Table Setting & Centre Pieces

Cluster Centre pieces are very much in fashion these days. Here is an idea on “how to think out of the box”.

Boxes topped with flowers make a beautiful centerpiece; a table number is embroidered onto ribbon encircling the largest box.

Inside, the stems sit in water bottles stabilized by crumpled paper. Favor boxes, which contain nonpareils, double as place cards.

Tools and Materials
Gift paper (enough to wrap around lid and overlap slightly)
Small boxes
Double-sided tape
Flowers of choice
Utility knife,
Plastic flower tube
Nonpareils (chocolate disks or small sweets)

Flower Boxes How-To
1. Tape paper around edge of box lid.
2. Using a utility knife, cut an opening in the center of the lid.
3. Cut off top of flower tube so it's just shorter than box. Add a bit of water to tube.
Insert flowers into tube; insert tube into lid.
4. Fill box with nonpareils (leave room for flower tube); close box.

PS: Article from Martha Steward Weddings

Just some more info on our courses: Elect Training Academy works in Association with Drum Beat Academy and International Hotel School. At our Drum Beat campuses we offer all the short courses and the part time events management course. At the International Hotel School we offer only the short courses at this moment.

A reminder of this week’s upcoming courses:

Johannesburg:

16 & 17 September – Draping Foundation
11 – 12 October – Décor Foundation
13 – 15 October – Décor Advance

Pretoria:

15 – 18 September – Advance Décor
Part time course
8 – 9 October – Draping Foundation

Cape Town: Part time course
13 – 14 September – Draping foundation
15 – 17 September – Advance Draping

Durban:

15 – 17 September – Kids Party Planning
30 Sept – 1 Oct – Foundation Décor
8 – 9 October – Draping foundation

A reminder also that we do have a payment plan available should you need it!

Kids Party Planning Course

It’s party time next week at Drumbeat Academy in Pretoria! This course is for all the undercover fairies, spies and pirates out there.

Did you ever dreamed of being a fairy princess, a pirate, a fireman or even just dreamed about never-never land…. But now you are and adult and you have responsibilities and there is no place in life for fairytales… Wrong!!

There are places where fairytales can come alive and even bring some money to you. You can start your own children’s party company. Let me just tell you before you even start thinking about it…. It is not for the faint of heart! You have to be full of patients and LUVVVV… for other people’s children! The second biggest thing is that you cannot stand the whole time and talk to the kids… they don’t just wants to see your nostrils the whole time – get down, get to their level and connect with the kiddies where they are!

This is the type of company a mom with small kids can think off. You’ve got an instant customer base with all the friends of your kids and all the kids in the school where your child attends. As a Kids Party Business owner you'll experience the joy of a business that puts you in charge. You'll be able to choose your own hours and schedule your work around your family first.

Kiddie’s parties have become big business. With the rise in single parent and two working parent homes, this means that many parents don’t have the time to plan and coordinate these parties themselves. Specializing in pulling of fabulous children’s parties may be the perfect home business for an energetic, creative and organized person!

Join us on the kid’s party planning course next week! 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th (evening class) 28th (whole day) August 2010. Classes will run from 18:00 to 21:30 each night and the Saturday – 9:00 to 13:00.

We end this course with a Fairy Party at Drum Beat Academy and if you have a little girl - you are welcome to bring her to the party!

In this course we will deal with issues such as themes, how to build your own props, party programs, invitations, admin, and holiday programs and corporate kids parties.

This course is still on special: normally R5500.00 –

now only R3000.00

Payment plan available!

Black and White Elegance

Colors can sometimes make for the simplest, yet most striking statements at a wedding. A classical black and white wedding theme is still a very popular choice among couples. Simple, yet sophisticated, this theme is fairly simple to plan.

With a Black and White wedding theme – Simplicity is the way to go. Keep your wedding attire as elegant and plain as possible – Ruffles and Frills don’t go with this theme! The bridal dress should be white with accents of black and if you wish to then you can get your bridesmaids to wear black.

Keep in mind, a single flower can often make more of an elegant statement than an overflowing bouquet, especially with a black and white wedding theme.
However, if you would like to waver a bit from the strictly black and white wedding scheme, consider adding the slightest hints of one other color as contrast, such as bright red, bright pink, emerald green or a hint of gold.

