Whoopie Pies are Good!

Those of you who know me well and, lets face it, those of you who have met me only a couple times, know that I am obsessed with all things edible. So imagine my delight when I was recently invited to an Open House and tasting event for Whoopies are Good, a Ballston Spa based Whoopie Pie company. I spent one decadent evening tasting ten of the different gourmet flavors they offer. What a wonderful way to spend a weeknight!

So now I've got whoopie pies on the brain. As a self-proclaimed "foodie", I'm always partial to wedding favors that are a little piece of deliciousness. With nostalgic and comfort foods all the rage in the wedding world, Whoopie Pies are a natural fit. They are BOTH nostalgic and comforting. With today's whoopie makers getting creative with the flavors, couples have a great opportunity to personalize this classic treat to fit their tastes, theme or even colors. A southern couple might love a red velvet whoopie with classic cream cheese icing while a pumpkin whoopie with spiced cream filling would be perfect for a fall wedding. And for fellow peanut butter lovers ... how about a chocolate whoopie with peanut butter filling. Yum! Don't forget to further personalize your whoopie. Package your creation with a personalized label and really make it your own.

Want a whoopie of your own? Check out all the flavors of Whoopies are Good at www.whoopiesaregood.com or contact them at (518) 423-5182 to schedule a tasting.

A Walk Down Memory Lane - Kevin & Erin (August 16, 2008)

I've recently been hired by a lovely couple to help them plan their 2011 nuptials to take place at The Palace Theatre in Albany. In working with them, I can't help thinking about one of my all time favorite weddings because it too was at the beautiful and historic Palace Theatre. This wedding was particularly special for me because it was the wedding of my brother and now sister-in-law, Kevin and Erin.

Kevin and Erin approached me with the pretty tall order of planning an elaborate affair in only three months time. Given that they were both extremely busy with their careers, they had no time to devote to the time consuming task of planning so I was happy to help and to this day, it is one of the most amazing events I've produced.

Since The Palace is a grand 1930's era theatre, it seemed natural to make this event a tribute to that time. Everything chosen was classic and timeless. From the brides full length lace gown and groom's simple black tuxedo to the choice of using fern and feathers as dominant elements of the floral design. The stage where guests danced the night away was designed to mimic an vintage Supperclub. Each selection was made to give guests the subtle feeling that they had entered the 1930's itself.

The evening was filled with surprising and special touches. We surprised the bride and groom by bringing in their beloved dog to act as the Ring Bearer and showering them with feathers during their recessional. The Bride and Groom surprised the guests by making their grand entrance on the stage lift. But the surprises didn't stop there. A talented singer, the bride serenaded her new husband at the reception. We provided a vintage microphone for that very special moment. At the end of the night, guests stopped by the concession stand, but not for the typical salty oil covered popcorn you might find in a theatre. Instead they filled personalized treat bags to the brim at a gourmet popcorn bar.

An amazing venue makes for an amazing event. For design inspiration, there was no need to look further than the inspirational surroundings of this iconic theatre. I look forward to creating an equally fabulous wedding for my new fab couple Tehra and Juan. Working with a completely different color scheme and spin on the grand theatre theme, I can't wait to see them make this location their own and their wedding a true representation of their style and personalities. Check out this short video with all the details: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVSz8zdXk3U

Photography by Fred Ricard Photography.

Ceylane & Darren - September 25, 2010

I first met Ceylane and Darren in the summer of 2009. They had already selected 11 North Pearl Events Centre for their September 25, 2010 wedding reception. The goal in working with them was to create an uber-romantic reception as elegant as the setting in which it would take place. I think we achieved just that.

The color palette for the design would combine the bride's favorite color red with a fall inspired chocolate brown. Pops of gold and crystal bumped up the bling in the room. To give the couple the ultimate in romantic ambiance, the room was aglow with an abundance of candlelight and filled with classic red roses.

To create more visual interest in the room, the floor plan included long Tuscan style tables seating 20 guests, more traditional rounds and a long oval table for the bridal party. Instead of matching centerpieces on each table, a different but coordinating design was created for each shape of table. Long tables featured two tall centerpieces of curly willow branches, hanging candles and red rose petals. Then cubes of red roses were were added to create a floral table runner effect. Low and lush clusters of small cubes of red roses, floating and pillar candles adorned the round tables. For even more romance and bling, every surface of the room was sprinkled with red rose petals and crystals. The Chivari chairs, chargers and framed table numbers added the touches of gold to create a truly gilded feel to the room.

