Event Confetti

Real Weddings: Abby and Zack

2011-09-06T10:14:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that Abby and Zack's wedding was almost a year ago! Working with this wonderful couple was one of the highlights of our season. The beauty and personalization of this wedding shows what can be achieved when the couple is committed to making their wedding special and works closely with us on all the details from start to finish creating a style that is all about them! Their wedding day reflected their personalities, their relationship and celebrated and honored their family and friends. The ceremony and reception were held at the Twentieth Century Club in Buffalo. Here are some of the photos courtesy of Knight Studio.

Thanks to the following "dream team" of awesome vendors for their contributions to the day: Flowers by Johnny, Belletristics, Dessert Deli, Joyride Band, Knight Studio, APV Productions, Rev. Sue Samuels, Buffalo Trolleys.

Real Weddings: Kristyn and Nick

2011-08-25T13:38:00.002-04:00

In July of last year, we had the pleasure of coordinating and designing Kristyn and Nick's wedding. Robert from Knight Studio did and awesome job capturing all the special moments at this wedding. The ceremony took place at her parent's beautiful waterfront home in Grand Island, NY. Can you guess what Kristyn's favorite color is?

After the ceremony, the bridal party took a short ride to the reception site on a boat. The reception was held at The Buffalo Launch Club, with cocktail hour taking place inside and on the back patio.

Dinner and Dancing took place in a tent right next to the launch club and just steps from the water. It was so lovely to be right on the water on this steamy July day. When guests entered the tent they were absolutely wowed by the decor and the details! Obviously the bride's favorite color is purple - it was everywhere-including in the tent liner lighting which looked fantastic later in the evening.

The dramatic centerpieces from Flowers by Johnny were outstanding and enhanced the feel of the traditional yet contemporary reception.

The head table was a captain's table with the bridal party sitting on all sides...linens by Distinctive Occasions were beautiful shimmery braided overlays.

The stationery was so pretty and matched the decor and feel of the wedding perfectly thanks to Sarah of Belletristics.

We also used this design for a gobo that lit up the dance floor with Kristen and Nick's names. Here is a photo of the Bride and Groom during their first dance.

Thanks for allowing us the honor to be part of your day - we had a blast!

Tablescapes: Napkin Rings

2011-06-23T14:07:00.000-04:00

Napkin rings are a great and inexpensive way to add depth, color, and interest to a tablescape. Whatever the feel or theme of your wedding (or any kind of event for that matter) you can find a napkin ring to enhance your decor.

Etsy is an amazing resource for unique napkin rings, from vintage to modern, handmade to custom made.

You can go with something as simple as a silk flower:

This cute napkin ring is from The Brass Brassiere Blog; scroll down on the site for DIY instructions for making it. You can change the colors, flower and band to create a look to suit any style.

If you are all about sparkle and bling you can add something ornate like this to your table:

{Photo}

You can place a feather in the napkin ring for extra dimension:

Photo from http://www.projectwedding.com/

Or you can add a flower or a little bunch of flowers to match your centerpieces:

Photo from http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/

Having the napkin ring serve double duty as a favor for your guests to take home is a unique idea and a great way to cut your expenses:

This red napkin ring from beau-coup is also a vase. It makes a lovely gift for guests and can cost as little as $1.50 each! Other take home napkin ring ideas include luggage tags, and mouse pads.

This simple die cut napkin ring from wedding star adds elegance to any table setting and can be customized with your guests names to serve as place cards, and even better - they cost under $1.00 each!

I hope this has given you some great ideas and resources to give your table that little extra something special.

Happy Planning!

Media: Distinctive Occasions Interviewed for Buffalo Brides Magazine

2011-05-03T10:35:00.000-04:00

We were pleased to be asked to contribute to a recent article on wedding planning in Buffalo Brides Magazine - here is the article!

The wedding planning puzzle

Fitting the pieces together to create your perfect day

By Erin Morris

Planning a wedding is no easy feat. The joy of being newly engaged can be soon eclipsed by dread as you realize the
enormous task before you. A plan of action makes the process easier, but with so many details to handle and so many decisions to make, the challenge is knowing where to begin.

It’s the age-old “what comes first” question. Is it setting the date? Creating the guest list? Choosing your venue? Or establishing your budget?

Local wedding planner Dawn Schregel, owner of Distinctive Occasions LLC in Amherst, suggests starting with the big picture and working your way down to the details.

First, establish your overall “vision.”

“Discuss the style and feel, what you’re looking to get out of the day and what aspects are most important to you,” said Schregel.

Your vision will include things like whether you see it as a day or evening celebration; whether you want something large and festive or small and intimate; and the level of formality (casual beach wedding or black-tie dinner)?

Once you’ve established the overall feel, Schregel said that budgeting is the next step.

Newlywed Christina Warren of Tonawanda agrees. “The budget definitely puts things into perspective for any couple planning a wedding,” she said. “You can narrow down what seems like an endless amount of choices to a few that are manageable.”

It may not seem romantic, but creating a budget will ensure that you start off on the right foot financially.

“You really need to know where the funds are coming from, who will pay for what, the division of expenses,” said Schregel. “That’s something you want to figure out before you start thinking about how many guests you’re going to have, or going to visit venues.”

Once you know what you have to work with, the next step is setting your priorities.

“I sometimes tell couples to make a list of non-negotiables,“ said Schregel. Discuss what elements of the wedding are most important to you. For some couples, it’s the music – they wouldn’t dream of getting married without their favorite 10-piece band. For others it’s a certain restaurant or menu.

Then – if your heart is set on serving surf-and-turf and top-shelf liquor – you can start making adjustments to accommodate your budget, like forgoing the designer gown or high-profile photographer.

“In the planning stages it is very easy to get carried away with all of the excitement,” said Warren. By setting a budget up front, “you will be able to figure out what you are willing or able to spend, and what accommodations or changes you need to make [in order] to have your dream wedding.”

Establishing a budget early on will also help you make other big decisions – like how many guests you’ll invite. For most couples, food and beverage costs are the largest single wedding expense – so the more guests you invite, the greater your costs. The size of your guest list will also help you narrow down your venue choices. If you decide on 300 guests, for instance, you’ve ruled out a lot of possibilities right off the bat.

It’s at this point when you’ll want to start considering the date. If you lock it in too early, keep in mind that you may lose out on the ceremony site or reception location you want.

And remember to always keep Plan B in mind.

“Usually things don’t go terribly wrong,” said Schregel, “but sometimes dates are already booked, venues close or vendors go out of business, these things happen.”

Don’t “throw away all of your research once the big decisions are made,” added Warren. “You never know what will happen.”

There is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding, but oftentimes, when certain decisions are made before others, plans can go awry.

Sometimes brides and grooms “get a little bit ahead of themselves,” said Schregel. “Booking vendors before you set a budget, choosing a date before finalizing a location, doing things like that can make the planning more difficult than it needs to be.“

No matter what roadblocks you may hit or how stressful the planning process may seem, the most important thing is to not get overwhelmed. Once the big decisions are made, everything else will fall into place.

Above all, Schregel advises to “make it fun. It’s all about you as a couple. Keep in perspective what this day is, it’s your wedding and should be all about the celebration of you as a couple. If you take it slowly and don’t stress about the little things, the planning will be much more enjoyable.”

Party Time: Where the Wild Things Are 1st Birthday

2011-04-17T12:17:00.003-04:00

Last month we had the pleasure of planning a birthday bash for an adorable little boy that was turning 1!

For the theme his parents chose one of his favorite books, "Where the Wild Things Are"

The decor was inspired by both the classic children's book by Maurice Sendak and the more recent movie.

We were lucky enough to have the party at The Sonoma Grille in Williamsville, NY. They do such a great job, it is always awesome to work with them.

We chose to do the room in two shades of green with pops of orange in the hanging pompoms and the centerpieces.

For the seating tables we used a moss crushed shimmer linen, with a complimentary lime linen on the bistro tables tied with a moss shimmer bow. To give the room a "wild" feel we decorated all the stations with vines, leaves and branches.

Balloon Masters made these amazing balloon trees with hanging Max's that almost touched the ceiling!

For the centerpieces we used lime green Sixlets in hurricane vases and added bright orange Gerbera Daisys and Tulips. They really stood out against the dark green linens.

The hosts wanted their guests to mingle and have a good time so we found some entertainment for both the adults and the kiddos, and we asked Terry's photo Studio to document all the fun.

The pictures below are courtesy of Terry.

The beautiful cake from Muscoreil's was placed on the table with the blue punch waterfall. All of the stations had custom signs by Distinctive Occasions inspired by lines from the book.

There was even a boat.

The magical Bill Butski strolled around the room and entertained all guests, children and adults alike.

And Christina Reilly set up shop and had a line the entire evening for her caricatures!

Favors for all the children were small boxed Where the Wild Things are puzzles. Next to the favors is the wishing tree where the guest left personal birthday wishes for Yasin. What a nice thing for him and his parents to look at in the future or use for a scrapbook!

Like perfect hosts they were the last ones to get their caricatures drawn. What a great souvenir!

The adorable guest of honor very politely digs into his smoosh cake. We hope you had a happy birthday Yasin and we wish you many more!!

Distinctive Occasions receives WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award 2011

2011-02-18T08:24:00.000-05:00

Buffalo, NY – February 3, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Distinctive Occasions has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Planners!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Distinctive Occasions stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Distinctive Occasions for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Distinctive Occasions is among the very best Wedding Planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

Inspiration Board: Winter Gold Wedding

2010-12-01T16:05:00.000-05:00

It's snowing! I thought this would be a perfect time to share a little inspiration for a gold Winter wedding...

{Photos clockwise from top left dress, invitation, shoe, decor, bouquet, favors, cake}

Real Weddings: Catherine and Michael

2010-10-26T09:54:00.001-04:00

In September, we had the pleasure of handling the event design and decor for Catherine and Michael's wedding reception at the Tonawanda Castle. The couple was looking for a warm, rich, elegant, but not over the top look that incorporated the colors and feel of Fall. All of the little details made this wedding truly spectacular and personalized. Thanks to Jennifer Allis Photography for these beautiful photos!

The process began with the selection of linen colors for the wedding. Cathy and Mike chose a beautiful loden green shantung cloth for the guest tables, that was complemented with rich brown hues and beautiful fall colors in the floral arrangements.

Then, the talented Sarah at Belletristics designed a custom monogram for their day. This monogram was used in multiple places and set the tone for the rest of the stationery, also designed by Sarah.

The wedding program featured a small square label with their monogram on the front, and corresponding designs on the inside.

The escort card table...

The menu cards were truly stunning. They were multi-layered and mounted on a chocolate brown backer printed with gold leaves. They were placed on top of two green glass charger plates and a chestnut colored shantung napkin.

Table numbers were designed and placed on wine bottles that were then opened and used at each table. The glasses you see in the photo were filled with a chilled cantaloupe and bourbon soup which complemented the decor. Catering was done by Torches Retaurant, and was delicious and innovative!

