Our Happy Brides - What we do and LOVE !!!

This is why I love what I do !!! 

No Wedding or Bridal Couple is ever the same and I am the very lucky person who gets to make all their Dreams come True on their special day etc... etc... etc...

The best decision we could have made, aside from getting married, was to hire Debbie and etc. events to plan our wedding. Organising a wedding is stressful and Debbie took all stress that away. Her creativity, energy and general objectivity was something to be admired. Debbie's communication with us was flawless - we knew where we stood on every detail and were reminded when we needed to make certain decisions. Debbie has a great way with people, especially when it comes to diffusing potentially emotional situations - she was a lifesaver (or rather a relationship saver!). I knew that I could relax and enjoy my Wedding day comfortable in the knowlege that it would all run smoothly (and it did!). I LOVED every minute of my Wedding day thanks to Debbie and all her hard work. 

Angela & Dean Barnes – 25^th April 2009

Dear Debbie

I Thank You from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful day we experienced on Niamh's Special day. It was truly a day to remember and it went so smoothly that we were not even the slightest bit nervous. You had it all under control and so well organized. Many, many thanks from us all.

We dropped Niamh and Dom at the airport on Monday afternoon and on the way the wedding day was discussed in great detail with only compliments to all your hard work. They must be on the beach now in The Maldives enjoying the beginning of their real life together.

LOL

Geraldine McCarthy (Mother of the Bride)

Niamh & Dominic Targett – 23^rd April 2011:  Zulu Nyala

Dearest Debs,

This is just a tiny token of our IMMENSE appreciation.  You have done wonders and worked your MAGIC.  Thank-you so so much, we just cannot thank-you enough.  Thank-you for being a such a great support to me and mom and putting up with all our stresses . You are a STAR.

Claire & Rob  – 9^th April 2011:  Zulu Nyala

Debs! We were blessed beyond words to have you as our wedding co-ordinator! Not only were you there for us professionally,But there for us for Friendship, Loads of love and support! Without your help,Your Smiling face and Kindness...I would have been a wreck! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for Making our Amazing day...EASY! Xx

Robyn & Tinus Olivier – Tala Winning Bridal Couple 2011

                                                           April 2012

Corale Jeffrey via Facebook

Hi Debs
Sorry it has taken me for ever to get back to you, it has been a mix of being lazy forgetting and remembering at the wrong times and not knowing what to write - I am rubbish at things like this and probably won't give you any justice to actually how amazing you were, but here it goes.

Literally from the first correspondance Debbie was helping me out with planning our wedding. Until late at night email by email she just kept responding to my questions and requests. Throughout 18months of planning Debbie was at my beck and call, even though she had other events almost every weekend before my own wedding, no question was too stupid and no request too much.
Before the wedding and on the day she was amazing, I had to do nothing, I worried about nothing. She made me feel so relaxed and to walk into my reception where she had laid out all my ideas that exactly resembled my dreams. Planning a wedding from another country was bound to be difficult but Debs literally did it all. Thank you so much! You truely are an amazing, gifted person with a real passion for making peoples dreams come true, and an amazing ability to read into other peoples dreams.

Corale & Wayne – April 2012

 

Morning Debbie

We all good, and slept reasonably well and very excited for today.

Thank you for everything you have done in the build up to the wedding.  You have been quite fantastic and supportive.  What has been put together in the hall, is exactly as I saw it in my head.  Thank you for all your help and professionalism in how you have put this together.  I have complete faith in you as from now, that all will run smoothly because it is in your capable hands.  It is a blessing that I can now relax and enjoy Nicola and Ian's wedding!

With love and thanks

Lucinda and Nicola

Dear Debbie

This note of thanks comes from us all for helping to make Nicola + Ian's day the most wonderful, happy, stress-free occasion for us all. Your organisation, management and effort was quite amazing, and was commented on by all who knew your role. You will be highly recommended by us to any in need of your services (have already been asked by one guest for your details)!

 

I apologise for the late email, but we have just said goodbye to our last guests for today.  Nicola + Ian left at 2.30pm and loved every minute of their wedding.

Well done on providing such an excellent service!

