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Hello Everyone!

It’s that time again for our annual fundraiser for The Wright House Wellness Center known as CulinART produced by ISES Austin.  This year our award winning event will be held at Hyatt Regency Austin downtown on Thursday, March 11th from 6pm to 11pm.  Please click on the link below to learn the details and even see a video of last year’s stunning event!

CulinART 2010 Press Release

There are still tickets available but advance registration closes on Monday, 3/8 so get ‘em quick! 

Here are the Chairs of this year’s awesome planning committee and I would like to send out a heart-felt thank you to all of them and their committee volunteers.

Event Co-Chairs:                                                                                                                                                     Bryan Azar, ILIOS Lighting/Michelle Bromley, Allison’s Events

Food & Beverage Chair - Vanessa Tobias, The County Line and Cannoli Joe’s  

Decor Chair - Diane Lyerly, Premiere Party Central 

Sponsorship Chair - Damon Holditch, CSEP, Marquee Event Group

Auction Chair - Heather Carroll, 6ixth Sense Events

Marketing & Communications Chair - Amy Thompson, Angel Springs Event Center 

Registration Chair - Stacey Hoyt, Stacey Hoyt Events

Entertainment Chair - Lera Derrick, LED Events

Documentation Chair - Ron Parks, Ron Parks Photography

Volunteer Coordinator - Dondra Gayle Wilson

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. 

Open House:      The Ranch House at Teravista

Date:                    TUESDAY, June 30^th

Time:                    6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.

Address:             4307 Teravista Club Drive

 Contact Phone:     (512) 633-7632 

This new venue is unique and full of hill country charm! Be among the first in the Austin area to utilize this enchanting location for your wedding ceremony and reception or rehearsal dinner. Come check out the panoramic view from our back porch while enjoying complimentary beer and wine.

 Grooms!  Receive a free round of golf (Mon-Thurs) for attending. 

Brides!   Any bride attending the event who books their wedding with us by August 31, 2009 can choose to receive $250 off the facility rental fee, a free champagne toast for up to 100 guests OR a round of golf for 4. 

Please RSVP to Michelle Bromley at michelle@allisonsevents.com                 

Vendors Attending Include:
Allison Events – Raffle prize: 50% off your wedding planning package of choice.  Value $750-$2500
Gino’s Italian Restaurant
Fantasy Cakes
Bella Bloom
Classical Guitar by Emin Navarro
Make Up by Amanda
Eric Hegwer Photograhpy
The Moving Images CompanyCen-Tex Party RentalSilver & Stone Realty Executives

Bridal Open House at Austin’s Trendy Design Center of Austin

The journey toward any celebration can be overwhelming by the huge number of planning and design decisions that must be made.  Then, once the design concept has been chosen you have the task of pulling everything together to make it work.  There are some basic rules that I want to share with you.  They will help you with making these decisions.

1. Don’t worry about “Trendy” The most successful events focus on basic classic details not the latest fad.  Classic is always beautiful.

2. Simple details are not the same as cheap details.  Simple does not need to be minimal.  You can make a simple design by limiting the types of materials but giving an abundant effect by repeating the design many times.

3. Focus on the event environment and design the elements of the event to suit the setting.  Your design for a garden party will need to fit the garden concept while a roof top terrace will lend itself to an entirely different design vision.

4. Design your event to make your guests comfortable.  Never sacrifice the comfort of your friends and family just to highlight a design element. 

5. Limit your design elements to three choices.

6. Know what is important to you when designing your event, then stick to your priorities.  If your priority is fun and dancing then put your efforts towards finding the best dance floor and band you can afford

7.  Worry about providing a gracious, comfortable event rather than making a huge impression and you’ll find the results worth the effort.

