The Finishing Touch Wedding and Event Planning

Hottest Trends from the National Stationery Show

I had been waiting all year for the National Stationery Show at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.  I could not wait to see all of the latest products available and discover the best suppliers out there in order to expand what we offer our clients even more.  Finally, the wait was over in May.  I spent hours walking aisle after aisle visiting the booths of hundreds of stationery vendors.

The overall biggest trend that was very apparent at the show was customization.  No longer will couples settle for cookie cutter invitations.  They want their wedding to be their own unique creation and want their invitations to reflect their personal style.

Some other trends that I discovered at the show were:

-  Pockets  -   Pocket invitations are a wonderful way to present your invitations to your guests while keeping all of the enclosure cards together in a nice, neat package.  There were some gorgeous options from Marsupial Pouches & Papers which included unique embossed pockets which we are now offering to our clients.  

-  Exotic Papers - There were many companies at the show that offered amazing, unique papers from around the world that we will be proudly offering to our clients.  These included fabulous woven papers that mimic the look of bamboo for tropical destination weddings and butterfly print silk envelopes that would be perfect for Spring bridal showers.

   

-  Adorable Customizable Favor Boxes - I was able to preview the brand new favor boxes that are being offered by one of our suppliers, Do It With More Options.  They are all completely customizable and available in 30 colors.

 

- Personalized Postage - Put a special touch on your invitations by creating your own postage to match the look of your invitations.  We can now help you create beautiful postage stamps that coordinate with the look of your wedding or feature a photo of the two of you.

We are very excited to be able to offer the latest products from many of the suppliers at the show to give you even more options for your wedding to be one of a kind. 

Give us a call at 973-518-3380 to discuss how we can help you completely personalize your wedding from everything from invitations to programs to favors.

Happy Planning,

Priscilla

The Finishing Touch Event Design

A Pampering Session So We Can Pamper Our Brides

 

Last week we had the pleasure of spending an evening at the Jacqueline Pasquale Spa in Edgewater, NJ.  While Leah was on her cross-country adventure, we were treated to a private pampering session where we learned tips to help our brides get ready while they are away for a destination wedding.

 

 

Owners Jacqui and Pasquale were gracious hosts, and they rolled out the “red carpet,” treating us to wine and Hor'dourves in a relaxing and inviting environment.  There were several stations set up for us to visit to experience different treatments so we could share our experiences with our brides.

 

 

 

One stop was with Juliann who demonstrated the Ultrasonic Microdermabrasion.  The technology has been widely used and popularized since the early 1980’s in Europe.  We had the demonstrations on our hands where the stainless steel tip of the hand piece was used to increase circulation, improving the skin’s texture.  It is safe for all skin types and does not have any side effects.  By the end of the process, we all had visible improvements, as our hands looked smoother.  For more information, and to learn about Juliann’s skincare products, contact her at 7760-727-0138 or at juliannskincare@yahoo.com.

 

 

Alan Jordan was also on hand to provide back massages.  His services include massage therapy, neuromuscular therapy for chronic stress, prenatal massage and lymphatic breast massage to promote health and wellness care.  He also offers package discounts ~ perfect for the bride looking to distress before the wedding.  At the end of our treatments, we all felt really relaxed and stress free.  You can reach Alan at 551-795-5224 or visit his website at www.alanjordanmassage.com.

 

 

 

 

We even met wedding and event videographer Dan Hart from R Tank Media.  He serves the tri-state area and beyond, and does 1 or 2 camera shoots.  He can do a full documentation of the day’s events or a tightly edited 2 hour dramatic keepsake.  He offers pre-ceremony and reception coverage, video montage and many more a la carte options.  You can also have a choice of high definition blu-ray or DVD quality video.  Learn more at www.rtankmedia.com or contact him at 201-408-4835.

 

 

One of the big highlights of the evening was receiving a make-up lesson from Jacqui ~ a service she offers to Destination Brides who are looking to do their own make-up.  We also received tips on various hairstyles from Laura Koski.  Our styles ranged from a complete up-do on Priscilla, to a half up and half down style on Candice, to loose locks with handmade flower pieces on Soroya and Nicole demonstrating both a long and shoulder length style.  It was great to see how all the looks would be perfect for a seaside affair.

