Internship Summer 2016- Alexandra

Hi there! My name is Alexandra Weethee. I am a rising senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. My major is Communication Studies with a concentration in marketing and PR and a minor in Psychology. I discovered about a year ago that event planning was right up my alley. I had gone back and forth between majors for a while and I found that event planning was right for me when I was planning my sorority's Bid Day last summer. For those of you who do not know, Bid Day in the sorority world is the first day you get to meet your future sisters and become a member of your sorority. When you get your bid, you run to your future sisters welcoming you with open arms, so excited to meet you. 

I was the Vice President of New Member Education for my sorority last year, so one of my main tasks was to plan the Bid Day event. Through finding the perfect venue, caterer, DJ, and decorations, I realized my passion for event planning and networking with awesome vendors. With that, I was eager to start on my search for a summer event planning internship. I came across Jennifer with Knot Your Average Events and had read the great reviews, so I knew I had to contact to her to see if she had any available positions. To my luck, I am now an intern for the wonderful KYAE and I could not be more excited to see what this position has in store! 

I have worked one wedding already and it was a great experience to be able to take part in and watch unfold. From the set up of the ceremony and centerpieces for the reception to the bride and groom dancing the night away and watching them leave in an array of bubbles, the experience was unforgettable and I am glad to have been able to be apart of it. I am excited to gain experience from this internship and to intake more knowledge on the art of all the pieces that go into event planning. I hope to one day be an event planner myself and I am sure this internship will give me much needed tools for the future. I hope to get to know the clients through each event being planned and to make sure that I put my best effort forth in every event to make each bride and groom's dreams come true for their special day!

Cheers to a wonderful wedding season!



With love from the KYAE intern,

Alexandra Weethee

Summer 2016 Internship...ready set learn

Hello everyone out there in the blogging world! My name is Kayla Cobb. I am a current UNCG student studying Parks and Recreation with a concentration in Special Event Management. A requirement for my degree is field experience. With that being said I worked a wedding with Jennifer when she was just my professor for a class I was taking in the fall. I knew I wanted to work with her after that first event that I volunteered for. She makes it look so flawless and what better way to learn then from someone with experience. So I contacted her and we began talks of me working with her this summer for the Practicum which is basically a mini internship consisting of 6 weeks and 120 hours which makes me a Knot so average intern. We signed the final paperwork a few weeks ago and now today I officially began my long a waited journey with the KYAE Staff. Most students wait and take one bigger project when they do their last internship but not me I love a challenge.

I want to pack these six weeks full of experiences I have never had and judging by the schedule Jenn’s going to deliver on that goal set by me. I want to learn a couple of thing one is learning how to blog it seems so simple but honestly I want to one day have my own blog so learning now will make it easier in the future. Two centerpieces and or flower bouquets are at almost every wedding and my goal is to master making a few in my time with the KYAE team. I want to learn a few things about booking potential clients for when I start my own business sometime way way way down the line I will have experience on how to do that. Conflict management can be a challenge when it comes to events so maybe I will learn a few things about that along the way. All an all I want to leave guest with a positive experience even if I am just an intern I still want them to feel like I gave it my all for them to me that is the most important thing. That last learning objective is truly what excites me about wanting to become an event planner. It give me piece of mind know that I gave it my best effort for all the family, friends, and love ones we do this job for.

~with love, Kayla

Need a Passport?

Would you like to travel out of the country?

Have you thought about when you would like to travel

and how long it will take you to obtain a passport?

You will want to make the process as simple as possible

by collecting all documentation ahead of time.

Only US citizens can get a US passport.

As long as you can prove your citizenship

then you shouldn’t have any trouble getting one.

Your first step would be to track down your birth certificate.

Make sure it is an original copy.

It should be a certified certificate with a raised seal

and must include the date the certificate was filed.

You will need to have your photographer take a photo of you.

or you could go down to a local AAA office to have your picture taken.

You will need to have money for the cost of the passport.

If you are over the age of 16 then you will pay $75

for the application fee, plus a $25 execution fee.

The cost for all applicants under the age of 16

is $60 for the application fee and $25 execution fee.

Next, you will want to fill out the application itself.

You can do this online or you can

print it out and fill it out by hand.

Be sure not to sign it until you apply in person.

You will want to gather your application, 2 different checks,

2 copies of your passport photo, proof of citizenship, a photo id

and go to a local passport acceptance facility,

like a post office, county office or other government facility.

They will mail your application in along with your birth certificate,

so you will be without it for a while.

You will get your birth certificate back in the mail

along with your passport.

Routine processing can take 4-6 weeks

and maybe longer during peak season.

Expedited processing will cost you more

and it will take 2-3 weeks.

If you need it faster, you can go through an expediter

and have it delivered in 24-48 hours.

