Celebrations Archives - Page 13 of 16

35 Event Photographers Beautifully Capture a Mom’s Unconditional Love

by Pamela Rothbard · May 8, 2020September 6, 2022

photographer: Cage and Aquarium

Mother’s Day comes once a year — but for event photographers capturing milestone celebrations, a mother’s importance shines year round. We love how these photographs reveal the infinite love between mother and child. Whether it’s a mom dancing with her son at his wedding, or a mother giving a quick embrace to her daughter after a Bat Mitzvah ceremony, moms make the party special — and deserve to be celebrated in turn. Read on to see how these 35 photographers highlight the beauty of mothers everywhere.

1. Alain Martinez Photography

A black and white photo of a mother hugging her daughter from behind in front of a window — photographer: Alain Martinez Photography

Worth Holding Onto

A great photographer knows how to blend into the background to get the best candid shots. We love how Alain Martinez Photo & Cinema captures this loving moment between the bride and her mother as they prepare for the wedding ceremony.

2. André Maier Photography

2 couples dance on the dance floor. The men wear white jackets and the lighting is warm. — photographer: André Maier Photography

The Ultimate Dancing Queens

André Maier Photography knows the best memories are made on the dance floor — and he caught the perfect moment between the moms of the newlyweds. Their smiles say it all — and all we want is to groove on the gorgeously monogrammed dance floor with them.

3. Andrew Weeks Photography

Black and white photo of bride in white wedding dress kissing young son who is wearing a tux. — photographer: Andrew Weeks Photography

A Heartwarming Reflection

Andrew Weeks Photography captures this beautiful moment when the bride, oblivious to her reflection in the mirror, leans down to kiss her son before the ceremony.

4. Anthony Vazquez Photography

A brie standing in the foreground in her dress with her mother in the background helping her train — photographer: Anthony Vazquez Photography

From Picking Out the Dress to Finally Putting it On

This bride stunned in her romantic wedding gown — and we know mom was there to help her find it. Anthony Vazquez Photography brilliantly caught the look between mother and daughter once the moment had finally arrived. The loving glance is all we need to know this exchange was something truly special.

5. Apollo Fotografie

A bride in a coral-colored robe laughs as her mother stands behind her and helps clasp her necklace. — photographer: Apollo Fotografie

Mom Knows Best

“Hanna and her mom share sweet smiles as they prepare for her to walk down the wooded aisle on her wedding day,” Apollo Fotografie tells us. We love how this image captures the joyful moment of a mother helping her daughter unclasp a necklace — as it’s always easier to get ready with Mom’s help.

6. ArtVesta Studio

A bride sits in a dressing room and looks lovingly up at her mother who touches her on the shoulder. — photographer: ArtVesta Studio

A Mother’s Tender Look

This is a photo of a proud mother who raised her precious daughter as a single mom,” shares founder Tatiana Valerie of ArtVesta Studio. “You can see so much pride and joy in this woman’s eyes as she is about to walk Jessica, her daughter, down the aisle. Jessica is about to marry her high school sweetheart, the love of her life Andres, who had become a part of the family long before the wedding.”

7. Beller-Jones

A mother wearing a large brimmed hat stands in front of a mirror with her daughter to put on her necklace — photographer: Beller-Jones

Mother Knows How to Make Things Right

It looks as if this sage mom is offering some wisdom and tenderness to her beautiful daughter in the moments leading up to her I dos; whatever is being said is for their ears alone, but we’re glad Beller-Jones lets us bear witness to this image of closeness.

8. Bojan Hohnjec Studio

Mother of bride and friends get ready with bride before wedding. — photographer: Bojan Hohnjec Studio

The Family That Gets Ready Together

Day-of wedding preparations can often be a frenzy, but it’s also a time to draw closest friends and family even closer, like this bride did with her intergenerational makeup session lovingly preserved by Bojan Hohnjec Studio.

9. Cage and Aquarium

Mother pins a boutonnière to her son' tuxedo. — photographer: Cage and Aquarium

A Flower for Your Thoughts

It’s always easier to get ready when Mom helps with the boutonnière. Cage and Aquarium artfully capture this loving moment in black and white — with Mom’s leopard-print dress stealing the limelight.

10. Dennis Lee Photography

A mother dances with her son on the dance floor. three large windows are behind them — photographer: Dennis Lee Photography

When You Just Can’t Help But Sing Along

A wedding that takes place at an art museum is bound to exude beauty. But Dennis Lee Photography makes some artwork of his own with this perfect shot of a groom and his mother singing along during their mother-son dance.

