I am excited to have some of my favorite recipes featured in the Birthday Issue of Ceci Style on the Ceci New York website. Ceci New York is a company focused on producing luxury invitations and corporate identity design. Ceci has taken her unique sense of style to become a true trendsetter and spokesperson for the wedding and event industry.
Check out Ceci Style for not only my recipes but also great tips from some of my favorite event industry colleagues including Ron Ben-Israel Cakes, planning advice from Mindy Weiss and Xochitl Gonzales and design by David Stark.
Until next time.
Cheers!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Valentines Day
I think you could send your love one a note in the mail (there's still time) to tell them to reserve the 14th for something special. Give them the date, time and place. If you have kids, see if the in-laws or neighbor kids can take them out of the house for a bit.
I recommend keeping the menu simple and easy. The last thing you want to do is spend your evening in the kitchen slaving over a hot meal. Therefore, why not prepare a fondue paired with a good bottle of wine or champagne. Or why not purchase bite sized treats you can pick up from your favorite restaurant on your way home from work.
Candle light is a great way to add ambiance and warmth without spending a lot of money. Simply turn down the lights, light the candles and dot your home with a few blooms you can pick up from your local florist or grocery store. Stay away from roses around Valentine's Day as they are common and tend to be more expensive. Think of a stem of orchids where you get multiple blooms that you can separate and float in bowls around your home, or even something large and bright like stems of pink and red amaryllis.
Remember, keep it easy and simple, because sometimes less is more and it often says I love you…
Happy Valentine's Day and cheers!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Destination Weddings - Charleston, South Carolina
While there are many great, exotic destinations for weddings, one of my personal favorites, and one of the most popular, is right around the corner in Charleston, South Carolina. I had the pleasure of planning and designing a wedding in Charleston and want to share the history and beauty of this charming Southern city.
Given that the Bride was living in London, the Groom in New York and most guests were from either North Carolina or New Jersey, this was truly a destination event. Travel logistics aside, we also had the challenge of bringing the Groom's Greek Orthodox heritage into the Wedding. While it was a lot of work, the result was a beautiful, fun weekend in the perfect setting.
Guests arriving to Charleston were greeted at the gracious Mills House Hotel in Charleston's Historic district.
Given that the Bride was living in London, the Groom in New York and most guests were from either North Carolina or New Jersey, this was truly a destination event. Travel logistics aside, we also had the challenge of bringing the Groom's Greek Orthodox heritage into the Wedding. While it was a lot of work, the result was a beautiful, fun weekend in the perfect setting.
Guests arriving to Charleston were greeted at the gracious Mills House Hotel in Charleston's Historic district.
The Mills House was perfect not only due to the fact that it is so close to the many wonderful sites in Downtown Charleston including exceptional restaurants such as Magnolias and SNOB. I must say these are my favorites in Charleston and I definitely had to add a couple of notches to my belt after this visit! The other great feature of the Mills House is that it was directly adjacent to the Reception venue, Historic Hibernian Hall.
After guests arrived they were transported to the rehearsal dinner at Middleton Place Plantation along the Ashley River. If you ever get to Charleston a visit to the old plantations along Ashley River Road is a must. You really do get a feel for the grandeur of the old south. Guests for this dinner were treated to traditional southern cuisine courtesy of Duvall Catering and able to stroll through the magnificent grounds of the Plantation.
The day of the wedding was the type of warm, sunny day that you expect in the South. The wedding began with a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
The Bride was stunning in her Oscar De La Renta gown and the happy couple and their bridal party were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather and all of the gorgeous parks and spectacular settings for photos that can be found throughout Charleston. From the waterfront to all of the historic buildings, Charleston provides ample photo opportunities that are perfect for a wedding. For Cate and Mike, Shannon Michelle was the perfect photographer to capture all of their wedding images.