 

  

 

Make-up was put on to look sun-kissed and natural.  Rosy cheeks and pink glossy lips were the look, with some shimmer on the eyes.  Priscilla was even treated to eyelash extensions, which made for a very dramatic enhancement.

 

 

Overall, our looks were glamorous but not overdone and the best part is that we learned to do it ourselves.  We had such a great time, and we now feel even more confident about assisting our brides with hair and make-up when we are managing their destination weddings.  There’s nothing like learning from such great pros!  Thanks again Jacqui, Pasquale, Laura, Juliann, Alan and Dan.

 

 

Stay Fabulous,

 

The Finishing Touch Team

 

Guest Blogger: Get A Fabulous Airbrush Tan From Jacqueline Pasquale Spa

Airbrush Tanning is the safest most effective way to achieve the perfect healthy tan.  I ask myself, why isn’t everyone doing this?  I have been airbrush tanning my clients for over six years.  You have seen my tans at the Oscars, the Grammys, the MTV Video Music Awards, the Tribeca Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival and the list goes on.

Airbrush tanning can be for everyone.  It is all about finding the best places with a staff that is educated on the solutions and the process.  Please do your research!  The main ingredient in airbrush tanning solution is called DHA.  There are many levels of DHA that can be used.   This is what makes your body naturally tan itself.    This is a perfect treatment for a bride, bridesmaid, someone going to an event, or just someone who enjoys tanning and loves to keep a colorful glow about them.  The best places should be able to customize a color specifically to you.  What that means is different color choices with the ability to add red, bronzer or DHA to your color to customize it for you.    

  

Many people use tanning beds which are proven to be very dangerous, yet they are as popular as ever.  With an airbrush tan you can achieve a bronze color in one session!   This would take multiple sessions in a harmful tanning bed! With an airbrush tan you will not experience any burning, danger, or bad side effects such as peeling, irritation or more important Skin Cancer.  Instead you will have a healthy natural tan with no bad health repercussion.

 

Skin Cancer has risen so dramatically because of the dangerous rays of the sun and Tanning Beds.  Now there is a wonderful and safe alternative.  Go get a custom airbrush tan.   It will change your life, it has changed mine.  I always wear the highest SPF in the sun but I always have a great tan.  No one ever knows it’s fake and won’t know yours is airbrushed on.

Airbrush Tanning is in Fashion!  No more wrinkles people. Go get moisturized and tanned at the same time!  Now you can be fashionable, sexy, look young, and most important, be healthy!

See me demonstrating an airbrush tan at the link below. 

www.JacquelinePasqualeSpa.com

Have A Beautiful and Healthy Day!

With Love,

Jacqui Phillips

 

 

 

Rose & Mike: Pink & Brown Chic

With the cold weather outside, it is hard not to reminisce about the warm weather and beautiful colors of summer.  We love looking through the bright beautiful pictures from our summer weddings ~ like the one we coordinated for our couple Rose and Mike in July. 

The Bride looked gorgeous in her stunning gown and crystal trimmed veil.  To tie in Rose's color theme, her beautiful bridesmaids were clad in lovely pink dresses with brown sashes and held simple yet elegant clutches of pink roses from A Touch of Elegance. 

This chic color combination of was woven throughout the day starting with the ceremony programs which our Event Design division created for the event.

During the wedding ceremony , to honor Rose's Filipino heritage, the couple participated in the traditional Coin, Veil, and Cord ceremony.  During the ceremony, sponsors were present to witness the union of the couple. The sponsors symbolized guidance and support - people that Rose and Mike can turn to in times of need throughout their lives together. 

During the ceremony, the priest gave Mike 13 coins (or Arrhae) which he then gave to Rose.  Then Rose gave them back.  The Arrhae represented the Groom's dedication to the welfare of the Bride. It signified the their mutual hope for wealth, prosperity, and security as they build their lives and family together.

Then came the placing of the veil, a symbol of the faithful and everlasting love the Bride and Groom have for each other.  It was placed around Rose and Mike by a set of their sponsors.  Through the passing of the years, it will remind them that they belong to each other.

