Bonne Idees: The Art of Party Festivity

What sets the tone – when it’s time to party? Playing good music. You must have: Background music playing the minute, I mean the minute a guest steps through the door and don’t forget the sound of popping champagne corks. Think festive, festive! Make sure your guests are served quickly. Waiters should circulate a room with trays filled with cocktails (perhaps your Signature Wedding Day Cocktail), champagne, or wine or sparking water or hors d’oeuvres. Also, instruct your waiters not to miss those guests waiting in the receiving line (Note: the receiving line is the best opportunity to greet each guest individually and thank him or her for coming to your wedding. And if you're having more than 50 guests, it's considered proper etiquette. The line also guarantees your guests a minute of face-to-face time with you, a chance to hug, kiss, and congratulate you both. If you rely instead on the more casual greet-them-as-you-see-them approach, you may spend the whole party in a tailspin, ducking out of conversations to say hello to people you haven't greeted yet, and inevitably you'll end up missing someone)

What about humor, adding some laughs to your weddng? Here are some great ways to add a little fun to a wedding day. Something I personally found to enliven the kid in every guest is the funny bendable plastic tube that glows in the dark.  At an outdoor reception I attended everyone was dancing in the dark with these crazy things wrapped around their heads – what a sight, everyone was having a blast.

Other great ways culled from real weddings that I have experienced and that add humor and fun to a wedding day are:

Hand out sparklers for a dazzling send off at the end of the evening. Or, place a tiny swag bag filled with childhood candy favorites and silly toys and noisemakers at each guests place setting.

Rent a pop corn vending machine for guests to serve themselves as they wait in the receiving line.

Or have you thought about games - How about scheduling a treasure hunt, a croquet match?  More about these later. 

Here's to Good Planning!

Joanna

Bonne Inspiration: Vintage Themes Among Wedding Trends Expected in 2010

I found this very informative article on line last night and thought it was realy very interesting; and also includes the colors forecast for this year too.  

  

As with any fashion statement, whether it is in home décor or clothing trends for the upcoming year, there are also forecasts on the trends expected in 2010 weddings.

One of the most common trends will be intimacy. Whether it means a smaller wedding, or a backyard event complete with a homey barbeque, more and more weddings will be smaller scale. This is partly due to couples not wanting to spend a lot given the recent economic times. Keep in mind that it isn't always less expensive to be married at home; it is much cozier and far more intimate.

Many, many couples are turning to DIY for their weddings. From invitations to thank you cards right down to guest favours, the bride and groom are seeking out big craft and business stores to find cost-effective solutions to their budgetary concerns. Some are deciding not to give favours to their guests as a cost-saving measure even though they are well aware of the expense for a couple to attend a wedding; others feel that an expression of their thanks to their guests is extremely important.

Vintage themes are in! Consider 1950's as the inspiration.

Things like Birdcage Veils (a hat or head piece with a veil covering only the face), feather headpieces with a feather clip earring, a headpiece with jewels, and mermaid style gowns are all vintage inspired.

Cake styles from the 50's and 60's where traditional two-tier cakes with traditional cake-toppers and bouquets where elaborate arm bouquets or cascades are in.

Bridesmaids dresses: How often have you heard of a bridesmaid hating the dress she had to wear in a wedding, and, sometimes more than once? Well, the trend now is for brides to choose the colour of the dresses. They leave it up to the bridesmaid to choose a style she likes and one that suits her, making it more likely a dress to be worn in future. They can find off the rack dresses for reasonable prices. Some guidelines have to be issued before the purchases can take place, but everyone ends up happy.

As well as the mermaid dress mentioned earlier, there will be a move toward luxurious ball gowns in heavier fabrics. Asymmetry will be important as will ruffles, draping and some irregular finishes. Is strapless gone? Not a chance. It will continue to be very strong. If you want colour rather than white, this is the year! Bold colours are strong in the colour forecast.

We have seen the unity candle and the sand ceremony. Now there is the Love Letter. It's a beautiful trend with the Bride and Groom each writing a love letter to the other person. The letters are handed to the Officiant, who will say a few words over them, then they are placed in a box, it is locked, and it is not opened until a date the couple chooses. (I call this the Wedding Box Ceremony and several of my couples chose to include it in their ceremony in 2010).

From food, to attire and décor, being eco-friendly continues to motivate vendors to provide cost-effective and environmentally sound choices for the green-minded couple.

Here is a list of the big colours for 2010 weddings: lilac, magenta, pink, mauve, coral, turquoise, gray, fuchsia, buttercup, mango, light blue, navy, and cobalt blue. Think of vintage colours and destinations such as the Caribbean, and you'll be right on. From these colours there are beautiful combinations, let your imagination run wild!

It's your wedding, your budget, your statement, and your style. No matter what the trends are for 2010, you will remember your wedding day for the romance and commitment of the day.

