Holiday Party: Signature Drink - Christmas Martini

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love to play Christmas tunes every chance I get. And who can say no to the many yummy cookies and seasonal treats? I feel giddy at heart like a kid again at the very sight of Christmas lights or a tree. But most of all, I love spending time with friends and family celebrating the season during the holiday parties.

If you are hosting a holiday party or getting married, a fun detail to include would be a signature drink. One of my favorites is the Christmas Martini.

Recipe:

1 oz Dry Gin
1 1/2 oz Peppermint Schnapps
1/2 oz Water
1 Stick Peppermint Candy

Strain gin and peppermint schnapps into martini glass. Add peppermint stick.

Happy Holiday to you and yours!

Samantha Darr

Part II: Creating the Perfect Moment

Day 2 our bride steps out of her home with a fresh pair of heels and new expectations. She gathers her crew and begins her dress shopping:

Imagine entering a gorgeous wedding gown boutique met by a fabulous white staircase. Upstairs you become surrounded by various different sections of exquisite gowns separated by top designers. A sales associate approaches you and assists with picking out various dresses of your choice making suggestions along the way based on your body type and skin coloring. Your hands run across all the different fabrics enjoying the textures, layers, and beading. This sales consultant will bring you and your family into a private dressing room where she will help you try on all the gowns of your liking. Based on your response she will bring you more dresses that will compliment your figure so much you could just cry. At the end of the day you will find a dress. This dress will likely make you do a little dance in front of the mirror, your mom will begin to cry, and sure enough the tears become contagious and the whole room, including you, will have smiling wet cheeks. The perfect dress has been found and a moment has been created.

Experiences are everything in life. Make sure this experience is so perfect that words can not express the joy and excitement you feel. Meet me for Part III for a few wise suggestions and a glimpse into the newest wedding dress fashion trends.

Always Learning, Always Fabulous,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Part I: The Wedding Dress Saga

When shopping for a wedding dress it is vastly important to know where to go and who to meet with. As minor a task this may seem you would be surprised how much a wedding planner can do to make sure you have an excellent shopping experience. Without the advice of a wedding planner you may find yourself in the following situation:

Imagine entering a cutely decorated store glancing around, excited to try on your first wedding dress. You reach for a beautiful pearl gown to get a closer look and feel the fabric against your skin, WAIT, a sales consultant stops you with a drill sergeant like demeanor. “Please use these hand wipes and clean your hands thoroughly before touching any gowns” she says. So you clean your hands feeling like a four year old who just got scolded by her mother. When you try to enter the actual salon where the dresses are being kept there is a small stop sign requesting that all customers wait to be escorted into the room. You have brought your sisters, best friend and mother to help pick dresses to try on. The sales consultant says “I am sorry, only one person can help you pick out dresses.” Every where you walk and everything you touch is being patroled by the sales associate standing in the corner of the room. Here you are ready to spend $1,000-$20,000 and this is your shopping experience? Well, as a wedding planner I would not let my bride experience this. Shopping for a dress should be an exciting experience and a bride should enjoy every moment that leads up to her big day.

After an experience like this you could imagine what a disappointment day 1 of wedding dress shopping was. After a long discussion with her wedding planner she will be out on day 2 with new direction and many new expectations. Tune in for part 2: Creating the Perfect Moment!

Yours Truly,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Wedding Feature: Stephanie & Benjamin's Summer Wedding

With each couple that I work with in helping to plan their wedding, I can't help but to feel the buzz of excitement the week of the wedding. Having been a Bride myself, I know what the couple is feeling and it simply gives me butterflies as I know they are about to embark on one of the happiest and most memorable days of their lives. With being 3 days away from Stephanie & Ben's wedding, who needs coffee when you have the wedding buzz?!

For me, Stephanie and Benjamin has been a truly adorable couple to work with. When they look at each other, you can see just how much they adore each other and are in love. Their summer wedding is filled with detail, detail, detail from custom hand towels to gourmet styled meals and an array of eclectic songs to ensure that every guests dances the night away. They are having a wedding surrounded by family and friends with a collection of truly talented wedding professionals to bring it all together. Of course, with yours truly, they will be assured that the event will run flawlessly. As many have teased me in past, my events usually do run down to the minute in exact precision. 8:39 for the first dance....really!

Event Ingredients:

Church: St. Michael Catholic Church
Venue: The Courtyard at St. James

Photographer: Morgan Lynn Photography (engagement pics shot in New Orleans)
Florist: Events in Bloom

Cake: Cakes by Gina

C. Music: Divisi Strings

Hair/makeup: Your Beautiful Face

Linens: Elegant Beginnings

DJ: JM Productions

Transportation: The Original Trolley Company

Host Hotel: Hotel Derek