Entertaining – shemakescents

Danielle YB Vason & Michael Vason, Black Love

Behind the Scenes from My Wedding

Published on October 25, 2018 by Danielle YB Vason4 Comments

Yesterday, the Mr. & I celebrated 3 years of marriage. This got me thinking about some things like love, progress, growth, goals, and our future. It also inspired me to begin writing a series of personal money and relationship posts that give more insight into my…now our shared money journey toward a debt-free life. Hopefully, both my successes and bumps in the road will help someone else out there make better money, career, and lifestyle decisions.

So this is where I will begin the share fest….our wedding day. Every money, career, can lifestyle decision that occurred in the past 3 years, happened because of this day. If you are a longtime reader of She Makes Cents, you may have seen our wedding photos published in the magazines and on wedding blogs, but there is nothing like seeing all of the behind the scenes photos that documented the private moments of the day.

They say your wedding day is supposed to be one of the best days of your life. Well, whoever “they” are, they are right. Nothing is perfect, but on one special day in October, I experienced the closest thing to perfect. I slept well the night before, danced to Beyoncé while getting ready with my bride tribe, enjoyed being pampered with my mom, and took the best walk ever with my Dad. I met my groom in front of a flower wall that I sketched while lying in bed on Black Friday the year before. A little background about me. for five years I was a member of an award-winning event design team. On that day, everything was exactly how I dreamed it to be. We said our vows and jumped the broom into an adventure called marriage. We ate well, we drank more, and we danced the night away under 14′ tall sparkling chandeliers to the best DJ/live drummer combination known to man. With 15 minutes left in the night, our planner came to us to tell us it was time to stop partying to get ready for our sparkler exit. The dance floor was still packed and people were still having fun so we decided to stay in the moment and forgo our planned departure. Why manufacture a moment, when there was so much beauty and love happening organically? Instead, we danced all night long at our black tie wedding and ended the night with a late night snack at Hooters (long story..and my first time eating there) with some of our wedding party before piling in a car that took us back to the hotel for drinks (the after party wind down). It was after 3:30 am when we finally made it to the honeymoon suite. Seriously, if there was one day that I had to relive on a loop, that would be the day.

Photography: Bri McDaniel Photography

{Cinco de Mayo} Host Your Own Shindig on a Budget

Published on April 26, 2013March 3, 2017 by Danielle YB Vason5 Comments

As a brand, She Makes Cents is all about inspiring and informing you of ways to use your “cents” to live a fabulous life. So it’s time to start thinking about…well, some fabulosity. Now that the weather is warm and I have officially come out of hibernation, I keep thinking of ways I can get my entertaining groove back. Luckily the calendar is on my side as next week presents a few options for themed entertainment with the Kentucky Derby & Cinco de Mayo. While I LOVE the idea of playing dress up for a Kentucky Derby party, I am leaning toward a chic yet laid back Cinco de Mayo celebration. I plan on keeping the guest list intimate and executing a food and beverage plan that will keep costs down. Working in the special events industry certainly comes in handy with my planning. A fun taco bar, vibrant colored fruit, and of course, a signature drink will create a fun atmosphere for my guests! This is where presentation makes the difference between being the host of a cheesy get-together or hosting an event with effortless style!

Check Out My Inspirations Below!

Host Your Own Shindig on a Budget

1. Keep your guest list small & intimate. I often find that I am able to be more apart of an event when there are fewer people. The conversation is more engaging and it lessens the chance of people cliqued up and not mingling with new people.

2. Go Green. Don’t waste your money on paper invitations or Evites. Instead, try calling people. It’s more personal, your guests will appreciate the effort, and you are more likely to get an immediate rsvp.

3. Be Like Santa! Make a list and check it twice. Save yourself money and stress by making sure you get everything you need ahead of time. Having to rush to the store to grab an extra bag of ice is never cool.

4. Select a Flexible Menu. My taco bar allow guests to essentially make their own meal. It’s cost-effective and this removes the chance of me forgetting that Lauren is allergic to cheese and Victoria hates onions just as much as I do. An added bonus for this particular meal is that all the colorful ingredients can be stylized to create an awesome visual display on the table. A signature drink or two (one with plenty of spirits and one without) helps keep your beverage budget down…especially compared to an open bar.

5. Added Touches. I never host an event without background music, fresh floral, and a co-host. Keeping your guests comfortable will keep your party going. Don’t forget the little things such as stocking up on extra TP and paper towels, strategically placing trash cans throughout the house, citronella candles for outside, and thoughtfully positioned seating areas for guests.

What Is Your Favorite Entertaining Tip?

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