Votive Vase
Votive Vase
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 20 HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION WEDDING CENTERPIECE  US $178.85
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 15 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $139.95
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 10 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $74.95
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 24 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $219.95
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 12 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $109.95
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 20 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $129.95
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 8 HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION WEDDING CENTERPIECE US $75.95
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 50 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $469.95
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 6 11 Tall Glass Votive Vase Flower Decor Candle Holder US $22.79
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 30 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $269.95
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 WEDDING Wrought Iron Vase Votive Candleholder SET OF 12 US $115.00
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 Wedding unity sand ceremony Round votive candle w vase US $6.99
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 24 HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION WEDDING CENTERPIECE US $212.95
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 40 WEDDING CENTERPIECE HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION US $359.95
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 2 HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION WEDDING CENTERPIECE US $18.85
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 12 HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION WEDDING CENTERPIECE US $108.85
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 15 HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION WEDDING CENTERPIECE US $138.85
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 50 HANGING VOTIVE VASE DECORATION WEDDING CENTERPIECE US $462.00
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Making Something Out of Nothing: Making the Budget Work by being Penny-Pinching Fabulous
Do you find yourself in need of livening up an event or your overall meeting, but don’t have the budget to support the “vision”? Then you should consider implementing the following savvy money-saving tips:
1.) Hire DJ IPOD instead of a DJ! DJ IPOD only requires patch into the hotel’s sound system.
2.) Be green by recycling décor! Call the hotel and inquire about social events taking place prior to your meeting. Then ask if you can have any decorations and/or centerpieces that are left behind. The remaining flowers, for example, can be rearranged into smaller vases* and distributed throughout your meeting or used during a dinner symposium.
*Ask the hotel for any available vases. Don’t worry if you end up with a variety of vase sizes – eclectic is still in!
3.) Centerpieces can be pieces!
- Float a flower (no stem) from a recycled arrangement in a shot or rocks glass.
- Vegetables! For $4 a table you can wrap a mason jar in asparagus, fill the jar with asparagus, add some twine for trim, and garnish with recycled flowers. Sprinkle a small amount of noodles or dried beans around the base for extra flare.
- Tall oil bottles with dipping plates and baskets of bread can serve as edible center pieces for high boys and cocktail rounds.
4.) Inspire, motivate, and liberate the hotel staff! Ask your banquet captain what they can do using props from the back of the house to jazz up your buffet or reception stations. For example, I had a captain surprise me with votives floating in rocks glasses filled with water that had been dyed with food coloring.
5.) Don’t forget the lighting and graphics! Brainstorm with your AV Director and Convention Service Manager when it comes to creating an environment for special events. Using an LCD player and laptop, my AV Director was able to project our conference brochure on glass doors and walls to create a wow factor. We’ve also used lighting cans and colored gels to produce up lit walls – a fairly affordable wow factor.
6.) More trash! I needed more directional signs and noticed another meeting that was preparing to toss out their foam core 22x28 signs. I retrieved the signs, pasted a piece of paper (with my text typed on it) on the back and made sure the true surface of the sign was facing a wall or column. Why have the business center charge you $100 for a new foam core sign when you can pay $0?
7.) Mix it up! If you don’t have the budget to rent linens… you may find alternating the colors in house may give you the edge you’re looking to achieve.
8.) Collateral, the CVB, and you! I wanted to surprise our attendees when we announced our 2009 meeting city so I attempted to have a video with a personal introduction created for the announcement. When I learned there would be a cost associated with the personal introduction, I quickly switched gears. Instead, I requested the CVB’s free b-roll footage tape and created an intro in PowerPoint (‘09 logo, countdown clock, etc). My AV tech used the switcher to fade through black once the clock hit one and you couldn’t tell it was two separate components.
9.) Something borrowed vs. something new! If you need to create a lounge for an event but don’t have the budget for it, check out the pre-function area. Sometimes lounge(ish) furnishings can be found in the pre-function area and if you ask nicely the hotel may agree to move it into your meeting room complimentary. Side note: It’s perfectly OK to ask the hotel to send you photos of the furniture.
10.) Don’t overlook raw talent! Are you in need of live music? Check out the local colleges and performing arts schools. You may luck out with complimentary musicians or at least less expensive ones.
Depending on the association (or group) you may not be able to execute some of the “alternative” methods listed above – “be dazzling” isn’t for everyone. The important take away message here is to know your group (the audience), to know the purpose (the group’s goal), and to make the meeting successful (memorable).
About the Author
Meredith Weiner is Meetings and Exhibits Manager at Association Headquarters, Inc., a Mount Laurel, N.J.-based association management company.
Meredith earned a Bachelors of Science degree from Rutgers University with a marketing major and a minor in graphic design. Currently, Meredith is working towards her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation and plans to earn an MBA in the near future.
B.1802 Iron Block