Parties: Celebrations

So yesterday (1/28/10), Preston Bailey sent out a tweet stating he has 5 more tickets for his Celebrations Book Launch party and the first 5 NY'ers to tweet their borough will win. Now, you know this Brooklyn girl was quick to tweet BROOKLYN right. And wha-dayah-know I won. Not only did I win, but my great friend Beverly over at Capries Events won as well!!!

So giddy and excited, later that evening we made our way over to the Amory in NYC, walked in and was AMAZED. In true Preston Bailey style, the decor was sexy, beautiful and just FABULOUS. We mingled, sipped on the evenings specialty drinks (Leblon Caipirinha & Celebrations Caipirinha), nibbled on hors d'oeuvres like mini philly cheesesteak rolls and sampled the deserts like, my fave, mini red velvet cupcakes. Gloria Gaynor showed us that she can still "Survive". And we danced our hearts out to Martha Wash when it started raining men.

Simply Dazzling!!!

My friend and I made sure to thank Mr. Bailey for a wonderful evening and in true Preston Bailey fashion, he thanked us right back for coming. He is such an engaging, welcoming, friendly and fabulous individual.

I could go on and on and on about the party but I'll stop rambling now and show you some of the amazing sights from last night:

Gloria Gaynor

Martha Wash

Mr. Preston Bailey

Mr. Preston Bailey

The cover of his new book up in lights

(which I purchased and LOVE)

Sweet Treats

These mini philly cheesesteak rolls were deeee-lish

(and it didn't hurt that HE was serving them)

I've said it before and I will say it again...TWITTER ROCKS!

Check out the JunePlumm Events Fan page later for more photos from last nights party.

Pretty Little Things: Million Dollar Taste

How much would you spend on a cake, $700, $5,000, $10,000, $1,000,000...



...yes, a MILLION. The cake in the video was made for a Dallas bridal show. It is made out of styrofoam and adorned with real diamonds... about 12 hundred carats to be exact. What do you think, you want this at YOUR wedding?

Planning: Front and Center

Not a fan of big poofy expensive floral centerpiece? Then don't use them. Yes, when you attend a wedding or other event, the centerpieces are typically floral but that does not mean yours have to be. There are so many other options to use to make a statement that does not involve a a large expensive floral centerpiece. For instance:

• Candles make a fabulous alternative to the typical floral centerpiece. As an extra added bonus, the flicker of the candle light adds a nice warm glow to the atmosphere
  
  
• Try creating a fruit topiary or arrangement. Incorporate fruits with similar color palettes that add to the overall decor. Stay away from fruits with strong odors. You do not want the fruity smell to compromise your pallet
  
  
• Try using natural elements, like stones, branches, shells. Take cues from the theme of your event. If you are having a beachy affair. Use shells in differing sizes colors and shapes. Starfish, sand and river rocks pair nicely with them as well.
  
  
• Another option is an edible centerpiece. Instead of having one big cake, you can serve each table individual cakes and use a centerpiece. This is my LEAST favorite option, because you will be left centerpiece-less once it is eaten. (keep that in mind)
  
  
• Candelabras or lamps make for a very show stopping option. As well as add lighting to your table.
  
  
• Feathers. Ethereal, very fun and flirty. This options translates well amongst most occasions.
  
  

Whatever you choose, you almost cannot go wrong (...I said almost). The direction you choose should be taken from the style, vision and formality of the event. Pull elements from each and infuse your creativity and sense of uniqueness.

credits:

image courtesy of Weddingbee

Planning: Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen!

You have a huge support group behind you, in front of you and beside you. Mom is an expert. BFF is an expert. Sister is an expert. EVERYONE is an expert. BUT, are they really all experts? Brides planning weddings on your own (and even non-brides planning other events), I am happy that all your "peeps" are available to lend helping hands, expertise and suggestions. They all mean well, but is EVERYONE on the same page. You have Mom telling you to go left, BFF telling you to go right, and Sister telling you don't go at all. Which way do you go? See how confusing this can be?

If you select to plan your wedding without the assistance of a hired professional, narrow down your pool of "experts". It's confusing enough to have to manage it on your own. That last thing you need, is to have to stop and process everyone else's opinion PLUS your own. After about 2.2 seconds, it become frustrating.

