Peony Events featured on Style Me Pretty's ASK THE EXPERT Series
We were ecstatic to be contacted and selected by Style Me Pretty for their newly launched ASK THE EXPERT series. It is only offered to their approved Little Black Book (LBB) vendors.
In order to become one of their approved LBBers, it's quite an extensive process; they review your website, online presence, experience, and check with other Lbb members that you have worked with in the past. Lastly they set up an interview you. We are proud to be a part of Style Me Pretty and take pride in knowing that they support us as much as we do them. A lot of our clients are oh-so-style me pretty and have found us on their website! Thanks again, Mallory, for our feature! xo
Check out our ASK THE EXPERT series from yesterday!
Working with our fabulous LBBers is my favorite. They are all so talented and I love to see what they are working on. We’ve been tapping into their talented brains with our Ask the Expert Series, and we’re back today with your planning questions answered by our talented LBB planner, Stacey Sainato of Peony Events. Get out your pen and paper, because you’ll want to take notes on this expert advice!
I love my venue, but I hate the carpet/drapes. How can I decorate around such a large piece of the venue and draw attention away from it?
For venues that have not updated their décor, we strongly suggest incorporating additional lighting for your room. Lighting can do wonders to any room (with or without ugly décor). Accent lighting alone can make a huge statement and turn not-so-pretty carpet and drapery into can’t-really-see-it-anyways! Picking a color that is in your color palette will heighten the ambiance and add drama to your room.
Pipe and drape is another option; many rental companies and some venues offer this service. By draping the perimeter of the room, you create an elegant, soft look while beautifully covering up those window treatments from 1985.
Specialty linens for your tables can spruce up any décor, but you will want to make sure that they do not clash with the issues you are having with the room. If it’s the patterns that bother you, opt for something simple with a bit of sparkle or sheen.
Lastly, create focal points in the room – tall centerpieces, drapery behind the sweetheart table, decorations on a fireplace mantle, beautiful tall floral arrangements with spot lighting, or floral pieces hanging from the chandeliers. Anything that will draw your guest’s attention up and away from the unattractive carpet and drapes.
I don’t have a huge budget, but I really want to make sure my guests feel like they are at a special affair. Do you have any tips for me? What is the one thing I won’t regret splurging on?
Personalize, personalize, and personalize! It’s the little things and small details that truly make a wedding extra special. These three little letters, DIY (Do-It-Yourself), are crucial for those on a budget! You can add many creative and unique elements to your wedding without having to go over budget when you DIY. Look on Etsy and Pinterest for a plethora of endless ideas and inspiration.
Food and entertainment/music are both areas that we say splurge away! Eat, Drink and Be Merry is a famous saying for a reason! Guests will always remember what they ate at your wedding and what music was played (and if it was good). ALWAYS do a tasting to try the food being served and do your research on your band or DJ. Read reviews, listen to them live, or have them send you a sample of their work. If you want your guests to bring their dancing shoes, give them something to work with!
What can I do to spruce up the dessert table or other vignettes?
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Dressing up a dessert table or any other special table is just as important as styling any outfit. It also offers another focal point in the room and certainly raises the FUN factor.
We are BIG fans of using specialty table linens – sequins, lace, chevron, or another fun print! Spruce it up with hanging poms, lanterns, or strings of lights. Add accents with extra floral in varying heights and cylinders, unique serving trays, cute patterned labels or chalkboards, to create an amazing and eye-catching display of TLD’s (tasty little devils)!
I’ve found the most beautiful outdoor venue… what backup plans can I make for weather that won’t make me feel like all my plans are ruined?
Although a gorgeous wedding outside is a perfect idea for summer, sometimes the weather isn’t always on your side. Preparing to shield your guests from the natural elements while keeping your event outside requires a tent that is large enough to accommodate all of your outdoor wedding festivities. If you are having both your ceremony and reception outdoors, you will definitely need two tents. Heaters are always nice to have on hand depending on the time of year and the chill factor.
If your venue offers indoor space, be prepared to bring the outdoors in. Implementing trees into your décor can be a tremendous asset to decorating an indoor space—people don’t quite expect them. Not to say that you should have a big maple or blossoming apple tree in the middle of the dance floor, but a few trees lined in an entryway or in the corners of the room will have a beautiful effect. Especially if you embellish them with white lights and floral!
Is transportation for guests a must? What about an open bar?
In my opinion, transportation is a must, IF your ceremony or reception requires guests to leave the hotel, resort, or B&B. Your bridal party, family, and friends are coming from all over (in most cases) to celebrate the union of your love; the least you can do is pamper them a little, right?
The hotels we work with either offer shuttle service to your guests, or they outsource discounted transportation services for larger party buses, shuttles, etc. Be sure to see a picture of the vehicle promised to you or visit the company before signing that contract (and make sure your contract states the specific type of transportation/color, etc.). You want to make sure it’s not a restored yellow school bus—unless that’s the vintage look you are going for. Do not forget to include a shuttle service schedule in your welcome box (especially if there will be more than one pick up).
