How to Choose a Wedding Reception Location

February is National Weddings Month, so it’s a great time to start planning if you're getting married in the near future!

Planning a wedding of any size is stressful. Even if you keep it small or informal, there are countless details to think about. Some couples prefer to tackle the bigger tasks first so they can focus on the smaller “to dos” closer to the big day.  If this sounds like you, let’s talk about one of the biggest items—finding a venue for your reception.

An outdoor location is one way to keep costs down if you have a small budget or are keeping things casual.  Do you know anyone with a big and beautiful backyard, farm, or other unique piece of property? If so, ask them if they’d be willing to host your reception.  Just remember that any outdoor event is at the mercy of Mother Nature, so plan accordingly with a tent, umbrellas for guests, and any other emergency weather gear.

But if you’re staying indoors, make a list of “must haves” to help you evaluate each facility you visit. Having some idea of what you want ahead of time can make the process simpler and less overwhelming for everyone involved.

Below are a few things to include on your checklist:

Size. How big is your guest list? Before you even start looking at venues, do some research and make sure they can comfortably fit the amount of people you plan to invite.  Find a place that’s large enough for a 200+ guest list; smaller but still comfortable—you want plenty of room for people to socialize and dance!—if you’re only inviting your closest friends and family (of course you can have 100 people in a massive banquet hall, but maybe something smaller and more intimate would be better).

Cost. Price is always a deciding factor. Luckily, most venues have a variety of serving options that are priced accordingly, so something should fit your budget. Most large-scale events serve the food as either plated, family-style (where everyone takes their food from the same plate which is passed to each person), or buffet. Cocktail hours with appetizers, serving stations, dessert bars…these are just a few of the trends that have been popping up at receptions in the past few years (all with their own price tags, of course). Or, if you’re committed to keeping costs down, recruit friends or family with impressive culinary skills to make the food either on-site or ahead of time and just use the facility’s kitchen to keep everything warm.

Menu. Can the kitchen accommodate special dietary needs, such as those with food allergies? Is their menu diverse enough to keep finicky eaters happy? Do they offer choices for kids if necessary? Are there vegetarian options available? Do special menu requests come with special pricing? These are just a few questions to keep in mind when you sit down with the venue’s planner or catering manager, which leads to…

Planning help available.  Does the venue have an event planner who can help with the planning, answer questions along the way, and oversee the details on the day itself? You and your spouse-to-be have dozens of stressors to deal with on your wedding day, so it’s nice to know that someone will be on-site to make sure the place settings are in order, the band or DJ has their directions, and can take care of placing the cake. An event planner is more of a “nice to have” than a necessity, but their help can be invaluable as the big day gets closer!

Ensure that everything goes smoothly on your big day with a wedding and special event insurance policy. ETA Benefits Group works with several carriers that sell this type of affordable coverage. Contact us to get a no obligation quote!  

What else would you add to this list? How did you choose your reception location? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!  

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Sara Karnish, Marketing Assistant

Marketing is important to all businesses, and insurance is no exception. As a small independent agency, we are proud to work with our friends and neighbors in our local community. So how do we get the word out? Through both traditional and digital platforms, which allows us to reach an even broader customer base. 

A marketing position usually requires someone with strong writing, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, as well as a healthy dose of creativity and the ability to multitask. Below is a little more about this type of job from our marketing assistant.

Name: Sara Karnish  

Title: Marketing Assistant

Years in the Industry: 15 years in the communications field; almost 1 in the insurance industry

Years at ETA: Almost 1

What are some of your main job duties? Helping to market our agency through both traditional and digital platforms. I maintain our social media pages, write and distribute our monthly electronic newsletter, write all of the posts on our blog, and assist with any other communications-related tasks, including working with vendors on advertising. I also help with answering the phone and greeting customers when they stop by our office.

How did you get into this field? Through a combination of networking and having a strong writing background.

Describe a typical day for you. Every day is different, but I can usually be found keeping our social media pages current, working on our blog, and/orlooking for new opportunities to help spread the word about our agency and the products we sell.

What do you like best about your job? I’m always learning something new, and I have many opportunities to write and be creative—two of my favorite things!

Why is insurance a good field to get into? It’s something everyone needs, and there are more opportunities within the field than you would probably think!

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry? Ask a lot of questions, be open to taking on more responsibilities (even if it’s something you’ve never done before), and use your strengths to make your job your own.

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Denise Wolfe, Insurance Broker

February is Insurance Careers Month, and all month long, we'll be sharing some details about our jobs here at ETA Benefits Group. First up is our agent Denise Wolfe.

Name: Denise Wolfe

Title:  Insurance Broker

Years in the Industry:  33

Years at ETA: 11

What are some of your main job duties?  

Health and property and casualty insurance sales and service

How did you get into this field?

Applied for a job opening at a local insurance office

Describe a typical day for you.  

Quoting new business insurance prospects searching for carriers that would fit the clients’ needs, servicing existing clients' insurance as needed, personal visits

What do you like best about your job? 

Helping clients find solutions to fit their needs and possibly saving them some money

Why is insurance a good field to get into? 

The satisfaction of helping others find the right insurance that fits their needs and saving them some money in the process

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry?

 You will never be done learning

Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

If you live in an area with harsh winters, you’re used to digging out from under the “white stuff”.  Whether it's a high-powered snow blower or an old-fashioned shovel, digging out is a necessary evil for most of us, and we look for the best and most efficient way to get it done. Although it’s all part of winter, shoveling can cause serious health problems, or make existing problems worse. Below are a few tips for shoveling safely according to the National Safety Council:

Stretch before you start. Just as you should warm up before jogging or doing any other type of exercise, stretch your muscles before you pick up the shovel or get behind the snow blower.  Take a quick walk or march in place for a few minutes to warm up your whole body, then focus on your legs and hamstrings. Even if you use a snow blower, steering the machine can take its toll on your shoulders, arms, and legs.

Know your limits. Shoveling snow is an extremely physical activity. Even if you exercise regularly and are in good shape, shoveling heavy mounds of snow for hours can take a serious toll on your heart. If you have heart problems, ask a relative or neighbor to help with the bulk of the heavy work.  Shoveling snow is no joke—approximately 100 people suffer heart attacks while shoveling every year.

Push, don’t lift… It can be tough if you’re clearing several inches of snow, but try to push as much of it out of the way as you can instead of lifting heavy mounds.

…but lift correctly. Sometimes you must lift the stuff; when you do, always practice proper lifting techniques as explained on the website SpineHealth.com:  Hold the shovel with one hand near the blade and your other hand near the handle. Bend at the hips rather than the low back; push your chest out, pointing forward. Then, bend your knees and lift with your leg muscles, keeping your back straight. Don’t pile too much onto the shovel.  If you turn to dump a mound of snow, turn with your whole body rather than just your back. An ergonomic snow shovel with a curved or adjustable handle can make the task easier.

Take breaks.  Take several breaks; stop every 30 or 45 minutes depending on how much snow you’re planning to clear (break more often if you’re clearing several inches).  

If using a regular shovel is taking its toll, consider buying a snow blower. While you’re still using your legs to push the machine, there’s less strain on your back and will be a better long-term investment.  

Do you use a snow blower or an old-fashioned shovel? Are there any tips you would add to this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!