Shawn Rabideau Events and Design

Avoid Wedding Stress - Workout financial matters up front!

2012-01-23T14:22:00.000-05:00

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!

Destination Weddings - Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet

2012-01-18T12:29:00.002-05:00

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!

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!

Honeymoon Destinations - Londolozi

2012-01-11T21:11:00.001-05:00

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.

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

Nutty Hot Choc-tail Recipe

2012-01-02T09:40:00.000-05:00

With the holidays now a memory, and the temperature rapidly dropping, I thought this would be a good time to re-post my favorite hot chocolate recipe. It is a great way to keep warm on a cold winter day. Enjoy!

Follow the recipe to your favorite hot chocolate mix (I use Godiva, 8 oz). Add 1 1/2 oz Vanilla Stoli vodka, 1 1/2 oz Frangelico, dash Cayenne Pepper. Pour into mugs and top with whip cream. Enjoy by a crackling fire.

Until next time, cheers!

Shawn

Tammy and Val's Central Park Wedding

2011-12-29T14:39:00.001-05:00

As 2011 comes to a close I was reviewing my blog posts and noticed that there are so many great weddings and events with wonderful clients that have not yet been shared on the blog. It is time to fix this and I want to start with an amazing couple whose wedding took place last September.

I love planning weddings where the Bride and Groom come from very different backgrounds. The challenge of combining cultures is one I happily accept because the result is always a beautiful and unique experience for the couple and their guests. The wedding of Tammy and Val, that took place at the Boathouse in Central Park, was such a challenge with Tammy being from South Africa and Val being from Bulgaria. I had so much fun planning the wedding with Tammy and her mother Patsy.

The wedding day got off to a great start with Tammy, her mother, sister and bridesmaids getting ready in their Suite at the Plaza Hotel. As always, Stacey Lyn and her staff at Once Upon a Bride did an amazing job on Tammy's hair and make-up.

Of course, Central Park is the setting for many a fairytale New York Wedding and it certainly did not disappoint for Tammy and Val. The beautiful weather and lush greenery created the perfect backdrop for their wedding.

Tammy was absolutely stunning in her Vera Wang gown. The simple black sash and a bouquet of white ranunculus and anenomes with black centers added the perfect touch, maintaining the beautiful, classic look Tammy wanted. A simple white orchid was used for Val's boutonniere to coordinate with the Bride's bouquet.

Simplicity and elegance were the key words in designing the ceremony and reception for Tammy and Val. The ceremony took place in the main room of the Central Park Boathouse. Glass vases filled with white Cymbidium Orchids and topped by a floating candle lined the aisle. The Chuppa was also simple and elegant. White satin fabric was tied in the corners with a black ribbon to coordinate with the Brides's dress. The corners were then accented with simple white Phalaenopsis Orchids

Following the Ceremony guests were escorted to the outdoor patio for a lovely cocktail reception while my staff quickly worked to turn the main Ballroom into a fantasy setting for Tammy and Val's reception. The room looked spectacular with each table having a glass cylinder bursting with Bamboo. The centerpieces were then accented with white orchids, anenomes, antherium, roses and calla lilies. We were fortunate to have everything captured on film by Lindsay Flanagan Photography and also to have the video services of Steve Young Productions.

Continuing with the simple elegance theme, Elizabeth Hodes designed a classic wedding cake with a black band around each layer and anenomes with black centers on the corners, all tying into the Bride's dress and bouquet.

Of course, no wedding is complete without great entertainment. For their wedding, Tammy and Val chose to use "Synergy" from On the Move Entertainment. By combining a DJ with live performers, Synergy really gets the crowd going and this wedding was no exception. The happy couple and their guests danced the night away and everyone had an amazing time.

Of course, the true measure of any events' success is the happiness of the couple and their guests. Judging by the happiness on the face of Tammy's proud Father, I would say this was a job well done.

Best to Tammy and Val and to all of you for a great New Year!

Cheers,

Shawn

Repurposing Holiday Decor for New Year's Entertaining

2011-12-07T15:50:00.003-05:00

I had the honor of appearing on FOX News Live online today and it was so much fun interacting with Jonathan…he really gets into the segments and makes them so much fun!

Today's segment was all about repurposing your holiday décor for New Years entertaining. With everyone's crazy schedules and tighter wallets who wants to spend the time or money decorating twice during the holiday season?

Therefore I have a few tips to help you change and spruce up your décor for your New Years Eve party!

First - start with the invite:

FineStationary.com has some amazing invites and if you haven't sent out those holiday greeting cards yet take a look at their site. They have hundreds of amazingly affordable cards, invites, gifts and more!

Here we have a bright and festive invite that counts you down to New Years and the placemat that can be monogrammed with your initials all from FineStationary.com. These simple touches can go a long way when decorating for the holidays and the best part is the placemat can be reused for other holidays!

I don't know about you, but when I decorate for the holiday I want my décor to reflect both holidays and a great way to do this is to take a wreath (I purchased it from 1-800-Flowers.com) and transition it from Christmas to New Years. I removed the Tartan ribbon, gold drums and berries and added my own silver and white ornaments I had left over from last year. I then took baby's breath in clusters and added that to the wreath for a wintery feel. With left over ribbon from gifts I received, I added an accent for hanging and voila I quickly, easily and with little money repurposed the wreath for New Years! It's that easy!

I always have people asking for new and inventive ways to decorate…I took a variety of mismatched glasses from my cabinets and created candle holders. And to add a little texture and "bling" I used my left over Christmas cookie decorating beads and sugar in the bottom of each glass. Again, it's simple and easy and super budget friendly!

And finally instead of the typical red cosmo I used a white cosmo with silver sanding sugar. It's different and fun and your guests will appreciate it!

Remember when entertaining this holiday is doesn't have to be stressful or complicated. Keep it simple…create a list and a budget and you should do just fine.

Merry and Happy Everything!

Shawn

PS: To see the full clip on Fox News click on the following link.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1315007527001/

The wines of Spain

2011-12-06T12:29:00.001-05:00

First, my apologies for being MIA on the blog. The past month has been a whirlwind with planning some great events, spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Madison, GA and taking our first site visit to El Ciego, Spain as we plan a destination wedding for a great couple next May.

With the Holidays approaching I know many of you will be buying and sharing great wines with family and friends. Following our trip to the Marques de Riscal Winery in the Rioja region of Spain I have to share how impressed I was with the tremendous wines that we sampled on our trip.

First, I must say, if you ever have a chance to visit the Rioja wine region and to stay at the Hotel Marques de Riscal, jump at it. This Frank Gehry designed hotel is absolutely stunning and the region itself is beautiful.

When in the region I also highly recommend a visit to the nearby Ysios Winery that was designed by renown Architect Santiago Calatrava.

I had the good fortune to visit the wine country of Spain in the Fall when all of the leaves on the vines were in their spectacular Autumn colors. Between the character of the area's Medieval towns such as the walled cities of Laguardia and Briones, the beautiful scenery and the amazing wines, this is a great area to visit and will make a gorgeous setting for the wedding.

Going back to the reason for this post, the wines of Spain are definitely stellar. We had the chance to sample many great wines, one of my personal favorites is the Reserva from the Marques de Riscal Winery. It is a robust red with a very nice finish. For lovers of white wine, the Limousin, also from Marques de Riscal will definitely appeal to palates favoring Chardonnay.

This is not to discount the numerous other great wines and wineries in Spain. My recommendation is to experiment and find the wines that are most pleasing to you. Everyone's palate is different so find your own favorite wine and have a great holiday!

Cheers!

Get my tips for great Holiday snacks and side dishes tomorrow on TVLand

2011-11-11T10:45:00.001-05:00

It is that time of year when everyone is getting ready to entertain for the Holidays. While we all have our favorite traditional snacks and side dishes, I think it is always fun to try something new to surprise my guests.