An open bar is a definite Y-E-S! Again, you are inviting your friends, family, and co-workers to be a “guest” at your event. Do you really want them to feel like they are at a restaurant or bar, ordering and paying for drinks? Absolutely not—you want them to feel special; they are honoring you with their presence and sharing in one of the most memorable days of your life.
If you are on a tight budget, it’s ok to only offer beer, wine, and champagne, along with a few specialty drinks.
So on top of the fact that Stacey is a total genius and absolute sweetheart, isn’t she gorg? These pictures were all from her wedding, and I for one can’t get over that dress. Thank you so much Stacey for answering our questions. And lovelies, if you have a question for Stacey, feel free to leave it in the comments! I’m sure she’d love to answer a few more.
Check out the full post on Style Me Pretty:
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2013/09/12/ask-the-expert-peony-events/
Peony Events Attends Mercedes Benz Fashion Week | Milly Spring/Summer 2014
We had a blast at NYC's Spring 2014 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week! Fashion and events go hand in hand. We are always keeping our clients up-to-date with the current trends in fashion, colors, weddings and events!
After having to turn down an invitation to the Lela Rose Show, do to an event we had this past Sunday, we were happy to be able to attend Milly's. The Milly Spring/Summer 2014 show yesterday was fun, hip and trendy. Models were fresh-faced with lips stained a muted red (we have learned that they had blush on their lips!), their nails were nude with white half moons, and hair pulled back.
It was so fun to see Neiman Marcus's Fashion Director Ken Downing across the way. When he was the Public Relations Director, I (Stacey) was so lucky to have worked under him. We tried to catch him at the end of the show, but he sped off and was out the door onto his next show!
Check out a few of our favorite looks from yesterday's show, we can definitely see these looks on all our favorite singers and celebrities. Although we were seated in the third row, I will spare you my Iphone pics. The pictures we found online by Kim Weston definitely capture the beauty of Michelle Smith's collection!
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Michelle Smith, Designer
To read more about the Milly Spring/Summer 2014 Show:
http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/09/11/milly-runway-fashion-week-hair-makeup-spring-2014-nyfw/
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/powersearch?designer=design_house1857&page=2
{WELCOME} Alexis + Brooks ~ Spring/Summer 2014
We are so excited to welcome Alexis and Brooks to the PE family!
Both originally from the east coast - Alicia grew up in Washington, NJ and Brooks from York, PA, but they currently reside in Los Angeles, in Echo Park. They met while attending grad school at UNC Wilmington where they were studying Creative Writing. Brooks genre was fiction and Alexis's was poetry (how romantic!). They have a little black cat named Bear aka Little Bear who I met over Skype and he's adorable!
Alexis and Brooks both work in private schools and in their free time they like reading, visiting flea markets, bad TV (who doesn't?!), dinner with friends, checking out modern furniture and design as well as board games.
They interviewed us over Skype last week and we just heard the great news last night! We are super excited to get started with all the planning for their Spring/Summer 2014 rustic wedding, but first, we need to find their perfect outdoor venue in NJ or PA (that has availability with their preferred dates)! We will mostly be meeting via Skype, but we're so excited to meet Alexis + Brooks in person in a few weeks!
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Grooms: Wedding Tuxedo Rental or Purchase?
Unless you're exchanging wedding vows on a beach or having a casual wedding, you will most likely be sporting formal attire on your BIG day. If you grew up attending black-tie affairs, you may already own a tuxedo. But in most cases, our grooms-to-be come across the same formal dilemma, whether to rent or buy tuxedo?
Recently, we had one of our NYC clients purchase a tuxedo at Cozy Formalwear in Morristown, New Jersey for his January 11th, 2014 wedding. He contemplated the typical question renting vs buying. He will also be a groomsmen in a black-tie wedding this month (they can wear their own if they own them), not too mention his wife-to-be's firm hosts a black-tie gala every year. The answer was simple, by attending those three events, purchasing the tuxedo ended up paying for itself. The Boss Hugo Boss (one of our favs) tuxedo fit him perfectly since it was tailored just for him and that to me is priceless. There's nothing worse than a man looking like he's wearing his Dad's oversized suit.
{Photo by: Images by Berit}
Rent vs Buy?
Money and your budget is the main factor in your wedding formalwear decision. Renting will cost about 10% - 30% of the price of a new tuxedo. Most tuxedo prices begin around $300 and go up to about the $500+. If you attend a couple more black-tie events in your lifetime, the tuxedo ends up paying for itself. Look at it as an investment, the gift that will keep giving -- it will always be something you can wear for years to come and it will never go out of style if you stick with the classic look. If you are on a super tight budget, renting your attire would be the best choice for you. In some cases, stores will offer the groom a free tuxedo with the rentals of additional rentals which is the best savings off all.