Cathy and Mike are very eco-conscious, and chose to give their guests tree seedlings as favors. The tags on the favors featured their monogram and asked guests to either plant the tree or donate it to a local school or park. When we broke down the decor from the wedding, not a single favor was left behind...that was definitely a first for us!

A view of the head table...

A view from the balcony. We turned their monogram into a lighting gobo which was reflected on the center of the dance floor.

Our lighting designer used leaf gobos to stunning effect on the vast ceiling. This really transformed the look of the room.

Cathy and Mike's first dance!

This was a very personalized and customized wedding for a wonderful couple! It truly reflected them, and it was a pleasure to work on the wedding!

Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Locations in Buffalo

2010-10-22T09:06:00.000-04:00

We have had a lot of clients lately asking us to assist with options for outdoor wedding ceremonies in the downtown Buffalo area. Here are some good options to consider:

West Side Rowing Club/Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse
Located at the foot of Porter Avenue right on the waterfront, there is an outdoor space that can accommodate a wedding ceremony. There is enough room to have it under a tent as well if you desire. For more information, contact Sharon @ 716-362-3140. http://www.wrightsboathouse.org/

The Jacobs Center (formerly the Butler Mansion)
This beautiful mansion on Delaware and North Streets has an outdoor courtyard which can be used for wedding ceremonies. There are multiple options on the grounds for a ceremony - the lawn can seat up to 150 people, the area by the gazebo can seat approximately 100, and the stairs on the North Street side seats approximately 50-75 people. The inside of the mansion is used as a backup in case of rain. You can also choose to have your cocktail hour at the venue and then move on to a reception at another location. They do also hold wedding receptions. For more information, call 716-645-2344.

Delaware Park Rose Garden
The rose garden can seat up to 200 people for an outdoor ceremony, and can be booked by calling the Olmsted Parks Conservancy at 716-886-0088. There are also other locations in Delaware Park that are not "private", and you can hold your ceremony anywhere in the Park that you would like (as long as you don't mind the possible interruptions or uninvited guests!)

Japanese Gardens
The Japanese Gardens are located behind the Albright Knox Art Gallery. It is a vast space, and you can hold a wedding ceremony wherever you would like on the grounds. If you require seating, you do need to bring in and set up rental chairs. This space can be booked by calling the Olmsted Parks Conservancy at 716-886-0088.

Buffalo Parks
There are numerous parks around the City where you can hold an outdoor ceremony. For more information, contact Arlene at the Parks and Recreation Department at 716-851-9670.

There are also some nice locations where you can have an outdoor ceremony, but you are usually required to book your reception there as well...

Twentieth Century Club
The Twentieth Century Club is private, so you do need to be sponsored by a member to hold your wedding here. It is an exquisite Mansion located on Delaware Avenue done in an Italian Renaissance style. There is a gorgeous courtyard in the back where ceremonies are held. Brides make their grand entrance down a dramatic staircase leading to the aisle. Here are some photos from a recent wedding we coordinated at the location.

Templeton Landing Restaurant
Templeton Landing is located right on the water in the Erie Basin Marina, and they have two outdoor ceremony locations. Ceremonies can be held on their rooftop patio or on the grass alongside the restaurant. Here are some photos from a recent wedding we coordinated at this location...

For more information, call 716-852-7337 or visit their website at http://www.templetonlanding.com/directions.php

Happy planning!

Party Time: Spooky Halloween Decorations

2010-10-20T16:26:00.000-04:00

With Halloween comes the opportunity to get creative, and a little crazy with your party decor, food and drink. Here are some inspirational photos for your spooky celebration this year...

{Photo credits: Martha Stewart}

Confetti: To Toss or not to Toss

2010-06-28T09:24:00.000-04:00

Many of our brides question whether to partake in the age-old tradition of the bouquet toss at their wedding receptions. Most of our brides this year are deciding to forego this tradition and consider alternatives.

The history of the bouquet toss goes back to fourteenth century France, where guests viewed a bride as especially lucky on her wedding day, and would clamour to tear off pieces of her dress for their own good fortune. Eventually, brides began to rebel against this practice and tossed their garters to guests, and later, their bouquets.

While there is something to be said for tradition, some people prefer not to call out all their single friends to catch the bouquet in the hopes that the one who catches it will be the next to marry. Here are some alternatives to consider:

1. The Anniversary Dance - This is a dance for all married couples at the wedding. During the song, the emcee asks people who have been married less than a certain number of years to leave the dance floor. The couple who has been married the longest remains and is given the bride's bouquet.

2. Have a "dance off" for the bouquet - invite males & females to the dance floor for a dance off. Form a circle in the middle of the dance floor where guests dance one by one in the middle. The dancer who wins the most admiration from the crowd or from the bride & groom gets the bouquet.

3. Give the bouquet to a special female in your life to honor them.

4. Do the bouquet toss, but open it up to anyone (single or in a relationship) who wants to participate. As a fun extra incentive, offer a prize such as cash, a restaurant gift certificate or a spa package!

5. Keep it!

Confetti: Free Wedding Websites from Wedding Paper Divas

2010-06-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

Wedding Paper Divas is a company that I frequently refer my brides & grooms to for a variety of invitation and stationery needs. They have a stylish collection of contemporary styles that I love! For a limited time only, they are offering free wedding websites. You can choose from over 35 of their stationery designs, and it comes with many more features. What I think is so great about this is that the design of your site can match your stationery and the overall theme and feel of your wedding. You don't find this with any of the other free sites. So head on over to Wedding Paper Divas and see what they have to offer before this deal expires!

Party Time: Movie Themed Baby Shower

2010-06-09T10:40:00.004-04:00

We recently planned a baby shower for parents-to-be, Lauren & Brad. I was trying to figure out a way to still make it cute but incorporate the men. So I decided upon a movie themed shower, starring, of course - the baby!

The theme was introduced with this fabulous invitation, designed by Sarah at Belletristics.

Guests enjoyed treats from a popcorn and candy bar. Flavors included strawberry, caramel, hot pepper, vanilla butternut (this was the most popular!), root beer & more!

In keeping with the theme, guests drank soda out of paper coke cups with straws, and the room was decorated with floral popcorn containers and movie themed decor.

Flowers by Johnny did a wonderful job with these creative, fun flowers!

The cake, designed by Ohlson's Bakery, was designed based upon the invitation.

I wanted to keep the games to a minimum, but did have a game called "Give the Baby His Bottle", in which other men challenged the dad-to-be in a drinking contest (milk out of a baby bottle of course!). Needless to say, this game took a bit of time and patience!

Favors were popcorn & soda flavored jelly beans in these adorable "Ready to Pop" containers!

Congratulations and best wishes Lauren & Brad - you are going to be great parents!

Inspiration Board: Fresh and Pretty

2010-06-04T10:03:00.002-04:00

We have been getting ready for a lot of outdoor weddings this Summer, and I thought I would share this inspiration board for a fresh and pretty yellow wedding....enjoy!

Real Weddings: Carrie & Jeremy

2010-05-28T10:48:00.002-04:00

I recently obtained the beautiful photos from Carrie & Jeremy's October 2009 wedding that were taken by Expressions Studio. Their ceremony took place at St. Stephens Church in Lackawanna, and their reception at the Ellicott Square Building in Buffalo. It was a beautiful day and their creative ideas and personalities shone through in many of the details. Let's start with Carrie's fashion - her gown and shoes were just stunning!

Some photos of their huge bridal party - they took many of the photos at Forest Lawn.

The church was beautiful and ornate - check out the ceiling...

The couple is very pro-Buffalo, and it was important to them to incorporate things relating to the City. They named each of the reception tables after streets in Buffalo, and these cute signs were hung from all the centerpieces.

The happy couple during their first dance...

Thank you for letting us be part of your special day, and we wish you happiness for many years to come!

Confetti: Wedding Gratuities

2010-05-24T09:34:00.002-04:00

As we are approaching the busy wedding season, I thought it would be a good time to share some thoughts and advice on tipping all those service providers who work so hard to make your wedding day a success.

Some things to consider:

First and foremost, you should keep in mind that a gratuity is a discretionary expression of gratitude for service that exceeds expectations.
In general, if a vendor owns their own business, you would not normally tip them unless you feel they have gone above and beyond for you.
Gratuities are often included in the bill or contract, so be sure to read carefully to avoid double-tipping.

The following is a general guideline to get you started thinking about wedding day gratuities:

Limousine Driver: 15-20% of the total bill
DJ: $50 and up
Clergy Member (priest, minister, rabbi): Usually a donation ($75 and up)
Public official (judge, city clerk, etc.): Usually a flat fee ($75 and up), although some will not accept it
Waiters, Waitresses, Bartenders, Banquet Captain, Banquet Manager: 15% for servers, 15-20% for captain/manager, 10-15% for bartenders
Coatroom Attendants: $1 per guest (or pre-arrange a flat fee with your venue)
Parking Attendants $1 per guest (or pre-arrange a flat fee with your venue)
Photographer, Videographer, Wedding Coordinator, Florist, Baker: Only for extra-special service
Organist, Musicians: $20-$25 each
Hair and Makeup Stylists: 15-20% of the total bill

If you have a wedding coordinator, they can distribute gratuities on your wedding day. Our clients provide us with sealed envelopes at the wedding rehearsal, and we take care of this for them. If we feel that a vendor has not met or exceeded expectations, we may choose to advise our clients of this and adjust the tip accordingly. If a vendor they may not have considered tipping does an extraordinary job, we make sure to advise them of this as well. If you don't have a wedding coordinator, you can give this job to a trusted member of the bridal party.

Real Weddings: Lindsay & Ryan

2010-05-05T20:18:00.000-04:00

Our clients, Lindsay and Ryan were married in May of 2009. Their wedding was recently chosen to be featured in the Spring 2010 issue of Buffalo Brides magazine! Their ceremony took place at St. Louis Church downtown, and the reception was held at the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora. You can read all about the fabulous and personalized details of their day here...

What a nice keepsake to have and an honor to be featured in this local magazine!

Inspiration Board: Fabulous Wedding Shoes

2010-04-30T18:54:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year for pedicures and pretty feet! Check out these fabulous shoe statements from various weddings...

{click on images to view photo credits}

Here's a photo from one of our weddings last year. This bride's shoes were so pretty! This photo was actually taken by the photographer in the bathroom of the Embassy Suites!

{Photo by Expressions Studio}

Shoes are a great way to reflect your personality and make a unique statement on your wedding day. Don't forget to break in your wedding shoes prior to the wedding to avoid sore feet!

Party Time: The Ice Ball

2010-04-13T11:49:00.012-04:00

We are so lucky that we have creative clients who want to throw awesome parties! Our private client came up with the concept of "The Ice Ball" in 2008 - a pro-Buffalo bash for mainly young professionals on New Year's Eve. We worked with him to create a winter-themed event incorporating ice sculptures, winter decor, interactive entertainment, music, drinks, and lots of fun! This past year's event was the second annual, and it was held at the now closed Statler Towers. In fact, The Ice Ball was the last public party held at the venue. Guests enjoyed an optional dinner preceding the party in the Rendezvous Room, and then moved into the Golden Ballroom for a party with close to 600 people. Distinctive Occasions LLC managed and decorated the entire event. Here are some photos from the evening by Terry Vine Photography:

By far, the coolest thing we have ever had the opportunity to do at an event took place at Midnight. We placed 6 giant confetti cannons around the room prior to the party. In fact, we hid them under high tables that guests used during the night. At Midnight, our staff wheeled them out and shot over 80 pounds of white confetti with sliver snowflakes into the air.

