Fete Events

People love paper lanterns.  They make a space feel festive, intimate and fun.   However, how you use them properly is the tricky part.   Here is my advice for using them for your own event.

1) Paper Lanterns create an “outdoor” feel. They don’t make sense in a refined ballroom/ space. I tend to use them outdoors, in a tent or a venue that conveys an outdoor vibe (think loft for example).

2) Use lanterns that are color “natural” with the “irregular ribbed” pattern. For a relatively inexpensive item, these look luxurious when lit.  The white and regular ribbed tend to look cheap.

3) Bigger is better. When hanging lanterns in an event space, smaller ones get lost and look tiny. I use 24″ diameter and up.

4) How you hang them is key. Cluster the lanterns so they are touching slightly and hang at varying heights. The bottom of the lanterns should be at least 8 feet off the ground.

5) For evening event, they need to be lit properly, either externally or internally.  Talk to a lighting person about how to do this.

5) I love to hang them over the dance floor or target a designated area for them to hang – see 2 examples below.

There are many places online that sell paper lanters but one of my favorite sources is

http://www.paperlanternstore.com/nairriropala.html

Paper Lanterns Over the Dancefloor

Paper Lanterns in Smaller Room to Create a Beach Feel

We had a lot of fun creating this fantastic beach party.    We played off the host’s Brazilian heritage and love of surfing.   Bartenders made fresh caipirinhas and caipiroskas (made with vodka instead of cachaca) all night.   Samba, capoeira dancers and this fire-dancer pictured below were incredible.  At one point, I thought her arms were going to fall off.    Thanks to Bambi Cantrell for these photos.

This custom designed surfboard anchored one of the big bars

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At this fall event, we were left with no space for an escort card table.   Since our client was a banker and we were in a former bank, we posted the guest names in the form of the New York Stock Exchange pricing.  Hitting the names straight one with lighting made the names glow. The bar had a sheer red fabric lit from behind to make it feel dramatic.

Food service alone is one area that often feels so expected. A standard plated first course and entree can make your event feel like any other. At Fete, we use service to set a distinct tone. For the first course at this wedding (see menu listing below), waiters walked around with 3 different types of pasta. Referred to as “Russian” service, guests could try all three and have seconds if they wanted. Waiters passed the pasta until the course was ready to be cleared.

Remember that you have options for every element of your event!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of filming with Carley Roney on The Knot TV. We discussed some of the interesting new concepts we are using for our events.  I also shared photos from one of my most detailed weddings, one that took place at the New York Public Library. The segment is available this link to The Knot TV

http://wedding.theknot.com/special-wedding-features/the-knot-live/articles/the-knot-live-episode-8.aspx

Recently I have had a few clients who just didn’t like cake.  I treasure the wonderful ceremonial element of the cake cutting but how do you give it meaning to someone who doesn’t like cake?  One of my golden rules is to always be authentic with your planning decisions.  Everything you select or decide on needs to make sense for you and your fiance.  One of my brides was a cheese fanatic so we assembled large wheels of cheese in the shape of a wedding cake for her.  For another non-cake loving bride of Russian decent, we designed a 4” fabrege egg and enclosed it in a glass case to look like a museum piece.  In both cases, the bride was sharing something of herself with her guests.

Technology has opened up entire new ways to design an event.   I wanted to make reference to the photo studio were were in so we digitally projected the escort card list directly above the bar during the cocktail hour.  If you look closely, we laid the names out as if it were a film negative.  It became a great conversation piece.

Trish McEvoy Brushes

I don’t get excited about too many products but I just find myself raving about Trish McEvoy Brushes. I believe life is about using beautiful things on a daily basis. For me, this is one of them. They are amazing quality and their overall design, especially the lucite handles, make them incredibly beautiful.