Joanna

Bonne Mariage: Real Wedding - Marjory Alyce Isabelle Hendrie and Captain Herbert Lionel Hendrie, Toronto, Canada

`

In Memory - January 18, 2006

This day four years ago I lost my dear sweet mother. And years prior my Dad passed away.  Today I want to pay homage to two of the sweetest and most thoughtful people I have ever known; and did I mention how seriously handsome these two are - Just look at them- Mom is so crazy beautiful in her size 6 wedding suit and Dad is so very handsome in his Irish Regimental Kilt and Jacket.  In both photos they appear to be so happy - it would be just a matter of time before Dad would leave Canada on QE2 for England. 

How time flies by....

Here Mom and Dad - this Croquembouche is for you.




Joanna

Bonne Destination Wedding: Il Cielo, Beverly Hills, California

In the land of dreamers, visionaries and stars, in a place where anything can happen, romance owes a lot to Hollywood. No matter what the problems between couples the movies make us believe that everything works itself out in the end. Next door to Hollywood is chic Beverly Hills, an elegant destination for a romantic wedding. Go ahead, get swept away in the magic; suspend disbelief for a weekend and dream. Driving north about 50 miles on the 405 Freeway from Newport Beach is Beverly Hills. Sequestered on Burton Way is many a bride’s favorite - Il Cielo Restaurant, the most romantic venue in Beverly Hills and the setting for a most dreamy day. Il Cielo will sweep you off your feet and your head will spin to the delights of its careful attention to detail. Il Cielo is a cozy haven perfect for sharing an intimate and pleasurable meal with the person you love. The magnetic proprietor Pasquale Vericella has created a menu inspired by his Northern Italian roots with satisfying risottos, homemade pastas and savory meat dishes, all playing up farm fresh vegetables like eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes. The two outdoor dining patios are covered with ivy and flowering vines, peppered with little white lights that add twinkly, romantic warmth. Nearly every table is a good one, whether inside or out, a perfect spot for lovers. This place is truly a coveted spot for weddings and receptions. Stay at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel across the street and take advantage of the complimentary limousine service that will deliver you right to the ivy-covered front door of Il Cielo.

Dream Big Mes Amies!

 

Joanna

Bonne Reception: Wedding - Château de Breteuil, France

How could I have missed this elegant wedding reception inspired by an 18th-century pastoral festival, the fête champêtre and set at the Château de Breteuil France.

A New York bride recently had her wedding vision come to life in France and in the pages of Veranda.  The verdant styled reception table was set for 300 guests and was dressed with fuzzy baby almonds, pepper berries, and porcelain doves accompanied by birch-bark vessels and white and green florals.

Respect was paid to each detail, exemplified on the table cards with "oh so" apropos calligraphy as it appeared on the menu cards and the envelopes which were sealed with a wax impression from the bride’s family chevalière, or family crest; and were then banded with velvet ribbon, and embellished with soft a lamb's ear.

The green and white floral arrangements were styled with sweet peas, ferns, mushrooms, dainty grass racemes and then gathered in leaf-lined crystal compotes along with Paris Ladurée's macaroon as favors.

Music filled the seventeenth-century Château de Breteuil located in the countryside near Paris. Cocktails were served in the garden and the candlelit dinner was served on the terrace — at that single long table.  The bride’s bountiful bouquet was full of mixed butterflies, feathers, orchids, ferns, mint, and peonies all tied up with antique ribbons.  The bride's dress was couture and created by J. Mendel.

Be Inspired Mes Amies,
 
Joanna

Bonne Planning: Event & Wedding Planning News - Newport Beach

What’s up for Joanna Hendrie Events and Fetes Blog for 2010? Our blog is on schedule and promises to consistently publish five days a week starting next week. Our focus, our point of view will continue to introduce to our readers no-nonsense and tried and true recommendations from a wedding and event planning professionals’ perspective. As well, we will reveal select glimpses’ into our weddings’ and event client’s world on party day. Lastly, one day a week, on Friday and for your visual impact and inspiration we will feature links from talented bloggers living around the world.

Here's to good planning! Joanna

Jour De Fête: From Newport Beach - Happy New Year and Bonne Année!

Bonne Annee!!

Hoping all my friends and family enjoyed ringing in 2010. A new decade is ahead and I have so much to do and experience in this coming year. Upon reflection I am so very grateful and thankful for my excellent life.   And so many of you are responsible for all my good fortune.

2009 was an awesome year for Joanna Hendrie Events & Fêtes and I can’t wait to see what happens in 2010.

I am sending love and many thank yous to all my clients, to my family (Maryanne, Darragh and Philip) and to my good friends – near and far, and a big thank you to our 2009 staffers, assistants and interns.

And lastly a thank you to the “Glitterati” as I like to call them (our amazing vendors) – you are a joy to work with.

Joanna Hendrie Events & Fêtes is wishing everyone a Happy 2010.