A budding new trend in weddings is breaking away from the generations-old traditions to create a unique experience for both the couple and their guests. Oftentimes, within a group of friends, some of you may be attending half a dozen weddings in a single summer. Relationships are contagious, and everyone seems to celebrate them at the same time! Keep your guests entertained and intrigued with a slew of alternative choices that separate your wedding from the rest.

Breaking the mold is easy. Taking the wedding outside, thinking outside the white dress, creating the necessary amenities for an alternative space, midnight snacks, bold table arrangements, and the groom’s flower arrangements are all options for celebrating ancient love in a non-traditional display for all to share. We’ve included some of the boldest options yet below. Cheers to new traditions!

The Wedding Dress: Think Outside the White Dress

The classic white wedding dress may be the hardest tradition from which to walk away. But once you see the absolutely over-the-top glamorous options within the same price range as your typical lace, silk, and cream beading, you will fall head over heels. Your wedding is a day to feel as beautiful as you have ever felt. If that means wearing violet ruffles, a dress covered in modern floral print, or a multi-colored off-the-shoulder fringe gown, then, lady, that’s what you should wear!

Alternative Floral Arrangements

Flowers have taken on more life than just a bouquet in hand while walking down the aisle or a small arrangement at the center of a table. Flowers can be hanging from the ceiling, covering an entire wall, or framing an entryway. If the groom or groom’s have a beard, that’s valuable real estate too! You can even work with your florists and event rental companies to create giant faux flowers for an incredible feature at any of the off-the-beaten-path wedding celebrations.

Modern inspiration: https://www.brides.com/gallery/herb-wedding-bouquet-ideas

Outdoor Chic Celebrations

Weddings have been moving outdoors in recent years, and the results have been nothing short of stunning. Whether set in the woods, a backyard, among vineyard vines, or beneath the trees of an orchard, the fresh air, natural light, and unforgettable atmosphere are hard to beat.

Outdoor venues offer endless possibilities, from over-the-top, glamorous décor to minimalist, nature-inspired chic.

For more outdoor love:
www.weddingchicks.com/wedding-event-venues/16-picturesque-outdoor-wedding-venues/

Outdoor Venues: “BYOB” Bring Your Own Bathroom

When dealing with non-traditional constraints, you may find yourself without the traditional amenities, such as the all-important restroom options. Luxury restroom rentals have become the new necessity. Now that the word is out, brides are opting out of the hot blue plastic box and opting in for air conditioning, extra space, privacy, sound systems, indoor and outdoor lighting, crown molding, and more. At Privy Chambers in Oregon, we have the perfect portable restroom for your wedding. Complete your wedding planning with a restroom that your mother can be proud to use!

See all of our options here: https://privychambers.com/gallery/

Alternative Tableware

Typical china is a fantastic option, but when you are really trying to make a splash with your tableware design, deep metal tones and contrasting woods are a fabulous trend we just cannot get enough of. The look is inviting and whimsical but has enough flair to really catch the eye. Rich golds, coppers, rose golds, and bronzes have taken on new life this summer and have brought old favorites to the forefront once more in these bold new takes on a classic.

For more metal inspiration: http://munaluchibridal.com/platinum-blush-old-hollywood-wedding-atlanta/

Midnight Snacks: The Best Kind of Snacking

A new swoon-worthy trend we have seen popping up that we absolutely cannot get enough of: the midnight snack. Whether your caterer brings in a pizza oven or a food truck filled with all the greasy, delicious snacks a midnight timeline requires, this is one trend we hope will become ingrained in generations of tradition to come. You can choose a special meal you and your spouse once shared, your favorite comfort food, or a snack you just can’t wait to introduce to your friends! Send your guests home happy and full!

