JAZZ & SPECIALTY

Dave Sterner Jazz Trio at Embassy Suites Independence for Parma Hospital’s Casino Night

We love bringing you tips from our favorite local wedding planners on this blog. Our recent post on 2010 wedding trends from Brandi Hamerstone of All Events Planned helped serve as inspiration for a news segment on Channel 5 when Lee Daniels came to our blog via Brandi’s. Brandi was asked to appear in the segment, and here it is!

Why not use Twinkies?  You can make a beautiful cake with them…

Or a not so beautiful cake….

Visit BrideTide for 15 more Twinkie wedding cakes. And, you’re welcome for the inspiration.

Today’s wedding planning tip is thanks to Kathy Boehm of Simply Elegant Affairs. Kathy offers planning assistance as well as Day-Of Coordination.

I suggest to brides and their grooms who are searching for that perfect keepsake for their guests: Why not consider a donation to your favorite charity in the guests names? A lot of money is being spent on wedding favors that become “throw aways.”

Perhaps there is a family member or friend who has been affected by serious illness or the newlywed’s favorite cause is animal rescue. There are a multitude of charities out there that will appreciate this gesture of generosity.

An explanation can be displayed at the place card table in the entry area of the reception or at each individual table. Guests are always moved by the thoughtfulness of the newly married couple. A great start for a new beginning!

This idea can be implemented for any type of party or corporate affair.

Photo by Jessica Higgins

BANDS

Jerry Bruno’s “The ‘A’ Band” at the Inter-Continental for a wedding

Rick & the Cutting Edge at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame for a Nestle event
DJs

DJ Larry Kopniske at Manakiki Country Club for a wedding

JAZZ & SPECIALTY

Harpist Virginia Dickson at the Ritz-Carlton for a private Ritz event

Sonata String Trio at the Inter-Continental for a wedding

BANDS

The Orchestra at the Metropolitan Ballroom for a corporate appreciation dinner

DJs

Scott E. Jones at Windows on the River for a wedding.

Mike Alexander at Quicken Loans Arena’s Bridges Restaurant for a wedding.

JAZZ & SPECIALTY

Pianist Anthony Fuuco at the Marriott Key Center for a Sherwin-Williams Awards Dinner

Harpist Virginia Dickson at the Canton Club for a wedding.

Solo violinist Mary Beth Ions at the Marriott Key Center for a private bridal event.

Panorama Steel Drums at Quicken Loans Arena’s Bridges Restaurant for a wedding.

Here are our bookings for Valentine’s Day weekend!

BANDS

AKA at Gambitta’s Party Center for a benefit.

DJs

Scott E. Jones at the Cleveland Renaissance for a wedding.

Mike Alexander at Sammy’s at Legacy Village for Euclid Hospital’s Medical staff dinner dance.

JAZZ & SPECIALTY

Esto Jazz at Fairlawn Country Club for Valentine’s Day dinner.

Guitarist Will Cheshier at Chagrin Valley Athletic Club for Valentine’s Day dinner.

Guitarist Pete Cavano at Sammy’s at Legacy Village for Euclid Hospital’s staff dinner dance.

Solo steel drum at Fairview Hospital for a Pediatric open house.

Harpist Virginia Dickson at Fairview Hospital for an open house event.

Solo violin at the Ritz-Carlton for Valentine’s Day dinner.

Thank you to Brandi Hamerstone, an amazing wedding planner and owner of All Events Planned, for sharing with us her thorough list of 2010 wedding trends!

Wedding  Planners

I know I might end up sounding biased on this one, but wedding planners seem to be a hit in 2010.  Not just full planning packages, people of all budgets and all service levels are seeking out planners to fit their needs.  I don’t know many weddings being planned without SOME level of assistance from a planner.

Wedding Cakes

I’m happy to report that fondant is going away and buttercream is back and better than ever.  After too many appointments with brides trying to explain that fondant does not taste even half as good as it looks, they are all heading back to the ever-popular buttercream, phew!

Bridesmaid Dresses

Matching color, but not matching style bridesmaid dresses.  Brides are now just giving a few specifications to their bridal party (blues, nothing above the knee or backless) and letting them make the choice of the dress.  This always seems to end in a huge success.  Your bridal party tends to be friends that think JUST like you so you end up with different, fun styles of dresses that still fit with your perfect wedding day style.

Dessert at the Reception

Dessert Buffets.  Finally, the bride and groom “get it” and their traditional parents have accepted that the cake isn’t usually a big hit at the wedding.  Candy bars have gone away (phew) and now dessert bars with wonderful, colorful and elegant varieties of miniature desserts are making their entrance.  Yummy!

Favors Are So Last Season

Favors are no longer favorite.  So many couples are using the money that would be spent on favors to donate to their favorite cause or to a different cause based on the passion of each of their guest.  While choosing a foundation that best represents every individual takes lots of time, the bride and groom feel good about doing something special for their guest while helping out those in need.

Photography

Memories are made in pictures.  Finally, finally the bride and groom are understanding the importance of good pictures.  Good pictures, not staged, not poorly lit, not portraits, just GOOD pictures.  The skill level of some photographers is well beyond that of even the greatest hobbyist that the money you spend will always be worth it.  Uncle Jim might love taking pictures, but he can’t convey the elegance, emotion, love and celebration through photos like a good wedding photographer can.

The Guest Book

Guest book changes are coming in 2010.  I am not seeing the generic white book with the “classic” white pen in stand at the sign in table.  Now there are memory stones, photo journals, photobooth books and even the engagement book as the signing book.  They are all great changes and fun ideas from the bland and basic book of past generations.

Last week’s bookings!

BANDS:

Heart & Soul at Shaker Country Club for a wedding.

JAZZ & SPECIALTY

Esto Jazz at the Skyline Hotel for a Corporate event.

Esto Jazz at the Ritz-Carlton for a Corporate event.

Being a professional singer who has gone through many quick-changes of black dresses in cramped dressing areas, I love my Gal Pal sponges. They were given to me by someone who understands – the other girl singer in my band, The Avenue – and they are a life savor when you need to remove deodorant marks off your clothes in a hurry. Amazing how sometimes the smallest and simplest gifts are the best gifts!

The original deodorant remover sponge is available at Gal-Pal.com or from your local Target store.

In tribute to this wonderful product, I thought I’d create a list of other helpful products to have on hand for the day of the wedding. Read the rest of this entry »