Let Them Eat Doughnuts!

In many parts of the world, the foods eaten on New Year's Eve and New Years Day have important symbolic meanings.

For financial prosperity the type of food served is usually round to represent coins. Often, the dish will be round beans, like lentils, that will expand when it cooks, symbolizing expanding fortunes.

Many cultures believe anything in the shape of a ring is good luck because it symbolizes "coming full circle" - completing a year's cycle.

Another symbol involves eating sweet food in order to have a sweet year. In some countries people even bake a coin into a sweet cake and the person who gets the coin in his/her slice will have good luck throughout the year.

This New Year’s, why don’t you serve your guests doughnuts with their champagne at midnight and cover all the bases… prosperity, coming full circle, and sweet experiences all year!

Happy New Year!!!

Vivian

Kiss me under the... Kissletoe!?

HERSHEY'S Chocolate Kisses and Mistletoe = Kissletoe!

What better way to make Mistletoe than with Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses?! Make a few and hang them for your celebration, then let guests take them home as favors after the party!

The image above was taken at Hershey’s Holiday Cookie Baking Party on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at Robert Verdi’s Luxe Laboratory here in New York City.

Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate Kissletoe

Materials Needed:
• Three-inch Styrofoam balls
• Wired ribbon
• Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates
• Glue (non-toxic craft glue, glue stick, or confectioners’ glue)

Assembly:
1. Using a pen or pencil, push through each ball to make a hole through the center of the ball (from end to end).

2. Feed the ribbon through the first ball and tie a knot at the bottom.

3. Leave a couple of inches of ribbon above the first ball and tie another knot. Then feed the ribbon through the second ball setting it on the second knot. Finally, leave several inches of ribbon and then tie a bow at the top.

4. Using a hot glue gun, glue Hershey’s Kisses Chocolate on each ball. Once dry, you can hang your Kissletoe by the bow end.


HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates Sweet Menorah

Materials Needed:
• One 9 x 1-inch foam disc
• 2 yards (1 inch wide) blue ribbon
• Two 10-inch silver foil doilies
• Glue (low heat gun, glue stick or confectioners' glue)
• One 4 x 2-inch foam disc
• Aluminum foil
• 10 bamboo skewers
• 2 bags (13 oz each) HERSHEY'S KISSES Chocolates wrapped in silver foil
• 9 (1-inch diameter) silver foil candy cups
• 3 sheets blue construction paper
• 18 HERSHEY KISSES Brand Chocolates, wrapped in red foil

Assembly:
1. To create base of Menorah, cut 9 x 1-inch foam disk in half. Glue blue ribbon along the curved outsized edges of each half disk. Cover the flat side of each half disk by folding one silver doily over each half, lining up the curved edges; secure with glue.

2. Cover 4x2-inch disk with foil; glue blue ribbon around outside edge.

3. To assemble Menorah, place one half disk flat on surface, curved side facing forward. Put 4x2-inch disk, flat side down, in center of half disk. Secure with glue. Place other half disk, curved side down, in center of 4x2-inch disk. Secure with 3 skewers and glue, piercing through all three pieces. (See illustration.) Decorate by gluing chocolates to base.

4. Add candle holders by gluing 9 silver candy cups along the top edge of base.

5. To make candles, cut blue construction paper into 8 pieces (4x4-inch each) and 1piece 5x4-inch for the center candle. Roll each piece into a 3/4-inch diameter cylinder; secure with glue. Cut 5 skewers in half; glue each skewer to inside of candle; insert the excess length of each skewer into each candy cup.

6. Each flame is created with two red foil-wrapped chocolates glued to each other at the flat base. Using 18 chocolates, make 9 flames. Each night of celebration, drop in one chocolate flame to light a candle.

Interested in more ways to make your home sparkle with Hershey holiday crafts? Visit http://www.hersheys.com/holidays/crafts/

“Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days” – B. Franklin

With the holiday season well under way, I thought it might be helpful to point out a few etiquette rules. Given the multiple gatherings and holiday parties taking place over the course of the next few weeks who couldn’t use a refresher on Season’s Greetings Etiquette?

Obviously, respect and courtesy are vital year-round, but they are especially important during this time of year. Click here for Ms. Emily Post's top etiquette tips.