Following the ceremony guests were escorted to their white trolleys, provided by the terrific staff at Absolutely Charleston. They were then taken back to Hibernian Hall for a grand Southern reception. The Bride wanted to keep the floral and decor simple and traditional. With a beautiful historic space we did not want the decor to be overpowering and kept the colors light, and the atmosphere garden like. Light pinks and green were the dominant colors and the room looked beautiful yet simple, just what the bride wanted.
East Coast Entertainment provided the band and the 200 guests kept the party going well into the night.
Overall it was a beautiful destination wedding in a truly charming city. Thank you Charleston for being so accommodating!
Until the next great destination..........
Cheers!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
SHAWN RABIDEAU EVENTS & DESIGN NAMED WINNER IN THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS 2012
Shawn Rabideau Events & Design is excited to announce that we have been selected as a 2012 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section in The Knot magazine and Weddings from The Knot, www.theknot.com, the number-one wedding resource that’s most trusted by brides. This is the second year in a row that we have been voted the winner for The Knot Best of Weddings.
The Knot Best of Weddings 2012 provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources. From New York florists and Seattle
Monday, January 23, 2012
Avoid Wedding Stress - Workout financial matters up front!
Money makes the world go around and its always the bone of contention when planning any part of a wedding…
Clients often ask what is the first order of business when it comes to planning a wedding? My response is always the same, "what's your budget"? How much do you want to spend? Who is paying for what? Or for that matter who is paying for who? Answer these questions and you can move forward with the planning process.
But what if you simply can't bear the burden of paying for everything? Let's face it with everyone is tightening their belts and sitting on their wallets. My advice is to sit down with everyone involved in the wedding planning process and lay it all out on the table. Who is paying for what and what are they willing to spend. If all parties involved are up front and lay their expectations out from the beginning then it will avoid, hurt feelings, resentment, and even jealousy down the road. And by everyone I mean the bride, groom, parents of the bride and parents of groom. Unconventional yes…honest, absolutely!
This is just skimming the surface of what is often a larger issue; however, if the lines of communication stay open then it will make the planning process much less stressful.
Until next time –
Cheers!
Clients often ask what is the first order of business when it comes to planning a wedding? My response is always the same, "what's your budget"? How much do you want to spend? Who is paying for what? Or for that matter who is paying for who? Answer these questions and you can move forward with the planning process.
But what if you simply can't bear the burden of paying for everything? Let's face it with everyone is tightening their belts and sitting on their wallets. My advice is to sit down with everyone involved in the wedding planning process and lay it all out on the table. Who is paying for what and what are they willing to spend. If all parties involved are up front and lay their expectations out from the beginning then it will avoid, hurt feelings, resentment, and even jealousy down the road. And by everyone I mean the bride, groom, parents of the bride and parents of groom. Unconventional yes…honest, absolutely!
This is just skimming the surface of what is often a larger issue; however, if the lines of communication stay open then it will make the planning process much less stressful.
Until next time –
Cheers!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Destination Weddings - Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet
As I mentioned last week, I think Winter is the perfect time to share some of my favorite locations for Destination Weddings and Honeymoons.
Last week I had the pleasure of getting out of the cold temps here in New York City and exchanging them for warmer ones in Saint Lucia. This trip wasn't for pleasure, but rather business as I have a client getting married there in the Spring.
The flight from New York City was fairly easy; only 5 hours direct on Jet Blue. If going this way I would recommend spending the extra money to get the "more room" seating. You have priority boarding and you have more leg room, both a plus when flying. And because you're traveling over international waters the movies are free! Pretty much a win, win if you ask me!
Upon landing in Saint Lucia I was quickly welcomed with the warm breeze and sunshine - my heart skipped a beat and I knew I would fall in love, if not for the weather, but for the nice people that greeted me on my way to customs.
After clearing customs my hour ride was not one for the faint of heart…winding roads that would make the most avid rollercoaster lover turn green. But alas, upon my arrival to Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet I heard the breaking waves and saw the most pristine waters I've ever experienced!
