Armistead Events

Wedding Coordinator/Director Special

2009-10-21T13:10:00.003-04:00

If you need a wedding coordinator/director for November or December 2009 we are running a super special until the end of October. Call today for information on this fabulous offer!

Linens - Linens - Linens

2009-10-21T13:05:00.003-04:00

Lets talk about linens. Armistead Events can provide you with linens in 40 different colors and features many different fabric styles. For more information call us today. (434) 665-1792.

Do you need linens for your next event? Be unique and creative. Have your guests entering the room saying "Wow! look at these linens."

Charles Dalton marries Deborah Callaghan

2009-07-14T16:43:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, July 5, 2009 Chris Armistead of Armistead Events performed the wedding ceremony of Charles Dalton and Deborah Callaghan on the deck at Babcock House in Appomattox, VA. Carla Armistead Coordinated the ceremony.

"Thank you so much for everything! Chris, we couldn't have asked for a better celebrant. Carla, You were amazing! The ceremony was perfect. We only wish we hired you to direct the reception too. We will recommend Armistead Events to anyone who's getting married or needs any of your services. Thanks again, you guys are amazing!" Charlie & Deborah Dalton

Weekday Weddings - You select the location!

2009-07-06T18:57:00.005-04:00

Do you want to get married in Appomattox, Bedford, Farmville, Forest, Lynchburg, Smith Mountain Lake, or any of the surrounding areas during the week?

An Armistead Events Marriage Celebrant will perform a personalized, heartfelt wedding ceremony for the two of you at the location of your choice!

Get married on top of a mountain, at the skating rink, at a lake, on a carnival ride, or at a historic site. The possibilities are endless. Call today! (434) 665-1792. http://www.armisteadevents.com/

Lynchburg DJ's Tennessee Bound

2009-06-12T10:46:00.003-04:00

Follow Armistead Events on Twitter. You can sign up in the bottom right hand corner of this Armistead Events Blog.

Also make sure to follow us on facebook and Myspace. You can access our pages on by clicking the links at the bottom of our website at http://www.armisteadevents.com/!

The Armistead's go on vacation and to ARMDJS in TN

2009-06-12T10:27:00.003-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen the Armistead Family is off and on it's way to TN for ARMDJS. We were supposed to leave at 7AM. Got up at 7:15 --- Packed the clothes got in the truck and before we were in 3rd gear our daughter announced she was hungry. As we rolled into the gas station for Diesel the owner was changing the price on the sign. My husband yells out the window "Wait until we pump ours!"

They have great chicken at the gas station. At 10:18 my daughter was eating a chicken leg. It is now approximately 10:30. We are in Bedford County headed toward Roanoke. It is 77 degrees. My daughter is now in the backseat covered up with a wool blanket determined to take a nap. I have no directions to get to TN on my person we are winging it. We are going to Gatlinburg first. I have hotel reservations for Gatlinburg, but none for Greeneville. I like to live on the edge. We'll keep you posted.

Pool Party Anyone?

2009-06-08T10:54:00.006-04:00

Have Armistead Events come to your pool party to provide your guests with great music, bubbles, interactive games, and a lot of fun for all ages!

Call today for your FREE entertainment consultation. (434) 665-1792

Wendy Coffey of Coffey Cakes

2009-06-04T12:36:00.006-04:00

Need a cake? Wendy Coffey of Coffey Cakes provides wonderful service and great cakes for all occasions. Her wedding cakes are out of this world. Check out her website. Coffey Cakes

Wendy will bake your cake fresh and decorate it as you wish!

Armistead Events - The Game Lady

2009-06-04T12:15:00.004-04:00

The Game Lady loves to visit summer camps, festivals, fairs, daycares
preschools, birthday parties, primary schools, elementary schools, PTA and PTO events.

The game lady provides a 45 minute party with age appropriate music, dancing, games and fun geared toward children. She loves bubbles and likes to be outside, but will modify your event to be inside if needed. These parties typically take place on weekday mornings and afternoons.

Have the game lady at your next event, or just have her visit for lots of fun!

For more information about The Game Lady call Armistead Events today at (434) 665-1792.

"After Zeta attended a party where you performed all she talks about now is having you come to her party. You did a wonderful job. The kids really enjoyed the fun and games." Tina M. - Zeta's Mom

Hilton Garden Inn Lynchburg Celebrates First Anniversary

2009-06-04T07:22:00.006-04:00

On Wednesday, June 3, 2009 the Hilton Garden Inn, Lynchburg, VA celebrated its first year by hosting a party for area customers. Representatives from companies such as Areva, B&W, and many more attended the milestone event. Armistead Events, one of the event sponsors & and the exclusive preferred entertainment provider for HGI Lynchburg, helped HGI management deliver their message to those in attendance by recording and editing short personal messages from the hotel's general manager, sales manager / event coordinator, and front desk supervisor. These messages were mixed in with the music and played back during the event. In the recordings, guests were reminded of HGI's unique features and were thanked for the business they provided the Hilton Garden Inn throughout the year.

The food at this event was phenomenal. As usual, Executive Chef Nick Wieler hit a homerun with the menu. The unique hors d'eoeuvres consisted of seasoned cocktail shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops in a very tasty sauce, small cone shaped pastries with a seasoned ground beef filling, skewered pork, and more that I simply ate too fast to identify. There was also a carving station on hand and a full complimentary bar! (Since we were working, our mixed drinks consisted of Diet Coke and ice.) Read Johanna Calfee's review of the 4025 at Lynchburg Living magazine's website. See the "Taste" tab.

