Rain, rain, go away

Who loves a good shower?

Baby Showers, Bridal Showers

Of course they can be so much fun, getting to see everyone and celebrate our friends and family's milestones.  But let's be realistic, watching the guest of honor open gifts that she's registered for and everyone has already seen because they were just shopping with the list in  hand, isn't exactly riveting entertainment. 

Why not try a presentation shower instead?  Guests are instructed to bring their gift unwrapped.  When they get there, they can fill out a tag with their name, affix it to the gift, and place it on the presentation table.  This way the bride (or mother-to-be) can just peruse the table and thank her guests as she mingles through the party.  Great, right?  It opens the shower up to so many other possibilities than bridal bingo!  Now you can have other kinds of entertainment that traditionally wouldn't work at a shower.  This is a great option for Jack and Jill showers, too, because the men would NEVER sit through a traditional shower!

Types of Table Service for Your Event

Every wedding is so much of the same...  You choose Chicken, Steak or Fish on your RSVP card, then when you get to the reception, it's American Plated Style.  You get a salad, your selection, and wedding cake, all plated in the kitchen and brought to your seat.  Yawn....  Stretch....  I like to play with different types of food service, it always is a hit with guests when they come to a wedding that's just a little bit different, special, and unexpected.  Here are some other choices besides American Plated Table Service:

French Table Service

Photo Courtesy of foodandwineaccess.com

Guests place settings are set for every choice available to them, fish knives, soup spoons, salad plates, anything that is on the menu.  The waiter may come to the table with a cart to show you your options for dining, and once you make your selection, he or she removes the unnecessary plates and utensils.  Sometime the cart display is only for appetizers and desserts, but sometimes it's every course of the meal.  Often, food will be assembled, cooked or garnished table-side on the cart.  You may have seen this with a flambe, salads, or the filleting of a fish. 

This type of service is usually a hit with guests, they can see the food before they select it and there is a form of entertainment in the presentation.  A great choice depending on the menu and if you have the space between tables to allow the servers to move.  Unfortunately, this can be expensive because you will need a qualified server for each table and many assistants.  Also, you will need a venue with a large kitchen to prepare the carts, which is usual in most event spaces.  

Russian Table Service

This can be a very elegant way to bring food to a wedding table, and is my personal favorite.  Once again the table is set with all of the utensils a guest will need, but only a charger.  The waiter will bring out the plate appropriate for the course, then return with a platter in hand to plate the food for each guest.  This allows the server to please each guest by giving them the desired portion.  The presentation of the platter can be quite beautiful, for instance if a rack of venison is being served, the kitchen will cut it into portions and reassemble it on the platter so the server will simply take a pre-cut portion for each guest.  This table service is quicker than the more labor intensive French, but still has a different feel.  Often two servers will come to each table, one with one choice of food and the other with a second, they will present the platters then come to each guest with an offering.  This will allow the guest to decide which they prefer.  

Family (or British) Style Service

A casual and intimate choice, Family Style Service is one in which platters are placed at the tables and guests will help themselves and pass the plates around.  Servers would carve any meat at the table, but most often the platters would be pre-cut and gusts could simply take the amount they prefer and pass the platter.  Since one course at a time would be served, tables would be set with utensils and a charger.  The wait staff would then bring out the plates appropriate for the course, and then the platters for the tables.  When guests have finished, they clear away the used plates and utensils and bring out the next course plates and platters.  

This type of service uses far less wait staff, and guests enjoy being able to decide what they will eat and how much.  Getting second helpings is always a hit as well.  Make sure the menu choices are easy for guests to get from platter to plate, for instance you wouldn't want to have something with too much sauce that can drip. 

Buffet Style Service

This type of service is another self-serving options, but unlike family style, where the food is brought to the tables, it is displayed on a separate food table.  Guests will be invited to get up from their tables, retrieve a plate from the end of the food table, and select food for their plates.  Sometime they will serve themselves, sometimes there is a buffet server who can serve the guest at the food table.  Guests then sit back at their tables to dine. 