Each room is unique and different…no cookie cutters here! Most have an open floor plan and all overlook the Pitons. The rooms above mine all have infinity pools and the fourth "wall" is actually the outdoors. That's right; each room is wide open to the elements. Now have no fear…Bugs are attracted to me like girls are to Justin Beiber and I am happy to report I left Saint Lucia with no bug bites, which is due largely to the elements and the Caribbean breezes. But if you are fearful of bites, each bed is equipped with its own mosquito netting.
Each room has fantastic amenities, with Molton Brown Soap, amazing showers, and hot tub. However, guys if you are on your honeymoon during the playoffs you'll have to rely on your smart phone to tell you the score…there are no TV's or Radios to speak off. The experience is meant to bring you back to nature and appreciate the scenery around you, not be bogged down with work, game scores or phone calls from your parents to see how your trip is going. Further, if you are on your honeymoon…I would hope you aren't worried about the game, but rather "enjoying your time" with your new bride!
After getting my orientation I made my way up the 168 stairs to the Celestial Terrace to catch the most spectacular sunset I've ever seen! With a glass of champagne and amazing hors d' oeuvres I enjoyed watching the sun set over what would be my first night at Jade Mountain.
The best part of Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet is you can easily everything they have to offer from scuba, to snorkeling to a walk into the Caribbean's only "drive in volcano" where you can actually drive or walk into what was once an active volcano. But don't be mistaken, you get a sense and smell for the power this volcano once had as the sulfur springs are very much alive.
From there you are taken to the sulfur springs and the botanical garden where you can get a sense of the flowers and fauna of the Caribbean. Or you can take a hike up the pitons to see the beauty of the Island …the activities are endless. Or if you want to sit and relax you can do that too.
The resort is perfect for those planning a destination wedding, those celebrating their honeymoon or for those that want to celebrate many happy years of marriage. Whatever the occasion I highly recommend you visit Anse Chasetnet and Jade Mountain.
Until next time -
Cheers!
Last week I had the pleasure of getting out of the cold temps here in New York City and exchanging them for warmer ones in Saint Lucia. This trip wasn't for pleasure, but rather business as I have a client getting married there in the Spring.
The flight from New York City was fairly easy; only 5 hours direct on Jet Blue. If going this way I would recommend spending the extra money to get the "more room" seating. You have priority boarding and you have more leg room, both a plus when flying. And because you're traveling over international waters the movies are free! Pretty much a win, win if you ask me!
After clearing customs my hour ride was not one for the faint of heart…winding roads that would make the most avid rollercoaster lover turn green. But alas, upon my arrival to Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet I heard the breaking waves and saw the most pristine waters I've ever experienced!
My Major Domo, Vito (or Butler) quickly showed me my room which has the most amazing views of the Piton's; who wouldn't mind waking up to these every morning?!
Each room is unique and different…no cookie cutters here! Most have an open floor plan and all overlook the Pitons. The rooms above mine all have infinity pools and the fourth "wall" is actually the outdoors. That's right; each room is wide open to the elements. Now have no fear…Bugs are attracted to me like girls are to Justin Beiber and I am happy to report I left Saint Lucia with no bug bites, which is due largely to the elements and the Caribbean breezes. But if you are fearful of bites, each bed is equipped with its own mosquito netting.
Each room has fantastic amenities, with Molton Brown Soap, amazing showers, and hot tub. However, guys if you are on your honeymoon during the playoffs you'll have to rely on your smart phone to tell you the score…there are no TV's or Radios to speak off. The experience is meant to bring you back to nature and appreciate the scenery around you, not be bogged down with work, game scores or phone calls from your parents to see how your trip is going. Further, if you are on your honeymoon…I would hope you aren't worried about the game, but rather "enjoying your time" with your new bride!
After getting my orientation I made my way up the 168 stairs to the Celestial Terrace to catch the most spectacular sunset I've ever seen! With a glass of champagne and amazing hors d' oeuvres I enjoyed watching the sun set over what would be my first night at Jade Mountain.