And if you still feel it is necessary to have all these "expert" opinions, bring everyone to the table. Ensure sure you are all on the same page, assign responsibility and ask yourself this:

• Do they see your vision
• Are they committed to helping you carry out YOUR vision to fruition
• Do you have similar taste in decor and design
• Do you work well together under pressure
• Do they have your back...ALWAYS
• Have they assisted with wedding planning before
• Can they handle it if you tell them NO to one of their ideas
• Do they respect YOUR opinion
• Do you respect their opinion in everyday occurrences

If you cannot answer YES to EVERY question, run...don't walk, RUN. Spare yourself the time it would take to decipher the opinions now, so you don't have to deal with it later.

And remember...too many cooks spoil the soup.

Plannng: Should you? Shouldn't you?

Picture this; your hair is perfectly pinned into a soft side swept up-do, with carefully placed tendrils falling from the sides to frame your face. Your face is aglow from the freshly airbrushed make-up highlighted by the coppertone blush applied ever so delicately to the apples of your cheeks. Your white Benjamin Adams platform crystal lined peep-toe shoes have just been slipped on to your size 7.5 feet. You have just been laced into your corseted, strapless A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline in diamond white with pewter accents. Your 52” long veil has just been pinned into your up-do slightly behind the crystal tiara on loan from your favorite aunt who wore it in her wedding 20 years ago.

Your mom has just handed you your hand-tied bouquet of pink and white calla lilies, roses and peonies, bound with a ribbon accented with sparkling colored crystal stones. Your best friend steps over and dabs the single tear slowly trickling down your right check to prevent a tear stained face. Your 2nd cousin who is participating in your wedding is repeating a message from an earlier call from your husband-to-be... “tell her I love her and can’t wait to be her husband”. Your mom, who stepped away to dry her tears returns and pulls the blusher down over your face and whispers, " it's time baby girl". Nothing can ruin this moment for you.

Then your aunt, from your fathers side shows up and ask your sister the bridesmaids for the programs, who turns and asks your mother, who turns and asks you…WHAT!!! I gave them to ahhhhhm… Your father calls to find out if the bar is serving Jack Daniels because that is all that Uncle France drinks...arrrrgh...your friends from Brooklyn is calling to find out if the venue is off exit 19 or off exit 22...arrrrgh....your Aunt Cynthia, who volunteered to set-up the reception hall is calling to find out if it's knife on the right, fork on the left or knife on the left fork on the right, she forgot and you reminder her 10 times already... ARRRRRRRRRGH.

It may seem small in size, but the smallest details often get overlooked and those are usually the details that make the biggest impact. This is when/why hiring a professional is essential in helping you keep it all together. As an event planner, my goal is to ensure that your day is as low maintenance for you as it is for your family and guests. JunePlumm Events takes care of A Little Bit A' This and a little bit a that from beginning to end. Why open yourself up to being barraged by questions like; who is paying the caterer, where are the toasting flutes, Uncle John has had one too many drinks, how much money are we spending, where are my programs, is it hot in here, when should the DJ play the first dance song, and the list goes on and on and on.

So, my point… If you are super duper organized and do not mind being bombarded with questions, inquiries, tasks, to do's, how to's, where to's, when to's, from the moment you get engaged to the moment you return that last rental item, then go ahead and DIY. If the latter does not appeal to you in the least, then I would suggest you hire a professional. Let us deal with the drama.

Parties: A JunePlumm Event- Mr. & Mrs. Janice and Dwight Outar

As an event planner, nothing brings me greater joy than to see the vision of a brides wedding day come to fruition. What excites me even more, is if that bride is a friend, loved one or family member. Which was the case of the Island Stylee Bride whose destination wedding I had the pleasure of consulting on. The wedding for this fabulous bride and her handsome groom was held on the beautiful island of Jamaica. The weather was magnificent, the venue breathtaking and the bride was blushing (and I am not just saying that because I personally love her to pieces).

Take a peek into a few shots of wedding of Janice and Dwight Outar held in Ochos Rios, Jamaica on December 26, 2009:

Best of luck to Mr. & Mrs. Outar on many many years of smiles, laughs and unstoppable love.

Planning: I'm baaaaaack...

HAPPY NEW YEAR friends,....did you miss me:). I trust you all have had a marvelous holiday/ vacation and are back in full swing with your every day activities. I am so excited to have returned from a vacation (extended) and are eager to get rolling with what promises to be an exciting and prosperous 2KX (2010). So to bring you in the loop of how I spent my holiday,

I...

for...

and some...

and also...

But, because I was so busy with the...

I didn't get to enjoy the...

but certainly took advantage of all the...

(pssst...those are juneplums)

I then returned home and got...

which required me to get lots of ...

but now I am all...

and ready to get started on the NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS and NEW OPPORTUNITIES.