~hope you enjoyed this little tip, Rhonda

The Glenwood Club

Just in case you haven’t heard!

The Glenwood Club is one of

Raleigh’s newest venues in the beltline.

If you are looking for a venue with all   

the extras, then look no further!  

The Glenwood can fulfill all your event needs and more!

They host everything from weddings

to social and corporate events.

This venue comes complete with fine cuisine

tailored to your needs and

brought to you by Irregardless Café Catering.

Irregardless is an on-site catering company

that also offers outside catering.

They currently provide service to

over 30 venues around the triangle.

The Glenwood offers unique amenities

that will help you to create the

perfect atmosphere for your event!

You have the ability to reserve the entire space

which can accommodate up to 500 of your guest.

The Grand Ballroom is complete with a raised stage

and equipped with a state of the art

audio-visual system, a dance floor and a grand piano.

The Ballard/Ballantine Suites has dining seating

for up to 80 guest, 110 classroom style or 175 theater style.

It is also equipped with screen and projector.

The cocktail bar is located in the beautiful entryway,

it can accommodate up to 50 mingling guest.

The Bridal Suite is an elegant space

overlooking the ceremony garden

that allows access to the formal dining and restrooms.

  

The Groom’s Suite/Game Room is a spacious club room

tucked away on the lower level of the building.

The game room is furnished with lounge and bar setup

along with a flat screen tv, pool table, ping pong, foosball,

shuffleboard and a card table.

The McMillan Ceremony Garden is a magical outdoor spot

where a lot of I do’s will be spoken.

It is equipped with semi-circular seating that can accommodate up to 175 guest. It is also complete with a raised stage, beautiful procession steps and a reception/cocktail area on the lawn at the entrance to the amphitheater.

Call today to set up an appointment to tour this awesome facility!

You will have to see it in order to appreciate its beauty!

to my biggest fan...mom

I do not have enough words to express the love and gratitude I have for my mother. I honestly do not deserve her. She has stood by me. Encouraged me. And mostly loved me for me. I am not always the easiest person to get along with but she gets me. She is the best friend, woman, grandmother and mother. She has shown me what it takes to me a woman and hopefully soon a mother. I want to be like her when I grow up.

To my mother in law and bonus mother in law. You have raised a fantastic young man. I thank you for that. I thank you for welcoming me into your heart and into your family. Happy Mother’s Day!!

Love Kate

PS this is Kate who is truly our #1 Facebook Fanpage Follower…she likes, comments and congratulates every one of our couples….we love you!

One Relaxed Momma

Reliving all of these memories have really made my week....here's the next one:

My relationship with my mom is a real blessing. She not only gave me life but she has nurtured me from day one to the present. She has never stopped! We have had our struggles & our triumphs & it has made us stronger! I couldn't ask for a better woman to call my mother/mom/mommy/mamma than her!

 I could not imagine going through the wedding process without her. She took the reins but allowed me to have the vision. She kept me calm when I got stressed out & made me the happiest bride on my wedding day! Since my mom is such a huge part of my life. I wanted to have a mother/daughter dance! The song I chose was Momma's Song by Carrie Underwood. It was perfect for us! I sang to her while we were dancing & crying! It was the most amazing moment of the night! She means the world to me & Jennifer made that happen!

The actual wedding day was beyond my dreams all due to Jennifer & her team & vendors! She allowed my mother & me to actually enjoy the day without a worry or a care. She took care of everything which allowed my mom to really enjoy the party.  And the best part is that she was not just the wedding coordinator, she became a friend as well.  Having her coordinate our wedding was the best decision I made. I can't say enough!

~Bri’e

Peace of mind with Mom by my side....

Here are a few pics from Amanda’s wedding and her story….

I enjoyed and will always cherish that my mom was able to be with me all day long. She never once had to leave me to set something up or clean something or make sure things were going as scheduled.

Mom always says when she talks to people about weddings that it was well worth the money she spent on a wedding planner so that she could enjoy the day with her daughter!

talk about a stress-free day

For Mother's Day we asked to past couples to share moments with their mom....here's our next testimonial/story:

(this has quickly became one of my favorite photos)

"Jennifer and the Knot Your Average Events Team were excellent in every way. Communications, preparations, details; I certainly felt like a guest at my wedding and the day of, I did not feel the stress that I know some of my friends have (who were married and without a planner).

My mother was able to enjoy our wedding stress free also, as she did not have to trouble shoot anything. Jennifer and her team were on it. I really cannot say enough positive things about this team. Every detail was covered.

They were professional in every way. We received many, many compliments from our guests on how great this team was. Top notch and completely worth it. Thank you Jennifer and KYAE!"

~Colleen

We had a blast at your wedding!

 We enjoyed be a part of every step from planning to see it all come alive on the big day....Amazing~

The Wedding Whisperer allowed my mom to be by my side...

