Always a Blogsmaid

Cool Ideas and a Party at Gotham Hall

Mayra, Tiffany and I had the BEST time last night at a party for event planners at Gotham Hall!  It was just amazing. I know that this is a real New York location, but they had some great ideas that I thought could be theoretically replicated easily elsewhere.....

If you aren't familiar, it's an old bank that is now a gorgeous and glamorous event space.  Last night they worked with Art Lumiere, who essentially projects scenary to create new environments in spaces/ projectable backdrops.  It was stunning. Here are some horrible camera phone photos.  The theme was the 4 seasons, and I loved Spring and Winter (they actually had snow falling during winter) but wasn't so into Summer (looked like a Corona ad) or fall (somehow fall translated into Venice) but the effect was awesome.

I was thinking there was no reason why a bride on ANY budget couldn't get a projector (so Low tech, I know) and transform a blank wall with a slide of her favorite painting, motif, family photo or pattern... Less costly than a fancy gobo, but still cool..... (just be sure that you mount the projector up high (otherwise people will block the light all day like in my art history class in HS)

Anyway, more about the Event. It was also a showcase for the recommended caterers there. Tom Preti stole the show with an amazing display of comfort foods- tasting plates of Meatloaf and mashed potatoes and "toaster" tarts (like a pop tart) with short rib filling.  Foremost did an awesome sushi display and Great Performances out did themselves by setting up a chartucerie (they did the autumn/ venice) theme. 

Musing on my profession....

I have a wedding coming up in a couple of weeks with a bride to be that I'll call Ms. T. We've been working together for about 13 months and have planned virtually every aspect of the day together.  We email, I'd say, at LEAST 10 times a day.

I woke up this morning and while she may not have been the VERY first thought that came to my mind, she was certainly the third or the fourth.  I hadn't even wiped the crusties out of my eyes when I started thinking about her favors and suddenly it occurred to me that in a couple of weeks we aren't going to talk anymore.  After more than a year of thinking of this person every day, multiple times a day, and vice versa, suddenly, well, we won't. 

I started to miss her.  I'm sure that we will email or chat sometimes, and maybe even get together, but truth be told, our relationship won't be the same....

Obviously, this happens all the time.  Brides get married and then there is no reason for them to speak to their wedding planner everyday. (I mean, if they did it would be weird and we wouldn't get much done in the office)   But for some reason today, it just hit me what a WEIRD aspect of our job that is......  We're so close with our brides for such a long time and we're at this huge event in their lives and then,  well, it just changes. 

I'm having separation anxiety!!!

Taking Care of Vegans

The Q:  I have a few vegan friends. I have provided an entree option for them, but is it necessary to buy a whole other cake?

The A:  No, personally, not to be insensitive, but I think most of the time, unless you yourself are vegan, vegans and veggies are happy that they have something to eat at things like this.  An Appetizer and an Entree are already such a welcome surprise, I don't think you need to have an entirely separate cake.  It would be a nice gesture to have maybe a tray of vegan cookies to put out or work out another dessert options a fruit tart or sorbets. If it's possible, that's a thought, but a second cake wouldn't be expected by any of your guests.

Makeover show-

OMG, sooo excited!!!!  In case you didn't notice, Always a Blogsmaid got a bit of a makeover overnight courtesy DJVU Design..... That, btw, is the understatement of the year. 

Anyhoo, for months we've been lamenting the look of our blog (my horrible CSS skills to blame).  For any of you who've checked out our website, its probably a little evident that we're a little anal about presentation.  So having a plain jane blog was like being at a party with a big pimple. It's fun, but you're a little self conscious.

When we finally decided to do something about it and were lucky enough to find  DJVU Design, who literally had designs back to us in a day.  Jonathan and Daryl were so awesome and so reasonable, I can't recommend them enough for anyone looking for a blogface lift. 

Let me know what you think....

Raquel + Josh

We were sitting around the office missing one of our Bride's, Raquel, when it occurred to me that I never posted any of her BEAUTIFUL wedding photos shot by the wonderful Mel Barlow.  I had actually posted about this venue a while back, We utilized the Westside Loft for the ceremony and dinner dance, and Penthouse 15 for cocktails!

Who cuts the cake?

The Q:  I know it’s old fashioned, but is it OK to have a friend or relative cut the cake, rather than paying someone to do it? The cake price from our caterer is much too expensive for us, and we’ve found a baker who will make the cake for less than half the cost. However, the caterer would charge a $2/slice cutting fee. They have given us the OK from them to have a relative cut the cake, but I’m wondering about “the rules.” Is this a tacky way to save a buck?

The A: Hmmmm.  The thing is, it's not that I THINK it's tacky per se, it's more that it's HARD to cut cake.  I wish I had photos of the one wedding I did ages ago where the caterer wouldn't cut the cake and Mayra and I had to do it.  It was red velvet cake and it looked like a crime scene by the time we were done.

It's also time consuming, so it will probably take the lucky relative a good half hour.  However, if the $2 pp eats into the savings that you found by going to another baker, than I think you shouldn't be worried about propriety.  You SHOULD be mildly worried about appearances, but likely, no one will notice. :-)

Ain't No Party like a Botox Party??