Tomorrow night, Saturday, November 12th, I am sharing some of my favorite recipes with viewers during "Best Night In" on TV Land. So tune in to see your favorite episodes of "Everyone Loves Raymond" beginning at 9PM and you can get some great recipes and helpful tips for your Holiday entertaining.

Cheers,

Shawn

Check out my new Halloween tips on Fox News

2011-10-26T16:38:00.000-04:00

In case you missed me on Fox News talking about tips for a great Halloween, check out the link below!

Fox News

Cheers,

Shawn

Making the "Farm to Table" Concept work for your wedding. From Guest Blogger Eric Hildebrand

2011-10-18T13:35:00.000-04:00

Eric Hildebrand

I am excited to have Eric Hildebrand as our guest blogger today. Eric has a great perspective on the events industry and is always spot on in his advice. Read his thoughts on Farm to Table weddings let us know your take on the whole "Farm to Table" Movement.

Cheers,

Shawn

From Farm To Wedding!

Local and sustainable are two words that you’ve been hearing more and more in the food media. Even though this is an old way of consuming food, this idea of eating “local” and “ sustainable” is a very new idea to American culture. This new idea or way of eating has created increased interest and is changing the way we eat and think about food.

Last fall, I attended a wedding held at the Locust Grove Estate in New York’s Hudson Valley. The couple chose to have a family style reception. Guests were seated along long farm tables surrounded by the estate’s Victorian style gardens. A bordering kitchen garden set the tone for the evening, as guests would indulge in a menu that was locally sourced, with fresh and sustainable ingredients.

Guests sat down to a table filled with large bowls of locally grown apples, freshly baked breads and a selection of condiments. Not only were the apples from a near by orchard, but the bread flour came from a local mill. As the meal progressed, large white bowls and platters kept making their way to the table. Each platter filled with simply prepared foods that celebrated their locality and freshness. The best part was that every dish served made an impression on each and every guest.

As the evening unfolded, I soon found myself sitting amongst a crowd of foodies. Everyone was carefully reading their menus to see where the pork was raised, to learn in which vineyard the wine was produced and to check if they were right in guessing the cheese they just tasted was goat’s milk. Not only were guests enjoying their meal, but also, they loved the value of knowing what they were eating. The neat part is that guests were sitting in the valley, which produced all the food they were eating.

It was clear that this new idea of local and sustainable became the single language that every guest knew and understood. Many new friends were made that night by all. Who knew that two words “local” and “sustainable” could create not only a bond between the couple but also a bond amongst all guests.

Here are a few points to consider when preparing a local and sustainable wedding menu:

-Find a chef or caterer that is willing and comfortable producing a locally sourced and sustainable menu.

-Many caterers offer seasonal menus, but seasonal doesn’t mean the ingredients are locally sourced or sustainable.

-Utilizing locally sourced ingredients can help you save money as all ingredients are in season and at their peak.

-Research and source local farms, vineyards, orchards and mills, etc, and see if your caterer can work in some of your favorite ingredients into your wedding menu.

-Be sure to list on your menu where your locally sourced ingredients originated. List estate names and include a vintage or year for items like wine.

-Make sure your menu reflects your personality and tone of the party. Create dishes that you like and that your guests can enjoy and relate to as well.

Vote for me on Biz Bash as Social Planner of the Year!

2011-09-27T13:19:00.000-04:00

Last week I found out I was nominated by BizBash the leading trade publication in the event industry for Social Planner of the Year. Needless to say I was shocked and delighted. The best part is you all get to vote! Voting ends October 16 so place your vote for me today! And remember you can vote every twenty four hours. So spread the word to your family and friends to get their vote on!

Click here to vote: Biz Bash Readers Choice Voting

Thanks in advance for the love and support!

Until next time -

Cheers!

Shawn at the Learning Annex!

2011-09-26T17:09:00.000-04:00

October 12 is the date! Shawn will be live at the Learning Annex in Midtown Manhattan from 7:00PM to 9:00PM teaching participants "How to plan one of a kind events".

Wedding / Event Planning / Design expert and BravoTV reality star Shawn Rabideau of BravoTV’s Bethenny Getting Married? and Bethenny Ever After will explain the basics of putting together a cocktail style wedding reception from budget, to venue, to entertainment, to design and much more.

Shawn will:
- Show you how to create your very own classic bridal bouquet and boutonniere
- He will explain what items are necessary for any cocktail reception wedding or otherwise
- Give you his Rabido’s and Rabidon’ts when it comes to planning your wedding
- Shawn will finish with a Q and A period so have your questions ready!

To order tickets go online to The Learning Annex

Is Chivalry Dead?

2011-09-09T15:00:00.000-04:00

I might be a bit of a traditionalist or perhaps it's the way I was raised by my parents, but I was always taught to open doors for the ladies, let them go first and respect woman without objectifying them. So it absolutely pains me to watch grooms, groomsmen and the like forget their chivalric manners especially at a wedding.

Gentlemen, if you are in the bridal party, remember all eyes are on you, especially the groom! Now I know most men (other than myself) don’t know what to do with the train of a dress or a cathedral length veil. They act like it's going to come to life and strangle them like python. Gentlemen, it's fabric and quite harmless. As the man and the husband it's your duty to help your bride walk around and it is really quite simple. Lift the train of the dress so it doesn't drag in the dirt and always let her go first so she can set the pace. Remember she can't see her feet and the last thing she wants to do is perform a swan dive in the ballroom. Also, remember to open the door for her whether it be at the church, the limo or the ballroom…you’re the groom, her husband so be a gentleman even if it's for one day.

Planners are like flies on a wall, we see and hear everything. So you might want to think twice about high fiving your best man while telling him your bride looks hot and you can't wait to score tonight. I swear on the man upstairs I heard that in the men's room at one wedding I was planning a few years back. This is your wife you're talking about so you might want to keep those comments to yourself.

It also irritates me to watch the groom hang by the bar or with his "buddies" all night. Guy's remember, this is your Big Day too and as the groom you're the host of the party. Always stick close to your bride. The last thing you want to do is miss an important speech dedicated to you because you were outside having a cigar.

And Best Men, remember, when giving toasts try to keep it clean…the last thing you want to do is speak of the grooms sexual escapades in college and tell all 200 guests he was a womanizer until he met his now wife. Remember, Mom and Grandma are there. Although it might be funny to you it could be offensive to some of the ladies (including the bride). It's best to keep it short and sweet and tell those "tales out of church" at the bachelor party.

I know it seems like I'm bashing the men, but I think it's due time the gentlemen make a bit of a resurgence. It's take little energy and in the end you'll feel good about yourself while making your wife look and feel good too.

Until next time,

Cheers!

Weathering the Storm!

2011-08-25T14:03:00.000-04:00

Do you live along the East Coast? And are you getting married this weekend? Chances are you are sitting on pins and needles wondering how Hurricane Irene is going to affect your dream wedding. And who can blame you! You, your finance and your families have invested a lot of money, time and emotion into your big day. Regardless if it's Irene or the Blizzard of 2012 (I know I should bite my tongue) you need to think about the worst case scenario. My job as a planner isn't to drop a bomb on your big day, but to provide you with the advice and direction to make the best out of a bad situation.

If you're one of those unlucky brides this weekend, and you don't have a wedding planner, now is the time to employ that over organized aunt, cousin or friend. Given that you are already under a lot of stress, you're going to want someone other than yourself, your mom or your bridesmaid who will have a more objective point of view to be the point of contact from this point forward. As crazy as this sounds this will allow you to relax, take deep breaths and let the stress fall on someone else. However, make sure this person is good in stressful situations. You don't want your POC (point of contact) to make you more stressed than you already are so don't choose someone who get's emotional easily. You want someone who can take control and handle things without your involvement. Just remember, if they make a decision without you and you don't like it…don't turn into Bridezilla. They are doing their best in the hot seat - just go with it as their intentions are in the right place. Once you've "employed" POC be sure to contact your vendors and let them know this is the point of contact for the day (or days) leading up to your wedding.

