Beyond Elegant Events

Welcome to the the Traveling Photo Booth

2011-12-09T08:52:00.005-06:00

As the founder of the Madison Wedding Guild, I have been very lucky to have partnered with some of Madison's premier wedding vendors for the last almost 4 years

We are very excited to expand that family by adding Traveling Photo Booth for 2012!

The Traveling Photo Booth's Madison, WI office is locally owned and operated by Casey Haselwander.

You've most likely never rented a photo booth before and that's okay. Simply visiting their website is the first step in renting the Greatest Photo Booth in the Galaxy for your event!

Life's biggest moments deserve the best. You can contact them by phone at 608.370.2831 or check out their website at http://www.thetravelingphotobooth.com/madison-wi.html.

Madison Wedding Guild Show

2011-04-29T19:49:00.002-05:00

Come see us!!

Wednesday, May 4th at the Madison Club.

We are thrilled to be able to give our clients and perspective clients a stress free night that they can come and speak with some of Madison's premier wedding professionals. And, it is free! Free parking, free food and drinks, most importantly free consultations with fantastic wedding vendors!

Come join us and allow Beyond Elegant Events and the Madison Wedding Guild to help you plan your big day!

Hope to see you there!

1st Annual WI Bride Bridal show tomorrow night...

2011-04-03T11:18:00.003-05:00

Come visit us tomorrow night at the first annual WI Bride Madison Bridal show!!

We’ve gathered the top local vendors, covering everything you could possibly need to plan the perfect day. Kick your wedding up a notch — or several — with Look of Love, the region’s most exclusive bridal event.

We’ll be giving away a honeymoon package courtesy of Sundara Inn & Spa. Must be present to win.

The youngest member of team BEE turns one!!

2011-03-10T08:11:00.015-06:00

Jayme Galanos, owner/senior planner for Beyond Elegant Events, and her family celebrated little Anabelle's first Birthday back in January.

Look at the absolutely adorable cake that was created by Betty Arp!

Jayme simply gave Betty a napkin from the set of paper products she had purchased or the party and she created not just one, but two wonderful cakes for them. (One for the grown up, they are huge fans of Betty's citrus vodka cake, and one for the birthday girl!)

While you are looking at bakers for your wedding cake, think about using them to make the cake for your bridal shower or you rehearsal dinner. As you can see bakers don't just do weddings!

For more information on Betty Arp and I Do Cakes By Betty, check out her website today to schedule your tasting!

All you need to know about save the dates!

2011-03-09T10:58:00.002-06:00

Save The Date Cards: Etiquette

by MyGatsby

Are Save the Date Cards Necessary?

While Save the Dates cards are not necessary in all situations, they are a wonderful way to generate excitement and, most importantly, allow your loved ones plenty of time to make arrangements to share in your special day. Especially important for friends and family who will be traveling to your wedding location, Save the Dates encourage travelers to take advantage of travel deals, book flights, and make any other necessary plans sooner than later.

If your wedding date falls on or around any holidays, or if it's taking place at a popular vacation or destination spot, you should consider sending out your Save the Dates at least five months in advance. In these situations, your guests will likely be thinking of your event as a vacation and will appreciate having the time and information to plan accordingly.

When should Save the Dates be sent?

Think of your Save the Date cards as a preliminary invitation to your wedding. They should be sent at least four months before the wedding date. Your wedding invitations should follow about two months later.

If you are asking guests to travel a great distance, take time off work, or travel during peak seasons, the sooner you can let them know the better! In these circumstances, it's not uncommon to send Save the Date announcements as much as twelve months in advance.

Do I need to send a Save the Date to all my guests?

No, you are not required to send a Save the Date to everyone on your guest list. Many brides cut costs here by sending Save the Dates only to those guests who will be traveling or who will likely need to make arrangements far in advance. Of course the benefit of sending a Save the Date card to every person you are hoping will attend is that you are increasing the likelihood that they will reserve that date and will, in fact, be able to attend your special day. If, for whatever reason, you do choose to send Save the Dates only to a select number of guests, there is just one rule to follow. Make sure they are sent to all people who have any reason to interact with each other. Imagine how hurt your cousin Sally would be if she visited your aunt May and saw your beautiful Save the Date hanging on her refrigerator, only to realize she had not been sent one and have no idea why.

