The Bou.Tique Group, a premier event planning company, presented the “Recession Chic” Wedding and Social Event showcase on June 20th at the New Art Center Gallery. Co-owners Blair Hunter Grant and Tecora Dawn hosted this premier event as the official launch of their company. Complimentary hor d’ouevres and pastry treats were served by chef Sara Markel and pastry caterer Pastry Girl, respectively, with music provided by DJ Ryno and The Fred Hunter Jazz Trio.

Tecora Dawn and Blair Hunter Grant

Branded as a “recession-friendly company” The Bou.Tique Group believes that it is possible to have a “a chic event and not be decadent and go overboard price-wise.” Co-owner Blair Hunter Grant is confident that The Bou.Tique Group has assembled “a team that under the recession-friendly guideline can help clients regardless of their budget.”

Co-owner Tecora Dawn details that, “a lot of event planners promote recession packages; however … the event coordinator normally will reduce her commission from 15% to 12% and call it recession chic. Basically, they use the same vendors that are charging the same astronomical prices, so all clients are getting is a reduction on the event planner’s commission fee and maybe a slightly lower vendor price. At Bou.Tique we use vendors whose prices are already lower and we also reduce our event planning commission.”

Budgets and pricing aside, Tecora Dawn intimates that, “event planning is not about making a lot of money; it is our passion.”