Paris Style in Albany New York

It's been nine months since I was contacted by a sweet woman by the name of Lynn with the most charming of southern accents. Turns out she was the mother of a groom getting married in September in Albany, but she and her son were actually from Tennessee. Her story was quite special so I was instantly intrigued about working on this project. Her son Adam was in Iraq serving our Country in his second tour there. His time there had been way too eventful and there were moments when she and her husband didn't know if their son was alive. They were counting down the days that his tour would end and he would return home to marry his beautiful young bride Leah. Wanting to honor her son and celebrate his safe return and their new beginning, she had a vision to create an extraordinary rehearsal dinner to kick off their wedding weekend.

Since the couple would be headed to Paris for their honeymoon, we decided to create a Paris inspired event. Everything from the food to the decor would emulate this beautiful city. There was no better location than the 42nd floor Observation Deck of the Corning Tower in downtown Albany.

70 guests enjoyed a five course french menu complete with pre-dessert cheese course. The design details of the room were chic in a simple palette of black and white with pops of royal purple. Centerpieces featured glowing cylinders of purple delphinium topped off with damask lampshades for a sophisticated and somewhat masculine look. The room also featured a lounge area with custom slip covered benches with coordinating damask pillows.

Lynn spared no expense in creating personalized details. Signs displaying the names of cities significant to the couple were displayed in the windows and pointed guests in their direction with mileage to each one from Albany. Custom stationery was created for everything from menu cards to the signature cocktail signage. In lieu of traditional escort cards, a special french style bulletin board was created, on which hung small velvet pouches with custom escort tags displaying their table number. Each pouch contained quarters for the observation deck view finders and displayed the message "Enjoy the View".

This event was a so fun to plan and coordinate. Guests had an amazing time celebrating in this unique location. The bride and groom left elated and ready to walk down the aisle. By all reports, the wedding day of Adam and Leah went perfectly and the two are enjoying the "real" Paris! We wish them both a long happy life together and thank Adam for his service to our country. Another thanks to Lynn for trusting us with this special event. It was a pleasure.

Kudos to my team: Katelyn and Julie, to the chef and staff at Sudhexo for putting together a fabulous meal and to Ambiance Floral & Events for the beautiful centerpieces.

Event images provided by Lilly Zach Photography

Khalid & Nadia - May 1, 2010

May was such a crazy month for Inspired Occasions that I'm just getting around to filling you all in on the details of the weddings we produced that month. I'll start with our first . . .

The wedding of Nadia and Khalid turned out to be a story of color and culture. The tall order for me was to design a wedding ceremony and reception that combined the significant elements of the Bride and Groom’s Pakistani culture with their more modern sense of style. I’m proud to say that in a short three month planning period, we went from having no design concept to an exotic affair for 300 guests fit for royalty. The color palette inspired by the preferences of the couple was that of rich jewels . . . sapphire blue, garnet red and rich orange.

The setting for this elaborate affair was The Albany Marriott. The day began with an intimate family-only ceremony. The modern bride opted to wear a fully length beaded white wedding outfit rather than the traditional red. However, to ensure that the traditional wedding color of red had a strong presence, the bride’s aisle and ceremony stage were carpeted in a rich garnet color. The couple exchanged their promises and rings on a glowing stage draped with sheer fabric and strands of cascading orchids.

Following the ceremony, Nadia and Khalid’s guests were treated to a feast for both the eyes and the stomach. Guests were welcomed into the grand ballroom which was decked out with sunset colored perimeter lighting, sapphire blue satin linens and tablescapes of dramatic glowing centerpieces, specialty folded napkins and golden chocolate favors. Authentic Pakistani music and food brought in from New York City ensured that the families’ heritage remained the focal point of the celebration. Highlights of the evening included a traditional dance performed by the women of the Groom’s family and a traditional Mirror ceremony.

It was an absolute pleasure to work with this fabulous couple. From the first time I met with this family, the planning process became a true collaboration between Bride and Groom, Planner and Mother. And together, we were able to put together the perfect day for this special couple!

Special thanks to my team and all the wonderful vendors who helped make it all happen: The Albany Marriott, Fine Affairs, Surroundings Floral, J&S Watkins, Glowing Faces (make-up), Epiphany of Hair Design, Kabob King, and DJ Farhad.

Wedding Season is Here!

Inspired Occasions is feeling the love. Saturday marks the beginning of May and the beginning of a busy month of incredible weddings we are so fortunate to be a part of.

Right out of the gate, we get to produce an amazing Pakistani wedding for a very special couple, Nadia and Khalid. It’s been a blast putting this one together because the clients truly came to us with a blank canvas on which we have been able to create a wedding full of exotic flair. For 300 guests, the ballroom at the Albany Marriott will be transformed with specialty lighting, exotic orchids and custom everything in a color palette of jewels. Watching this vision come to life is going to be thrilling!

One week later, we’ll be a part of the completely different, but equally fabulous wedding of Michele and David who will wed at the First Reformed Church in Schenectady and celebrate with friends and family at the Stockade Inn for their reception. The entire design and every detail of this wedding is 100% the bride and is totally unique. I have fallen in love with her Vintage Paris theme and am amazed that I don’t miss the flowers at all. Michele is an amazing D.I.Y. bride who has created every last detail of her shabby-chic inspired wedding including the bouquets, centerpieces, programs, custom favors and escort cards, etc in a subtle color palette of white, ivory and the palest blush pink. Our team will be there to execute every last detail of her vision so that she can sit back and enjoy the fruits of all her hard labor.

Last, but certainly not least, we will finish out our busy month with the Adirondack wedding of Natalie and Brian. The two will wed on the shores of Lake George and host a unique tent reception for their 100 guests at B&B on the Green in Hudson. The bride wanted the design of her wedding to be modern and fun and yet have touches of Adirondack details. Beginning with the colors gunmetal gray, silver and pale blue, we decided to add a fun pop of lime green to just about everything. This is not your typical woodlands affair. This is a chic event with creative and modern touches of the great outdoors. The floral design will really set this one apart. Martin Dodge from Drops of Jupiter will provide some amazing creations including a ceremony structure of birch, sheer fabric and clusters of blue hydrangea, lush floral centerpieces in custom made birch and barnwood boxes and an escort card table completely covered in moss.

How amazing to have three weddings, each one as unique as the couples themselves! This is why I love my job. These three couples’ stories and personalities will be embodied in each of these events and I get to be a part of that story. Congratulations and best wishes to Nadia and Khalid, Michele and David and Natalie and Brian. May your lives together be filled with love and great joy!

A twist on the treat buffet that is sure to be "pop"ular!

By now, most everyone has been to an wedding or event featuring a candy buffet. Don't get me wrong. It's still a trend that I love. You can never go wrong offering guests the opportunity to be a "kid in a candy store" and indulge in the forbidden! However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this twist on the treat buffet concept . . . a gourmet popcorn buffet. Fill a table with different size and shape containers filled with many different varieties of this sweet and salty treat. Make sure to provide guests with personalized bags or containers so they can fill up and take their goodies home as their favor.

A wide variety of gourmet popcorn sold in bulk may be more difficult to find locally in certain areas, so it's time to surf the web. There are many companies out there with a quality product and reasonable prices, but my choice is Vic's Corn Popper (http://www.vicspopcornomaha.com/). The popcorn is delicious, their prices are right and the popcorn arrives fresh. Give this a try and you are guaranteed to get rave reviews from your guests!