Throwing events

One of my other favorite hobbies is throwing parties and/or organizing events. Scott and I have done many themed parties - everything from New Years to St. Patrick's Day to Cinco de Mayo to Lobster-fest to Mardi Gras to dinner Parties to football parties to Fakesgiving and other things in between. We really enjoy doing it but don't be fooled - it costs a lot of $, specifically in decorations. And of course it takes a lot of time and effort and getting people to rsvp.We also have planned things outside the house like sailing and dinner parties. 

So since I can't plan a party (at least not in August) because we're trying to save money, I am going to reminisce (in photo essay form) about past events we've either organized or helped organize/plan/run. I will also include events I was asked to photograph which includes some weird/different events (baby showers, bridal showers, a funeral, a wake, a "death" party (guy was dying and wanted to say goodbye), golf memorial tournament, birthday parties, and engagement parties). I doubt this will be interesting to anyone other than Scott or me but feel free to read. 

Skip to the bottom of this entry for a super bitchy rant.

These aren't in any order. 

A girls day out at the Langham's famous brunch: 

Karaoke for my 26th birthday:

St. Patrick's Day 5k: 

Adam's 30th birthday: 

American Idol try-outs for/with my friend Jarod in the pouring rain: 

Amber's 30th birthday: 

Applefest 2009: 

Applepicking 2011:

Roadtrip to Atlantic City: 

Amanda's baby shower:

Stephanie's bachelorette: 

Amanda's bachelorette:

Boating with friends: 

Swan boat trip: 

Bowling: 

Breakfast: 

Stephanie's bridal shower: 

Amanda's bridal shower: 

Bringing friends to Bruins games: 

The Bruins parade: 

Watching the Bruins (and paying a bouncer to gt a girl Adam was dating in when the line was closed):

Bringing friends to Celtics games:

Traveling to Chicago so Crystal could see her favorite city:

Cinco de Mayo:

Corn maze:

Visiting Adam in D.C.:

Dinners:

Engagement parties:

Fakesgiving:

Mardi Gras flip cup:

Card night:

Photography for a golf memorial:

St. Patrick's Day:

Hiking:

Flying to Georgia for Holly's wedding:

Road trip:

Visiting friends in the hospital.

Jeff's going away party:

Karaoke nights:

Taking friends kayaking:

Mardi Gras (I flew this King Cake in from New Orleans):

Laser tag:

Live karaoke:

Lobster-fest:

Mani-pedis with the girls:

Volunteering for the marathon:

Mardi Gras:

Mike's 30th:

Trip to Niagara Falls:

Visiting Mike & Danielle in NYC:

New Years Eve 08-09.

New Years Eve 10-11.

Visiting Old Sturbridge Village.

Summer get togethers.

Football parties:

Watching football at Gillette.

Bringing friends to prom

Night out in Boston:

Meeting famous people I don't know:

Helping guys propose:

Taking friends to Red Sox games:

Our rehearsal dinner:

Planning the HS reunion:

Touring Boston:

Road trips:

Sailing:

Scavenger hunts:

Scott's 30th:

Ice skating:

Sledding:

St. Patrick's Day:

Summer parties:

Trip to BU to hear Elie Wiesel speak:

Tubing:

Getting a tattoo with a friend:

Being a bridemaid:

Wine tasting:

And of course, these are only the events that I have pictures of. I have loved planning these things because not only are they fun for us, they are fun for our friends. 

Warning the next section is realllllly bitchy so read at your own discretion and if you have something to ask after, please feel free to:

I am about to break etiquette by doing this but because so many people break it to me, I'm ok with it. The things I do not like are things that revolve around people being rude/ignorant of some party etiquette. I am sure this applies to anyone who plans things. People not rsvp-ing makes the top of the list. It is not that hard to click "no" or "maybe". Take the 5 seconds it takes to just do that. It's rude and will make me look like a nag when I have to ask you to do this 9823847 times. I need an accurate count for food etc... Also annoying are people who click "maybe" but not because they already have something but because they are waiting for something better. I get it. But if you do it allllll the time, that's rude. And we probably shouldn't be friends because you're an ass. Feel free to unfriend me. People who never come to anything no matter how much advance notice you give them. Again, see above. Just defriend me. You're an ass. And finally, people who change their mind or come up with a lame excuse as to what happened. I have a GREAT bullshit detector. I know if you are lying. I can see through it. I get that sometimes things come up but I can tell who is telling the truth and who is lying. If you cancel at the last minute, I've already bought food and other stuff for you. So don't cancel last minute unless it's an emergency. People who complain about pets. First, almost everyone has a pet and I think most people think it's weird when people don't like animals. My dogs live here, you are the guest. Choose your words wisely. And finally, people who need to know whose coming because they either won't come unless other specific people are there or WORSE won't come if certain people are there. Grow up. If it's not a small, intimate event, grow the eff up. I don't want to coordinate who I can and can't invite based off of who is coming. I've just stopped inviting people who can't handle life. We're not all going to get along. Deal with it. I know ex-spouses who can be around each other so you can be around people you don't like too.

I half want to buy a book on etiquette for these people. Don't even get me started on people who have no wedding etiquette. I still remember every person I had to chase down for an rsvp to the wedding and those who said yes and didn't show up and didn't even send a card saying why. Waste of time and money. I know it happens to everyone but it's just infuriating. I want to know who raised people to act like this. It's just common courtesy to show courtesy to someone who thought of you and I want to scream when it happens.  If you used to be invited to stuff but no longer are, it's because you do some of the above things and it's exhausting. If you think I am directing something at you - you can ask. I'll tell you but it's more important to know that many people do the above and I wasn't really ranting about anyone in particular. So nothing was about anyone specifically but I can tell you if you do some of that stuff. Just don't get mad at me for being honest. If you are offended by honesty, please defriend me. Or gain some manners and we'll be back on track :)

Ok, end rant.

I really do enjoy planning events and will continue to do so. We already have our 2nd Fakesgiving queued up as well as an Apple picking thing and a Corn maze thing. I am pretty open - if you want to be invited and you won't bring drama, ask and I'll send you an invite!