11. Duke Images

To Have and to Hold

This glamorous wedding at Montage Beverly Hills featured plenty of gorgeous décor and meaningful moments. We especially love how Duke Images captures this tender moment of a mother hugging her daughter midway down the aisle.

12. Encarnacion Photography

I Now Pronounce You Husband and Husband

Watching two moms proudly walk their sons down the aisle is enough to make our hearts sing. Encarnacion Photography captured every ounce of emotion — the happy tears, the laughs, and all the love — in each incredible shot. Not to mention, the picnic blankets in place of ceremony seats are inspiring our future backyard “I Dos.”

13. Francis Ralph Potograpiya

Mother walks bride holding a red-rose bouquet down the aisle. — photographer: Francis Ralph Potograpiya

An Unbreakable Bond

Ashley’s father passed away when she was still a baby, leaving her mother Monica to raise her sister and her alone, Francis Ralph Potograpiya shares with us. Monica walks Ashley down the aisle in this heartwarming moment.

14. Fred Marcus Studio

A daughter embraces her mother before putting on her bridal gown in the dressing room. — photographer: Fred Marcus Studio

A Mother’s Warm Embrace

“Remi embraces her mom Joyce one last time before putting on her wedding gown,” shares Fred Marcus Studio. We love how their love shines even brighter than the fabulous lighting in this photograph.

15. Gruber Photographers

Double the Love

This groom is striding the aisle with all of the confidence a great mother instills over a lifetime; we adore that she and the groom’s father are by his side as he enters into holy matrimony, going from her maternal arms to the loving embrace of his new husband, as so beautifully captured by Gruber Photographers.

16. JAYLim Studio

Mom sits on bed and watches daughter put on earrings before wedding ceremony. — photographer: JAYLim Studio

A Quiet Moment

JAYLim Studio captures this loving moment of a mother gazing with pride as her daughter puts on an earring and gets ready to walk down the aisle.

17. Jennifer Clapp Photography

A mom leads her daughter to the aisle wearing a silver dress. There is grass and a tree behind them — photographer: Jennifer Clapp Photography

Happily Ever After

This outdoor wedding, with a horse drawn carriage and bridal crown, was straight out of a fairytale. We love how Jennifer Clapp Photography captures this raw moment between the bride and her mother as they get ready to head to the ceremony site.

18. Jennings King Photography

A bride and her mother share a laugh while both holding her white, peas, and pink, rose bouquet. — photographer: Jennings King Photography

A Mother’s Artistry

Jennings King Photography shares how, “Chloe’s mother works for a florist, who also did all the wedding flowers and planning. Chloe’s mother designed and made Chloe’s wedding bouquet.” We love the joy on Chloe’s face as she admires her mother’s artistry.

19. Jim Vetter Photography

A Mother, wearing a hot pink Cheongsam, smooths out her daughter's hot pink Cheongsam — photographer: Jim Vetter Photography

Just Between Daughter and Mom

Sweet, intimate one-on-one interactions can be hard to capture without ruining the moment, but it’s clear that this loving mother and her daughter were immersed in their shared preparation for the big day ahead, as Jim Vetter Photography so beautifully reveals.

20. Josh Elliott Photography

Outside, a mom wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and soft pink frilly skirt leans over her young child wearing a pink bow and lights a white two-tiered birthday cake with pink roses. — photographer: Josh Elliott Photography

The First Year Flies By

Celebrating your child’s very first birthday is a true milestone moment in parenthood — and Josh Elliott Photography captured this mom lighting her daughter’s very first birthday candle. From the “unicorn” in attendance to the hugs and heartwarming smiles, we can’t help but stare at this magical Brooklyn birthday party.

21. LaCour Images

Mother oohs and ahhh at a gift given by her daughter the bride. — photographer: LaCour Images

Happy Surprises

Lead Artist and Company President Andre LaCour of LaCour Images tells us, “Beautiful bride Elizabeth shares a gift with mother Pamela at the beginning of her day.” We love the look of surprise and happiness on Mom’s face.

22. Lynette Boyle Photography

A mom, dad, and two little boys celebrate a joint Batman-themed birthday for their sons. — photographer: Lynette Boyle Photography

Everything’s Better with Mom in the Picture

We love how Lynette Boyle Photography creates a masterful composition with a string of batman paper-cutouts connecting the white space between two parents. This photograph might show a family of four — but our eyes are on Mom and her beaming smile.

