Caged Birds and Ballerinas at the School of American Ballet’s Annual Winter Ball.

New York last night, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, it was also the School of American Ballet’s annual Winter Ball.

http://newyorksocialdiary.com/node/1905625

2010 Wedding Trends

Estimated number of weddings: 2.16 to 2.18 million
Estimated number of guests: 135 to 145

Couples will want simple yet elegant events at a lower cost.

They will choose DIY (do it yourself) and thriftiness as a way to cut cost

DIY is bigger than ever and will continue to increase on items from Invitations to flowers

From the dress to shoes, vintage will be in big demand

June 2010 will be busier than normal.

Couples that put off their 2009 June wedding, because of the recession have booked for June 2010

Candy buffets will be very hot

Warm, bright, bold, and vibrate color tones are in for 2010

In vintage style, black and white photography shots will be in higher demand

While it hasn’t gone mainstream, video streamed live weddings will continue to gain interest

Tungsten is the hot metal for 2010, couples are looking for both engagement rings and wedding bands in tungsten

As with 2009, couples will continue to want package deals over a la carte

As with 2009, couples will continue to rely on family and friends to save money

As with 2009, we will continue to see smaller weddings with fewer guests

www.theweddingreport.com/

Trend Setting Place Settings from The White House!

From the Washington AP Photos Yahoo
Guests at President Barack Obama's first state dinner were being treated to an eye-catching scheme of green and purple, from the green curry surrounding the prawns to the purple floral arrangements paying homage to the peacock, India's national bird.

Pumpkin was on the menu, too, with Tuesday's dinner coming just two days before Thanksgiving.

Hours before guests arrived and in keeping with tradition, first lady Michelle Obama previewed the glamorous table settings in the State Dining Room. That's often the venue for such dinners, but not for Tuesday's honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Instead, in an effort to show Singh how much the U.S. values relations with his country, the Obamas decided to serve dinner for 339 people in a huge white tent on the South Lawn, with views of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial through clear panels. Magnolia branches native to both India and the U.S. adorn the inside walls, along with ivy and nandina foliage.

Guests, including some Hollywood A-listers, were to sit 10 apiece at tables draped in green apple-colored cloths and napkins, offset by the sparkle of gold-colored flatware and china, including service and dinner plates from the Eisenhower, Clinton and George W. Bush settings.

Floral arrangements of hydrangeas, roses and sweet peas in plum, purple and fuschia were meant to evoke India's state bird.

Mrs. Obama brought in award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit, a Scandinavian restaurant in New York City, to help White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and her staff prepare the largely vegetarian meal. Singh is a vegetarian.

Samuelsson said being chosen to help whip up dinner was both "overwhelming and humbling." The culinary offerings included potato and eggplant salad, arugula from the White House garden, red lentil soup and roasted potato dumplings or green curry prawns. Pumpkin pie tart and pear tatin were for dessert; the pears were poached in honey from the White House beehive.

The entertainment lineup promised to be as stellar.

Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson and jazz vocalist and composer Kurt Elling, both Grammy Award winners from the Obamas' hometown of Chicago, were performing. Hudson also won an Academy Award for her role in "Dreamgirls." Indian musician and singer A.R. Rahman, who won two Academy Awards for the music in "Slumdog Millionaire," also was in the lineup.

The guest list, which the White House released a few hours before dinner was to begin, was a mix of Washington insiders, celebrities, prominent figures from the Indian community in the U.S., and Obama friends, family and campaign donors.

Among them were actors Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood, and Hollywood moguls Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Guests with ties to India included spiritual adviser Deepak Chopra, director M. Night Shyamalan and PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. Katie Couric of CBS News, Brian Williams of NBC News, Robin Roberts of ABC News and CNN Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta were among the media representatives invited. Oprah Winfrey was not on the list, but her best friend, Gayle King, was among the guests. Also expected were Obama friends Eric Whitaker and Martin Nesbitt, along with Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband, Konrad; and Marian Robinson, the first lady's mother.

Every aspect of Tuesday's events was fraught with meaning and symbolism, from the flower colors to Mrs. Obama's clothing designers. For the dinner, Mrs. Obama wore a sleeveless, gold and cream colored sheath dress with an overlay of silver and matching shawl, by Indian-born designer Naeem Khan.

The president wore at tuxedo. At the State Dining Room event earlier in the day, the first lady wore a skirt by Rachel Roy, who is Indian. The biggest social event of the Obama White House also was a debut of sorts for florist Laura Dowling, who's been on the job less than a month.

Mrs. Obama also used the traditional preview event as a "teachable moment" for high schools girls participating in a White House mentoring program. They sat at two prepared tables as White House and State Department officials explained what state dinners are all about.