I find this to be the the most relaxes way to feed a crowd.  Slong with American Plated Style, it is the most common.  There is good reason for it, too, you don't have to assign any seating, and you save quite a bit on the cost of wait staff.  Also, if you are serving several cuisines, buffet style service allows you to create vignettes of food.  

Have fun with your table service, think outside the Buffet and pre-plated dishes and consider something different.  How about Rodizio style?  Your guests will find the refreshing change worthwhile, I promise.

The Art of the Site Visit

On Monday, I took a client to visit some potential event venues for her upcoming corporate event.  I'll post reviews of some of the sites next, but before I do....

There is an art to a successful Site Visit, so are my top 10 tips:

1. Before you go, you've obviously called and made an appointment, but make sure you get the name of the person you will be meeting and a number to reach them in case you are running late.  
2. The day before your scheduled visit, call and confirm the appointment.  Event industry people in general are very busy and they could easily have forgotten or double booked you, I always call and confirm the day before.
3. When you get there, evaluate the parking situation.  Will your guests have to park the way you did?  Was it inconvenient?  Was it confusing to find?  Make notes on this because you may want to be sure to include a map in your invite if it is.  Is there a valet parking option?  
4. Cleanliness and Maintenance:  Make sure to look at the condition of the walls, carpeting, etc.  Is anything dirty or stained?  If so, ask if they can have it cleaned.  Are all of the stairs and elevators in working order?  Always check the bathroom, is it outdated?  Dirty?  Is it nearby the event location?  Ask to see the kitchen, is it clean?  Big enough to handle the size of your party? 
5. Facilities Check:  Are there any visual obstructions?  Can the room be divided if it's too big? Are the lights on a dimmer?  Are there any noise issues like planes overhead, nearby construction?  How will the flow work?  Where will servers come in and out of the event space from?  Where would they station food?
6. If it's a non-traditional site, ask about rentals, do they provide or should you bring your own?  Can you bring your own liquor?  
7. If you are having an audio/visual component to your event, look for outlets and make notes on their locations.  Ask about their electrical circuits, are all of the outlets on one circuit? 
8. Will you need anything additional from them?  Ask if they have easels, table signs, and anything else you might need.
9. Ask about any restrictions they have, like noise restrictions, time constraints (do you have to be out by a certain time?) Do they require you to use any of their vendors exclusively?  
10. Take pictures.  Use your phone and take pictures of what you discussed, i.e. stains they said they would clean.  Take a picture of your favorite thing about the venue and your least favorite thing, you'll forget if not.

What do you call a country with only pink automobiles?

A pink carnation!

Okay, don't use carnations (yuk) but you can certainly make your own floral arrangements.  I love buying fresh flowers and putting them all over my house, and when I throw a party in my own home, I always make my own arrangements, sometimes even from the flowers in my garden!  I grow peonies, black eyed susans, daisies, and other cutting flowers, and my forsythia's branches or hasta leaves make a great filler. 

Here's how to make your own arrangements...

First decide on your look.  Do you want something low and full or tall and sculptural?  Are you looking to coordinate with a color scheme?  Make those decisions and choose your container and flowers accordingly.

When you bring your flowers home, trim the ends with sharp scissors immediately and but them into a bucket of warm water until you are ready to use them.  When you're ready, you'll need to trim them a bit once again.  Also, always remove any leaves that will be in the water of your arrangements.

Also, keep the bouquet away from sunlight, and re trim and refill with water every other day or so.


You could decide to do one color in varying shades....

The shades of purple in this vase are created by lots of different flowers.  Start with the largest flowers first and keep spinning the container as you add flowers from largest to smallest to make sure it's full all the way around.  Here they used some grass inside the glass container to hide the stems or floral foam.  you can use large leaves, or even fill the glass with other things like citrus fruit, ornamental balls, river rocks, whatever you like.


I also like all one color arrangements...