23. Manolo Doreste Photographer

A bride in a white wedding dress wipes away as a tear as her mother holds her hand. — photographer: Manolo Doreste Photographer

Words to Remember Forever

A meaningful moment between mother and daughter will be forever in our hearts, thanks to Manolo Doreste Photographer. Although we’ll never know what this mom actually had to say, the photo is enough to say it all.

24. Michael Jurick Photography

Mother lovingly ups her sons face as they dance surrounded by loved ones. — photographer: Michael Jurick Photography

When the Crowd Melts Away

Michael Jurick Photography captured this beautiful honor dance with famous fashion designer Ramy Brook and her son Dylan at his Bar Mitzvah. Event planner Gourmet and designer Jennifer Gould teamed up to create this stunning celebration.

25. Mike Larson Photography

A mom ties the black bow of her daughter's wedding dress while a young girl in a white dress looks on. — photographer: Mike Larson Photography

It’s All So Fast

Moms go from tying little shoelaces to tying the beautiful bows on their daughter’s wedding dress in what feel like the blink of an eye; if only we had Mike Larson Photography around all of the time to capture each and every meaningful moment in a lifetime.

26. Next Exit Photography

A bride and groom take a picture with their mom on each side in a quiet outdoor corridor. — photographer: Next Exit Photography

A Mom Sandwich

This bride and groom have plenty of reasons to celebrate — including enjoying a quiet moment with their mothers. We love how Next Exit Photography captures this happy scene in a tranquil corridor away from the crowds.

27. Rachel Capil Photography

A mom reads Torah at the Bimah with her son and daughter. — photographer: Rachel Capil Photography

A Moment at the Bimah

Rachel Capil Photography goes behind the crowd to capture this moment of a mother participating in her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah ceremony. We love the composition of this photograph, the family rising above the sea of congregants.

28. Rebecca Marie Photography

A black and white photo of a mother and daughter outside in a meadow embracing each other — photographer: Rebecca Marie Photography

Sweet Sepia

We love the soft-focus of this soft mother-daughter moment, captured by Rebecca Marie Photography, in a windblown field with a bride surrounded by steadfast nature and her mother’s steadfast love and support on her wedding day.

29. Romy Modlin Photography

Mother's head peeks out from behind son's shoulder during a mother-son dance. — photographer: Romy Modlin Photography

A Dance to Remember

Romy Modlin Photography captures a joyful mother enjoying a mother-and-son slow dance during a Bar Mitzvah celebration. We adore how visible her love is — even if we can only see a sliver of her face.

30. Robert Hacman Photography

A couple crouches down with two dogs in hand — photo: Robert Hacman Photography

Leader of the Pack

It’s not a traditional mother moment, but enough of us are dog moms to appreciate this bride’s sweet inclusion of her four-legged baby in her big day and this adorable “bridal party” pic from Robert Hacman Photography.

31. Roey Yohai Studios

A mom in a fashionable red dress pauses on the aisle of her her child's evening wedding ceremony to greet guests against a backdrop of lit-up buildings. — photographer: Roey Yohai Studios

When the Aisle is a Runway

Roey Yohai Studios wows us with this colorful photograph. We love how this confident mother greets guests post-ceremony as she strolls down the aisle — as perfectly coiffed and dressed as any model — with her face full of pride and love.

32. Studio Opia

Mother and bride slow dance during wedding reception. — photographer: Studio Opia

A Magical Moment

A Mother and daughter share a heartwarming mother-daughter dance at this elegant outdoor wedding reception, as beautifully captured by Studio Opia.

33. Sugarfree Studio

A mother helps her daughter put on her wedding dress. — photographer: Sugarfree Studio

Tears of Joy

Kimberly and her mom get ready for wedding ceremony. “Kimberly’s mom bursted into tears when I asked her to say why she is proud of her daughter,” says owner and lead photographer Anna Turayeva from Sugarfree Studio.

34. The Picture Cottage

Close up of bride sharing a meaningful look with her mother. Both hold blush and white bouquets with greenery. — photographer: The Picture Cottage

Beaming Bride

This mother-daughter moment from The Picture Cottage is full of pride and love and tenderness — it’s amazing how one glance can say so much when captured at the right instant.