Vivian’s Top 5 Tips for Guests:

1. Gift for the Host(s): Who doesn’t love a surprise gifty?! A small gift is just your way of saying ‘thank you for inviting me’ and showing your host(s) you appreciate them. Following are a few gift ideas:

• Chocolates: Luxury chocolate maker Godiva is recognizing the strapped wallets of shoppers this holiday season. They have a new line of candies called “gems” selling for $10 in Godiva retail locations. In the words of Rachel Ray… YUM-O!

• Magazine Subscription: Through Dec. 12, Amazon is offering yearly subscriptions to the following magazines for only $5! I KNOW!!! Can you believe it? We are talking $.42 an issue people!!!! Magazines include: Cosmopolitan, Country Living, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, Popular Mechanics, Redbook, Seventeen, SmartMoney, Town & Country and Veranda. Buy a subscription to be sent to your host and they'll think of you all year long.

• Wine charms: These are great because they can be used immediately! Check out http://www.wineglasscharms.com/.

• Bottle of Wine: The old standby but for a new twist, attach a personal note to the bottle. Often times so many bottles of wine are brought to parties, the host isn’t able to figure out who brought what. If the bottle doesn’t get opened at the party, with your note - “Happy Holidays! Love, Jennifer” when the host goes to open it, he/she will think of you!

2. Pitch in. Instead of asking how you can help, take the initiative to volunteer to do a specific job like loading the dishwasher. The flip side of this? If you offer to help and the host firmly declines, definitely back off. Don’t be offended, some people have their own ways of cleaning up or really don't want guests in their kitchen.

3. Deflect Rudeness: At family get-togethers, don't let nosy questions upset you. Just changing the topic: "You're right, I was dating someone this time last year, but it didn’t work out… How 'bout those Giants?"

4. Traveling as a guest? The rule of thumb: Three nights is usually plenty. My friend Heather kindly reminded me of the quote by Benjamin Franklin “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days”. Do your hosts a favor and spell out arrival and departure dates/times in advance so they aren't left guessing.

5. Be grateful: Seems obvious I know, but it’s always important to thank the host or personal responsible for the planning and coordinating the event. You can thank them as you are leaving or send a thank-you note (or email) within 48 hours. You probably don’t need to send a letter for the last minute BYOB get together, but it is appropriate to send a note to the host who spent time and energy putting together the party. Do consider sending a thank-you note to top management for the holiday party.

Despite the trend, don’t stress this season. Happy planning and party attending!

Best,
Vivian

If it’s Free, It’s for Me!

Every year, Pottery Barn offers complimentary holiday entertaining and decorating classes - click the following link to find a store location near you so you don't miss out:

Holiday Decorating and Entertaining, co-sponsored by Real Simple.

There are so many beautiful items this year including a NEW Reindeer Table Runner from their signature “Reindeer Collection” which is just adorable.

For the dinnerware, you can choose from two sets of Reindeer names for each piece: (1) Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, or (2) Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. You’ll need both sets if you want all of Santa’s helpers!

I absolutely love these Dreidel Place Card Holders (a set of 4 is $19) and you can create a dramatic centerpiece for your Hanukkah celebration with their polished silver menorah. It’s crafted of cast aluminum and each candle holder is detailed with a design on the top ($59).

As far as REAL SIMPLE goes… I love everything they produce!
I receive their daily email newsletters and I highly recommend: Real Simple: Celebrations. It makes a terrific hostess gift and will ensure you get invited to next year’s soiree.

Happy Planning!!!

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away! If you are hosting friends or family this year, it's definitely time to make a plan and start putting it into motion.

Start by thinking through each aspect of the day - Menu, Shopping, Seating, Timetable, Decorations, and Cleaning. Once you have everything down on paper, you'll have a better idea of how much time it might take you to complete all of these tasks. Make it a goal to increase the joy and gratitude of Thanksgiving while keeping the hair-pulling moments to a minimum.

Following are five tips to help you celebrate a happy, organized, and stress-free holiday:

1: TRAVEL SMART!
Millions of Americans will be hitting the roads (and sky) to travel to and
from their Thanksgiving destinations. Get a leg up on your fellow travelers
by being organized, prepared, and smart.

