Real Weddings: Tiffany & Patrick 10/10/09

Tiffany and Patrick came to me as a referral from another planner who was expecting around the time of the couple’s wedding. I was grateful for the connection. Tiffany was a very organized bride, love when they are organized.
The couple were doing a cherry blossom and tiffany and brown theme. Tiffany is also very talented. She created her own invitations, programs, menus, napkin tags and table numbers. Everything was beautiful, but don’t take my word for it……see the pictures below.
One highlight of the evening was the choreographed dance the bridal party did upon being introduced at the reception. The couple also did a Chinese tea ceremony . Guests took home sweet towels as favors. If you have never seen these before, they are really the cutest and most practical things ever. They are towels that are dressed up like actual desserts.

Reception: Richfield Regency
Ceemonyr Music: Salut D’Amour
Officiant: Mitchell S. Maged
Photo: David Lau
Limo: Action Limos
DJ: DJ Unlimited
Video: MJ Video Productions
Personal Flowers: Amy’s Florist
Centerpiece vase Rental: Majestic Moments Boutique

The programs


The table set up


Guest sign in scroll


The placecards


Napkin Tags


The Sweet Towels


The Cake


The lovely bride & groom


Images above were taken by David Lau

Merry Christmas

To all my faithful readers:

Merry Christmas! I hope that you and your family will take this time to reflect on the true meaning of the season.
I love you for reading.


Love,
Elite Affairs

Image from HERE

Real Weddings: Mecaila & Jason 10/10/09

Mecaila & Jason were planning their NYC themed wedding at Battery Gardens. They were planning this from out of state, so we were more than happy to be of assistance.
The couple incorporated some Filipino traditions in their ceremony. They also included a lot of children in the ceremony. Even more memorable were the swordsmen at the end of the ceremony.
After the ceremony, the couple went across town to take pictures in their classic yellow cab. The reception also had a few unique touches that the guests loved. Mecaila & Jason had a cupcake tower, leaving one layer cake for the cake cutting ceremony. The cake cutting ceremony was done with a sword….you don’t see that everyday. In addition to cupcakes, the guests got crash off tickets to take home.

Below are some of the beautiful images from their oh so talented photographers Kate & Georgina















Nicole, was their day of coordinator. Their other fabulous vendors:

Reception: Battery Gardens
Photo: Kate & Georgina
DJ: More than Music
Florist: Blooming Buds Flowers
Cake: Pink Cake Box
Checker Cab: Film Cars
Transportation: UEC Transport
Linen: Cloth Connections

Real Weddings: Danielle & Alex 10/3/09

Believe me when I say that all my brides are special to me. But I must say that Danielle is extra special because she was the first bride to sign an Elite Affairs contract. She booked me almost two years from her wedding. I love her for taking a chance with us and then spreading the word to her friends. {Love you ladies, you know who you are}.
Danielle & Alex had their ceremony at a cute little church, Wading River Congregational. I will never forget that Pastor, one because he did such a great job and two, who doesn’t love a British accent.
After the ceremony, the bridal party and family went to local beach for pictures. They also took some pictures on the grounds at East Wind. The place, the service, the food were beautiful!
Danielle did a great job in DIYing her programs and menus. The guests were given candy , personalized playing cards and poker chips as favors.

The vendors that made it a success:
Ceremony: Wading River Congregational
Reception: East Wind Caterers
Flowers: Flowers by Burton
Photo: Proline Studios
Limo: Alexis
DJ: FM Entertainment
Violinist: M.A.S (Marie Stack)

A shot from the beach

Their cardbox


The candy buffet


Cake!


The lovely centerpiece


Danielle & Alex, I wish you all the best!

Real Weddings: Diana & Hans 9/18/09

I had the pleasure of meeting Diana months prior to her wedding. I was in constant contact with Diana but only met Hans at the rehearsal.
The couple were planning a purple and love birds themed wedding at Fox Hollow. Their wedding day was a wild one for me. Keep reading to find out why.
I met with the bride at the Inn at Fox Hollow while her and her bridesmaids were getting all dolled up. After collecting some items needed for the ceremony, I ran ahead to ensure final setup of the church. I was less than 10 blocks away from the church when I got into an accident. The rare of a tractor trailer ripped off the front of my truck. I walked out the accident okay, but the whole time I was more concerned with getting to the church. I was grateful that my bride and groom were very understanding. I did make it to the church in time for the ceremony. By the time I got to the ceremony all the vendors heard what had happened. Let’s just say…TEAM WORK!
The remainder of the day did go by without a hitch. We were off to a fabulous reception at The Fox Hollow. The guests were entertained by a mariachi band, the bride and groom got there chance at being rock stars when they played the drums. You could truly tell how happy they were all day. I wish Diana and Hans a lifetime of happiness.