I know you've obsessed over your wedding for months, but don't obsess over the weather. Keep in mind there is nothing, and I do mean nothing, you can do about the weather. What I do recommend is to have your POC check the weather…let them obsess. Also let them touch base with your venue and vendors as the weather reports file in. If your wedding is taking place outside or in a tent this will your POC and the vendors to make the call to move the wedding inside to a different location. If it's any relief, there's an old wives tale that says if it rains on your wedding day it’s good luck…

If you're in a weather emergency situation pull out your contracts and double check your vendor's Force Majeure. Many contracts have a Force Majeure clause which will allow a vendor out of their contract in the event that any acts of God such as a hurricane, tornado, riots, strikes, etc…(situations that are out of their control) take place. Some vendors are not willing to negotiate their Force Majeure. Rather than omit this clause see if they are willing to reschedule your wedding within six months with no penalty or see if they are willing to refund some or part of your money. It never hurts to ask and get it in writing. I can tell you from experience however, 99.99% of all vendors will go to the ends of the earth to deliver on their contract no matter what the situation. I've seen bands load into a venue in almost flood like conditions…bottom line we are all wedding professionals who want your big day to be a success regardless of the situation!

However, if you must cancel your wedding due to a major weather catastrophe talk with your vendors about rescheduling your wedding for another date. No it's not ideal, but do you want to put your loved ones in the path of danger for the sake of your selfishness? Unless you're Bridezilla chances are no. So talk to your vendors and ask them if they are willing to reschedule for a later date with no financial penalty. The only vendors that may have to charge you something at a later date may be your florist and caterer as they are providing you with perishable items.

A few years ago I was supposed to attend my cousins wedding in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately the morning of the wedding there was a major storm that caused flooding, washing out roads making driving impossible. I hated to do it, but I had to drop out…As a planner I have seen Best Men, grandparents and even sisters not make a wedding because their flights or travel plans were affected by bad weather. If the weather where you are isn't catastrophic to the point of canceling, the show must go on without them. With today's technology I recommend getting the Skype cams out allowing those that couldn't make your wedding be a part of your wedding regardless of the situation. They might not be there physically but they can be there through technology…it's an amazing thing isn't it?

Remember you can't control the weather, but you can be prepared so check your local Emergency Management Offices for additional information.

For anyone getting married this weekend along the East Coast I wish you all the best and most of all please be safe.

Until next time - Cheers!

A Very Special Birthday

2011-08-10T14:00:00.000-04:00

It's always great when you get to work with former wedding clients on life's special moments. A few years ago I had the pleasure of working with Helena and Svet to create their dream wedding at The Pierre Hotel. Helena and I really hit it off and I had hoped one day we would have the pleasure of working together again. My wish came true when she called me wanting to throw a first birthday party for her son Dejan (pronounced Day-on).

Helena came to me wanting to do a carnival themed party…But not just any carnival themed party. She wanted something colorful, fun, bright and not too kitschy. She wanted it to be colorful for the kids and sophisticated for the adults. She also was keen on ensuring everyone (not just the kids) had fun.

With only four months to plan, I took to task and created one of the most colorful parties ever! The inspiration for the color palette came from the paper we used for the invites which were created by Invitations by Ana. Ana created a super fun paper lollipop in a box with a logo of Dejan's name. This set the tone for the entire rest of the party which was held at the Stonehouse at Sterling Ridge.

To keep with the overall feeling of the carnival theme, I thought it would be fun to use popcorn buckets as the vases for flowers that looked just like popcorn and then use colorful candy such as gumballs, lollipops, and other candy that gave the kids a sugar high!

On the Move Entertainment provided the fun carnival booths where both the young and old could win some traditional carnival prizes.

The stilt walker, make-up artist and the balloon "sculptor" were a huge hit!

It was then cake time and Pink Cake Box hit this cake out of the park by mimicking the pattern in the invite, the logo and the bright colors. Although Dejan wasn't quite sure what to do with the cake, it sure made for some fabulous photo opps all courtesy of Fifth Avenue Digital.

After the cake cutting it was time for the fabulous kids band to play and even Dejan and I got in on the action with letting everyone know he turned one!

As guests departed they were able to take a lollipop as a thank you for attending the party and I can't thank Helena and Svet enough for allowing me to create a party that was full of color, fun and pure enjoyment for everyone involved.

Until next time cheers! And please remember to follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ShawnRabideau and "like" us on FaceBook at Shawn Rabideau Events and Design

What a Birthday Cake!

2011-07-26T15:40:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, my team and I planned and designed a 1st birthday party for a beautiful baby boy named Dejan, the son of one of our favorite clients! We all had so much fun and I can't wait to show you all of the photos from special day! In the meantime, I will give you a sneak peak of Dejan's cake, created by The Pink Cake Box who got inspiration from the invitation, theme and decor!

http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/carnival-themed-1st-birthday-cake-2011-07-24.htm

Stay tuned for photos of the full event! Also, be sure to check out The Pink Cake Box's blog to see some other great designs they have created!

Cheers!
Shawn

Wedding of Shayna & Ofer

2011-07-26T15:26:00.000-04:00

One of our favorite things to do here at the Shawn Rabideau Events & Design office around this time of year is to look back on all of the events we’ve worked on throughout wedding season. We love receiving all of the photographs of our clients so we can reminisce on the joy the couple shared and how happy we were to take place in creating that special moment for them.

This week we were glad to receive the wedding photos documenting the wedding of Shayna and Ofer, an energetic and fun-loving couple who were married in mid-April. The wedding planning process was anything but ordinary! Having only met a few times, we communicated mostly over Skype as the couple traveled all around the world!

From their bridal party photos taken in Times Square to their surprise choreographed salsa dance during the reception, this couple kept everyone smiling and partying well into the night.

After having their first look in Times Square, Shayna, Ofer, and their bridal party made their way down to the Highline to capture a few quick shots. This is one of my favorite places for couples to explore during their pre-ceremony photo shoot!

The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers proved to be the perfect venue for this wedding. HUGE shout out to Jeffrey Stillwell, Director of Banquet Services, who did an absolutely incredible job throughout the entire planning process and the day of. I cannot thank him enough for all of his help and professionalism. He was such a delight to work with!

The floor-to-ceiling windows at The Lighthouse revealed breath-taking views of the Hudson River and served as the perfect backdrop for the couple’s traditional chuppa. Ivory fabric was draped over the frame and white and soft pink flowers such as blown open spray roses, roses, tulips, and hydrangea were placed along the top to create an intimate setting for the exchange of the vows. We also placed the bride's grandfathers' tallis along the underside of the chuppa, as an extra personal sentimental touch to their ceremony.

The simple and classic ivory runner was accented with tall aisle stands that were surrounded by a bed of flowers and topped with an ivory candle and glass hurricane.

One of my favorite moments of the ceremony was when the two ring bearers walked down the aisle holding a sign created by Ana Dolan that read "Happily Ever After Begins Today." I love this non-traditional touch to the traditional ceremony.

The bride carried an all white bouquet that was designed with all white Casablanca lilies, calla lilies and white roses. Accenting the bouquet were several crystals and the handle was tied with a champagne colored ribbon; however, the handle was not be wrapped entirely as accents of green stems at the bottom were shown.

On the Move Entertainment was present throughout the night to provide the perfect musical compliments to the setting. Guests were able to enjoy a classical musical trio during the ceremony and cocktail hour until the upbeat DJ and synergy band stepped in and set the mood for fun and dancing during the reception.