Traveling by air? Arrive at the airport well before your flight - at least an hour and a half, particularly if you plan to check luggage. If possible, why not save yourself the hassle all together by going the carry-on route! Keeping your bags with you on the plane will save you time checking in and leaving the airport, and will eliminate the risk of lost luggage.

Traveling by car? Check local sources to see if there are any problems with the roads on which you'll be driving. Knowing beforehand about construction, road closures, severe traffic, and other obstacles will allow you to choose an alternate route, or at least to allot more time to reach your
destination.

Traveling by Train? Book a reserved ticket and get to the station early to increase your chances of getting a seat on the train. If your destination is served by a regional or mass transit rail line, consider using it, rather than Amtrak; the ride might not be as luxurious, but it'll be less crowded, and almost certainly less expensive.

2: AVOID LARGE PROJECTS: You know I love tackling large organizing projects, but now isn't the time. Starting a large project these next few weeks, when so much else is happening, increases the chances you won't be able to finish it, which will leave you worse off, and faced with more disorganization. Instead, select a few small tasks which will allow you to comfortably entertain guests without feeling like something is looming over your head. Even simpler, make a list of projects you want to tackle - dealing with your closets, getting files into drawers - and schedule time on your calendar to move forward after the holiday.

3: BE PREPARED: Hosts are faced with a big challenge: cooking a huge meal for several people, with all of the sub-tasks that go along with it! If you're hosting, avoid making Thanksgiving a crazy, busy rush by doing a few small, but important prep tasks earlier in the week.

Having hosted countless holidays over the years, I watched my mom get organized by pulling out all the serving dishes she planned to use a day in advance. She would label each dish or bowl with a note on what it would be used for (i.e. mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, carrots...).

Check out this photo from the late 80's and you'll see her in action! Love you mom!

I also suggest bringing out any table linens you're planning to use to be sure they're clean, ironed, and that you have enough napkins or placemats. Speaking of placemats...

I just have to add a great idea here for the "kids table" - chalkboard place mats! O.R.E. Chalk-a-Doodle place mats (with four pieces of chalk and eraser), $12 each. So cute and will definitely keep the kiddies entertained.

4: ASK - AND OFFER - HELP: If you're hosting put your guests to work! You can ask them to take coats, have them play bartender and get drinks, light candles, or fill water glasses at the table. If guests ask what they can bring, have an answer prepared - whether it's a side dish, a dessert, or wine - make sure it contributes to the menu. If you're the guest at a Thanksgiving meal, offer to pitch in, and take your task out of the kitchen if space is tight so you won't crowd the other things happening in the room.

5: AVOID STORES ON BLACK FRIDAY! I know, I know, Obama would be disappointed I'm not encouraging your supporting our struggling economy, but I strongly advise avoiding malls and big department stores the day after Thanksgiving. It's called "Black Friday" because it was traditionally the day on which retailers finally broke even on their expenses and started to make a profit.

Though many stores advertise big sales, getting the deals you see in the paper or on TV means doing battle with huge crowds, standing in long lines, and quite possibly buying things you neither want nor need simply because they carry discounted price tags.

If you feel you absolutely must take advantage of Black Friday sales, consider spending a limited amount of time online to buy what you're truly interested in via the store's website.

A more pleasant, less stressful, and much less cluttered option, though, is to direct your focus elsewhere all together - why not get outdoors for a post-Thanksgiving hike, to spending time with friends and family, or simply relax and enjoy a day off.

GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE AVAILABLE!

Santora LLC offers custom gift certificates for all event coordination services. Whether it's one of the many event planning packages available, or just a few hours of a la carte services, a custom gift certificate is the perfect gift to help reduce stress, save time, and money!

Any Mad Men fans out there?

I decided to dedicate a blog to Mad Men for couples looking for some inspiration for their aisle style. I must admit, I was a little late to the Mad Men party, but now I’m obsessed!

Perhaps this isn’t breaking news but Donald Draper (John Hamm) is HOT!

Will you just look at him?!

He is the essence of cool, and even when his integrity is off-kilter (i.e. extramarital liaisons), he is STILL hot.