Finally, there was the placing of the cord.  Another set of sponsors draped the cord (or yugal) in a figure eight over the veil.  The yugal symbolizes the love and friendship that bind the couple together.  The figure eight shape represents the infinite nature of matrimony.

After a beautiful and meaningful ceremony, it was on to the reception at the magnificent Venetian in Garfield, New Jersey.  

As guests enjoyed the Venetian's fabulous cocktail hour, they picked up their adorable pink and brown seating cards.  Each seating card jacket contained a note letting guests know that a donation was made in their name. 

The guests danced all night with the help of Gemini Productions, accompanied by a percussionist, Howie Bongo, who played along with the music.  Rose and Mike's guests enjoyed the touch of live music.

The Filipino traditions also carried into the reception where Rose and Mike participated in a Dollar Dance.  During the Dollar Dance, guests line up to take turns dancing with the Bride or Groom.  To be able to dance with the couple, the guests need to first pin a dollar bill to the Bride or Groom's clothing.  We had a lot of fun handing out the pins to guest patiently waiting for their turn to dance with the couple. 

To put a sweet ending on this perfect day, guests were treated to a beautiful pink and brown cake from Palermo Bakery and the Venetian's unbelievable Viennese hour - quite possible the most inventive and extensive Viennese available in NJ.  It included everything from "fruit sushi" to a Malt Shoppe Station with mini milk shakes and "hamburgers", "hot dogs", and "french fries" made out of cake!

 

Happy Planning,

Candice and Priscilla

 

New York City Gift Fair

 

Last week, Candice, Priscilla & I headed into the cold of New York City to attend the annual New York International Gift Fair held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The event draws in large volumes of a variety of industry workers, from wedding planners to department store buyers. For those who may be unaware of what a gift fair consists of, thousands of international vendors rent out "booths" to market and sell their various products and services, typically at wholesale price in bulk quantities. Booth categories range from Homemade Crafts to Bath & Bedding to General Gifts. This year, the Javits Center housed over 3,000 exhibitors which were handpicked to serve more than 36,000 buyers.

www.bombayduck.co.uk

As event planners, our primary focus was in the General Gifts section as we searched for fun trends in favors, gifts and décor items for our current and future clients. From 9:30am to 4:00pm, the three of us trekked down aisle after aisle, searching for ideas and meeting with some wonderful vendors. For an upcoming wedding, we researched straw baskets and fans, as well as some very cute table centerpiece umbrellas.  For another wedding, we found the perfect table lamps to add to our centerpiece design!

  

www.culturalintrigue.com

We also of course browsed stationery booths for fabric, ribbon and specialty paper to add to our new design division inventory.  We found some beautiful new papers that are sure to add a touch of personality to our clients invitations and decor pieces.

Of course as Candice is a crazy purse lover, we must admit that we also scoped out some personal goodies for ourselves and some amazing prices!

http://www.ebigbuddha.com/       

We found the gift fair to be a great place to spark design and décor ideas. The fair was full of unique and fun items that you may have never even thought of to incorporate in your event. We must have exclaimed 'oh we should do this!' or 'let's show (bride) this idea!'  over and over again. Thankfully we had our notepads and cameras handy.

After a tiring but fun day, we headed home to start sharing some of the awesome new design trends and favor ideas we had found with the team and our clients.

To learn more about the gift show you can visit their website:  www.nyigf.com.

Happy Planning!!!

Nicole

 

2008 - What a Year!

What a year!  2008 flew by so quickly and was so full of amazing events, we can hardly believe 2009 is already here.

As we think of all of the wonderful things we have to be thankful for here at The Finishing Touch, we would like to take this opportunity to look back on 2008 and talk about all of the fantastic events and accomplishments.  We would also like to let you know about the great things we have coming up in the new year.

2008 brought many changes to The Finishing Touch.  We opened a London office to cater to European clients looking to get married in the NY Metro area and US clients planning European destination weddings and honeymoons. 

We gained four new team members - Leah Rosensweig, Nicole Spagnoli, Priscilla Leto, and Soroya Campbell.

