With the Labor Day and the end of Summer almost here, I know many of you are planning get togethers with family and friends. In case you missed my recent segment on foxnews.com, I thought this would be a good time to share my tips for having a "labor-less" Labor Day party.
- My first "Rabido" for throwing a Labor Day party is "Keep it simple"! From the food to the cocktails you do not have to be extravagant.
- Second, rally your friends to help and be specific in what you ask. Don't just ask guests to bring something, you may wind up with 10 bags of potato chips! Tell guests specifically what they can bring to make sure you have a well rounded menu.
- Prepare food that you can make ahead of time. You do not want to be rushed making everything on the day of the party or worse, cooking while guests are there. You want to enjoy the party along with your guests so plan ahead.
- Think of food that can be served at room temperature and that will not quickly spoil. This will keep you out of the kitchen and will avoid any issues on a hot day.
- Since Labor Day is a casual holiday for family and friends I recommend serving everything family style. Again, take the burden off of yourself and allow guests to serve themselves.
- The 'self service" idea also applies to the bar. I recommend a simple bar with wine and a specialty cocktail that can be made in a large pitcher. If you want to add a twist, ask guests to bring their favorite micro brew that can then be added to the bar for guests to sample.
For other great ideas and recipes visit www.celebrations.com, and stay tuned as I prepare to launch my own line of invitations and stationery on www.finestationery.com
Until next time,
Cheers!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Take the "labor" out of Labor Day
With Labor Day quickly approaching I know many of you are planning get togethers with family and friends for this end of Summer holiday. Preparing for the party does not have to be an all consuming chore.
Tomorrow, August 17, at 12:40PM, I will be sharing some great time saving tips and suggestions for unique food and cocktails online at Fox News Live. I will also be sharing some great invitation ideas from FineStationery.com. Check it out and let me know your best tips when planning for a fun and easy Labor Day!
Until next time,
Cheers!
Tomorrow, August 17, at 12:40PM, I will be sharing some great time saving tips and suggestions for unique food and cocktails online at Fox News Live. I will also be sharing some great invitation ideas from FineStationery.com. Check it out and let me know your best tips when planning for a fun and easy Labor Day!
Until next time,
Cheers!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Touching, Intimate New York Loft Wedding
In June, I had the honor of designing a same sex wedding for Scott and John at Gary's Loft in New York City. The couple had been together for over 27 years so the fact that they were now able to make their already committed relationship legal made for an incredible emotional and touching celebration.
As a result, the wedding was not as much of a grand affair as it was a simple, touching statement in a setting that was more like being in your own home. Therefore, the look I created was very simple and organic as guests were seated at a variety of farm and occasional tables that worked perfectly for the space.
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| Guests were seated at an eclectic arrangement of farm tables. |
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| A simple sweetheart table was perfect. |
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| Simple, yet elegant floral and containers accented the main table. |
We were even able to add special personalized touches throughout the room such as the photos of the couple, their friends and family that we added to bookshelves. This wedding really was about the personal touches. The flowers I used for decor were selected based on those found in the couple's country home. Jill Cole of Great Performances took the time to make food selections that the couple would normally serve at their home. Elizabeth Beskin of 5th Avenue Digital took the time to really know the couple so that the event was perfectly captured on camera. And Anna from Just About Married was great pulling everything together on the day of the wedding. It was all planned to make guests as comfortable as if they were sitting in the couple's own home.
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| Personal photos were added around the venue. |
The simplicity and garden feel of this wedding was really reflected in all of the different elements from the simple swags I created to line the aisle to the boutonnieres, the rings and the cake.
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| Garden flowers stood out among the white chairs and aisle. |
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| Fiddle fern with green accents made the perfect boutonnieres. |
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| Simple platinum rings reflected the grooms personality. |
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| Even the cake was simple and elegant. |
While the room was perfect, this celebration was really all about the ceremony which was so long in coming. To add a special touch to the chuppah, I pinned a banner with well wishes from family and friends to the top as a reminder of the love that was in the room.