What makes Don so appealing? His impeccable style!

Don Draper is perfectly groomed. His suits are fitted and perfectly pressed; his shirts are crisp; his skinny, 1960’s ties are mod and sleek; he wears cufflinks, shiny shoes and has amazing hair.

As fine a specimen of manhood as Don is (oh, and he is), we must also talk about his gorgeous wife Betty (January Jones).

Housewife and mother Betty Draper is one of the few female characters with enough money to dress in expensive clothes, and I love to watch what she is going to wear next. On the surface, she totally looks like a stepford wife, but there's so much more to her than aprons and feather dusters. Betty's wardrobe is so much fun because it's relentlessly feminine.

Betty is unbelievably classic and everything she wears screams elegance and beauty.

I’m certainly not the first to pay tribute to the amazing vintage fashion in this period drama about an ad agency in New York - it has inspired the collections of runway designers like Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, and Prada as well as mass retailers such as Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Coach.

And it is little wonder. Sterling Cooper - a place where ad-men in sharp three-button suits sip Scotch in the office, chain smoke, and openly ogle their secretaries - has been beautifully retro-styled. It's beautiful to watch.

If you looking to dress your bridesmaids in similar retro-style you can select dresses like this one from http://www.perkuponline.com/

Now for the guys...

The Emmy-winning show's costume director, Janie Bryant, has teamed up with Brooks Brothers to create a “Mad Men” edition suit inspired by Draper and the other well-dressed cads at fictional ad firm Sterling Cooper.

The limited run of suits — only 250 — will be available through the show's season finale on Nov. 8 - so get moving!!!

Brooks Brothers has made this so easy too! They have launched a special website to promote the suits - just click here!

My friend Ed invited me to Washington, DC last Wednesday to join him for lunch with Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY). Although I definitely anticipated the discussion to cover the merits of a public option with regard to health care reform, I didn’t realize we would spend so much time talking about phlegm.

You read correctly… phlegm.

Phlegm, a nagging cough, and our respective battles with a cold that seemed to be ‘going around’ played a significant role in our conversation. It definitely got me thinking…

Staying healthy is obviously important for our nation’s leaders, but it’s important for all of us - especially when preparing for a major event. With all the excitement (a.k.a. nerves) and stress leading up to a wedding day for example, your immune system will definitely be compromised.

Following are some preventative tips to keep illness from ruining the happiest day of your life!

Eat and Drink Well: This is a no-brainer right?!. An impending wedding is sure to mean lots of celebratory eating and food on the go. Don’t let nutrition fly out the window during this important time. Make healthy choices, like opting to drink water instead of soda, and exercising portion control.

Don’t Starve Yourself: If you’re trying to lose weight, make sure you do it in a healthy, gradual way. It’s just not worth it to starve yourself, and any weight lost this way will catch up with you in the long run. Obviously, if you are overweight, a wedding can be a great motivator for getting to a healthy weight but you should talk to your physician or a personal trainer to find out about healthy ways to reach your goal weight.

Eat Chocolate: Are you loving me right now? I am sure by now you’ve heard about the health benefits of dark chocolate – it’s good for blood pressure, zapping of free radicals, and a host of other benefits. But don’t forget that chocolate also stimulates production of feel-good serotonin, a hormone that can help with stress and ease your moods.

Stay Active: Wedding plans have a nasty way of sucking your time and energy, making even couples with a dedication to exercise forget about fitness every now and then. While it’s perfectly fine to cut back for the sake of your sanity, still try to find at least a little time to be active, whether it’s a walk around the block or a quick lunchtime trip to the gym.

Sleep, Sleep, and More Sleep: Give yourself the energy you need to juggle it all by sticking to a regular sleep schedule. Make sure you’re getting adequate rest for you to stay on top of your game. Do your best to avoid any late-night planning. Staying up into the wee hours to plan your wedding is one of the worst things you can do for pre-wedding health. By depriving yourself of sleep, you’re at risk for an impaired ability to heal if a cold does come on and you’ll probably end up crabby in the morning.

Kick the Caffeine: I know, I know… you need that jolt in the morning to get yourself going, but in the long run it will suck your much-needed energy. Get energy from drinking lots of water and eating healthy fruits and vegetables.