It was so very important to me to have my mom by my side on my wedding day! I wanted her to be a part of creating those unforgettable memories, I wanted her able to spend the day relaxing and getting pampered, and not having to worry about a single thing!  All thanks to my wonderful wedding whisperer this was possible!

My mother was by my side the entire day without so much as a worry! I can't thank you enough Jennifer and your fabulous team for making everything seamless the day of our wedding! We literally didn't want or need for anything; if we thought it, it magically appeared!

 

Monday May 9th will be our one year anniversary and I have you to thank for getting us started with one hell of an unforgettable wedding day!!

Loooooove you!!!!! 😊😜😘

 ~Christy

Why is it important to have Mom by your side....

Ready for the next one…these are getting so good!  We might have to post one every day next week too!  I loooove hearing about all of the behind the scenes and early morning special moments prior to arriving onsite….Allowing Mothers & Daughters to have this special time is truly why we do what we do…be a guest on the most important day….

Here’s the story of one of our assistants (and brides):

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." [George Washington]

Having my mom by my side during wedding planning, and during my wedding day, provided memories for me that I will cherish forever. To Jennifer, and the entire KYAE staff... thank you... thank you for taking over our day so that my mom could enjoy it with me! Thank you for keeping everything running smoothly so she didn't even have to bat an eye, cut a piece of cake, or fix a problem. We appreciate your being a part of that day!

My mom is the epitome of kindness, gentleness, grace, and a guiding hand. I cling to her wisdom. I cherish her. The Lord certainly blessed me when He made me her daughter. Even now, as a married woman, I constantly call on her for advice. She is my sounding board. Not only is she my mother, but as I have gotten older, she has become one of my very best friends.

All I am, I owe to my mother...

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers in the world... including my very favorite... my own.

Love~ Kristian

Side by Side...Mother/Daughter

We've been asking about stories of our typical clients...mother/daughter teams.... We asked one of our clients about her day and this is it....

So here's my story! My day started with waking up next to my mom as she stayed the night with my at my friend’s house. I knew I was lucky to have my mom by my side that day from the time I woke up until we left on our honeymoon.

I cherished all the time I had with my mom, from the quiet times to getting ready. She made sure I had everything and that everything looked great. I wanted that day to be relaxing and special for my mom as well so she didn’t have to stress over the details of the wedding.

Working in the event planning industry gave me the insight, that everyone needs a planner to make sure that you and your family can relax and enjoy the day. My mom was able to arrive at the wedding location without a worry in the world that day.

There is nothing like a mother’s love and because of Jennifer I was able to enjoy this time with no worries. Jennifer is amazing and if something went wrong that day I was not aware of it. My day was truly a dream come true. She is the best!!

~Love Tricia

Spend your wedding day with your mom

In honor of Mother’s Day this weekend we asked some of our past couples to share stories and special moments with their moms on my wedding day!

 So here's Ashley’s story:

 

 " Rise in shine sweetheart Today's your big Day" I heard the excited sweet voice coming closer to my room. When she entered my room a big smile came across my face because I knew I was so lucky to have my first best friend with me all day and every moment up to this point. ❤️She was talking with me asking me if I was nervous I said no I'm really excited because I know John is the one. My dad entered and gave me hug and said honey your mom and I are so excited for you today! But a little piece of our heart will be forever changed our little girl is all grown up. But know we are so happy because we will be gaining a son today!! They had me a yummy breakfast waiting to start my day off right. Then my mom and I went to the shop where she began doing my hair. I cherish this quiet time I had with her before everyone else arrived. I was so lucky to have her there talking &laughing with me! She made sure I had everything and looked great! It is important to have your mom there on your wedding day from the way her eyes gleam when she looks at you to the support she gives you along the way! God truly blessed me with this special lady who is by far the definition of what a mom should be!

 I was also blessed to have my sweet daughter in my wedding. Having her apart of my wedding made it so special John even had her a ring too! She was dressed very similar to me. She was my little mini bride💕 She said mommy we are getting married in such a sweet little voice!! I said yes sweetie "We" are! I wanted her to feel just as special! I was also blessed with a mother-in law who helped make our special day magical as well! Both my MIL & FIL wanted to be involved and helped in every way they could! My day was magical because I had my mothers love all around me. My little princess who made me feel like a queen👑 A soon to be MIL who loved me as well! There is nothing like a mothers love❤️ I was able to enjoy this time because I had no worries!! Jennifer & her team were amazing! If something did go wrong I still don't know about it!! My day was truly perfect!! She is by far the best at what she does!!

Thank you to Shavon Via Photography for capturing this day for us and for Ken with Bull City Carriage for the Horse and Carriage (RIP Gary. We love this wedding…I actually have one of the H&C photos on our office wall).