Happy New Year

Elite Affairs, LLC is excited about 2009.
We are thankful for the wonderful weddings we had the opportunity to be a part of in 2008 and we look forward to an even bigger and better 2009.

Clients, Vendors, Followers....Thank You!

We wish you all a Happy, Safe and Prosperous 2009!

Children and Weddings

Many brides voice their opinions about children at their weddings, they basically don't want screaming and crying disrupting their ceremony or reception.
The reality is that younger children are easily bored at these formal events. They get restless and impatient (as do some adults).
When children start getting out of control it places burden on their parents who in turn as to watch their every move or remove them if they become disruptive.
However, informal weddings done in a small setting or at a family home tend to be more kid friendly.

How do you solve the problem of the disruptive children?

1) DO NOT invite children
This is not always possible, as close family always insist on bringing their children or children are often included in the bridal party.

2) Entertain them
Plan ahead for the children that will be present at the wedding by hiring a babysitter. A babysitter can watch the children at a designated location.The bride can create customized coloring books for the children or they can play games and do a line-up of activities.

If parents can be assured that their children are being watched by a qualified individual, they can relax and have a good time.
Not only will parents get to enjoy the festivities, but the bride and groom will have a wedding free of disruptive children.

What do you think about children at weddings?

Personalized Handkerchief

Do you cry at weddings?
Your wedding day is sure to be a very emotional experience.If you are not sure to cry, then the people who have been there for you all your life are sure to shed a tear. Whether it is your mom, dad or bridesmaids, why not surprise them with a gift designed just for them. These hankies can be personalized with their names and a heart warming statement. Look at what we found:

Source:Personalization Presents


For the bride-to-be, this may be her "something blue". She may get this handkerchief with her name and wedding date embroidered in blue.
Check out these two:
Who would have thought wiping away tears of joy could be this fashionable.

Source:Personlization Mall

Source: ETCTrade

Dress to Impress

Whether you need a dress for the engagement party or the rehearsal dinner, as the bride-to-be you want to be the best dressed. Well, we went searching and found a few we loved. Here is a preview of some of the cute pieces available at Nordstrom:

Happy Holidays!

We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. Please take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the season.

A Winter Wonderland Wedding!

If Christmas is your favorite time of year then the holiday season would make for a special storybook wedding.
A Christmas themed wedding does not have to be on Christmas Day but would require a lot of advanced planning since it is such a busy time of the year.

Tips for you holiday wedding:

Secure the venue and send save-the-dates
This is a busy time of year for everyone. If you want your guests to save the date for your special occasion, give them advanced notice!

Decorations for the venue
You will get lucky in this area as many places are already decorated for the season. They will already have anything from Christmas trees, poinsettias, wreaths or lights decking the halls.

Centerpieces
Flowers can be expensive this time of year so why not go with some kind of candle arrangement with pine cones and wreath (shown below from FTD).

Favors
Go with a personalized ornament from Favor Ideas. Your guests will have this for their tree every year.

These place card holders may also double as favors(also from Favor Ideas). This makes for a nice winter wonderland theme.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. What better way to spend this time of year than with family and friends at a winter wonderland wedding?

The New Look of Elite Affairs, LLC

You have been seeing the changes in bits and pieces. First I changed the design of our blog, opened an ETSY shop and now....our new website.
I didn't realize how much work this all involved. I have a new logo, new colors, new images but the same great service. I am proud to announce the NEW LOOK FOR ELITE AFFAIRS, LLC.. The website was designed by Jennifer from JJKODesign.



I have only been blogging for a few months and I love it. To all my followers, please continue to read. A very special thanks to my clients and past clients that continue to recommend me. You guys are awesome. I wish you all a prosperous New Year.

Ideas for a non-traditional Bridal Shower

Every bride has their own style. If you are one bride that does not want the traditional bridal shower, this is, gathering to open presents and playing games, then you will love these ideas. There are three suggestions below that will still allow you to have a good time but come out rejuvenated, relaxed and having developed a strong bond between friends.