Here is a video showing the fabulous confetti white-out effect...

We had never attempted a special effect like this before, but it went off without a hitch and was the hit of the night. Special thanks to our staff members who had to spend the first few minutes of 2010 under the table operating the air tanks!

Lovely Umbrellas for your wedding day

2010-04-07T12:32:00.009-04:00

No bride wants it to rain on her wedding day, but it is always best to be prepared in advance just in case Mother Nature doesn't want to cooperate. And when you can be prepared and carry vintage style umbrellas as gorgeous as these, you may just want to bring them along in nice weather as well to make a fabulous fashion statement! Bella Umbrella is based in Seattle, and they rent and sell parasols and umbrellas at very reasonable rates. They ship their products nationwide. Whatever your style, I would bet they have one to suit you! Check out these photos....

{Photo by Trendy Bride}

{Photo credit}

So many lovely designs, I don't know how you could choose just one!

Confetti: Win $1,000 in wedding invitations and stationery

2010-04-01T20:42:00.004-04:00

Jean M is a great company that offers invitations, stationery, favors, accessories and more for your wedding. Their style is clean and contemporary, and they also offer stationery for the DIY bride. I am a big fan of their circular menu cards! They announced a sweepstakes today where one lucky couple can win $1000 in wedding invitations, stationery and a free consultation. To enter click here.

Wedding Ceremony Tip

2010-03-29T16:55:00.006-04:00

If you are getting married soon, you may want to keep this important piece of advice in mind. Your left hand should be free of your engagement ring during the wedding ceremony so that your wedding band can be placed on your left ring finger, closest to your heart. If you can't bear to part with your engagement ring, you can simply wear it on your right hand for the ceremony, then put it back where it belongs afterwards. Or, you can have a family member or close friend keep it safe for you. Just another one of the endless details to consider! :)

{Photo from The Knot}

Real Weddings: Zack & Abby's Engagement Photos

2010-03-08T18:46:00.012-05:00

Our clients, Zack & Abby live in Los Angeles, and they are getting married in Abby's hometown of Buffalo in September. They are planning a beautiful wedding at the Twentieth Century Club with lots of personal touches. Here are some photos from their engagement photo session that were taken at El Matador State Beach in Malibu. The photos were taken by John B. Mueller. Could this location be any more perfect for an engagement shoot?

Thanks Zack and Abby for sharing these beautiful photos and for bringing a bit of LA warmth to Buffalo!

Party Time: Roaring Twenties Party - Part 3

2010-03-01T07:10:00.015-05:00

Today I wanted to share the final set of details and photos from our client's roaring twenties themed birthday party that was designed and coordinated by our team at Distinctive Occasions.

In addition to the fabulous decor and thematic elements detailed in previous posts, we added some fun, interactive elements incorporating actors and dancers.

Upon arrival, guests were required to give a password that was included with their invitation to a costumed actor through an opening in a real speakeasy door that was built to look like it was part of the wall.

{Photo by Knight Studio}

Guests were then "interrogated" by an actress gathering "dirt" on the birthday girl. Their interviews were videotaped and played back live on the TV later in the evening.

During cocktail hour, a costumed cigarette girl floated among the guests passing out these red glitter chocolate bonbons and fake cigarette holders. These bonbons are so yummy and sparkly!

{Photo by Knight Studio}

During the party, there were two mini "shows", where professional dancers in flapper costumes danced the Charleston and a medley from the musical "Chicago". They also danced with the guests and taught them some dance moves from the period.

{Photos by Terry's Photo Studio}

And what Roaring Twenties theme party would be complete without a police raid? Towards the end of the party, we had costumed actors acting as policeman try to break up the party. We even rented a "bubble light" that flashed when they arrived.

It's always great when we have the opportunity to carry a theme through every aspect of the party. From the invitations to the decor, to the interactive elements, the music and the thematic elements, this party was infused with 1920's style. I think this is a party our special birthday girl will remember for a long time to come!

Confetti: Unique fundraising idea

2010-02-25T09:54:00.004-05:00

Last night, I volunteered at the first ever Handbag Happy Hour event to benefit AIDS Community Services. The event was held at Salvatore's Italian Gardens, and I am sure it was quite a successful fundraiser. Ladies of all ages from across the region attended and had the opportunity to bid on new and previously loved designer and distinctive purses. There was a silent auction and a live auction. The live action included purses donated by Susan Lucci and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, and these were very popular! There were many generous companies and individuals across Western New York who donated purses and raffle prizes to make the evening a success. I haven't been to Salvatore's in a while, and was impressed with their appetizers and presentation in general. On the way out the door, ladies had the opportunity to pick up even more purses at bargain prices ($5-$20)! Needless to say, everyone left happy and with some new goodies.

This was an awesome idea for a fundraiser (wish I had thought of it!), a great way to bring women together, and I am sure that it will be very successful for years to come.

Party Time: Roaring Twenties Party - Part 2

2010-02-18T20:48:00.027-05:00

Today I am excited to share some more images from our client's fabulous Roaring Twenties themed birthday party. All of the decor was created by Distinctive Occasions exclusively for this party. Handmade pillows trimmed with boas, jewels and beads abounded in the lounge area, red votive candles were trimmed with fringe and gems, pearls encircled the floral arrangements and the candles, beautiful rhinestone broaches adorned the tuxedo tablecloths and the chair covers, and fringe curtains covered the windows in the lounge area.

We obtained an old fashioned bathtub and filled it with ice to hold champagne bottles - giving the birthday girl her own version of bootleg liquor!

Upon arrival, guests were able to pose for souvenir photos in front of a vintage Pierce Arrow car (colored black and red of course!) we rented for the occasion. On the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, the birthday girl's name was illuminated in lights. There was no question who the star of this party was!

Floral arrangements by Flowers by Johnny utilized roses, lilies, ostrich feathers, pearls and beads - they were stunning and added so much to the event.

{All photos by Knight Photo Studio and Distinctive Occasions}

Stay tuned next week for the final set of details from this fun themed party!

Wedding Save-the-Date Announcements

2010-02-17T10:18:00.015-05:00

Everyone today has busy schedules which makes it is important to plan in advance to attend an important event such as a wedding, especially for guests who are attending from out of town. A Save-the-Date card is a way to let your guests know the location and the date of the wedding so that they can plan to attend. While they are not mandatory, most couples today send them. A Save-the-Date should include the date and town the wedding is being held in, pertinent hotel and travel information, and can also include a link to your wedding website if you have one. While it is nice to introduce the colors and style of your wedding if you have these aspects decided, it is not necessary. Here are some cute and different ideas for Save-the-Dates...

Destination Wedding Save-the-Date

Picture story save the date

Save-the-Date pen

Photo booth style Save-the-Date

Photo magnet Save-the-Date

If you choose to send Save-the-Dates, they should be mailed approximately 6-7 months before the wedding.

Congratulations Newly Engaged Couples!

2010-02-15T12:45:00.010-05:00

If you are one of the lucky people who received an engagement ring for Valentine's Day or over the holidays - congratulations! You are embarking upon an exciting (and sometimes stressful) time. Here's a good plan for getting started:

{Photo}

1. Hire a Wedding Coordinator - Yes, I know what you're thinking....of course she would say this since she is a wedding coordinator! But honestly, a coordinator can be your biggest asset when planning a wedding. They can save you time, money, and help you to avoid costly mistakes. Although a coordinator can assist at any stage of the planning process, you will get the most monetary value out of the relationship if you involve one from the beginning. We offer hourly consultations for couples who need a push in the right direction but plan to do most of the planning themselves. A coordinator is a very valuable investment in your wedding.

2. Discuss the overall style and feel of the wedding. Do you want a formal, black-tie affair, or a casual BBQ? Discuss what is most important to you as a couple and how you see the day unfolding in general.

3. Choose a preferred month for your wedding. Try to keep an open mind with dates, since your preferred venue may not be available for your selected date. Also take into consideration holidays, vacation days and school schedules.

4. Set a budget. There are many templates you can find online. But how do you know how much these items should actually cost in your market? A coordinator is a great resource for this as well.

5. Choose a venue. There are many great venues in Buffalo. Make sure the venue you are considering is within your budget and fits the overall style of your wedding.

Get ready for an exciting ride!

Party Time: Roaring Twenties Party Part 1

2010-02-12T09:01:00.020-05:00

We recently had the pleasure of coordinating and decorating a Roaring Twenties themed 40th birthday party for a private client. This was a fabulous affair where the host required all the guests to dress in themed attire. Guests entered the party through a real speakeasy door where they had to give the secret password to a costumed actor in order to enter.

This will be the first of a few posts showing the details and decor of this party which was held at Sonoma Grille in Amherst. The client stressed to us that most of the guests had been in this room for many celebrations, so it was important to transform the room in order to impress them. I thought it would be fun to start by showing you the before and after photos of the room. Here are the before photos of the Reserve Room...

And the after photos...

The windows are such a focal point of this room, and they define the space and give it a particular character. I immediately knew that in order to truly transform the room in a spectacular way, I had to change the windows. We chose to create these fabulous white and black curtains to cover every window in the room - this design element really created a "wow" factor.

{Event photos by Knight Photography}

We added black fringe to the ceiling lights, and red uplighting and red moving lights gave the room the feeling of a dark, smoky speakeasy. A black & white dance floor was placed in the center of the room, and all the decor was in black, red & white. We sewed white boas onto the bottom of black tablecloths, and used slinky black chair covers that echoed the style of the curtains and enhanced the twenties feel. It was truly a dramatic room transformation.

More photos of this party to follow in the upcoming weeks!

Inspiration Board: Whimsical Wedding

2010-02-09T21:21:00.018-05:00

With Valentine's Day coming up, I created this lovely inspiration board with lots of whimsical wedding details. It is fun and girly and very unique. The colors pop - it would be perfect for an outdoor wedding. It is a bold and stylish, yet still soft and so pretty!

{Click on images to view credits}

Wedding Tips and Tricks: Wedding Websites

2010-02-08T09:58:00.007-05:00

Many of my couples ask me if I think they should make a wedding website. There are many benefits to doing so. You can include details about the wedding including travel and lodging information, share your stories and photos, link to gift registries, and even take electronic RSVPs. Here are a few tips...

Selecting a site - There are many templates available online, both free and paid. Some free ones to consider are The Knot, EWedding, and Wedding Channel. A paid site I like is Wedding Window.

Tell your story - Make the website unique and representative of you as a couple. Include stories and photos to reflect your personalities and help people better understand you as a couple.

Travel - Be sure to include information on hotels and any special rates/room blocks along with links to the hotel websites. I advise couples to give guests a few hotel options at varying price points if possible. This doesn't mean that you have to set up room blocks at multiple hotels, but at least give them information on other nearby hotels so that they can choose.