I like white flowers in a white container in my dressing room.  To do a low arrangement like the one in the bowl, you will need to use floral foam.  Soak the foam in water for 15 minutes, then cut it to fit perfectly in your container, cut your flowers and stick into the foam, then add more water.  They will last for a long time.  Foam is also the key to using a basket or other unconventional container. 

And of course, you can always buy the grocery store bouquets and make them a lot more beautiful....

When you get them home, choose a shorter vase.  Cut the flower down rather short to fit into it, and here's the trick:  arrange them in clusters of the same flower instead of all dispersed like they sell it to you.

Finally, there is always the options of the same flower in many colors....

I love tulips, they are actually my favorite.   I love when they gracefully drape themselves and bend around the vase, but if you want to keep them standing straight longer, drop a penny into the water.  I don't know why that works, but it does.


Bring Spring in early with some flowers today!

~ Sue

The Sweetest 16

So my daughter turns 16 next month.  She and her best friend have decided they would like us to take them on a vacation together as a 16th birthday celebration rather than throw an elaborate Sweet 16 party.  Works for me!  (Ever hear the story of the Shoemaker's Son?) But of course we will have a party for her at home... and of course because she's turning 16, I expect a full house; and of course because I'm an event planner, I have some ideas.  Now remember, the we're paying for a trip so the real money is being spent there, so my budget party for about 40 people looks like this:

Since her real gift is the trip to the Caribbean, we thought we would do a Caribbean theme, and since she originally wanted something at a planetarium (if we did a real Sweet 16), we're doing a "Caribbean  Under the Stars" backyard barbecue.  We will borrow a few grills from family members so we can cook all of the food at once.  The menu will include some Caribbean favorites like crab dip and coconut shrimp appetizers, jerk chicken and fish taco main dishes, and rice and beans and mixed greens with tropical fruit salad.  To drink there will be buckets of beer and soda and of course, rum punch!  I plan to borrow chalk boards from family members to create menus all over so guests can help themselves, saving us from having to serve or hire servers.

We'll make a playlist of Caribbean music to start with and switch to a list of popular dance songs for later in the night.  My daughter has requested that the attire be Caribbean Chic (khakis and a shirt for men, sundresses for women) because she wants to wear a dress.  We'll find some appropriately Caribbean favors for guests, perhaps shell necklaces or small bottles of hot sauce, and other small touches that add to the theme like invitations, etc.  Now for the decor.  We will transform my backyard into a Caribbean party under the stars with a few tricks. 

Fist, I plan to camouflage some trouble spots with ribbon.  I have a part of my yard with trees that just don't let anything grow underneath, so it's a bare spot along the edge of my property.  I plan to hang spools and spools of ribbon from the trees to make a little curtain, add some festive color, and create some privacy.  I think it will make for a very pretty addition for the cost of some sale ribbon, and it may be a great spot for some pictures!

There will also be a dance floor (surprisingly inexpensive to rent) on the opposite side of the yard with a little "roof" over it of strung lights and matching ribbon.

I plan to fill the yard in between with some basic round tables dressed in white linen with white chairs, very Caribbean, and simple and also inexpensive to rent.  I will probably dot a few high top tables around, also draped in a white table cloth, to add some visual interest and give people a place to lean on while talking, too.  


And because inspiration hits me everywhere I am, I saw this centerpiece at Neiman Marcus and snapped a picture, I think I'll top the tables with this, so cheap and easy to recreate at home with various glass vases I have lying around.

The back of the yard will be reserved for some games, cornhole, croquet, badminton.... games guests can play before the food comes out. 

Finally, the part of the decor that will add the flair and the effect of "Caribbean Under the Stars" is the lights.  I plan to string lights over our patio, around the shed, on the trunks of trees, over the dance floor and along the edge of the deck.  all of those Christmas lights will come out in April and decorate our yard for our little girl, creating the magic of a fun party that will last into the night.

So you see, you can have a party on a budget that is still special.  Now I've got to go so I can rake up the leaves and plant some annuals!

