New Summer 2015 Intern

Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer Davis and I am the new intern for the summer of 2015.  I am very excited to be working with Jenn and the rest of the Knot Your Average Events staff.  I am currently in my final semester at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, majoring in Community and Therapeutic Recreation.  I am originally from a small town in western North Carolina called Forest City.  This is only about thirty minutes from the famous town of Lake Lure, where iconic scenes from the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. 

After choosing this career I was privileged to plan and organize several events as a part of my classwork. I fell in love with doing weddings after planning one for a project in Jenn’s class last fall.  I really learned a lot from her class about events and all the planning that goes into making every occasion special.   For this reason, there was no question that I wanted to have my summer internship with Jenn.  Knowing that I learned so much from Jenn’s teaching I was sure that working alongside her would give me the opportunity to learn so much more.  Words cannot describe how excited I am to begin this journey with Jenn, so stay tuned throughout the summer as I share more insight into our special events.

♫Let's Dance♫

Your first dance with your significant other is such a special moment where everything slows down for a couple of minutes and you can finally look into each other's eyes and appreciate that you are finally married. Your first dance song says a lot about who you two are as a couple, so take some time to think about what song would suit you best. 

Here are 5 classic options:

"At Last" by Etta James
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-cbOl96RFM

"How Sweet It Is" by James Taylor
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSQdRz-HlJw

"Stand By Me" by Ben E. King
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE

"L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JErVP6xLZwg

"What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE

And 5 more recent songs:

"Everything" by Michael Buble
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUJIbXN0WY

"Lucky" Colbie Caillat Jason Mraz 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acvIVA9-FMQ

"Forever Like That" by Ben Rector
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZAtb8FT9QQ#t=122

"All of Me" by John Legend
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=450p7goxZqg

"Then" by Brad Paisley 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81on1ZFE63w

↞Party Exit↠

Your exit may not seem important, but it's the last chance to wow your guests. There are many different ways that couples are exiting their receptions and here are a few:

Balloons: We DO NOT recommend this activity anymore due to the environmental effects...remember what goes up must come down...but we keep this photo here as a reminder

Sparklers: Oh, the infamous sparklers. They turn out beautiful in pictures, but they can be a little risky if there are little ones around, so keep an eye out to make sure you exit with no one getting hurt! (And make sure to have a sand bucket to extinguish them!)

Bubbles: These can be so fun especially with kids involved. The pictures turn out great and you aren't left cleaning up the ground!

Glow Sticks: This is perfect if you're wanting something a little different. It's also perfect for night time exits- just make sure you talk to your photographer to make sure they're able to catch the 'glow'!

Other fun exits:

• Birdseed
• Pom-Poms in your favorite team colors
• Confetti Poppers (make sure your venue is okay with this)
• Lavender Seeds (make sure your venue is okay with this)
• Rose Petals (make sure your venue is okay with this)
• Silly String (make sure your venue is okay with this)
• Paper Airplanes
• Fireworks (make sure your venue is okay with this)
• Light Show
• Parachute
• Ribbon Wands
• Human Tunnel
• Flower Arches

Chair Decor

Chairs may be the last thing on your mind when you're thinking about decorating your reception, but it can really add an extra something to your space.

These are some of the different types of chairs you can rent:

And here are some simple ideas to decorate:

And here we have more detailed ideas to decorate your chairs:

Have fun with it!

So this is goodbye...

I am so sad that my internship with Knot Your Average Events has come to an end. I really could not have asked for a better internship. I didn't think that I would have the opportunity to work with Jenn and the rest of the team because at the time that I was searching for an internship, I figured her intern position was already filled. Well, the stars were all aligned in my favor and things worked out perfectly, so I had plenty of learning experiences, laughs, and FUN. 

Even though my internship has finished, I can happily say that I will be graduating from UNCG in May and my time with Knot Your Average Events has not ended... I'm going to continue to be part of the team! I'm thrilled that Jenn asked me to stay and I will be helping with a few weddings this year. Jenn, thank you so much for these past few months and everything you have taught me and thank you to everyone else I met during my time for allowing me to see what a well knit wedding community we have! So really, this isn't goodbye; it's see you SOON!

Questions to Ask Your Photographer

The photographs from your wedding day are going to be the everlasting memories that you can look back on years down the road with your children and grandchildren. It's important to communicate with your photographer and ask questions, so they can capture those special moments just how you pictured in your mind. Here are some unconventional questions to ask your photographer:

Do you specialize in artificial light or natural light or both? 
This is important because the different lighting will give a different effect to the photos. Below, you can see the difference and it's up to you to decide what look you want to find the right photographer.

Natural Lighting                                                                             Artificial Lighting










What's your posing technique?
Of course you want to make your pictures look natural and not too forced, so asking your photographer how they make you relax in front of the lens is key to getting effortless pictures. Let your personalities show and have fun!

What is your shooting style?
It's good to know whether your photographer is more focused on details (capturing little moments you wouldn't think of) or the big picture (capturing main moments and staying back).

What happens if you're sick on the wedding day?
Make sure you have a plan B figured out with your photographer! Nothing will stress you out more if you find out your photographer can't make it. They should either have another photographer from their company or know of other photographers in the area that would be able to help.

We know of great photographers in the area and would love to help you find what is best for you. Email jenn@knotyouraverageevents with any questions or if you would like to book a consultation!

5 Activities for Best Guest Experience

Dancing has been the number one activity guests can do during the reception, but what if most of your guests don’t like to dance? After the cake cutting, they say their goodbyes and head home or to a bar for more entertainment. Here are a few ideas for you to have at your wedding to keep your guests moving and having fun.

Guess who: create personalized boards featuring your wedding guests. Place a mini set on each table. One board being the bride’s side of the family and friends and the other board being the grooms side of the family and friends. This will get the guests talking and learning about the other side of the family in no time.

Giant Jenga: Another great way to get guests out of their seats. You can also have each guest who plays write advice for you and your spouse on the blocks. 

Cornhole: Can be easily personalized and a great way to get people out of their seats.  Great for those outdoor summer weddings coming up!

Over sized Board Games: This can be anything from Connect 4, checkers, chest, scrabble, etc. They can be rented and most of your guests will know how to play! 

The Kissing Game: Here are the rules “ To make the married couple kiss You’ll have to take a chance. Do you enjoy a game of risk, For making some romance? Head on up to see the couple And take a paper slip. Perform the deed that’s written there, To see the two lock lips. Think you’ll pass? That’s okay! Just take a seat, we’ve got all day!" Sounds cute, huh? Give it a try! 

There are lots more games that can be played and plenty of activities for your guests to enjoy. Let us help you pick the perfect one for your wedding! 

Visit us at our website:

http://www.knotyouraverageevents.com