Looking back....8 years ago today

Today I celebrate my 8 year anniversary with my husband, Brian.  We truly are best friends, have 2 amazing daughter and 2 of the cutest dogs.  I am thankful for everything in my life.

As a wedding planner, people say to me all the time - your wedding must have been A-Mazing!  Well, let me tell you a funny story and some lessons learned.

First and foremost what made my wedding amazing was the fact that I was marrying the man I loved and we were able to celebrate with 200 of our closest family and friends.  Nothing can top that.

However, through my experience I can give some excellent advice. 

Lesson 1: SPEND MONEY ON PHOTO AND VIDEO!  The photographs and video are you only lasting memory you have from your wedding.  At the end of the day, the band goes home, the flowers are thrown away, your guests leave.  What's left - your photos and video that will last forever.  It is key to spend money to get the best photographer and videographer.  You will be happy you did.  We had the absolute worst photographer and videographer.  I couldn't even find 40 photos I liked for my album and my video guy missed every single key moment! 

Lesson 2: RENT CHAIRS.  This will make a big difference in the decor shots and the overall feel of the room.  At the time, my mom and I thought that was one expense we could do without.  Looking back at the photos, it looks terrible to see such a nice centerpiece with the country club chairs.

Lesson 3: KEEP IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE.  Yes, having every i dotted and t crossed is important and making sure your vision for your special day comes to life is key, but never lose sight of the big picture - that on your wedding day you are marrying the man you love and are kicking off the first day of the rest of your lives together.

Spending the last 6 years planning other people's weddings I have seen so much and have really honed in on my taste and have a great eye for interpreting other people's vision.  My mom asks me all the time how my wedding rates on a scale of 1-10.  Honestly, looking at materialistic things - I would have hired a different photographer and videographer, would have rented chairs and would have taken the big huge bow off my bouquet, but in the end I was able to marry the man I loved and celebrate with 200 of my closest family & friends and I would never change that for the world!

XO

cupcake tasting

So I took it upon myself to go on a cupcake tasting yesterday.  I was on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach and came across the most delightful place - Cupcake Couture.

The shop was decorated so hip and fun with lots of options for candy by the pound and hand made lollipops.  They also had the most incredible looking cupcakes with the most adorable "couture" names.

Here were some of my favorites.....

Berry Wang

Donatella Vanilla

Jimmy Chooocolate

Donna Karat

They had the cupcakes in 2 sizes - large and mini.  I tried a mini carrot and vanilla and boy were they worth every calorie!!

I just love the idea of these custom cupcakes for parties - for birthdays, weddings, showers - how fun.

It's such a trend that you will find many cupcake boutiques all over the country.  Some more popular ones - Sprinkles in California and Magnolia Bakery in New York City.

DELISH!!!  xo

LOVE these couples....

Ooh La La - Win a Paris Honeymoon

Have you been on the Pottery Barn website lately?  If you haven't yet created your bridal registry, you are in luck.  Anyone who creates a registry at Potter Barn before February 23rd will have a chance to win a romantic 8 day/7 night Paris Honeymoon!

See the website for details....

http://www.potterybarn.com/

I believe current registrants are automatically entered into the contest. 

Good luck!

Posh Party Gal Tells All ~ assigned seating

This week we received a fabulous question:

Q: I am planning an intimate dinner/house warming next month and I recently connected with an old friend that is single and a little shy. So I was thinking of having assigned seating and breaking up couples. Is this a good idea?

A: Absolutely!!  Especially when it comes to entertaining in your home, mixing things up a little always make for great ice breakers and conversation pieces.  For example, split husbands and wives or significant others up - they can talk to each other when they get home.  Or put someone who may be timid next your a bubbly friend - this will put your shy friend at ease and make them feel more welcome.

This also gives you a great opportunity to be creative with place cards at the table - do something fun that matches your cuisine or color scheme.  Here are some fun place cards ideas that I love:

 photos: www.marthastewart.com, www.etsy.com

In the Know :: Anthropologie Wedding Gown Collection

How exciting that Anthropologie is going to be coming out with a bridal gown collection. 

Get a sneak peak and sign up for their email list so you can be first to see the line when they debut:

http://www.bhldn.com/

Can't wait!

All We Need is LOVE

In honor of the month of February being synonymous with LOVE, I wanted to share some thoughts about Love.

What does the word Love mean to you?  Being in a "love" business, I find it very interesting to see the dynamics in which love is portrayed.  Between a husband and wife, a mother and daughter, father and bride, between siblings and between friends.  The Love of a job or a pet or something you are truly passionate about.  There are so many levels of what the word Love can mean.

