Alhambra Palace

September 23, 2009. On September 23, I was invited to Alhambra Palace for their Open House. What a fabulous event this was. My assistant, Taiyaba and I attended this event and enjoyed a buffet of fine Morrocan cuisine, a tour of this beautiful restaurant, great company, nice music and some belly dancing.

Belly dancer getting the crowd involved...so much fun. :-)

If you want a different or unique experience for your reception, you will surely experience that a Alhambra Palace. They offer three different rooms for your reception. The Alhambra Room, the Babylonian Room, and the Marrakesh Room. Alhambra Palace also offers two VIP rooms for smaller events (for instance a rehearsal dinner or birthday celebration). The VIP rooms are private but curtained window inside provides a bird's eye view of the outside world. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the Alhambra experience tailored to their special wishes. On Tuesday, they offer live Salsa dancing and on Friday and Saturday, Belly dancing and Spanish Flamenco dancers...all of which I'm sure you can incorporate in your wedding reception.

Photo taken by Taiyaba Khan

Fox News recently spoke about this fabulous restaurant. Check it out.

As I stated above, for a unique experience whether it be for your wedding reception, rehearsal, bridal shower or birthday, keep in mind for your next or upcoming event, Alhambra Palace, but for now...

Happy Planning!

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Cocktail Reception

Photo: BBJ Linens

I was inspired to write about cocktail receptions because many couples that I meet are choosing to have a cocktail reception versus a traditional sit down and/or buffet style reception. Reason being, to cut costs. If you don’t have the budget for or an interest in a formal reception with a sit down meal, then why not choose something a little more unique: a cocktail reception.

Cocktail Reception Basics:

First, you need to know how cocktail receptions differ from traditional receptions. For one, they are adults only. If you have guests with children, then you’ll need to keep them somewhere separate and entertained either by other guests or by a hired babysitter (this is actually a good idea for any reception). Obviously, a cocktail reception should include alcoholic drinks. To keep costs down, you may want to limit the types of drinks that are available. For example, you may want to serve beer, wine, and a few harder drinks but not the more expensive mixed drinks. That choice is yours or you can opt to have a specialty drink representing the theme of your reception.

Another difference is the mingling. At a traditional reception, the guests are given assigned seats and usually only move around to dance or head to the buffet line or bar. At a cocktail reception, however, everyone is standing and moving around freely. You can have a few small tables in the corners or around the floor (depending on the venue), but most people are just getting to know one another and enjoying the music. It's more of a nightclub atmosphere. Another idea is to have your venue set up with lounge furniture for guests to sit and mingle. Because of these differences, you can rent a smaller venue, rent fewer tables and have no servers for meals (optional choice).

Photo: The Meetinghouse Companies

hor d'oeuvres/cake/cupcakes:

Margarita Cupcake (photo: More Cupcakes)

Generally, cocktail receptions won’t include much food either. Instead of a buffet or sit down meal, you might have some appetizers on platters moving through the crowd. You can have the traditional wedding cake, but instead of serving it to your guests you can have pieces cut and available for guests to pick up at their leisure. Another idea is to serve your guests cupcakes with the option of the guests putting the cupcake in the box and taking it home with them or having a "themed" cupcake. More cupcakes, located in Chicago, serves unique cupcakes. You can get anything from a traditional white velvet cupcake to a Margarita cupcake (photo above), which I believe would go along nicely with the specialty drink or the theme that you are presenting at the reception.

Invitations:


Obviously, it’s a good idea to let people know about your unique reception. You can begin spreading the word by choosing themed invitations, such as Martini Toasting invitations with your specialty drink being a martini. {Note: You can make your martini to be the color of your color scheme for your reception}.

Make sure to address the invitations to adults only so they know not to bring their children. If babysitting will be available, you can include a separate note to let them know so they won’t make separate arrangements. You should also encourage your family and wedding party to spread the word as well. (myexpression.com)

6 Steps to Arrange a Cocktail Wedding Reception:

1. Research the different reception venues that offer this option. Many reception halls and ballrooms price out cocktail wedding receptions. The price is usually much less than a traditional reception menu.
2. Send out invitations that indicate that you are having a cocktail reception. You don't want guests assuming that the event is more formal that it actually is.
3. Pick out the food that you're serving. You can do more than just hors d'oeuvres for a cocktail wedding reception. You may have the option to have carving stations, a wok station or fruit displays.
4. Choose a band that works with the theme of a cocktail reception. Go for a band or DJ that plays upbeat music. You want entertainment that keeps the party going.
5. Arrange your seating and floor plan around the bar area. Also, make sure that there are enough bartenders and servers to accommodate your guests.
6. Keep it relatively short. Since you won't have a sit down dinner, you can avoid the traditional five hour reception.

(eHow.com)

TIPS & WARNINGS

• Remember to arrange for the bartenders to serve a few signature drinks throughout the course of the reception.
• You should hold a cocktail reception at a later time than a traditional wedding reception. You may want to start the party around seven in the evening. (eHow.com)

Most couples spend almost as much time and energy planning their reception as they do on the actual ceremony, plus the reception is by far going to represent the largest chunk of your wedding budget. That means the reception should be something special. As I stated before, consider a cocktail reception if you cannot afford the traditional reception, but for now...