Love Lucinda, Richard, Nicola + Ian xx

7^th July 2012 @ Highbury

 

Hey Debs! Just wanted to thank you for everything you have done!You gave us our dream wedding! Everything was perfect and were an absolute dream to work with. Lots of love xxx

Carmerita & Marshall

Du Boirs – August 2012

 

 

Hi guys,

 

Just want to say a huge biiiiiiiiig thank you! I have been flooded with compliments and praises about every aspect of the wedding!!

 

Trace, the food has been raved about non stop - the burger bar was an absolute sensation!!! And the cocktails were amazing!!!!!

 

Brendon everyone said how awesome the music was and how nice it was to have a cool DJ!!!! And those pics you took were so flippen cool!!

 

Debs everything looked beautiful and the day ran so smoothly, helped me feel so relaxed and could just take it all in and be worry free.

 

Shieldsters we had a blast missioning around with you two, you made it so fun which made us comfortable and could be ourselves! Cannot wait to see the results!

 

We could not have asked for a better team to have helped make our day what we wanted! So thank you all very very much!!!!!! You guys are amazeballs ;)

Candice & Mark

Litchi Orchard, Salt Rock – October 2012

 

Wedding Flowers without breaking the Bank !

Budget-busting flower ideas

We love these top tips for beautiful big day blooms on a budget

 

1. Go for a retro vintage theme and you can use a mix of second-hand mis-matched containers that you can pick up at fleamarkets or antique stores.

2. Before you start spending, carefully plan your budget and decide where flowers rank on your list of wedding priorities. If you’d rather spend more of your pennies on food and drink than decorating the venue, look to spend less on flowers, but if you want to create a beautiful space for your reception, allocate a larger portion of the budget to flowers.

3. Be upfront about how much you have to spend. Your budget is one of the first things you should discuss with your florist. The average spend is 10-15% of the overall cost of the day but this is not a realistic option for everyone. Be clear about how much you have to spend and your florist should have the experience to rise to the challenge.

4. Choose a florist who is happy to work within your budget. A florist who encourages you to spend more than you can afford isn’t the right person for the job. You may have to compromise on the specific blooms or the types of arrangement you want in order to stay within your financial limits but your florist should be able to suggest alternatives that will look just as good at a lower price bracket.

5. Choose seasonal flowers grown locally. This will cost you MUCH less than flying in exotic blooms from abroad.

6. Bridesmaids’ bouquets can really add up so be inventive. Think about giving each bridesmaid a single statement bloom to carry down the aisle, or opt for just having flowers in their hair or on a wrist corsage. If you’re set on bouquets, consider using them as table centres at your reception afterwards.

7. Concentrate your budget on the areas that guests will spend the majority of time in and where lots of photographs are going to be taken. If you want to get a real wow factor at the reception make the flowers totally different to the ceremony it will make everyone gasp especially going from country chic to modern funky!

8. Instead of having expensive flower arrangements on every table you can alternate tables with displays of candles, which you can get for a fraction of the cost.

9. Be a little indulgent.  If you’ve got your heart set on an expensive flower, use it but do so sparingly. Lots of brides love Lily of the Valley but used in abundance, it can break the bank. Instead, just have a little in your bouquet then you’ll feel like you’re surrounded by it all day.

10. Ask if there are any other weddings taking place at your church or ceremony venue on the same day. If there are, you might be able to share the cost of the flowers with another bride.

11. We suggest a little DIY to cut costs.  Decorate each table with silver votives containing supermarket-bought roses and fresh rosemary from your garden.

12. To make the most of your reception flowers, place table centres on a mirror base and add tea lights around each one. The reflection and flickering light will instantly make any arrangement seem bigger, more opulent and more dramatic.


13. Consider having less flowers and more foliage. A few statement blooms surrounded by lots of greenery can look striking and modern.

14. To save on your reception flowers, use pot plants or potted herbs in pretty containers.  They last well, make a lasting, thoughtful thank you gift for your mum and mother-in-law, or can be taken home by your guests as a memento of the day, and take the hassle out of worrying about arranging flowers for the reception.

15. Make the most of your church flowers by transporting them to your venue to decorate the reception space. Pedestals and trees are easy to move and look fabulous as entrance displays, while pew-ends can be used as chair backs.

 

 

Top 8 Biggest Mistakes When Planning a Wedding

TOP 8 BIGGEST MISTAKES WHEN PLANNING A WEDDING

1.     A Lack of Personality
The biggest mistake is a wedding devoid of the couple's own personalities. This is the most important day of your life – it should reflect you and your life.