Local Points of Interest - Some of the best wedding websites I've seen include information on local attractions and things guests can do in their down time. Share restaurant recommendations and tidbits about your city.

Privacy - Remember that whatever information you put out there can be viewed by anyone. Be selective about what you include unless your site is password protected.

RSVP Option - In today's electronic world, this is a great feature and helps make it easier on the procrastinators and people who just don't return their reply cards. It will make your life easier, because you won't have to chase people down for a response.

How to tell guests about your website - It really isn't proper etiquette to include the website on your wedding invitation. A great place for this is on the Save-the-Date card or on maps and travel information that you send out.

Buffalo Bridal Expo 2010

2010-02-05T15:04:00.016-05:00

This past weekend, we were exhibitors at the Buffalo Bridal Expo held at the Seneca Niagara Casino. All of the exhibitors were members of the Buffalo Bridal Association, businesses that you can trust to provide professionalism and quality for your wedding day. We really wanted to showcase our design skills, and show everyone the items and ideas we have at our fingertips to help you have the wedding of your dreams.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth! It was great to meet new 2010 and 2011 brides and grooms, and to see some of our current brides as well. Here are some photos of the tables we designed at our booth...

This first table is every "girly-girl's" dream! It is a pink and crystal table, with a beautiful candelabra centerpiece draped with crystals. Favors included wine bottles (white Zinfandel of course!) with crystal monograms, beautiful matching menu cards, pink diamonds, silver beaded charger plates, rose petals, pink chivari chairs, crystal napkin rings, and the gorgeous flowers by Flowers by Johnny (who did all the flowers at our booth - he's the best!!). This shows how beautifully all the separate parts can work together to create a complete look.

We do have this candelabra available for rent - just give us a call!

This next table is our sweetheart table. Check out the intricate lotus flower napkin folds (yes, that is only one napkin!), adorable Mr. & Mrs. chair backs, the lovely teardrop linen, calla lily centerpiece, and a love poem displayed in a frame. It is simple and elegant.

Our buttercream table was a big hit, with its huge floral centerpieces and modern look. We combined a beautiful buttercream string swirl linen with whites and ivories, playful paliette napkin rings, and a circular menu card to show you that you don't always have to think inside the box when designing your wedding tables. We had a lot of interest in these fitted chair covers with their beautiful broaches - but we know not everyone has the budget to have this look on every chair at their wedding. I suggest that if you like this type of look but can't fit it into your budget, you could use it for a head table or a sweetheart table. The chair covers are available in white, ivory, black & red.

Finally, our teal table was designed to show you how one color could work in any season. In the Fall, we paired it with brown and peacock feathers. We showcased a curly willow centerpiece with tealights as a "splurge" centerpiece, and a candle with coffee beans in a hurricane vase as a "budget" centerpiece idea. In the winter, we paired it with white and silver, utilizing our beautiful floating candle centerpiece as a great "budget" idea. Summer was red, with a neat design for arranging plates and napkins on the table, creative drink menu card by Belletristics , (actually someone liked that drink card so much it was stolen from the booth!), and spring was orange with some fun paliette tea lights, tissue paper poms, and bright centerpieces featuring beautiful tulips.

We hope that these tables provide you with ideas and inspiration, and look forward to continuing to inspire you in the upcoming year!

Spotlight Buffalo: The Ellicott Square Building

2010-01-15T08:39:00.009-05:00

The Ellicott Square building built in 1896 is a really unique place to host your Buffalo event. The lobby can be rented out, and you are able to choose any vendors you would like to bring in. With its two grand staircases, marble mosaic floor and glass ceiling, it is an impressive space. It does take a little more work to hold an event in a non-traditional venue, but this allows it to be customized and more uniquely yours!

Here are some photos of a recent wedding I did at the building. These photos were taken by Expressions Studio.

We lined the entire balcony with about 150 votive candles. It looked amazing once it became darker. What a photo!

You're Engaged - Now What??!

2010-01-11T10:32:00.008-05:00

So he popped the question...and you said yes. Congratulations! The excitement is winding down, and you wonder...now what?? Here are some steps to help get you started...

{photo}

Step 1 - Sit down with your fiancee and discuss the type of wedding you would like to have. This includes the size of the wedding, type of ceremony (civil, religious, etc.), who will be paying for the wedding, and an approximate budget. This is a good time to discuss what is most important to each of you for the day.

Step 2 - Meet with any appropriate parties (parents, etc.) to discuss the plans and make sure everyone is on the same page.

Step 3 - Choose a location and set a date. Keep in mind major holidays, school schedules, vacations, and how many people may have to travel to your location.

Step 4 - Begin to think about the big picture. How will the day look and feel? What will the rough time schedule look like? Collect design ideas from websites, blogs and magazines. Check out The Knot for great inspiration, including a notebook you can save your favorite photos to. Attend local bridal shows for inspiration and ideas. A great local show we are involved with is the Buffalo Bridal Expo on January 31st at the Seneca Niagara Casino. Bridal shows are a great way to get acquainted with vendors, view and touch items firsthand, and see what your town has to offer.

Step 5 - Assemble your team. You will be dealing with a number of vendors for your wedding. It is important to interview multiple vendors and see who you feel will work with your style, budget and personality. After all, this is such an important day and you deserve vendors who realize the importance of a wedding, and will do everything they can to make sure you have a wonderful day! Here's a list to get you started...

Reception Venue
Ceremony Venue
Officiant
Caterer
Photographer
Videographer
Wedding Coordinator
Florist
Transportation
Baker
Musicians for the Ceremony
Musicians for the Reception
Calligrapher
Stationer
Rental Company
Linens
Rehearsal Dinner Location

Planning a wedding takes a lot of time and organization, but it all leads to a wonderful day that you will cherish forever. Happy planning!

Wedding Etiquette: Division of Expenses

2010-01-05T14:30:00.016-05:00

I have been receiving a number of questions lately from my 2010 brides and grooms regarding the etiquette of how to divide the wedding expenses. This is a tough question to answer, especially in today's times. Many more couples today pay for their own weddings, rather than in the past when it was more or less expected that the parents of the bride footed the majority of the bill. There are many reasons for this change; some couples are waiting longer to get married, weddings are more expensive and more complicated than in previous years, and many couples I work with have already established households together prior to marriage.

{Photo credit - Impressions are everything}

So most couples today are either paying for their own weddings, their parents are pooling resources, or a combination of all these things - there isn't one standard that is considered proper etiquette for today's couples. I consulted my Peggy Post etiquette book and materials from the Association of Bridal Consultants, and both confirm that it is quite common that the groom's family pays a larger share of expenses than in the past. They simply can offer to share the expenses by contributing a set dollar amount,or they can offer to pay for certain parts of the wedding such as the liquor, the flowers, etc.

If you want to know the traditional age-old etiquette, the majority of the expenses are paid for by the bride's family. The following costs were typically paid for by the groom and his family:

Bride's engagement and wedding rings
Groom's gift to his bride
Gifts for groom's attendants
Bride's going away corsage (oh my - let me see...how many of my brides have had a going away corsage?!)
Boutonnieres for groom's attendants
Corsages for immediate members of both families (unless bride has included them in her florist's order)
Officiant's fee
Marriage license
Expenses of honeymoon
All costs of rehearsal dinner
Accommodations for groom's attendants
Groom's apparel
Transportation and lodging expenses for groom's immediate family

Any way you break it down - weddings are expensive. It is important that all parties sit down together to discuss expenses, set a budget, and stick to it.

Real Weddings: Lynn & Jonathan Part 2

2010-01-03T14:20:00.017-05:00

Here are some more photos by Priore Photography from Lynn & Jonathan's September wedding. Overall event design by Distinctive Occasions. The wedding reception was held in the impressive Statler Towers Terrace Room. The Statler Towers are a beautiful location for a wedding reception. They have 3 different rooms to choose from, the Terrace Room being the most impressive in my opinion. Catering by Park Lane Catering is top notch and reasonably priced.

The wedding colors were chocolate brown and blue. The centerpieces consisted of brown branches with hanging led votive lights, surrounded by blue and white hydrangea. The tall centerpieces worked very well in the room with its high ceilings.

Large twig trees with hanging votives and crystals framed the staircase.

The sweetheart table...we used Lynn's bouquet as a centerpiece.

Table numbers and menu cards designed by Belletristics looked beautiful, and are a great option for the DIY bride. Lynn & Jonathan chose to name their tables after constellations, which tied in with the story of their first date. Unique table names are nice way to incorporate your personality and your story into the wedding day.

Cute cocktail napkins were available at the bars...

This was a beautiful wedding of a really special couple. Lynn & Jonathan & their large families were so much fun to be around all day - thanks for letting us be part of your celebration!

Real Weddings: Lynn & Jonathan Part 1

2009-12-17T11:32:00.011-05:00

Today I have some beautiful photographs from Lynn & Jonathan's September wedding to share with you. All the photos were taken by Tracy and Gary at Priore Photograpy & Video. The great thing about Priore (besides their awesome photos!) is that you can book both your photos and video through them, which works out really well because they work together as a team, and let's face it...it's one less vendor to worry about!

Lynn's dress was made by Sposabella, and she was a radiant and carefree bride. Here is a photo of Lynn and her Dad entering St. Joseph's Cathedral...

The minute the service was over, it started pouring! The photographers had to go with the "rain plan", which was photos at the brand new Embassy Suites in the Avant Building downtown. It was the first time Tracy had taken photos there, and look how beautiful they turned out!

Lynn's bouquet featured ivory roses and blue hydrangea. It was wrapped with an ivory ribbon, and we tied an heirloom pearl necklace around the stems.

Stay tuned...more photos of this lovely wedding to come!

Confetti: Win an Engagement Ring!!

2009-11-19T13:24:00.006-05:00

What are you doing New Year's Eve? If you are the lucky winner of my client's contest, you could be proposing marriage on stage at the party of the year - The Ice Ball! In addition to being an awesome party, they have just announced a fabulous contest - The Ultimate New Year's Eve Proposal Contest. The Ice Ball has teamed up with Mills Jewelers in Lockport and the Hampton Inn and Suites Buffalo Downtown to present one lucky winner with an engagement ring and the unique opportunity to propose marriage on stage at Midnight. This contest offers a grand prize of:

$2,500 towards the purchase of an engagement ring from Mills Jewelers in Lockport
A Jacuzzi Suite at The Hampton Inn and Suites Buffalo Downtown (valued at $500)
Two Dinner and General Admission tickets to The Ice Ball (valued at $250)

Entrants can submit their stories online and will be judged on content, creativity, and originality. Full contest details can be found here.

How's that for saving some money on your wedding? :)

Confetti: The Wake Wins an Outstanding Event Award

2009-11-13T16:00:00.001-05:00

Last February, we coordinated The Wake - an annual fundraiser for the Irish Classical Theatre Company. The event recently won an outstanding event award for 2009 from the Buffalo Niagara Event Professionals! This was the first year Distinctive Occasions had the privilege to be involved with the event. Thanks to a fabulous committee, dedicated staff and volunteers the event was such a success!