Afterward, Mrs. Obama sat at one of the tables and everyone dived in to dessert - the same fare being served guests at the state dinner.

Something Newport Blue ... and a well wish thats true

And so easy to do!

Love that Damask!

Can’t afforded that expensive damask over lay or tablecloth?
How about trying a damask napkin instead and under a dollar to rent!

All the impact with out the cost! www.rirental.com

Dragonflies OUT.... Butterflies IN

I went to The Table Top Show and Every thing was adorned with butterflies!
Look for them this spring Or may be even in your hair !
Italian Elle 2008

Celebrate your own Bling!

I had the good fortune of going to Moët & Chandon’s
100th Birthday at Lady Liberty, where they
launched the special edition bottle encrusted with
Swarovski crystals.
One of my brides was interested serving Bling water
also adorned with crystals.
But at $50 a bottle …I thought,
Why don’t you make your own?

I found a great solution for
$2.50 Made by www.meandmybigideas.com
The Crystal words can make a great addition to just about any thing!

Louie. Louie. Louie... Do you Love me?

Louis Vuitton is always leading the avant-garde of fashion without compromising traditional craftsmanship of luxury leather goods. Now it can be a cake for the gal who has everything!
Louis Vuitton Cake by www.okcakes.com

Brides of a feather...

I found Emplume at pearlsevents.blogspot.com My grandmother in the 1920's use to make feather hats ... so why not in your Bouquet??? Quite a few of the top NY designers are adding them in their arangments this year, And Ralf Lauren has quite a few fine plumes adorning the fall collection..
Will You???

www.emplume.com
www.ralphlauren.com

The Wedding Podcast Network Parties with Classic Party Rentals

My good freind Robert Allen from the Wedding Podcast Network came and reviewed the party I helped plan for Classic Party Rentals in NYC.. So many of my friends in the indusrty were involved.
Its a Great Pod Cast ...
http://weddingpodcastnetwork.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=meet%20the%20masters


Meet the Masters on Location - Flower & Food Design with David Tutera, Ed Libby, Chefs Thomas Preti and Olivier Cheng

Where: New York Showroom Classic Party Rentals where “Every Event is a Big Event”
Friend and colleague Nancy Swiezy invited us to a special industry event and we want you to be part of the excitement and get inspired with information from pros that have a pulse in the party business. Robert Allen, Executive Producer, takes us behind the scenes at the Classic Party Rentals NYC launch party with top chefs, caterers, & floral décor and event designers. With more than 25 years of experience, Classic Party Rentals is the nation’s leading full service event rental company.
Good-bye cookie cutter décor. Michael Miner, VP Marketing Classic Party Rentals, talks about his philosophy in the world of events and what brides have available to make their occasion great. Then Robert spoke with leading entertaining expert David Tutera. David tells us about his Enchanted Garden table – its color, texture, personality. David says a wedding has to tell a story with the elements of your wedding. Listen and learn about eclectic looks and David’s favorite color trend.
Tess Casey of Aisling Studio’s, designed three tables at the event, and talks about the fabrics, color palette and details that feature different themes, unusual elements, and accent ideas. Do you want an element of surprise? Are you trying to be a little green? PLUS Insider Scoop: Tess specializes in camera-ready flowers and works closely with Creative and Art Directors for film and television. She recently worked on the wedding scenes in the Sex and the City movie. She designed the wedding bouquet for Carrie. What flowers did she use? Want to find out the designer of the gown SJP wore? What should a couple know when starting their search for a floral designer? Tess gives her expert advice.
What’s the new white? Ed Libby, award winning event designer, presented two tables. The Bling table has sparkle! He has designed for celebrity clients including Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Robert DeNiro, Usher, and Diddy. Ed’s best advice: Marry a couples’ design fantasy with professional expertise so it’s a fun process.
Food is an element of décor and something to talk about. Chefs created culinary delights enjoyed by invited guests. Since founding Thomas Preti Caterers, Inc. over 20 years ago, Chef Thomas Preti has orchestrated thousands of events. Local, organic food is becoming part of the menu today. Current wedding trends in food are discussed with Kelven Book of Canard Inc. Recognizable foods with a twist are starting to be prepared to make it more special, surprising and appetizing. Signature cocktails are here to stay. Interactive food at weddings and social events is a winner. Olivier Cheng created a tasting plate of savory and sweet fois gras, a naked salmon station, and a liquid nitrogen station – cool idea! Are people harder to impress today? Does Olivier welcome the creative challenge? Are you thinking of a cocktail reception only? Olivier tells us that food can evolve at a party.
We end the podcast with Roberta Karsch of Resource One Inc., a custom designed table linen rental company. Learn about unusual objects that were used to bring the element of the unexpected to the party.