For more tasty treats: http://thebudgetsavvybride.com/food-truck-weddings/

Non-Traditional Celebrations

The impact of non-traditional weddings and ceremonies can last a lifetime. Tradition is a beautiful thing, but putting your own unique touch on a day meant to celebrate the very love you and your soulmate share is simply the next level of evolution in a world of limitless love. Whether you are looking for a dress unlike any other, an outdoor restroom fit for the monarchy, flowers that wow, and midnight snacks that far more than satisfy, an alternative wedding is just another amazing way to say thank you to family and friends for supporting you and leading you to this point. Cheers to new traditions!

As we come to the end of the summer season, we added some focus in this month’s post on event planning as a business.  From best practices in pricing event planning services, to those podcasts you should be following to stay up to date, it’s all here. 

Stay Current With Podcasts

One of the most effective and convenient ways of keeping up with the event planning industry is through podcasts, you can listen pretty much whenever it’s convenient.

Author Josh Levine notes that although “social media has dominated interaction between event experts and event planners…

some influential organizers are turning to Podcasts as an alternative means of sharing event planning tips, tricks and best practices.

The 7 Best Podcasts for Event Planners 

Update on Pricing Best Practices for Event Planners

For most small businesses, setting pricing is one of the most challenging parts of running their business.  Event planners are no different.  How do you know your pricing is competitive?  Or are you committing the sin of “leaving money on the table”?

The Event Leadership Institute in partnership with the International Live Events Association conducted a survey this spring of 516 respondents, following a similar survey done in 2013.

A key takeaway from the survey was that:

Most independent planners—those who work for external clients either on their own or within a planning company—earn $5,000 or less on an average event.

Are You Charging Enough For Event Planning Services? 

Think Outside the Box for Your Outdoor Event

Outdoor events are popular, but how do you set your event apart from all the others?  Here are six real creative venues from a train car to a tree-house.  Writer Michele Laufik admits that:

Now more than ever, planners are seeking out the newest, most novel event settings to wow guests

6 Outdoorsy Spaces for an Out-Of-The-Box Event 

Apps for Events.  No Longer All The Rage?

One day something can be on everyone’s lips, yet a month later you rarely hear of it.  In the event planning world, apps were the darlings of the business not long ago.  But has that trend stalled, or even ended?  Author Florian Courgenouil notes that:

The volume of downloads from the top US app developers on both Apple iOS and Android has fallen 20% over the last year, with global downloads slowing to a modest 3% growth year on year.

But he adds:

At the heart of technologies adopted and adapted for events remains the event mobile app. Many events today have chosen to get digital.

Mr. Courgenouil offers five things for event planners to consider to make sure that everyone benefits from a mobile event app.
Has The Event App Bubble Burst? 

A Creative, Nostalgic Twist on the Bar Cart

When it comes to alcohol at events, there’s almost a sense of “been there – done that”.  Here’s an idea for serving drinks that is at the same time unique and nostalgic.

The folks at Bar Car converted a 1965 Airstream trailer into a mobile bar. The side opens to reveal a full liquor bar with customized spirits, while self-service beer taps can pour local micro brews. A sound system is available to play iPod playlists.
Bar Car Debuts Airstream Traveling Bar 

Wrapping Up the Summer Season

Even though the summer event season is drawing to a close, there are still plenty of nice, warm days left for a great event.  When you’re looking at an outdoor venue, or planning one in a location with limited facilities, don’t forget that Luxury Restroom Trailers offers your guests the nicest “place to go”.

Covering the Northwest from Seattle to southern Oregon, no matter the size of your event, we’ve got a luxurious restroom to meet your needs.  Give us a call today!

Being a native to the Northwest, my favorite time of year is when a cool breeze is in the air and the colors begin to change down every street. As a lifer of the Northwest, I also hold a deep love of the outdoors and if it rained every day I wouldn’t mind a bit! After a summer full of amazing weddings feeling as if we have seen it all, the fall weddings begin and impress us all over again with their bold color palettes, envy inducing fashion accessories, creative floral design, and some of the best comfort food built from what would seem to be the very constructs of your dreams.
With a few tweaks to accommodate for our predictably unpredictable weather, our amazing landscapes, vineyards, orchards, backyards, and all other outdoor venues make for an amazing wedding backdrop in the throes of the autumn season. We have included a few insider tricks to pulling off the most fabulous fall weddings while highlighting your gorgeous surroundings and keeping you and your guests cozy!