Over 500 people turned out on a cold February night to bid a raucous, Irish-style farewell to our dearly departed friend, Aidan Doogood. Tickets included wine and beer, food, live music by Penny Whiskey and Stone Row, and interactive entertainment. A funeral procession led by a bagpiper kicked off the evening’s festivities, complete with Irish dancers. The deceased’s coffin was processed out of a hearse parked outside the entrance. “Mourners” participated in the “Reading of the Will” (live auction) the “Estate Sale” (basket raffle), and mingled with with Aidan’s bereaved “family and friends” (local actors).

This was an outstanding event because all of the elements aligned in a seamless way which led to its success. The theme of the event was carried through in every aspect of the evening. The marketing campaign, the choice of venue, the activities, the food & drink, the entertainment, and the décor all supported and enhanced this unique theme. The venue, the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, fit the event perfectly. The building, with its expansive space and stained glass windows actually looks like a church. The marketing campaign by Crowley Webb created buzz and anticipation, setting the tone for the event. Posters featured cartoonish depictions of Aidan’s “family and friends” who were then played by actors at the event. Beer coasters were distributed to local pubs and taverns offering discounted tickets, and the website cleverly incorporated the dark humor of the event. Attendees arrived expecting a great party, and they were not disappointed. The unique nature of The Wake encourages interactive participation, and attendees participated wholeheartedly. They served as pallbearers, gave toasts, danced, and sang songs to the departed, all under the direction of Father Malarkey who presided over the event. There was strong community involvement from local businesses, who gave both monetary and in-kind donations. Buffalo’s own Flying Bison Brewing Company brewed a signature oatmeal stout, Irish Tears (“Stop yer cryin’ and drink.”), especially for the event. The Gourmet Store created delicious Irish themed foods, and used clever names such as “Deadly Dessert Bar” and “Blarney Stone Bruschetta” for the food stations. Décor included Irish beer bottles used as vases with farewell messages to the departed written on them. The fresh approach taken by the committee helped draw new attendees and encouraged a festive and spontaneous atmosphere. This was the fifth year The Wake was held, and revenues increased despite the economy. It was well organized and well run, and attendees celebrated in true Irish fashion.

Don't miss this year's party to die for! Save the date for Friday, March 12th, 2010 at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. For more information, visit www.PartyToDieFor.com

Money Mondays: Double Duty

2009-11-09T22:00:00.005-05:00

A great way to save some money on your wedding or party is by having items, such as place cards, work double duty.

These snowflake place cards holders can double as favors for a winter event. You can even use a longer ribbon and tie them around napkins at each place setting.

Blumebuds from Blumebox are so cute, and come in 12 different styles. They hold one stem, and add to the table decor...plus they can serve as place cards and favors!

So instead of spending money on place cards, favors, and table decor - try to find one item that serves all of these purposes!

Weddings: Halloween Wedding

2009-10-30T07:00:00.005-04:00

I recently received a call from a local magazine who was doing a story on wacky weddings. They wanted me to dish the dirt on all my wacky weddings. I was quite disappointed that I couldn't make any additions to their story. I have never had a couple with a themed wedding or anything wacky enough to speak of. How boring am I?! Calling all wacky wedding couples - I know you are out there...this is your invitation to give me a call!

Speaking of wacky, Halloween Weddings can be wacky, but they can also be romantic and chic. Here is some inspiration for a chic Halloween themed wedding...

{Clockwise from top left: Invitation available on Etsy; Candy Corn martini from Food Network; Halloween Dessert Buffet ; Adorable bat place cards from Martha Stewart; Custom stamps available at Zazzle; Photo from The Knot; Chandelier; Boo; Orange Tulips and Calla Lilies; Mask; and my personal favorite in the middle - a gorgeous black gown.

Confetti: Pantone Spring 2010 Color Trends

2009-10-28T15:25:00.003-04:00

Pantone, the global authority on color, recently released its Fashion Color Report for Spring 2010. If you are searching for colors for your next event, this may help provide some inspiration!

According to Pantone, "Designers bring splashes of sunshine to the runway for spring 2010. Vibrant brights add a sense of excitement to the color palette, while practical neutrals provide a safety net for cautious consumers."

Check out these lovely colors...

Weddings: Lynn & Jonathan

2009-09-30T15:00:00.011-04:00

Last weekend we had the pleasure of working on the wedding of Lynn and Jonathan. Their ceremony was at St. Joseph's Cathedral and the reception took place in the Statler Towers Terrace Room. Lynn and Jonathan are a fun couple who are very easy going, and their love for life and one another definitely shined through the whole day. The crowd of mostly out of town guests enjoyed all the fabulous things Downtown Buffalo has to offer...including the brand new Embassy Suites in the Avant Building on Delaware Avenue. You should definitely check out this beautiful hotel!

Really sweet story...I was pinning on Jonathan's boutonniere and I asked him if he was nervous. He said "Absolutely not - I have never been more prepared for anything in my life." What a guy!! Here is a photo of the happy couple after they took their vows.

The set up at the Statler Terrace Room was just gorgeous. Their colors were "Carolina Blue" and Chocolate Brown. We incorporated a subtle star theme into the design, as one of their dates involved gazing at constellations (so romantic!). The centerpieces had tiny blue lights hanging off the branches, and the tables were named after constellations. The ivory floor length linen and mahogany chivari chairs enhanced the elegance of the room with its grand windows and high ceilings. Professional pictures will follow, but here are a few I managed to snap...

Guests enjoyed a candy buffet which coordinated with their chosen colors....

It was a beautiful wedding and I feel honored to have worked with such a wonderful couple and their families!

Chic hair accessories

2009-09-09T08:55:00.014-04:00

A great way to add some personality to your wedding attire is with a hair accessory. We have had a couple brides this year who wore the traditional veil for the ceremony, and then removed it for the reception and added a unique accessory. Check out these pretty looks...

Money Mondays: Teaming Up

2009-08-31T09:18:00.009-04:00

A great way to save money on your wedding is by teaming up with other brides. The Wedding Bee Classifieds has an online listing of used wedding items such as paper lanterns, charger plates, card boxes, gowns...basically anything you can think of. There are some pretty good deals to be found.

You can also ask wedding coordinators for help. I have a pretty extensive inventory of rental items that are available for rent to anyone, not just coordination clients. In addition, I deal with many brides on a daily basis, and may be able to help you share things with them such as vases, candy buffet jars, place card holders, table numbers and more. When you are planning a wedding, you want it to be uniquely yours - I get that. It's my job to take the same items and make them work for both of you. What could be better than two happy brides who paid half the price for their wedding decor!

Here's an example of the same container (a hurricane vase) used for two different events...

A wedding centerpiece designed by Distinctive Occasions for a Fall wedding.

A centerpiece designed by Distinctive Occasions for a New Year's Eve party.

With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can save money without sacrificing the overall look of your wedding!

Real Weddings: Amy and Patrick

2009-08-26T13:12:00.011-04:00

I recently worked on a gorgeous wedding with Amy and Patrick. Their ceremony was held at St. Joseph's Cathedral, and the reception at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. The Hyatt recently underwent some major renovations, and it definitely shows! If you haven't been there since your High School Prom you should check it out - I promise you won't be disappointed!

It was a beautiful day (no rain for once!), and everything about this wedding was exquisite. Amy has fabulous taste (check out her stunning gown!), both families were wonderful, the couple had a great time, and the day flowed so smoothly. We did have the occasional "blip" (Patrick's dad lost a button before the ceremony, we were asked to convert some of the women's pin on corsages to wrist corsages, we finessed a couple of issues with decor and cake at the reception site, etc.), but that is our job - and the bride and groom never knew. The benefit of hiring an experienced team of professionals for your wedding is that we gracefully handle all the little things so that you can relax and enjoy your day. Plus, we manage the flow of the day, communicate with all the vendors, and make sure that everything proceeds as it should. Here are some photos of the day taken by Robert Knight of Knight Photography, who I highly recommend:

The beautiful bride.

St. Joseph's Cathedral is a lovely location for a ceremony - it didn't even need any extra decor.

Could this family be any more good looking?!

Wow - what a great photo!

The little details truly make a difference. Amy chose to do all purple orchids at the reception, and the effect was breathtaking!

Amy & Pat - best wishes for the future and thank you for letting us be part of your day!

Money Mondays: DIY Wedding Stationary

2009-08-17T15:31:00.004-04:00

It is easier than you may think to create your own wedding stationary. If you don't have the skills to design the items yourselves, you can hire a designer to create a monogram and other stationary pieces for you to use. You can use a monogram on programs, menu cards, water bottles, place cards, table numbers, favor tags...the possibilities are endless. Check out Etsy for affordable graphic design services.

Envelopper Inc. is a fantastic site where you can order blank card stock, table tents, favor tags & more already cut to your preferred size. They offer a large variety of colors, and you can usually run the cards right through your home printer.

When all your stationary is coordinated, it gives your wedding a more polished look.

Money Mondays: Signature Drinks

2009-08-10T20:09:00.012-04:00

No doubt about it - an open bar at any event can put a strain on your wallet. Rather than offering a full open bar, you may want to consider limiting the bar to a few signature drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) for guests to choose from. You can match the colors & names of the drinks to the theme of your event. If it is for a wedding, you can design it based upon your honeymoon location, the place you met, or a name it after a shared interest. The possibilities are endless! You can ask your caterer for suggestions in your color scheme, or you can search online.

Guests love having fun drinks to choose from, and you will save money without making it look like you are skimping.

{Source: Brides}

Check out this adorable custom cocktail menu card designed by Belletristics.

To add even more personal touches, you can design customized stir sticks at For Your Party, or make your own flags for stir sticks like in this photo from Style Me Pretty.

Instructions for these DIY stir stick flags can be found here.

Signature drinks are easy on the budget, and add stylish touches to your event - I'll drink to that!

Money Mondays: Adorn Brides Fine Jewelry Rentals

2009-08-03T09:02:00.005-04:00

Want to look like a million bucks on your wedding day without the high price tag? Consider renting a beautiful piece of jewelry from Adorn Brides. We are pleased to announce a partnership with Adorn Brides, allowing you to bring some "red carpet" elegance to your big day at a fraction of the cost. Simply reserve your rentals online at Adorn Brides, and they will ship the jewelry to your door a few days before your wedding. When you're done, all you have to do is ship it back - it's that easy!!

Use our exclusive promotional code below, and save 10% on your jewelry rental!

Eye Candy: Cocktail Napkins

2009-07-30T13:51:00.006-04:00

Don't you just love these adorable cocktail napkins from Harvey & Strait? They would be the perfect addition to a lovely summer party table! With so many colors and patterns to choose from, there's sure to be one to fit your party!

Money Mondays: Make the most of your wedding flowers

2009-07-27T08:41:00.019-04:00

A great way to save money without sacrificing the overall look of the wedding is to make your flowers work double duty.

At a recent wedding we designed, we used the same flowers at the church and reception. Check out these gorgeous vases flanking the altar at the church. Flowers by Johnny did a beautiful job on the flowers for this wedding at a reasonable price.