Happy Planning!

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Photo Credits: BBJ Linens, The Meetinghouse Companies, Inc., More Cupcakes
Sources: eHow.com, myexpression.com

Kid Friendly Wedding Ideas

I am finding that most couples planning their wedding do not want to include children on their guest list because of the extra costs and maybe perhaps the noise factor. Nowadays there are so many activities that can be incorporated into the reception for children who attend, as well as babysitting options. At a recent wedding that I coordinated, I had the older children sitting at their own designated table and set up activities at the table (coloring books and uno cards). The children did not bother the adults and were not in the way of the celebration. This wedding was buffet style so there were a variety of different foods for the children to eat. Another suggestion could be to have a separate menu designed for children, i.e., hamburgers and french fries or mini pizzas versus the filet mignon or speciality food that the bride and groom and their guests will be eating.

Below are 10 kid friendly ideas for weddings that I found on kidfriendlyweddings.com.

Child Attendant Gift Paks

1. Delegate someone to supervise young wedding guests during the entire event. If children are sitting with their parents, this will be a simple role involving distribution of activity bags (or books) to kids upon arrival and handling any unexpected kid emergencies. If you are able to provide a private “kids only” room, this position expands into a much greater role involving some pre-planning. Activities are only limited by your imagination. Fill a piñata with wedding treats, play musical chairs to wedding theme music, have a special cinema corner set up with comfy pillows, or play bingo. Let children express their artistic side. Have a table covered in butcher paper for a gigantic drawing canvas (just make certain to have individual supplies for each child to avoid unnecessary fights and tears). Another idea parents will appreciate is providing sleeping mats and blankets for the exhausted child who has fallen asleep during the evening.
2. In search of qualified, reputable, babysitting services? Ask family members or friends for names of trusted sitters. Hire a reputable babysitting service found in your local phone book, use the country club or hotel’s onsite babysitting service or kids club attendants.
3. Predict the possibility of crying infants or young children and secure a nursery during the ceremony. A nursery representative can then be present as guests arrive to inform parents that there is a cry room available if needed.
4. If space allows arrange small game tables for the older children. Puzzles, playing cards, and board games will be popular not only with pre-teens but also keep teenagers entertained for hours.
5. For a more controlled environment and less disruptions, seat children at their parents table. Kids are usually more behaved and less rambunctious when seated next to mom and dad rather than other children. This will also eliminate children from running between their own seats and their parent’s table throughout the event. The wedding activity bag will keep children quietly entertained and in their seats rather than racing around the reception hall.
6. Add a juice box, fruit bar, or crackers to each kid’s activity bag or place them in the center of the kid’s table. Children can become cranky when hungry or thirsty and often do not have the patience to wait until the wedding dinner is ready to be served. Parents will appreciate your thoughtfulness for providing snacks to hold them over.
7. Ask about the possibility of having a separate menu for the children. Many caterers will oblige with special requests and it is often less expensive than having children eat the gourmet meal prepared for your adult guests. Some popular ideas include: chicken nuggets, mini-pizzas, mini-hamburgers, pasta, fish sticks, and Jell-O created from wedding molds.
8. Invest in some fun by hiring a face painting artist, magician, or balloon artist. The performer can mingle among the tables entertaining guests of all ages.
9. Encourage the band or DJ to play some songs that the children will recognize and enjoy.
10. For an outdoor wedding, designate a trusted adult to take the kids on a nature walk around the grounds. Provide each child with their own bottle of bubbles and watch the smiles blossom and delightful interaction between the children.

I found this site to be very helpful to any bride and groom who will have children in their wedding and as guests. They also sell the activity paks (above) on their site. If you need any more ideas or would like to offer any more suggestions, feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear what you have to suggest, but for now...

Happy Planning!

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Photo Credit: kidfriendlyweddings.com

Strolling Tables now in Chicago...

I received an email recently from Alex Heimberg of Screaming Queens Entertainment in New York letting me know that strolling tables are now in Chicago. Have you seen them? Below are some pictures in case you haven't.

Strolling Tables are a magically surreal yet functional means to present hors d'oeuvres, desserts, place cards, or party favors to your guests. Choose from a variety of designs including Marie Antoinette, the Gold Goddess, the Vegas Showgirl, and the Blue Geisha. Gorgeous female models and theatrical drag queen performers are both available.

According to Alex, their Strolling Tables are so popular in New York that they decided to set up a headquarters in Chicago. Their lovely table characters are a perfect way to add offbeat pizazz to weddings, fundraisers, or corporate events. During these difficult economic times people need entertainment more than ever.

Please take some time out to view their photos and video at http://www.screamingqueens.com/strolling_tables.

Their Strolling Tables have appeared at many respected New York area venues including Cipriani, The Metropolitan Opera House, The 21 Club, Rockefeller Center, The Harvard Club, The St Regis Hotel, The New York Public Library, and Tavern on the Green. Be the first in Chicago!

If you want more information regarding Strolling Tables or would like to use them at your next event, email me at info@eventsbycandace.net. Have a Marvelous Day & Happy Planning!

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