A favorite quote about the meaning of love:

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy.
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
It is not self-seeking, nor easily angered.
It keeps no record of wrongdoing.
It does not delight in evil,
But rejoices in the truth.
It always protects, trusts, hopes, and preserves.
There is nothing love cannot face;
There is no limit to its faith, hope, and endurance.
In a word, there are three things that last forever:
Faith, hope, and love;
But the greatest of them all is love.
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 

And Love songs....wow there are too many to list.  But if you have a favorite, let us know!

 

Enjoy this month of LOVE as it approaches and I hope you can find love in the things you do each day!

  

XO

Real Wedding: Blake & Gregg

Blake + Gregg from Senderey Video on Vimeo.

Beautiful wedding at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach to kick off 2011.  Thank you to the fabulous vendors - Kym Bichon - Associate Director of Catering at The Breakers, Richard Grille - Breakers Design Studio, Donna Newman Photography, Senderey Video, Marianne Bennet Band.  You guys rocked!

New Feature: Posh Party Gal Tells All

Happy 2011!!

We are going to kick start the year with a new weekly feature called Posh Party Gal Tells All.  This is your opportunity to get free advice from Posh Party Gal on a number of topics.  Are you going to a wedding and not sure what "palm beach chic" means?  Do you need help finding the perfect favor?  Want to know what a hot hostess gift is?  Looking for an amazing signature drink?  Not sure how to set the table?

Topics may include:
Etiquette
Fashion
Gifts
Decor
Invitations
Food and Drinks
Vendor Suggestions
Registry
Welcome bags
Tabletop
Entertaining
and the list can go on and on!!!

You have questions, we have answers....and we are Telling All!

Just send us an email at ASK@POSHPARTYGAL.COM and we will email you back an answer.  Your question may also be features in our weekly blog post, so be sure to email us your name and where you are from.

Looking forward to helping you with all of your party questions in 2011.  Let's make this year the best one yet!

XO

Glitteratti - What to Wear this New Year's

This Posh Party Gal loves to add sparkle to any ensemble.  We've scouted out some hot sequined looks for your New Year's Eve.  Where will you be partying??

All looks available at http://www.saks.com/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Our Grand Finale

Here at Posh Parties we plan some very interesting events.  We plan weddings that are lavish, sophisticated, traditional and fresh.  We have amazing clients and we love every one of them.  The best part about our job is meeting so many people and adapting to each clients personalities - its a fun job and we always have something exciting going on!

Three months a ago, I got a call to interview to be the wedding planner for actress JoAnna Garcia and Yankee baseball player Nick Swisher.  As a die-hard Yankees fan, I was jumping for joy inside.  I went to the meeting and we hit it off!  Of course we have planned weddings and events before for professional athletes, local celebrities and socialites, but this one was different.  It's not often that a Hollywood couple gets married in Palm Beach....and I was the lucky one to have this amazing experience.

Funny enough, planning their wedding was just like planning everyone elses.  We triple checked the guests list, chose amazing invitations, selected music for the evening, and added personalized touches.  We dotted all of our i's and crossed all of our t's - multiple times.

We had our all-star team lined up - photographer Anthony Vazquez, cinematographer Francesco Spezia, music by Alan James of the Powerhouse Group, decor by Kim Votaw of the Breakers Design Studio and catering manager Kym Bichon of the Breakers.

The wedding week arrived and we delivered 200 gift bags to the hotel.  Thursday evening kicked-off the festivities with a Welcome Party.  Friday was the bridesmaid lunch and the rehearsal dinner under the stars.  Saturday was wedding day - the ceremony could not have been more beautiful and the reception was spectacular.  Guests were dancing the night away, having a blast.  Sunday, the weekend ended with a delicious brunch over looking the ocean.  The weekend could not have been more perfect - perfect weather and one flawless event after another for this perfect couple!

The bride looked amazing and you can see her wedding weekend wardrobe that was featured on instyle.com:

http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20352342_20449043_20888504,00.html

We couldn't have asked for a better event to end our year.  We are thankful for our success in 2010 and looking forward to an even bigger and better 2011!

Happy Holidays!!

Last Weekend of Summer...what are you going to do?

I can't believe September 1st has approached and it's Labor Day weekend...the last official weekend of summer.  What a great way reason to spend time on the beach, enjoy some great company, host a pool party or just relax in the great outdoors.

What are you going to do to make the most of this Labor Day weekend?

We love this simple, casual tablescape overlooking the ocean and the sunset.  Fully epitomizes summer's end.

photo courtesy of marthastewart.com