Fall Fashion: Accessories, Accessories, Accessories

Accessories that seem to have fallen straight out of an elegant time traveling magazine are a fabulous touch to your wedding photos to cherish for years and years but they are also incredibly functional in keeping you warm. Chattering teeth can make for blurry photos and you’ll want to be comfortable while celebrating what is to be one of the happiest times (and biggest parties) of your life! Keep your bridal look with vintage shawls, faux furs, long gloves, and lacey sleeves. Add a broach to pull together the timeless look and the compliments will be flowing all night!

Find the perfect option for you: http://praisewedding.com/archives/4374

Fall Feasts: Comfort Food to Impress

For me, personally, the food really dictates the mood of any event (and my overall mood in general). Nothing makes my heart skip a beat faster than soup shooter hors d’oeuvre paired with tiny grilled cheese sandwiches, or a hot brie and fruit bar, or a hot toddy bar, or a candied apple station, or a self-serve s’more tower; Fall weather has the ability to bring the magic out of food. The best food add a touch of warm nostalgia and then doubles down as a delicious treat. Classic favorites will always be a win with your guests and will bring back memories of your wedding every year!

For even more tasty treats: http://www.deerpearlflowers.com/wedding-food-bar-ideas/

Creature Comforts: Heating & Bathrooms are a Must!

Although the surroundings of an autumn wedding are almost always a beautiful display of nature, sometimes your guests may not like the rain as much as others or didn’t realize when you sent an invitation for an outdoor fall wedding that you actually meant outdoors. To keep those guests and others extra comfy, don’t forget the creature comforts! Outdoor space heaters are a must for under tents and around seating areas. And don’t forget the Luxury Restrooms! Luxury Restroom Trailers by Privy Chambers equips its trailers with air conditioning and heating options for year-round celebration in comfort and style.

Book your favorite option here: http://luxuryrestroomtrailers.com

Bold Floral Designs: Rich Autumn Color Palette

The perks of a fall wedding are the incredible variety of deep rich floral designs and options that coincide with the season. Remember, with the difference in season, some of the light, airy floral choices may be harder to find or, gasp, more expensive for an out-of-season flower. The neutral backgrounds of oranges and browns in the landscapes allow the deep reds and greens of your bouquets and flower arrangements to take center stage.

For mega inspirations: http://www.modwedding.com/2015/09/fall-wedding-colors-with-lush-details/

Those Photoshoots, Though…Amazing!

Fall weather brings color, color, and more color. As long as you’re dressed for the breeze, you can pull off a whimsical photoshoot for the ages. The biggest piece to understand to a fall wedding shoot is flexibility. It may be colder than you like, it may start raining half way through, but the end result will be a beautiful photo and if you’re dressed in your warmth accessories, have a space heater nearby, and a “camera ready” umbrella on standby, you’ll be comfy and beautiful all the way through!

A cache of autumn photo gold: http://www.sortra.com/46-ideas-for-cozy-fall-wedding-photography/

Wrapping It Up

An autumn wedding is a spectacular way to show your guests a great time and capitalize on the natural beauty our beautiful Pacific Northwest has to offer. Dress accordingly, don’t forget to bring the heat both in the restrooms and under the tents, and dive into a buffet of nostalgia and warmth with a hot toddy and grilled cheese!

After helping plan hundreds of events, we have seen the Top-of-The-Line-Amazing, the DIY Incredibles, and the Less-is-Best styles in nearly every form. With so many events throughout the Northwest, requests for ADA-Compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act) and wheelchair-accessible event design have been coming up more and more frequently.
Certainly the opportunities to make your event accessible to all are greater than ever. Lighting and décor have amazing strategies for keeping accents off the floor and paths clear. Photographers capture the beauty, emotion, and energy in the wedding day photos. Temporary flooring companies have mastered the ease in mobility with solid surfaces, paths, and ramps. Restrooms are no exception.

