Tag: Wilmington NC

Vendor Wednesday Spotlight #1

I decided a long time ago that I didn’t want to create a preferred vendor list, BUT I DO want to provide you with some of the businesses that go above and beyond in my book!!! Every vendor I will feature moving forward I personally have worked with. Enjoy Vendnesday…

 

FOWLER’S FUNFLATABLES

This is an amazing family owned business based in Burgaw NC. They rent out Large Inflatables, Waterslides, Slip n Slides, Bounce Houses, Combo Units and much more! All of their staff does an amazing job by showing up on time and being prefessional. I recommend them to all my clients. Now a word from the owners….

 We have 5 kids of our own and enjoy seeing the excitement in a childs eyes when we deliver and inflate one of our Bounce Houses or Slides. The smile on a childs face from watching the inflatable come to life is “priceless.” Our goal is to provide you with the “BEST” products & customer service at a reasonable rate. We will provide  you  with safe, clean and entertaining inflatables & products to inspire fun and happiness for all your party needs. We are fully insured and bonded. All of our units are inspected annually by the N.C. Department of Labor to meet State safety requirements.

We offer Bounce Houses, Module Bounce House (9 Banners to choose from: Happy Birthday, Cars Theme, Spiderman, Monster Truck, Sports Theme, Princess Theme, It’s A Girl Thing, Dora the Explorer, Pirate Theme) Castle Bounce Houses with Slides and basketball hoops in all Bounce House Combos, Module Combo with enclosed slides also with basketball hoops, 18ft Pirates of the Carolinas Slide w/Pool, 20ft Green Giant wet/dry slide, 30ft Slip n slide.

  • We offer concession rentals of Popcorn machines, Snowcone Machines, Cotton Candy Machine to top off any party!!
  • We service all New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Brunswick, Duplin Counties

Thank you for your business from: 

The Fowlers – Lee, Susan, Lauren, Dalton, Maddie G, Macie and Luke

Like them on facebook https://www.facebook.com/fowlerfunflatables/?fref=ts

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Featured Photo credit : Touched by Grace Photography Photography https://www.facebook.com/touchedbygrace1013/?fref=ts

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Preferred Vendor List/ Friendor List… you decide.

What does this mean you might ask?? ….

It is late at night and I can’t sleep so what do I do? I watch tutorials on photography to get better, I read wedding blogs to learn what is up and coming, and I check in on fellow friendors. What is a friendor?? Well we fellow wedding/party vendors call each other friendors to suggest we are all friends, but in reality we are not. Some may call this blog controversial but I call it real!!!!!

I was in the process on wanting to create my own wedding preferred vendor list “friendors” and after looking at some other websites I decided not to. I am torn because especially as a planner I feel like I should offer up a list of people I have worked with, but there are other amazing people in town I haven’t worked with. Should these people be excluded even though they are fantastic at their job? Do I think my preferred list rocks, have I seen tons of their work, is their space beautiful, do they have great food, good service? Yes to all , but does that justify me giving them first preference over TONS of other amazing “friendors” in town? No!

No because…

1. You the client are not me

2. Your personalities may clash

3. Maybe they are amazing but out of your budget

4. Perhaps your “friendor” is someone I have never worked with

I will tell you from the vendors side I don’t want to feel “unworthy” to not be included on a vendors site but sometimes because we are all human it hurts our feelings. It’s like the kid who got picked last in gym class. Then my reality check is that I am not “included” not because I don’t deserve it but because there is a click or a monopoly. One which I am not included in. Fellow “friendors” excluding me from their list whether they know if my work is amazing or bad! Your lose! I have decided I won’t create a list as I don’t want myself or my clients to miss a good thing with any vendor in town. There are so many AMAZING VENDORS to choose from and enough work for us all. Good luck friendors 🙂

Please do not misunderstand me and think that I am saying all preferred lists are not worthy. Many of those vendors do an AMAZING job and deserve a call for a quote. Many vendors do a great job of not only fulfilling their contractual obligation but also making sure you walk away 100% satisfied. Some vendors work hard for each and every client because they are passionate about their company, reputation, and business. These are teh vendors you should hire! Follow your gut and go with who you trust no matter where the recommendation comes from. Hire the vendor that you feel will give you the best quality service not cheapest price.