See Your Doctor: Do I really need to say it? Well, just in case... In addition to your annual physical, if you’re not already on a multivitamin, ask your doctor to recommend one for you. Also, depending on where you are going on your honeymoon you may need immunizations. Why not get them out of the way as early as possible? This way, any illness or complications resulting from the immunization can be dealt with well before your big day and trip.

Pre-wedding health is not all about losing pounds and spa treatments (although those are definitely fun). Couples need to focus on staying healthy and with smart choices and good habits. Ones that will last you a lifetime :)

A Swine Flu Wedding?!?!?!

A mere 48 hours before their wedding - Illinois residents Ilana Jackson and Jeremy Fierstien tested positive for Swine Flu. In spite of their unfortunate condition, they decided to move forward with their wedding, donning face masks and latex gloves throughout the ceremony and reception. Determined to make the most of a bad situation, they even gave out hand sanitizer as wedding favors!

Samantha's Sex and the City Wedding... Dress!

Rumor has it there may be another Sex and the City wedding in the works!

It appears the perennial single Samantha Jones might actually be getting married. Kim Cattrall has been seen on location while filming Sex and the City 2 in a traditional floor-length wedding dress with a floral neckline and long veil. The star won't give out any details, so loyal fans will just have to wait to find out if her character is actually tying the knot.

Kim Cattrall (Samantha) is wearing a Pnina Tornai wedding gown borrowed from Kleinfeld Bridal

Bobby Bank/Getty Images

I'm A Guest Blogger!?

Hello All -

I was asked to contribute a post to my long-time friend and fellow event planner extraordinaire - Jennifer Schancupp's blog today - check it out here!

Let me know what you think!

Can you do me this FAVOR?

I am all about the details and things that taste delish. Here are some fun and tasty favor ideas for your wedding, bridal, or baby shower. YUM!!!

SWEET STIX:
A new company started by a "friend of friend" offers custom made dessert goodies... you guessed it - on a stick!

Amy's Gourmet Apples:

Right now, Amy's is offering up to 20% on wedding apple varieties including their regular jumbo bride and groom apples as well as their petite varieties.

Below is a snapshot of bride and groom apples from a recent wedding. These beautiful apples were arranged so guests could take them as they departed at the end of the evening.

Cox & Cox:

I just LOVE these little sugar hearts to perch on the edge of a cup of coffee or tea don't you? ADORABLE!!!!

Spring 2010 Color Trends

I conferred with Trend Consultant, Tracey Mammolito (she also happens to be one of my besties – how lucky am I?) on what the color trends will be for next year, specifically Spring 2010.

Following is what we agreed will be Hot! Hot! Hot!

YELLOW
Beginning in Spring 2008, yellow was all over the runways but Tracey believes this trend coincides with the Presidential election and Obama’s campaign message of “HOPE”. I couldn’t agree more, what other color screams optimism than yellow?





GREEN
A reoccurring trend since 2007 has been the “green wedding”. Also related to the political climate (no pun intended) a continued focus of eco-conscious events.

With any event, there are numerous opportunities to make ethical and informed decisions. Consider using organic flowers for centerpieces, recycled paper for invitations, and local/organic foods on the menu. Each decision will make a difference!

If you are a couple concerned about the carbon footprint for your wedding, I encourage you to read Emily Anderson’s Eco-Chic Weddings and/or visit her blog for great ideas to keep your wedding “green” http://www.ecochicweddings.typepad.com/

BLUE
Mammolito says 2010 is more about a lighter, more delicate shade of blue. Tones which emit a sense of calm and serenity. Martha Stewart Weddings just had an AMAZING layout of sea-glass inspired palettes…















PURPLE
Mammolito says "Purple" is an it color for 2010. I say purple, eggplant, plum, and shades of lavender are going to be all over the place. Perfectly paired with silver, cranberry, green or even navy. You cannot go wrong.

I found this image online - photograph by Jerry Yoon - me LOVEY! Those shoes!!!

Where Beauty Meets Buttercream

I don’t know about you, but I love me some cake!

Ice cream cake, chocolate cake, red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, (cake without frosting), I rarely discriminate.

