Do you love this monogram? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
Wedding Monogram : 8
Do you love this monogram? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
TOTW : Special Events At Home
For the past three months, Lauren Daversa Events has been writing a series on hosting special events at home. TOTW has covered: the logistical issues associated with parking; the importance of understanding household capacity; the not so pretty topic of restrooms and cleaning; rental needs; and finally, last but certainly not least, issues associated with electricity.As we've established in this series, turning the fantasy of a special event or an outdoor wedding at home into a reality requires many-a-things, each of which are significant. But the event would be lost with out one element in particular: electricity. Everyone involved in the wedding, or event, needs it. If the caterer is not working exclusively in your kitchen, then they've brought their own equipment and it all needs power. The band or DJ need to be heard, power. The beautiful lighting in the tent and around the property, power. AC or heating units, power! And of course your house will be lit up and cooled or heated...power! Everything needs power. The questions is...can your house supply enough of it?
First, determine how many outlets are available on your property. Then make sure they are located where the vendors will be setting up. Next, have an open discussion with your event planner about whether or not your house has a sufficient amount of power to go around to the vendors. If you don't have a planner, discuss this with your vendors.
Typically, most homes can not accommodate the amount of power necessary to light up a tent, provide power to the band / DJ, provide power to the caterer and their portable kitchen AND the house itself where the event is being hosted. If you don't have enough juice, and believe me, you don't want to risk blowing a fuse or even worse, a power outage...you will have to bring in a generator! NOTE, if you bring in a generator, make sure to keep it far enough away from the party so guests don't hear it buzzing all evening.
You might also have to purchase, or rent, extension cords. NOTE, if you have extension cords running all over your property, cover them up! For one, they are an eye sore. But also because they are dangerous. So, if you're saying to yourself, "Oh, I don't need to cover up the cords, they don't look that bad," think about it this way: guests or vendors can trip on them. Think, Extension Cords + Trip = Liability!!!
In the end, hosting any event at your home is a fantastic idea. All of the situations covered in the series might not apply to your event, however. Each area discussed is critical to cover in order to make sure your event is flawless. Remember, hosting any special event is all about being prepared. Hosting a special event at home means you have to go above and beyond to ensure your event is a success. Check back next week for another TOTW.
Photo courtesy of North GA Party Rental
For The Menu : Tomato, Watermelon & Basil Skewers
If you are a frequent reader of my blog then my love of The Food Network will come as no surprise. And let it be known that this is not a new love affair; this romance has been going on for decades! Well, I was rumaging through my favorite recipes stored in my Food Network recipe box and I stumbled across an oldie but a goodie: tomato, watermelon and basil skewers. Everyone should have this in their recipe arsenal and whip it out for the unexpected party.
Ingredients
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 (4 to 5 pound) watermelon, cut into 32 (1 1/2-inch cubes
32 small basil leaves (or torn larger leaves)
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Special equipment: 16 (6-inch) skewers
Directions
Combine the balsamic vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
Starting with the watermelon squares, push the watermelon to the very tip of the skewer. Then skewer a basil leaf, then a tomato half. Continue with another watermelon, basil leaf, and tomato half. Place the skewer on a serving platter so it stands upright, using the lowest watermelon square as a base. Continue with the remaining skewers.
Drizzle the skewers with the reserved balsamic syrup and the olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt and serve!
Ingredients
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 (4 to 5 pound) watermelon, cut into 32 (1 1/2-inch cubes
32 small basil leaves (or torn larger leaves)
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Special equipment: 16 (6-inch) skewers
Directions
Combine the balsamic vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
Starting with the watermelon squares, push the watermelon to the very tip of the skewer. Then skewer a basil leaf, then a tomato half. Continue with another watermelon, basil leaf, and tomato half. Place the skewer on a serving platter so it stands upright, using the lowest watermelon square as a base. Continue with the remaining skewers.
Drizzle the skewers with the reserved balsamic syrup and the olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt and serve!
L | D Finds: Meggie White's Aqua Ring
Moxsie featured this adorable faceted dyed green jade ring with a 12kt gold fill wrapped band, which I love! Moxsie says it's the perfect summer ring, bright and chunky, and will compliment any summer dress. But I think this ring transcends summer! Maybe because I live in Florida or maybe because I have the eye for fetching jewelry. Either way, this would be the perfect piece to wear to this weekends dinner party, or the next night out on the town. Throw on your Goldsigns and your favorite Tracy Reese and you are set.
Visit Meggie White for more handmade jewelry perfect for your next special event.
L | D Finds : Bridal Toolbox
I have previously posted about this website because I love their daily wedding tips for the bride and groom to help make the wedding day a little less stressful. Check them out every day as they display a new tip at random from their collection. Here is what was posted today:Older children who want to be involved could be given ceremonial jobs like candle-lighting or handing out order-of-service sheets.