35. Visuals by Arpit

An older woman wearing a blue shirt and purple flannel sits on a red couch and raises a glass of Champagne. — photographer: Visuals by Arpit

Cheers to Motherhood

A toast to the mothers, grandmothers, mother-in-laws, and more — this mom raised her glass in honor of a special day, and all of the wonderful days to come and her smile says it all as beautifully captured by Visuals by Arpit.

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We love how Eventsful, Inc.’s trademark energy, creativity, style, and attention to detail is reflected in each and every event. photographer: Anthony Vazquez Photography

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A Wedding, a Bat Mitzvah, and a 1st Birthday Party, Postponed — 3 Party Hosts Share Their Experiences in the Time of Coronavirus

by Pamela Rothbard · March 19, 2020September 6, 2022

photographer: Domino Arts Photography | photographer: Nancy Cohn Photography

The coronavirus pandemic has created disruptive ripples felt the world over. As news on coronavirus and our national attempts to contain it changes by the moment, making decisions about upcoming events is difficult. Celebrations take time and care to plan properly, yet many are faced with having to postpone their long-awaited gatherings at the last-minute. We spoke with a bride, a Bat Mitzvah parent, and a mother planning a milestone first birthday party for insight into how they navigated the ever-changing suggested national guidelines to make proactive choices about their upcoming events.

Their responses gave us helpful insight — as well as hope. We know that the relentless single-topic news cycle will die down and “social distancing” will come to an end; and when it does, friends and family will be eager to gather together and celebrate.

Complicated Feelings Around a Tough Decision

A Long-Awaited Wedding Postponed at Family’s Urging

Bride-to-be, Katie Brice, eagerly anticipated her wedding day throughout her 19-month engagement. “We have known our wedding date since we got engaged. It felt like it would never get here, then suddenly it was here — then even more suddenly, things began to change,” says Brice.

Brice’s wedding was scheduled for the last weekend in March, only two weeks from when she and her fiancé had to make the difficult decision about whether to postpone or forge ahead. “In recent days, guests started dropping out, including our flower girl,” she shares. “It was hard to continue to be excited.”

Then, when none of her fiancé’s family members were going to be able to make it due to travel and group gathering risks, Brice realized that the time had come to make a choice: have the wedding as planned without important loved ones, or postpone and wait even longer to get married. “Last Friday, when Scott [her fiancé] and I made the decision to postpone, I cried for probably five hours. Last night I was watching a show, and the characters were getting married, and I cried all over again.”

“A lot of people said it was the right decision and thanked us for watching out for everyone,” Brice says. “It’s a wedding that people didn’t want to miss — but they would have had to.”

A Bat Mitzvah Celebration Postponed on the Day-Of

This past weekend, Mira Feig led the service at her Chicago-area temple with grace and positivity as she became a Bat Mitzvah, despite the fact that many key family members were not in attendance because of coronavirus travel concerns. Her mother, Carrie Feig, spoke with us about the experience of watching her daughter become a Bat Mitzvah, and how the day changed as last-minute cancellations rolled in. She even made the tough same-day choice to postpone the evening’s party.

“Everything drastically changed so suddenly,” Feig says. “The morning of the Bat Mitzvah service and celebration, I got 10 cancellations via text. I told Mira not to pick up her phone so that she wouldn’t be disappointed. But even as we arrived for the service, we were all feeling a bit deflated. Yet Mira was so poised and did such a beautiful job, and I was touched by the number of kids who did attend.”

However, Feig says that the Kiddush luncheon afterwards didn’t feel like a celebration. “When we got home, there were more cancellations for that evening’s party, and I thought: ‘Mira is going to look around the room and not feel celebrated.’ And that’s what led to my decision to postpone this event that we had been planning for a year. I knew it was the right thing to do.”

A First Birthday Party Proactively Postponed

A baby’s first birthday is always an exciting time — especially for first-time parents. You could say it’s a celebration that’s a year in the making. Marlee Somerman (who also happens to run PartySlate’s wonderfully-responsive customer success team) shared her family’s difficult decision to postpone her daughter Lottie’s first birthday party.

“Being in the events industry, I never shy away from the opportunity to celebrate,” Somerman says. “Planning Lottie’s first birthday party has brought me so much joy and excitement.”

But as coronavirus news continued to break and more restrictions were put in place, it was made clear to Somerman the decision she had no choice but to make.