When it comes to cakes for events – weddings, bat/bar mitzvahs, bridal showers etc… my love and appreciation extends way beyond the various combinations or layers of flavor. I admire and respect the vision, skill, and creativity that go in to making such beautiful works of art.

Clearly I’m not alone. The artistry is recognized everywhere these days, just flip through your cable channels and you’ll see “Ace of Cakes”, “Cake Boss”, “Amazing Wedding Cakes” just to name a few.

The cake and its display at any milestone event is a huge part of your overall design - a centerpiece onto itself!

I just learned about this great company called Raise the Cake.

They specialize in creating cake stands to coordinate with your cake and event décor. You can have a stand custom made or choose from one of the many collections. I've included my favorite images here from their website and to see many more visit: www.raisethecake.com

Vivian's Hot List

No, I’m not talking about my top 5 celebrity crushes here (that could be another blog altogether) – I’m talking about what’s hot, the next big thing, things l absolutely love as it relates the world of event planning.

I return energized and moved by so many talented industry professionals I met at the ISES Event World 2009 conference in San Fran just this past week. Thus, my Hot List:

David Merrell, AOO Events
David is truly a guru of all things design. He has produced some amazing events around the world and graciously shares his ideas with other professionals (good karma) in his blog: www.designdawgs.com.

Lighting, Linens, & Chairs

My passion (some say obsession) with the aforementioned was confirmed while speaking with another conference attendee. An event planner herself, she told me about her recent experience planning her own wedding. We both got giddy as we discussed Pintuck Linens, Chiavari Chairs, and simple yet sophisticated lighting options to set the mood for any special event. As my clients will attest, these are the items I encourage them to spend money on – Lighting, Linens, & Chairs.

* Lighting: Whether your vision is classic or contemporary, creative and affordable lighting options can add ambiance to your event and give even a modest centerpiece depth and vibrancy. LED lighting (light emitting diode) is more widely available than ever before and in many forms and colors. In many cases brides and event designers are opting to replace traditional candles with equally affordable eco-friendly LED or combining LED with traditional or soy candles.

* Linens: You spend considerable time thinking about the message you want to send with your special event right? Why not take it to the next level and use the right linens to make your unique style come to life? Linens, napkins, aisle and table runners come in the most amazing patterns these days and using a mixture of textures, colors and patterns anything is possible!

* Chairs: If there is one element that can make or break your decor aesthetic, it is the chairs you choose. A beautifully dressed table gets lost if it is surrounded by ten ugly chairs sticking out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, there are a variety of seating options and solutions available on the rental market.

KEP Designs
We event professionals often talk about what and where we find inspiration. In addition to special event and wedding magazines, I definitely obtain ideas and motivation from mainstream lifestyle and fashion mags.

Once upon a time not so long ago… a beautiful gold enamel and “creamsicle” necklace caught my eye. Immediately I ripped the page from the magazine and posted it on my vision board. I treated myself a few months later and receive compliments every time I wear it.

What can I say? Me lovey! I’m a huge fan of the “Flower Collection”. They make perfect gifts for any bridesmaid (or bride!)

ISES Event World 2009!

I'm leaving today for the ISES Event World 2009 Conference in San Fran.

You will definitelty be hearing from me over the course of the next few days as I continue to learn from my fellow event professionals...

Networking, industry trends, and budgets... Oh My!

When Life (or your special event) Get’s Derailed…

I rode the LIRR out to visit my ailing Aunt V (my namesake) yesterday when the first train I was on graciously waited (a.k.a. was held up) at Jamaica Station for another train coming in from Brooklyn for its connection. My connecting train at Huntington Station however, was not as kind. Instead, my fellow passengers and I heading to further points East were offered a yellow school bus - sans air condition or bathroom.

Needless to say, yours truly was not a happy camper.

As I sat on the bus annoyed and disgruntled, I reminded myself not to “sweat the small stuff” (literally and figuratively). It reminded me that even the simplest plan can go awry due to circumstances beyond our control. The same is true for any special event.

Following are some quick tips for those of you planning a wedding or special event.

* Anticipate Challenges: Part of successful party/event planning is thinking of solutions to problems before they happen. Write everything down that could possibly go wrong, from the likely to the outlandish. Brainstorm solutions for each problem.