Ladies, and you were horrified by the bride who asked about buying the bridesmaids gym memberships?  What do you all think of the Botox party?  As reported by the NYTIMES!

Clip Show

Yesterday I went to tape some segments for a "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" clip show. So, basically like a Best Week Ever, but with Whose Wedding clips. I was so excited until the morning of when I remembered that the camera adds 10 lbs AND my roots were out of control. Actually, this is all Janelle, my hairdressers fault. She up and moved to Del Mar, Florida and my schedule has prevented me from visiting her while my fear of hair disaster prevents me from visiting anyone else. Anyhoo, I figured a professional blow out would do the trick, but WHO KNEW that in the city that never sleeps, hairdressers sleep in. I trolled the streets of Manhattan, in the rain for an hour before I literally stumbled upon a tiny Salon on Mott street that was not only open, but had about 5 staff people sitting around. None of whom were in the least bit disturbed by the disgusting piles of HAIR everywhere. Unfortunately, by this point, I was due to the taping in 45 minutes , and in no position to be picky. But darn it if I wasnt kicking myself for not remembering the name/ location of the 24 Hour salon Mayra had seen in the Post a few weeks ago. It's called Hair Party 24/7 and they are open, you guessed it, 24/7. they are located at76 Madison Avenue and its the perfect answer to your early morning hair emergency! 212 213 0057 or visit hair24hours.com

Out on the Town!

So, a week or two ago, I got some information about something I thought was really cool, this service called Bride's Night Out (BNO). They take the chore out of bachelorette planning and set up an entire night out on the town! They even assign you a Party Consultant to take care of all the details. They'll get you out into clubs, into the limo, outfit you with a blow up doll, and start popping the bubbly. And they can do this service Nationwide! It's like Mary Kay for Bachelorette parties.

I thought it was so cool, I took some time to chat with founder Pamela Yager about what the service does, and how to get the prudish bridesmaid to "let her hair down".

What's a typical bride's night out?

While every party is unique and shows the personality of the Bride and her guests, the most popular Bride's Night Out party is the VIP Party on the town. This includes a BNO Party Consultant to take care of the details, a BNO Party Guide who takes the girls out, plays games, makes the bride feel special and keeps the action going for all the guests. Party clients really appreciate having a complete package which takes all the work out of their hands from sending invites to booking the limo, and buying gifts to creation of games.

I had a MOH pull the plug on a night out at a Burlesque show b/c she got freaked out. What advice do you give for the prude bridesmaid or the girl who has a hard time "letting it go"?

If she hasn't already loosened up after the official toast with our own BNO Bubbly, then the Party Guide is there to help everyone get involved in the games. If they just join in then suddenly they find themselves having fun. Brides Night Out parties are designed to be either mild or wild. We take into consideration who will be attending which has included co-workers and even the future mother-in-law. The key is that the Party Guide is trained to know their audience, work the crowd and keep the party going no matter what. We find that everyone loosens up at their own speed and if they're going to have fun then it's at a bachelorette party (although they may not share the details).

What motivated you to set up BNO?
There are several motivating factors inspiring me to launch Bride’s Night Out, Inc. parties and most recently the BNO Party Consultant Program.

First, I have been a comedian for over 20 years and since the birth of bachelorette parties in the U.S., I’ve performed stand-up comedy at in-home parties. With my educational background in sex and marital therapy, interest in women’s traditions, and experience with bachelorette groups, I became passionate about the bachelorette industry and providing brides and their guests with more creative, fun, and memorable events. Over many years, I have paid attention to my clients and wanted to provide them with a slew of entertainment options. I continue to create party packages, personalized details, and planning services that will help them. As we say, “We manage the details, you have the fun.”

Since 2001, I have been approached by party attendees, wedding professionals, and aspiring party planners, who ask me how they can do what I do. In addition, I realize I can not be in all places at the same time and provide services to everyone that is interested. In an effort to reach an expanding group of bachelorette parties, I developed the Party Consultant program which allows individuals to become a part of the business, be their own boss, receive training and support, and expand our team.

How large and small are the parties able to be?

While the average party is 12 girls, we've prepared them for groups as small as 5 and as large as Jessica Simpson's with 50. We can plan for groups larger than that but it just takes some extra details to ensure everyone's having fun and not just lost in the crowd.

The Most Fun Wedding Band

I often get asked about great bands, and obviously, everyone's musical tastes vary, but I must tell you that about a year ago, we worked with a band that no one who was at the wedding could ever stop talking about.

Actually, Mayra was stuck at another event and every time she would see anyone who worked on that wedding with me, she would get so angry because they would start every conversation out with "How amazing was that band????" 

That Band is One Nation and they are simply the best R & B/ Soul/ Pop cover band that I've ever heard.  Well,  I so thought it would be so much fun to see them with my friends when I'm not working, but they hadn't been playing anywhere.  Not the case anymore!

They are playing every Wednesday, afterwork here in NY at a ONE NATION is playing at Lola again from
7- 10 pm.