It should be noted that a Save the Date is just that. It's doesn't do double duty as an engagement announcement to everyone you know...and therefore should only be sent to those people you will absolutely be inviting to the wedding itself. Do not send a Save the Date to anyone who will not be receiving a wedding invitation.

Wi Bride Best of - Vote Now!

2011-02-27T07:25:00.004-06:00

We have had the distinct privilege of being nominated and/or winning WI Brides Best in WI every year they have had the awards. Please help us keep that streak alive by taking a couple minutes and go out and vote for us as your favorite wedding planners. ;) Voting ends tomorrow, so please vote today or tomorrow.

(You can only vote once and you have to fill out at least 6 categories.

You can vote, by clinking this link...WI Bride Awards.

A sincere thank you from your team at Beyond Elegant Events for helping us be recognized year after year! We have been extremely lucky to have had the honor to work with such amazing couple and other wedding professionals over the last 7 years!

Next Show Location Has Been Changed!

2011-02-25T09:30:00.001-06:00

Hi Everyone -

The first Madison Wedding Guild Show of the 2011 is coming up on Wednesday, March 2nd!

(Due to the rallies downtown, we have decided to change the location of the next Madison Wedding Guild Show from the Madison Club to the Crown Plaza on East Washington Avenue.)

Come join us and allow Beyond Elegant Events and the Madison Wedding Guild to help you plan your big day!

Hope to see you there!

Something a little different...

2011-01-20T13:10:00.000-06:00

So most people who know me, know I am obsessed with office supplies like fun pens, paper, file folders all that good stuff)...I know totally crazy, but true. When I was working on our Christmas cards, I wanted to find wrap around address labels. I found some great options on Esty.com, where I can print them myself.

I love this look, it is something just a bit different. If you are doing a DIY invitation for your wedding and are having a dark color envelope that would be difficult to see the printing for the return address, this is something you might want to think about using this idea.

I also found these adorable little return labels for our thank you notes for both Christmas and our daughter first birthday. These are great because you can customize the colors and words to meet your needs.

Click here for the template.

No matter what you do, for your wedding or in life in general make sure you make it fit your personality and style!

Save the Date..

2011-01-16T12:34:00.000-06:00

Out next Madison Wedding Guild show is scheduled for March 2nd and the wonderful Madison Club next to the Hilton downtown.

As many of you know the MWG, is a group I formed a few years ago with some of Madison's other premier wedding vendors. I had pick all the members and think each of them is AMAZING!!

Our shows are free and we provide food and drinks, while allowing couples to chat with these TERRIFIC professionals about their weddings. (Did I mention how FANTASTIC these folks are?)

Feel free to check out our blog for some fun ideas at www.madisonweddingguild.com.

Here is a list of our members:

PHOTO BOOTH

Beyond The Booth

CAKES

"I Do" Cakes by Betty

Chris's Confections

ENTERTAINMENT

Juke Box Bandstand

Prime Time Mobile D.J.'s

FLORISTS

Beauty Blossoms

Fleurishes Floral Artistry

PLANNERS

Beyond Elegant Events

The Wedding Guy

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Anna Page Photography

Krakora Studios

STATIONERY

Sugar Pear Design

Sugar River Stationers

WI Bride Best of Voting Open

2011-01-15T12:15:00.000-06:00

VOTE...VOTE...VOTE!!

It is that time of year again...time to acknowledge your favorite wedding vendors for all their hard work and dedication over the last year.

Beyond Elegant Events has had to destinct honor of either being a finalist or winning every year that they have had the awards...please help us keep that winning streak going!

You can vote at www.wibride.com!

(Remember you need to vote for at least 6 categories for your vote to count and you can only vote once...so make your vote count.)

New Webpage is up!!

2011-01-14T12:04:00.000-06:00

After many hours and lots of hard work on our CFO/CIO's part our new website is up!! (We even have a mobile site!!)

(We are still working on adding to the photo galleries with pictures from our events from some the wonderful photographers we have had the honor and privilege to work with over the past seven years.)