The Perfect Powder Room for your Party

If you are hosting a party in your home, you've likely decided on the food, the music, the drinks, the guest list, the decor, getting the house cleaned, setting up the proper flow, and the countless other details that need attending to for a successful event, but one thing many hosts neglect to properly prepare is the powder room.  That's right, you didn't think you needed to do anything special besides clean up in there, did you?  Well, when I'm brought into someone's home to do a party, large or small, I always make sure the pay attention to all of the restrooms that guests will have access to as well.  Below are six tips for making sure your guests are comfortable through and through.

1.  Load up guest bathrooms with paper towel napkins so guests do not need to share a yucky soggy towel with everyone else.  I always like to put those towels into a pretty container, too.  Think outside the mirrored tray box and look at your serving pieces, there might be something really pretty to use. 

2.  Make sure the wastebasket is empty.  If it's already even partially full before the party starts, by the time guests start throwing those paper towel napkins into the trash, it's going to get ugly.

3.  Always have extra bathroom tissue nearby.  Perhaps a little basket filled with extras just under the roll will do the trick.  You wouldn't want to be the guest that found themselves stuck without, would you?

4.  Soap should be in a pump, not a bar.  This rule should never be broken in a party situation.  Even better is a no touch dispenser.  Nobody wants to go into a powder room and be forced to use a wet bar of soap.

5.  Candles and sprays should be present.  I always like to light a long lasting scented candle so guests feel comfortable and warm when they enter a powder room, and I like to leave a spray within view in case anyone wants to freshen up the room before they leave it.

6.  Finally, have Lysol wipes hidden away somewhere in the bathroom, because the last step is to inspect the room regularly and clean it!  About every two hours in the beginning of a party and every hour toward the end of the party, I go into all of the restrooms guests have access to and make sure they are stocked up on bathroom tissue, napkins and soap; make sure the trash can is not overflowing, inspect the burning candles, and wipe down all of the surfaces with the Lysol wipes, including the soap dispenser.  All of the work you've done before the party getting it ready will be lost on the poor guest who waited to use the restroom until the end of the night and walks into a mess of a space.

Rules of Party Music

The same way the music in a movie drives the mood for the audience, the music at a party will drive the mood for the guests.   With a few tips, you can set the perfect mood for you guests, too. 

The first think I like to do is close my eyes and imagine the mood at my event.  Is it going to be a young, hip crowd that would enjoy Jay-Z, or an older, sophisticated crowd that would more likely appreciate Maria Callas?  Do I want the room to jump with energy or float with grace?  Once I get the idea in my head, I know the style of music to create that mood.  This is no place for ironic choices or contradiction.  If your guests are expected to come and enjoy a sophisticated meal, you won't want to play Lil Kim.  I promise it will kill the atmosphere and make some guests uncomfortable and want to leave. 

With the type of music you want to play flowing into your playlist, be sure it's long enough for the whole party.  You don't have to rush to the stereo's side because there is a jarring lull in the room that is making conversations stall and guests fidget.  If you are using an itunes playlist, it will tell you at the bottom, how long the music will last.  I like it to be an hour and a half longer than the party itself so I can start the playlist a little before gusts arrive and it can go an hour longer if necessary.  If you're party is so much fun the guests don't want to leave, let them enjoy it for a little longer.  Plus, this gives you some flexibility to skip if a guests asks you to change a song that they are particularly not fond of, without shortening the party.

Now, turn up the volume!  Music it should be just loud enough so that people have to talk above it slightly.  That's the perfect volume to create a fun atmosphere without getting too distracting.  Any softer and guests won't even notice there is music (remember what I said about setting the mood).  

Finally, and most importantly, always have an emergency playlist at all times.  Have some fun, classic, high energy music ready to go in case your party needs a jolt of energy.  I named my emergency playlist "the defibrillator" and it has (to name a few) Black Eyed Peas - Smells like Funk, P!nk - Get this Party Started, Gypsy Kings - Hotel California, Gnarles Barkley - Gone Daddy Gone, and Stevie Wonder - Superstition.  I carry this playlist in my phone and if I'm ever at a party that needs some life, I play it.  It works every time.  