Several guests received wonderful prizes such as overnight stays in TN, NC and GA, gift certificates to several area restaurants including Outback, Waterstone, Shoemaker's and 4025, flowers from Cheryl's Secret Garden and gift baskets from Basket Case.

Brown Chiropractic and Wellness Center provided complimentary Zerona Lazer Treatments as the grand prize of the evening.

Some of the sponsors included Armistead Events, Point Source Audio, Cheryl's Secret Garden (located in Wyndhurst) , Lynchburg True Value Hardware & Just Ask Rentals, Aztec Rentals & Joe Beans.

Your Flower Girl

2009-03-05T13:39:00.030-05:00

Your Flower Girl

Perhaps you already had someone special in mind when you decided to get married. Maybe you are dreading having to choose between nieces, cousins, or family friends. Either way this article will provide you with some advice that may make your job of selecting a fower girl a little easier. Remember, it is OK to have two or more flower girls if you wish. The main thing to consider is whether or not your chosen flower girl(s) can get down the aisle without becoming confused or scared on your wedding day.

Even though these tiny ladies look very cute in their little dresses, two and three year olds may be a little young to ensure a smooth flowing wedding ceremony. Typically the youngster you choose to be a flower girl should be somewhere between the ages of four (4) and eight (8) years old. A girl outside of this age group may be better suited to attend your guest book, hand out programs, serve as a reader, or act as a junior bridesmaid. As always, flower girls are a completely optional memeber of your wedding party. It is OK to not have a flower girl at all if you don't know any girls that are the appropriate age, or if you don't have any young girls that you are really close to.

Regardless of who you select, your flower girl will naturally draw the attention of your guests. Therefore it is necessary to prepare her for her role in your special day. You may want her to practice her role two or three times a week prior to your wedding day depending on the childs age and maturity level. Don't call it practice. Just encourage her to "play wedding". If her parents are not in your bridal party seat them near the aisle. That way she can see her parents as she makes her way down the aisle during the ceremony. Also, if she becaomes too restless, having her parents near the aisle will also make it easier if she needs to sit down during the ceremony. Ask your bridesmaids to look after your flower girl(s) during your wedding ceremony. Your wedding director or wedding planner can help you orchestrate supervision of your flower girl.

Another way you can help your flower girl understand her responsibility for your special day is to buy her a book about being a flower girl. There are several books about flower girls available. Some favorites include The Flower Girl by Laura Godwin, The Little Flower Girl by Linda Trace Brandon, and 10 Neat Things About Bring A Flower Girl by Penelope Colville Paine. These wedding books can be purchased from Amazon by going to http://www.amazon.com/ .

A great place to find flower girl dresses is at Celebration Bridal in Lynchburg, VA. You can visit the Celebration Bridal website at http://www.celebrationbridal.com/ .

For more tips and advice call an Armistead Events Professional Bridal Consultant at (434) 665-1792. http://www.armisteadevents.com/ .

Carla is in the news!

2009-03-03T15:44:00.007-05:00

Carla Armistead, renowned wedding planner and co-owner of Armistead Events, was featured in an article in a supplement to the Amherst New Era-Progress entitled With this ring; Everything you need for your special day. This special section of the paper was the annual wedding supplement. Carla's article starts on page 2. Its the second part of the two part article, Planning is the key to happiness. Reporter Scott Marshall collected the information for his part of this article called You can't start too early in a phone interview with Carla. The article stresses how the best weddings begin with early planning and features a recount of a wedding Carla directed and entertained at in Pittsburgh, PA . The preparations for the wedding were interrupted by an impromptu visit from, now President, Barack Obama, his entourage, and the US Secret Service! It's a great read. The article was published in the February 26, 2009 edition.

Should I Substitute My Wedding DJ With An Ipod?

2009-03-02T16:25:00.003-05:00

An iPod is a device that stores and plays music. If you think that an iPod (or other portable music player) is a viable, inexpensive alternative to hiring a professional wedding DJ, think again.

Music is merely one element used by a professional wedding DJ to entertain you and your guests. An iPod, or any other form of music media, is just a tool used by a professional wedding DJ like a camera is a tool used by your photographer. An iPod playing on its own without a professional at the controls will entertain as well as a camera set to auto will take great pictures. You may get lucky a few times, but overall your wedding day will suffer. A professional wedding DJ can use music to set a mood and change attitudes when appropriate during your wedding ceremony and wedding reception. A professional DJ is familiar with the music and knows when it is appropriate to play particular song selections. An iPod plays music without consideration for emotion or judgement. A professional DJ is as essential to entertaining your guests as your photographer is to taking quality photographs.

The iPod is less expensive than a DJ... or is it? You are still going to need a sound system to play the iPod through. You will need to rent a mixer, a power amplifier, speakers, speaker stands, cables, and possibly a table to set the mixer and iPod on. You will probably want to rent a microphone too. The clerk at the pro audio store will want to know what size system you need based on the shape of the venue and the number of guests. That's easy enough to determine, but do you know if the components you rented are compatible together? For instance, is the output on the mixer XLR or quarter inch. If it is quarter inch is it a balanced or unbalanced output? Will the inputs on the power amplifier match the outputs on the mixer? If they don't what type of adapter do you need. Are they in the boxes with all the other stuff the audio store gave you? By the way, how do you plug the iPod into the mixer anyway. The holes are different sizes!