SPA PARTY
Spa parties allow the bride and her friends to unwind and celebrate. You will be pampered and beautified. You may get facial treatments, massages and manicures. These spa parties may be available at your local spa but we found one that comes highly recommended, BODY BY BROOKLYN. What better way to take a break from the stress of wedding planning than to eat, drink and be pampered?

TEA PARTY
If you want to enjoy afternoon tea/brunch in a wonderland then visit Alice's Tea Cup. With 3 locations in NYC, you get the experience of a wide assortment of teas is Alice's magical tea room. Each tea is brewed with double filtered water boiled to 180 degrees, freshly brewed just for you. Tea can then be followed by their specialty cakes. Visit their website for more details on how to book your shower.

COOKING THEME PARTY
Love to eat and party? Why not combine the two? Marc Weiss aka DJ CHEF simultaneously cooks up his signature gourmet dishes and spins the latest records for your event. He takes cooking to a whole new level. To book his parties visit his website for more details.

Fall Themed Pocketfold Invitation

Don't you just love it when brides plan ahead? Kristi is having an October 2009 wedding and she is already picking out invitations.
She wanted to combine the bronze, opal and the gold to give a wonderful fall theme.
I designed this invitation and recently received a response from Kristi via email saying "We loved the invitations you did. It was exactly what I wanted". It makes me warm and fuzzy inside to know that she was satisfied with the sample.

I look forward to working with Kristi!

The closed pocketfold


Open and showing rsvp card


RSVP Card

Vendor Spotlight- Places Everyone

Everyone knows what a difficult task it can be to do your seating arrangements for your wedding or any other major event. It is an even harder task if you have a huge guest list.
In an attempt to solve this problem, Adam Wolf of Places Everyone, came up with the Ultimate Seating Planner.
Places Everyone is not a computer software, but anyone can use it.
Basically, it allows you to add, remove or change the location of your guests, tables and even the band or DJ.
If you want to save countless hours on creating your seating arrangement, visit PLACES EVERYONE to learn more about this product.

Tipping Guide

Brides constantly ask for suggestions on what to tip their vendors so I figured I would put this list together. Some brides even forget to include this in their preliminary budget.
The truth is, there is no set rule as to how much you need to tip your vendors. While it is not mandatory to tip vendors, tips are always appreciated. Our tipping guide below might help you. Please note, these are only suggested amounts:


Officiant:This is usually a controversial issue.
Religious officiant-if you are an active member of a church give a donation to the church (around $500).
Non-denominational officiants: just their fee is usually good enough, but if you still wish to.... give around $50-100 (some might even decline this)

Make-Up/Hair: 15-20%

Delivery (florist):$10-15

Baker, Stationer, Party Rentals, Bridal Salon:Not expected

Limo: 15-20% (in most cases the gratuity was already included in your total cost)

DJ: $50-100

MC: $50-100

Musicians: (band,quartet)$20-30 each

Maitre'd- Usually standard $1.50-$4 per person (depending on your reception hall)

Photographer: $50-100

Videographer: $50-100

Wedding Planner: If your wedding planner owns their own business it is optional to tip him/her. If you do wish to tip him/her 10-15 % should suffice.

Valet: If not included in your final bill, give $1-1.50 per car (to be divided among attendants)

Reception Hall/Caterer: gratuity is usually included in final cost to be divided among staff.

Tip your vendors for exceptional service provided. Something your vendors will really appreciate is you referring your friends. Referrals are great for business (especially in the wedding industry).

I am an Etsian!

So unless you have been living under a rock, you should know about Etsy. Etsy is a place to buy and sell all things handmade. I have been working on this shop for a while now and I finally completed it last night. Check out OUR ETSY SHOP when you get a chance.

The Honeymoon-Part 2 (Make it an adventure)

It is becoming the norm for couples to center their honeymoon around high adrenaline activities. They may even spend half the time being adventurous and then the remainder of the time relaxing...sipping coco locos, pina coladas or dirty bananas.
Here is a list of some of the most popular adventure sports and activities for honeymooners to consider:

*Swimming with dolphins, sharks or stingrays
*Scuba Diving
*Snorkeling
*Cave and Waterfall Tours
*White Water Rafting
*Jet Skiing
*Parasailing
*Bungee Jumping
*Hikes through the rainforest
*Pyramid Climbing
*Ziplining
*Helicopter Tours

Are these high adrenaline enough for you? Take the time to plan your honeymoon. To get the best deals, your honeymoon should usually be booked at least 6-9 months in advance.

