Our lovely friend Jackie from Merci New York has whipped up an amazing giveaway on her
blog. Here are the details:
One lucky reader will have the chance to win a luxurious Amanda Pearl clutch, valued at $298. We're also featuring an assortment of Amanda's other pieces, which are absolutely stunning. She's truly a rising star in the luxury accessories market and someone brides should have on their fashion radar...
Visit the Amanda Pearl website and comment below with your favorite Amanda Pearl piece {it need not be bridal, so have fun perusing her entire line}!
To increase your chances of winning the Le Pouf clutch, there are four additional ways to enter this contest:
1. Tweet this: I just entered to win the @AmandaPearly #chicclutchhunt giveaway at Merci New York! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/doaqQR{via @MerciNYC}. Then leave a second comment once you’ve tweeted.
2. Blog about the Chic Clutch Hunt giveaway {feel free to use our oh-so-pretty giveaway graphic!} and comment with your blog link.
3. Post about the giveaway on a message board and comment with your link.
4. Share the Chic Clutch Hunt giveaway on Facebook and let us know via a comment.
The giveaway winner will be chosen at random and announced via the Merci New York blog on Monday, March 8th at 8:00 PM EST
Be sure to enter and add Merci New York to your daily reads; Jackie has an amazing sense of style and posts great finds often!
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The start of the party is what sets the tone for the rest of the event. Here are my top (simple) tips for getting your party started on the right foot:
1. offer a coat check and/or a gift depository- you'd be surprised how many people don't provide this and it leaves your guests carrying bags and coats while trying to eat, drink + visit.
2. after guests make a deposit at the coat check, have waiters greet them with drinks and hors d' oeuvres. If you're offering up a bar, have waiters at the ready with trays of red wine, white wine, and water. *Don't pre-pour beer - it's best served fresh and cold.
3. the music you start off with sets the initial tone of the party. In most cases we're fans of starting off slower and working in faster/more energetic music as the party progresses.
4. greet your guests. make sure, as the host/hostess, you work the room and thank your guests for attending. This is especially important for a wedding reception.
5. timing is key. If you're hosting an event with significant markers (like toasts, announcements, performances, etc.), make sure that you don't leave your guests waiting...and waiting...Have an emcee make some sort of announcement if there's something to come.
Maybe most importantly, end on a high note. We spend a lot of time explaining to our clients that there is an expiration time on a party. Leave your guests wanting more - and don't let them stick around to watch the breakdown. Cheers!
Nick
*Photo from blog.wineenthusiast.com
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So many of our clients don't know where to begin in the wedding reception venue search. On the other hand, some of our clients have pre-picked a venue (their favorite restaurant, the hotel where they were engaged) before hiring us on and we have to go back and fix or clarify contract terms.
Here are our Top 5 Tips for picking + booking a reception venue:
- make a list of your favorite places in your wedding town. Have a favorite hotel that has an amazing view of the ocean? Love a little inn overlooking a romantic lake? Were you engaged at a swanky restaurant? Check out these places and see what they can handle in regards to your estimated guest count. Ask them how they can accommodate, say, 100 guests, and how they typically run receptions. Ask them what the timing of your wedding will be - some of the best locations might have a 9:30 pm or 10:00 pm cut-off time!
- talk budget. There's almost always room to negotiate the minimums - ask the catering manager what they can throw in (chivari chairs/waive the cake cutting fee) and if they can knock $1,000 off of the minimum. Some will waive the ceremony fee if your reception is at the same place. You'll be surprised by what just asking gets you.
- talking about minimums - be sure you understand what a food + beverage minimum is. Several of our clients have assumed their minimum is grand total of what they're bill will be (plus tax + gratuity). It is not. The minimum is simply the minimum price you agree to pay. Say your minimum is $15,000 but your guests/food/drink count only reaches $12,000. You are responsible to pay that $3,000 difference (plus tax/gratuity). You can do so by making your dinner a 5 or 6-course dinner, offering top shelf liquor, or having a late-night menu. Be sure you are clear how many guests and what type of menu/beverages you need to account for to reach your minimum. If your budget is tight, be sure you know how many guests will push you over your minimum.
- location, location, location. Be sure your location is close to hotels for our of town guests (or a quick taxi ride away). Are you having a marathon of wedding activities over the weekend? You'll especially want to make sure that either A) your venue has restaurants, lodging, and activities or B) restaurants, beaches, parks, and other activities are nearby for your guests - especially if they're coming from afar.
- check with the venue - how many weddings do they have going on at one time? You'll likely want to feel like your wedding is special and don't want to run into three other couples on your big day. This really happens - some venues have up to 10 or 12 weddings going on at one time. This should be a red flag - remember; it's all about the entire experience of your wedding!
Happy Planning! Aleah + Nick
Photo by
Montestigliano, Italy
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Today we wanted to shed a spotlight on an amazing new nonprofit -
Wish Upon a Wedding. You've surely heard of the Make a Wish Foundation, well this is similar but grants wedding wishes to those who have a terminal illness. Truly incredible.
Here are some important details:
WISH UPON A WEDDING:
• Was founded in San Francisco, CA, in January of 2010, by a group of wedding and business entrepreneurs.
• Is America’s FIRST nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, producing weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States for individuals facing terminal illness, regardless of sexual orientation.
• Boasts twenty chapters nationwide, headed by some of the industry’s most renowned leaders.
• Presidents:
• Sasha Souza, National
• Kevin Covey, LA/Orange County
• Stella Inserra, New York
• Ivy Robinson, The Carolinas
• Eliana Baucicault, Atlanta
• Mary Alice Sublett, Tennessee
• Heather Hamilton Sims, Houston
• Shelby Tuck Horton, DC
• Elisa Delgardio, Orlando
• Ali Phillips, Chicago
• Daniela Fageʹ́t, Seattle
• Other chapters opening soon: Colorado, Arizona, Portland, Miami, St. Louis, Ohio and Nevada.
• To qualify for Wishes, applicants must be unmarried legal citizens of the United States, over the age of 18, who have been diagnosed with less than three years to live.
• Simply apply online to request one of three wedding types: URGENT (Up to 10 guests, in hospital or at bedside); BOUTIQUE (up to 25 guests, in home town of applicant); ROMANTIC (Up to 50 guests, at any WUW destination)
• Wish Granters needed in all locations. Please
apply online today to start helping us make Wedding Wishes come true. Photo of the first recipents by
Stella Sweet
Please pass this message along!
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Read More Posts From Fine Line Management & Events
Our lovely friend Jackie from Merci New York has whipped up an amazing giveaway on her blog. Here are the details:
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