At least you saved money right? The rent on the sound system is only $400.00 to $600.00. You should be able to set the sound system up after a few hours of trial and error. And, if you get stuck, the audio guy can send a technician out to do it for you for $75.00 an hour. Oh yeah, there's a delivery charge as well.

Now that you have your iPod system set up who is going to operate it? You will need to designate a guest to do this. He or she will need to cue the music for your special dances and make announcements for your other activities. Does he know how to use the microphone. Does it need phantom power? If its wireless does he know what batteries to use or how to turn it on and off? He will need to adjust the microphone signal on the mixer to avoid feedback. It's that annoying squeal. Does he know what the potentiometers and faders do? Does he even know what they are? Well at least you didn't have to pay someone that is a trained and experienced emcee. The guests won't mind. Will they?

Your "guest DJ" will be expected to coordinate with the other vendors at your event to ensure your event runs smoothly. Will he be able to cover if dinner is a little late? Will he be able to guide the bride and groom through the cake cutting? Will he be able to organize your wedding party for introductions and organize your guests for a grand exit all while making sure the music doesn't stop?

When all is said and done, iPod weddings don't come off looking frugal or inexpensive, they come off looking cheap. Is that the legacy you want your wedding day to leave?

Verra / Bass Wedding at the Farmville Train Station

2009-02-19T17:01:00.003-05:00

Anthony Verra and Shauna Bass were married on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2009 at the historic Farmville Train Station. The couple selected Armistead Events to perform day-of wedding direction, provide interactive DJ entertainment, and an Armistead Events marriage celebrant to perform the weddding ceremony. The happy couple sent us an email shortly after the wedding. Here is what it said.

Carla and Chris,

I can not express to you how absolutely amazing the two of you are. You both did such a fantastic job with the wedding ceremony and reception. Anthony and I could not be any happier with the way everything came together. I have heard nothing but wonderful compliments about the whole day. The ceremony was so sentimental and heartfelt, the music and words all came together perfectly. The way you kept the crowd going and involved throughout the reception couldn't have been any better. I didn't feel a bit of stress and you made the day everything we wished for and more. Thank you again for sharing our day with us. We greatly appreciate it very much.

Sincerely,

Anthony and Shauna Verra :)

The Lamano Agency's 10th Anniversay Celebration

2009-01-27T07:42:00.006-05:00

The Lamano Agency, a company that provides services for intellectually challenged people, celebrated its tenth year in business on Friday, January 23, 2009 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lynchburg, VA.

A committee consisting of Lamano Agency managers met with Chris & Carla Armistead, owners of Armistead Events, aproximately three weeks prior to the event. Chris and Carla presented their methods of conducting employee appreciation events to the committee. They also went over event goals, event management, scheduling, and interactive DJ entertainment with the committee. One of the more fun things that The Lamono Agency wanted to do is give away thousands of dollars to as many employees as possible. Armistead Events came up with fun and unique methods of doing the cash giveaways other than dry raffle ticket drawings.

A week later Armistead Events received the phone call saying that The Lamano Agency had chosen Armistead Events as their event managers and entertainment providers. Chris and Carla met with the committee once again at the Hilton Garden Inn on Ward's Road in Lynchburg, VA to get a look at the event space and sign the contract. Chris and Carla once again went over scheduling and room set up with the hotel staff and committee members. When this meeting was over there was only two weeks remaining to pull this corporate event together.

On Friday, January 23, 2009 the date of the 10th Anniversary Celebration had arrived. Armistead Events' staff arrived early to set up the primary and satellite sound systems. They also greeted guests upon arrival and directed them to the registration table, appetizers, the two bars, and the all important restrooms. Cocktails were served and jazz played in the background as guests were arriving and finding their seats. When the buffet was served the music switched to Motown and the cash drawings began. The guests kept coming! Armistead Events and Hilton Garden Inn staff quickly added more tables for the overflow crowd. After dinner cash drawings continued along with interactive games.

Participants in the interactive games were selected at random. Contestants consisted of employees, sponsors, and guests. All winners were awarded cash prizes. There were lots of winners.In between games the dance floor was filled with dancers. Music was played from a variety of genres. The Armistead Events DJs made sure there was something for everyone. The combination of the non-stop dancing, games, cash drawings, the open bars, and the great buffet made The Lamano Agency's 10th Anniversary Celebration very exciting and successful.

Rob Lamano, the founder and owner of the Lamano Agency had this to say. "I want to say how impressed I was with you and your company from the minute I received the 'task order', 'drawing schedule', and 'game schedule'. Each list was so organized and detailed that I immediately felt confident that everything would run smoothly. Also, all of the ladies that met with you were very impressed and excited about your company being our event coordinator.

You and your team did a great job of keeping us on task. Also, you and your team were extremely professional and friendly to all of our employees. Armistead Events involvement in our party made it much better than it ever would have been had you not been there. Thank you for doing such a fantastic job and for helping to make our ten year celebration the best it could be."

Lauren May, the event coordinator for the Hilton Garden Inn made these comments. "It was such a pleasure to not only meet you, but to work with you as well – you guys were great! I look forward to the opportunity to work with you again in the future!

It was our pleasure to work with both The lamano Agency and the wonderful staff at the HIlton Garden Inn. We hope to work with them again soon.