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| Adding the perfect finishing touch to the Chuppa. |
This was truly a wedding that touched the heart of everyone present. Best to Scott and John for many more happy years to come.
Until next time,
Cheers!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Architects of Air Luminarium
Back in June I promised to share photos of the destination wedding I had just produced in Spain. Now that my Summer break is officially over, I am back to work full force and want to devote some time to sharing information about the incredible experience I had planning this wedding. I want to start with the Architects of Air Luminarium that we brought to Spain from the UK.
It was about this time last year that we began planning the destination wedding in El Ciego, Spain. About a month into the planning process our client sent us a photo of a colorful football field sized structure with a note that the couple wanted to "make this happen" for their wedding guests. I was a bit stunned but immediately contacted Architects of Air, who designed and produced the Luminarium, to see how this could happen. I promptly received a response from Mado, who proved to be a great help with this project and who advised that we could certainly make the Luminarium happen in El Ciego.
The one question we both had was, where are we going to put this huge structure? While I am good at making things happen for my clients, certain logistics in the Rioja region of Spain made this a major task. If you have ever been to the area you know that there are a lot of rolling hills but very few flat, empty, football sized areas such as what we needed for the Luminarium. So, when I went to Spain last November for my first site visit, one of my priorities was finding a location for the Luminarium.
This is where Ana Pedrero, our main contact at the Hotel Marques de Riscal came in to save the day. I do know that when we first mentioned the possibility of bringing the Luminarium to Ana she thought we were out of our minds, however, she sprung into action and was instrumental in bringing the structure to life. This was especially true when she found the perfect location, right across the street from the Hotel! Ana was also key to our interaction with the town and obtaining all of the necessary permits.
Now we had the site, next we had to get the structure from Nottingham, England to El Ciego, Spain, erect it, secure it and staff it. We were fortunate to have the amazing Flor Guerin and her crew on hand to pull everything together. Flor was instrumental in securing the equipment needed such as generators and air conditioning which had to be brought in from Madrid and Barcelona as well as the crew that came in from all regions of Spain.
Bringing the structure to life was no small undertaking. The site had to be leveled, a protective layer had to be laid and all of the mechanical elements put in place.
When I was posting pictures from Spain on Facebook a lot of people were asking, What is it? Well, one thing I must say is that to appreciate the Luminarium you really have to experience it. It is an interactive combination of light and sound that you experience as you walk through the various chambers. As the sun moves throughout the day, the reflections and experience inside of the Luminarium changes so we would have guests just sit and experience how the light moves throughout the day. Architects of Air does have a structure touring the US so if you see it coming to your area I highly recommend a visit.
While it was a lot of work that took months of planning, the end result was a spectacular installation that wowed not only our clients and their guests, but also people throughout the Rioja region as we opened the Luminarium to the public and donated all ticket proceeds to Unicef. I really owe a big thank you to Ana, Rosa, Flor, Mado and all of the staff who worked so hard to make the Luminarium a reality for everyone.
There is much more to come about this beautiful destination wedding and the Rioja region of Spain.
Until next time,
Cheers!
It was about this time last year that we began planning the destination wedding in El Ciego, Spain. About a month into the planning process our client sent us a photo of a colorful football field sized structure with a note that the couple wanted to "make this happen" for their wedding guests. I was a bit stunned but immediately contacted Architects of Air, who designed and produced the Luminarium, to see how this could happen. I promptly received a response from Mado, who proved to be a great help with this project and who advised that we could certainly make the Luminarium happen in El Ciego.
The one question we both had was, where are we going to put this huge structure? While I am good at making things happen for my clients, certain logistics in the Rioja region of Spain made this a major task. If you have ever been to the area you know that there are a lot of rolling hills but very few flat, empty, football sized areas such as what we needed for the Luminarium. So, when I went to Spain last November for my first site visit, one of my priorities was finding a location for the Luminarium.