The Honeymoon- Part 1

Brides often get consumed with planning for the wedding ceremony and reception and before you know it, the honeymoon gets neglected. The honeymoon is a special time for the new couple. It is a time for you and your spouse to relax and unwind from all the planning and of course...enjoy each other.

*Before you go to a travel agent or start looking for deals, decide exactly what you want your honeymoon to be like. Do you want to just relax at the beach or do you want a resort that has a list of activities/tours?

*If you do use a travel agent, don't forget to tell him/her that this is a honeymoon. Some resorts may offer upgrades for honeymooners.

*Set a budget and stick to it (no different than with the wedding). Don't go for an itinerary that will cost you "an arm and a leg".

*Choose your destination wisely.Go for an adult only resort. We love the kids, but do you really want to hear them screaming at 5 in the morning.

*Consider the season when you choose your honeymoon location. What do I mean by this? Don't go to Costa Rica during the raining season unless you want to spend the whole trip indoors.

*Allow for some down time on the honeymoon. Have fun and do activities but don't forget to relax too.

*Consider an all inclusive resort. This will include airfares, transfers, food, accommodations and liquor etc.

*Before you leave for the trip, prepare a list of all the items you want to take with you.

*Get travel insurance. It is not that expensive and you never know what may go wrong.

I hope you found this advice useful. Stay tuned for Part 2.

Newly Wed Game Show

The Nest is currently looking for newlyweds for their new game show "The NewlyWed Game".
Casting Calls:
NYC-now through Jan. 2009
Philadelphia-now through Jan. 10, 2009

For more info. Go to www.embassyrow.com and click on CASTING.

Good Luck!

Vendor Spotlight-Sugar Mama Treats

If you are in the NY area and still looking for a wedding cake, you might love this one.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to meet Michelle of Sugar Mama Treats. As soon as I walked in her office, I could tell the passion she has for what she does. She was wearing a T "Got Cakes"...cute,right?
Michelle said she has always been artistic and just love what she does because she gets to show her creative side. She loves when clients order personalized pastries as she gets to do something new each time.
Michelle has worn many hats. She has been jewelry designer,coordinator, make-up artist, actress and even editor of an online magazine, but I think she has found her calling.
After seeing some of the things she has created I would have never thought that Michelle taught herself everything she knows.Sugar Mama Treats was founded two years ago and continues to satisfy their clients desire for tasty and unique looking specialty cakes. Michelle makes anything from cupcakes, mini cakes, cookies, wedding cakes and even grooms cakes.
After speaking to her I truly believe she does love making cakes and much as we love eating them.
For more details or to schedule an appointment for a tasting. Visit her WEBSITE.

I can tell you the cakes taste as good as they look :-)

Here are a few of my favorites:

What's your theme?

Many brides go back and forth with the idea of what theme they want there wedding to be. Well Jennifer and Michael knew they wanted a beach themed wedding. A few weeks ago I was asked to design a pocketfold invitation for them. The couple wanted the invitation to be a little more unique by adding their picture.....here goes

Vendor Spotlight-Baskets Bellisimo

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Josephine of Baskets Bellisimo.
I can tell you Baskets Bellisimo is not your average Basket Company. They can customize baskets for any occasion. So if you are not sure what to give for that birthday, thank you, sympathy, graduation, new baby, holiday gift etc....try a Bellisimo Basket.

For our brides to be Josephine can customize baskets for your out of town guests. She also does silk floral arrangements (bouquets and boutonnieres etc.) One of my favorites was her hand-painted glasses.



She is truly talented and so totally altruistic and one of the most pleasant business person I know.
For more details on how to order Bellisimo Baskets contact Josephine at basketbellismo@aol.com.