Then at the reception, these same vases framed the sweetheart table.

We purchased silver julep cups with detachable pew clips, and had the florist fill them with hydrangeas and roses. They looked beautiful on every other pew at the church.

After the ceremony, the clips were removed and the julep cups used on the guest tables and on the windowsills at the reception.

When the wedding party arrived at the reception, we took the girl's bouquets and placed them in vases on the cake table and the sweetheart table. The vases were accented with ribbon and fastened with antique broaches.

{All photos by Michael Alan Photography}

If you don't have a coordinator to transport all these items for you, just ask your florist. For a small fee, they should be able to set up the flowers at the ceremony and reception sites.

Weddings: Rebecca & Jason

2009-07-23T10:47:00.014-04:00

We recently had the privilege of designing and coordinating the beautiful Spring wedding of Rebecca & Jason. They met on an airplane, and their wedding theme was "love is in the air". The reception was held at the Marcy Casino at Delaware Park, and we transformed the venue into a beautiful space for them. The cocktail hour was held on the second floor, and the decor was fun and whimsical, utilizing apple green and aubergine as the main colors. Here are some photos from the cocktail hour taken by the very talented Michael of Michael Alan Photography.

We utilized potted plants that came with the venue, and wrapped them with fabric. Green fugi mums served as simple centerpieces for the cocktail tables. If you want to save money on your floral budget, these fugi mums are large, inexpensive, and really make a statement.

We had two logos designed for the couple - the one above for the cocktail hour, and another for the reception. Their signature cocktail was a "Marry Me Margarita" which, in addition to being yummy, also matched the green and purple color scheme!

We created a chandelier with tissue paper pomanders from PomLove. This photo doesn't capture the whole room, but it looked AMAZING! They really transformed the space.

And finally, an adorable floral arrangement for the hors d'oeuvres table.

I'll share some more photos from this lovely wedding in the upcoming weeks.

Money Mondays: The Cost of Weddings

2009-07-20T16:20:00.007-04:00

Given the current state of the economy, I have been finding that one of the things engaged couples are most worried about is the wedding budget. Let's face it - weddings are not cheap. The good news is there are many ways to save make smart choices. In the upcoming weeks, I will be posting money saving tips on Mondays. I wanted to start out with a great post by Liene Stevens Blue Orchid Designs that gives some insight into how wedding costs can add up so quickly.

Original post from Blue Orchid Designs - August 9, 2007 and printed below...

Yuck. Money. The subject no one wants to talk about but we all have to deal with, especially when it comes to weddings. And it's no secret that weddings are expensive - even an intimate, backyard ceremony with a handful of guests can stretch the wallet fairly quickly. I wanted to get into the reasoning behind some of the common pricetags and help put some of the sticker shock at ease.

But it's just some pretty paper: Invitations
A good rule of thumb when budgeting for invitations is this: a decent (read: nice quality, but not necessarily elaborate) invitation should cost around the same price as a greeting card. While we may buy greeting cards here and there as the occasion calls for it, you normally don't purchase 150+ greeting cards all at the same time. If you want a custom invitation, you can expect to pay more because you are compensating the artist for her designs, proofs, revisions and edits, assembly and general labor.

All you're doing is pushing a button: Photography & Videography
If all you want from your wedding are pictures that look like snapshots your slightly inebriated Uncle Frank took, then there are plenty of moonlighting hobbyists-who-call-themselves-professionals to choose from. If you want art and photographs that will capture the emotion of the day, then realistically you need to expect to pay more. Photography can easily be one of the most spendy parts of the wedding and for good reason - when all is said and done, that is what you will have left (well, that and your spouse of course!). I have met many, many married women who regret going cheap with their photography. Also, the final product usually doesn't come out of the camera ready to go - a lot of behind-the-scenes editing and design goes into producing great photos. If you're having video, you can count on hours of editing, including finding the right moments to splice things in, cueing the appropriate music to match, etc.

So you're like JLo in that movie: Wedding Planners
No, I'm not like JLo and wow, did she make my job look easy! Hollywood has a knack for doing that though, don't they? The biggest thing you are paying the planner for is her time - the average wedding takes more than 250 hours to plan and there are only 52 weekends in a year. Both of these facts limit how much we can take on and commit to. It may seem like you are paying the planner for one day, but in reality 250 hours translates into more than six 40-hour work weeks. And that's just for your normal, run-of-the-mill wedding. If you want something unique and special, even more time is involved.

They are just going to die tomorrow anyway: Flowers
Even flowers from the grocery store can be pricy - that is just the nature of a live element. When purchasing flowers, you are paying for so many things - the grower's cut (planting, growing, watering, feeding, harvesting), the packaging and shipping of them in a manner that they will not wilt or die on the way to your location, and then the florist's fees (design, watering, prepping them with special concoctions that prolong their lifespan, arranging, delivering, etc). Yes, a lot goes into those pretty bouquets.

It's just some fancy chicken: Food
Hands down, food is usually the most expensive item on the budget, and again quantity plays a big role. A nice dinner for two can sometimes be a splurge and when you're feeding 150+ mouths - well, I'll let you do the math. It is also important to look at quality when you are choosing your menu, and quality costs more, just like it does in every other part of life.

There are lots of areas of weddings that I didn't cover here, but I wanted to give a quick overview of some of them. The time-tested adage "you get what you pay for" has been proven over and over again with weddings. You don't need to break the bank on your wedding or try to keep up with the Joneses - but it is important to go into the wedding planning process with an understanding of where your money is going so that you can best prioritize its use.

Weddings: Jillian & Patrick

2009-07-10T10:07:00.020-04:00

I had the pleasure of working on a July 4th wedding with Jillian and Patrick. They are a gorgeous couple (hopefully I will get some photos to share soon!), and the wedding took place at Shanghai Reds on the Buffalo waterfront. Shanghai Reds is a wonderful location for a event, and has multiple indoor and outdoor spaces depending on the size of your event and your particular requirements. Jillian and Patrick held their ceremony right on the lawn - the setting was so picturesque.

Holding the ceremony and reception in the same location is convenient for guests, and a great way to save some money, too. These chairs served double duty - we used them for the ceremony and then moved them inside for the reception while the guests were enjoying cocktail hour on the outdoor patio.

Here are some photos of the Skyline room, where their reception was held...

The primary color was royal blue, and Jill added some green accents with the table numbers and favors, which were boxes of mints. There were many decorative highlights of interest. I wish I had taken better photos, but I was a busy bee! They rented custom linens with silver sparkles that looked like fireworks, royal blue glasses, napkins and chair sashes added color in a classy way, blue uplighting around the room looked fantastic once the sun went down, and the chandeliers were decorated with lanterns and strands of orchids. Escort cards were matchbooks, which guests used later in the evening to light sparklers during the fireworks. Fireworks at your wedding...what could be better - it was beautiful!

Jill's sister made these lovely centerpieces for the guest tables...

These centerpieces are budget friendly, and not too difficult to make. She used curly willow and tealights, with gel that looked like water at the bottom of the vase. The florist glued fresh orchids onto the branches. Simple and elegant - I love them!

It was a beautiful wedding, the weather cooperated, and Jill & Pat and their guests danced the night away. I am grateful to have been a part of their day!

Confetti: Fun with towels

2009-06-30T10:30:00.002-04:00

Over the weekend, I attended a bridal shower for a friend who is getting married soon. It was a lovely shower with teal and pink accents. The bridal party and the hosts dressed in pink - too cute! I bought towels off her registry, and made this towel cake with them.

Instructions...

-Take 4 bath towels, 4 hand towels, 4 washcloths
-Roll them together and secure using fishing line on the top and bottom of each layer (you can also use pins if you prefer)
-Stick a dowel through the middle of the cake for support
-Cover the fishing line with two layers of ribbon
-Hot glue silver jewels onto the ribbon (or anything else you want)
-Thread crystal flowers through the fishing line and behind the ribbon
-Take silk flowers, cut off most of the stems and leaves with wire cutters, and stick them in between the layers of towels and on the top
-Finish it off with a pretty bow on top

This was a really fun project, although it definitely took a lot of time!

Playing with towels reminded me of this great company....Le Viette makes towels to resemble desserts, and you can use them as favors, gifts, etc...

{source: Le Viette)

How adorable are these?!!

Party Time: US Navy Retirement

2009-06-27T07:30:00.006-04:00

We had the privilege of coordinating and decorating a retirement ceremony and celebration for a Chief Petty Officer of the US Navy that I wanted to share with you. It was held on the fantail of the USS Little Rock on the Buffalo waterfront. This is truly a unique location to host an event! They allow you to hold anything from a casual party to a wedding right on the fantail of the ship! Here's a photo...

{Photo by Klaus Brink at Panoramio.com}

The location did present some challenges (including the famous Buffalo waterfront wind and ladies walking up the grated stairs in heels), but I think we rose to the occasion! It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ceremony. Here are some detail shots of the decor...

The decor was simple and affordable, and everything was decorated in the colors of the Navy. Blueberries in a vase with a single red gerbera daisy is simple and striking! I purchased a stamp with the Petty Officer symbol and stamped the symbol on each cocktail napkin. Finally, tables centerpieces were galvanized pails with American Flags and stars that held photos of the Officer's family. It was important that she honor her daughters, and we used photos of them at different stages of their lives and attached them to foam stars. An inexpensive, yet creative way to personalize the decor.

Other centerpieces were galvanized pails with blue hydrangeas in them...

Navy blue paper lanterns were hung to add a festive flair...

All in all, we really transformed the ship into a unique and classy space for this celebration! A great time was had by all!

Confetti: Women's corsages - pin it on or slip it on?

2009-06-23T07:30:00.016-04:00

I wanted to address the subject of corsages for the females involved in your wedding. Customarily, corsages are ordered for the Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Groom, and any other females you would like to honor such as Grandmothers, Aunts, Godmothers, Ceremony readers, Sisters, and so on.

While this may seem like a trivial thing to worry about in the scope of your wedding, it is one of the many details that I come across on a daily basis and I wanted to bring it to your attention.

Traditionally, women wore pin-on corsages, and some florists still suggest these. However, I find wrist corsages to be much more practical. You can even order pretty bracelets to enhance the look if you don't like the plain elastic. As someone that pins on corsages for multiple weddings, I find the pin-on's for women to be particularly problematic. If the woman's dress is not made with a substantial material, the corsage doesn't always sit straight on the dress. So I am forced to poke multiple pin holes in the dress, or pin it all the way through to their bra, and sometimes the corsage still doesn't sit straight - especially when the dress is made of a lighter weight fabric. The woman is left to worry about their corsage all night, when they should be focusing on the wedding and having a good time.

At a recent wedding, I had two women who were unhappy with the pin-on corsages the bride had chosen for them. They asked me to convert their pin-on's to wrist corsages on the spot. Being the resourceful planner that I am, I was able to do this and everyone was happy! But you may not have these resources at your wedding, so it is best to plan ahead. Please take into consideration what the women are wearing, and it doesn't hurt to ask them which type they would prefer to wear. That way everyone will be happy and be able to enjoy the day to its fullest!