I write this blog both out of personal frustration sometimes that comes from being on the short side of the stick with some vendors/venues and also to warn future clients. Whether you hire me or not isn’t the issue at hand but ask HOW your planner/venue/photographer/caterer/etc came up with this vendor list. Some will tell you it is whom has worked in the space which makes sense, but some just say because they are good. Ask yourself if a company has been in business for roughly over 2 years or more their “friendor” list would not fit on one page. The reality here is to do your own research, remember to ask questions, and lastly ask for personaly references from past clients for any vendor or venue.

HAPPY PLANNING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Courtney Winter

(910)688-3433

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Expert Wedding Tips for Newly Engaged Couples <3

First and foremost CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that you are on the way to wedding bliss please don’t start by being overwhelmed. Below I am listing tips to help you cope and ENJOY this process thoroughly!

1. What kind of wedding do you want?

Do you see yourself as a more laid back couple or formal? Think about the feeling or vibe you want your guests to feel. Do you want a church wedding, non-religious, or to be married by an independent officiant?

<MOST IMPORTANT ….remember do not be affected by what you think your families will want, friends, or otherwise;this is your wedding day and needs to be reflection of your love!

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2. Who to Invite?

Make a guest list first as there is no point in looking at any venues until you know the guest size you are expecting. Please remember to make your list so that you can share this special day with people that are most important to you. Do not feel the need to invite everyone you know! While you are making your lists you can star each name of those most important to help you narrow down your wedding party.

3.When and Where to Marry?

I feel that these two items go hand in hand because you may already have the perfect venue in mind and be flexible on the date or vice versa. If you prefer a destination wedding you may consider a major holiday which can make it easier for guests to attend. This can also be effected by your budget so if you want to try for an all outside wedding pick the right temperature month so guests don’t burn up or freeze to death.

4. Decide what is more important to you….

This list varies for every bride, groom, and couple as we all have different things that we are willing to weaver on but others we will not budge. Whether this is your food, caterer, photographer, florist, or even hiring a planner. Decide what is of utmost importance to help make your day go smoothly. For a larger wedding I say you need a year to plan but I have had great success with smaller weddings being planned in 6 months depending on location availability, vendors, etc. Decide what items you are willing to pay top notch for and what ones aren’t as important. This will thoroughly help.

5. Know your budget!

Sit down and decide what your budget will be for the entire wedding and then divide everything out per item of what you want to spend and be able to fill in with what you actually spend. This will help you stay on target and not go over budget. (Feel free to contact me at Courtney@pthreeplanning.com as I have a great budget I will be willing to share for a minimal fee of $10.00 . Budget allows you to set items at priority levels, tallies it up automatically and more. )

6. Hire a planner or Day of Coordinator!!!! A MOST!!!!!!!

I will stand by the statement most as you need someone outside of your family to help keep things in check and running smoothly. Maybe you don’t have the money for a full planner but at least spend the money on a day of coordinator so that you can honestly sit back and enjoy your day and know that your planner has everything in order!! 

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CANCER; Mending Hearts through Light up the Night 2014

I have been trying to schedule my posts and blogs to stay more in tune with my audience. Today I was suppose to write, and post on pinterest, a pair of shoes I made for my own wedding, but instead……

I want to get more personal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Over the past two years since starting my business I have had the honor to work with many amazing woman, men, and organizations but none have touched my heart like Love is Bald and Pretty in Pink!!! The men and women behind both are amazing and inspirational as well as the champions they help!!!

I have also personally been touched by cancer as many of you have. My mother had breast cancer three times in her life and dealt with a lot of struggles and someone else I adore is dealing with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and currently in remission. I understand the threat of family, the scare of potential lose, the hope of getting better and most important the joy of recovery. Cancer is a life long battle for everyone involved and my wish is that through these organizations, we as a community, can help each other heal and be reborn. When cancer effects your home directly you deal with many emotions and it is not always easy to focus on the positive or the light at the end of the tunnel. So I challenge you today!! How will you help? Who’s life will you touch? Will you join us as we Light up the Night to HONOR all the men and women who have passed and survived this pain we call CANCER?

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Where do heroes come from?

Through the course on starting this business I have come across a lot of amazing people, and I mean amazing! I pray that I can meet even more along the journey this career choice will take me on. A little over a year ago I was reunited with a dear friend from high school that I always looked up to back then, and still do, Kelli Neese Russell. Kelli is one of those amazing people who do amazing things for so many!!! Through her I have been blessed and will forever be in debt to her and her kindness.

