Brilliant Event Planning Blog » cocktail hour

Engagement Pics? Engagement VIDEO!

Sarah — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:30:14 +0000

I came across this totally unique engagement video by Axioo this morning on Rock and Roll Bride and just had to share it with you! Making your photos into a video is a great new idea and a fun way to get some extra mileage out of your engagement pictures…something to show on a loop during cocktail hour? maybe even after dinner?

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Nico & Emil PreWedding Photoclip from Axioo on Vimeo.

Library Wedding: Part 2 of 3

Sarah — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:41:50 +0000

The reception of Molly & Mark’s gorgeous library wedding took place at 91 with delicious catering by the Upper Crust. Custom stationery was created exclusively for the bride & groom by Megan Guerin and appeared on everything from the escort cards to the menus to the drink coasters. Crystal chandeliers courtesy of Jersey Street Furniture framed the space and created the “family dinner” ambiance that the thoughtful bride & groom envisioned.

A single orchid was placed on each placesetting and the centerpieces were elegant, highly-textured florals by Rountree Flowers. Cocktail centerpieces were a nod to the vintage aspect of the wedding and were an assortment of letterpress blocks. The linens, chairs and chargers are courtesy of Party Rental Ltd.

All of these great shots are from Zlatko Batistich, photographer extraordinaire!We have one more set of photos from this marvelous wedding so stay tuned!

Wood Wedding Signs

Sarah — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:32:59 +0000

These wooden signs are such a thoughtful touch to any wedding or event. Whether it’s a family reunion picnic, a cozy wedding on a historic farm or nuptials on the forest floor – these signs not only provide a useful function, they add an extra detail that will be sure to wow your guests.

My favorite is the signpost where one of the arrows points to happiness! These signs are courtesy of the folks at Vintage Sign Projects but you can also search on places like Etsy to find similar items.

Carol & Ed’s Shabby Chic Wedding

Sarah — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:45:50 +0000

We created a shabby chic wedding theme for Carol & Ed’s wedding day at Perona Farms in Andover, NJ. The eye candy photos below are from Mariann at Blue Daisy Weddings - she is such a talented photographer and always a dream to work with. The pink and violet color palette was started with these spectacular invitations by Inky Livie. Florals were done by Stem and Company and featured a mixture of crystal and silver vessels gathered from antique shops and flea markets to really emphasize the shabby chic theme. The beautiful violet pintuck linens set off the vibrant centerpieces and were courtesy of Laurie at Cloth Connection.

Sachiko Yanase worked her magic and did fantastic hair and makeup for all of the ladies and the super-friendly Mike Burns from Infinite Video captured the day on video as it unfolded. Marge Fitts provided the angelic harp music for the ceremony and cocktail hour and DJ Medina had the guests dancing all evening. The night closed with a jaw-dropping fireworks display by Celebration Fireworks.

For more amazing photos of their day, click here and stay tuned for even more photos as they become available…especially photos of their amazing shabby chic lounge area!

Thank you Carol & Ed for letting us be part of your amazing day!

Inspiration Board: White on White

Sarah — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:33:34 +0000

We created this beautiful white-on-white inspiration board with the following elements in mind: texture, warm lighting and keeping things friendly and inviting. So often an all-white color palette can end up looking sterile and bland. But, by ensuring that we included those 3 elements and adding color with the food and drink, the result is anything but boring!

More Non-Floral Centerpieces

Sarah — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:34:27 +0000

Here are some more non-floral centerpieces for the hosts that want a show-stopping centerpiece without flowers! The button jars really lend a vintage-y detailed look – perfect for a casual affair like a baby shower or bridal shower. The book centerpieces are more old-world and lend themselves more toward a semi-formal event such as a cocktail reception or networking event.

Photo Credits: It’sLove, It’sAllRelative, SpeakQuietly, 2000dollarwedding.com

A Brilliant Event: Havana Nights

Sarah — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:47:55 +0000

We designed a festive holiday party for Reval, a financial software company here in New York, where a ”Havana Nights” Cuban theme spiced up the frosty December evening.

Guests arrived at the Harbor Room of Battery Gardens Restaurant and were greeted by butler-passed mojitos and festive music by DJ Medina, Manhattan’s hottest latin music DJ. The room was illuminated with vibrant pinks and greens thanks to Prestige Lighting and tables boasted centerpieces of tall cylinder vases filled with limes and monstera leaves.

Bright pink table runners combined with lime napkins from Cloth Connection created a sizzling contrast to the centerpieces and a perfect replica of a 1950s Cadillac was made by TracyCakes for all to enjoy. La Rosa Cubana provided hand-rolled cigars throughout the evening while guests dined on traditional Cuban fare. After dinner all were entertained by Fuákata, a Cuban Salsa-Casino dance performance group directed by Christopher Rogicki.

Immediately following the performance, guests were invited to learn salsa from the experts with a mini dance lesson and put their new-found skills to the test the rest of the evening! At the end of the evening, each guest was given a Cuban music CD so they could continue their salsa dancing at home!

Pictures: Before or After?

Sarah — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:24:21 +0000

Ok brides…here’s an important question that requires your advice! What are your thoughts on pictures – before or after the ceremony? Should you take pictures before the ceremony and sacrifice the “seeing her walk down the aisle” moment? OR should you take pictures after the ceremony and miss some of the cocktail hour?

What do you think?

Inspiration Board: Mike and Katrina (Part 3 of 5)

Sarah — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:28:59 +0000

Here’s some more ideas from Mike and Katrina’s ceremony inspiration board! We were lucky enough to confirm the amazingly talented banjo player, Steve Srubas, and his band to entertain guests during the cocktail hour. What a perfect addition to this “fancy family picnic” wedding!

Customize your Coasters

Sarah — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:53:23 +0000

Expand your wedding, event or company logo to coasters! In addition to customized stationary and napkins, have custom coasters printed for your event. This inexpensive detail will create a cohesive look for your party and will stick in the minds of your guests. Try Absorbent Ink or or Coasters for Less where they allow you to upload your own design or choose from a variety of templates. Pocketbook not an issue? Give custom tile coasters as part of your favors!