Restrooms

To offer as many options as possible to our clients, we reached out to manufacturers to see what we had available in the restroom industry for ADA-compliant outdoor events. To our shock, the options ranged from limited to non-existent with many restrooms not even meeting full ADA compliancy.

Partnering with the top manufacturer in the country, we designed one of the most beautiful custom restrooms in the Northwest… that also happens to be fully ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible.

Our standards were extremely high in the design process. Crown molding, custom cabinetry, back-lit vanity mirrors, sound systems, vessel sinks, and more have been incorporated into this beautiful and highly functional design. It forever leaves behind the industrial, hospital-grade look and feel. This room is so gorgeous that it serves a dual purpose as a bridal suite.

Best of all, these restrooms were designed with a fully ADA-compliant ramp system and an absolutely gorgeous oversized room with more than enough space to do a full turn—any bride, groom, or guest will feel absolutely welcome in such a beautiful space.

Photo Credits: Luxury Restroom Trailers by Privy Chambers, LLC
Begin planning your ADA Compliant and Wheelchair Accessible wedding
This luxurious at-home reception deserves a nice place to go

The same principles of mobility and high-end design can be applied to the rest of wedding and event planning. Following we’ve listed some tricks of the trade we’ve learned while being a part of some truly incredible weddings and events.

Décor: Keep It Off the Ground!

A growing new trend for both indoor events and outdoor events that we absolutely love is hanging décor and flower arrangements and it fits perfectly with keeping pathways clear for an ADA Compliant event. Hanging chandeliers and strings of pearls from tree branches sets a whimsical scene and allows for high impact in the visuals department. Another trend we are obsessing over is hanging floral designs – whether they are oversized floral wreaths hanging horizontally over the bride and groom’s table or hundreds of tulips hanging vertically one by one above the guests’ table – hanging floral designs are a super modern twist on favorite traditional designs.

A genius list of hanging décor ideas

Temporary Flooring

Many outdoor events come with a lot of dirt, grass, gravel, and uneven ground. Looking to get around a little easier? Those small square dance floors you see at weddings can be extended to cover your venue! You can even cover pathways for a “runway” type feel and ramps over small sections of steps for easy transitions from ceremony to reception. Flooring comes in almost any design you can imagine from black and white retro tiles, glossy runways, to an elegant hardwood look. Many floors also help protect grass and plants and most flooring options are able to pull electrical lines underneath to avoid tripping hazards. If you really want to blow the minds of family and friends, you can even have extra neat features such as clear flooring built over a pool with LED up lighting; the options are never ending. No matter which matches your aesthetic best, the ease of moving throughout the event to greet each of your guests will be the most memorable part!

Super creative flooring options

Photography

Photography is limited only by your creativity… and Pinterest searches. If either the bride or groom use a wheelchair for mobility, there are a number of amazing positions that can highlight the beauty of mobility and countless seated positions for both brides, grooms, and wedding party to keep everyone included in the line of sight. These photos are a time to celebrate everything that the couple are to each other and are a powerful reminder through a snapshot in time the love shared. Embrace it. And keep it forever in photos.

More ideas from an absolutely stunning wedding in Australia
More outdoor wedding inspiration

The Dress

There should never be compromise with the dress. With the proper alterations, you can where anything you want! If you love the shape and it makes you feel beautiful, wear it! A-line, ball gown, mermaid, anything! Every alterations appointment comes with a unique body to fit with special instructions. Let your alterations specialist know what you are working with and the magic they can work between now and your next fitting is other worldly.

More inspiration from real brides
Ideas from a Swiss bridal shoot

Wrapping it All Up

ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible event designs can have all the high end features for a fabulous outdoor event. Whether it be creative hanging décor, lighting and floral arrangements, a modern temporary floor design, or the most beautiful outdoor restroom options in the Northwest, all the pieces are there to make an ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible wedding truly incredible.
Get started planning your dream wedding today by calling the professionals at Luxury Restroom Trailers by Privy Chambers, or by visiting us at luxuryrestroomtrailers.com.