{Source: Pin-on corsage, Wrist Corsage}

Confetti: King & Queen of Hearts Stamps

2009-06-19T07:30:00.003-04:00

I HEART these new King & Queen of Hearts stamps on sale at USPS.com How adorable would these be on your wedding invitations?!
Helpful tip - Make sure to weigh your invitations before purchasing postage, as many standard invitation sizes may require more than 44 cents.

Confetti: The Least Appropriate Wedding Songs Ever

2009-06-15T07:30:00.003-04:00

NPR recently asked its listeners to send in stories about inappropriate wedding songs. People have some funny stories! Here are a few gems...

Send in the Clowns (Judy Collins)
At my first wedding in Tahoe, we quickly found a minister to perform the ceremony without discussing the details. Everything seemed fine as I walked up to the preacher, except that the bridesmaid was doubled-over in laughter. I was only vaguely listening to the lyrics... --Darol Allen In 1978, my sister walked down the aisle to "Send in the Clowns." My mother picked it out, and to this day defends her choice. --Carrie Yankello Wow! Someone else chose "Send in the Clowns"? That was the best laugh my date and I ever had at a wedding. --Teresa Labella

You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin' (The Righteous Brothers)
My husband has been a wedding DJ for over 20 years. He has lots of stories about weird wedding song choices, but my favorite is the couple that requested "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' " for their first dance. Stunningly oblivious to the lyrics, or even just the title, they explained: "But we love Top Gun!" --Dana Robb

Just A Gigilo/I Ain't Got Nobody (Louis Prima)
During the '80s, one of my cousins got married for the second time. Since her first was an elopement, she did a nice job with a church, harp and flute with organ for the music. It was all quite dignified; her father performed the ceremony. The reception was on the ocean, also very nice. When the master of ceremonies introduced the couple for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. XXX, the wedding band played "Just a Gigolo." Everyone under the age of 30 erupted into hysterical laughter. --Elisabeth Powers

Source and full story: NPR

Do you have any funny music stories to share from weddings you have attended?

Weddings: Lindsay & Ryan

2009-06-11T13:31:00.011-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of working with a wonderful couple, Lindsay & Ryan, on their wedding. The ceremony was held at St. Louis Church in Buffalo, and the reception was held at The Roycroft Inn. The entire day was elegant and beautiful, and Lindsay was the most calm and collected bride you could imagine wearing a gorgeous custom made dress. I have never done an event at The Roycroft Inn, and I have to say that I was very impressed with the venue. The staff was extremely professional and handled everything with ease. Many of them have been working together for years and they have a great team assembled.

Check out this fabulous groom's cake for the rehearsal dinner made by Muscoreil's Fine Desserts!! Muscoreil's is my favorite bakery - they are talented artists and their cakes are delicious!

Yes, Ryan...this cake is all about you! So creative!

Here are some amateur photos from their day to get you excited for the professional ones! Professional pictures will follow soon!

Cake: Muscoreil's Fine Desserts. Those are hand made sugar flowers - aren't they stunning?
Flowers: Focal centerpiece and Lindsay's beautiful tulip bouquet by The Floristry.

Lindsay and Ryan - it was truly an honor to be part of your celebration!

Inspiration Board: Vintage Pink and Grey Wedding

2009-05-05T07:45:00.001-04:00

I absolutely love this feminine and classy pink and grey color palette. This inspiration board has vintage touches, pearls and lace, and a little bit of whimsy. Enjoy!

{Clockwise from top left: Shoes from Perfect Details, Lace gown from Modern Trosseau's 2010 collection, Tablescape found on The Knot, Lovebird cake found on Brides, Ring Bearer Pillow from Paperhill's shop on Etsy, Swarovski pearl and crystal bracelet from Etsy, Pink cocktails found on Brides, Feather headpiece by Sara Gabriel, Chandeliers at Pinky Addict, Handbag from Perfect Details , Invitations from Pink Frosting}

Confetti: Bedazzle My Bonbons

2009-05-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

If you want to add some bling to your upcoming event consider these fabulous confections. Bedazzle my Bonbons are chocolates covered in glitter, and their slogan "You eat the entire ball...glitter and all" really says it all! I sampled these at a recent conference, and they are truly one of a kind. They are available in boxes to use as favors, or you can stack them on a pretty tray.

{Source: www.bedazzlemybonbons.com}

They even have Bonbon babes who you can hire to serve them at your event. They wear glittery lipstick and serve the chocolates from a tray around their necks like the old cigarette girls. Cute!

Theme Party: Cinco de Mayo

2009-04-29T09:16:00.034-04:00

Historically, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. A Cinco de Mayo party promises to be colorful, fun and festive!

Invitations: These great invitations will let your guests know they are in for a festive, casual party.

Decorations: Use bright, vibrant colors for your decorations. Utilize items such as sombreros, chili pepper lights, and maracas to decorate the room. Try covering your tables with Mexican serapes (shown below) to bring in an authentic feel. A neat centerpiece would be a sombrero filled with flowers. You could also make a centerpiece with real flowers and put them in an authentic Mexican food can like in the photo below. Pinatas can be used for both decoration and entertainment!

Feeling crafty? Try making some tissue paper flowers to decorate the room. Here are some simple instructions for making these flowers courtesy of Circle Time Kids.

Supplies:
-4 - 6 pieces of any color tissue paper cut into squares, approximately 8 inches
-One pipe cleaner
-Scissors
Directions:
1. Stack the pieces of tissue paper with edges aligned, alternating colors.
2. Fold the stack as a fan (back and forth) in one inch folds until you have a 1x8 inch piece.
3. Use scissors to round out both edges of your "fan".
4. Squeeze the tissue "fan" in the middle and twist a pipe cleaner tightly around it for the stem.
5. Carefully fan out the tissue, then separate the petals and shape the flower and stem by pinching in the middle to bring the petals together.

Beautiful and authentic!

Another idea would be to hang tissue paper pomanders from the ceiling as shown below. If you aren't ambitious enough to make them, you can buy some on Etsy.

Favors: Send your guests home with items that fit with the theme such as maracas, tissue paper flowers, or some margarita salt.

Dessert: I love my dessert, and who can resist an adorable pinata cake like this one from Matty Cakes?

Food: Guacamole, salsa, enchiladas, tacos, Mexican rice...yum! There are so many possibilities. Try this delicious guacamole recipes courtesy of the Food Network's Tyler Florence.

Ingredients
-4 ripe avocados
-3 limes, juiced
-1/2 red onion, chopped
-1 garlic clove, minced
-2 Serrano chiles, sliced thinly
-1 big handful fresh cilantro, finely chopped
-Extra-virgin olive oil
-Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Halve and pit the avocados. Scoop out the flesh with a tablespoon into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados with a fork, leaving them somewhat chunky. Add the remaining ingredients, and fold everything together to gently mix. Lay a piece of plastic wrap right on the surface of the guacamole so it doesn't brown and refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

Cocktails: What Cinco de Mayo party would be complete without margaritas? Here is a great recipe for a Beer Margarita from All Recipes:
Ingredients
-1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
-12 fluid ounces tequila
-12 fluid ounces water
-12 fluid ounces beer
-ice
-1 lime, cut into wedges
Directions
Pour limeade, tequila, water, and beer into a large pitcher. Stir until well-blended, and limeade has melted. Add plenty of ice, and garnish with lime wedges. Adjust with additional water, if needed.

Music: A live mariachi band would be ideal for this party. But if you can't get a live band, pre-recorded music will be great. Amazon sells mixes of mexican party music that are sure to get you and your guests in the mood!

Now that you have all the elements in place....enjoy your party!

{Photo credits: Invitations from Party Invitations, Sarapes found here, flower collage clockwise from top left: Flowers in a galvanized pail found here, tissue pomanders found here, flowers in a sasla can from Flickr, flowers from Fresh & Vintage blog, Maracas from the Sassafrass Store, Margarita salt here, Salsa and guacamole from Flickr, Margarita from Devil Graphics.}

Weddings: Monograms

2009-04-27T13:27:00.011-04:00

A customized monogram is a beautiful way to coordinate many aspects of your wedding. Here are some ways you can use a monogram in your wedding:

-Save the dates
-Invitations
-Menu cards
-Place cards
-Table numbers
-Aisle runner
-Miscellaneous signs
-Welcome baskets or bags
-Ceremony programs

I recently asked Sarah of Belletristics to design two customized monograms for Rebecca and Jason's upcoming wedding. The couple met on an airplane, and are having a purple and green spring wedding. The "love is in the air" theme will be repeated throughout the reception in a tasteful, subtle way. Rebecca has a beautiful vintage inspired dress, so I didn't want the designs to look too modern. But I still wanted to incorporate their fun personalities and keep it looking appropriate to the season. Sarah designed these beautiful monograms that we will be using throughout the wedding...

Don't you just love the way she cleverly incorporated the airplane theme by making the "t" look like wings? She is so talented! If you are looking for a monogram or other stationary for your wedding, you should definitely check out her website. The prices are very affordable and her customer service can't be beat!

Theme Party: Preppy Pink and Green Birthday Party

2009-04-26T10:38:00.024-04:00

With spring in the air, I thought a preppy pink & green birthday party would be a fun party theme.

Cupcakes - these are adorable and wouldn't be difficult to make yourself. This beautiful display was made by Amy Atlas Events. Amy creates beautiful and delicious dessert tables.
Fabric Swatch - you could use this fabric as a table runner, tablecloth or napkins. Found here.
Flowers - I just love these pretty flowers in a box made to look like a present. All you need is a box, ribbon, tissue paper, and flowers. So cute!
Perfume - Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker found at Macy's would be a great gift for the birthday girl, or you could give it out as favors.

And what fun would a pink & green birthday party be without a green cocktail to enjoy? Try this fabulous recipe courtesy of Sandra Lee. To keep with the theme, instead of garnishing it with an apple or leaves like she does, I would use a stick of pink rock candy.

Apple Martini
-2 trays ice
-1/4 liter vodka
-1/2 liter sour apple mix
-Splash sweet vermouth
-1 granny smith apple, cored & sliced

Directions: In a medium pitcher, combine ice, vodka, sour apple mix and vermouth. Stir thoroughly. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with apple slice. Serve immediately.

Eye Candy: April Showers

2009-04-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Are April showers getting you down? You can't help but be cheerful on a dreary day when you wear a pair of these adorable rain boots from Chooka. So many styles to choose from and they are all so fun! I have seen some of these boots available at DSW. Pair it with a fun umbrella, and you will be singing in the rain and splashing in the puddles.

It doesn't hurt to be prepared if a little rain should fall on your wedding day. Invest in some umbrellas that match your wedding, and you will be ready in style!

{All boots from Chooka, umbrella found here}

Weddings: Spring 2010 Gowns

2009-04-20T11:30:00.005-04:00

In Style Weddings has chosen their top 25 gowns from the Spring 2010 collection. Here are a few of my favorites...