During the reception, guests were seated around romantic arrangements of white, soft pink, and eggplant. Spray roses, tulips, roses, orchids and hydrangea exploded from tall glass vases dripping with crystal roping. Gold votive candles accented the look with a soft glow.

Ana Dolan of Invitations by Ana helped us to tie every look together with her work. The classic escort cards and modern menu designs helped achieve that modern yet sophisticated look that embodied the couple’s personalities so perfectly.

Also, here is a look at the beautiful invitation set that Ana Dolan created for this wedding.

Shayna and Ofer's cake was created by the ultra-fabulous The Pink Cake Box. Not only was it beautiful, but delicious too!

Other personal touches included cookies for the bridal party from Eleni's cookies, Shayna's personalized handkerchief (which she gave special personalized ones to each of her bridesmaids), suede yarmulkes monogrammed with the bride and grooms name and wedding date, and a hand painted ketubah.

Special thank you to Craig Paulson Photography for sending these photographs over to us. We thoroughly enjoy working with you as always! Be sure to check out their blog for even more fabulous photos!

A huge congratulations to Shayna and Ofer. You were such a pleasure to work with and we wish you all the best!

Cheers!

Shawn

Wedding of Carmine and Carla

2011-07-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of designing décor for a lovely couple, Carmine and Carla. They were married at the W New York in a beautiful nighttime ceremony amongst friends and family and I was happy to be included in the start of their lives together. I hope you enjoy these photos of their celebration!

The couple said “I Do” underneath an ethereal white fabric arch that was accented by glass pillars containing white cymbidium orchids submerged in water. On either side of the ceremony platform, two tall Lucite pedestals held large stainless steel containers that were bursting with all white flowers such as calla lilies, hydrangea, and orchids.

The Original Runner Company created a beautiful white aisle runner with the couple’s initials and the date of the ceremony. We topped off the design with sprinkles of white and soft pink rose petals. We then lined the aisle with more white orchids submerged in water and placed floating candles in the cylinders.

Robert Stark Lighting did an excellent job with the lighting, creating romance in the ballroom with a soft pink glow.

Holo-Walls brought in an amazing liquid dance floor for the reception, which guests certainly took advantage of!

On the dinner tables we wanted to create a stunning and elegant display of flowers. Sleek bouquets of calla lilies, orchids, lily grass, roses and horsetail bamboo were exploding out of square glass vases of alternating heights. We then accented these centerpieces with square glass vases that contained bamboo, calla lilies, or cymbidium orchids submerged in water. Floating candles in the vases and silver votive candles on the tabletops completed the look.

A huge thank you to 5th Avenue Digital for providing these amazing photographs-the couple was certainly glowing that night!

Congratulations to Carmine and Carla! All of us at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design are wishing you a long and happy life together!

Cheers!

Shawn

Strawberry Bread Recipe

2011-06-28T10:19:00.002-04:00

Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries…It's one of my all time favorite movie quotes by Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond! And I can't help but think of that scene around this time of year when the strawberries are bountiful. This past weekend I bought too many strawberries; rather than freeze them I remembered a Strawberry Bread recipe that had been handed down to me from a friend.

Most people are quite surprised when I tell them I make Strawberry Bread. The recipe is easy, perfect for summer brunch with friends and perfect to freeze should unexpected weekend guests stop by.

Strawberry Bread - Yields 2 9x5 Loafs

1-1/2 Quarts Fresh Strawberries (Chopped). You can use frozen strawberries, but use 2-10oz bags thawed and drained

4 Eggs

1-1/4 Cups Canola Oil

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 Cups Flour

3 Teaspoons Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Sugar

Preheat Oven 350 degrees

Grease and flour two 9x5 Loaf Pans

In a mixer mix together eggs, oil and vanilla extract

In a large bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and sugar

Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture until combined

Pour into loaf pans

Bake 1 hour or until cooked through

Remove from oven, when partially cool remove bread from pans to finish cooling.

Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate

For a little extra "zip" I add a sweet icing drizzle of 1 cup confectioners' sugar mixed with about a tablespoon of milk and a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix until it’s the consistency of syrup. Drizzle on the loaf of Strawberry Bread, slice and serve.

Julie & John's Wedding Video

2011-06-16T13:08:00.000-04:00

I had such the honor and privilege to be able to work with this wonderful couple, Julie and John, on the decor for their fabulous wedding at The Hanover Manor in East Hanover, New Jersey last weekend.

Take a look at their same day edit wedding video by Gabelli Studio Photography & Cinema by clicking here to see their love story. Julie and John were such a pleasure to work with and I wish them a lifetime of happiness!

Cheers!
Shawn

Tammy & Val's Engagement Shoot!

2011-06-09T09:21:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, one of our September couples went all around The Meat Packing District here in NYC for their engagement shoot with Lindsay Flanagan Photography! She did an incredible job as usual, and I hope you check out some of the photos from the shoot on Lindsay Flanagan's blog!

http://www.blog.lindsayflanagan.com/home2/2011/5/31/new-york-city-engagement-photographer-tammy-val.html

Cheers!
Shawn

Quick Summer Tips!

2011-06-08T09:11:00.000-04:00

Boy is it a scorcher here in NYC today! A high of 96 degrees! Yikes! This hot weather has inspired me to post some quick summer tips to get you through the day! Here we go!

Quick Summer Cocktail:
On ice - Vodka, Lime Juice, Splash Club Soda

Quick Summer Dip:
One can of black beans drained. Puree in the blender with 1/2 cup of sour cream, splash lemon juice, pinch garlic powder, cumin & salt. Serve with chips!

Hope you enjoy and stay cool! Cheers!
Shawn

The Wedding Boot Camp

2011-06-01T15:37:00.000-04:00

Calling all New York City Brides to be! I will be speaking at this summer's Wedding Boot Camp at Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier on July 11th from 6:00pm-8:00pm! Created by the fabulous Tatiana Byron of The Wedding Salon, The Wedding Boot Camp is a place where you will "discover the latest tips & trends to help plan your wedding!" Be sure to RSVP today by clicking here! Hope to see you there!

www.weddingsalon.com/theweddingbootcamp.cfm

Cheers!
Shawn

Bridal Guide Magazine - How to Host a Stylish Bridal Shower Outdoors!

2011-05-31T11:48:00.000-04:00

Hey Brides and Bridesmaids to be! Check out my interview with Bridal Guide Magazine on how to host the perfect outdoor bridal shower by clicking here!

www.bridalguide.com/

Cheers!
Shawn

Wedding Salon & Mother's Day Ideas!

2011-05-05T15:00:00.000-04:00

Last week, I mentioned to you all that I would be designing a table for The Wedding Salon! I had such a great time meeting all of the bride and groom's to-be! Well as promised, here are some photos of the table I designed!

This time around, I decided to go for a bright, colorful, Spring look that was sure to be eye popping! The white underlay and green burlap cap overlay were created by Cloth Connection and all of the rentals were provided by Party Rental Ltd. Not only could you use this as table decor for your wedding, but you could also incorporate some of the ideas into your Mother's Day entertaining!

I collaborated with the extremely talented Ana Dolan of Invitations by Ana, who designed the menus and place cards on real wood paper! How clever! She is so talented!

Each place setting received a tea cup of pansies with their names written on the wood paper! This was a unique twist on traditional place cards. You could also use this as a favor for your guests to take home!

Instead of putting a menu at each place setting, I decided to put one in between each seat, incorporating it into the decor.

Around the base of the willow tree that we constructed, I used many natural elements and live flowers including yellow tulips, purple hyacinth, yellow daffodils, and pansies! Not only did the table look beautiful, but it smelled great too!