After a great night's sleep, and waking up to the sunrise over the Pitons, I was excited to see the property to learn more of just what St. Lucia had to offer my client. During your first morning at Jade Mountain it’s highly recommended that all new arrivals take the hour long orientation tour of the property. It may seem tedious at first, but trust me, you get a clear history of how and why Anse Chasenet and Jade Mountain came to be. Since the age of 26 founder, architect and visionary Nick Troubetzkoy has put his blood sweat and tears into what has become the Caribbean's top 5 Star Resort. Having met his wife Karoline you get a sense for the passion they have, and this passion truly is steeped into each and every person that works at the resort!
The best part of Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet is you can easily everything they have to offer from scuba, to snorkeling to a walk into the Caribbean's only "drive in volcano" where you can actually drive or walk into what was once an active volcano. But don't be mistaken, you get a sense and smell for the power this volcano once had as the sulfur springs are very much alive.
From there you are taken to the sulfur springs and the botanical garden where you can get a sense of the flowers and fauna of the Caribbean. Or you can take a hike up the pitons to see the beauty of the Island …the activities are endless. Or if you want to sit and relax you can do that too.
The resort is perfect for those planning a destination wedding, those celebrating their honeymoon or for those that want to celebrate many happy years of marriage. Whatever the occasion I highly recommend you visit Anse Chasetnet and Jade Mountain.
Until next time -
Cheers!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Honeymoon Destinations - Londolozi
While we are now in the middle of winter with the cold and snow setting in, I thought it would be a good time to share my favorite Honeymoon and destination wedding locations. I know many couples are looking into Honeymoon options for their 2012 weddings and, given all of the amazing destinations, it's always good to hear about some really special places.
The first destination I want to share with you is an amazing private game reserve in South Africa. Last May I had an opportunity to visit Londolozi and it was an experience I can never forget. I know you might be thinking "A game reserve for a Honeymoon" but trust me, the excitement of the safari, combined with spectacular scenery, impeccable service and wonderful cuisine make it the perfect Honeymoon destination. To top it off, the private villas add a special romantic touch and the staff goes out of their way to create the perfect setting.
The surprises and attention to detail are not just at the lodge but throughout the game reserve. Just imagine our group's surprise one evening as we were coming back from Safari only to stop at a pond filled with hippos and be greeted by a bar stocked with a selection of our favorite vodkas.
Needless to say, there are many reasons to visit South Africa and after spending time at Londolozi I agree it is certainly one of them. If you are planning your Honeymoon, or any special trip, definitely add this to your list.
Here's to happy travels and:
Cheers!
Shawn
The first destination I want to share with you is an amazing private game reserve in South Africa. Last May I had an opportunity to visit Londolozi and it was an experience I can never forget. I know you might be thinking "A game reserve for a Honeymoon" but trust me, the excitement of the safari, combined with spectacular scenery, impeccable service and wonderful cuisine make it the perfect Honeymoon destination. To top it off, the private villas add a special romantic touch and the staff goes out of their way to create the perfect setting.
The surprises and attention to detail are not just at the lodge but throughout the game reserve. Just imagine our group's surprise one evening as we were coming back from Safari only to stop at a pond filled with hippos and be greeted by a bar stocked with a selection of our favorite vodkas.
Of course, no safari would be complete without the wildlife, and in that regard Londolozi does not dissappoint. Situated in the Kruger National Park, Londolozi is known for its Rhinos, Leopards and Lions. You can actually follow the lives of these animals on the Londolozi Blog. Seeing all of the amazing animals in their natural habitat is an experience like no other. It truly gives you a new appreciation for nature.
Needless to say, there are many reasons to visit South Africa and after spending time at Londolozi I agree it is certainly one of them. If you are planning your Honeymoon, or any special trip, definitely add this to your list.
Here's to happy travels and:
Cheers!
Shawn
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