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| May 2009 |
| Essentials of a Tablescape Not the Same Old Song and Dance Pets at the wedding |
| Essentials of a Tablescape By: Lasting Impressions by Mabel Fabrics - Use fabric that furthers the theme. Don’t limit yourself to just tablecloths, use runners, wide interlocking ribbon, placemats, napkins and chair covers. Save money by utilizing your venues standard tablecovers and adding your color through the napkins. Think wild, whimsical or sublime. A growing trend is to use feather boas, scarves and handkerchiefs on the chairs or use a roll of themed heavy duty wrapping paper over a picnic table for outdoor events. Lighting – Lighting creates the mood. Use candles or tea lights en mass along the length of the table. Add low cost drama and elegance by pinspoting your arrangements. Botanicals – Add something natural like flowers, plants, foliage, fruit or vegetables to the assemblage. Also consider flowering branches, painted bare branches in interesting shapes, mosses, sod and even soil to bring a finishing touch to your tablescape. Hard Accents – Common items used in unusual ways define hard accents. Frames, hats, baskets, decorative boxes, or bottles can become unique table decorations, as long as they follow the theme and provide the right touch. Create Levels – Use a colored tablecloth over containers as bowls, cans and cardboard boxes, or use racks and glass blocks over the tablecloth to create various heights. Place objects or platters on the varying heights along with some on the table. Make it Comfortable - Do not take up more than 1/3 of the tabletop surface for the tablescape. Make sure the place setting is secure and allow for ample elbow room. These ideas are brought to you by Mabel Roman-Lopez. For a free one hour consultation for your next special event contact her at Lasting Impressions by Mabel at (845) 797-1817 or info@LastingImpressionsbyMabel.com |
| “Not the Same Old Song and Dance” by: Stephanie Padovani The DJ Solution If you're like me, music is really important to you. REALLY important. And the last thing I wanted at my Hudson Valley wedding was the same old, cheesy dance songs you hear at every wedding. You know the ones. "Celebration," "The Electric Slide," "Old Time Rock and Roll..." Shall I go on? You think you're sick of them? Heck, I'm a Hudson Valley wedding DJ. I hear them all the time. Jeff and I work with a lot of couples who are determined NOT to be cheesy. And oftentimes they present us with a very extensive play list and an equally impressive Do Not Play list. How do we handle it? Well, it's your day. We get the privilege of partying with you on one of the most important days of your life...and we get paid for it! Bottom line: you get to hear everything you want...and nothing you don't. But if you ask your DJ to play every song on a very long list, it will probably impact the dancing at some point. Meaning, you won't have as much dancing. Even if you have a great list of songs, it's tough to make your crowd bend to a list. Songs have to be mixed and a momentum has to be established. Otherwise, it creates an awkwardness that could clear the dance floor. It's a balancing act that works best: avoid all the songs you don't want to hear, play all your Must Plays and as many of your other requests as possible WHILE keeping the dance floor packed at the same time. It takes trust. You've got to know that your entertainer "gets" you. That takes time and some dialogue. But we're committed to making your music a true expression of your personalities...totally "you." Before I skidaddle, a quick story... I planned a surprise birthday party for Jeff's 40th birthday. (He doesn't look that old, does he? That's my sweetie.) Anyhow, I hired a belly dancer to embarrass him. You should have seen him blush! She told me she'd do a Middle-Eastern belly dance, then play a few standard party songs for everyone to dance. I asked the belly dancer to please, please NOT play any songs, "like the Chicken Dance, YMCA or Celebration." I figured she knew what I meant. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask her NOT to play the Electric Slide. That's how I ended up doing the Electric Slide in my living room. Lesson #1: BE SPECIFIC about what you mean by "cheesy" songs. Lesson #2: If you end up forgetting to list one of those "cheesy" songs and you end up cutting a rug with a belly dancer in your living room, it's not that bad. Really. You'll even laugh at the photos...after many years have passed. |
| Pets at the wedding By: Denise Edkins YOURDAYPHOTO.com I love dogs. I have two German Shepherds and they are my babies! (They're chewing on bones at my feet right now as I write this!) That's why I am so glad that more and more people are including their pets in their wedding ceremonies and receptions. As a wedding photographer, I've seen it many times and have learned a few things. (I have a cat too, but I think we can all agree, cats wouldn't participate in a wedding in the same way a dog would...) *10 Things to Think About When Your Dog is a Part of Your Wedding!* 1: Have them look their best. Shampoo them beforehand, trim their nails, brush out their tails and consider a new or special collar. 2: Spend a little time introduce your dog to the children at your wedding -- and make sure they know where the treats and dog toys are. It's a chance for some new friendships to form. 3: Consider giving your dog a new squeaky toy as a special treat (but wait until AFTER the ceremony). 4: Ask someone who your dog already knows to supervise your dog and be available to take him somewhere if the reception becomes too exciting or too loud. 5: Have a water bowl and a refill jug nearby at all times, of course. Most kids at your wedding would be happy to keep an eye on the water level and be responsible for refilling it. 6: Make sure to include your pet in your posed shots, group photos and engagement portraits. If you give them a new squeaky toy during the photos, it will occupy them and the squeaking will make everyone smile :) 7: If you're going to have your dog be the ring bearer (a lot of people do) make sure you do many practice runs ahead of time. Twice is not enough. If you're not confident about her carrying it in her mouth, tie a basket to her collar. 8: Make sure the spaces are appropriate and comfortable for your pet. A grassy area with shade is essential. 9: If you're renting a reception hall, check if there is a "No Animals" policy. Your deposit could depend on it. 10: Make sure there's a resting place where your dog can calm down. Even the best behaved animals can become overexcited with so many people and so much commotion. Have someone take them home. -- Have a wonderful wedding! Denise Edkins Your Day Photography 845-256-1896 denise@yourdayphoto.com www.yourdayphoto.com And check out our blog: http://yourdayphoto.blogspot.com |