Here I am with the absolutely beautiful Tatiana Byron, the founder of The Wedding Salon and 4PM Events as well as the legendary Sylvia Weinstock of Sylvia Weinstock Cakes! Thank you so much Tatiana for this wonderful opportunity!

So you may be wondering, "how can I use this for Mother's Day entertaining?" Well, what I recommend is that this Mother's Day you use organic elements as well as bright colors. Incorporate fresh, live, fragrant flowers such as hyacinth. Also, don't be afraid to mix and match china! As you can see at the table I designed above for The Wedding Salon, we mixed and matched different colors and different patterned china, to create this sophisticated, yet fun look!

Big thanks to Borowski Muller Photographers as well as my dear friend Dana Halsted for these photos!

Cheers!

Shawn

Mother's Day Ideas - Seventeen Magazine

2011-05-03T15:12:00.000-04:00

Don't forget! Mother's Day is just around the corner and will be here before you know it! Mark down Sunday, May 8th in your calendar and take a look at some of my Mother's Day entertaining tips on Seventeen Magazine's website here.

www.seventeen.com

Cheers!
Shawn

Celebrations.com Party!

2011-05-02T10:54:00.000-04:00

Last week, Michael and I attended a wonderful celebration for the launch of Celebrations.com new look at the home of Jim and Marylou McCann, founders of Celebrations.com. We enjoyed fabulous food catered by Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs as well as fabulous company! Here I am with Celebrations.com expert Michael Russo of Michael Russo Events, Michael Lepson COO of Shawn Rabideau Events & Design, as well as another fellow Celebrations.com expert, the beautiful Andrea Correale.

http://blog.celebrations.com/?p=3205

For more photos, check out Celebrations.com blog by clicking here! Also, be sure to check out my experts page by clicking here!

Cheers!
Shawn

More Royal Wedding!

2011-04-29T14:55:00.000-04:00

Below are some more of my thoughts as I watched the Royal Wedding this morning.....Enjoy!

As I sit watch the guests arriving I can’t help but remember watching the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer back in 1981. That was a wedding that was filled with the utmost pomp and circumstance where no expense was spared…so much has changed since then, the economy, war, trends, styles and much more.

Therefore it’s no wonder this wedding is a bit different. The pomp and circumstance have been toned down. By all accounts this wedding seems just as flashy and expensive; but indeed it is not and it is much more subdued, yet regal and royal.

For instance the fact the Royal Family chose a morning wedding makes it much less formal and therefore less costly. One doesn’t need to deck the church from nave to steeple in floral especially when you have a venue such as Westminster Abbey where very little décor is needed. However, the trees with the lush lily of the valley are not inexpensive, but add a regal royal touch. Placing expensive blooms in key areas is always a great tip especially for a bride on a budget.

Catherine’s dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen is clean, simple and elegant with its lace overlay, sleek lines and simple veil. Being much simpler than Princess Diana’s dress makes this wedding ceremony far less formal yet not any less special.

And let’s not forget the guests’ attire; military dress, morning coat or lounge suite for the men and for the ladies dresses with sleeves a must and a stylish hat or fascinator will style the dress without making it too stuffy.

The largest expense isn’t necessarily the less formal and less costly reception where canapés and champagne will be served, but rather thirty two million dollars in security is the largest part of today’s royal nuptials. For my clients security is rarely needed and therefore almost never a part of the budget.

So although it seems this wedding is over the top with pomp and circumstance it certainly is far less expensive than some think, but not any less regal or royal in nature.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/live-updates-the-royal-wedding/#more-103533

And here I talk about Catherine's beautiful dress....

The biggest question leading up to the Royal Wedding has been who will Catherine Middleton be wearing…what will THE dress look like?

I had the honor of attending many show’s during Bridal Fashion Week and when I walked into the Priscilla of Boston showcase one dress stood out, it was adorned in lace and I immediately said to myself THAT is the dress she will wear. She did not actually wear Priscilla of Boston but rather a dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Catherine Middleton’s dress was nothing short of Princess like; it was indeed a fairy tale design. Perfectly tailored, adorned in lace with no doubt hand sewn detail in essence it was sophisticated, elegant, chic and certainly a trend setter.

Some have said they are disappointed her dress was rather plain compared to Princess Diana’s. We should not forget this is NOT 1981 where silk, satin and flouncy sleeves were in style. We should also not forget Catherine is not trying to be Diana. Catherine is her own woman who is graceful and elegant. And one thing is for sure she will be a positive trendsetter among so many horrible fashion trends currently out there.

I see her bringing class and classic back in an era of tacky and tasteless.

And as far as Pippa’s dress; that too is beyond words. It was one of the most classic and beautiful bridesmaids dresses I have seen in a very long time. And what with the color? I thought the choice was splendid and in no way did it take away from Catherine.

I do believe we will see a positive turn in wedding fashion and that’s something I am excited for!

Odd Andersen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/live-updates-the-royal-wedding/#more-103533

All of this can be found on The New York Times blog....check it out here!

Cheers!

Shawn

The Royal Wedding - NY Times Blog

2011-04-29T09:35:00.001-04:00

Good Morning! I have been up since before the crack of dawn to watch the Royal Wedding! I am so thrilled that I was asked by the NY Times to blog for them about my thoughts of this very special moment in history! Take a look at what I have to say on their blog titled "How the Hats Made the Day" by clicking here.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/live-updates-the-royal-wedding/#more-103533

Congratulations to His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge! What a special day!

Cheers!

Shawn

Wedding of Meredith & Jason

2011-04-27T10:39:00.001-04:00

I have another beautiful wedding to share with you today! This is the wedding of an incredible couple, Meredith & Jason, who got married at The W Union Square, one of my favorite venues! Meredith &Jason are such a sweet couple and I am so happy that I was able to design their decor for their special day.

The bride carried a stunning bouquet that was designed with all white anemones, roses, calla lilies, and orchids.

The couple was married underneath a sleek chuppa that was designed to have a strong presence, yet with a romantic feel. Accenting the chuppa was a beautiful layer of flowers that consisted of roses, white and ivory stock, and hydrangea. Robert Stark Lighting did a fabulous job highlighting the entire chuppa to make it appear as if it were glowing.

For the table arrangements, half were high and half were low, but designed in the same manner. The tall arrangements were designed in a large glass cylinder with white hydrangea, roses, white and ivory stock, as well as curly willow bursting from the top.

Ron Ben Israel created this stunning cake that mimicked the lace on the brides dress.

Big thanks to Cody Raisig Photography who did a wonderful job on the photography for Meredith & Jason's wedding. For more amazing photos of this wedding, be sure to check out his website here! We look forward to working with him again in September!

Cheers!

Shawn

The Wedding Salon!

2011-04-26T09:13:00.000-04:00

Calling all NYC and Tri-State area brides! Come join me this Wednesday, April 27th at the Manhattan Center Studios for The Wedding Salon Luxury Bridal Showcase from 4:00pm - 9:00pm! For more information and a complete list of the other participants, take a look at The Wedding Salon's website here! Make sure to buy your tickets in advance! You definitely don't want to miss out!

www.weddingsalon.com

I look forward to seeing you!

Cheers!
Shawn

Next Magazine's Gay Wedding Guide

2011-04-25T14:47:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to share with you Next Magazine's "New York Gay Wedding Guide!" I am featured in the Experts section where I share my thoughts on gay weddings as well as tell you about some of my current favorites in the wedding industry.

www.nextmagazine.com

Take a look at the article here!

Cheers!