Don't go overboard though... add just a hint here and there. For example, white roses with the tips tinted red and nestled in a black vase sitting on a table covered in a white tablecloth. Use black napkins secured with white napkin rings and a hint of some other color. These are simple accents that you could try which won't overpower the black and white theme.

Some things to remember about our courses: Our courses are both Theory and Practical – Elect Training Academy work in Association with Drum Beat Academy. Our courses are also endorsed and sometimes presented by the International Hotel School of South Africa

Information Sessions:

• Our next information session in Pretoria is on 10 August 2010 @ Drum Beat Academy in Groenkloof – Time: 19:00. We will be finished @ 20:00
• Our next information session in Cape Town is on 31 July 2010 @ The Lord Charles Hotel – Somerset West – Time: 10:00
• Our next information session in Durban is on 22 July @ The Westville Hotel in Westville – Durban – Time: 19:00. We will be finished @ 20:00

Please let us know if you want to attend the session then we can send you more info.

Our next courses:

Foundational Draping in Durban: 23 & 24 July 2010 – Westville Hotel
Foundational Draping in Cape Town: 13 & 14 August 2010 – Somerset West
Foundational Draping in Pretoria: 20 & 21 August 2010 – Drum beat academy

Advance Draping in Pretoria: 28 & 29 July (evening classes) 30 & 31 July 2010 (full day)

Foundational Décor in Pretoria: 11 & 12 & 14 August OR 12 & 14 August 2010

Kids Party Planning: 23 – 28 August 2010 (Day or evening classes)

Events Management: Pretoria

We have an ongoing intake policy with the events management course in Pretoria – you can join us any Saturday.

Events Management: Cape Town

We start on the 4th of September with our new Events Management course.

Hope to see you at our info meetings!

Yvonne Prinsloo from Jehni Hire in Strand wants to sell all of her hiring stock. Chaircovers, Table cloths, runners etc. The stuff has almost never been used and I've seen it - it is in exellent order. Bargain! Pls contact Yvonne for more info. Yvonne [info@jehni.co.za]

Vintage Wedding Tips

Tips for a Vintage Wedding

Before you begin, pick an era and then design the wedding accordingly

Vintage is a concept of old mixed with new – so don’t feel you need to buy an array of new things that “look old.”

Have a look at 2nd hand or charity shops for old pieces or accessories that you can use. Be it retro furniture or art deco-inspired wall paper – you will find some bargains.

Pay attention to detail - like a string of pearl on an old book

Remember – if you decide on a theme – everything must fit into the theme. From music to the décor!

2011 Wedding Trends

“Dark poetry palettes with deep black, slate gray, inky blue and deep purple completed by flaming garnet, blushing pink and hallucinogenic green. Flashes of copper and gold. Sumptuous materials are deteriorated to evoke the wear of time. Accent on natural mixing 'patched' effect. Some ultra feminine materials: dobby silks, quivering acetate etc. New parade jackets, rock spirit, and patchwork grunge.

Nocturnal, muffled colours from night blue, cold brown and Cyprus green all the way to greyed Parma and an intense touch of oxblood. Base colour remains in the sombre register of deep blue, almost black. Emphasis on sophisticated, warm, light, soft-touch fabrics, like wool and cashmere blends or brushed and sanded suitings. Matt or slightly shiny looks for synthetics. Knits are thin and generous. Wool shawl-collared, dark and strange prints, product focus on bloomer and punk style jacket.” (French Trend Agency – NellyRodi).

That is a lot to swallow - as a wedding planner - how do you interpret such a trend. We've give you some advice. Think about blue/purple hydrangeas, Purple Callas lilies, Silver table cloths, black lace overlays. Think a combination of vintage and new. Think about something old, something new, something borrowed, something.... You make the choice.

To know more on how to read mood boards and create your own mood board - Attend our Wedding planning course! For more info please phone 0218548950 / 0218548950 or follow the link for more information on Perfect Wedding Events. We now have a campus in Pretoria and Cape Town and we present courses in Durban.