Wedding Themes

David Tutera's wedding show, My Fair Wedding, highlights one very big difference between a professionally planned wedding and a DIY wedding.  The theme!  While themes are very helpful in focusing a wedding's style, it's so difficult to make it look right.  To make that wedding convey the theme, surrounding the couple with the ideas they love, without going overboard or kitschy (unless kitsch is what you are going for!) is a matter left to the professionals.  

Let's take the theme of a peacock feather as an example.  Suppose a bride decides that she loves peacock feathers and all of their colors,  the bold greens, blues and purples.  How would you incorporate this into your wedding without overdoing it?  The first step is don't take it too literally.  For example, instead of a floral arrangements full of peacock feathers, which would be the obvious choice, try taking the colors as the inspiration and hinting at the theme...

Next, and this one will seem counter-intuitive, don't limit yourself with those colors!  Your theme colors will stand even more out when set off by a different color.  In this example, how about washing the walls in amber light to draw the eyes to the rich peacock colors?

Finally, don't overdo yourself in the theme.  Your wedding pictures are going to last through generations, please take it seriously.  You want to have a lasting image of YOU, not your theme, to hand down.  Just because Carrie Bradshaw had those giant peacock feathers in her hair at her over the top wedding, that doesn't make it right for you.  I'm not saying don't put feathers in your hair, just do it tastefully.  Try something in the back that can pinned in after your ceremony is over and you've removed your veil...

This just scratches the surface of how to handle a theme properly, but it's a good start!  Happy planning!

New Year's Traditions from Around the World

-->

Happy New Year!

Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Russian: S Novim Godom
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

In the spirit of Nationalities Services Center, whose board I serve on, I am writing my New Year’s post about the New Year’s Traditions from around the world.  Maybe you can incorporate some of these great ideas into your family’s New Year’s Eve and reflect on how small this world is?    Whatever you do, may it be a safe and wonderful holiday for you and yours, and we’ll see you next year!

Belgian New Year:  New Year's Day is called Nieuwjaarsdag at this time of the year the children save money to buy decorated paper for writing holiday greetings to parents and god parents. Motifs are golden cherubs and angels, colored roses, and ribbon tied garlands. On New Year's morning the children read what they have written to their parents and god parents.

Hungarian New Year:  In Hungary they burn effigies or a scapegoat known as "Jack Straw" which represented the evils and misfortunes of the past year to burn on New Year's Eve. Jack Straw is carried around the village before being burnt.

Japanese New Year:  To keep out evil spirits, they hang a rope of straw across the front of their houses, which stands for happiness and good luck. In Japan temple bells usher out the old year, and then comes the joyano-kane which is the "night-watch bell", this is a series of exactly 108 peals. These, it is said, free the faithful from the 108 "earthly desires" lambasted in the Buddhist canon. The ringing of the bell 108 times is done to free the year form evil. For those who follow the Shinto religion the house is decorated with evergreen s which are the symbol for eternal life and bamboo which is the symbol for honesty

Egyptian New Year:  On this day everyone dresses up in special clothes. The children are given sweets. Boys are given a sweet molded into the shape of a boy on horseback. Girls are given one in the shape of a girl wearing a dress. The sweets are surrounded by colored paper shaped like an accordion. The New Year for the adults is a day for visiting friends. In some villages the father or the head of the family goes from house to house wishing each family a happy New Year collecting people as they go, until they end up at the Mayor's house.

Brazilian New Year:  In Brazil the lentil is believed to signify wealth, so on the first day of the New Year they serve lentil soup or lentils and rice. In Brazil on New Year’s Eve priestesses of the local macumba voodoo cult dress in blue skirts and white blouses for a ceremony dedicated to the goddess of water, Yemanja. A sacrificial boat laden with flowers, candles and jewelery is pushed out to sea from Brazil's famous Ipenama beach in Rio de Janeiro.

What is a Cocktail Reception?