Shawn

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-25T12:25:00.000-04:00

Today kicks off Royal Wedding week! The wedding business is buzzing with ideas and speculations for what Kate's dress is going to look like, who will and will not be attending, how to throw your own royal party, and so much more! Last week, I contributed to a New York Times article in the Dining and Wine section titled "Henry VIII Did Not Write this Royal Wedding Menu!" so check it out here for my take on the upcoming Royal Wedding menu!

www.nytimes.com

Also, stay tuned for the big day! For those of you who may not have heard, Kate and Will are tying the not on Friday, April 29th! I will be getting up bright and early....so join me for some tea and crumpets as I will be tweeting, facebooking, and blogging my thoughts for the New York Times on the trends, styles, and what is undoubtedly going to cause a major hat craze here in the USA!

Cheers!
Shawn

Minimergency Kits!

2011-04-21T13:31:00.000-04:00

Many of you were interested in finding out what we have in our emergency kit here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design....but I also want to share with you these amazing little "minimergency" kits from Ms.& Mrs. !

www.msandmrs.com

"For a bride's tiny troubles" these kits are perfect to give to everyone in your bridal party! This little kit is stocked with 20 essentials by Ms. & Mrs. The 20 "must-haves" include lip balm, dental floss, breath freshener, emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, hair spray, clear elastics, earing backs, stain remover, double sided tape, mending kit, deodorant towelette, adhesive bandage, tampon, pain reliever, blotting tissues, facial tissue, bobby pins, antacid, and even extra wedding bands! Can you believe they fit all of that in this tiny, not to mention extremely cute, leather zip up bag! You can choose from silver, gold, blue, or pink.....there is one for everyone! And what's even cooler than how tiny the kit is....is their tiny price of only $16! Can't beat that!

Ms. & Mrs. also makes "minimergency" kits for the groom and his guys which comes in this ultra-sleek aluminum box! This "groom"-ing kit contains 15 essentials including lip balm, dental floss, breath freshener, stain remover, mending kit, safety pin, extra buttons, shoe shine towelette, nail clipper, deodorant towelette, adhesive bandage, pain reliever, antacid, boutonniere pin, and extra wedding bands.Only $12!

www.msandmrs.com

Check out the Ms. & Mrs. website here to see the rest of their amazing products including Mother of Bride and Mother of Groom survival kits. This company is so creative I just can't get enough of them! And after the wedding, if you need a few refills you can order those too! These kits are good to carry even after the big day has come to an end.

Cheers!

Shawn

Sam's 40th Birthday Celebration!

2011-04-19T15:59:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone had a nice weekend and are gearing up for Passover and Easter! Here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design, we had a wonderful wedding on Friday at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers! We will be sure to post the photos once we receive them! Can't wait to share them with you!

Today, I am so excited to show you a 40th birthday celebration for one of our ultra-fabulous clients Sam! From the very beginning of the planning process to the very end, we had so much fun with Sam and we know that she will be a friend for life! She is such a hard working, caring, and sincere woman who deserved the party of a lifetime! She is an inspiration to us all here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design and we hope that you enjoy these photos of her birthday bash!

The party took place at an absolutely incredible location here in NYC, SoHi at the brand new Trump Soho! Located on the 46th Floor of Trump Soho, we knew this location was "the one" as soon as we stepped foot inside and saw the unbeatable views.

Jennifer, the Special Events Manager, was such a doll and made the entire process a breeze! We could not have pulled off this event without the extra care we received from her and from Leonardo, the Catering Manager. I cannot thank them enough for their hard work and dedication! Also, if you have yet to go to Trump Soho's restaurant Quattro for dinner...RUN don't walk! The food is to die for!

For the decor, we designed the room to have a sleek and elegant feel. The fun lounge furniture and rentals were brought in from Luxe Event Rentals. For this "cocktail style" event, we made sure that there was enough seating for at least half of the guests, but still had a consistent flow throughout the entire room. Nsombi, our head floral and design director, did an incredible job on the arrangements that helped accent the sophisticated feel of the event.

The invitations and all paper items for Sam's birthday bash were created and designed by the talented Ana Dolan of Invitations by Ana. Sam came up with the slogan "I am Sam! 40 I am!" and we took the idea and ran with it!

We customized the invitations, thank you cards, specialty cocktail, guest book, and ice cream sandwich flags based on her slogan and initials SJP.

Guests signed this custom book created by Ana Dolan that had each guests photo inside so that they could sign by their photo! A wonderful keepsake for Sam!

Instead of doing the typical birthday cake, we decided to do ice cream sandwiches from Melt Bakery! Julian of Melt Bakery is such a sweetheart and another outstanding vendor that I recommend highly! The ice cream sandwiches were such a hit with all of the guests and we even did an over-sized ice cream sandwich with candles as the "cake" so Sam could make her birthday wish!

The flavors Sam chose for her passed ice cream sandwiches included "The Minimalist" vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookies, "Seduction" espresso ice cream with double chocolate chip cookies, "The Elvis" banana ice cream with peanut butter cookies (one of my personal favorites), and "Kareem" pistachio ice cream with pistachio baklava. For more of Melt Bakery's amazing flavors, check them out here.

Guests danced the night away to tunes provided by the incredibly talented and lovely DJ Mark Z from Total Entertainment.

Jesse Anders from Fifth Avenue Digital did an amazing job capturing the evening which is for sure something that we will never forget!

Sam's hair was done by Danielle Pfeifer and makeup by Ashley Fox.

Thanks again to all of the fabulous vendors who helped make this event such a success! And Happy Birthday Sam! We hope all of your birthday wishes come true!

Cheers!

Shawn

Bridal Market 2011

2011-04-14T15:01:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a few Bridal Fashion shows for Bridal Market week and what I saw was nothing short of stunning. The fall season is brimming with stunning designs by some of the greatest wedding dress designers such as Alfred Angelo, Priscilla of Boston, Amsale, Christos, Kenneth Pool and St. Pucchi.

Although I'd love to show you each and every single dress I saw on the runway I am going to highlight a few of my favorites and those that stood out with new and upcoming trends.

Alfred Angelo

Cinderella Platinum Dress

Alfred Angelo

Rapunzel Dress

Christos

"Amira"

Strapless Tulle Gown with Pleated Organza Swirls and Delicate Beading

Christos

"Nevine"

Strapless Gown with Soft Tulle Skirt and Organza Embroidery

Kenneth Pool

"Milana"

Beaded Trumpet Gown with Tulle and Organza Petal Skirt

Kenneth Pool

"Yulia"

V-Neck Silk Taffeta Ball Gown with Pickup Skirt and Beaded Belt

Kenneth Pool

"Daria"

Strapless Tulle Ballgown with Pickup Skirt and Shredded Tulle Capelet

Amsale

"G670J"

Cowl Neck Halter Jersey Gown

Amsale

"Harper"

Silk Mikado Strapless Trumpet Gown with Asymmetrical Neckline and Bow

Amsale

"Elle"

Strapless Pleated Organza Trumpet Gown with Cascading Ruffle Back

And here I am with Amsale the designer! Love her!

Priscilla of Boston

"Jordan"

Soft A-Line Double Georgette Gown with Cowl Neckline

Priscilla of Boston

"Athena"

Satin Faced Organza Fit-To-Flare with convertible one shoulder strap. Cascade Skirt Detailed with Horeshair, Bias Banded Satin, Tulle, and Rosettes.

And here I am with the lead designer of Priscilla of Boston! Such a wonderful woman!

St. Pucchi

This dress is AMAZING! You can wear it three different ways!

1) with the jacket

2) without the jacket

3) without the ballgown skirt!

I think you can agree the designers hit it on the head with some of these amazing creations!

Until next time - cheers!

Shawn

Bridal Emergency Kit

2011-04-14T14:04:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I tweeted photos of the "Shawn Rabideau Events & Design" bridal emergency kit and you all wanted to know what I have in there and why. I can tell you this after 11 years in the wedding business (and being a former Boy Scout) I've learned to be prepared because even the craziest situations can pop up.