Wedding Planning Season In Central Virginia

2009-01-13T11:38:00.004-05:00

Wedding planning season in Lynchburg and the rest of Central Virginia has certainly gotten off to a great start. I have talked to many Brides and Grooms in the last few days on the phone and via Email. I have noticed that more Grooms seem to be more involved in the planning this year. I think that is absolutely wonderful. I look forward to meeting all of you that I have had contact with in the last couple days.

Our dates are booking quickly for 2009. We have a lot of services available to help you make your wedding an event your family and friends will talk about for years to come. If you have been proposed to, but haven't started making arrangements yet we would love to hear from you to talk about your wedding. If you need vendor referrals such as a referral for a photographer, videographer, cake baker, caterer or for a place to have your wedding ceremony or wedding reception give us a call or Email us. If you are not sure where to shop for a wedding dress or wedding invitations, or wedding rentals such as tables, chairs, tents or linens give us a call or Email us. If you need a wedding planner, a "day of" director, a Marriage Celebrant, or if you are looking for DJs call or Email us. We are here to serve you and would be happy to help you with your search.

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Garter Toss Song Suggestions

2009-01-11T12:42:00.003-05:00

Brides and Grooms ask all the time about suggested songs for the Garter Toss at their wedding reception.

My personal favorite is Oh Yeah by Yello. There are so many to choose from. The songs listed below seem to be the most popular. If you have any questions, or if you need more suggestions call us. If you have a suggestion not listed please let us know and we will add it to the list.

Oh Yeah - Yello
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart
Super Freak (part 1) - Rick James
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
Legs - ZZ Top
You Can Leave Your Hat On - Tom Jones or Joe Cocker
Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
Sex - Berlin
Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
Stripper - David Rose
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
Thong Song - Sisgo
Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
SexyBack - Justin Timberlake

Armistead Events DJ's Rock OCCV, Andrew Corp, The Inn at Trivium!

2009-01-05T09:12:00.005-05:00

It was the most wonderful (and in one case the scariest) time of the year! Armistead Events disc jockeys performed their brand of interactive entertainment at several area holiday parties.

On Saturday Dec. 13, 2008 Andrew Corporation held their annual Christmas party in the ballroom at the Inn at Trivium, Forest, VA. Armistead Events had the privilege of performing for them a second year in a row. The first forty five minutes of the party consisted of cocktails, heavy hors d'ouvres, and light Christmas music in the background. Once all the guests had arrived and settled in Armistead Events DJs got the party going with some ice breaking activities. The dance floor was packed until the party's conclusion.

On Friday Dec. 19, 2008 the Orthopaedic Center of Central Virginia held their annual Christmas party at the the Oakwood Country Club off Rivermont Avenue in Lynchburg, VA. The party organizers for OCCV decided to utilize the Armistead Events Online Guest Request tool to allow party guests to request songs in advance. The response was amazing. We received more requests than we could play in the time allotted. The party opened with light Christmas music during the cocktail hour. Dave Gardner, an area photographer (http://www.enduringvistas.com/ )had been hired by OCCV to take portraits of party goers. A beautiful Christmas tree was used as the backdrop. An amazing dinner was served by Oakwood Country Club staff. After dinner Armistead Events DJs led a some interactive activities to get people into the party mood and then the dancing began. The dancing didn't stop! The entire dance floor AND foyer were packed with dancers most of the night! Karen Simonton had this to say, "Great time! Nice ice breaker at the beginning of the party."

New Testimonial from Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.

2008-12-09T08:38:00.004-05:00

Lynchburg, VA - Belvac Production Machinery, Inc. held its annual corporate holiday party on the evening of December 6, 2008 at the Craddock Terry Hotel in dowtown Lynchburg. Armistead Events was selected as Belvac's entertainment choice after interviews with several area DJs. When the president of the company was presented with the options for entertainment his reply was "Let's go with the fun guys."

Getting to the event was a small challenge due to a light seasonal snow fall and blocked traffic because of the Christmas parade being held on the downtown streets. Belvac provided shuttle services for employees attending the event. The presentation of service awards was the featured activity of the night with special gifts being given to the award recipients.

Trish Glover, Belvac's Corporate Administrative Coordinator, sent this email following the event.

"Thank you! You guys were awesome. I will recommend you to anyone who asks."

Mrs. Trish Glover
Corporate Administrative Coordinator
Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.

New Testimonial from Cindy Keppler

2008-12-09T08:18:00.009-05:00

Lynchburg, VA - Ron and Cindy Keppler celebrated their son's marriage on December 6, 2008. Cindy held a Wedding Reception After Party at the Courtyard Marriott following a cake and punch reception at the church where the ceremony was held. Armistead Events was pleased to have been selected as the entertainment provider for the evening. DJ Shawn Storey from Armistead Events kept the energetic crowd dancing the entire night! Here is what Cindy had to say in an email to us the following day:

"Thank you sooooo much for everything. Shawn did a great job! Everybody had a awesome time. Justin and Heather were surprised at how nice the After Party was and they really appreciated everything. Thanks for throwing in the "lights". They were a big hit. We will highly recommend you to our family and friends that live in your area. Thank you again for an excellent and professional job. "

Sincerely,
Ron and Cindy Keppler

Catering Ideas For Your Wedding or Party

2008-12-08T22:06:00.006-05:00

Do you want your favorite food served at your special event. Take a recipe to your caterer and ask if they are willing to prepare it. Feel free to Email us your favorite event recipes to share with our readers. Below are a few that have already been submitted.

