We couldn’t be more excited for Aaron & Mary. They decided to pose their engagement photos based on old photos they found of Mary’s Japanese grandparents. Beautiful people in a creatively classic setting. Brilliant! Michael & Anna Costa shot the engagement session at a favorite “off the grid” location in the foothills of Santa Barbara.
A favorite watering hole of hipsters and celebrities alike, The Parker Palm Springs was the perfect desert oasis for any couple looking for something different. Anticipating a guest list almost completely filled with people from out-of-state, the couple decided to make it a mini-vacation for them as well.
We were just informed that the Spring 2008 issue of The Bride & Bloom magazine will feature a wedding coordinated by our very own Michelle Lynn Buckley! Brilliant! Courtney and Gustavo’s wedding took place at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach and perfectly reflected the couple’s personalities. For the bride, we had crystals and sparkling tidbits everywhere; the groom requested the Mariachi group which performed during cocktails; and everyone sung praises for the Martini Luge and the graham cracker rim on the martini glasses. We are not certain which photos will be featured in the article, but here is a sneak peak at their wedding. Photography by Boutwell Studio.
Who doesn’t need a quick refresher on party planning? These short tips will help you keep your parties memorable and enjoyable. The pamphlet offers tips for planning, putting together, and hosting the event, along with commonly asked etiquette problems and solutions.
Turn on the TV on with complimentary movie playing which acts as visual art. No volume, remote control hidden. Choose something classic or with cultural value, something people haven’t seen a while or have never seen.
The day before your shindig, place all party platters and serving pieces in place. Put a post it or note card on each piece with the food or item that will take residence in the dish written on the paper. This way, you will have a smoother transition from prep to party.
Instead of filling your home with balloons to create a festive mood, consider tacking or taping (with invisible tape, of course) curled ribbons, flowers, or just something unexpected to the ceiling. This creates the allusion of festivity, but eliminates the nuisance of popping balloons and an uneven disbursement of strings. Since you determine where and what colors, the effect is much more pleasing to the eye.
Remember that any gift brought by guests is meant to be enjoyed by you. You are not obligated to open a bottle of wine or taste a box of chocolates given to you until after everyone leaves. In fact, it is in poor taste to savor these treats while guests (who might not have brought anything) are still present. if you are given a hostess gift, remember to write a thank-you note in the morning and send it out immediately.
Introduce new and flavorful foods throughout cocktail parties. Start with fruit and cheese, 45 minutes later set out the canapés, & 45 minutes after that bring out some crème Brule. This way, guests will be constantly introduced to different foods, keeping their interest in your party and your entertaining style.
Have a pool? Put it to use! For day time parties, try strings of flowers (leis work well) tied to weights at the bottom of the pool. At night, floating votives have an amazing effect on any yard.
In heavy urban environments, without yards and many stories off the ground, you can reduce cigarette or other similar odors, place disposable cups of rubbing alcohol in discreet locations around the room.
Most importantly, no matter what elements you implement, you want to create a new atmosphere for your guests. People tend to be more social when removed from their everyday settings and familiar atmosphere. The ambience you create should be a complete departure into a decorative world of fun and socializing.
It is pertinent that you invest in a few good, sturdy entertaining pieces. You should never invite a group over only to insult them with flimsy paper plates with Christmas Trees on them, especially when it is, let’s say, the Fourth of July.
There are numerous entertaining specialty stores, such as Williams Sonoma, that offer a fine array of presentation pieces. If you are on a budget or expect to receive such pieces as gifts in the near future, it would be wise to take an afternoon and bargain hunt at such shops as World Market, Target, or your local thrift store. These shops usually have a large stock of non-brand name platters, plates, and bowls that can be quite attractive or very neutral.
Essentials:
8-12 small plates- these are ideal for hors d’oeurves or desserts. They should either all look the same, or each maintain a separate design in complimentary shades (you could achieve that look by buying vintage). If 8 are one pattern and the rest are mismatched, the effect isn’t as dazzling.
12 all purpose wine glasses-when you are stocking the essentials, don’t worry about white and red wine glasses. You can use an all purpose style for almost anything.
3-4 medium sized platters-when hosting a cocktail party or even before a dinner party, you should have at the minimum 3 different hors d’oeuvres for guests to choose from. It is best to make sure you are consistent in design for these platters. If you think getting all white platters is a bit dull, choose different shades of blue or pink for instance. That way, the look will be fluid rather than disjointed, while still adding visual interest.
1 large punch bowl or several pitchers- these are
4 to 5 small bowls- it is useful to have several complimentary bowls around to fill with nuts, organic chips and old-fashioned mints. You can use cereal bowls if they are in good taste and match your décor; if not, an eclectic mix of vintage or new decorative bowls adds a dash of sweetness to the treat inside.
12 linen napkins- what a special treat to be handed a smart linen or cloth napkin. Not only is this healthier for the environment (simply washing is better than tossing), but it adds a hint of unexpected style and formality. You can emphasize either of these by the size, color and design of the napkins you choose.
After starting off your collection of entertaining essentials, the next vital step is to designate an area as your “entertaining space.” I have a large kitchen cabinet where I store these essentials for easy access. If you are limited on kitchen space, try carefully filling a plastic container with these supplies and storing them under a bed or on a shelf closet. You shouldn’t store them too far out of sight though, since you might forget where they are or worse yet, lose the inclination to entertain.
We here at Mint Julep, Inc. live and breath etiquette. And, as we all know, everyone, who is anyone, knows Emily Post is Queen. Her name has become synonymous with manners and proper etiquette. Want to find out just how much you really know? Test your Etiquette Intelligence with this Emily Post Business Etiquette quiz. We scored a 100%!