The fabulous vendors:
Reception: Fox Hollow
Photo: Thomas Paul
Video: Wild Rose
Hair: Giovanni of Elegant Appearance
Make-Up: All Dolled Up
Limo: Royalty
Florist: Designs by Rose
Mariachi: Stan Wiest
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour: Vintage String Quartet
Linen: Linen Creations








Images above are from Thomas Paul

Real Weddings: Zena & Jose 9/20/09

I was very excited to be a part of Zena and Jose’s Wedding. They were planning a very intimate bee themed wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Zena had the most unique ideas and I was happy to see such creativity.
I was vey impressed with how organized Zena was. She gave me a 12 page ( yes, 12 page document) with a timeline of their weekend, day of wedding, transportation arrangement and even a schedule for the hair and make- up . It was a little crazy but I wasn’t left in the dark. Love you Zena: )
The couple had a very intimate ceremony with 60 of their closest family and friends at The Sheraton, Tarrytown. Since they had a bee theme, the officiant incorporated a salt and honey ritual in the ceremony. It was a 10am ceremony, so the guests were given small bags of cereal. The cereal bags had tags which had the order of the ceremony.
After the ceremony the guests were transported to Blue Hill. It was cocktails and nothing but delicious food. The great thing about Blue Hill is that the meals are prepared from everything grown on the farm. The cake was not only a pleasure to look at, but it tasted even as delicious. The cake was designed by the talented bride. The guest also had petit fours and they got a personalized bottle of honey to take home as favors.

Vendors who made it all a success:
Reception: Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Photographer: Jordan Van Aken
Hair: Styles on B
Make-Up: Michelle Larner
Officiant: Joanna Fernandes
Ceremony Music and Reception: John Ragusa Music
Cake: Cake Alchemy
Petit Fours: Nine Cakes
Flowers: Designs By Ahn
Transportation: Starlight Limo
Linen: Cloth Connections















Zena & Jose couldn’t get enough of me, they even moved to my neighborhood :). I wish them all the best!

Images above are courtesy of Jordan Van Aken

Real Weddings: Freyda & Brian 8/29/09

Freyda & Brian made a last minute decision to hire a day of coordinator. They were planning a New Jersey wedding, with most of their guests being from New York and wanted all the help they could get.
I met with Freyda at her hotel that morning and I have to say she was beaming all day. Nothing could wipe that smile off her face…..and that’s exactly how it should be.
After staging their “first moment” the bride and groom to be and their guests were transported to Congregation B’nai Tikvah. As it was a Jewish Wedding on a Saturday, it couldn’t begin until sun down. So let’s just say it was one late party…8pm until 2 in the morning.


Ceremony & Reception Congregation B’nai Tikvah
Photographer: Ryan Brenizer
Officiant: Rabbi Robert Wolkoff
Florist: Marquis Florals & Event Design
Band: East Coast Band
Videographer: Motoko of Love in Progress
Hair: Kathleen Archetta
Makeup: Carrie Halper

Freyda & Brian, keep smiling!

Here are a few pictures. I will post more once I go through their gallery (promise).


On the bus, headed to ceremony


Signing the ketubah


Their first dance


The groom on the keys


The above images are from Ryan Brenizer's blog

Cyber Monday SALE in our ETSY SHOP

As you may know, when we are not planning weddings, we are busy designing custom items/stationery for our valued clients. These custom items can be found in our ETSY SHOP. On one of the biggest online shopping days of the year we wanted to offer you a special deal as well. ALL orders placed between now and midnight 11/30 will receive FREE SHIPPING!

Visit our ETSY SHOP to view all our custom items for sale!

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we eat, drink and be merry today, let us not forget to be thankful for all the good things in our lives. This thanksgiving and everyday, I am grateful for family, friends and health. I am thankful for past and present clients that have made Elite Affairs the success it is today. I am also grateful for the wedding professionals that I have met along the way that have been a pleasure to work with. I wish everyone a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving. Be safe!

Tell Us what you are grateful for today.

Wedding Budget {What should I include?}

In lieu of engagement season we thought this might help the newly engaged to determine a budget. Whether you are planning a simple wedding of just close friends or an elaborate wedding of 400 guests you need to have a budget. You must first determine how much you want to spend on your wedding and then where you want to money allotted. When you make a budget...stick to it!
Here are some traditional categories associated with a wedding. Its up to you to decide if its mandatory or optional to you:

Ceremony Fees {Officiant, Church, Organist, Cantor etc.}
Flowers {Ceremony, Reception, Bouquets, Boutonnieres, Corsages}
Gifts {Attendants, Parents, Groom, Bride}
Honeymoon Costs
Stationery {Invitations, Postage, Calligraphy, Programs, Menu, Placecards}
Marriage license (mandatory)
Photographer
Videographer
Reception {Food, Beverage, Cake}
Wedding Favors
Transportation {Limo, Shuttle for guests}
Wedding Attire
Rings
Beauty {Hair, Nails, Make Up}
Wedding Planner
Vendor Tips
Miscellaneous

Decide what is more important to you. What category would you rather save on versus splurging? Their will be a wide range of costs associated with every category. Take you time to research and determine what is right for you.