This is where Ana Pedrero, our main contact at the Hotel Marques de Riscal came in to save the day. I do know that when we first mentioned the possibility of bringing the Luminarium to Ana she thought we were out of our minds, however, she sprung into action and was instrumental in bringing the structure to life. This was especially true when she found the perfect location, right across the street from the Hotel! Ana was also key to our interaction with the town and obtaining all of the necessary permits.
Now we had the site, next we had to get the structure from Nottingham, England to El Ciego, Spain, erect it, secure it and staff it. We were fortunate to have the amazing Flor Guerin and her crew on hand to pull everything together. Flor was instrumental in securing the equipment needed such as generators and air conditioning which had to be brought in from Madrid and Barcelona as well as the crew that came in from all regions of Spain.
Bringing the structure to life was no small undertaking. The site had to be leveled, a protective layer had to be laid and all of the mechanical elements put in place.
When I was posting pictures from Spain on Facebook a lot of people were asking, What is it? Well, one thing I must say is that to appreciate the Luminarium you really have to experience it. It is an interactive combination of light and sound that you experience as you walk through the various chambers. As the sun moves throughout the day, the reflections and experience inside of the Luminarium changes so we would have guests just sit and experience how the light moves throughout the day. Architects of Air does have a structure touring the US so if you see it coming to your area I highly recommend a visit.
While it was a lot of work that took months of planning, the end result was a spectacular installation that wowed not only our clients and their guests, but also people throughout the Rioja region as we opened the Luminarium to the public and donated all ticket proceeds to Unicef. I really owe a big thank you to Ana, Rosa, Flor, Mado and all of the staff who worked so hard to make the Luminarium a reality for everyone.
There is much more to come about this beautiful destination wedding and the Rioja region of Spain.
Until next time,
Cheers!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Magnificent wedding at the Metropolitan Club
Recently I had the honor of planning a beautiful wedding for Alicia and Jerome at the prestigious New York Metropolitan Club. It was such a treat to work with Alicia and her mother to create the perfect wedding in an absolutely stunning setting.
Not only was the venue perfect for this wedding, the location, adjacent to Central Park, made for some beautiful shots of the Bride and Groom on a warm, sunny day. We were fortunate to have Jennifer and Charles of Maring Visuals on hand to capture all of the details.
The festivities began with a simple, beautiful ceremony at St. Malachy's Church in the heart of Times Square. The classic elegance of the church was a perfect fit for this wonderful couple.
Guests were then escorted into the beautifully decorated ballroom that continued the them from the escort table onto all of the dinner tables. For all of this wonderful decor we had the pleasure of working with the talented David Beahm. To enhance the decor and create a warm glow in the room Bentley Meeker Lighting was brought in add this extra touch.
With a wedding this spectacular the cake must be equally as special. Therefore, the Sweet Genius himself, Ron Ben-Israel, created a beautiful cake that perfectly captured all of the floral used in the room. It was delicious!
To bring all of this to life I have to give special thanks to Hank Lane Orchestras who provided the spectacular entertainment that kept the dance floor filled throughout this magical evening.
Of course, the best reward I can have from any event is a happy client. I have to share this wonderful note I received from the Bride's Mother. This is why I love my job!
Dear Shawn,
Not only was the venue perfect for this wedding, the location, adjacent to Central Park, made for some beautiful shots of the Bride and Groom on a warm, sunny day. We were fortunate to have Jennifer and Charles of Maring Visuals on hand to capture all of the details.
Following the ceremony guests proceeded to the Metropolitan Club for a evening filled with wonderful food, beautiful decor, great entertainment, and most of all loving friends and family. As guests were entering the Ballroom they were greeted by the escort card table with an amazing display of glass vases filled with bright pink seasonal blooms. At the end of the evening this table found another use as we displayed thank you boxes with cake and cookies for all of the guests. Of course, I must thank Alpine Creative Group for their creation of the invitations and all collateral materials for the wedding, including the escort cards.
