Don’t Forget the Toothpaste…

As we talk about weddings and preparing for the big day on Mrs. Organized, I have realized that sometimes it the littlest things that make the biggest difference. As Jennifer from Kate Aspen suggested, there is a need for flexibility and room for change, and with that comes the unexpected. Remember to have an emergency kit ready for the day of. Put together a list of everything you could possibly need from toothpaste, to bobby pins, to extra wedding bands. This will help give you piece of mind knowing that you have a solution when the unexpected happens.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments August 26, 2008 on 11:58 pm | In All

Helpful Tips for the Couple To Be…

Maria Gracia is one of Our Favorite Organizers on Mrs. Organized and while she is an expert when it comes to organizing your home and office, she has some great tips for the couple-to-be. As we launch the new Wedding Registry on Organize.com, Maria offers her great ideas and has some helpful advice for those who are about to combine the space of two people into one. Check it out!

A New Life, A New Adventure
by Maria Gracia

Well, you finally decided take the big step–to share one
heart–and one household. You both have tons of stuff.
What will you do with all of it?

1. First off, think married-couple-like. If any of your
furniture and accessories are too ’single-life’ or
‘dormitory-style’, donate them or give them to someone in
college.

2. Make a vow to each other to get rid of at least 20% of
your stuff, or more if you can. A great time to declutter
is now–before you move into your new place. If you
currently have something in storage, consider donating
it. If you’re not using it now, and haven’t in awhile,
you likely won’t use it later–and it will just gather
dust in your new home.

3. That being done, start making lists of what you both
possess. Go over your lists together, Anything thing that
is a duplicate, donate one. Keep the newest or best one.
Make that decision before you move. Decide where these
things are going to go in your new home. Indicate the
area on this list.

4. Box your possessions up. Don’t combine two rooms of
stuff in one box. Each box should only contain the
possessions for one room. All kitchen stuff in its own
boxes. All living room stuff in its own boxes.

5. Label each box with the room it’s going to go in, the
contents of the box, and where it’s going to go in your
new home. Mark the Open-Immediately boxes that contain
blankets, pillows toiletries, and other items you’ll need
for a first good-night’s sleep in your new digs.

These are just a few of Maria’s great ideas for anyone tying the knot. Stay tuned for more to come!

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments August 19, 2008 on 11:44 pm | In All

In “Favor” of Fun!

With the launch of Wedding Registry on Organize.com, we are putting on a fabulous giveaway where you can win a trip to the Bahamas, a wedding dress from Priscilla of Boston, invitations from David’s Bridal and…150 Wedding Favors from the one and only Kate Aspen. To help kick off the celebration, I wanted to get one of the biggest names in the wedding industry to share her knowledge and talents with all of you. So without further ado, I am pleased to introduce you to Jennifer Fallon, founder and CEO of The Aspen Brands Company. They are the experts when it comes wedding favors and baby gifts. Please read what she has to say about how The Aspen Brands Company began, picking the perfect wedding favor, how to stay organized while planning a wedding and what inspires her creative and innovative designs. Enjoy!

The Mrs. Organized Interview with Jennifer Fallon

Mrs. O: Tell me about yourself and how you got started:

Jennifer: I’m an Atlanta native. I’m married and have two beautiful twin girls who just turned two! I’ve always been a high-energy person, which has come in very handy with two little ones and a business. I’ve been able to transfer that energy and passion into my work to build The Aspen Brands Company (Kate Aspen and Baby Aspen).

While planning my 2003 wedding, I fell in love with the perfect outdoor venue with magnificent gardens. It was beyond our budget, but I’m not one to take “no” for an answer. I negotiated a deal with the owner: I would exchange my time to market his venue online to brides in exchange for a more palatable price for our own reception. Within no time, I had booked the venue for every weekend for a year! This experience solidified my belief in the power of internet sales. At that time, I also discovered an untapped market in wedding favors. I wasn’t finding creative options in the quantities and price point that I needed. After we returned from the honeymoon, I launched a retail wedding favor site. Within one year, I began to see trends and took note of what brides were seeking: more practical favors and more flair in their favor presentation. It was then that I decided I would design and manufacture my own line of favors, and I launched Kate Aspen in October 2004.