I'm planning a pre-gala VIP event next month and a cocktail reception is the perfect way to do it. 

What's a cocktail reception?  Typically it's a cocktail party that is held before dinner, so generally it would end around 7:30.  The one I am planning is going to be on a Thursday from 6-7:30.  Because of the timing, you can serve just hors d'ouvres, which should be a mix of hot and cold finger foods, as well as a nice cheese and fruit display, fresh breads, etc.  You can either serve beer, wine and a signature drink. 

One of the great things about a cocktail reception is that there are no set tables or the formalities of a meal, so it's a perfect way for people to get to know one another.  Guests will generally stand and mingle while light fare and cocktails are brought through on elegant platters.  This means, too, that you can use a smaller space, and save on the rentals and linens. 

The key to a successful cocktail reception is the servers.  Have enough servers on hand to walk through the party with a tray of hors d'ouvres or cocktails, then they should pass through again with the empty try to clean up any napkins, empty glasses, etc.  Your guests will have a wonderful time, get to know one another, have a drink or two, and leave with enough of an appetite to enjoy dinner at home. 

Go PLAY Yoga!

Looking for a great place to hold your child's birthday party?  Want to have a fun ladies night out?  I have just the place...  Peace Love Art Yoga (PLAY) in West Chester.  Focusing on art and yoga, owner Amy Schramm can customize an event for your needs and group.  Perhaps the moms want to get together for some wine, cheese and jewelry making?  Or the kids want to learn some fun, child friendly stretching poses?   How about hoola hooping?  You name the type of play and she's got it.  You don't even need me, she does the invitations, the decorating, everything!  Go Play!  goplayyoga.com

Fancy Party Ideas from Turkey

While on vacation in Turkey, I picked up a few fancy things that I plan to use in upcoming events.  Here are the top three...

1. Fancy drinks:  We were in Bodrum one night and I ordered a mojito that come to me with a lit sparkler poked through a piece of lime.  It was very festive!

2. Fancy foods:  The food there was prepared so simply, but tasted so great and would make for wonderful passed hors d'oeuvres.  A spicy chicken shish-kebab or adana kebab could replace the same old chicken satay, and sigara borek could replace the requisite spanakopita every time.

Sigara Borek is feta cheese and parsley
wrapped in filo dough and fried.

3. Fancy coffee:  Instead of offering espresso, try a Turkish coffee.  Even the process of watching it being made and poured is beautiful.

Getting the guests from cocktails to dinner

How about this?

Memorial Day Entertaining

Ah the Memorial Day Weekend Barbecue.  The signal of the beginning of summer, the official first day of white jeans, open pools, and sunburns.  The red, white, and blue decor, the smell of bbq chicken and burgers, and the first flowers  in bloom in the yard.  What's not to love about it?  Summer is my favorite season, so this just kicks everything off.  Instead of your normal, everyday barbeque, how about taking it up a notch this year?  We've all done Caribbean, or Luau themes, but here are a few ideas that you might not have tried...

New England Style Clambake

Easy to make (just do a google search and you'll find a bunch of recipes that you can customize to your liking and budget), and easy to clean up (everything goes in the trash).  Use the New England beach, red and white checkers and nautical blue as your decorating inspiration, lay out some picnic blankets and have some fun.

Mediterranean Grill

Give your guests the feeling of being on the beautiful shores of the Western Mediterranean.  Using olive oil and citrus, cook up some chicken shish-kebab, lamb burgers, mussels and whole fish.  Grill up some pita and vegetables, serve gazpacho and sangria. Don't forget the feta, the olives, grape leaves and the grilled long and hot peppers. I would decorate the tables in white tablecloths with sprinkles of Mediterranean blues and turquoise.  Think elegant and rustic.

Surf and Turf

The key to this is not to overdo it.  A small, top notch steak, a lobster tail, a baked potato, and some grilled vegetables are all you need.  Ad some good wine and you've got yourself an elegant barbecue that is sure to impress.  Use the good china outside for this one!