Guests were then escorted into the beautifully decorated ballroom that continued the them from the escort table onto all of the dinner tables. For all of this wonderful decor we had the pleasure of working with the talented David Beahm. To enhance the decor and create a warm glow in the room Bentley Meeker Lighting was brought in add this extra touch.
With a wedding this spectacular the cake must be equally as special. Therefore, the Sweet Genius himself, Ron Ben-Israel, created a beautiful cake that perfectly captured all of the floral used in the room. It was delicious!
To bring all of this to life I have to give special thanks to Hank Lane Orchestras who provided the spectacular entertainment that kept the dance floor filled throughout this magical evening.
Of course, the best reward I can have from any event is a happy client. I have to share this wonderful note I received from the Bride's Mother. This is why I love my job!
Dear Shawn,
Alicia
and Jerome's wedding was nothing short of amazing! For the past two weeks, I
have been basking in the afterglow of my memories. Many have used the words,
"elegant, sophisticated and majestic" in their comments. The flowers,
music, table decor-all enhanced by the dramatic lighting, created that
WOW! effect at the "palatial" Metropolitan Club in New York
City.
From
Alicia's first meeting with you, she knew you were very in sync with the
wedding she and Jerome imagined. Thank you for making this experience
pleasurable and meaningful. You planned every detail with
us beginning with the Nuptial Mass at St. Malachy's Church, to the
festive celebration at the Metropolitan Club and on through the after-party!
I hope
this is the commencement of many Shawn Rabideau celebrations!
Warm
Regards,
Sue (Proud
Mother of the Bride)
Until next time...
Cheers
Until next time...
Cheers
Beautiful "Old World" Bat Mitzvah
One of my favorite design looks is somewhat of a vintage or "Old World" look that uses very classic elements for containers and flowers to create a really beautiful and feminine look.
Recently I had the good fortune to be able to design a Bat Mitzvah at Bridgewaters in New York that incorporated these classic elements. The location of Bridgewaters in lower Manhattan was perfect for the Bat Mitzvah as the inspiration was drawn for the 19th Century Museums on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
Using classic floral in apothecary jars and a lace overlay, a stunning escort card table set the stage as guests entered the room. Since the Bat Mitvzah girl loves reading and books, I used antique books to accent the table.
To carry the book theme further, for the kids and antique desk provided by Props for Today was used to hold journals that also served as escort cards for the kids.
Once guests entered the room the theme was carried through to the dinner tables as a variety of different sized apothecary jars were used to create a beautiful garden feel to the decor
The result was a beautiful, fun Bat Mitzvah that will be remembered for years to come.
Until next time.
Cheers!
Using classic floral in apothecary jars and a lace overlay, a stunning escort card table set the stage as guests entered the room. Since the Bat Mitvzah girl loves reading and books, I used antique books to accent the table.
To carry the book theme further, for the kids and antique desk provided by Props for Today was used to hold journals that also served as escort cards for the kids.
Once guests entered the room the theme was carried through to the dinner tables as a variety of different sized apothecary jars were used to create a beautiful garden feel to the decor
The colors and theme were continued to the kids tables which were covered with a fun lavender crinkle taffeta linen. The tables received fun collapsible lucite vases filled with coordinating floral.
The result was a beautiful, fun Bat Mitzvah that will be remembered for years to come.
Until next time.
Cheers!
Monday, July 30, 2012
How is a wedding planner to plan his own wedding?
There's the old adage that goes something like "You can give advice, but you can't follow your own advice". Okay, I may have ad-libbed there...but you get the point.
You see, I am fabulous at giving wedding and party planning advice. I am even great at planning my own parties. But the one thing I am not good at is listening to my own advice, especially when it comes to planning my own wedding.
Yep, you heard it right...I'm getting married! Wedding bells will ring, wedding bells will chime! I just don't know when. No date is set, no venue is booked and there are no pin boards for inspiration.
Well over a year ago, the morning after New York State passed the gay marriage bill, my partner of 9 years asked if I would marry him. Of course I said yes!