“This is such a happy occasion, and I would never want that to be overshadowed by any of the common feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear that we all are having right now,” she says. “So, even though the party is still a few weeks away [Lottie’s birthday is in April], we decided that the best thing we can do right now for our family and friends — and the event companies we are working with — would be to postpone the birthday party.”

Somerman notes that she doesn’t want to risk the health of Lottie’s grandparents, but also that she’s disappointed by the sudden turn of events. She says she has a boxed cake mix on hand in case she’s not able to get the professionally-baked cake she has already ordered.

Event Teams & Venues Show Sympathy & Generosity Around Postponement

All three event hosts we spoke with said that their event teams were very understanding about the circumstances. At PartySlate, we feel so honored to be part of an industry that has shown its true, beautiful colors during this difficult time.

Brice’s wedding venue remains open (with a daily deep-cleaning regimen in place), and her contacts there were very responsive and helpful with rescheduling, as were her other event partners. Brice and her fiancé also were not charged any fees for postponing and changing their wedding date.

Feig described her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah venue as “very generous” and said they were great about rescheduling the party, even though the food had already been purchased and prepared.

“When I reached out to our DJ to assess our day-of options, he said that the truck was loaded and ready to go, so I needed to make a quick decision,” says Feig. It was a high-pressure situation, but the DJ — and all of her other event partners — had empathy for her situation and were sad for her daughter. Even though the décor professional was already at the venue for setup, he, too, was gracious about the rescheduling. And Feig describes their photographer, who was present at Thursday’s Bat Mitzvah rehearsal, as “beyond incredible,” offering the family a free photo shoot on top of locking in the new date.

Regarding postponing her daughter’s first birthday party, Sommerman also noted the positive attitudes and helpfulness of the event team she had been working with. “All of the event professionals have been extremely flexible and proactive in making sure we are all on the same page,” she shares. “I have also asked if there is anything we can do to support them during this time. I think showing some love to others goes a long way right now.”

Reframing Money Already Spent

Inevitably, there are costs associated with postponing events. We’ve been heartened by the way the event community has responded with donations to local food banks and support of local charities. In Feig’s case, her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah was to be on March 14 — affectionately called “Pi Day” for the well-known mathematical formula of 3.14 — so the Feigs had ordered 250 apple pies from McDonald’s for guests to take home from the celebration. Instead, Bat Mitzvah girl, Mira, personally delivered the pies to everyone on her street, as well as to her neighborhood’s public safety department.

Important Events, Rescheduled

Here at PartySlate, we are big proponents of the “Postpone, Don’t Cancel” movement that you have probably seen flooding your social media feeds. We’re happy to report that all of the event hosts we’ve spoken to have either already locked in new dates, or they are in the process of doing so. None of them are cancelling their celebrations and moving on; instead, they are using this downtime to continue to plan, and they are eager for the gathering of family and friends that will be even sweeter once unplanned social distancing comes to an end.

A New Wedding Date That Feels Like Fate

Brice feels very lucky that she was able to land on a new wedding date so quickly. Weddings take a large event team to produce, and finding another date (when the first one was locked in 19 months out) is no easy feat, but all of Brice’s event partners and her venue are available for her newly-selected date in mid-May.

“It feels sort of meant to be,” she says, while also noting that she is slightly worried that even the new date won’t work out with the evolving pandemic. “My experience has been delightful compared with others,” says Brice. “My friend was supposed to get married at the end of March and has been unable to rebook her venue until January 2021.”

Bat Mitzvah, Interrupted

It’s only been a few days since what would have been her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah celebration, and mom, Carrie Feig, is still feeling pretty sad about the whole ordeal. However, she’s heartened by the response she’s gotten from others — and the comfort of a new event date that’s been set.

“The venue was very easy to work with and gave me the next date they have open, which is in June,” says Feig. “It feels like it might be too soon, so we are also looking at September and October.” And if you’re worried about how the Bat Mitzvah girl handled the postponement, it’s good to remember how resilient kids can be. “Once Mira had the new date, she was feeling better and making TikTok clips, which anyone with a teen knows is a good measure of her mood!” says Feig.

The Opportunity to Celebrate Multiple Milestones at Once

Somerman says that her daughter’s first birthday affair will proceed as soon as gatherings are encouraged again. “We are planning to resume Lottiepalooza once festival season is back in action!” she says. “Everyone has been sending sweet notes that they will be just as excited to celebrate when the time comes — and who knows, Lottie may be able to walk into her own party by then!”