Another huge milestone that we are very excited about is that we added an Event Decor Design division specializing in creation of unique custom stationery and decor including invitations, programs, menus, seating cards, table numbers, favors, and bridal party gifts.

   

 

Photos above by Infnity Photography, Francesco Mastalia Photography, and Ron Holtz Photography

One of our accomplishments for the year, is that we were selected to plan The Knot Magazine's annual North New Jersey Market Party which will be featured in their upcoming January 2009 issue.  The Olde Mill Innwas transformed into a chic Rainforest to showcase the event's "Going Green" theme.

 

Photography by Magique Studios, Cake by Pink Cake Box, Furniture by Jersey Street Furniture Rental, and Floral Design by Santos Florist

We were also very honored this year to have been hand-picked to be listed in The Little Black Book of The Best Wedding Vendors on Style Me Pretty.com.  Style Me Pretty.com is the ultimate wedding blog for "the style obsessed Bride."  The Little Black Book is a unique virtual resource to help Brides find the very best vendors.  Only three vendors per region per category are hand-picked for this distinction.  Stay tuned for more in upcoming blog entries.

 

This past year, our company and events were featured in various media outlets such as The Knot New York Magazine, Special Events Magazine, Manhattan Bride Magazine, The New York Times, 201Bride.com, and NJ Monthly Magazine - among others.

Of course, most importantly, there were our fabulous couples and their families.  We were so honored to be able to be part of their big day and help them make that day even more special and perfect.   

We rang in 2008 with Meghan & Kevin at their New Year's Eve Wedding at The Manor in West Orange, NJ.  Then it was off to the Dreams Resortin Cabo San Lucas with Jamie & Jason where we coordinated a gorgeous beach wedding and "Mess the Dress" session with their photographer, Norman Gilbert.  Their "Mess the Dress" session was featured in NJ Bride, NJ Monthly, the NY Times, 201 Bride.com, and even on TV.

   

Up next was a cherry blossom fantasy wedding for Beth & Alex at The Roosevelt Hotel in NYC.  Then a beautiful seaside affair for Letty & Jeff in Cape May at the Hotel Alcott.

 

Photos by Aleksey Photography

With the Spring also came the Bridal Shower, Bachelorette Party, Rehearsal Dinner, and Wedding for Rebecca & John.  Each event was uniquely personalized for the couple by our Event Design division.  Look for their "Match Made in Heaven" wedding at The Knoll Country Club in the January 2009 issue of Contemporary Bride.

 

  

     

        

Photos by Infinity Photography, Floral Design by Santos Florist

Spring also brought a truly one-of-a-kind wedding for Tiffany & Howie.  This very fun, memorable wedding at The Addison Parkwas filled with unique touches and entertainment including a fairy tale horse drawn coach, a living statue, a jazz band, an acapella group, and a magician for the kids.  To top all that, the very talented Bride had a music video of herself singing "God Bless This Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts professionally recorded by Pro Video Productions to play during the couples' first dance much to the Groom's surprise.  Click here to go to our Facebook page to see the video "Tiffany & Howie's Love Story".

   

 

Photos by Artistic Imagery Photography, Floral Design by Diana Gould Ltd., Living Statue from World Gate Entertainment, Horse Drawn Coach from Valentine Carriage

Rose & Mike's chic Pink and Brown wedding at The Venetian kicked off the summer.  (More about Rose & Mike's wedding in an upcoming blog entry). 

   

Photos by M & R Foto

Then began a very busy Fall.  Irene & Alex's intimate ceremony was held in Central Park and their sophisticated wedding dinner was held at Le Bernardin.  Irene looked beautiful in her Oscar de la Renta gown and, in fact, was the very first Bride to wear this stunning creation that has been featured in countless magazines.   

 

Photos by Francesco Mastalia Photography, Floral Design by The Romantic Garden

Jill & Alan's wedding at the Puck Building was the ultimate New York City wedding.  The Puck Building was transformed into a swanky lounge for an all night cocktail party.  The talented Bride's gorgeous artwork was used to personalize everything from the invitations to even the cake.  To watch a video clip from Bitcon Productions of this amazing wedding , click here.