However, getting married isn't something I have always dreamed of. Early on, as a gay man, I resigned myself to the fact that there was no way I would have a wedding. It wasn't allowed and it really wasn't top of mind. It's not to say I wasn't looking to live happily ever after with the man of my dreams. That's something I wanted and something I currently have. But getting married, having a big wedding with a party and a big cake and a big honeymoon; that thought never crossed my mind until that day Michael asked me to marry him.
So fast forward 365 plus days - I've helped plan and design over 10 gay weddings since New York State passed that bill. Each one fabulous, each one magical, and each one a huge success! And all the while planning for my clients I occasionally thought what it would be like to plan my own wedding. And truthfully, that thought has overwhelmed me. Yes, for the first time in my life I am overwhelmed at the thought of planning a wedding...my own wedding.
After much soul searching, and many conversations with my partner Michael, neither one of us can say exactly what we want for a wedding. We've talked about a big NYC bash but that seemed too daunting and just not us. We then thought about a small destination wedding. But where and what if no one came? We've even entertained the thought of hosting a party in our own apartment. But then that seems like, well, blah. The bottom line is we've both come to the conclusion that while we want to get married, we don't know what we want. We do know we don't want a big, star-studded gala. And we know we want something low key, intimate, small and simple.
With the ten year mark right around the corner, Michael and I want to do something special, something that's us. We just don't know what, when or where. So, over the course of the next few weeks / months (maybe even years) I am going to chronicle how a gay wedding planner plans his own gay wedding. Some posts might be exciting (is there a breakthrough in the future?) while others might be boring. But the way I figure it, if I'm having trouble planning our wedding, then others are too. And, if we can resolve our own problems, then that might just make me a stronger and better planner which can only help you.
Until next time....
Cheers
You see, I am fabulous at giving wedding and party planning advice. I am even great at planning my own parties. But the one thing I am not good at is listening to my own advice, especially when it comes to planning my own wedding.
Yep, you heard it right...I'm getting married! Wedding bells will ring, wedding bells will chime! I just don't know when. No date is set, no venue is booked and there are no pin boards for inspiration.
Well over a year ago, the morning after New York State passed the gay marriage bill, my partner of 9 years asked if I would marry him. Of course I said yes!
However, getting married isn't something I have always dreamed of. Early on, as a gay man, I resigned myself to the fact that there was no way I would have a wedding. It wasn't allowed and it really wasn't top of mind. It's not to say I wasn't looking to live happily ever after with the man of my dreams. That's something I wanted and something I currently have. But getting married, having a big wedding with a party and a big cake and a big honeymoon; that thought never crossed my mind until that day Michael asked me to marry him.
So fast forward 365 plus days - I've helped plan and design over 10 gay weddings since New York State passed that bill. Each one fabulous, each one magical, and each one a huge success! And all the while planning for my clients I occasionally thought what it would be like to plan my own wedding. And truthfully, that thought has overwhelmed me. Yes, for the first time in my life I am overwhelmed at the thought of planning a wedding...my own wedding.
After much soul searching, and many conversations with my partner Michael, neither one of us can say exactly what we want for a wedding. We've talked about a big NYC bash but that seemed too daunting and just not us. We then thought about a small destination wedding. But where and what if no one came? We've even entertained the thought of hosting a party in our own apartment. But then that seems like, well, blah. The bottom line is we've both come to the conclusion that while we want to get married, we don't know what we want. We do know we don't want a big, star-studded gala. And we know we want something low key, intimate, small and simple.
With the ten year mark right around the corner, Michael and I want to do something special, something that's us. We just don't know what, when or where. So, over the course of the next few weeks / months (maybe even years) I am going to chronicle how a gay wedding planner plans his own gay wedding. Some posts might be exciting (is there a breakthrough in the future?) while others might be boring. But the way I figure it, if I'm having trouble planning our wedding, then others are too. And, if we can resolve our own problems, then that might just make me a stronger and better planner which can only help you.
Until next time....
Cheers
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