One of my favorite things to design is custom light fixtures. I have created modern medieval chandelier out of metal and milk glass plexi
With Christmas ornaments
Wine bottles
On my recent trip form Paris, I saw innovative things such as:
- a chandelier made out of bread at this amazing bread specialty shop
- Rock crystal candy
- and a light fixture made out of beautiful silk tassles
Great weddings have great drinks. When it comes to making a wedding exciting in this area, I look to talented mixologists for inspiration. Mixologists are celebrity-chefs for the mixed drink world, and this is great news for celebrations. Right now, hot trends include incorporating herbs, like thyme and basic, into drinks. I also love the trend of antioxidants mixed into alcohol. This “healthy” drinking is just like going to the gym!
Some of my favorite examples are Strawberry Basil Mojitos and making your favorite vodka drink with Veev, vodka infused with the acai berry.
It’s only 18 days into the new decade but could I use a drink! A great celebration requires great drinks and an amazing bar. I love to create big bars and use the design to make them a guest destination. For a wedding in an old bank space, we created a PESO bar, and it so happened to be right next to the vault. We plastered the bar with the groom’s face on the peso- homage to his Mexican heritage and his position in finance. Stay tuned this week for more bars and drink ideas.
One fun idea for your wedding is to make your response cards creative. You won’t believe how creative guests can get when given the opportunity! Use the wording below as reference. And remember, don’t use the response card to ask your guests if they want steak or fish at your wedding. It’s one of my pet peeves. At the wedding, you can display them for all the guests to see.
And here is them displayed on a board at the wedding.
As most of you know, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and InStyle Weddings have all closed. The upheaval of the media industry in full motion. We were fortunate to be included in InStyle Weddings final issue – see below. In the next week, check back for some really fun escort card alternatives that you can use at your own wedding.
I am a big fan of the luxury shopping website Gilt.com. The are known for “by invitation only, to Men’s, Women’s and Children’s coveted fashion and luxury brands at prices up to 70% off retail.” However, this fall they expanded, bringing this “sample sale” approach to travel, in particular luxury hotels. As they ramp up the site, they are starting to come up with some spectacular deals. Take advantage while you can:
http://www.jetsetter.com/sales
If you want to impress your friends over New Years, check out Eric Asimov’s article on Champagne in the New York Times. It will tell you how the get the best value for your bubble.
www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/dining/reviews/23wine.html?pagewanted=1&hpw
I also wanted to mention a Burgundy Sparkling wine for about $11/bottle that Pastry Chef Will Goldfarb turned me on to. Highly skeptical of its quality after hearing the price, I have to say I was blown away. It is slightly different product from a typical champagne but it is absolutely delicious and has to be the value of the year. Wine Enthusiast describes Veuve Ambal by Pere et Fils as “a simple, crisp apéritif style of wine, with flavors of green apples, plums and a touch of pine nuts. The wine, a blend of Airen and Ugni Blanc, is dry and fresh.”
One single image can invoke incredible emotion. Here are a few photos that I pulled out recently.
Courtesy of Phillipe Cheng
Courtesy of Missy Mclamb
Courtesy of Christian Oth
Courtesy of Jake McBride
It’s always a fantastic night when you get invited to a wedding with a great raw bar! At this wedding at the St. Regis Hotel in New York, we turned this alcove area into the groom’s own “Shuckleberry Mike’s”. The signage was inspired by the old New England seafood shacks.
Event Solutions Magazine was kind enough to nominate me and my company as Event Planners of the Year. 2009 was an incredible year for Fete and our team is truly honored. The winner is selected by general public voting so please visit the link below and vote for your favorites in each category.
My Blog is created for people who are planning an event and are seeking inspiration, tips, and advice. So whether you are concerned about your décor, paper products, finding great music or planning your entire event, this style guide is here to help you. I will explore my professional resources, knowledge, experience and insights. I hope to help you create amazing and truly unique events. I want you to leave my style guide armed with insight, direction and inspiration for whatever you
may be planning.
Extraordinary weddings have a vision behind them. In this book, I take you through 9 very different wedding stories, each illustrated with tons of beautiful photographs. Through each wedding, I will teach you to think and act like your own planner and bring your wedding together with a vision that could only come from you.
FÊTE: THE WEDDING EXPERIENCE will be a source of great insight and inspiration while providing you with critical advice along the way that will significantly impact your wedding
The book is available at most bookstores and online.
Purchase from amazon.com