Organizing your guest list

Brides, it's time to organize your guest list and make excel spreadsheets your friend!

I can't begin to tell you how many different forms of a guest list I've seen over the years.  Each and every one has been a disorganized mess.  So, to make things easier for you take moment to look at my format for organizing your guest list. Using excel spreadsheets allows you to filter your guests by table, by who is and isn't coming, and who you've written a thank you note for. For sorting purposes it is important to separate last name, first name, address, etc. into separate fields for easy sorting.  And you can even use this list to organize your holiday cards!

Check it out and make excel spreadsheets your friend!

Until next time -

Cheers!

Spectacular Gala with an Oscar de la Renta Flair

Recently I had the great privilege to plan a fundraising Gala in honor of the 120th anniversary of the White Plains Hospital.  I had worked on the Hospital Gala years ago, before opening my own company, and was honored when they approached me late last year to take over as the planner for this event.  

I was especially excited to plan this Gala as it was not to be the typical seated dinner with speeches.  For this  anniversary the Hospital had partnered with Oscar de la Renta to put on a fashion show as the centerpiece of the event.  I love a challenge and creating a totally unique event around the show was right up my alley!

There were so many elements that had to be put together to make this evening a success.  To tell the story let me start with the basics, the venue.  Formerly the headquarters for General Foods, the site at 800 Westchester Avenue in Rye Brook, New York resembles a giant spaceship as you approach.  The owners of the building donated use of their massive atrium to become the setting for our event.

With the venue and date in place it was time to send out Save the Date cards and start designing the collateral materials.  For this task I turned to the team at Alpine Creative Group to pull together the look for all of the printed materials.  The result was a sharp, classic design that everyone loved.

Given that we had the space confirmed, and knew that the fashion show would be the focus of the event, our next task was to find the right staging company to create the environment and handle all sound and lighting.  To accomplish this task I contacted Richard Tatum and L & M Lighting and Sound.  Having work with Richard for many years I was confident he could pull together all of the elements to make the event a success and I was right.  To help L & M the services of Dynamic Drape and Decor were enlisted to create the set and the backstage areas along with helping us create some great posters of historic photos of the hospital.

To round out the vendors behind the event I brought is Vali Entertainment who supplied, Martin, an amazing DJ and the electric violists we used to set the stage as guests were entering the atrium for the Gala.

Of course every Gala needs amazing food.  For the White Plains Hospital Gala we chose the in house caterer at 800 Westchester Avenue, The Gourmet Taste, to handle all of the food and beverage for the event.  As this was not a sit down dinner the guests were treated to numerous themed food stations and a variety of passed hors d'oeuvres.  The guests raved about the food.  I have to say that Robin and her staff outdid themselves to make the guests happy.

Of course, I was there to design the room and provide floral and decor.  For this event it was all about the fashion.  Also,the room and staging were modern and sleek so I did not want anything over the top.  All of the tables were drapes with sleek silver, crinkle taffeta linens.  I used simple blue and white floral in stainless steel containers to tie into the Hospital's logo colors. It was simple and beautiful.

But, of course, the real star of the night were the amazing fashions from Oscar de la Renta.  I would be remiss if I did not give you a taste of the fashions that guests were treated to at the Gala.  I hope you enjoy.

It was a very special evening a a successful fundraiser for a great cause.  I a proud and grateful for the opportunity to work with the amazing staff and volunteers at White Plains Hospital.  I also want to thank Sniffen Pictures for production of the wonderful video shown at the event, Red Oak Transportation for safely transporting all of our models, Advanced Parking Concepts for handling the rush of guests needing valet service and Fifth Avenue Digital for providing the great photographers who captured all of the great images shown on this blog.

Here's to the next great Gala!

Cheers!

My last minute tips for Valentines Day on VH1

Have you been procrastinating on what to do for your special someone on Valentine's Day.  I have some tips for you that I shared with the gorgeous Carrie Keagan on VH1's Big Morning Buzz earlier today.  Check out the clip below for tips on food, decor and especially... Cocktails!

 VH1 Big Morning Buzz

And don't forget to listen for my Rabido's and Rabidon'ts to make sure your Valentine's Day plans are flawless.

Happy Valentine's Day to all and ...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 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!

Does "Celebrity" bring you clients?

As most of you know I planned celebrity Bethenny Frankel's wedding (as well as her baby shower and birthday).  And some of you may or may not know I've recently planned events for Star Jones.  However, planning events for celebrities has come at a cost and this became clear when a past client recently contacted me about an upcoming event.  She was actually hesitant to contact me because she thought that since I was now a “celebrity planner” I would be too expensive for her.  Plain and simple I am an event planning and design expert who just so happens to work with a few celebrities here and there.

All too often in my industry (events, party planning and event design) the word "celebrity" is used (and in my opinion overused).  While the word celebrity brings credibility and while it may be true that you've worked with celebrities, it can also bring the notion you are not accessible.  Don't get me wrong one should be proud that a celebrity thinks your work is so fabulous they want to hire you.  And you should be proud of that; it's a huge accomplishment!  However, there's one thing to remember, the word "celebrity" may be bring the notion you will only work with celebrities.  Maybe you do…but what if you don't?  What if you work with clients of all budgets?  How will the "celebrity" affect your business?

After my first appearance on Good Morning America a good friend called me up…not to congratulate me, but to warn me.  The producers used "Celebrity Wedding Planner" under my name…He said be careful with the use of that phrase…You're better off with the phrase "Wedding Planning Expert".  If you choose the route of "celebrity" you may no longer be accessible to your clients (current or former).  It was good advice and I still use it today anytime I do an interview or a TV segment.

Accessibility is what any client wants…especially the non-celebrity.  These clients (current or potential) want to feel as if you are accessible to them, their vision and importantly their budgets.

Professionally I plan a wide range of events with a wide range of budgets.  And while I have a minimum budget that I work with, I am unlike other planners and designers that boast they will only take on events with "X amount".  I've found a way to create an exclusive product (me and my designs) while staying accessible and making a profit.  Plain and simple I try not to boast of the celebrity.

Before you call me a hypocrite, I do list on my website the celebrities I've worked with…BUT I work with clients who aren't celebrities more than I work with clients who are.  And after being in the business for over twelve years that makes me more of a wedding planning expert than it does a celebrity planner.

Personally, I haven't changed (you can ask anyone who really knows me).  I am the same person I was when I started in this business.  A little wiser, a touch more confident and with a little less hair…but I am the same person.  I am me.  And "me" is what sells my business.  Me being accessible is what sells my business and I believe avoiding the phrase "Celebrity Wedding Planner" is what sells my business.

The bottom line is to treat all clients like celebrities.  If you do then you'll be labeled an expert as opposed to a celebrity.  And who's more accessible?  An expert or a celebrity?

Let me know what you think and........

Cheers!

Cakes, Cookies, and Cupcakes!

Want great cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for your next upcoming event? Check out the Cake Studio NYC at their website thecakestudionyc.com for wonderful treats! Jill has a wide variety of cake and filling flavors and does amazing work! She also offers classes both at home and in her cake studio.