* Manage Your Expectations: Be mindful of what can you control vs. what you can’t. You may be the VP of Operations responsible for planning a corporate picnic, but sorry, Mother Nature doesn’t give a hoot. It just may rain. If it does, do you have a back-up plan which includes a tent? Are you ready with ponchos or umbrellas?

* Trust Your Vendors and Be Flexible: You’ve done your research and hired a team of experts to create the wedding of your dreams. So trust their experience! If what you want are fluffy peonies in your bouquet but you can’t have them for one reason or another, trust your florist to come up with other possibilities. A good vendor will work with you to come up with an alternative you’re happy with.

* Hire a Professional: Lost keys, late deliveries, or wrong rentals might happen. If you hire an event planner, chances are you’ll never know about such issues because he/she has taken care of it.

The Bottom Line?

Don’t sweat the small stuff the day of your event or in life! It has been my experience that events I’ve managed down to the smallest detail, still take on a life of their own and you know what? It’s totally ok!

So, if a minor mishap still happens let’s say on your wedding day, just remember to breathe or laugh! Don’t lose your cool or your sense of humor (that’s why your beloved was attracted to you in the first place right?!).

One Tradition You Can Toss!

This photo is absolutely hysterical for a multitude of reasons, but mainly because at thirty-ahem-something, I have been a bridesmaid nearly 10 times where I managed to catch the bouquet a total of 0 times.

Yes, you read correctly - Zero, Zip, Zilch, Nada - the Big Goose-Egg. I'm fairly certain on a few occasions it was just me and a handful of adorable flower girls in the middle of the dance floor. But I digress...

As a planner, I find many brides are weary of keeping with tradition and having the bouquet toss and rightfully so. Many want to drop this custom for several reasons. Couples are getting married later in life and brides don't want to make their single guests feel unnecessarily awkward. Others dislike the implication they are chomping at the bit to settle down.

I say - let it go!

I often suggest my brides just hand the bouquet to a guest who is already engaged or give individual flowers to several guests. Some brides like to give the bouquet to the longest-married couple in the room, as a bit of reverse karma. That I like.

I did have the honor of "drinking the wine" at the close of my friend Becca's wedding a few years ago. After the sheva brachot was recited at the end of the reception, there was a blessing over wine. Two cups of wine were poured into a third cup; some of the wine from the third cup was then poured back into each of the first two cups. One cup was then given to Becca (the bride) and the other to Jon (the groom). Jon selected an unmarried man to drink from his glass and Becca selected me to drink from her glass (YAY!). This was seen as a "charm" to help bring unmarried people luck in getting married.

Meaningful and dignified. Thanks Bec ;)

Shane Snider's Love Letter to NYC

Hey all!

Check out Photographer Shane Snider's Blog!

He highlights the most recent wedding I coordinated for Shoshana and Neal on June 28, 2009.

Tell me what you think!

Welcome to the Santora LLC Effortless Event Planning Blog!

I enjoy planning all types of special events – lavish or intimate. Whether it’s a fundraising gala, baby shower, or corporate meeting - you name it, I’m interested in every detail! That said, I really LOVE weddings.

Amidst all of the fuss and flurry involved in the coordination, at its core, a wedding is still the uniting of two people who love each other, and have chosen to publicly pledge their commitment. I definitely thrive on the creativity involved, but the best part is that I get to play a role in creating a once in a lifetime moment and my clients have chosen ME to share in these moments with them.

For those of you who know me well, creating this blog is an exciting (and somewhat terrifying) technological venture. I will use this blog to share what my profession - and life - is all about. Being an event planner requires creativity, a love for people, impeccable attention to detail, serious organization, the ability to listen and sometimes even act as a personal therapist!

In these missives, I'll keep you posted on latest trends, provide cost-saving tips, host interviews with fabulous folks in the industry and basically offer you a front row seat to my personal experiences - in event planning and my life in general.

Please feel free to provide feedback and leave comments (particulalry if you're going to say something flattering). And just like any special event, this blog will likely take on a life of it's own.

So, bookmark this blog, email a friend, and let's make this happen!