Baskets Bellisimo
24 Franklin Avenue
Franklin Square, NY

NJ Networking Event at Solar Do Minho

So last night hundreds of wedding professionals gathered at Solar Do Minho, in Roselle Park, NJ for what might be the first in a series of these networking events.
I am sure the venue's stone walls, wood tones and antique furniture will attract many brides. Its the perfect setting for that once in a lifetime memorable wedding.

I managed to get a few pictures before I knew it...my camera died.

I got a picture of some of the desserts before the camera crashed.






I was honored to be in the same room with some of who I considered to be an inspiration in the wedding industry. Here I am with Kenneth, or should I say "Bosco" of Bosco Bridal Showcases.




And of course the Cake Diva herself.



I met a lot of people that I probably wouldn't have met otherwise and I am glad that the sponsors (NJ Weddings, Contemporary Bride, WeddingZone and many others)we able to put this together.

Here are a few of the the exceptional vendors I met:
Cake Diva
Blush & Brushes
Rodrick Moore Photography
Inku Photography
Places Everyone
Gemini DJs
Andre Walker Photography
Sirius Orchestra
Videoallstar
Woody Works Workin Music
Prestige Chocolates
The Flair Factor
For Your Event Planners
Creative Floral
John O'Boyle Photography

You can check out more pictures HERE. I hope we will see more of these events.

Signature Drinks........

It has become very trendy for couples to create a signature drink for their guests. You won't need to go to bartending school to give your cocktails a flair, it can be as simple as renaming your drinks. Your guests will love a lavishly decorated, fancy named cocktail. Here are two wedding day drink recipes courtesy of our friends from Contemporary Bride:



The White Rose
Mix 2 parts Modmix Organic Lavender Lemon Drop
with 1 part vodka and 1 part champagne.
Shake well and strain into martini glass.
Top off with champagne.
Garnish with white rose petal


Bell Chimes
Mix 2 parts Modmix Organic French Martini
with 1 part tequilla.
Shake over ice.
Serve inmartini glass.
Garnish with raspberry.

One of my couples (Kim & Scott), had a signature drink "Albee Yours Forever". They had the ingredients displayed in a nice frame on the bar. The guests loved the idea. Here is a picture.

Great News-Eternally Linked

Our friends at Eternally Linked are having their Grand Opening today (65 Bleecker Street).
Eternally Linked creates handmade, personalized wedding, anniversary, and special occasion cufflinks and accessories. They provide grooms with commemorative pieces to mark the most important day of their lives. They also provide a nice array of groomsmen gifts so grooms can provide unique and timeless gifts to their wedding party.
If you are in NY, stop by and have them customize something for your groom.

Holiday Shopping!

So even though its been officially declared a recession I know some of you are still doing holiday shopping. If you are in the NYC area you might want to visit the Grand Central Holiday Fair. This is the 10th year for the Holiday Fair. Visit the website for a list of allvendors and hours of operation.

And the winner is........

So the LIW 09ers were out in numbers in October for their 09 shower. If you are not a LIWer you probably have no idea what this is. Each year the LIwers plan a shower where they all come out to eat, have fun and sometimes exchange gifts (like a real bridal shower). There were many vendor giveaways and as an LIW vendor I decided to give one lucky bride a personalized unity candle set. The recipient of this candle set was Martha. Even though Martha isn't getting married until September 2009, she said receiving her set now would make everything seem so much more real. Martha's theme is brown and pink (lovely colors). Congrats Martha and I hope you like your prize.

You may view more pictures of the LIW 09 shower from this TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER

Picture Time!

So you have spent months or years planning the perfect wedding, from finding the perfect venue, the gown, the shoes etc. and now its time for your pictures. The venue for your pictures should be located close to your reception venue but it should also reflect your personality. Whether you want pictures to be on the boardwalk of your local beach, a botanical garden or city lights as your backdrop, where you take your pictures is very important. After all you will have these pictures for a lifetime.

If you do choose to take pictures in a garden, you should check to see what is in bloom around the time of your wedding.

Here are a few popular spots to take pictures in NY:

Argyle Memorial Park
Avalon Park
Frank Melville Memorial Park
Planting Fields Arboretum
Rosyln Duck Pond
Garden city Gazebo
Central Park
Queens Botanical Garden
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
Bayard Cutting Arboretum
Bailey Arboretum
Eisenhower Park
Oheka Castle
Deseversky Center

Before your wedding day, save yourself any headaches by doing further research for site fee requirements or any special permits that will be needed.