Ideas For Appetizers To Serve At Your Wedding Or Special Event:

Air-popped popcorn served in decorated paper cones

Place mushroom caps in a roasting pan fill each mushroom cap with herbed cream cheese top with roasted sweet red pepper strips sprinkle with black ground pepper drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes

DEVILED EGGS

12 hard boiled eggs, shells removed and eggs halved lengthwise

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup prepared mustard

2 Tablespoons cider vinegar

2 Teaspoons Sugar

6 Teaspoons softened cream cheese

Egg Yolks

Dill for Garnish

Paprika for dusting

1. Remove yolks from eggs and place in a large bowl, mash with the back of a fork. Stir in the mayo, mustard, vinegar, sugar and cream cheese. Mix well until nice and smooth.

2. Stuff the egg white with the yolk mixture. Refrigerage for at least 1 hour.

3. To serve, lightly sprinkle with paprika and garnish with dill, if desired.

Mother / Son Dance Song Suggestions For Your Wedding

2008-11-30T13:13:00.004-05:00

There are several songs you can use for a Mother/Son dance. These are just a few suggestions. Contact us for more. If you know of a song that is not listed send it to us so that we can make sure we have it listed in our music library.

A Song for Mama by Boyz II Men
A Song for My Son by Mikki Viereck
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
Have I Told U Lately by Van Morrison
I Am Your Child" by Barry Manilow
I Will Always Love You
Memories by Elvis
Sunrise Sunset from Fiddler On The Roof Soundtrack
The Dance by Garth Brooks,
The Perfect Fan by Backstreet Boys
The Greatest Love Of All
The Times of Your Life" by Paul Anka.
The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra
The Wonder of You" by Elvis
The Man You've Become - Molly Pasutti
My Wish - Rascal Flatts
Remember When - Alan Jackson
Blessed - Elton John
Book of Love - Peter Gabriel
Do I Make You Proud - Taylor Hicks
I Hope You Dance - Leann Womack
I Wish You Love - Rod Stewart
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
There You'll Be - Faith Hill
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole
I Wish You Love - Natalie Cole
In Your Eyes - David Chamberlain
I'll Stand By You
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
You Needed Me - Anne Murray
How Sweet It Is James Taylor

New testimonial from Holly Weischedel

2008-11-25T07:43:00.005-05:00

Holly's wedding was on September 27, 2008. Armistead Events, then Southern Soundz Entertainment, provided the disc jockey entertainment for her wedding reception which was held at the Booker Building in Altavista, VA.

“Armistead Events (formerly Southern Soundz) did a spectacular job at my wedding reception! They were great to work with and so incredibly organized. They really made sure that I (the bride) did not have to worry about a single detail when the day arrived.

I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone looking for a professional, friendly, highly organized event planner. They made everything run so smoothly. They also did a great job keeping the guests involved and having a great time. Great choices in music selections as well! I barely suggested any songs and they played the perfect mix.”

Holly Hodges Weischedel

Thanks for the kind words Holly. We enjoyed working with you and your Mom.

THE NEW TAGLINE WINNER IS......

2008-11-21T15:33:00.002-05:00

We would like to thank everyone again for stopping by to cast your vote for our new tagline. The winner by a landslide is.....

"Dream...Create...Enjoy"

Bouquet Toss At Your Wedding Reception Alternatives

2008-11-21T15:29:00.003-05:00

In the old days single ladies tore a piece of the bride’s gown to take home for good luck. As years went by, that tradition transitioned into the bride throwing her flowers for the single ladies. They say the lady who catches the bouquet is the next to be married. Some brides don’t want to do the traditional bouquet toss so they are using alternative tosses at their weddings. Below are some ideas.

Split your bouquet in half and give half to your mother and half to your mother-in-law. You can also have two smaller bouquets made to give them.
Split your bouquet and present it to your grandmothers, or have smaller bouquets made for them.
Think of a guest you would like to honor and give it to them as a good luck or thank you bouquet.
Invite married and single women to the center of the floor. Have your emcee tell them to make a wish while your bouquet is in the air and hopefully the dream will come true for the person who catches it.
Make a bunch of small bouquets that you can hold all together in your hand. Tie a fortune to each small bouquet. Invite all your guests to the dance floor and throw them all at once for your guests.
Tie a gift card for something that would be nice for a man or a woman such as a gas gift card or grocery gift card. Invite men and women to the dance floor and throw the bouquet. If a woman catches it she can keep the gift card and the bouquet. If a man catches it he keeps the gift card and since he probably won’t need the bouquet give him the option to present the bouquet to any guest he wishes.

Special Event Insurance - Do You Really Need It?

2008-11-20T07:32:00.003-05:00

In a word ... YES! This is one of the most overlooked expenditures in special event and wedding planning. Most people want their wedding vendors or event vendors to be insured. They think that somehow getting a vendor with insurance protects them if the catering should make someone sick or if a guest should slip and fall at their insured venue. Others think "Only close family and friends are attending my event. I know they wouldn't sue me for something my vendors did." That is total denial. Vendors do need their own liability insurance, however, the vendor's liability insurance will only cover the vendor in a lawsuit. You are left totally unprotected. Once a case is in a lawyers hands they will file suit against the vendor for negligence and they will also sue you for hiring them. Hospital bills have to get paid and so does that lawyer. It's easier to get paid if they are recieveing money from multiple sources. Do yourself a favor, get a good, one day, special event policy to cover you. They are available from most insurance agents and only cost from $300.00 to $500.00 for a two hundred person event.

