From house parties and barbecues to weddings and galas, providing all the tools and tips you need to plan one fab event.
Dressing Up Your Chairs
Best of the Best Wine Tasting Events
Wine Fest on the Beach, Ocean City, MD Oct 2&3: Wine Fest on the Beach is the Delmar Beach areas major annual wine celebration. It features some of the best wineries and breweries in the US. It also has samples of the best of the Delmar areas local cuisines and an arts and crafts show: http://www.winefest.com/
Centerpiece Ideas under $20 each
Throw Your Next Party, Wedding or Special Event in Vegas!!
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino- A favorite of many celebrities and notables, the Hard Rock is a very stylish and sleek hotel with several large meeting rooms and ballrooms to fit any budget. The meeting rooms can be customized to meet your needs whether it's for a dinner party, wedding, or corporate function. Features of the ballrooms include looming balconies and large pillars. Some meeting rooms also offer large theatre seating with state of the art audio visual monitors and equipment.
One of the many unique features of this property is the pool area that is open to guests of the hotel but can also be rented for parties and special events. The pool is a combination of fun and relaxation. It is spaciously adorned with carribean blue water and real sand to give you the "feel" of relaxing on the beach. It also has several bars and swim up black jack tables. The pool also has tahitian style cabanas equipped with Plasma televisions for those that want a private oasis.
The sleeping rooms and suites at the Hard Rock are contemporary stylish and comfortable. They include a wet bar, marble bath and a some of even have a pool table. With a spa, several on site restaurants and fabulous nightly entertainment, the Hard Rock is a favorite amongst many.
Red Rock Casino Spa and Retreat: Looking for a relaxing retreat for your event? Red Rock Casino may be your answer. Surrounded by the mountains, Red Rock Casino has won many awards and although luxurious in style, its rates are as low as $75 per night. The key features of this resort are a three acre pool and an exotic island that can both be used by guests and rented for events. Sleeping rooms are also a plus for this hotel because each room is immaculately decorated and filled with beautiful views of the mountains from large windows. Each room is spacious and adorned with plush linens and comfortable pillows. The rooms also have plasma tvs and ipod jacks.
The spa is amazing and appears to float on water. It features manicures, pedicures, make up lessons, facials, treatments and a relaxing Thai massage.
The Red Rock also has various activities. Equipped with a state of the art bowling alley, Red Rock also offers other activities such as kayaking and indoor rock climbing.
Red Rock has many packages to choose from at very reasonable rates. Some packages include services at the spa and transportation to and from the airport via limousine service. Red Rock is a truly relaxing destination with many enjoyable pleasures.
Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino: Picture a beach in the heart of the Las Vegas strip. What you are picturing is the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino which features an 11 acre beach simulation filled with several gallons of real sand, cabanas and a casino right on the beach.
The hotel was voted a Las Vegas premiere pool experience by trip advisor.
For your special event, Mandalay Bay also has several meeting rooms and ballrooms with gorgeous high ceilings and pillars that can accommodate up to 4000 guests with many varying options. Mandalay also has several rooms that can accommodate up to 75 breakouts simultaneously. They also offer a full service event staff that caters to every detail of your event from photography to audio visual to flowers and decor.
Other features of the hotel includes a spa, 3 restaurants and on site shopping.
The Stratosphere: Throw your next event on the 13th floor of this award winning facility. The Stratosphere is one of Las Vegas' most popular hotels/restaurants. With great food and a great view, the Stratosphere offers many ways to make your event spectacular.
Chapel in the Clouds: The Stratosphere offers the Chapel in the Clouds for couples to exchange their vows. This wedding venue was voted Theknot.com's pick of the year. It sits 8 feet above the Las Vegas strip with breathtaking views of the strip. It also offers a thrill roller coaster ride for the couple that wants to have an adventure on their wedding day. The Chapel in the Clouds also offers a wedding video on the internet in real time for family that can not travel for the event
Paymon's Mediterranean Restaurant and Lounge: A quaint restaurant with excellent cuisine describes Paymon's Mediterranean Restaurant. Owned by the Rauof brothers, this restaurant offers three different private rooms to choose from for an event. Each room has an old world feel that can be decorated to meet your needs.