This new website was a longtime coming. In designing the new site, we discovered that we had not had and update since 2005...I know, I know naughty girls!

We are extremely proud of the new site...So please check it out and let us know what you think.

A Very special thanks to Dean Galanos, Beyond Elegant Events CIO/CFO, for all his hard work on this project and all his help in keeping BEE running over the last 7 years!

Great new article from the Knot...

2011-01-11T12:41:00.000-06:00

While I am normally not a huge fan of the Knot, because I feel like there is little to no control over what people say and do on their message boards... I think this article that they did on the top 10 myths of planning a wedding is great!

I really like #4 on the list..

Here's a list of the so-called wedding rules it's okay to ignore.

Myth #1: Hiring friends is the same as hiring wedding vendors.

Just because your friend is a fantastic fashion or photojournalist, doesn't mean you'll get the same results on your wedding day. For example, an experienced photographer knows how to shoot a mix of photojournalistic action shots (getting ready, your first dance, exchanging vows) while also capturing all the must-have family and bridal party photos. Same goes for the other categories like flowers and music. Look for local vendors in your area for leads, and if money is a concern, just be open and honest about your budget from the start. If you really can't afford a vendor, ask them for recommendations of lower budget professionals with a similar style.

Myth #2: You have to wear a white dress.

If the idea of a big white dress and veil has never appealed to you, don't feel pressured into wearing one. Hair clips with feathers or even just a fresh flower can replace a traditional veil, and there are plenty of bridal fashion designers who have created dressed in other colors -- think blush pink, dusty blue, buttery yellow, and more. You can even add color (and personality!) to a simple dress with a bold sash, bolero, or a cardigan.

Myth #3: If you went to their wedding, you have to invite them to yours.

Don't feel trapped into inviting someone just because they invited you to their wedding. It's your day -- invite the people you feel closest to. If someone assumes they're invited, let them know up front (and sooner rather than later) that because of space or budget constraints, you had to limit the guest list.

Myth #4: A wedding planner is too expensive.

Here's the deal: Not only can a wedding planner help keep you organized and suggest incredible never-been-done ideas, but a wedding planner can also end up saving you thousands and keeping you on track with your budget. Many planners work closely with florists, rental companies, and other vendors and often have access to industry discounts, which they can pass along to you! Not a bad deal, eh? Even if you can't afford a full wedding planner, look into hiring a day-of planner (to take some of the wedding day stress off of you) or a wedding coordinator who can give you vendor recommendations before you start planning.

Myth #5: Going DIY will save you money.

Make no mistake -- DIY isn't always the cheapest route. Unless you have unlimited access to the supplies it takes to create your own stationery or flower arrangements, the cost of these items alone is really going to add up (not to mention the amount of time it takes to create invitations for 100!). Do your research before you start buying paper and flowers in bulk to make sure it wouldn't be worth your while (and sanity) to simply hire someone else to do it.

Myth #6: You have to have the same number of bridesmaids and groomsmen.

So maybe he has a ton of friends, and you just have a few close girlfriends. Don't feel like you have to hire extras to stand in for you to even out the sides. What's important is that everyone you feel close to is a part of your day so divvy up the jobs. Make some of the guys ushers and others readers. One can even be your honorary toast-giver. If those positions are filled, that's okay too -- there's no rule that says both sides should have the same number.

Myth #7: You have to take out a second mortgage to pay for a wedding.

Listen up -- there are easy ways to save money, so don't start your marriage together in a terrible amount of debt. It's all about setting your priorities. Maybe you've always known you want a designer wedding dress, a venue with a view, or an amazing bouquet. Make a list of your splurge items, and then look for ways to save in the other categories.

Myth #8: A DJ will play too much cheesy music while a band will take too many breaks.

You've probably heard about it or been to a wedding where the DJ played outdated music with cringe-worthy results. Simply talking to your DJ about which songs you love and which you'd rather not hear (ever) can help guarantee a playlist that everyone will love. As for bands, you know the drill -- the dance floor is packed, but as soon as they take a break, the floor clears and everyone gets bored. Instead, see whether they can go down to a 2-piece or a 3-piece set instead of popping in an iPod.

Myth #9: Wedding food always tastes bad.