Armistead Events entertains at BACC Business After Hours

2008-11-18T22:21:00.008-05:00

Armistead Events was invited to entertain at the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours held at The Premier Room (3727 Old Forest Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501) on November 18, 2008 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. We provided background music for the networking event. We would like to thank Elizabeth and Doug Harrington, owners of the Premier Room & Premier Limousine Service, as well the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce for giving us the opportunity. We made some great contacts. Find out more about The Premier Room by clicking on this link: http://www.premierlimousineservice.net/1245148.html .

For more information on the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce click here: http://www.bedfordareachamber.com/ .

Vote For Our New Tagline!

2008-11-16T11:21:00.004-05:00

We would like to send a special thank you to everyone stopping by our blog to vote for our new tagline. Please invite all of your friends to stop by and vote too. Voting ends on the 20th. We will post the winning tagline once voting is over.

Chris & Carla
Armsitead Events/Southern Soundz
(434) 665-1792

Tips For A Wedding Toast

2008-11-15T14:58:00.004-05:00

The toast is a very important part of any wedding reception. If you're the maid of honor or best man, it's most likely your job to say a few words about the bride and groom. Since this is your time to shine, the tips below will help you with the perfect toast for a very special occasion. If you know that you are going to be giving a toast at the wedding reception, make sure that you prepare yourself. It is probably not a good idea to stand up in front of hundreds of people and just "wing it". Take some time to sit down and think about what you're going to say. When you are toasting, you are going to be saying some words about the bride and groom. You may want to write your thoughts down on an index card in outline form. Elaborate on your relationship with the bride and groom, why they are important to you and how much happiness and success you wish them in the future. If you are a naturally funny person tell a joke. Make sure it is in good taste. If you have a nice story about your friends include it in the toast. You could include details that your friends might have thought you forgot. It would be a pleasant surprise. You may want to inlcude a poem or a quote. If you are a more serious person make your toast more sincere and serious. Your toast can be sentimental, funny or serious. It is your choice. When in doubt, err on the side of being conservative.When you are finished, raise your glass, give your final wishes and take a sip. You will need to remember to hold the mic right up to your chin so every guest can hear you.

What A Flower Means

2008-11-15T14:49:00.003-05:00

WHAT A FLOWER MEANS

Flowers may tell a story or have a unique meaning. Romance has long been linked to flowers. Do all symbolize love? Some say all Rose colors have special meanings. Some brides pay close attention to those meanings and just couldn't bear to have any other flowers on their wedding day. However, there are brides that have other preferences and may select the same flowers her mother may have carried or her wedding day, the state flower or her birth month flower. If the groom is a big flower giver the bride may select the first type of flower the groom gave her as a gift to carry on her wedding day.

Below are some flower facts I have been told through the years. If you know a flower fact or color meaning please share it with us and our readers.

Rose Colors and Meanings
Red: Love, passion, respect, courage
Yellow: Joy, friendship, freedomPink: Happiness, gratitude, appreciation, admiration
Cream: Thoughtfulness, charm, graciousness
Orange: Admiration, facination, enthusiasm, desire
White: Innocence, purity, secrecy, reverence
Roses in full bloom can express deep gratitude, a single rose says "I still love you."
A bouquet of rose buds represents innocent love, tea roses can send the message that you will always remember someone. Thornless roses can mean love at first sight. A bouquet of ten roses means perfection. Two roses means mutual love and affection. A bouquet of nine roses symbolizes you will be together forever. Three dozen roses means head over heels in love. A bouquet of fifty or more roses expresses a love that has no bounds.

Birth Month Flowers & Meanings
January: Carnation or Snowdrop - Facination; Devoted Love
February: Violet, Primrose or Iris - Modesty, faithfulness, Valor
March: Daffodil or Jonquil - Regard, Devotion, Sympathy
April: Daisy or Sweet Pea - Innocence, Blissful pleasure, Purity
May: Lilly of the Valley or Hawthorne - Fertility, Hope, Sweetness
June: Rose or Honeysuckle - Love, Devoted affection
July: Larkspur or Water Lily - Laughter, Purity of heart
August: Gladiolas or Poppy - Grace, Character, Imagination
September: Aster or Morning Glory - Daintiness, Symbol or love & affection
October: Calendula, Cosmos or Marigold - Joy, Modesty, Grace
November: Chrysanthemum - Rest, Cheerfulness, Lovliness
December: Narciassus, Poinsettia or Holly - Egotism, Formality, Good cheer, Merriment

Flower Meanings:
Calla: Transition of growth. Reflects beauty and pride gained from shared wisdom over time.
Bird of Paradise: Magnificence and splendor. Celebrates romance's unexpected side.
Hydrangea: Pride, greatfulness, praise and appreciation.
Orchid: Beauty, affection, understanding.

Other Flower Color Meanings:Pink: Innocence, youth, joy, grace
Purple: Royalty, ceremony, accomplishment, admiration
Red: Passion, Love
White: Innocence, Modesty, Elegance
Green: Health, good fortune
Shades of Blue: Calm
Orange: Confidence, satisfaction

Formal Wear Etiquette

2008-11-15T14:47:00.001-05:00

When the invitation says "BLACK TIE"

If the event you are attending is "black tie" & the invitation says the same, you are expected to wear a tuxedo. All guests invited to this fuction are required & expected to wear formalwear. However, this term does not mean you have to wear a black tie!