Describing herself as a “detail-oriented person,” Somerman notes that she chose a theme to carry through the party, and she will now have more time to plan all of the little touches. She says that she plans to regroup with her event team as soon as everyone is safe and healthy.

“This is the most important message I have been hearing: I feel so strongly that the events industry needs our love and support, and I have made it very clear that we will be hosting this event with all of our partners when we are able to do so!”

Postponing Events During the Coronavirus Pandemic: 8 Top Event Planners Share the Tips You Need

by Pamela Rothbard · March 19, 2020September 6, 2022

photographer: Amy & Stuart Photography | photographer: Clane Gessel Photography | photographer: Otero+Seclen Photography

Coronavirus has inserted new phrases like “flattening the curve” and “social distancing” into our daily lives. Along with our new vocabulary, a recent set of federal guidelines — advising that, for a period of time, Americans avoid gathering in groups — continues to shape 2020. The implications for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations, and more, are staggering. Event hosts of all kinds are rushing to their planners and venues for advice and guidance.

New York event planner, Amy Katz, of Amy Katz Events, says, “We highly encourage postponing rather than canceling. Couples will always be getting married, so why cancel? There will always be something to celebrate whether it is a birthday or a wedding. This experience will be a memory that will last a lifetime. We need to make the most of it.” We at PartySlate couldn’t agree more, and reached out to top planners for their key tips and advice.

1. First, Stay Calm

Sonal Shah, of New York-based Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants, says, “The biggest thing is to not panic and to stay calm as much as possible. A lot of venues and event partners are being flexible in the wake of all that’s been happening.”

Chicago planner, Beth Bernstein of SQN Events, also acknowledges the difficulty of the decision, saying, “My first step is serving as a source of comfort for my clients. It’s a bit like going through the grieving process — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. Once a couple comes to acceptance, it’s time to start working. Thousands of couples are going through the same thing right now.”

Molly Rasmussen, of Dallas planning firm Pop Parties, also reminds us that we must focus on the reason we’re celebrating in the first place and the people who will help us make unforgettable memories — whenever the time comes. “Do what you feel is best for your family at this time. No matter your wedding or event date, safety and concern for your loved ones should come first.”

2. Identify Your Priorities

Bernstein and Shah also emphasize the importance of prioritization as you reach out to your venue and event partner team.

“Prioritize which area means the most to you,” says Bernstein. “It’s similar to when you started planning and made decisions based on what was most important to you. You’re going to have to make tough decisions, but remember that the most important thing is the marriage or event itself.”

According to Shah, “Open communication with your planner and the venue is key. Keep an open mind to alternative options, whether it be postponing the wedding to a later date or moving to a different location.”

3. Check With the Venue First

Chicago event planner, Christina Currie, of Christina Currie Events, says, “Our first step is always to make sure the venue can change the date.”

Others are quick to agree. Christine Janda, of Chicago’s Christine Janda Design & Events, suggests bringing multiple available dates to the rest of your event partner team, but again, also be flexible: “Start with your venue,” says Janda. “Get all available dates. And then let the polling of your event partner team begin. You may also have to work with event professionals outside your initial list.”

If possible, try to be flexible with the date you choose when you postpone. “You will likely need to have a few different dates in hand from the venue so you can find the one that overlaps with the availability of the rest of your event partner team,” shares Lauren Carter of Chicago-based Curate Plan Style. “Again, if you want your whole team to stay consistent with your original plans, you will need to be flexible.”

4. Review Your Existing Contracts

Janda stresses the importance of understanding your current obligations when you set out to postpone, including carefully reviewing your existing contracts.

“We’ve already done this for all our spring clients,” Janda shares. “Lean on your planner for how to navigate postponing. The event industry is banding together in the most beautiful way — almost all event partners are allowing rescheduling to happen within one calendar year with minimal financial implications.”

Financials are an important and realistic factor to consider when postponing your wedding or event. “Clients need to be prepared to make the most informed decisions possible,” says Rasmussen. “They should begin to reschedule their events with the least financial loss possible while still respecting each event partner’s policies.”

5. Make Quick, But Thoughtful, Decisions

Los Angeles-based event planner, Mindy Weiss, founder of Mindy Weiss Party Consultants, is quick to remind her clients that the coronavirus pandemic is affecting many party hosts, so time is of the essence when postponing.