Don't assume that just because you've been to some weddings with less than tasty food that that's the norm. Some of the hottest wedding catering trends involve comfort foods like sliders, French fries, and sundae bars. Plus, many catering companies are bringing farm-fresh items to the reception table with localized gourmet menus that will have you and your guests oohing and ahhing.

Myth #10: All wedding dresses are created equal.

Why do some dresses cost $500 and others $5,000? It's all about the quality of fabric, the embellishments, the construction of the dress, and the amazing fit. In other words, those pricey dresses are made to make you look drop dead gorgeous. That's not to say you have to go over budget to find a dress -- a good bridal salon consultant can suggest dresses that fit and flatter in your price range, so rely on them to help you find the right dress.

-- The Knot

Watch us on tomorrow's morning show...

2010-12-19T21:45:00.000-06:00

Jayme will be appearing on channel 3's morning show Monday December 20th sometime around 6:45am. Tune into get her tips and tricks to creating no hassle, low cost centerpieces for the holidays!!

(If you can't watch, we hope to have a clip of the video later this week.)

Happy Holidays

2010-12-17T12:52:00.000-06:00

We want to wish your family a happy holiday season from the Galanos and the entire Beyond Elegant Events family!

New look for 2011!

2010-12-17T11:38:00.000-06:00

After almost 7 years in business we, Beyond Elegant Events, are in the process of revamping our look. (We will continue to offer the same great service that you have grown to count on!)

We are currently working on the new updated webpage, so check back soon for that unveiling!

Where Have We Been!

2010-12-17T10:43:00.000-06:00

It has been around 2 years since we have posted on our own blog, so that begs the question...where the heck have we been. Well the short answer to that is in the picture on the left.

We have been busy the last couple years adding the newest member to the Beyond Elegant Events family. Jayme, owner and senior planner, welcomed little Anabelle Katherine December 2009.

Now that the chaos of being pregnant and having a new baby is calming down, life is gradually getting back to normal. (That includes starting to blog again!)

Check back soon and often for new ideas and to get the happenings from your BEE team!

Bachelorette Parties

2008-09-22T09:59:00.001-05:00

Check out this article from the Madison newspaper over the weekend, where Beyond Elegant Events was quoted talking about Bachelorette and Bachelor parties.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/entertainment/305634

Tesha and Tommy's Wedding

2008-09-21T22:39:00.001-05:00

Back in June, I have the privilege of being a part of Tesha and Tommy's wedding. They are a lovely couple who had an amazing wedding They combined traditions and cultures to create a wonderful event for their guests. Tesha, Tommy and their families were all so amazing to work with, I truly feel like it was an honor to be a part of their day!

WOW - What a Summer!

2008-09-18T08:49:00.000-05:00

It has been quite the summer. We have been fourtunent to work with some AMAZING clients. I will try to start posting some of the pictures over the next few weeks, so you can check out these great weddings.

Additionally, we were given the opportunity to do a couple different photo shoots for various WI bridal magazines. First up with The Veil magazine. They are a fantastic magazine that I feel so honored to be apart of. There will be a short little article about Beyond Elegant Events accompanied by a photo. The photo was taken by a wonderful photographer, Michael Krakora. He did a terrific job! It was raining and there were people everywhere, and the photos turned out great! See for yourself.
For more information on Michael please check out his website at:
www.michaelkrakora.com

A free moment...

2008-09-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

I finally have a free moment to update this blog. Tis' wedding season when my only free moment is at 11:00 at night...but, I love every moment of it!

Check out this great slide show of a terrific wedding I have the honor of being a part of back in the beginning of July.

http://www.michaelkrakora.com/02slideshow/ruthietom/

Thank you to Michael and Heather Krakora for taking such amazing pictures, Andrea at Fleurishes for doing a fantastic job on the flowers, and Caitlin at Fresco for the great food!

Change of Location!!

2008-07-07T21:19:00.000-05:00

Due to issues beyond my control the location of Wednesday's Madison Wedding Guild show has been changed from the Edgewater to the Madison Club. Here is the contact information for the Madison Club:

5 E Wilson St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 255-4861

I apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to seeing you there!