Site Visit: Penn Museum

I serve on the board of directors for Nationalities Services Center, an organization that's been serving immigrants and refugees for 90 years.  To celebrate our 90th anniversary, we are of course having a big party.  This year's 90th anniversary gala will likely be held at the University of Pennsylvania's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology.  Earlier this week, I did a site visit and man, this place is cool. 

I walked in from the South Street entrance to this amazing garden and immediately wanted to have a party there.  Such a beautiful space.  I'm imagining high top tables peppered throughout with floating candles and flowers in that center pond.  Just so pretty. 

 Our gala would be held in the Chinese Rotunda among the artifacts and the Upper Egypt Room among the Pharaohs and mummies.......

 

But then I took a little tour of the rest of the event spaces like the Lower Egypt room.  Just imagine a wedding ceremony at the foot of the sphinx!

Like this adventurous couple did...

There are so many interesting and cool details about this place, the authentic Tiffany windows, the cobblestone driveway, the dramatic doors, the artifacts...  Definitely worth a look when you are looking for a unique space for your next event!

Outdoor Events and Temperature Control

Spring, Summer and Fall are coming and you may be considering an outdoor event for these outdoor seasons.  Have you thought about the many options for controlling the temperature out there?  The weather can be unpredictable, so you may want to know your options and have them ready to keep you guests happily out there with you.

For warm weather, don't forget to hand out hand fans and have some golf umbrellas around in case anyone wants personal shade.  My two favorite options for cooling the warm weather are:

Shade Sails offer a stylish option for shading your guests.  They come in all colors to coordinate with your event and offer a lot of flexibility.  You can shade each table that guests are seated at, or an entire space.  They can give an air of whimsy, modern sophistication, or just vertical visual interest while keeping guests out of the harsh sunlight.

Misting Fans can be used to create dramatically cooler results.  At an event, though, your guests likely don't want to get wet.  If there is humidity under 60% and little wind, setting misting nozzles up and by the time the cooled air falls to the ground, your guests will be in temperatures up to 20 degrees cooler!








In cold weather, serve some hot soups and teas and have some pashminas on hand for guests to wrap themselves in some soft warmth.  My absolute favorite cold weather heating option is a patio heater.  

Patio Heaters, made popular by restaurants, are available for rent and are by far the best choice when the temperatures are just colder than comfortable.  You can spread them out around your event and the ladies who are dressed in strapless thin dresses can stand under them while the gentlemen in hot suits can stand just out of the reach of the heater.  If you place one at each table, they can be adjusted to each guests comfort level while eating, too.  They make everyone happy and they look sleek and unobtrusive.

Site Selection

I'm in the site selection phase of two different events right now, so I thought I would share some advice on this.  First you should research online and ask around for venues that suit your particular needs...  capacity, location, etc.  Then make appointments.  This is critical, you have to see the space in person, and meet with a representative so you can ask questions.  Bring a list of questions with you, and the same list for each venue you visit so that you can compare apples to apples when it's time to decide.  Your questions may include parking/ valet, a/v equipment, in house lighting, wifi, menu and catering options, payment options...  there are many questions you may want to consider before booking a venue.  Make sure you ask them all and write them down. 

While in the space, look with a critical eye at the condition of the floors, carpets and restrooms.  Check for visual obstructions if that is an issue for you.  Make note of the number and location of outlets.  Take pictures, if you can, of the chairs and furniture they will provide.  Make note of the colors of the space and see if that will coordinate with your vision.

Finally, pay attention to the staff.  Are they friendly and accommodating?  If they aren't doing everything they can to get your business, they certainly aren't going to do do everything they can once they get your business.  This is likely your biggest expense, so make sure you don't have any buyers remorse!

Where to start planning your event

Are you embarking on the process of planning an event?  Perhaps it's as the committee chair for your charity's fundraiser, or you just got engaged on Valentine's Day and you're about to start planning?  Maybe you are going to plan your family's family reunion this summer?  Whatever it is, if you are staring this beast in the face and are starting to feel overwhelmed, your muse is here to help.  Here are the first two things you need to do get you moving....