The summer event season is in full swing, and we’ve rounded up a great selection of reads to keep you up to date on everything in the event planning arena.  From insights gleaned from industry leaders, to the emergence of airbnb as a reputable option for planners, it’s all here!  And we top it all with some great ideas from a Cuba-themed party.

Getting That Promotional Email Right

Email is one of the most popular (and disliked) of all digital marketing techniques.  Despite the nuisance factor, when done right it is a very powerful tool.  And, since your prospects are likely bombarded by dozens of emails every day, yours has to stand out to be successful.
Email marketing expert and author Maddie Veal notes that:

…to make your messages cut through the noise, you’ll have to choose your words wisely.

She closes the article with perhaps her best advice, focused on calls to action, saying:

Put your CTA at the very top and bottom of your email to make it as fast and easy as possible for attendees to find — and click.
Your reader should know exactly what to expect when they click

Email Copywriting Tips for Event Organizers

Twitter Advertising Gets You In Front Of Attendees

Of all the major social networks, Twitter has been latest to the paid placement (nice phrase for advertising) game.  With over 300 million monthly users, it’s very much worth exploring to see if it can be another tool in your promotional arsenal.

Writing for Event Manager Blog, Michael Chidzey says that advertising on Twitter is perfect to:

…get in front of the right Twitter users, sell tickets to your events, and engage with attendees leading up to the big day.

Most importantly though, Mr. Chidzey sees the network as a:

…great place to advertise to users that have visited your event’s site but not bought tickets. This involves setting up a pixel (you can easily create a Twitter pixel to place in the header tag of your event’s website template) and target people on Twitter that have visited your website. Since they’ll already be familiar with your brand, they’ll be much more receptive and likely to engage the second time around.

How to Use Twitter Advertising to Get In Front of Attendees

Hot Havana Nights: Bringing Cuba Alive For A Corporate Party

Few events are as popular as themed parties.  And what fits better with a warm summer’s evening than a party with a Cuban theme? The organizers pulled out all the stops to make sure attendees really felt like they’d taken a trip to Havana.

From a variety of rustic table settings and centerpieces, to a “vintage car” themed mural, this was an event to be remembered.
Hot Night in Havana: Koncept Events Brings Cuba Alive for a Corporate Client

Airbnb: It’s Not Just For Vacations Anymore

Now that AirBNB has become nearly as ubiquitous (and disruptive to the market) as Uber has, event planning professionals are standing up and taking notice of the firm as a legitimate vendor for their events.

MeetingsNet interviewed Jack Johnson, DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International) chief advocacy and board compliance officer who confidently stated that:

Airbnb is a legitimate option for lodging, just like boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and campgrounds. Airbnb is a global business with a platform offering a different product mix.

Why DMOs Need Strategic Relationships with AirBNB

7 Experts Share Their Event Planning Advice

Nothing beats expert advice, and this month we close with wisdom from 7 leading corporate event planners.
Julius Solaris, editor of Event Manager Blog makes a strong case for technology saying:

2016 will be about event technology, more than ever before. As the event tech market expands, VCs invest and attendees grow tired of usual concepts, more event professionals see a direct link between the use of technology and better engagement

Liz King, CEO of Techsytalk, is at the other end of things.  She thinks:

…[the]key is through visual involvement. Making your event feel inclusive, exciting and fun, by posting a selfie using a common hashtag, will help to raise event awareness among social media users. It will make everyone at the event feel as though they are part of a larger, welcoming community.

7 Event Industry Leaders Share Their Planning Advice

Keeping Up To Date In A Busy Time

During the busiest part of the year is not the easiest season to find time to catch up on the happenings in your industry.  Look to your friends at Luxury Restroom Trailers for a great selection of quick reads every month.  And don’t forget, when your guests need a nice “place to go”, give us a call for the Northwest’s largest selection and widest service area.