Inspiration Tuesday New Year's Eve Party

Amidst all of the preparations and celebration of the holiday season such questions come to mind as, "What am I going to do on New Year's Eve," and, "What am I going to wear?"
How great would it be to have the answers to these questions provided to you by a fortune teller who arrives at your home with a small crystal ball that would help you see the future. Inside the crystal ball would be a small invitation inviting you to the party of the year. In addition to the necessary information, you would be instructed to wear clothes in variations of black and/or white.
The night of the event you would make your way down a white carpet amidst mimes and various other street performers to the black velvet drapes you will pass through to enter the event.
As you enter the room, you will immediately take notice of the funhouse mirrors which encircle the room. These mirrors will be enhanced with the addition of dramatic chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and the soft glow of countless candles. These candles would be displayed on simple black and white stands and/or holders.
Throughout the room would be a series of food and beverage stations to choose from. The array of heavy hors d'oeuvres and desserts would be presented on pristine white serving dishes, mirrors or black enamel trays and bowls. Each food station would be paired with a signature drink such as Black Russians and White Russians.
All evening long those in attendance would have the chance to visit with a variety of fortune tellers and palm readers, etc. who might be able to offer some insight into the year ahead.
Later in the evening an elaborate dessert display would be unveiled featuring an lavish array of sinful truffels and mousse and decadent creme brulee to name a few. All of these treats would be paired with rich Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Martinis made with Godiva liqueurs.
Beginning at 11:00 PM, service staff dressed entirely in black with faces painted white would begin passing around a myriad of hats, beads and noisemakers for guests to don in anticipation of the midnight hour. Mere moments before midnight, strategically placed plasma televisions would come to life with live coverage of the action in Times Square. The service staff would then begin presenting each guest with glasses of crisp champagne and sparkling cider.
As the countdown begins and the New Year officially arrives the lights would begin to flash, confetti would begin to fall, the band would play Auld Lang Syne and you would receive that traditional first kiss of the new year.
The rest of the evening would be spent involved in fantastic conversation with new and old acquaintances or cutting a rug to the sounds of the band on the black and white checked dance floor.
When the last glass of champagne had been drunk and the band had finished their final encore you would make your way back to the velvet curtain where a small buffet of popular comfort food would await. You would have the opportunity to fill black and white take home boxes with your favorite items for the ride home.
As you step inside your taxi or limo you would be struck by the fun of the evening and the possibility of the year to come. After all, when a year begins and ends in this fashion...how could you go wrong?
From all of us at Circle City Planners, "May everyone have a HAPPY and SAFE New Year!

Inspiration Tuesday - Engagement Party

Tis the season of cold, snow and ice. Tis also the time of year for diamond rings and proposals. So after you have said YES why not throw an engagement party and celebrate with friends and family. If you're like me, you love the first snowfall but after that I'm ready for warmer weather. At your engagement party throw a themed luau and get your guests to stop thinking about the cold weather for a few hours. You can decorate with tiki torches and a bamboo bar. Use bold colors: hot pinks; vibrate blues, bright oranges and reds. For centerpieces- use wishing bowls filled with sand and seashells. Always have your food and drinks carry through with the theme of your event. Serve jerk chicken on skewers, bacon wrapped scallops and other Caribbean favorites. You could even have a fruit display with a carving of your and your fiancé's name. Have bartenders blend fruity drinks and serve them in unusual glasses. You could also name the drinks. Another nice touch would be to display pictures of the both of you and if pictures were captured the night of the engagement frame those up too for everyone to see. And finally best way to follow through on a luau theme engagement party is of course a destination wedding! But you will have to take Circle City Planners along just to make sure everything goes as planned!

Inspiration Tuesday - Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

This time of year is a wonderful time to use the decorations that are already easily available. Isn’t it lovely the first time it snows for the season, everyone loves the snow, so why not celebrate your wedding by embracing the snow? First, you will need to hire a great coordinator (CCP, of course) to clean up the wonderful mess, BUT how cool would it be to have a winter wonderland occasion with snow falling from the ceiling! This is where my inspiration begins. Everything would be in white from the linens to lamour white chair covers with a matching white dance floor. Twinkle lights and white fig branches create a grand entrance outside your venue as the guests enter. During the cocktail hour, the servers (or your guests) could dress the part by wearing all white as you have carolers singing outside! White chocolate is served with warm drinks as your friends and family come inside to get warm (don’t forget the valet parking). As the dinner chimes ring, the snow could begin to fall to notify the guests it’s time to start the dinner and dancing. Don’t forget the surprise when your favorite singers (or IPOD)come out to sing the duet “Baby Its Cold Outside” and you and your new husband have your first dance to the freshly fallen snow. The centerpieces could be this minty holiday season centerpiece filled with crystal snow. Sugar can be used on the buffet to create a winter look. The white, cool drinks could be poured out of an ice louge while the guests dance the night away. Okay, who’s ready to have some fun in the snow?! Check out this live video stream of a snowfall inside a Marriott Ballroom, how cool!

http://www.effectspecialist.com/VideoListsnow.htm

Tony & Tina's Wedding

This Saturday I attended a funny comedy in Chicago called “Tony and Tina’s Wedding”. If you’ve never been you have to go at least once in your lifetime. It was neat as an event planner to finally sit down at a wedding, especially this one. It was absolutely hysterical! The actors did a great job staying in character and making you feel like you were really attending a wedding. During the ceremony the priest came out and performed the ceremony while the funny photographer tried to take pictures and sister Mary led you in worship. Tina, the bride, had the big hair with the unbearable pregnant maid of honor and the obnoxious bridesmaids dresses in hot pink with a matching, large bow. After the ceremony, we were invited into the reception where the DJ rocked the house. They did the traditional first dance, prayer before dinner, and cut the cake and threw the garter. It sounds like a typical wedding, but it was everything but a typical wedding. It was so funny, I was laughing the entire time. The priest got drunk, the unexpected ex-boyfriend showed up straight from jail. The bridesmaid and a groomsmen hooked up on the dance floor. The mother of the bride cried the entire time, grandma passed out at one point, and the bride and groom got in a fight. What a time! I had to post this to our blog. It’s not everyday that we have a chance to sit down at a wedding let alone laugh! It was a great concept for a bachelorette party.