I purchased a collapsible make-up kit from Sephora because I wanted it have a clean and professional look; however, a tool box would work just as nice. I started with the basics and then did my "what if" for almost everything under the sun. Below is a list of what I've found useful during wedding emergencies.

Until next time - Cheers!

Shawn

Q-Tips

Lotion

Sewing Kit

Tampons

Pads

Hair Mousse

Hair spray

Brush

Comb

Nail File

Clear Nail Polish

Nail Enamel Dryer

Advil

Tylenol

Aspirin

Benadryl

Latex Gloves

Alcohol Wipes

Band Aid

Two Sizes of Safety Pins

Bobby Pins

Colgate Wisp

Mini Mouth Wash

Dental Flossers

Gel Heal protectors

Small fabric scissors

Pen / Black Magic Marker

Straws

Kleenex

Purell Hand Sanitizer

Febreze To Go

Static Guard

Tums

Mini Lint Roller

Men and Woman's Disposable Razors

Emergen-C

Mini Deodorant

Madame Paulette's Professional Stain Remover Kit

Tide Stain Stick

Duct Tape (we keep that in our other tool kit)

Wedding of Leah & Thomas

2011-04-07T17:06:00.000-04:00

Spring is finally here! Well....almost if you are in NYC! In honor of Spring, I wanted to share with you this beautiful wedding I planned and designed in my hometown of Rochester, NY! Leah and Thomas are such a lovely couple and I had such an amazing time working on this wedding for them!

The ceremony took place in downtown Rochester at Chapel Hill, an old Catholic school that was recently converted into apartments and a spectacular wedding venue space. Read all about Chapel Hill's history here.

Inside the chapel, we adorned the pews with clean and classic hanging bouquets of floral that included white birch branches, evergreens, acorns, moss, and accents of green, purple, yellow, and terra cotta flowers. The aisle runner coordinated with the overall look and feel of the wedding, designed beautifully and hand painted with the bride and groom's logo by The Original Runner Company. After the wedding, the bride and groom planned to transform the runner into a Christmas Tree Skirt, a pillow, or another heirloom that could be used throughout the years.

The bride Leah owns her own photography company called Red Stone Studios up in Rochester. They did an absolutely amazing job shooting this wedding! How could they not?! A special thanks for these fabulous photos!

To this day, this is one of my favorite photos of a bridal party! They were such a fun group I just could not get enough! I love how beautifully their bouquets photographed, which were designed with green, eggplant, yellow, orange and terra cotta flowers and then tied with a green ribbon. Those flowers included roses, calla lilies, orchids, dahlias, and sunflowers, with accents of scabiosa pods, berries, acorns and fern. The groomsmen received boutonnieres of a single mini purple calla lily, green Kermit mums, and yellow spray roses.

The bride carried an all white round European style bouquet of stephanotis, roses, calla lilies, and orchids. Each stephanotis flower was accented with real crystals that coordinated with the brides dress, and further accents of ferns were added. The handle was then tied with an all white satin ribbon and accented with birch bark that received a crystal broach that matched the brides dress. This bouquet was simple, clean, and a perfect accent to the beautiful bride and her stunning dress.

The reception took place at Bristol Harbor on Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes Region.

I hope you enjoy these photos! Thanks so much for reading!

Cheers!

Shawn

Bethenny Ever After

2011-04-06T14:39:00.003-04:00

For those of you who are fans of "Bethenny Ever After" on Bravo (I hope you all are) you may have some questions about how Max came to work for Shawn Rabideau Events & Design. To help clear up the questions I thought it would helpful to post the videos that have already aired so you can all see the full story. Stay tuned, there is more to come!

How Max came to work for Shawn

Shawn's new Assistant - the first day

Boundaries?

I hope this helps everyone keep up with what is going on at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design. We hope you enjoy watching and Cheers!

Tips for Avoiding Pre-Party Stress

2011-03-10T13:23:00.001-05:00

Does entertaining and planning a party stress you out? Worry no more! Check out my 8 tips on

Celebrations.com! They'll make you entertain like a pro!

Cheers!
Shawn

My bravotv.com Webisode Series!

2011-03-09T10:38:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled to be able to announce my new webisode series airing on bravotv.com every Monday night after Bethenny Ever After! Make sure to stay tuned each week for a new webisode which gives you a little sneak peak into my life!

Click here to watch my first webisode "Flower Shopping with Shawn"

Click here to watch the second webisode "Making it to Eight Years"

I hope you all watch each week and please let me know what you think! As always I love to hear your thoughts! Also, don't forget to check out my blog on bravotv.com each week where I chat about all things Shawn and all things Bethenny!

Cheers!

Shawn

Lesson Learned...

2011-03-03T13:03:00.000-05:00

My entire life I have been around plants and flowers. I love to garden and I love to arrange flowers. So nothing was unusual when I brought home a bucket of left over flowers from a speaking engagement I had over the weekend. The selects included dusty miller, ranunculus, roses and large eucalyptus berries. And like I always do I left the bucket of blooms in our dining room until I had a chance to tend to them and arrange them in my choice of vases.

Michael and I have two precious cocker spaniels Schylar and Trevor. They are our babies, our pride and joy. Sometimes however, they are not the smartest of animals, but we love them nonetheless…call it "mothers pride". As we always do when we leave the flat Trevor goes in his crate and Schylar is free to roam about. That's the way they like it, that's what makes them happy.

On Monday I left our flat for about an hour only to return and find numerous stems all over the living and dining room floors. The culprit obviously was Schylar; but like all dogs he looked at me with the "I didn't do it" look. Cute, but not convincing. I called Michael at the office and told him what happened only for me to brush it off. A few moments later Michael called me back to tell me the ranunculus (which was the only thing he ate) was poisonous. Great…I thought to myself, I just killed our dog! I'm not going to lie, panic set in…then anger (at myself) and then at him. SO many times I had left plants and flowers out and he never, I mean never touched them! Why this one time?

The why was too late…We needed to do something about it. We called the emergency vet who referred us to the ASPCA poison control hotline. It's pretty amazing what they do and how they handle each and every case. Although miles away in the Midwest it was if they were right there in our home coaching us what to do and what to look out for.

Long story short Schylar has been experiencing a major bladder infection. He never "makes" in the flat, but the side effects of eating the flowers has been too much for his little system to handle. I'll spare you the details…but let's just say every rug is rolled up, put away and we now own stock in Bounty Paper Towels and Bleach spray. You can tell he is in pain and not a happy camper. Now on antibiotics, the Vet feels he should start to get better in a few days. If not then we must do x-rays and see if there is something worse is going on.

As a flower person (and a pet owner my entire life) a HUGE lesson has been learned. Never leave plants or flowers in reach of our pets even when we think they won't go for them. When you think they won't, they will.

I'm trying to stay optimistic and think that everything is going to be okay; but in truth we don't know the direction things are going to take. He could get better or he could get worse. I'm putting positive energy out to the universe that he will indeed improve.

Although I somewhat live my life on TV for the world to see I try not to get too personal, political or preachy. I like to keep a little privacy…However, this was something I couldn’t keep private. I wanted to share this with all pet owners and lovers so that they too know the dangers of plants and flowers around the home.

Below is a link to a great site that tells you all about poisonous flowers and plants that we often have in and around our homes. Take note - don't go to extremes and toss every house plant out and dig up every plant in your garden…just beware and watchful of your pet.

http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/poisonous_plants.html

Here is the number to the ASPCA Poison Hotline - I hope you never have to use it.

1-888-426-4435

As always thanks for listening and cheers! And special thanks to Amanda Jones Photography for these fabulous photos of my boys!