Kate Aspen now has more than 300 favors for weddings, baby showers, and all life events! In 2007, we also launched Baby Aspen which has now grown into a line of 20 plush baby gifts with keepsake features. This year, we launched In Favor of a Cure and the Pink Ribbon Favor Collection and look forward to growing the charitable side of our business.

Mrs. O: What do you suggest for the bride to start choosing and thinking about favors

Jennifer: Brides need to think about the vision for their reception–more than just the venue and the food, but how they can bring their personality into the reception. After all, it is HER (and his) day! Be sure to budget for favors. They offer a lot of wow for a minimal cost and can contribute to the overall décor and experience. Kate Aspen favors and packaging range from traditional black and white to bright spring-like colors, and they can really add pop to the table, whether they are center plate, arranged attractively in the middle of the table or at the gift table.

Mrs. O: What inspires you for your favor designs?

Jennifer: Bride feedback and color trends are just a few things that guide us as we design our favor collections. We also have a very creative design team. We actually meet weekly to brainstorm and discuss. It’s a fun and creative process. We have always touted the fact that we have something for every kind of bride, so we try to keep the traditional bride in mind just as much as we would the whimsical bride that might even want a hint of humor in her favor selection.

Mrs. O: What organizational system works for you and would you recommend for brides:

Jennifer: Use whatever organizational system works for YOU. Pick a system and stick to it. File everything together. Don’t assume you are going to remember details! Let yourself be flexible enough to change your mind too. First impressions are strong, but you never know when a creative idea will hit you. I keep a notebook with running notes with me at all times. I know people who use their phones to leave themselves messages and people who keep a pen or a voice recorder next to their bed for middle of the night ideas. Whatever works! The more organized you are, the less stressful your wedding planning is going to be. Relax!

Mrs. O: Tell us about wedding planners and what role they play in picking out favors

Jennifer: A wedding planner is a fabulous resource. Their job is to keep the wedding within budget and create a vision that is perfect for each bride. Remember that even though you might think you know what you want, be open to your wedding planner’s suggestions. After all, she or he does this every day and may have many ideas you’ve never considered. Work together to perfect the “good” ideas and let go of the less-than-perfect ideas. Plus, if you struggle with organization, your wedding planner will be your savior!

Mrs. O: Favorite wedding ideas, favorite favors and ways to use them

Jennifer: I LOVE fresh flowers. If I could have them every day at home and at the office, I would. I love color themes and using favors within those themes. Black and white and metallics are always in fashion. I like using favors for a practical purpose. The coasters not only serve as a place card holder at the table, but they serve as a picture frame for your wedding photo to display and enjoy for years to come. I also like the look of several different favors at each place setting. Why not light a votive candle favor as part of the table décor, use keepsake a place card holder next to each plate, and surround the bottle of wine in the center of the table with heart-shaped chrome bottle stoppers in pretty packaging. Another fun idea is to give different favors at every table or alternate them at every other setting. It’s a great conversation starter for your guests. Keep in mind that your wedding is not just about the ceremony and the reception, but it’s all the special events leading up to it. Favors are perfect (and appreciated!) at bridesmaids’ luncheons and at showers. With so many favor designs, you can even string a theme through from the engagement party to the reception.

Mrs. O: Favorite wedding story

Jennifer: Remember the outdoor venue I mentioned that I booked for my wedding reception? Well, it was gorgeous, but the weather on our wedding day wasn’t! It rained, it poured, there was lightening and it poured some more! Although we had tents and a fair amount of covered area, the sheets of rain were relentless, causing a muddy, sloppy mess on the ground. Our wedding guests were dancing in their good shoes, covered in mud. It was quite a sight! We had a wonderful time though, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything…which goes to show you sometimes things don’t go as planned, but it’s the joy in your heart that matters!

It’s no surprise that Jennifer has been able to build a successful business and have such a great family at the same time. Her personality shines through her enthusiasm and love for what she does.

Happy Organizing!

- Mrs. O

No Comments August 15, 2008 on 7:24 pm | In All