{From left to right: Gowns by Modern Trosseau, Angel Sanchez, Jim Hjelm, Vineyard}

Confetti: Wedding Timeline Tips

2009-04-17T17:16:00.005-04:00

If you are getting married this summer, chances are you are beginning to think about the timeline for your wedding day. A timeline is a great tool that helps keep everyone in the loop, from your wedding party to your vendors. It also forces you to plan things out in advance - instead of just flying by the seat of your pants on your wedding day. With a written schedule of events, everyone knows their place and you can relax knowing that you have laid the groundwork for the day to run smoothly. You shouldn't have to think about the timeline on your actual wedding day...leave that to your consultant!

One of the tasks of a wedding consultant is to assist you with your timeline and help you think of things in advance that may present problems. Here are some things to consider...

*The wedding ceremony begins at 2:00 - the limo is picking the bride up at 1:00, and she will arrive at the church at 1:30. Where will she go for a half hour? Does the church have a room for her to wait in? Many churches do not have areas for the bride wait, so she may want to consider arriving later. Plan ahead, and ask the church in advance what their policies are.

*Cake Cutting - If you are serving wedding cake for dessert, the venue may require you to cut your cake before dinner. A traditional timeline puts the cake cutting after dinner. Make sure to check with your venue regarding their policies so that you aren't taken by surprise.

*Photographs - Make sure to speak with your photographer in advance to plan the timing of photographs. Many photographers are particular about when they prefer to take shots. Make sure that the flowers will be arriving prior to any photographs needed. For instance, if the bride is doing portraits at her home before the wedding, she will want to make sure the flowers are delivered on time for these photos.

These are just a few tips to get you thinking about the way the day will flow. If things don't time out exactly as planned on the wedding day, don't let it get you down. After all - the only time that really matters in the long run is when you say "I Do!"

Inspiration Board: Cherry Blossom Inspired Wedding

2009-04-15T18:32:00.007-04:00

I recently had the privilege to visit Washington, DC while the cherry blossoms were in bloom. They are truly a beautiful sight to behold. Here are some ideas for a cherry blossom inspired wedding. So fresh and classy!

{Clockwise from top left - Cherry Blossom Wedding from The Knot, Save the date card from Papeterie, Cherry Blossom ring pillow, flower girl basket and guest book from Nuptial Celebrations Canada, Bridesmaid dress by Mori Lee , Favor box from Brides, Glasses from Favor Ideas}

Confetti: The Importance of Shopping Around

2009-04-08T07:52:00.003-04:00

I am decorating an upcoming wedding for one of my brides, and I was searching for julep cups to hang from the pews at her wedding ceremony. These small julep cups with detachable pew clips are perfect. We can get double use out of them by attaching them to the pews at the church, and then taking the clips off and using them as part of the tablescape at the reception.

I found these online through a popular wedding favor site for $5.42 each. I thought this was a bit expensive, so I did some more searching on google for a better price. Flowers & Supplies offers the exact same product for $2.39 each! The florist told me he wasn't even able to find them for this price.

Lesson learned - don't always go with the first place you find online when searching for wedding items. Many retailers increase the price the minute they hear the word "wedding." Be a smart shopper and you can have the same beautiful wedding for a fraction of the cost!

Vendor Spotlight: Easton Entertainment

2009-04-03T07:32:00.005-04:00

Today I sat down with Bill Shaflucas, owner of Easton Entertainment. Bill is one of my favorite local DJ's. When you hire him as your DJ, you know you are getting him at your event. As a coordinator, this is a huge benefit because I always know what to expect! Bill is an easy going guy who is eager to please his clients. He takes a laid back approach at events - and he likes to stay in the background and let the party evolve around him. He has a great knack for playing the tunes people want to dance to - and the dance floor is sure to be rockin' when Bill is around! If you want a DJ that will be dancing with your guests & entertaining them with his antics, then Bill isn't for you. But if you want someone who is going to consistently play quality music, knows how to make a crowd have a good time, and professionally attends to your event, I highly recommend him! He can be reached at 716-510-1357.

How many years have you been in the business?
10 years

How did you get started?
I was working as a bartender at Kahunaville in the Galleria Mall. During happy hour one night, they were playing the house music over the sound system and the atmosphere was dull and boring. I went over and started playing with the music to try to liven things up. People liked it so much that they asked me to play music on a more regular basis, and soon my job changed from bartender to DJ!

What is your favorite part of your job?
I like seeing people on their best days, and being able to create a fun atmosphere for them.

What is the most memorable event you have worked at?
I recently did a wedding on the stage at Sheas. And just being on the stage looking out into all the seats, and thinking of all the famous people who had been on that stage was something I will always remember.

Any crazy wedding stories to share?
I once did a wedding where two hours into the reception, the Best Man told the Groom that he had slept with his wife the night before! A giant fight broke out...and needless to say, I just packed up my equipment and left.

What advice would you give to couples who are planning a wedding?
Don't sweat the small stuff! At the end of the day, you will be married and that is what's important. Just go with the flow and don't stress over things that may not work out as planned.

What are some of your favorite local party or wedding venues?
Sheas, Banchetti (great Italian food!) & Seneca Niagara Casino. It is always great to hold your event near somewhere that has a nightlife scene so that your guests have something to do when the event is over.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your hobbies?
I like to run and play soccer. But really my job is my hobby - I am so lucky.

Eye Candy: Wedding Shoes

2009-04-01T07:37:00.001-04:00

So you have found the perfect dress...now what? Don't forget to buy a great pair of shoes to go along with it. My Glass Slipper offers gorgeous couture shoes from designers like Kate Spade, Giuseppe Zanotti & Filippa Scott. They also have a discount section where you can find some great deals! Here are some pretty finds from their site...

Eye Candy: Gumball Dispenser

2009-03-30T07:45:00.000-04:00

How great are these tiny little gumball dispensers found at Bliss Weddings Market? These would be so cute for a whimsical wedding favor, or for a fun summer party!

Spotlight Buffalo: Western New York Restaurant Week

2009-03-25T11:00:00.004-04:00

This is local restaurant week in Western New York, where over 100 local restaurants are offering fixed price menus for $20.09. This is a great opportunity to support local business owners, plus you can have a delicious meal for a fraction of the regular price. Check out the website to view participating restaurants and their offers.

You could also use this as an opportunity to scout out locations for upcoming parties and weddings. Some of my favorite event spaces that are participating:

Harry's Harbour Place Grille - beautiful setting on the water perfect for a summer wedding
The Roycroft Inn - unique space with classic charm suitable for all types of events
Chefs - a popular spot for showers and parties
Black and Blue Steak & Crab - a great chic restaurant that offers 2 rooms for private events

Don't miss out - Restaurant Week ends on Sunday!

Theme Party: March Madness

2009-03-24T07:45:00.003-04:00

Even if you're not a basketball fan, a March Madness inspired party could be a fun theme for a party at your home. Here are some ideas to get your party started....

Invitations: Invites can be designed to look like event tickets, such as this example below from Party 411. If you prefer e-mail invitations, Evite has some great March Madness invites ready for your customization.

Decorations: Get some paper plates, napkins and tablecloths from Plum Party that fit with the March Madness theme. Buy balloons in the colors of your favorite team. Use basketballs as vases! If you want to get crafty, you could dye white carnations orange and black, and press them into an oasis foam sphere to make a basketball out of flowers.

Dessert: I love cake -and truly believe that no party is complete without it. And here - dessert always comes before "real" food because it is my favorite part!! Why not decorate cupcakes to look like little basketballs?

{Photo credit www.feedyourkids.com}

And if you want to get really fancy, you can have a cake made such as the fabulous cake from Carolyn's Sweet Tooth featured here:

Food: This taco dip recipe from Allrecipes.com is always a crowd pleaser at my parties! It is especially impressive when displayed in a trifle bowl.

Ingredients:
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 (16 ounce) jar salsa
1 large tomato, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch chopped green onions
1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.
2. Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.
3. Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives.

Cocktails: Beer is always a staple at sports parties, but I love themed cocktails! Here is a recipe for the "Slam Dunk":

5 oz. Cranberry Juice
4 oz. Orange Juice
1.5 oz. Southern Comfort

Pour in Southern Comfort, and mix OJ and Cranberry Juice until you get a nice pink color.
source: idrink.com

Music: Here are some songs to put on your ipod that fit with the party theme:

I Wish I Was a Baller – Skee Lo
Get Ready For This - 2 Unlimited
Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic

Now that all the elements are in place, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the games!

Wedding Budgets

2009-03-22T08:30:00.017-04:00

Let's face it - the current state of the economy is putting a strain on many wedding budgets. Check out this great website where you can look at average wedding costs in your area. It also has a handy budget estimator tool: http://www.costofwedding.com/.

Weddings are expensive, and people are being forced to make choices and sacrifices. Couples need to be more creative than ever in order to have the wedding of their dreams. Celebrity event designer Colin Cowie offers the following 7 Tips for the Budget-Savvy Bride who seeks smart solutions for planning an extraordinary wedding:

{photo credit www.Colincowie.com}

1. Dream big: Small ideas get small results, so put budget aside while envisioning your dream wedding, then figure out what you can afford.

2. Cut your coat according to the cloth: It's better to do 5 things correctly than 10 things on the skinny.

3. Consider a destination wedding: Weddings can take place anywhere, so think beyond the exotic beach and think about a bed-and-breakfast or country inn. *Being near the Finger Lakes, there are a lot of beautiful small inns and B&B's that can make you feel a world away from home.

4. Opt for a fantastic DJ: Instead of a big orchestra or band, find a great DJ who can create great background music and just as easily keep the guests moving on the dance floor. *Stay tuned for our Vendor Spotlights, where we will be showcasing local vendors. Next week we are featuring one of our favorite local DJ's!

5. Invest in a trusted wedding planner: A professional is there to ease some of the pressure while bringing your vision to a reality. *Plus, we will help you with even more budget saving tips, vendor recommendations within your budget, and creative ideas!

6. Design a signature drink: Rather than serving an open bar, offer guests a specialty beverage that is as delicious as it is memorable. *I love signature drinks! You can give them clever names, and it gives your guests an opportunity to try something they may not usually order. They are also pretty and make for great photographs!

7. Create monochromatic flower arrangements using one type of flower: When bundled en masse in short ceramic vases, whether roses or carnations, tulips or spider mums; these flowers are beautiful and impactful.

Let's not forget the reason for this celebration and remember what matters most at the end of the day...you will be spending the rest of your life with the person you love! Make smart decisions, and you will be able to start this new chapter of your lives on the right foot.

Inspiration Board: Yellow, Black and White & Damask

2009-03-20T07:30:00.005-04:00

Happy first day of Spring!! We've had some warm weather here lately (50 degrees is warm for Buffalo in March!), and I can't wait for the flowers to bloom. Yellow is a hot color for weddings this season. Paired with black & white and damask, it has a bright & vibrant, yet elegant feel.

Tell me what you think!

{Ring - Takara Diamonds, Bridesmaid Dress - Dessy, Chandelier - Home Depot, Cake - The Wedding Cake Shoppe, Yellow Rose - found at http://rsmaim.blogspot.com/, Shoe - Ann Klein, Flowers on Brides.com, photo by Alison Gootee, Invitations - http://www.creativeinvitations.blogspot.com/}