Jayme

Wisconsin Bride Awards - We WON!!

2008-07-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

In 2006 we were lucky enough to be voted Best Wedding Planner by the Readers of WI Bride magazine. I thought that by winning that award, we cashed in all our good luck points for quite some time. Then we were a finalist for Best Wedding Planner again last year.

Well I am very happy to report that last Monday we had the honor of attending the WI Bride Awards again. This time we were again a finalist for Best Wedding Planner and for the first time this year we were a finalist for the Top of the Tiara award. (This is the best overall wedding vendor award.) My team and I were truly happy to be finalists, especially since it has been the case for the last three years.

To our delight we not only won an award, but be won the top award...Top of the Tiara!

We would like to thank all our clients and the terrific vendors that we have worked with over the past years for helping us win this award. With or with out this award the entire Beyond Elegant Events staff deeply loves what we do and feel honored to be invited to be apart of our clients big day. Without such wonderful clients and amazing other wedding professionals, we would not have been able to accomplish all the great events that we have done the past five years.

Please check out the new issue of Wisconsin Bride Magazine for a full listing of the winners and the great article about Beyond Elegant Events.

Many thanks!!

Jayme and the Beyond Elegant Events Team

Unique centerpiece options

2008-06-24T14:55:00.001-05:00

Here are some great centerpiece options that allow you to use less flowers and may allow your budget to go further then just using masses of flowers.

Madison Wedding Guild

2008-05-13T22:29:00.000-05:00

Come see us at one the 2008 Madison Wedding Guild Shows:

SHOW DATES & LOCATIONS
Show Times - 5:30-8:30pm

Wednesday May 14, 2008
Best Western Inn Towner
2424 University Avenue■ Madison ■ 608.233.8778

Wednesday July 9, 2008
The Edgewater Hotel
666 Wisconsin Avenue■ Madison ■ 608.256.9071

Wednesday September 10, 2008
Madison Concourse Hotel
1West Dayton Street ■ Madison ■ 608.257.6000

Wednesday November 12, 2008
The Edgewater Hotel
666 Wisconsin Avenue ■ Madison, WI ■ 608.256.9071

Admission is free. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served.

Having an Eco-Friendly wedding

2008-05-04T22:09:00.000-05:00

Everywhere you look there are people talking about going green, and while many of us are not ready to give up all our creature comforts, there are a few things that you can do you make your wedding a bit more Eco friendly.

1. The Invitations – look for post-consumer or recycled paper for your wedding invitations. Weddings generate a lot of paper…save the dates, invitations, response cards, reception cards, envelopes, etc. There are many elegant recycled paper and tree-free invitation options out there such as recycled cotton invitations.

2. The Flowers – Although I am all about making a wedding beautiful, I do not think that has to mean mass amounts of cut flowers. Why not try to incorporate some potted plants into your wedding. This can be a budget saver and save on waste at the same time. (Below is a picture of hyacinths courtesy of Elegant Bride Magazine.)

If you just cannot bring yourself to use potted flower and you still would like to be Eco conscious, then go ahead and donate your flowers to a nursing home. This will be sure to brighten the day for many and also make you feel good too!

3. The Favors – A great option is to for go a favor completely and just make a donation to a charity. To let the guests know about this alternate favor, just make up a couple cards per table letting them know of the donation and where it was made to.

Another excellent option for a more traditional favor is to give the gift of chocolate. How is chocolate Eco-friendly? Endangered Species Chocolates is an amazing company dedicated to spreading awareness and to make an impact on the growing number of plant and animal species that are disappearing from Earth. 10 percent of the company’s net profits are donated to help support species, habitat and humanity. Check out their website: http://www.chocolatebar.com/index.asp

Hello World!

2008-05-04T21:00:00.000-05:00

I have spent many years with my laptop basically attached to me at all times, but yet I have never blogged. I believe it's time for a Beyond Elegant Events blog.

I recently was asked by numerous other wedding professionals to write articles for their blogs, thus making it apparent that blogging is the way of the future. Not one to be behind the times...today we start the Beyond Elegant Events blog.

We are hoping to make this a great place for obtaining wedding/event planning advice and trends.

Come back often to hear the latest and greatest.