parties2weddings.com

We are now offering our workshop “Planning Like A Pro” one-on-one!  

Because we will be doing single sessions, the catered lunch or dinner will not be offered so take $25 off the fee making the cost a VERY affordable $275.  The valuable piles of information and documentation that you will receive is what we usually save for our “Day-of” and Classic Package clients who pay anywhere from $1,200 to $3,000.  The coupons and discounts that you will receive from our Preferred Vendors will total more than the cost of the class.  Take it from Nancy and I who have been in the industry for a combined total of 43 years, it is better to be prepared from the beginning for all of the little details that will encompass you and your life during the planning process.

 Click here for details: Workshop Flyer 

 Just call Michelle at (512) 267-4544 to schedule a session that works for both calendars. 

Happy New Year!! And Congratulations! You just got engaged and now its time to start creating the ideal wedding.  One that’s fun, beautiful and one that is uniquely you.  As you begin this exciting journey to get you and your fiance down the aisle your wedding planner will be your guide to make sense of the ideas and inspirations you’ve collected.  You will have a million little details and decisions to make before this adventure comes to a close.  The more photographs and notes you can provide to your wedding planner the more able they will be to provide you with expert advice and design ideas that fit your event.  You will be faced with decisions you probably haven’t even thought of or anticipated yet.  Many of these decisions may even come as a surprise to you.  Details from the shoes you plan to wear, the icing on your cake, the size of the cake, do you want a grooms cake, the wedding jewelry, the wedding gown, bridesmaid dresses, flower girl attire, flowers, the ceremony, the reception, the sign-in book, the guest list, the weight of the invitation.  The list goes on and on!  Today’s most sought after wedding planners know where to find answers, know where to find inspirations and know who the vendors are that you need to turn to to create your dream event.  Most importantly, they know how to make the right decisions and that will make your wedding day a dream come true.

After you have selected your wedding planner the most important detail after you become engaged will be shopping for the most beautiful wedding jewelry you can afford.  Once the excitement of the big day is long past the wedding jewelry will be a daily reminder of the fleeting moment when you said “I DO”.   Set your wedding jewelry budget and then stay within your comfort zone and personal fashion style, remember you will both wear this treasure for many years to come,  day in and day out.  Choose a Jewelry Company that you are familiar with and that you trust.  Today there are some of the finest jewelry company’s available on line and with fantastic websites.  When you take advantage of these sites you have the advantage of more choices and designer selections at better prices, some are even duty free and most offer free shipping and hassle free 30 day return policies.  Check out Diamonds International, Blue Nile, Bright Diamond, Ice.com, Sea of Diamonds and Diamond.com just to name a few.  Happy Shopping!!

When I owned my catering company, one of the most requested appetizer items was my fresh Corn Relish Dip.  Even now when I’m given the opportunity to design the menu as an event planner, I use this recipe when it fits the celebration style.  Most of the time I served it with Tortilla Chips, but its just as good with sliced French Bread and crackers or fresh raw vegetables.  This is the prefect recipe for any party.  Make sure you use only the freshest ingredients because that will effect the final outcome. 

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Wow, I had a great response from my readers about appetizers from my post yesterday.  One of my comments was a question: As a party planner what menu item would you recommend if you needed to serve lamb to a special guest?  My answer to that is that there are many, many lamb recipes that are wonderful but my favorite one is Skewered Lamb with Red Onion Cilantro Salsa.  This is a summery tapas dish that ideal for any occasion but especially good for an outdoor event.  These skewers are grilled but if you don’t have access to a grill then they can be broiled instead.  The accompanying salsa is simple but full of robust flavor to compliment the Lamb.  This is an easy appetizer that will be a huge hit with any guest.

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I love appetizers.  Appetizers by their very definition mean small portions.  I love their little size, shapes and variety and more than anything I love the ease of picking one up and popping it into my mouth.  Hors d’Oeuvres can be as simple as bean dip with tortilla chips or a grilled bite of chicken breast with peanut sauce or as elaborate as Butter Marinated Main Lobster Brochettes.  When planning appetizers for your special event or wedding menu choose hors d’Oeuvres that are well-suited to the theme and style of your party.  Guacamole is a natural choice for a Tex-Mex party, Stuffed Clams or Jambalaya Crostinis would be perfect for a festive New Orleans theme , while Citrus Infused Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes work well for a Seafood Cookout.   Your choice of appetizers should set the tone for the occasion.  Select recipes that are appropriate to your guests tastes and that work well in combination to one another, both in terms of flavor, texture and appearance as well as demands on your time in preparation.  When planning your event menu plan for a variety and you can rest assured that your guests will enjoy each and every morsel.  The possibilities are endless.

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This is the time of year that everyone entertains whether its for family, friends, your company party or a special holiday affair.  One of the most important details will be the setting of your tables.  You can add glitz and glamor, casual elegance or holiday flair just by the pieces you select.  Mix and match formal stemware with fine china and stoneware.  Add unexpected bursts of eclectic color where its least expected.  Use items that are unusual, such as a round mirror as a plate charger, or a romantic floral bloom tucked into your napkin fold.   Inspiration can be found everywhere- maybe an Italian still life painting, a beautiful piece of fabric, to the simplicity of nature.  No matter where you find your inspiration or what your personal taste may be, a well designed table will electrify your event  setting the mood and tone.   Be creative and have fun!  Don’t forget the beauty of flowers for your table to help set the mood.

Anyone out there with a female on their holiday gift list can rest assured that jewelry always works.  Rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants or braceletts are all appreciated and will be a welcome gift that will be cherished for years to come.  If you are unsure of what type of gemstone to choose take into consideration the skin tone and hair color of the person you are shopping for.  As a rule of thumb when you are at a loss at where to start try using these suggestions: Blond hair works particulary well with blue gemstones.  Red heads look stunning in Green Gemstones.  Warm colors like yellow gold, pearls and earth tone gemstones and sparkling gems like diamonds work especially well with darker color skin and hair.  white gold, sterling silver and platinum work well with lighter, fair skin tones as does pink gemstones, red and purple gemstones.  These are rules that are ment to be broken so  follow your heart when choosing jewelry and remember a woman can never have too many pieces in her jewelry wardrobe.

The Holiday Season is moving right along.  I’m really not prepared, are you?  I made myself decorate the Christmas Tree yesterday and I so relieved that I got that chore out of the way.  It really shouldn’t be such an effort but I think with all the media hype out there about the joyful season and all that jazz, it puts us all under pressure.  I’m trying to keep my head screwed on straight, keep all my parties, clients and family taken care of and still be in the holiday mood.  Its tough, isn’t it! I just placed my order for our traditional yule log and I feel better about that at least.  My next project will be to create an appetizer menu and get all of those tasty treats ready and handy in my freezer for those unplanned guests that drop by this time of year.  I love being able to bake, serve and impress with handy appetizers.  I always want to have a supply of Pino Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc on hand as well, nothing says welcome as much as good food and good drink.   Pour yourself a couple of glasses and you’ll survive the holidays in good shape!