A Wedding and a Baby Shower

Last year I had the honor of coordinating a phenomenal wedding for Mark and Rebecca Rothman. Not only did their wedding turn out to be one of my all-time favorites, Mark and Rebecca have become such close friends of mine. I absolutely love this couple! This year, I was elated with the news of Rebecca's pregnancy and could not wait to start planning their baby shower. After another successful event together, Mark and Rebecca welcomed a new baby into their lives! She is such a happy, beautiful baby and I wish them all the best.

Photos by Phillip Lloyd Photography

~Baby Layla Ann Rothman~

Wedding Etiquette

Now that I am a wedding planner, I wish I would have paid a little more attention throughout my six year stint in cotillion. I never thought etiquette would have somewhat taken over my life. With weddings becoming less traditional by the day, it is hard for brides to keep up with what is acceptable and what is out right TACKY.

I received a recent phone call from a local publication (which I will keep anonymous to spare them the embarrassment) who wanted me to go on the record about bridal etiquette. The first question was “What is the proper way for a bride and groom to ask for cash in lieu of a gift?” Ughhh, seriously? The caller proceeded to ask me what I thought about the latest trend- registering for your mortgage payments! This had to be a prank call, right? It wasn’t! Brides, I know that this is your special day but let’s not forget our manners. In no way shape or form is it okay to ask for money, mortgage payments, college funds, or anything along those lines. Here are a few other issues that I PERSONALLY think are etiquette mistakes:

· Pre-printed thank you cards
I know that it takes FOREVER to hand write 200 cards but think about the time, money and effort each guest put into attending your wedding and purchasing you a gift. Writing a few sentences and slapping on your John Hancock is the least that you can do to thank them.

· Registry cards
It is one thing if you want to put your registry information on your bridal shower invitations but it should never appear anywhere on or in your actual wedding invitation. There are plenty of ways your guests can find out where you are registered if they want to go that route.

· Making your guests pay for parking
Your guests are already spending enough money to attend your wedding. Travel accommodations, your wedding gift, a new outfit to wear… it all adds up! If you choose a venue that charges for parking make sure you can foot the bill.

· Cash bars
Just like the parking situation, guests should feel like a guest, and not have to keep pulling out their wallet for things that you chose to have at your wedding. If a bar is not in your budget, then don’t have one at all!

· Inviting people to pre-wedding parties and not the wedding
This applies to engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc. When guests are invited to a pre-wedding celebration, they usually expect an invitation to the wedding. By not sending one, you will most definitely hurt someone’s feelings and will leave people thinking that you were only looking for a gift!

Amazing Aisles

Lauren and Evan's Engagement Party

I had the pleasure of coordinating Lauren and Evan's Engagement Party on Saturday. It was hosted by the mother of the ("soon-to-be") bride, at her beautiful home in Tampa. The colors were chosen to match the ballroom in Savannah, Georgia where their wedding will take place next April. From the personalized napkins, cups and linens to the floating pool arrangements, custom door wreath and colored lanterns- there were absolutely no details that were overlooked. It turned out to be such an amazing party for a truly amazing couple!

A huge thanks to Jana with Events in Bloom for all of the beautiful flowers and Kim with Chocolate Pi for the delicious cake. I would also like to thank Carrie Wildes for the wonderful photographs.

The truth about weddings...HILARIOUS!

Just a warning- there are a few bad words in this video. It was just too funny not to share!

I Give it a TEN!

Celebrating their new partnership with Busch Gardens, T. Pepin Hospitality Centre hosted a first class bash at their beautiful facility on Tuesday night. This was honestly one of the best events that I have been to in years (and I go to a lot of them)! The food and the decor were both "to die for" but the entertainment for the evening was down right AMAZING. I am officially obsessed with the group Black Violin, who were one of the many performers at this event. The classical/hip-hop phenomenon (yes, you read this correctly) will leave you speachless. Check out this video for a small sampling of their extraordinary talent!

The Hottest Hors D'oeuvres

One item that tops every bride and groom's "list of importance" is FOOD. Not only should it taste great but it should be presented in a unique way as well. No matter how beautiful your centerpieces are or how amazing you looked in that Monique Lhuillier gown, the food that you serve will be the most talked about aspect of your wedding... It's true! Adding those little extra touches to your catering menu will really set your wedding apart from the rest. Here are some hors d'oeuvre items that will make your mouth water.

Serve your guests a "shot" of soup topped

of with a mini grilled cheese sandwich.

Although I love great food, I tend to eat like

Brittany Spears, you know, 7-11 style. Take

your classic potato chips from trashy to classy!

Who Doesn't LOVE mac n cheese?

Don't worry... I'll wait!

Perfect portion of tempura, french fries or assorted bread sticks.

Sushi Bar- need I say more?

These spoon shaped crackers can be used to serve
a number of your favorite food items... bruschetta,
caviar, seafood dip, and more.

Let me just tell you that ANY thing looks good
in a martini glass. From salad, ceviche, and shrimp
cocktail to mashed potatoes, grits, and pasta.

Place Card Votives

I have had a ton of people ask me where I ordered these beautiful place card votives. The answer... http://www.merrileedesigns.com/. Although Merrilee Designs does amazing work and has excellent customer service, these place card votives can be a relatively easy DIY project.

The owner of Merilee Designs writes... "The key is to use a straight sided votive holder in order for the vellum to wrap neatly around the holder. 3M vellum tape is also key. All other brands I’ve tried won’t hold up to the heat of the candle. Be sure to have your venue light them no more than 20 minutes prior to the reception start time or they'll get a little too hot for your guests to handle."