  

   

Photos by Francesco Mastalia Photography, Floral Design by Florisan, Cake by The Painted Cake, Rentals by Jersey Street Furniture Rental

September also included a tented wedding at the romantic Oakside Mansion for Laura & Travis.  (More on their wedding in an upcoming blog entry.)

Autumn in all its splendor was featured at Stacy & Jeff's posh affair at The Green Brook Country Club. 

   

    

Photos by Ron Holtz Photography, Floral Design by The Romantic Garden, Cake by Carlo's Bakery

Mariana & Andrew's wedding was the epitome of New York City style and elegance.

 

    

Photos by Grant Govier Photography, Floral Design by Thomas C. Anderson, Cake by Ron Ben-Israel

Jayme & Nick's wedding at the Manor in West Orange showcased the beauty of the Fall season with personal touches like custom pumpkin carvings and mini pumpkin seating card holders.

    

   

Photos by Magique Studios

Whitney & Michael's nature inspired Chocolate Brown and French Blue wedding at the Montclair Golf Club showcased the Groom's Scottish hertiage with kilts, traditional fare and drink, and of course, a bagpiper.  (More on their wedding in an upcoming post entry.) 

We would like to thank all of the fabulous vendors we work with - the venues, photographers, videographers, hair/makeup stylists, caterers, officiants, musicians, DJs, limo companies, bridal gown and tuxedo shops, floral designers, rental companies - without whom none of these fabulous events would be possible.  

We have some very exciting plans for 2009.  We have fantastic weddings coming up including a Dominican Republic destination wedding, a New York City destination wedding for one of our London clients, and an "Old Hollywood Glitz and Glamor" styled wedding.  Be on the lookout for details on these and many more weddings and events in the upcoming year.

We also look forward to expanding our Decor Division in the future to help even more couples personalize their weddings and make them truly memorable.

Be sure to watch for us in the media in early 2009.  Our founder, Candice Benson, will be on an upcoming episode of Get Married on Lifetime.  In addition several of our events will be featured in industry print:  Rebecca & John's wedding will be featured in the upcoming January issue of Contemporary Bride; Tiffany & Howie's wedding will be in the upcoming issue of NJ Bride which will also feature Candice in an article on top Wedding Consultant secrets;  The Knot North New Jersey Market Party will be featured in their upcoming issue out in January ~ with more to come as the year goes on.

Thank you all so much again for your continued support and for allowing us to be a part of your very special day!  All the Best in 2009 and Beyond,

The Team at The Finishing Touch

Candice, Leah, Nicole, Priscilla, and Soroya

     

     

     

          

 

Jayme & Nick: An Autumn Affair

  

 

On a perfect crisp Fall morning, the bridesmaids all convened at the Nardi residence with hair and makeup done and began to toast Jayme, the Bride. As we greeted the florist, photographers and videographer upon their arrivals, the girls continued to enjoy mimosas and bagels together.

 

When the time came to get dressed, the bridesmaids slipped on their long espresso brown gowns, along with ivory elbow-length gloves, a gift from the Bride. Jayme then put on her beautiful gown complete with 50 white buttons down the back.   

 

 

 

The ladies then made their way to the church in an Escalade, followed by Jayme and her parents in a vintage Rolls Royce.  The church was decorated in-season, with autumn mum plants on the altar, white bows on the pews and fall leaves sprinkled down the aisle by the flower girl.

 

 

With an all-white bouquet in hand, Jayme was escorted down the aisle by her father, to the Schiller Quartet playing ‘Eleanor Rigby’.  The ceremony went beautifully, complete with a unity candle lighting and parent recognition with a single rose. Upon the conclusion, the couple exited down a red carpet, through a sea of bubbles.

 

 

 

While the couple and bridal party took photos at the church, The Finishing Touch was busy decorating the reception site, The Manor in West Orange, New Jersey. With miniature pumpkins as place card holders and carved pumpkins with the couple’s initials, the cocktail lounge truly emulated an Autumn wedding.