Happy Turkey Day!

From my family to yours….Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! Before you sit down to have that wonderful meal today, take a moment to give thanks for all the good (or even not so good things) in your life. I am grateful that my family is in good health. I am forever grateful that I have a great husband and a happy, healthy, handsome son. I am also grateful for real friends. And of course, we are grateful for you......our blog readers! Thank You!

I thought I would share some instructions on how to carve a turkey:

Sit Tight
Once the bird is removed from the oven, it should stand for 20 to 35 minutes, depending on its size. This gives the proteins time to relax and allows the juices to redistribute throughout the bird, resulting in succulent slices of meat. Before you begin carving, have a warm serving platter ready.

Legs First
Arrange the turkey, breast side up, on a cutting board. Steady the turkey with a carving fork. Using a sharp knife, slice through the meat between the breast and the leg. Next, using a large knife as an aid, press the thigh outward to find the hip joint. Slice down through the joint and remove the leg. Cut between the thigh bone and drumstick bone to divide the leg into one thigh piece and one drumstick. To carve the drumstick, steady it with a carving fork and cut a thick slice of meat from one side, along the bone. Next, turn the drumstick over so that the cut side faces down. Cut off another thick slice of meat. Repeat, turning the drumstick onto a flat side and cutting off meat, carving a total of four thick slices. To slice the thigh, place it flat side down on a cutting board. Steady the thigh with a carving fork. With a knife, cut parallel to the bone and slice off the meat. Be sure to place all the cuts on the warmed serving platter as you work.

Wings Take Off
Before you carve the breast, the wings must be removed. Slice diagonally down through the edge of the breast toward the wing. Using a knife as an aid, press the wing out to find the shoulder joint; cut through the joint and remove the wing. Place the wing on the serving platter as is.

Carve the Breast
To carve the breast meat, hold the back of the carving fork against the breastbone. Starting parallel to the breastbone, slice diagonally through the meat. Lift off each slice, holding it between the knife and fork, and layer them on the warm serving platter. Continue until you have carved all the meat on one side of the breast. Carve the other side of breast in the same fashion. And let the feasting begin!

Wedding Fact 101-Tie the Knot

From our friends at Wedding Zone:
Ever wonder where that phrase "tie the knot" comes from? This apparently goes back to Roman times. The bride would wear a girdle that was tied in many knots, which the groom had the duty of untying. As a side note, this also can refer to the tying of the knot in hand-fasting ceremonies, which were usually done without the benefit of clergy.

DIY- Herb Boutonniere

Ever thought of using a flower alternative for your guy’s boutonnieres? Well here is a perfect solution. Why not make a boutonniere using herbs? Herbs usually have a symbolic meaning and some do have a nice smell. Rosemary and lavender are a great choice-rosemary represents remembrance and lavender represents devotion.

To try making this yourself you will need the following:
Herbs, wire cutter, ribbon, scissors, floral wire, floral tape, corsage pins, straight pin.

Directions:
1. Combine sprigs of herbs. Strip the leaves away and cut them about 4 inches in length. Leave approximately 2 inches of the stem.

2. Hold the herbs together and wrap the stem with floral wire (from the leafy part of the stem to the bottom).

3. Now cover the floral wire with floral tape then wrap the tape with ribbon (any color of your choice). Secure the ribbon on the back with a straight pin.

4. Attach the boutonniere to the lapel with a corsage pin and voila!


This only takes a few minutes. You can keep the boutonnieres fresh by placing in a bag and keep in the fridge. (Credit-Image from The Knot)

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

What are you looking for in wedding day shoes? Do you want sexy shoes or comfortable shoes? Sometimes it’s just not possible to find one pair that satisfy both criteria. Here are a few you may like from myglassslipper. If the heels seem a little too high you can always change into a flat pair for the reception, right?

Kate Spade


Guisseppe Zanotti


Versani


Guisseppe Zanotti