The fantastic cuisine features Greek, Persian and Middle Eastern favorites. The restaurant also has delicious vegetarian entrees. Paymon's may be a great selection for your party especially since they never charge a rental fee. There is no charge for facility rentals at Paymon's. A reasonable price and great food makes this a one of a kind venue.
Each of these ward winning facilities offers the attractiveness and excitement of Las Vegas at a reasonable priced. Hosting your event at one of the above locations will not only assure that your event is a smash but also a memorable occasion for years to come.
Rehearsal Dinner Planning Tips
A Fab Bridal Shower: Several Ways to Spice up Your Shower
So you are the maid of honor and now have the daunting task of planning the bridal shower. However, the bride wants something a bit different and is not interested in the standard games which typically accompanies your traditional bridal shower. What to do? What to do? Here are a few ideas to create a fab bridal shower without the boredom. So grab the bridesmaids and get ready to start planning
1. Pick a theme or color scheme: In planning a bridal shower, you want to start with a theme or color scheme. This will be your focal point for decor, invitations, gifts and favors. As you are deciding on the theme , you should consider the bride's personality and tastes so that you incorporate them into your theme. Several examples of fun bridal shower themes for brides with various preferences are:
- Tea party- This is perfect for the bride that enjoys a more formal fare. Typically a tea party can be held on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Guests may want to dress a little more formal for this event. Tea cups, saucers and porcelain kettles decorate the tables accompanied by delicious tarts and finger sandwiches served on tiered trays. This event can be held at any location from a tea room, garden or home.
- Cocktail Party: A cocktail party is perfect for the bride that wants to chat and mingle with her guests without spending a lot of time doing the typical bridal shower activities i.e playing the traditional shower games. This event can be held almost anywhere. The bride's favorite cocktail can be served on cocktail tables dressed in colored linens that can be spread sporadically throughout the venue. You can even make it more "trendy" by making the cocktail shower a coed event.
- Desserts Shower: Imagine a room full of desserts, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, tarts, fudge etc. Imagine the centerpieces are cupcakes in various fun filled flavors or cakes in the shape of items commonly found at a wedding such as a tiera, chapel etc decorating each table. The decor features candy filled containers to match the linens and color scheme. The bride's favorite dessert is packaged to go and sent home as favors. This can be a fun way to shower the bride that has a sweet tooth. A desserts shower may also be less expensive than a shower with the traditional fare and a fun event to plan.
- Spa Day: I call this one martinis and manicures or mimosas and manicures depending on the time of day. If the bride is genuinely bored of the typical bridal shower and she enjoys the occasional pampering then you may want to book a room at a spa for the shower. The bride will have a blast as she opens her gifts while getting a relaxing facial or a pedicure. This makes for great girl time chatter. Ask your spa if they will supply food or if you can bring your own finger sandwiches and drinks.
- Open House: If you have a bride that does not enjoy being the center of attention and prefers something a bit more low key, an open house maybe just the thing. Invite guests to come and chit chat with the bride. You can specify a specific time frame in which guests can come out and shower the bride. This is a very casual event that does not require a lot of fuss, just a few hor' dourves and the bride.
- Newlywed Game Show: If you are throwing a coed shower you can play a version of the newlywed game. To play the game, you ask the women questions about their partner and vice versa. As each couple enters the shower, each partner is given cards with questions. For example, a question that could be asked is "What would you say your husband is most like: a roaring lion, a cuddly teddy bear, a devoted dog or a funny monkey?" The questions can be funny or serious but have a mixture so it doesn't get repetitious. The partner writes the answer of the question on the card. during the game, the other partner has to guess what the partner wrote. The couple with the most correct answers wins a prize.
- Gifts on Timer: Very simple game but can be a lot of fun. During the opening of gifts, a timer is set. Every time the timer goes off the person whose gift is being opened wins a prize.