8.  Your guests will never notice that you used five flowers in your arrangement instead of three.  What they will always notice is if you skimp on service.  This is part of making the event comfortable.  If your guests are well taken care of they will have a great time

In the past 30 years I have helped hundreds of brides and corporate clients plan and design the decor for their events.  During this time I have been the lucky Event Planner that gets to participate in the celebrations of some of life’s greatest milestones.  Weddings, Birthdays, Memorial Services, Anniversaries, Corporate Galas, or a party to honor a special achievement, each and every one a special occasion and a cause for celebration.  Staging and decoration these events is an art form.  In essence, you don’t plan a party as much as you design it with the venue as your stage.  This room becomes the canvas on which you will apply your ideas and vision.   Experience has taught me to trust my instincts, to conceptualize, then design the event.  Start with a color palette, choose the room layout, select the size tables or cocktail furnishings, choose the linens, flowers and design elements.  Compliment everything with the most overlooked element, lighting.  Then when you select the menu it will be the last element that ties the decor together.  Choose the caterer carefully and make sure that the one you select is not only wonderful with the food but also comfortable with tablescapes that compliment the menu and pull everything together for a spectacular event design that will inspire all that attend.

Whimsical….Opulent…Romantic?  Choose your style and then let your imagination run wild.  Give your event planner many ideas and options and allow them to create a design that reflect your personality to its fullest.  Your inspiration might come from a sparkling waterfall, a simple red fall leaf or the elaborate water fountain outside your favorite building, perhaps you saw a cascade of orchids with bold colors in a fabulous vase with a different shape, whatever your inspiration, strive to create a tablescape that sets the tone for the entire event with a single glance.  Start with the simple shape of the tables and add lush linens, several layers of color and fabric texture are very much in vogue right now.  Find linens with rich trim and unexpected color combinations to add interest and an element of surprise.   If the room is large and opulent then use arrangements that sore above the table.  For a room that has low ceilings try using long and low arrangements.  When given a choice use seating options that add variety and interest such as benches, ottomans or a combination of chairs and couches.  Shake it up and add throw pillows in bright complimentary colors. Floral arrangements don’t need to be made of only flowers.  Add colored jewels on sticks, colorful summer fruits and vegetables or add herbs and other natural materials. Look for elements that will differentiate your event from all other and remember that everything does not necessarily need to match.  Mix up the china, glassware and silverware for an eclectic affair, just keep it simple to keep from becoming too busy.

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.

I love lots of color for weddings but my job is to provide what my clients want and many times that is white for the wedding.  White is, after all, the classic wedding color choice.  Both Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana carried cascades of elegant white flowers in their weddings.  So why not you?  Snowy white arrangements represent new beginnings, inspiring romance and fresh promises.  Gardenias, orchids, roses, lilies, freesia, clematis and stephanotis will accent any wedding gown to perfection.   Peonies and white hydrangeas can be equally romantic and will prove that when it comes to wedding flowers, white is right.

Flowers are mandatory for any special event or wedding.  Throughout history flowers have stimulated us, enhanced and improved our lives.  They grace all our important festivals, ceremonies and are a token of comfort and compassion on sad occasions.  They infuse color, texture, add jazz to details and bring life into any entertainment setting or wedding decor.  But with so many choices how do you deside what varieties to choose from?  I recomend that you choose the color first, then pick your flowers, then set your budget.  No matter what the budget is you will get a big bang for your buck when you select roses.  They come in a large range of colors and are a great base for all entertainment decor. These little jewels offer the biggest selection for the smallest cost, just avoid them around Valentines Day when their prices skyrocket.   Another favorite of mine is the Hydrangea with its big, bushey shape, if you are looking for the color blue, its the best bet for a lush centerpiece or bouquet.  The carnation is amoung one of the most popular flowers in the world but they often receive less than favorable press.  They are often maligned because they are so inexpensive and unfashionable.  I don’t like floral snobbery and I love these blooms because of their wide color selection and they are one of the most long lasting flowers you can buy.  No matter what flowers are chosen they will add so much to any event they are well worth the cost.