 

 

 

Once guests were invited into the Imperial Room, each bridal party couple was introduced by Dash of Class DJ Entertainment to their own song personally picked by the Bride and Groom. Just before the Bride and Groom were announced, a photomontage played, highlighting funny and cute baby pictures of the Bride and Groom. The couple entered to Love Shack and proceeded into their choreographed first dance. An elaborate and fun dance, the couple kept guests’ eyes on them as they danced to ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You’.

 

Keeping with their Autumn theme, the reception was decorated with brown linens and gorgeous Manzonita tree centerpieces complete with leaves, autumn florals and amber votives from Bill O'Sheas Florist. 

 

 

 

Creative pumpkin carvings were illuminated to show designs of a Bride and Groom as well as Jayme and Nick’s names and wedding date.    

 

 

 

Dinner consisted of a 4-course meal hand picked by the couple, complete with a Viennese sampler dessert dish, as well as a canoli-filled 4-tiered wedding cake. For a personal touch, the Bride had the cake-topper customized to look like both herself and her Groom!

 

 

 

The night was full of dancing and celebration, with toasts from both the Maid of Honor and Best Man as well as an emotional Father of the Bride. 

 

As they left for the evening, guests were given personalized miniature wine bottles with a personalized thank you from Jayme and Nick.  

 

 

 

This very special day was captured by Magique Studios Photography and Classic Video Productions. 

 

 

Best Wishes,

 

Nikki, Candice, and Soroya

 

 

 

 

Jillian & Alan: An Ultimate New York City Wedding

 

 

 

On September 20, 2008, our couple Jillian & Alan held their exclusive wedding at the historic Puck Building in New York City. 

 

The day began with a photo session with Francesco Mastalia Photography.

 

Jill & Alan saw each other for the first time that day on the rooftop terrace of their apartment building.

 

 

 

  

 

The couple then went on to pose for photos at iconic sites throughout the city.

 

 

 

 

The Bride & Groom and their bridal party stopped in Times Square to take some amazing photos including posing with members of the cast of Broadway's Young Frankenstein.

 

 

 

 

Finally, it came time for their chic all-white ceremony at the Puck Building.  As guests arrived they were greeted with sparkling water and beautiful classical music from The Schiller Quartet. 

 

 

All eyes were on our gorgeous Bride as she walked down the aisle in her simple yet stunning ivory lace gown with her proud Father at her side.  Surrounded by their bridal party and covered by a white canopy, Jillian & Alan were married in a touching ceremony officiated by the charming Julie Laudicina.

 

   

 

 

For the reception, the blank canvas loft space overlooking the city was transformed into an ultra lounge atmosphere by Jersey Street Furniture Rental.  They created the look using sleek lounge furniture, illuminated tables, and flowing white drapings.

 

 

 

The room was decorated with stunning all-white centerpieces from Florisan that were draped with pearls.

 

 

 

 

The entire evening was one continuous cocktail hour with amazing food from Hudson Yards Catering which is owned by Danny Meyer of Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern fame.  The event was kicked off with passed canapes such as Lobster and Watercress Dumplings and Truffled Mushroom Feuilette.  Guests were then treated to stations that ranged from genuine Blue Smoke Barbecue to mini modern presentations of raw bar selections including Union Square Cafe's Crab and Endive Salad.

 

 

 

Dessert included a gorgeous wedding cake from The Painted Cake.  There was also a selection of delectable mini desserts such as mini ice cream cones and individual berry trifles.  The night was capped off by a late night snack of authentic miniature Shake Shack Burgers.

 

 

 

We believe that the most special events are those that have a personal touch.  Our very talented artist Bride painted a gorgeous water color of cherry blossoms.  This water color was used in everything from the invitations to being the inspiration for the Wedding cake design. 

 

 

 

The gorgeous shimmery programs, menus, and signature cocktail signs were created by our Event Design division and also showcased Jillian's beautiful cherry blossom design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The guests danced the night away to the band from Hank Lane and had a blast dressing up and taking fun photos in the photo booth from Party Booths.

 

 

 

 

 

What an amazing day for a truly special couple!  We wish them a life of love and happiness.