“I told all my clients to immediately make decisions, because we have to remember that all other events are also looking for new dates and there are only so many weekends in a year,” Weiss shares. “We have been jumping on new dates and getting clients to commit as soon as possible, because it’s not just about the venue and the family calendar, but all the professionals involved, too. All schedules need to align and that’s tricky.”

6. Communicate With Your Guests

When postponing your wedding or event, the last thing most hosts want to tackle is letting their guests know about their change in plans. But the notification process doesn’t have to be long and emotional.

“We’re sending a lovely letter to all the guests via email (because it’s the quickest way),” says Weiss. “We’re simply asking them to stand by for a new date.”

Katz reassures event hosts that even if invitations have already been mailed, there are simple and fast ways to notify guests of your change in plans. “If invitations have already been sent out and you are rescheduling the date,” she says, “create a custom online invitation, and let your guests know about the new date change.”

And, when you can, try to lighten the mood with your communication. Currie says, “Design a new invitation with the same colors and font as the original invite, but to keep a sense of humor, I have been making up cute sayings about postponing weddings.”

7. Leverage Technology to Stay in Touch

One of the most consistent tips from top planners is that planning doesn’t have to stop just because in-person meetings are temporarily restricted. There are endless tools and forms of technology you can use to stay in touch with your planner, peers, and family.

“I’m actually quite used to having virtual meetings with clients,” says Bernstein. “At least 50% of my clients plan their weddings in Chicago while living in a different city. I always prefer FaceTime or Skype over a regular call, since face-to-face interaction is key to building a strong relationship of mutual respect and friendship.”

Carter predicts technology will play a role in event planning long after the coronavirus pandemic has passed. “Moving forward, I see services like Zoom coming into play much more heavily. I could see this current situation shifting the way our industry operates with these types of virtual services playing a bigger role, even after COVID-19 is under control.”

Meanwhile, we at PartySlate will continue to deliver inspiration to your virtual doorstep.

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The 5 Most Popular Party Themes on PartySlate — Plus, Real Event Examples to Inspire Your Own

by Lauren Mandel · March 11, 2020September 18, 2023

photography: Sharon Levy Photography | design: LV Event Designs | venue: Historic Alfred I. Dupont Building

We love a good party theme. A party theme can help you select the perfect venue, from a blank canvas at a loft event space to a glamorous luxury hotel ballroom. A party theme can beautifully inspire décor, from centerpieces and table linens to backdrops and balloon arches. Crafting a menu around a party theme can lead to an immersive — and delicious — event experience. Even guest attire can be inspired by a well-chosen party theme.

Many visitors to PartySlate.com start gathering inspiration for their events by exploring different party themes — and we have many, many to explore. From sports-themed birthday parties to fashion-themed Bat Mitzvah celebrations, PartySlate features celebrations with themes of all kinds. But over the past six months, there were 5 unique party themes that you searched for more than any others. Scroll to see PartySlate.com’s 5 most-popular party themes, plus an inspired event we love for each theme.

1) Neon Theme Party

Raw industrial space with neon-geometric installations and neon uplighting. — photographer: L. Bishop

San Francisco, CA

Neon was truly everywhere at this creative and inspired corporate event, hosted at Mezzanine SF in San Francisco. From geometric light installations to a light-up neon foosball table (and much more incredible décor from Blueprint Studios), the planners at Roar Events incorporated the neon party theme into each and every event element. Even the delicious hors d’oeuvres from Culinary Eye Catering & Events were complemented and highlighted by neon accents, including neon-printed menus (teasing chocolate-dipped donut holes) and bright orange and blue serving dishes.

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2. André Maier Photography

André Maier Photography

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Andrew Weeks Photography

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Anthony Vazquez Photography

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ArtVesta Studio

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Bojan Hohnjec Studio

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Dennis Lee Photography

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Encarnacion Photography

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Francis Ralph Potograpiya

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Fred Marcus Studio

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Gruber Photographers

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JAYLim Studio

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Jennifer Clapp Photography

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18. Jennings King Photography

Jennings King Photography

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19. Jim Vetter Photography

Jim Vetter Photography

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20. Josh Elliott Photography

Josh Elliott Photography

https://www.partyslate.com/event-pros/josh-elliot-photography

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Lynette Boyle Photography

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Michael Jurick Photography

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Mike Larson Photography

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Rachel Capil Photography