Friday

Baby Love

As a first time mom, I must admit I'm just a little bit obsessed with babies these days and apparently, it's not without reason. It seems almost every week I've been informed of yet another person I know who is expecting, and today was no different.

So, in honor of all the mommies to be and especially

Jenelle & Keisha (friends/family)
Julie & Sil (2006 Brides)
Emilie, Nicole & Misty (Coordinators)

may you stay cool during the season and enjoy every moment of your pregnancy.

Wednesday

Free Wedding Magazines


Ok, so my amazing Florida Coordinator friend and inspiration Kelly McWilliams of Weddings by Socialites is having an amazing giveaway- A One Year subscription to a number of Wedding Magazines...Free!

To enter is simple:

Follow this link http://weddingsbysocialites.blogspot.com/2007/06/win-year-of-wedding-inspirations.html

Once you've arrived at her blog, click on the comment link below the giveaway and leave your name & blog address or email Kelly with your name & email address at WeddingTidbits@gmail.com. On July 16, Kelly will randomly pick and announce the winner and that lucky person will receive a one year subscription to all of the magazines!

(BTW, if you enter, be sure to leave a comment here as well and I'll throw in a special prize just for your participation...2 for one; can't beat that!)

Good luck to you all and tell Kelly I sent you!

Tuesday

Urban 80's...

That was the theme of my event for this past weekend. My Client is a fabulous Event Planner for Microsoft who decided to celebrate turning 30 with a bang, and boy did she ever. We converted an otherwise "colonial" style venue into a blast straight from the past.

By simply inquiring, we were able to get permission from the Venue to remove all of their wall hangings and instead, we hung throw back records and grafitti art on the wall. Polka dot linens and monogrammed balloons, napkins, centerpieces and menu cards added just the right elements to make the room "pop". The DJ spun old school hits from the 80s that had everyone singing along and "remembering when...".

The highlight of the night by far...the breakdance routine performed by a group of local dancers. The guests (and even the entire Venue staff) couldn't help but watch in awe as these kids did truly amazing tricks with their bodies. I mean really, how often do you get to see breakdancers these days??? ("So you think you can dance" performances excluded-I'm addicted to that show by the way!)

Overall, it was a completely successful and incredibly fun event and I was glad to be a part of yet another special moment in my Client's life. When she walked into the room and said "It is better than even I could have imagined", I felt proud, especially since she is a fellow planner in the industry.

Pictures were taken by the amazing Brian Price
and I promise to share as soon as I receive them!

Linens N' Things

I'm often contacted by couples in the beginning phase of their planning process, looking to create an event "unlike any other". While I always advise my couples to make sure their event reflect thier styles and their tastes, I also remind them that financially, they should stay within their established budgets.

The easiest way by far to create a spectacular event is by allocating a percentage of the budget to decor. Now, this can include lighting, pipe & drape, glassware, flatware and any absurd number of rentals, but the easiest way (and usually quite affordable) is by far...the Linens.

Linens can transform a regular table instantly and create the "wow" factor most couples desire. These days, the choices are sooooo amazing. With new colors, textures and patterns options are endless.

With pricing typically ranging from $14 for plain polyester to $+++ for options such as silk/bengaline, it may not be practical to "dress" each of your 30+ guest tables. A nice option however, is to use overlays on the tables which are typically less expensive or if you are truly limited in funds, use linens to highlight options such as the cake, guestbook or head table.

I made a visit to one of my favorite rental showrooms last week to look at linen. Here are some of the cool items I found:




Friday

I'm Back!

I'm back!!! Back to blogging, back to normal and BACK TO WORK!!!! Taking leave was great as I truly got to bond with the baby, however, it was not all "play" and no work.

My first order of business today was a meeting with my Bride for September 8th, whose is planning an amazing dessert reception at the Trenton War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey.

If you want an unbelievable Venue in the heart of New Jersey, this space is definitely one for consideration. Typically used as a Concert Hall, the Venue offers a 4,000 (yes, 4,000) square foot ballroom with the option to rent the adjacent stage to expand your seating area inside. My favorite part of this unique find...the gorgeous stairwell at the front of the building which can be used for hosting your cocktail hour or even a romantic outdoor ceremony.

I've attached a few pictures of the stairwell as well as the view from the top of the stairs (imagine minus the cars in the parking lot...)