The Finishing Touch Wedding and Event Planning

Fall Into Fall Colors

 Don't know what colors to pick for your wedding?

Look for clues in your own backyard!

 

 

 

Nothing is more beautiful then the natural hues of the season. Oranges, browns, berries and beautiful greens. Check out this article in The Knot Magazine this month guiding you to the seasons most trendy floral arrangements.

 

 

Here is a helpful chart to help you coordinate Fall colors for your event! 

 

Click here to read about our couple Stacy and Jeff's Fall Wedding!

Claudia and Andy ~ "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"

On May 16, 2010, The Finishing Touch’s third 5/16 wedding in a row, Claudia Kim wed her long-term boyfriend, Andrew Wu. The gorgeous (and tall!) couple settled on an outdoor ceremony in the newly-renovated gardens of Crystal Plaza in Livingston, New Jersey with a reception held in their grand ballroom. Claudia and Andy had decided to see each other for the first time prior to the ceremony, which allows the bride and groom to thoroughly enjoy their cocktail hour in its entirety as all formal photos were taken prior.

With picture-perfect weather, the outdoor ceremony was adorned with 250 white folding chairs, white flowers atop white columns which lined the aisle and white cones full of pink petals for guests to take and throw at the commencement of the ceremony. Their ceremony consisted of heartfelt self-written vows, as well as a 15-person choir, keyboard, guitar & sax. Having a love of 80’s music and adding a touch of their personality, the couple chose to recess to ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’ by Starship!

 

Guests then proceeded onto the cocktail hour which Crystal Plaza really knows how to do right! Passed Hors D’Ouevres, and multiple buffet stations such as a slider bar, Asian station and quesadilla station are just a sample of what the Plaza had to offer. A full open bar was complete with their signature drink signs, compliments of The Finishing Touch, labeled as a ‘Kim Royale’ and ‘Wu-Tini’ was a big hit. Rather than having a typical guest book, Claudia & Andy chose a Manzanita Wishing Well Tree in which guests were able to write their congratulations on pink tags which then hung from the branches with black velvet ribbon. Guests were treated to a photo station in which they were able to play dress-up with feather boas, top hats & pearls in front of a black backdrop. 

 

As cocktail hour was underway, the Finishing Touch team was putting the ‘finishing touches’ on the ballroom. Table centerpieces alternated from tall silver candlebras topped with white Dendrobium Orchid blooms and dangling pink crystals to short clusters of pink and white flower bunches in black vases tied with pink ribbon. The room was softly lit with amber tones and a foliage pattern projected onto the dance floor. Keeping with their pink, black and white theme, the Crystal Plaza created a white tiered cake with black fondant trim and polka dots with pink bows; not only was it eye-appealing but the red velvet & vanilla filling was delicious!

 

Guests enjoyed a four-course meal and were out of their seats dancing to Escapade, an 8-piece band from Craig Scott Entertainment, before their entrees were served. In place of the traditional bouquet toss, all the single ladies participated in a Taiwanese tradition of grabbing one ribbon from the bride’s bouquet and pulling. The one whose ribbon was actually tied the brides bouquet was considered the winner, in which case ending up being Claudia’s mother! After an evening full of dancing, photo-taking and dining, guests said their goodbyes to the couple, collected their authentic chopsticks favors and made their way home. 

The bride & groom were able to leave with a same-day edited DVD showcasing all special moments leading up to, and including, their first dance to be able to take with them to Taiwan the next day to show their family and friends.(Click here to check it out!) Claudia & Andy will also be enjoying a second reception in Taiwan before jet-setting to the Maldives for their honeymoon!

All the best, Nicole, Candice & Stephanie

Thank you to all our wonderful vendors involved:

Venue: Crystal Plaza
Flowers: A Touch of Elegance
Music: Craig Scott Entertainment
Stationery: The Finishing Touch
Lighting: Dynamite FX
Ceremony: Michael Stuempfle, Creative Wedding Ceremonies
Photography: Heather Waraksa
Videography: Abella Studios