This story began when Kelli asked me to facepaint for the St. Baldrick’s Event at Fibber’s in March of 2012. I had just started my business a little over six months before hand when she so graciously trusted me with her baby.  I brought my crew made up of my most trusted employees Tara Womble and Shawn Best both being my siblings. We painted on cheeks, foreheads, arms, backs, hands, and much more! We watched as all of those amazing and brave people shaved their heads to raise money for others in need. As we watched I remember my brother mentioning he wanted to shave his head after he saw a lovely lady shave hers especially after having scars that would be revealed. Not an easy thing for a woman, much less a woman with scars to show her story.

What you don’t know is that my brother, Christopher Shawn Best aka Shawn, was in a car accident in 1992. He was thrown out of the back windshield and a piece of metal went through his cheek, through his nasal glands, and entered his brain. He has a plate in his head and over the last 21 years has multiple brain surgeries, infections, scars, lost his ability to smell, and not to mention the scare of not seeing another day. As I am writing this he is scheduled for another surgery on March 20th. He is making a huge leap to shave his head this year despite his scars and wounds that go beyond physical so I am asking for any donation that you can give to help an amazing lady right here in our home town, Wilmington NC, who has been diagnosed with cancer. The more money we can raise the more help we can provide!

HELP HIM HELP HER………Where do heroes come from?

CONTACT P3 TO GIVE YOUR DONATION TODAY OR GIVE ONLINE FOLLOWING LINK! Donations being accepted until March 17th!    http://www.youcaring.com/dashboard.aspx#home

Check out Shaving for Chere , donate, and come to the event if you can!

https://www.facebook.com/events/510779698960994/?fref=ts

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Wedding Budget Ideas and Tip

As an Event Planner I have been involved with several weddings and I am often asked by my clients what they should spend their money on and what they can skip on or do without. My response is always that my clients need to decide what is important to them as I have learned over the years that no matter what the event the things of importance vary. One thing that I can say holds common is a GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER!! There are a lot of things that can go wrong, be forgotten, and ignored, but having terrible pictures of your special day can never be replaced, redone, or changed. Please also keep in mind this is not to say that you should spend a thousand dollars on a fantastic photographer either. There are amazing photographers out there!! Interview them, look at their work, check out their website/facebook page, ask for references, and MOST important make sure their style matches yours!! Every couple is different as is every photographer. Find someone you and your spouse click with because you want to be comfortable to share your intimate moments with them so that he/she may capture those on film! To me photograph can NEVER be replaced, changed, or altered and it captures the love and adoration within the bride and grooms eyes with which they can look back and even on the darkest day it can make them smile and remember the butterflies they had in their stomache once upon a time!

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Gearing up and JUMPING OUT!!

I have stepped out on a limb and following my dreams 100%!! I have resigned from my position at my full time job and am now focusing on P3 completely. This is a bit of a scary adventure, but with faith ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. After giving my resignation at work I received two brides wanting my services, and am happy to say….CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED!

I write this on my blog for NO purpose other than to encourage everyone to believe in themselves, trust yourself, and always strive to be better!! I have wanted to start this business for over 5 years and finally got the courage last August to just JUMP!! I had a business partner who wished to go her on way in January and I could have very easily given up but that never was an option. I kept things rolling and now I am so happy with everything God has given to me. I am grateful and blessed. My goal is that every couple I help get married, every birthday party I plan and every face I paint may light up with joy from the outcome and walk away my friend!

THIS IS MY DREAM!!!

“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
Michael Jordan

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2012 Is starting off with a *** BANG ***

I am so pleased and honored that through Love is Bald , P3 was asked to face paint for the St. Baldrick’s Event on Saturday March 17th at Fibber McGee’s. My lovely volunteers and myself had a wonderful time and raised money too!

I can not even begin to explain the emotion that ran over me at the end of the day. First I have to tell you that 23 has always been my lucky number, and originally I was going to give 90% of my proceeds to St.Baldrick’s and just wanted enough to help offset some of my costs. As the day progressed and I saw some amazing men, women, children, those with scars who may have been ashamed, others who cried but gave up their hair to benefit others. When I see events like this it inspires me and makes me want to give back even more than ever before!! I decided to give all my proceeds to St.Baldrick’s with the original hope that I could donate $500.00. I counted my money and my total was $223.00. (Lucky Number) I immediately got cold chills and couldn’t hardly think. I turned my money in and we started to pack up only to come back to a table full of girls who wanted their faces painted. We unpacked our stuff and began to paint again adding within five minutes to our total another $20.00. Making it $243.00 for the day. Keep in mind that some people were giving us $20.00 bills. Thank you to everyone who can out and helped support such an amazing event!!

MUCH LOVE TO WILMINGTON!!!

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