parents, you can hand each of them three drink tickets good for a beer, well drink or glass of wine. Knowing that is 51 tickets, figure the high side of $8.00 per drink, and you’re sure not to spend more than a little over $400.00. But if you want to take care of everyone, consider handing out two drink tickets to each person. Let’s say you have 100 guests, including your bridal party, then that is 200 drink tickets and you can budget, on the high side, spending no more than $1,600.00 for alcohol. Anything beyond the drink tickets you hand out is a cash bar. So you’re not on the hook.

Whatever you decide, drink tickets are a great way to limit the amount of money you spend on the technically open bar. The great thing is, no matter how many you hand out, you can budget the max amount you will spend out of pocket. Better yet, you’re likely not to see all of the drink tickets turned in, hence, you save money for better things, like the honeymoon!

Stayed tuned for next week's blog on Monday at 3:33 pm.

Venue Me || Open Houses

It’s officially wedding season. As we kick off the New Year with countless engagements, it’s time for brides to check local magazines for their best wedding venues. Does looking at countless pictures sound familiar? I sometimes can’t decide what I really like by pictures alone. Is it the creative photography that captures your eye? Or, does the venue really have the appeal to make your wedding perfect?

Satisfying as it is, traipsing all around to find the perfect venue is no one’s idea of fun. Narrow down a few and take advantage of open houses to see the venue at its prime. Since most weddings are typically held during the evening. You also have an opportunity to meet other key vendors you need. Take some time to check out some local beauties in Phoenix such as Boojum Tree – Hidden Gardens for a fairytale location filled with nooks and archways around the property ideal for wedding pictures. They host an open house every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m.

Another hidden treasure is Virginia’s House located in Glendale. This historic home brings together the family atmosphere and romance from the 1930’s. I find myself in love with their venue that easily captures the essence of a charming backyard wedding. Their next open house is on Thursday, January 14th from 4-8 p.m. Open Houses provide you the chance to visit the properties you have been eyeing and choose your perfect venue.

For more ideas on different venues in Arizona, be sure to check out AZ Finest Wedding Sites

Wait…we’re getting married this weekend?

Guys, unless you don’t care about sports, make sure to not forget about the big game. Whether it be opening weekend of March Madness, the BCS National Championship, or the Superbowl, make sure you studied up on those future dates to ensure your wedding is free and clear of the big sports weekends.


Marrying the women of my dreams was absolutely no mistake. The mistake was in the date, March 21. We wanted that wedding date to be one year after we had met, it would be romantic. But then, guys start calling me following receiving their invitations asking what gives? I wondered, and then it hit me. This was the opening weekend of the NCAA Final 64 March Madness Tournament. Something I loved going to the sports bar with my dad, brother and friends to watch a keep tabs on who was winning their respective pools, but it was too late, the date was set. If this is the case with you, and it’s locked in with the venue, invitations are out, etc. then stick with the date. You’ll be glad you did. But if you’re still deciding on a date, keep the sports calendar in mind.

But maybe getting married on the big sports weekend will help you remember your anniversary for years to come. My dad got married on the weekend of Rutgers home football game, and he remembers that every time his anniversary approaches, as will I with the opening rounds of March Madness. The cool thing is, my wife actually wants to go to Vegas for one of our future anniversaries to bet on the college action, so I can’t complain too much, now can I.

But during my wedding weekend, we had fun with all the guys watching the games that Thursday and Friday, so it wasn’t a total bust. After all, the games last 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the sport, but your marriage is meant to last a life time, so bet on the latter first and foremost and make your wedding the greatest days of your lives!