Wedding Monogram : 7
Do you love this monogram? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
Corporate Event Tips : Budget and Venue
The focus on this blog tends to fall on weddings and social events, however. Lauren Daversa Events is a full service event planning company and this includes corporate events. A company might enlist an independent planner to organize any number of their functions, including: business meetings, cocktail parties, conferences, client appreciation parties, grand openings, holiday functions, luncheons and dinners, product launches, seminars, team-building events or trade shows.Planning a corporate event is similar to - but not exactly the same as - planning social events and weddings. Many components are the same, including the planners objective, which is to execute the project for the company while at the same time maintain a practical focus and keep the company on a realistic path to their goal. If I had to pick two significant areas that will ensure a successful corporate event, I'd pick budget and venue.
Everyone wants their event to be as nice and as non cookie-cutter as possible for what their budget can afford. A corporate planner will be able to create a realistic budget for any event. The key work here is re-al-is-tic. If the budget is $25 a head, guess what: the client should not expect a steak and lobster luncheon at an oceanside venue with fire breathing magicians and an artist painting custom mehndi designs for their employee appreciation party. Be realistic, listen to your planner's suggestions and accept the budget.
Once the budget is set, it's time to move onto securing the venue. Again, many companies make the mistake of having to host their event at a Ritz Carleton or Four Seasons. There is nothing wrong with a 250 person dinner at any Ritz Carleton or Four Seasons, unless you are working with a restricted budget. Let's put it this way...for a luncheon at a hotel such as the Ritz or the Four Seasons, plan on spending $40 per head, plus service charge and tax for a salad. Then add on valet, room fee, AV charges...yada-yada-yada. Again, listen to the planner who is educated in their regional venues. They will get you the best deal at the appropriate place for your event, or otherwise, the most bang for your buck.
There are a lot of companies looking to take advantage of today's economic situation. Don't be fooled by the sound of something that is too good to be true. If you are a company who has hired a planner because they have promised you the world on a silver platter, be wary. Numbers don't lie, and in the end you will either pay more or being greatly disappointed with the event. Likewise, if you are a planner hired by a demanding company with unrealistic expectations, be wary. You will either be running around like a nut trying to accomplish the unattainable, or potentially tarnishing your reputation.
Photo courtesy of Corporate Events Barcelona
Birthday Invitation : 1
Do you love this invitation? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding, birthday or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
Wedding Monogram : 6
Do you love this monogram? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
TOTW : Special Events At Home
For over two months, Lauren Daversa Events has been examining the different elements that go into throwing an event at a private house. This five part TOTW series has covered the logistical issues associated with parking; the importance of understanding household capacity; the not so pretty topic of restrooms and cleaning; and now the series has reached the fourth and most critical segment: rental needs.
Undoubtedly, rentals can be almost as expensive, in some cases more expensive than the food and beverage for an event. Depending on the type of event being planned, rental needs can include, but certainly are not limited to:
Undoubtedly, rentals can be almost as expensive, in some cases more expensive than the food and beverage for an event. Depending on the type of event being planned, rental needs can include, but certainly are not limited to:
- Tables
- Chairs
- Tents
- Draping
- Lighting
- Flooring
- Dance Floor
- Heaters/Air Conditioners
- Tableware
- Linens/Chair Covers
- Bathrooms
- Decorations
- Staging
Pretty overwhelming, right? When you determine exactly what you need to make the event work, all of a sudden the perfect at-home wedding looks like a money pit. Securing rentals is one area where an inexperienced renter can be taken advantage of by the time the deposit is put down. This is also an area where having an experienced wedding planner really helps.
First, an event planner is educated in the cost of rental items, the labor involved to set them up and break them down, they know which companies are professional with good, well maintained products and which companies are just bad news! An event planner will also get a better price than the average customer. They work with these companies on a regular basis, they are not a one time shopper. Therefore, the rental company offers them discounted prices.
Don't beat yourself up if you're not working with an event planner. Have the rental company to the site of the event for a site inspection and ask LOTS OF QUESTIONS. Don't be intimidated. Ask them why they are proposing the specific tent size and have them mark the space off on your lawn. Get their input on unexpected weather because - note to self - unexpected weather changes everything. Will the tent withstand wind and rain? How about the land? Is the land level where you want to put the tent? Or, might you need flooring? And those gold chivari chairs you broke the bank for, they certainly cannot get wet. If it rains, will the lawn become a mud pool? How about an unexpected heat wave, or cold front. Do they have heaters, air conditioners or fans? Ask them what they suggest for a Plan B. Then do your homework and research what they are proposing.
When you receive their quote, go through it, line by line. Ask what their less expensive options are. You might not need the highest price china. Make sure you are getting what you need and want and that they are not burning a hole through your pocket. And always make sure you have everything agreed upon in writing. When you know what you need...check with your other vendors. The caterer will definitely be able to supply a lot of your rental needs.
Yes, you'll need to rent everything: tables, chairs, china, dinnerware, napkins, linens, settings, barware, portable restrooms, a tent, lighting, draping, flooring. It's enough to make your head spin. However, take it step by step. Determine what you need, who has it and how much. Go with reputable companies, read the contract and you're all set! Remember, hosting any special event is all about being prepared. Hosting a special event at home means you have to go above and beyond to ensure your event is a success.