The Finishing Touch Gives Back ~ Tina and Paul's Wedding

We first learned about Tina through Erik Kent of NJ Wedding.com who had read about Tina on her sister's blog, 'Tina's Elevator: Chronicle of a Strong Woman's Up and Downs." Tina was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2006. Just two years after she beat it, she was re-diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in September 2008. In late January 2010, a PET Scan showed that the cancer in Tina's organs (liver, lungs, chest nodules) had shrunk. Unfortunately, the cancer in her bones has spread. Through all of the ups and downs, Tina knew one thing for certain...that she wanted to marry Paul,the man who had been with her through it all.  When we learned about Tina's wish to have a wedding, we knew right away that we wanted to help make her dream come true ~ but we would of course need a little help from some of our friends! As State Coordinator of the New Jersey branch of the Association of Bridal Consultants, Candice teamed up with some fellow ABC members to create an amazing wedding day for Tina and Paul.

 

One of Tina and Paul's wishes was that they be able to be married outside in nature.  On June 26th, Tina and Paul got their wish as family and friends gathered at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan to witness their marriage. Tina looked beautiful as she was carried down the aisle by the groomsmen on a magnificent doli. With the ceremony led by Officiant Julie Laudicina, Tina and Paul exchanged their memorable vows. 

   

 

After the ceremony, guests headed to The Excelsior in Manalapan for the reception. Cocktail hour music was provided by Elegant Ensembles, and set the tone for the evening of celebration. Everyone was then brought into the ballroom, where they experienced the beautiful decor that was created for Tina and Paul by the many generous ABC NJ members. All of the amazing floral arrangements were done by Robin Rohsler of Rohsler's Allendale Nursery and Florist. Lighting design was provided by Dynamite FX- and they chose the perfect lighting to really bring out all of the decor. The linens were provided by Select Event Rentals, which also helped to accentuate the color scheme of the wedding. Along with planning services, the Finishing Touch also provided day of stationery for Tina and Paul including escort cards, table numbers, and signature drink signs. 

 
 

Tina, Paul and their nearly 160 guests danced until the very end to music provided by Craig Scott Entertainment.  Timothy Glenn Photographers and Multi-Vision, were there from start to finish to capture all of the beautiful and emotional moments throughout the day. 

 

We were touched to see how happy Tina and Paul were - with many photos showing their glowing smiles. It was an amazing, emotional, and powerful day for everyone in attendance- but for Tina and Paul it was a dream come true. We were so happy to have been able to be a part of their special day. 

Special Thanks Again to ALL of the very generous vendors who contributed to their day:

-Paper Works & Events of Englewood, paperworksandevents.com – invitations

-Officiant Julie Laudicina of Staten Island, New York, julielaudicina.com – ceremony.

-Elegant Ensembles of Closter, elegantensembles.com – ceremony and cocktail hour music.

-Magda's Designs, Inc. of Bloomfield, magdadesignsbeauty.net – hair and make-up.

-Craig Scott Entertainment of Rochelle Park, craigscott.com – reception music.

-Dynamite FX of West Berlin, dynamitefx.com – lighting.

-Ocean Tents & Party Rentals of Manahawkin, oceantents.com – chair covers

-Confectionary Designs of Bogota, confectionarydesigns.com – groom's cake.

-Select Event Rentals of Pennsauken, weparty.com – linens.

-Timothy Glenn Photographers of Ridgewood, timothyglennphoto.com – photography.

-Multi-Vision of Paramus, gomultivision.com – videography.

-Rohsler's Allendale Nursery & Florist in Allendale, rohslers.com – flowers.

-Mariya Molduvanova - wedding day coordination.

-Dawn Carter -Taylor Nicole Events -taylornicoleevents.com- wedding day coordination.

-Christine Hyder- Christine Hyder Events-  christinehyderevents.com - wedding day coordination.

-Kathi Evans- All the Best Celebrations - atbcelebrations.com - wedding planning

-Bride Ideas of West Orange, RhondaWeddings.com – public relations.

Fab Find: Eat, Pray, Love...and Jewelry!

'Eat, Pray, Love' is an incredible true story about one woman's journey through Italy, India and Indonesia as she searches for lasting happiness. In the book, she shares her experiences of pleasure, devotion and balance. After being on the New York Times best-seller list for an amazing 158 weeks,  'Eat, Pray, Love' is now making its way to the big screen and we can't wait!