First, sit down.  Take a deep breath and and think about this event, what you want it to be.  How do you want it to feel?  What colors inspire that feeling for you?  What is the message you would like to convey to your guests?  Write all of that down and use it for the basis of your theme.  Your theme could be a color scheme (your family crest colors for the family reunion), a seasonal theme (winter wonderland for a winter wedding), a place (your parent's favorite vacation for their wedding anniversary), whatever you like.  When you've finished brainstorming, you'll have a theme, some colors, an idea of what you want, stick to that.  Make sure that everything you do from now on serves the purpose of inspiring that feeling and that message to your guests.

Next, make a budget.  I'm sure you've been on the theknot or some other very useful website, but that generic one-size fits all budget is not necessarily for YOU.  While they may say that 50% of your budget should be spent on food and location, and 10% on your dress, it's not as cut and dry as that...   If you are the type of woman who uses her dining room as her walk-in closet and you are just dying for that silk organza Vera Wang gown that's $11,000, but you're only having 75 guests to a cocktail reception at your favorite little neighborhood restaurant; it's your wedding, make it fit you.  Spend more on the parts of the wedding that mean more to you and less on the parts that don't matter as much.  Whatever you do, though, decide that now and make a budget and stick to it.  If you decide to spend more on the cake than you budgeted for, take something out someplace else.  

Once you have a theme and a budget, the rest will fall into place.  If you are still feeling stymied, a good event planner will help you through all of this.  I have forms and questionnaires I use to help decide on the right budget and help the client decide on a theme.  Many clients want to plan their event themselves, and just need help getting started.  There is a service for that, too.  Just ask for a consultation.

Good luck!

Mitzvah Madness!

Three tips from some pros at the ISES Philadelphia:

1) The interesting thing about planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is that, unlike so many other events, the planning can start waaay in advance, up to 3 years in advance.  That means you have a 10 year old when you begin thinking about it.  That 3 year old, though, will have 3 more years worth of friends by the time you actually host this event.  While you may say he/ she only has about 20 friends now, that number will get to 75 by then.  Plan for that.  That also means that what your 10 year old likes now will definitely change by 13, too.  While she may like pink now, she may hate it at 13.  While he may love Harry Potter now, he will have outgrown it by 13.  Don't feel rushed to pick a theme or color scheme right away.  While you may have had to choose a date because your synagogue  books up years in advance, and you may decide to hire your planner, book your site and the sought after entertainment while you're at it.  Take a breather and let your child grow into the person they are to become for next year or two.

2) 13 is the hardest age to entertain.  I have an almost 15 year old daughter and I can tell you 13 was not fun.  She was a pleasure and so sweet and loving, and really a good girl, but at 13 children are so self conscious and concerned about what others think and what is cool.  Because of this, you MUST have entertainers that are experience with Bar/ Bat Mitzvahs.  It is a world unto itself, your room is almost evenly divided into kids and adults, the kids are very young, so age appropriateness is an issue.  After your site and your planner, your entertainment is the next thing to book because the good ones are working every weekend.  And you want a good one.

3) Take some time to think about catering.  Hiring a good kosher caterer requires a little more thought than usual.  They will need to use a kosher kitchen, so if your site does not have one (and trust me, they don't), the caterer will need to set up a mobile kitchen on site.  Make sure you discuss that with your venue.  Also, they will need to bring in special serveware (nothing porous) so don't assume you will be using the plates that come with the site.  This all can be done, while it sounds overwhelming, the professionals you hire are used to this sort of accommodation, so keep the lines of communication open and everything will be great!

Of course, you can message me for more tips and trick or stay tuned for other ideas.  Mazel tov!

Entertaining Tip: Dine in Style

Entertaining Tip:  For your formal dinner table, water goblets should be placed above the tip of the knife, with red and white wine glasses clustered a little further back. For less formal occasions, it's fine to use tumblers in place of water goblets.

Dine in style!