Shawn (and Schylar)

Wedding of Jo-Ann & John

2011-03-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled to share with you another wedding that we here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design just recently planned and designed! The photos provided by Jason Groupp Photography are absolutely stunning, so I couldn't help but share them with all of you! Jo-Ann made such a beautiful bride, and I just can't get enough of this ethereal photo of her before walking down the aisle in her gorgeous Vera Wang gown purchased from ultra fabulous boutique, Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier.

Here Jo-Ann waits to enter the gorgeous Church of the Blessed Sacrament on the Upper West Side here in New York City holding her all white bouquet that was designed with roses, stephanotis with pearl centers, and mini white calla lilies. The handle was then tied with extra fabric from her dress.

Jo-Ann's maid of honor carried a bouquet designed with fall colors consisting of roses and mini calla lilies.

Jo-Ann walked down the stunning aisle with pews that were adorned with beautiful floral swags that were designed with burgundy, orange, deep purple, and terra cotta flowers that included roses, calla lilies, hydrangea and accents of variegated greens while music played by the organist above. Such a gorgeous setting!

After the bride and groom said "I Do!" they happily walked back up aisle and captured some amazing moments in Central Park.

After the ceremony guests made their way to Skylight West for the cocktail hour and reception. Can't beat this view of the empire state building!

Big thanks to Union Square Events who did an absolutely amazing job on the catering!

Cheers!

Shawn

Bethenny Ever After

2011-03-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

Hope you all caught last night's premiere episode of "Bethenny Ever After!" Want to get my take on last night's episode? Visit BravoTV.com to read my blog called "Love and Marriage." While you're there, be sure to check out extra behind the scenes videos including "Flower Shopping with Shawn!" Stay tuned each week for more videos!

Cheers!

Shawn

Get Your "Shawn On"

2011-02-24T13:08:00.002-05:00

Hey Bravo TV Fans! The premiere of Bethenny Ever After is only 4 days away, so don't forget to set your DVR's and tune in on Monday, February 28th at 10pm! In the meantime, check out a sneak peak of Episode 1 here! Don't forget to watch the video "Get Your Shawn On", I promise you don't want to miss it!

Cheers!

Shawn

Crate & Barrel - The Wedding Parties Event

2011-02-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be part of Crate & Barrel's "The Wedding Parties" Event tonight at the Soho location! If you are newly engaged and in the NYC area, stop by and see us between 6:00pm-8:00pm!

www.crateandbarrel.com

Cheers!

Shawn

P.S. If you can't make it tonight, be sure to stop by this Sunday, February27th from 9:00am-11:00am. Hope to see you then!

New Website Coming Soon!

2011-02-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled to announce that over here at Shawn Rabideau Events & Design we have been working hard to redesign our web site! Here's a sneak peek of our new homepage and stay tuned for the full site to be up and running very soon!

Cheers!
Shawn

Follow Us On Twitter!

2011-02-22T11:41:00.000-05:00

Do you follow us on Twitter yet? If not, log on to Twitter.com and follow the Shawn Rabideau Events & Design Team! Check us out below! Click on our names and it will take you directly to our Twitter Pages!

Shawn Rabideau

Michael Lepson

and Meagan Taylor!

Hope to see all of you on Twitter soon!

Cheers!

Shawn

Become a Fan of Shawn Rabideau Events & Design on Facebook!

2011-02-17T10:16:00.000-05:00

Are you a fan of Shawn Rabideau Events & Design on Facebook yet? If not, be sure to check us out by logging on to Facebook and searching for Shawn Rabideau Events & Design, or just click this link here!

We will be posting photos, updates and other exciting news daily! We have lots of fabulous upcoming news to share with you that we promise you don't want to miss out on!

Cheers!
Shawn

Wedding of Camille & James

2011-02-16T10:09:00.000-05:00

I have another fabulous wedding to share with you today! This is the wedding of Camille and James, such a fun and loving couple! They were married at a fabulous location here in NYC, Bridgewaters near South Street Seaport! Check out the amazing photos below courtesy of The Wiebners!

I love Camille's green shoes and all of the touches of green that we used throughout the entire wedding!

The bride's stunning bouquet was designed with primarily white flowers with green accents. The flowers that were used included white roses, white and green cymbidium orchids, white and green dendrobium orchids and touches of white stephanotis. The bouquet was designed in such a way that there was texture and movement to it without it being too tight. The handle of the bouquet was then finished off with a handkerchief provided by the brides mother.

The bride and her father walked down a custom made aisle runner created by The Original Runner Co that was lined with glass cylinders that were filled with white pillar candles and green dendrobium orchids.

For the escort cards, Camille's mother had green notebooks made with the guests names on the spine, which we then arranged on an antique desk brought in by the brides mother and father! We then used arrangements of green cymbidium orchids as book ends! Guests were able to bring their notebooks home as a little favor!

I cannot get enough of these unique table numbers! For the bride and groom, they were seated at table "love."

We also designed an "&" symbol made from green dendrobium orchids, which tied the bride "&" groom's chairs together at their sweetheart table.

Placed in the center of each of the tables were modern, yet full centerpieces designed with white and green roses, white and green cmybidium orchids, white and green dendrobium orhcids, and variegated lily grass. In addition to the arrangements, we also used alternating heights of floating candle holders that not only received floating candles, but orchids and variegated lily grass beneath the candle. Also, other satellite arrangements and green apples were added to create depth, texture, and fullness to the overall design.

I absolutely love this cupcake stand and cupcakes from Sweet Sisters Cakes! They did a fabulous job! And look at the lights from The Brooklyn Bridge in the background! What a stunning view from Bridgewaters!

I hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I loved working with this incredible couple! I wish them all the happiness and success in the world!

Cheers!

Shawn

Guest Blogger - Jes Gordon!

2011-02-15T11:59:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to share with you our guest blogger this week, the amazing and talented Jes Gordon! Be sure to checkout her website after reading this post!

Cheers!

Shawn

Here at jesGORDON/properFUN, we love coming up with new ways to make people “ooh!” and “ahh!” A great focal point can add depth and dimension to everyday events and give it that WOW factor. It can set your event apart from the rest while giving your guests something to converse about. Modern technology makes it easy to achieve stunning focal points and opens the door to unlimited opportunities for creating the WOW factor.

1) Soft light is an important component to any event. It has the ability to make people feel relaxed on the inside while looking beautiful on the outside. Who wouldn’t want that? Glowing orbs can be programmed to glow in six different colors, giving you the opportunity to enhance the feel you are trying to create. Flame tones, such as ambers, reds, pinks, and lavenders, are great for social gatherings as they are complimentary and help people look and feel more attractive. Cooler tones, like blues and greens, are great for product launches and highlighting inanimate objects. The number of possible uses for these orbs is endless! They can be placed almost anywhere, submersed in water, or hung from above.

2) LED lights are extremely versatile and can be used in fun, contemporary ways. Pair them with sea glass or other clear, decorative rocks to create unique, glowing statement pieces and make floral displays light up from within. We even submerge them in water! They are a great investment at about $2 a piece. You can find them at craft stores or online at Amazon.com. They can last up to 72 hours and their batteries are replaceable, making them a “greener” option. The best part: cleanup is a breeze because you won’t be stuck cleaning out candle wax at the end of the night!

3) For a futuristic look, acrylic rods in bright, fluorescent colors are a fun substitute for fresh flowers. We use acrylics to combine function and fashion. And as an added bonus: they are reusable! They are durable, lightweight, and designed to reflect light to produce a colorful glow which can be intensified with LED lights. Lucite trays are much more cost-effective than their crystal counterparts and can be used to jazz up any presentation, whether you are serving up your favorite cocktails or showcasing a fabulous pair of shoes.

Whatever the occasion, the opportunities to dazzle your guests are limitless. Almost anything can be used to add fun and panache to your event décor. All you need is your imagination to transform your event into a work of art!