Brilliant Blog

Featured Expert in Metro New York

August 23, 2012

I was delighted to be quoted in the Metro New York newspaper on August 20th regarding the new trend of dinner party apps.  Read the full article here!

Cylinder Vase Veto for Aisle Decor

July 11, 2012

Broken shards of glass, pools of water and a fire hazard are not exactly the hallmarks of a dream wedding day.  Experience has taught us that cylinder vases filled with water and a floating candle lining your ceremony aisle are a disaster waiting to happen.  Chances are that one of your excited wedding guests will knock over one of these vases while finding their seat, fidgeting during the ceremony or while applauding during your recessional.  The mess created is not only hazardous, but could interrupt your ceremony in a very bad way. Just one easy, pretty and safer candlelit alternative? Try lanterns hanging from wrought-iron shepherds hooks!

Image sources one and two.

Wedding Ceremony Exit Tips

April 19, 2012

We’ve all seen those incredible photos of couples exiting their ceremony or reception with sparklers, bubbles, confetti or rice.  What you may not know is that those moments have usually been carefully orchestrated behind-the-scenes!  Here are a few tips:

• -Before you order anything, make sure your venue allows it.  Many venues restrict confetti or sparklers for clean-up reasons or fire hazard reasons.
• -If you’re tossing something outside, make sure it’s environmentally friendly.  Rice can be very hazardous to birds.  A better alternative is bird seed or a special type of rice that crushes underfoot and dissolves in water.
• -Recruit some “ringers” to start the trend of the bubbles/confetti/etc. Otherwise you’ll be down the aisle before anyone has tossed their confetti!
• -Check everything beforehand and unwrap it or open up any seals.  Many times bubbles come with a silver seal that will impede timely bubble-making as you head down the aisle.

Photos courtesy of  Snippet & Ink, ZLynn, Violet & Earnest.

Beware of Sunsets

March 15, 2012

Every bride and groom dream of a great party at their wedding reception, and in most cases, that dream includes a packed dancefloor.  Keep the dancefloor full by planning your reception start time with sunset in mind – this is especially important in the summer months when the sun doesn’t go down until around 8:30pm.

Think about it: your favorite club doesn’t have fluorescent lightbulbs or natural light streaming in because people prefer to dance in darker, ambient atmospheres.  Too much light makes people self conscious and shy, and your dancefloor will be anemic as a result.  Also, any candlelight you’ve used in your decor won’t have any impact if your reception space is flooded with natural light.  If your venue has any kind of windows, use this sunset calculator to determine when the sun will go down and schedule your reception accordingly.

Photo courtesy of Italian Weddings.

Pier 1 Imports: Party Protege

November 16, 2011

I recently partnered with Pier 1 Imports to help transform a bland Brooklyn loft apartment into a party paradise! With food and drinks by chef/mixologist Yvan Lemoine, these three lucky ladies had an amazing home makeover and transformation. Watch episodes 1-4 below and see what tips and tricks you can learn for hosting a fabulous party in your own home this holiday season.

Hydrangea Table Runner

November 2, 2011

Take a table runner, mix it with a hydrangea centerpiece and you get this spectacular idea.  Clean and simple but has a huge visual impact without obstructing the view across the table.  Genius!

Photo by Brian Fitzsimmons via Simple Song and Caplan Miller.

Ask the Expert: Wedding Speeches

October 18, 2011

Today’s post is courtesy of my secret speech-writing weapon, Victoria of The Oratory Laboratory. She is the master at creating perfectly funny, yet heartfelt speeches written in your own voice, and will coach you so your delivery is the icing on the (wedding) cake.

The Unspoken Truth of Speaking. If you’d rather fly over the Atlantic on a sofa with wings than speak in public you’re not alone. 75% of the population are terrified at the prospect of speaking before an audience and that probably includes your maid of honor, the best man and yes, even your father.

The internet provides tips galore about what to say and what not to say at weddings but seldom do you see any good advice about the delivery. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, but here are a few common pointers that you may want to gently pass on to your wedding party.

1.  Don’t try and memorize your speech. Do you think Obama doesn’t have twenty transparent teleprompters in front of him??  A speech is a contrived and well prepared form of expression- the audience are expecting you to take notes up there with you.

2.  Don’t rush. This is a story and you’re telling it for the first time to the people listening. They want to join you on this little journey so give them time to take it all in.

3.  Don’t just read the speech; connect with what you’re saying as you’re saying it. If you’re telling a story about your childhood, take yourself back and there and think about all the small the details, how you felt, who was there etc

4. Practice your speech as if you were reading it to a room full of five year olds to find the playfulness in the text. Jump up and down on your bed while shouting it, read it in a bad Scottish accent if you want. Once you have fun with it you can always rein the crazy back in.

5.  Keep your feet hip-width apart. Your bottom half should feel solid and grounded so that you’re free to gesticulate without falling about the place. If you’re leaning or swaying you lose the energy and presence that stillness creates.

6.  Before you start, take a couple of seconds to take in the room and your audience. Take a breath and begin only when you’re ready. This will ensure the audience are 100% with you from the start and you’ll feel more in control.

Canopy Dreams

August 10, 2011

Call it a chuppah, call it a mandap, call it a canopy or an arch…this is downright dreamy!

Photo by James Christianson via Style Me Pretty.

Chair Choice Matters

June 29, 2011

The color of your chairs may be the last thing you are thinking about when deciding on the color palette of your reception, but your chairs can make (or break) your entire look.

In the examples below, you can see that choosing a fruitwood chair for this ceremony creates such a different look than the standard white chair. A red or turquoise chair coupled with a simple tablescape make a strong and immediate impact. Whether it’s selecting the right contrasting chair pad, a neutral wood over a standard white, or accenting the overall look with a specialty colored chair, chair selection makes a huge statement in your event decor.

Please click on photos for source.

Food Trucks at Your Wedding

June 27, 2011

As a huge fan of the Red Hook contingent, I think food trucks are a fun alternative to traditional sit-down dinners. They are great for outdoor venues where your guests can walk right up to the truck and are in keeping with a relaxed, chill atmosphere that some couples crave. Worried about long lines at the trucks? Try hiring a few different trucks to help with wait time and give your guests many cuisine options.

Get that “platinum wedding” touch with customized food containers (foil wrappers, pizza boxes, sleeves) with your wedding logo and a graphic wrapper on the food truck itself.

Photo of Wafles and Dinges courtesy of The Chic Brulee.