This is a five part posting. Check back next week for the final post on Electrical Capacity.
Photo courtesy of Top Hat Party Design
DIY : Party Favor Label
I get a lot of requests from people to send them a design to print themselves. Above is a recent design I sent for Jess, a sweet girl from New Jersey planning her Sweet 16!!! Her birthday happens to fall on Halloween and she chose pink, orange and black as her colors. Jess wanted a custom label for her favors, homemade sugar cookies she is baking with her grandmother. This is such an easy project, complete in three simple steps.
- Bake something
- Put it in a zip lock bag
- Fold and attach the label to the top of the bag
Do you love this label? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact
design@laurendaversa.com.
L | D Finds : Preggatinis
I am constantly reading about new cocktails hoping to find something inspirational and fresh to serve at weddings and special events. Of course I was incredibly happy to find Natalie Bovis-Nelsen's fantastic book, Preggatinis! That's right, a book filled with creative, non-alcoholic cocktails designed for moms-to-be! These recipes don't have to be just for the future moms...use them for children and non-drinkers!
Wedding Invitation : 6
for Whitney and Benjamin's Naples wedding!
Do you love this invitation? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
Wedding Invitation : 5
for Julissa and James's Connecticut wedding!
Do you love this invitation? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in either design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
For The Bride : Do Not Forget A Dress Hanger
Let me paint a picture...Bride Bella has spent months searching for the perfect wedding gown, trying on wedding gowns, dreaming about wedding gowns, rationalizing how to pay for her dream wedding gown. Then, on that special day, she found it. It's beautiful and expensive but who cares, this is her wedding, her once in a lifetime, special day!
Fast forward nine months to Bride Bella's wedding day. She's gotten her nails done, her make-up done, her hair done. She is the perfect shade of a light, golden bronze without being orange. The photographer is in her hotel suite snapping pictures of all the details while she sips on champagne with her bridesmaids. Everything is amazing. But there is a small detail that was missed. Bride Bella's dress hanging on a plastic hanger. When Bride Bella reviews her wedding photos, she's going to be pissed.
Don't count on the photographer saying, "Hey, Bride Bella, the hanger your dress is on sucks. Do you happen to have a dress hanger any where?" If your working with a wedding planner, he or she should think of this (I know I would). But if you're organizing your wedding alone, there might not be anyone to bring this detail to your attention.
I know this may seem like a small detail but it counts. Besides, everything is in the details! Trust me, no bride wants to forever see her beautiful wedding gown hanging on a plastic hanger!! So, if your wedding dress does not come with a wooden or fabric hanger...ask for one from the boutique. Or if you have to, go out and by one.
Happy Planning!
Photo of dress on wooden hanger courtesy of Orange Girl Photographs
Photo of dress on plastic hanger courtesy of David Purslow
Wedding Invitation : 4
Do you love this invitation? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
Wedding Invitations : 3
Allison and Palmer's destination wedding!
Do you love this invitation? Well, it can be yours! If you are interested in this design, or if you would like a custom creation for your wedding or special event, please contact design@laurendaversa.com.
TOTW : Tables
Banquet tables make more efficient use of space versus round tables. If you are using round tables, create visual interest and variety by using a mix of different sized tables.
Photo courtesy of Blooms By Martha Andrews
By the way, check out Martha's blog. It's overflowing with inspiration!
Signature Drink Club : Butternut & Falernum
Living in South Florida, I no longer experience the change of seasons I grew up with in New England. It's funny, I used to wonder why people would actually make a pilgrimage to view the leaves changing color. Now I understand. With this theme in mind, I am going to pay homage to the welcoming of the new season by highlighting a drink I've read a lot about but have yet to taste. The Butternut & Falernum at Tailor, located in my hometown - the one and only NYC, is all the rage. The drink combines rum, brown butter, juiced and reduced butternut squash, and falernum—a cane-sugar-based liqueur and has hints of almond, clove and lime. WOW! But the directions do not end here. Next, the mixture is shaken with ice and sprinkled with nutmeg. This drink would be amazing as a signature cocktail for a fall dinner party. It is different, seasonal and based on all the praise in the press and the patrons of Tailor, it is delicious.
Ingredients
• 2 oz. Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum
• 3/4 oz. John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum Liqueur
• Grated fresh nutmeg to garnish
• 2 oz. Butternut Squash Jus from an 8lb butternut squash
• 5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons brown butter
Instructions
• Make approximately 16 oz. of butternut squash jus by juicing the squash.
• Simmer juice to reduce by one third, add 5 tablespoons of brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Add 5 tablespoons of brown butter to the juice and refrigerate overnight.
• Pass through a sieve to remove the butter solids.
• Into a cocktail mixer pour 2 oz. of butternut squash and add the remaining ingredients except nutmeg.
• Shake and strain into a double rocks glass 3/4 filled with fresh ice cubes.
• Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
Receipe courtesy of New York Magazine
Photo courtesy of Jeff Gurwin