When the invitation says "BLACK TIE PREFERRED"

This means the host of the party prefers to see all guests in formalwear. You could wear a dark suit, but tuxedos are preferred.

When the invitation says "BLACK TIE INVITED OR OPTIONAL"

In this case, it is not mandatory to wear to tuxedo, however, you will probably see more tuxedos than dark suits at these affairs. Black tuxedos & white or ivory dinner jackets with black trousers are appropriate. However, dinner jackets should only be worn between Memorial Day & Labor Day.

When the invitation says "WHITE TIE"

This term means you must wear black tails with black trousers & a white pique' formal shirt, bow tie & vest. This ensemble is known as the "ultra formal look" & if your event calls for it, you should not wear anything else.

* People do it, but removing your tuxedo coat at an event is not proper. Discarding your coat is a sure way to destroy the pomp of a formal occasion

How To Compromise On Your Guest List

2008-11-15T14:45:00.002-05:00

How To Compromise On Your Guest List

Deciding on a final guest list for your wedding day can become an interesting and stressful task. It may take much patience and negotiation for all involved. How do you make it as simple as possible? Combine four seperate lists. The bride and groom each make a separate list and each set of parents should make a list. When making the list don't feel obligated to invite someone just because they may be offended if you invite another friend or relative and not them. If you have a friend or relative that you know in advance could be a potential problem on your special day simply do not add them to the list. If you can't decide if you should invite someone or not ask yourself this question: Would I take $100 our of my pocket and lay it in this person's hand and say "Go to a concert or go to dinner"? If you can't say you would do that for the person then don't invite them. You are paying for them to attend a special event. Is it rude? Some may think that it is, but the fact of the matter is that it's reality.The bride's mother must talk to the groom's mother about the number of invitations that will be available for the groom's parents to send, taking into consideration their financial contribution. If both families live close to each other, the lists can be divided evenly. When the groom's family lives in a different city or state, the number of invitations made available may be reduced, since the probability of attendance from the groom's family and friends may be reduced. If both families know each other, there is also the possibility of double listing mutual friends. In this case, the invitations should be divided evenly. If the groom's family wishes to invite more people than the number originally agreed upon, they should discuss this with the bride's family. If the number cannot be increased, the groom's family may offer to share the costs or host a separate reception after the honeymoon. Remember COMPROMISE, COMPROMISE, COMPROMISE.

Putting Your Quirky Little Twists On Your Wedding Day Festivities

2008-11-15T14:40:00.003-05:00

Putting Your Quirky Little Twists On Your Wedding Day Festivities
Years ago it was unacceptable. Weddings are formal affairs, but lately they're getting some personality. Couples are tossing tradition and making their wedding distinctly their own.
Some brides are opting to wear shoes the same color as her bridesmaid dresses. Some brides are opting for chocolate frosting on their wedding cake tinted various shades. One groom had a love of flight. At the wedding the groom's cake took the shape of a plane and compasses served as escort cards. An outdoors loving couple may decide to hold their wedding outside in a field with the reception being held in a building or barn. A couple into the Civil War era may opt to hold their ceremony at a historic bed and breakfast that was once a home built or lived in during that time. One couple were beer enthusiasts. They sent out save-the-date cards in the shape of coasters and gave personalized beer glasses as favors at the reception. A bride had a love for gardening, she gave tulip bulbs in elegant gift bags. It has also become very popular to include cultural traditions into the ceremony & reception.
How do you decide what to incorporate into the theme of your special day? The best thing to do is think about your ideas, visualize the big picture and discuss it with your wedding coordinator/ director and ask their opinion. Once you have looked carefully at each option and have discussed it with all of the decisions makers for your event (after all if someone else is helping you pay for the wedding they do have input) you must decide what you feel will make you happiest on your wedding day and go with it.

Armistead Events wedding coordinators/directors are experienced at helping brides incorporate personalized style and cultural traditions into weddings.

If you are a bride who has included something special into the theme of your day, or if you know someone who has please share it with us and our readers.