To celebrate the August release of the film, Dogeared Jewels & Gifts has created a custom line of  'Eat, Pray, Love' jewelry and gifts! From bracelets and necklaces to meditation wraps and journals, Dogeared has created some beautiful items for fans to enjoy. For more information and to check out the collection, click here!

While there be sure to look at all the wonderful options for Wedding Day Jewels for you and your Bridesmaids.

Nicole and Christopher ~ Tying the Knot Aboard the A.J. Meerwald

 

When you first meet Nicole and Chris, you can easily see just how in love they are. They met through friends and it didn't take long for them to realize they were meant for one another. Once engaged, Nicole took a trip to Kleinfelds to find her perfect gown.  It only took a few tries until she said 'Yes to the Dress'!

  Nicole and Chris came to us originally to plan a Destination Wedding. We were planning for a wedding on the beaches of the Dominican Republic earlier this year, however, in December Chris suffered a terrible leg injury and needed time to heal so the wedding was put on the back burner awaiting his full recovery. They would have to wait a little longer for their dream wedding.

In June, we traveled with Nicole to research some closer beach venues at one of our favorites spots, Long Beach Island. Right away, Nicole thought it would be the perfect place for her and Chris to exchange vows. While on our trip, Nicole mentioned that she had entered the "Tie the Knot on the Tall Ship" contest that was being sponsored by NJWedding.com. We joked that if she had won, it would really be fate. Well fate it was because on June 15th, Nicole and Chris received a phone call from NJWedding.com Co-Publisher Erik Kent announcing that they were to be wed aboard the A.J. Meerwald in LBI on July 24th! With only 6 weeks to plan a wedding we knew it would be a challenge but nothing we couldn't handle!

 

We had a great time pulling the details together and loved the excuse to hang out on LBI for a couple weeks.  On the big day, Nicole and her bridesmaids gathered in the Bridal Suite to work with Michele Falco of Bridal by Michele on Hair and Make-up. David Toth of David Toth Photography came bright and early to capture Nicole's preparations.  The beautiful invitations were created by Stephanie Somodi of Designing Your Most Inviting Day, and truly set the tone for the beach themed wedding. Flowers were handled by Camille's Floral Designs of Manahawkin who created beautiful bouquets featuring blue and white delphiniums, lysanthis and hydrangeas. As an added touch, Nicole placed a pendant with a picture of her late father on her bouquet to celebrate his memory throughout her special day. While the girls were being pampered, Chris and his groomsmen went off to play two rounds of golf...mini golf that is! Once dressed and ready to depart, Nicole and her bridesmaids were surprised with a stretch limo - an early Wedding present from her Husband-to-be.

 

 

 

Fifty guests were welcomed aboard the A.J. Meerwald to witness the beautiful ceremony that was officiated by former Beach Haven mayor, Deborah C. Whitcraft. Deb shared that even though she only knew the couple for a short while, she could clearly see the love that Nicole and Chris have for one another. As a symbol of their unity, the couple performed a sand ceremony where they each poured a vial of sand into one heart shaped container. After the ceremony, the Bridal party headed to Holgate for beach photos by David Toth and videography by Jon Slackman of J&S Video Services. Though the sun was strong, it provided for some beautiful shots of the Newlyweds.

 

The reception was held just a few miles away at the Holiday Inn at Manahawkin. During the cocktail hour, guests were treated to passed hors d'oeuvres such as Shrimp Tempura, Crab cakes, Coconut Chicken, Spring Rolls and more. Guests also enjoyed the signature drinks - the Monahan Monsoon and Bowhunter Brew - displayed on beautiful signage designed by the Finishing Touch.  Centerpieces, also designed and created by The Finishing Touch team, featured two different designs accompanied with votive candles, seashells and starfish. After Cocktail Hour, the guests gathered in the Ballroom to await the arrival of the Bride and Groom, who made their grand entrance into their first dance "Livin Our Love Song" by Jason Michael Carroll. 

We will be sure to share all the fabulous design shots from the reception soon!!

For the buffet reception, there was a carving station with prime rib and turkey, a pasta station and a mashed potato bar (the crowd favorite!). The guests danced the night away with music provided by DJ Brian of Dynasty Entertainment-who had a great variety for all in attendance. Before the cake was cut, Nicole surprised Chris with a custom made grooms cake! Chris is a champion bowhunter and is rarely found without Under Armour apparel, so Nicole worked with Tammy's Cake Walk to incorporate those elements into the cake - and it was amazing! At the end of the night, guests were treated to a candy bar featuring chocolate covered pretzels, swedish fish, twizzlers and more

The whole wedding, ship to shore, was an unforgettable one! We wish all the best for Nicole and Chris!!