Tipping Your Wedding Vendors

We have posted this before, but we thought it was worth revisiting. Brides constantly ask for suggestions on what to tip their vendors so we put this list together.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. Do not forget to set aside a percentage of your preliminary budget for tips. 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):$15-20

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)$30-40 each

Maitre'd- Usually standard $3-6 per invited guests (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)

Real Weddings- A Sneak Peek {Lisa & Mike}

I am trying to catch up with my blogging and post pictures of weddings we did this season (I am getting there). I am only up to August and I have all of September, October to get through but I thought you would appreciate a sneak peek of last weekend's wedding {Lisa & Mike}.

This image is courtesy of their photographer Alison Conklin. The ceremony setting was very romantic, just like the bride wanted. This is all I have for now, but you may stalk Alison's blog for more pictures:)

Real Weddings {Selina & Cadman} August 22, 2009

All my brides are special to me but with Selina, I felt like I was working with my little sister to plan her wedding.
Selina and I immediately "clicked" the moment we met. We constantly communicated through via email and phone and I couldn't have been happier that the day came together so beautifully.
The couple had a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Hyatt Regency Hotel, followed by cocktail hour and reception.
Selina did not omit any detail; from the doves they released at the ceremony, to the programs, petal cones, tall and low centerpieces, rum cake favors and their photobooth.....it was a grand party.

The happy couple


The bouquets



The cake and caketopper


Shoes and Invitations


The tall centerpiece


The really fabulous vendors that made it all possible:

Ceremony & Reception: Hyatt Regency
DJ: Triple Alliance DJs
Photo: Duet
Video: Duet
Make-Up: Ellen B
Photobooth: Partybooth
Flowers: Lovin Oven
Invitations & Caketopper:Etsy Shop

Selina and Cadman, I wish you a lifetime of happiness!

Top 10 items for Wedding Day Emergency Kit

You have planned for months or even years and now the big day is finally here. As a wedding insurance, you want to have an emergency kit to be prepared for the unexpected. There are a lot of items you can have in this emergency kit but we have found that these are the 10 most used items:

1) Sewing Kit (needles, pins, buttons, thread)
2) Tape (fashion tape or double sided tape)
3) Snack Bars & Mints (Bars if you get hungry. Mints for fresh breath before the first kiss)
4) Hair Pins and Hair Spray
5) Over-the-counter (OTC) Drugs {tylenol, tums, benadryl, midol etc.}
6) Mini First Aid Kit
7) Kleenex (someone always cries)
8) Sanitary Products for the ladies
9) Crazy Glue
10)Shout Wipes or Tide Pen

Sometimes the smallest items can be the biggest lifesaver. What's in your emergency kit?

Napkin Decor Ideas

Wedding napkins are a great way to accessorize your wedding tables, whether you use napkin rings, flowers or ribbons to personalize. I recently stumbled upon some beautiful napkin decor ideas and thought I would share them with you.
Your guests will be delighted by these ideas:











To see these and other napkin ideas and to learn how you can DIY, go HERE

Traditions: Chinese Tea Ceremony

Serving tea, is a sign of respect at a Chinese wedding. That's why many couples include this tradition as an important part of their special day.
Traditionally, after the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds serve tea, inviting the groom’s elders to drink tea by addressing them by formal title, e.g. first uncle or third aunt.

The general rule is to have the woman on the left side and the man on the right side. The people being served will sit in chairs, while the bride and groom kneel.
The newlyweds serve tea in order, starting with the groom’s parents then proceeding from the oldest family members to the youngest, e.g. the groom’s parents, then his paternal grandparents, then his maternal grandparents, then his oldest uncles and aunts, and all the way to his older brother.

Why Tea?
Tea is probably used because it is China’s national drink and serving it is a sign of respect. Using tea is practical because not everyone can drink alcohol.
Lotus seeds and two red dates are used in the tea for two reasons. First, the words “lotus” and “year,” “seed” and “child,” and “date” and “early,” are homophones, i.e. they have the same sound but different meanings in Chinese. Secondly, the ancient Chinese believed that putting these items in the tea would help the newlyweds produce children early in their marriage and every year, which would ensure many grandchildren for their parents. Also, the sweetness of the special tea is a wish for sweet relations between the bride and her new family.

Source

Dress Pick of the Week: Amsale {Nadine}

I just love the ruffled neckline on this.....



NADINE
Silk Taffeta. Silk Taffeta ballgown with ruched bodice and soft gathered skirt. Neckline features Taffeta ruffle halter. Available in Ivory as sampled and White

Go to AMSALE to see this and other beautiful wedding gowns