The Benefit of Hiring A Wedding Director For Your Rehearsal & Ceremony

2008-11-15T14:35:00.003-05:00

The Benefit of Hiring A Wedding Director For Your Rehearsal & Ceremony

When you think of a wedding director, think of a famous Hollywood director whose job is to have all the actors in place when he or she shouts "Action." The wedding director is there to orchestrate the event. Armistead Events wedding directors are trained, experienced and have directed hundreds of weddings. The director is there to make sure flowers get distributed to attendants and family and to cue the guest book and program attendants when it is time for them to be in place. He or she makes sure the photographer and/or videographer are ready, the ushers are ready to escort the guests to their seats and that the musician or musicians are cued when it is time to start the prelude. The director will make sure the grandparents and parents are seated at the appropriate time, that the celebrant, groom and ushers are ready and in place, that the flower girl and ring bearer are in place and that the bride and bridesmaids are ready to stroll down the aisle with their beautiful bouquets held just right. The director will make sure that any special traditions the bride and groom wish to observe happen at the appropriate time.
Great weddings don't just happen. Guests don't notice when timing is working well; they only notice when it is not. The director meets with the bride and groom prior to the rehearsal to make sure all the details for the rehearsal and ceremony are covered and a schedule has been created. There are direction and entertainment packages available for the reception too. The director will conduct the rehearsal. Having a non-family member conduct the rehearsal is a great bonus. There may be attendants or family coming that have not seen each other for quite some time. If they know you have hired a director they will be more willing to cooperate and not treat the rehearsal as a family reunion or time to catch up on the latest news. They will know it is serious and the faster everyone is confident with what they need to do for the ceremony the quicker everyone gets to the rehearsal dinner where there will be plenty of time to enjoy the company of those you have chosen to be a part of your ceremony.
The wedding director gives the bride and her family the chance to really enjoy the wedding without worry. It is the director who is there to handle any unforeseen crises that may arise. Many recent brides would assure you that a wedding director is essential and well-worth the price.
Finding qualified and experienced wedding directors can be a challenge. Armistead Events has certified wedding directors on staff. An Armistead Events wedding director will make sure the bride's wishes are executed on her wedding day.

Wedding Day Seating

2008-11-15T14:32:00.002-05:00

Must Know Tips For Seating At Your Reception

The seating at your wedding reception is a very important subject. Some Brides think ahh...no big deal I'm having a head table for my wedding party and everyone else can just sit where ever they would like. Unfortunately things are not quite that simple. There are a few things you may want to take into consideration. If you are having a head table and the Father of the Groom is the best man do you want the Mother of the Groom to sit at the head table with him or with other family members at another table?If several members of your wedding party are married and their spouse and/or children will attend you will want to make sure your wedding party is clear about your wishes on where their family should sit and where they should sit. Some brides include spouses and/or dates of the wedding party at the head table. Some Bride and Grooms elect to have a sweetheart table for them and will make a seating chart for their wedding party and will seat them at round tables instead of a head table.If you are having a head table for your wedding party with reserved tables for your families you should make sure the people who are to sit at these reserved tables know exactly who they are. Keep in mind that your reception venue staff may not know who these family members are. If you have any difficult or stressful situations in your family such as a step families, siblings who don't get along, etc you may want to consider a seating chart. The seating chart is extra work, but may be the difference between certain individuals being comfortable or uncomfortable. Keep in mind that when guests are uncomfortable you always run the risk of problems or unwanted situations. If you have handicapped guests make prior arrangements for them if possible. If you know your grandmother will be in a wheelchair ask the venue to make sure the original chair is removed from her from her seat so that she may pull up to the table without being put on the spot by needing to ask someone to move anything for her. This goes back to the comfort issue. Make sure your guests are as comfortable as possible and the best way to do this is by thinking ahead. If you go the extra mile to make sure your guests are not put in an embarrassing situation they will notice and will appreciate it more than you will ever realize.

For more seating information call an Armistead Events Bridal Consultant today!

Wedding Invitation Wording

2008-11-15T12:05:00.005-05:00

Wording your wedding invitations can be confusing. Standard wording is considered proper etiquette, but you can invite your guests in your own unique way. Remember to keep it as simple as possible and stick to the facts.

You can include a poem, or a message to your guests. You may want to insert words into the text that correspond with the theme of your special day. The options are endless.

For more information on invitation wording and etiquette tips make an appointment with an Armistead Events Wedding Consultant today!

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Where is the Armistead Events website?

2008-11-14T08:59:00.004-05:00

I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting the Armistead Events website with all of the cool tools and information. We can't wait to get it to you, but it looks like we are going to have to wait a little longer. The website is still in the designer's hands. Hopefully it will be launched sometime around New Year's Day 2009 and will be well worth the wait.

In the mean time you can find us on Facebook at this link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Armistead-Events/41994853645

Please stop by our Facebook page and become a fan!

Armistead Events

2008-10-28T12:21:00.002-04:00

Armistead Events is a full service event planning and management company serving the entire Virginia coast and Eastern seaboard.

We specialize in full service event management. Our expertise and experience allows our clients to enjoy themselves and their guests - leave the planning and worries to us.

Planning a wedding? Look no further. We can help you with your wedding planning from A to Z. Looking for entertainment, maybe a wedding disc jockey and emcee? Ask about our wedding planning services and tell us how we can help you have the wedding of your dreams!

No matter whether you need to organize a company conference, a team building day or stage an outdoor concert or festival, Armistead Events can help you put the Special in your special event.

Wedding Ceremonies & Receptions

Corporate Events & Company Picnics

Grand Openings

Fairs & Festivals

Block Parties

Fundraisers

Anniversary Parties

Graduations

Birthday Parties

Holiday Parties

Retirement Parties

School Dances & Functions

Class Reunions

Family Reunions & More

You Can Expect...

* Personalized Event Planning Assistance

* Unmatched Attention Paid To Each Detail

* Exceptional Sound & Lighting Equipment

* Top Notch Customer Service

* Knowledgeable, Experienced Disc Jockeys

* Professional Interactive Entertainers

* Music For Every Occasion

Our new website will be available in January 2009.

For more information contact Carla Armistead today at (434) 385-8008.

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Tips For A Wedding Toast

What A Flower Means

Formal Wear Etiquette

How To Compromise On Your Guest List

Putting Your Quirky Little Twists On Your Wedding Day Festivities

The Benefit of Hiring A Wedding Director For Your Rehearsal & Ceremony

Wedding Day Seating

Wedding Invitation Wording

Where is the Armistead Events website?

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