Harry Potter theme Wedding

When I was presented with the challenge to create a Harry Potter, Grecian style wedding, all I could think of was how to have candles suspended from the top of the tent. The flaming goblets were easy, but those darn suspended candles? The bride wanted it to look like the Great Hall in the movie. Tarnished silver platters and an abundance of food. I pondered my mechanics for a long time. One day when out Christmas shopping, I came across battery operated candles. My younger son said "well I guess you figured out how you are going to get the candles lit for the wedding." I looked at him and said "wow you are brilliant!" It didn't even dawn on me at first. They were suspended with fishing line at different lengths and came on automatically. It was time consuming to set up, but with a lot of help it was just perfect!

Garden grounds in the summer

Summer weddings always bring a special touch of extra beauty to The Mansion. The lawns are lush and green the three acres of manicured gardens boast in color with flowers just waiting to be someone's backdrop for the perfect wedding photo.

Centerpiece savings!

The trend these days in the party planning industry is all about creative ways to create the WOW effect without the ouch to your budget. I have some ideas that I would like to share when it come to centerpieces for the tables.
The hard fast rule over large expensive floral arrangements, has taken a bit of a shift. Many brides are agreeing to simple yet elegant natural designs that incorporate a thyme. I recently had a bride that liked the look of bird nests. She and her groom had already started their family, so it wasn't just the two of them, it was three. I was able to locate twig-like bird nests in a local craft store, and filled each nest with three powder blue eggs. The nests were laid on a bed of ferns and surrounded with small white votive candles. Their colors were powder blue, brown and white. Using some wide satin ribbons and sheer long curtains, the arbor was transformed in no time. The colors were infused throughout the gardens. Tall vases were filled with blue food coloring and a floating candle. They lined the isle with the perfect illumination needed for a wedding at dusk. The vintage birdbath added to the thyme.

With gratitude for abundance

This past year was extremely abundant in so many ways. My original goal of twelve events ended up to be quadruple that. All events were well run and the great feedback is the proof of such. I love doing gatherings! It's where my creativity really soars. I am blessed to be surrounded by my family and friends for the most awesome support team I could have ever dreamed of.
With deep gratitude, I thank all of you for a prosperous 2011. Now lets rock 2012 and up the bar! I have confidence in the people I am blessed to work with. How lucky I am! My special thanks to my son Dan, who has created a name for The Mansion Event Home with his multi talented skills as a chef. Your food is fabulous darling!

Add a Little Sparkle to Your Next Event

For a wedding last summer, the bride and groom did not want to be pelted with seeds, as tradition calls for. Instead, I suggested that their guests wish them good luck with sparklers - Double the fun and a fraction of the mess!


If you're considering sparklers at your next event, I recommend reading SparklingCeremonies.com for safety and information tips. You can buy sparklers there too. Enjoy!

Food Presentation: Transforming the Ordinary into Extraordinary

Presentation of food is just as important as taste. How food is arranged and garnished figures prominently into a person's reaction to it. A tray of crackers can be pretty boring, but when placed on an attractive tray or platter and garnished nicely, it becomes an appetizing hors d'oeuvre.



Three factors to consider when presenting food are color, shape, and texture.

As you know, a box of crackers is boring. It's just one bland color. Presenting food with to or three colors is visually more interesting and enticing. I dressed up the crackers with a splash of red from the strawberries and a touch of green from the parsley sprigs. The tarnished silver tray presents an elegant backdrop.

The crackers I bought came in a variety of shapes. I recommend looking for packages that offer different shapes and different textures as well, such as the ones pictured above, The bulbous strawberries offer a nice contrast to the flat crackers.

Texture appeals to the visual senses as well as the sense of touch. Foods of varying texture give the eye more to take in and the stomach more to look forward to.

White Sangria

Sangria, which is named for it's blood-red color, is a delicious addition to any party, but in the Summer something a little lighter and more refreshing is in order: white sangria. It's as beautiful as it is tasty.

This festive thirst quencher is easy to make, and will be sure to delight your guests. Here is one of my favorite white sangria recipes:

Prep time: 15 minutes

Prepares: 8 glasses

Ingredients
1 bottle of dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
1/2 cup of Peach Schnapps
1 lime, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
3 ripe peaches, cut into wedges
2 Granny Smith apples, seeded and cut into thin wedges
1/2 Liter of sparking soda
1/4 cup of sugar
1 pint of raspberries (for garnish)

Directions
Combine apples, peaches, lemon, lime, sugar, and Peach Schnapps in a large pitcher. Add wine and stir gently. Let this mixture chill for at least an hour before serving.

Add sparkling soda just before serving for a fizzy kick.

To serve, scoop fruit into glasses first, add a few fresh raspberries, then top off with wine mixture.

This is a great recipe to get creative with. Experiment with different fruits such as starfruit, melon, and blueberries. Substitute Peach Schnapps for a fruit brandy. You can also use flavored sparkling water for an added burst of flavor. Have fun with it!