2.     Know your Budget
Avoid spending money where you don't need to. Make sure you know your budget, what's important to you – and what isn't. Weddings often end up costing far more than you ever anticipated.  Not only will budgeting help you afford your wedding, but it's an important skill for your married life. ETC EVENTS will walk you through every step and negotiate with suppliers to ensure that your budget is realistic.

3.     Remember What Your Wedding Is Really About
The wedding ceremony is the main event – the reception is just a celebration of it. Make sure you've put enough thought into the music, readings, and vows that will make your wedding ceremony memorable.

4.     Not Knowing the Master of Ceremonies
There are two people whose personalities are almost as important as the couple getting married: the MC of the ceremony and the MC of the reception. Make sure that your personalities mesh well with these two people, and that you feel listened to and respected.

5.     Thinking "It Could Never Rain on MY Wedding Day"
So many couples forget to plan for things going wrong. If you're having an outdoor wedding, make sure that you have an alternate location in case of rain. Expect the unexpected. 

6.     Remember to be Considerate
Yes, it's your wedding, and your special day. But you need to take other people into consideration as well. Think about your guests and co-planners. ETC EVENTS will advise and recommend on all types of situations.

7.     Not Involving Your Better Half
Wedding planning can and should be the domain of both bride and groom. Set aside a regular weekly meeting time to talk about new ideas, research that you've done, and set wedding-related goals for the next week.

8.     Losing Perspective
Don't forget to keep your eye on what's really important to you. If something goes wrong, try your best to take deep breaths and think about the big picture. Above all, keep your sense of humour!

And the Biggest mistake of all is not including ETC EVENTS to ensure you have stress free Wedding Planning and a Dream Wedding that you can enjoy with no worries on your Big Day.

Contact us on 083 653 7900 or debbie@etcevents.co.za to discuss your Wedding Dreams and Ideas.
www.etcevents.co.za

Why use Etc Events as your Wedding Planner?

You may be thinking to yourself ‘why do I need a wedding planner?’ Well your wedding day is going to be one of, if not, the most important day of your life, so why try and do it all yourself? You hire an expert to do the catering, take the photos, make the cake, so why not hire a professional to help with the planning?

WELL to answer the questions, They could save you money, time and hassle… If you want your wedding to run like a dream, let a wedding planner take the strain!

Do you want a dream wedding but have no idea where to begin? Are you on a tight budget but want to make your money go as far as possible? Maybe you want someone there on the day to ensure everything goes smoothly. Whatever you envisage for your special day, a wedding planner will have the skills and experience to make it a reality. A wedding planner’s brief is simple: to provide you with a stress-free and enjoyable planning experience that results in a wedding day that is within budget and a true reflection of your relationship and commitment to one another.

Money-saving advice
Hiring a planner not only provides relief from the 300 hours it could take you to plan your day – they’ll save you a considerable amount of money too. Their experience in the wedding industry means that not only do they have extensive knowledge of venues, suppliers and current trends; they can also show you where to cut costs without cutting corners and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the highest quality for the lowest possible price.

They will help you:
•    Create a budget that is both realistic and easy to manage.
•    Assess your vision and planning priorities.
•    Decide where to splurge and where to save.
•    Negotiate discounts with suppliers.
•    Monitor when deposits and final balances are due.

It has been reported that 70% of brides who didn’t use a planner, wish that they had….A wedding planner’s job, as corny as it may sound, is to make your dreams a reality. It is our aim to do everything in our power to make sure you have the best day ever, and in the process keep you as calm and stress-free as possible, saving you much needed time and of course save you money!

Watch this cute video, we loved it!

About Etc Events

Debbie Montague is the owner of ETC Events and has been involved in Wedding and Event Planning for 15 years. We offer professional and dedicated co-ordination and planning of all special events, although Weddings are our speciality!

ETC Events specialise in stylish, exclusive and exceptional weddings. We provide a variety of wedding planning services for the modern bride and groom.

Over the years we have established close links with a large number of exceptionally talented specialists who share a similar philosophy: to provide you with the finest Wedding Service available. We can assist you at any stage of the wedding planning process, operating as your personal wedding designer, wedding planner and coordinator. We are as equally adept at organising a small and intimate event for 12 as we are a media-blitzed grand ball for 500 or more!

Please see our Website for more information and please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss free quotations or any other questions you may have for us, simply click HERE