 

 

 

All always, a huge thanks to our vendor team.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Candice, Priscilla, Soroya, and Brooke

 

Stacy & Jeff: Autumn Splendor

Fall is in the air and the beauty of the season makes for endless wedding possibilities.  We had the pleasure of planning and coordinating a gorgeous Fall wedding for our couple Stacy & Jeff who were married on September 27, 2008.

 

The ceremony and reception took place at the elegant Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell, New Jersey.  Stacy's amazing bouquet by The Romantic Garden was made of a mix of Fall flowers, pods, fiddle-head ferns and pomegranates. 

 

The chuppah was draped in copper and bronze organza and decorated with Fall flowers. 

 

The simple yet stunning ceremony programs and place cards were made by our Finishing Touch Event Design Division.

Following the ceremony, the guests enjoyed cocktails in the lounge while the ballroom was turned into an enchanted Autumn forest. 

 

The table centerpieces by The Romantic Garden were made of Manzanita branches decorated with Fall flowers and foliage and illuminate with hanging candles. 

 

 

The wedding proved to be a huge party with guests dancing the night away to the fantastic sounds of the Kevin Osborne Band.  The evening was topped off with a spectacular wedding cake from Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken.

As guests departed this truly memorable wedding, they were provied favor bags containing the Bride's favorite Fall treat of apple cider donuts from a farm in upstate NY and packets of coffee that were especially designed for the couple.   The favors, created for the couple by The Finishing Touch's Event Design division, were made complete by a note from Stacy and Jeff sharing their thanks to those who had traveled to share such a special day.  A coffee-to-go station was setup in case guests could not resist the temptation to sample the donuts on their way home.

Truly an unforgettable evening of Autumn beauty, family and friends.  We were honored to be a part of it all. 

All the best,

Candice and Priscilla

Photography by Ron Holtz.  To see a slide show of more images of this beautiful wedding, click here.

Rebecca & John: A Match Made in Heaven

This past Spring we planned and coordinated a wedding for our couple, Rebecca and John.  In addition to the planning, our Event Design division designed the event's decor and stationery to reflect the couple's "Match Made in Heaven" theme.

Rebecca loves the color blue and has always loved anything with a cloud pattern.  They also met through a Young Adult group at their church so a Heaven theme was perfect for them.

 

The wedding was held on May 18, 2008 with the ceremony at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church in Garfield, NJ and the reception at The Knoll Country Club - East in Parsippany, NJ.

The Knoll Country Club did a fantastic job and accommodated all of the couple's unique requests including serving blue champagne at the cocktail hour and at the tables for the toast!  The couple also had a special blue cocktail called the "Blisstini" which had a custom feather trimmed coaster.

For the guest book, Rebecca and John used a photo booth from Party Booths.  Guests took pictures in the booth with props like feather boas and sunglasses.  The pictures were then pasted into the guest book and guests wrote messages to the couple.

The table centerpieces from Santos Florist were blue and white hydrangea with crystal accents that  were lit up from the bottom to represent clouds floating in a blue sky. 

Custom crystal branch centerpieces from our Event Design division were also lit up from the bottom and placed on either side of the sweetheart table. 

Each table was named for the theme - Blue Sky, Heaven, Angel, etc.

The tables had Kate Aspen "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue" favors on them.  To personalize these, the "Something Old" box contained an old photo of them, "Something New" box contained wildflower seeds to grow something new, "Something Borrowed" box contained a lucky penny, and the "Something Blue" box contained a blue notepad that had "Thank You, Love Rebecca & John" written on it.  Each box contained a poem that explained what was in each box.

The Parisienne (dessert) table was held in the tent, which was illuminated in blue.  They had a signature coffee cocktail called the "Capodicino" as a play on the couple's last name which was sugar rimmed, set on fire, and topped with a dollop with fresh whipped cream.

At the end of the evening, guests were treated to a Candy Bar aptly named "Sugar Heaven" complete with blue cotton candy. 

The takeaway favors were Sun Catcher/Car Air Fresheners that matched the wedding perfectly, they had a cloud on them with all blue and white crystals hanging down.  The tags on the favors read "Safe and Happy Travels."

It was definitely a "heavenly" event.

All the best,

Priscilla and Leah

Photographs by Infinity Photography