But a wedding is so much more than its design. This was a very special day for a special couple that has been together for a long time already. They injected their personalities and story into every detail. From the the music playlist, the menu, the custom monogram displayed on the wall to the lavender ceremony flowers selected in honor of the grooms late mother, the guests could make no mistake that it was the wedding day of Ceylane & Darren. It was an absolute pleasure working with such a wonderful couple. I know that their wedding day was just the beginning of a long and happy life together.

Thanks to my team: Sarah, Katelyn and Leah and everyone else who helped make it all happen: Brandi, Brian & Aimie at Classe Catering, Michele Peters at Ambiance Florals & Events for the amazing floral designs, DJ Greg Frasier for keeping the party energy up, J&S Watkins for the delicious wedding cake, limousines by Advantage Transportation, photos and video by Chris Pettigrosso of Galleria Designs, ceremony music by Azzaam Hameed and overnight accommodations by the Crowne Plaza City Center.

Blog photos by Lydia Zach of LZ 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!

Let there be light . . . and no ugly carpet!

We’ve all been to a wedding or corporate seminar in a typical hotel ballroom right? Ever caught yourself completely captivated by the psychedelic pattern of the carpet on the floor? Seriously, who dreams up these designs??? Such carpet may be durable and hide stains well, but trying to figure out how to make your romantic pale color palate work in a room with such a strong colored and patterned carpet is definitely a challenge. However there IS a solution to this design problem. . . specialty lighting.

Specialty lighting is an often overlooked wedding element that can completely transform an event space. If you layer your lighting properly, you can make that beauty-challenged carpet virtually disappear! First, using uplights around the perimeter of the entire room will wash the walls and ceiling with light, bringing the eye upward and away from the carpet. Next draw guests’ eyes toward your beautiful tables by “pin spotting” them. This is the technical term for lights mounted above and pointing directly on each table in your room. Don’t forget to pin spot special tables such as the cake and sweetheart tables. Your final layer of lighting is, of course, candles. Cover your tables with the gorgeous glow of flickering candlelight. Once the perimeter,

pin spot and candle lights are in place, dim or completely turn off the house lights and you’ll be amazed by the effect. Not only will you have eliminated the carpet-factor, you will have also created an amazing and romantic ambiance that your guests will never forget!

Contact a local event lighting, rental or design company for a lighting consultation. They can take a look at your space and create a personalized lighting plan tailored to your specific design needs and budget.

Happy planning everyone!

"Reality" vs. Reality

Okay, I admit it! I am a wedding planner and all those reality television shows that chronicle those in this profession . . . ? I watch them all. Yup! From My Fair Wedding to Platinum Weddings, and when I’m in the mood for a chuckle, even Bridezillas. I must admit that even though I am immersed in this industry on a daily basis, I find it validating to see others take on similar challenges, struggle through the stressful “oh crap” moments and, of course, experience the rush of a completed and successful event.

However, I also must admit that I’m beginning to lose my love affair with wedding reality shows. Quite frankly the reality on these shows doesn’t seem to mimic the reality I see each day. More and more of these programs seem to show weddings only through diamond encrusted glasses . . . as if all brides and grooms have a bottomless bucket of wedding money. And the wedding planners seem to be playing the role of Fairy Godmothers (or fathers) rather than practical and organized professionals whose role is to work with the constraints that they’re given.

Case in point. I happened upon a new show the other day. I won’t name names. Here’s the jist . . Three wedding planners competed for a booking. When I heard the concept I was thrilled. Now here is a show that will display what really goes on, right? The couple gave the planners their preferences and their very modest budget. I couldn’t wait to see these three seasoned planners pitch their individual proposals of how they were going to give this couple the wedding they envisioned without breaking their budget. This is my challenge everyday. What happened in the end? The couple picks the “celebrity” planner who clearly called in every favor he could to give them a wedding that, from what I could tell, cost at least triple their budget. Now I don’t fault a couple for getting a bunch of freebies to make their dream wedding a reality. Who wouldn’t? But for once, I’d like to see a reality show tell the story of a couple and their planner working together to bring their vision to life under realistic circumstances.

Reality is that “real” couples have “real” budgets and “real” constraints. A planner’s role isn’t just to wave their magic wand and find a way to get people things that cannot otherwise afford. Unless there is a television studio behind it, this does not happen. But planners can make magic with real couples by getting to know them and calling upon their own creativity and extensive knowledge of the industry. Our relationships with local vendors, negotiating skills and creative ideas of how to do more with less can provide couples with significant savings and fantastic events. I make it my goal to bring savings to my clients at least equivalent to my own fee.

What I want every bride out there to know is that you don’t have to have a bottomless bucket of wedding money and a “fairy godmother” to have a fabulous wedding. Wedding planners are accessible to all kinds of brides. Most have flexible services and are accustomed to working within the guidelines given by the clients. And most importantly, they can help you create a fantastic wedding that is uniquely you!