Get Carded

I just love these Kate Spade place cards from Crane.com: Break the ice for your dinner guests as they take their seats at the table. These place cards tie the elegant tradition of pre-arranged seating with a tongue-in-cheek humor to get them talking. Or, use it as an excuse to play matchmaker by placing the "please chat with the person next to you" card in front of the evening's best catch. Set includes three each of four place card designs ("playing footsie is encouraged", "please have a second helping", "please chat with the person next to you," and "save room for dessert" ) in crane’s kid finish fluorescent white.

Happy Easter

Inspiration for your Easter table. I love the robin's egg blue with accents of petal pink, white and spring green. The smart mixture of patterns (gingham, strips, solids) and texture (glass, porcelain, linen) ensure a luxurious look.

All images from Carolyne Roehm.

A fabulous Easter Feast from Rachael Ray:

French Onion Crostini - Sugar Snap Peas with Frizzled Mushrooms - Rosemary-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Roasted Fennel and Red Onion - Lemon-Berry Trifle - Prosecco-Berry Sparkler

Rustic Chic

Michelle Rago is a guru and I am a big fan. I find her to be an inspiration to me and many others in the industry. I thought of Michelle today and specifically of a wedding she styled in Vermont. Her use of theme and material is perfect and not over-whelming.

The reason this outdoor, rustic wedding popped into my head was because I was working with a very fun and fabulous bride today who is having her own rustic chic wedding at The Fearrington House near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We styled a fabulous Dauphine Press invitation on Crane Lettra paper with espresso ink, a champagne colored pocketfold, espresso satin belly band and gold leaf tag accent. The invitation is comleted by a foliate design in opposing corners and a small acorn between the ceremony and reception information. I can't wait to see the result - and the accompanying accessories! The layout will be similar to the sample below:

Palm Beach Pink and Green

As aforementioned in my last post, I was recently in the Palm Beach, Florida area. I love that area and wanted to use it as inspiration for one more post. Pink and green are colors synonymous with Palm Beach. So, I thought I would use the Palm Beach landmark, the Breakers, and the "official" colors of the city for a Pink and Green Wedding Inspiration Board.

I must give a special note to the fabulous bridesmaid dress model. That's my sister {and bridesmaid} Meg at my wedding!

Photo Credits: Top(L-R): My sister Meg!; Webshots.net; Brides.com.

Second Row (L-R) Brides.com; The Breakers.

Bottom (L-R) Brides.com; Dauphine Press; Monique Lhuillier.

Fore!

I’m down in sunny Palm Beach Florida for the week. Being here makes me want to plan a fabulous soiree at the Breakers. Luckily, I will have that opportunity this July!

The Sunny South also makes me want to dust off my clubs and hit the tees. Yep, I’m a lady golfer – and one that used to have a talent for the game only to find that if you don’t nurture talent, it disappears. So I’m a terrible golfer with a great shot every here and there. It’s a good thing I don’t have to participate in the golf events I plan!

Golf events are a favorite of corporations, associations and bride & grooms alike. It provides the host(s) with a captive audience in a fun, relaxed environment.

However, planning a golf event is no easy task. And it is an important skill to master since golfing is almost always on the itinerary for high-impact, off-site events. Golf events have many moving parts: clubs, carts, teams, trophies, gifts, transportation, refreshments and strict time parameters.

Here are some hints:

1. Utilize the on-site planner. Many times golf courses will have a staff member to help with the planning and execution of your event.
2. Identify the maximum number of players that can be accommodated. Once that number is reached, close registration to avoid disaster on-site. Don’t forget your staff that will be playing (hopefully within each pairing) as that will affect total guest count.
3. Develop a time line and event agenda. Include transportation, warm-ups and preparations, and refreshment time.
4. Review the facilities and offerings of the venue and understand how they will impact your event: locker rooms, meeting facilities, rentals, carts, maintenance schedule, catering and sales.
5. Develop a realistic budget
6. Select tournament format: Scramble or Best Ball are the most popular
7. Add contests and prizes
8. Invite guests (make sure to ask about rentals; left or right-handed clubs needed; handicap, etc)
9. Make pairings/teams