- Naughty Toys: For mature audiences, buy several pieces of naughty toys such as a teddy, a feather boa or a whip. As guests enter the shower they will each pick a number from a hat. The number is then placed into another hat as the guest has to remember the number they selected. During the shower numbers are picked according to the number of naughty toys purchased. The guests with the selected numbers has to demonstrate with the naughty toy what the bride should do with it on her honeymoon.
- Another suggestion for adult audiences is a pole dance lesson. There are also many other exotic classes that may make for bridal shower fun (strip tease, fellatio lessons etc.). Please consider the bride and the guests prior to planning. However, these will be sure to give the bride and her guests a shower they will never forget.
3. Divide the Tasks: Don't stress yourself with handling all of the details. You may want to divide the tasks between yourself and the bridesmaids. For example, someone should find the venue, another person can be the leader of the games, someone else may want to send out the invitations, etc. You can even get the hostesses involved. It's much easier to have everyone pitch in then all of the responsibilities being placed on one person.
Assure that you keep the bride at the center of your plans. Have fun and I'm sure she will have an awesome shower! For questions about any of these ideas or to provide us with feedback feel free to email us at: askus@lefabuleux.com
Make Your Party Resemble a Grand Event on a Small Budget
All you Need to Know about Event Lighting
Blue Uplighting Behind a Headtable |
Blue Color Wash with Uplighting |
Lighting design is a feature that has been used by large entities, celebrities, and corporations to add flare to a party or special event. Recently, lighting design has become more common and is now used in weddings and special events on a much smaller scale. Lighting can set the mood for your event and can drastically change the look and feeling of your venue. Some use lighting to reinvent their venue. Others use it as an accent. Regardless of the reason it is chosen, lighting is a high tech method of adding pizazz to your event and gaining the "wow factor" from your guests. Here are a few ways to incorporate lighting into your event:
1. Uplighting- Probably the easiest way to incorporate event lighting. Uplighting can be used to highlight specific features of a venue such as walls, columns, draping or a specific area. It is simple in installation and adds a stimulating feel to an event. You can use as little or as much light as you want in almost any color.
2. Gobo Lighting- A method that allows patterns to be projected into light. Many images can be projected by gobo lighting such as a name, monogram or logo. Gobo lighting can be projected onto surfaces such as walls, ceilings or dance floors.
3. Pinspot Lighting- Focused lighting that shines directly onto smaller objects. Pinspot lighting can be used to highlight smaller features such as centerpieces, table tops and cake tables. This is a simple method but can add a touch of class to an event.
4. Color Washing- A mixture of light fixtures that creates a "wash of color" in a venue. Color washing can change the color of the entire space. This effect produces the most drastic change.
Gobo Lighting Between Two Clear Uplights |
Unique Wedding Tip #2: Wedding Parasols
Looking for a way to add a touch of class to your event and save money? Send your bridesmaids down the aisle in style with a parasol. These classy accent pieces are another great way to add color and uniqueness to your wedding.
During a time of economic flux, parasols will also save you money. Instead of spending big bucks on expensive bouquets, give each bridesmaid a parasol as they walk down the aisle. You can buy parasols in your wedding colors or with your monogram on it that can be easily seen by your guests. They will save you half the costs of fresh flowers. Parasols also make for a great conversation piece for your guests.
Hosting a Networking Event
2. Select a Venue: After you have determined the purpose of your event, its time to find a venue. You want to make sure that the venue selected fits the purpsose of your event and the guests you wish to invite. For a younger audience you may want to try a trendy restaraunt or lounge. An event attended by upper management level professionals may be best served at a museum, hotel or vacant office. A new restaraunt in your area may sponsor your event at no cost to gain exposure. You may also be able to persuade your boss to sponsor the event at your office inexchange for a plug from the podium.
You Need The Gown of Your Dreams, Like Carrie Bradshaw
Five Ways to Assure Your House Party is a Succes
3. Play that Funky Music. Everybody loves music. Music can set the tone for your event. If you have few extra bucks for your event you can splurge and hire an inexpensive DJ. If you are working with a leaner budget you can load up your ipod full of good tunes. Make sure you select songs that are fun, fit the occasion and will keep the party going.