Please keep these tips in mind, whether you are buying or renting your tuxedo:
Buying Tips
-Choose a formalwear store that updates their stock on a regular basis
-A good formalwear dealer will know how to measure you properly (inseam, waist, jacket size), making sure you have the necessary alterations for your custom suit/tuxedo.
-Trends change, stick to the classics. Think about the longevity of your purchase.
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-If you're investing in a grown up suit, splurge and buy an equally as nice pair of dress shoes.
-Stay away from synthetic fabrics, stick to wools.
Rental Tips
-Choose a formalwear store that updates its tuxedo inventory regularly.
-A good formalwear dealer will know how to measure you properly (inseam, waist, jacket size) and give you a tuxedo fitting in advance of the wedding
-The store should be able to supply you with all the tuxedo accessories you'll need: shirts, bow tie, cummerbund, vest, cufflinks, suspenders, even shoes.
-Finally, have all your groomsmen get their gear at the same shop, you will want to match perfectly (unless your guys own your own tuxedos). If they live out of state or out of the country, ask them to get measured by a local tailer and send their measurements to your shop. We suggest reserving wedding tuxedos at least three months in advance. It's one last item to worry about as your day quickly approaches and we can promise the last few months will fly by!
Rent or buy tuxedo for wedding? What's your choice? We would love to hear!
Check out these additional tips on how to tell if your suit fits by Esquire: http://www.esquire.com/style/tips/suit-fit-0708
Wedding Expert Tips: How to Choose Your Wedding Party
Happy National Friendship Day!
In honor of this special day (always falls on the first Sunday of August), we thought it was the perfect time to discuss how to pick your wedding party! Many of our clients stress over which friends and/or relatives to ask to be in their wedding party (mostly the bridesmaids). Choosing the bridal party is no laughing matter, but it should also come naturally to you. Check out our tips to help you decide on who to pick and please try not to lose sleep over it!
1. How Many?
One of the first things to consider when selecting your bridal party is how many guests you're planning to invite. While bridal parties can range anywhere from a single maid/matron of honor to more than a dozen attendants, most wedding experts agree that a good rule of thumb is to have one groomsman and one corresponding bridesmaid for every 50 guests. Also, a large wedding party traditionally signifies a formal wedding. So if you're planning a small, intimate gathering, ten bridesmaids might be a bit too much. It is also ok to have an uneven bridal party, more groomsmen than bridesmaids or vice versa, don't feel as though you have to throw someone into the mix just to make it even.
2. The More The Merrier?
Speaking of size, remember that the more bridesmaids you have, the greater the potential for complications. In other words, you'll need to get more people to agree on a dress or decide on a bridal shower date and bachelorette party. Keep in mind, if you're on a limited budget, you'll be paying for all those bridesmaids bouquets and gifts.
3. Family First
If you're close to your sister or future sister-in-law, the thought of not including them in your wedding party probably never even occurred to you. But if you are not and the thought of asking your sister (or sister-in-law) to be a bridesmaid gives you anxiety, you probably will lose a few nights of sleep. Make it easy on yourself, it's usually worth it to include family members just to avoid any unnecessary conflict. Think of it as having more bargaining power when you're battling with your mom over the guest list.
4. No Backsies
You don't need to ask someone to be in your wedding just because she asked you to be in her wedding. Don't ask the college roommate you haven't spoken to in five years just to return the favor. If you haven't spoken to them in the last year, you do not need to feel obligated.
5. Location is Key
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6. Don't Assume
Don't write off some friends simply because you think they don't have enough money to afford that Monique Lhuillier bridesmaid dress you have your eye on. If you want to ask a friend whom you know is having financial difficulties, you can always say something like, "I'd love for you to be a bridesmaid, but I understand the tough time you're going through now. If you can't do it, I'd love to find something else for you to do in the wedding." (Or, you can offer to pay her way if you can't stand the idea of her not being in the wedding.)
7. Guys Matter
A bridesmaid doesn't have to be a woman. If your best friend is a guy, there's no reason why he can't be in your wedding. Today, many brides and grooms are including members of the opposite sex as attendants. In these cases, a man on the bride's side is simply called an attendant or bridesman, while a woman on the groom's side can be called an attendant or a groomswoman.
8. Other Honors
Keep in mind that there are plenty of other roles good friends can play in your wedding if they don't make the cut -- do a reading, hand out programs, or perform a song.
9. Spread the News
Once you make up your mind about your bridesmaids, you definitely want to get the word out and up on your wedding website. The only thing worse than a coworker who thinks she's invited to your wedding is a friend who assumes she's going to be a bridesmaid. If you're afraid of hurting someone's feelings, remember that, as cliched as it sounds, any true friend will understand whatever decision you ultimately make. And finally, the sooner you make your decision, the sooner you get to check off one more box on your endless wedding checklist. Please don't wait, those dresses take some time to order, unless your lucky enough to find them off the rack!
We hope these tips will help you in your decision process, please feel free to email us with any other questions to info@peonyeventsco.com.
Photo Credit: Anthony Ziccardi Studios, Alyssa + Billy's May 2013 Wedding