With Love,

Stephanie & Candice

Special Thanks Again to our fabulous vendor team:

Sponsors:

Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce

NJ Division of Travel and Tourism

NJWedding.comReClam the BayMuseum of NJ Maritime History

A.J. Meerwald

Vendors: (* denotes donated services as part of Tall Ship Contest)

Officiant Deborah C. Whitcraft*

Photographer: David Toth Photography*

Video: J&S Video Services*

Floral: Camille's Floral Designs*

Hair/Makeup: Bridal By Michele*

Invitations: Designing Your Most Inviting Day*

Venue: Holiday Inn at Manahawkin

Transportation: Signature Limo

Music: Dynasty Entertainment

Grooms Cake: Tammy's Cake Walk

Day-of Assistance for Finishing Touch:  Mariya Molduvanova & Agnieshka Burke, members of Association of Bridal Consultants NJ

Winners announced for "Tie the Knot on the Tall Ship" Contest!!

Congratulations to our couple Nicole and Chris who won the

"Tie the Knot on the Tall Ship" Contest!!

    Erik Kent, co-publisher of NJWedding.com, called them on Tuesday evening with the great news. They will be getting married aboard NJ's Official Tall Ship, A.J. Meerwald, on July 24th in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island. The ceremony will be performed by Deborah C. Whitcraft, a wedding officiant and the former mayor of Beach Haven. Photography will be provided for the wedding day by David Toth Photographers along with video coverage by J & S Video Services, as well as invitations by Stephanie Somodi.

    The couple was thrilled to hear that they had won. Originally, they had wanted to have a destination wedding and be married on the beaches of the Dominican Republic. However, due to certain circumstances they decided to hold the wedding closer to home and were very interested in Long Beach Island. It seemed like it was fate for our amazing couple to win this incredible experience! We are excited to work alongside our fellow Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce members to make their special day unforgettable! For more information and photos from last year's winner, click here!

Jenn & Eliu: A Bohemian Beach Wedding in the Dominican Republic

The Finishing Touch would like to wish our couple Jennifer and Eliu a very happy one year anniversary! It seems like just yesterday that we helped them plan their dream wedding in the Dominican Republic. Read all about their beautiful wedding below, as we take a look back to their special day!

 

As we have told you all so many times, we love working with all of our clients and have been so blessed in our 7+ years to have never had a true “Bridezilla.”  And although we love all of our Brides and Grooms, every once and a while a couple comes along that we can’t let go of even after the wedding and continue to call our friends.  We are proud to say our recent couple Jennifer and Eliu are just that!

From the first moment I met Jenn at a Starbucks in Montclair NJ, I knew we would have a great relationship.  She was crazy busy  ~ working, planning a wedding and finishing a degree….ahhh a multitasker, I can truly relate! But what I noticed about Jenn that day that made me know she was an extra special person was the way she spoke about her spirituality, her friends, her family and especially the true love of her life and soul mate Eliu. We clicked right away and thus began the year+ journey to plan Jenn and Eliu’s fabulous Destination Wedding in the beautiful Dominican Republic.

 

The wedding was announced by gorgeous invitations designed by The Finishing Touch Event Design, which incorporated Jenn’s love of peacocks and indigenous culture.  The invitation was printed with peacock feather accents and a design of two peacocks kissing, which resembled the shape of a heart.  Marigold and Allspice papers were layered with Bamboo Woven paper to give the invitation depth and texture.  The invitation was wrapped up in a Bronze pocket jacket and sealed with a layered tag featured a blind embossed heart design that featured their initials.   

I flew into Punta Cana, DR on Thursday April 30^th ~ I love my job! When I arrived at the beautiful Paradisus Palma Real resort I myself became excited for the guests to start arriving.  I checked into my beautiful room at the Reserve section of the resort and got to work meeting with the onsite Wedding staff and other vendors in the area.  One job that we did not have to take care of this time was delivery of gift bags to the guests’ rooms.  Instead we had sent all the guests a wonderful basket prior to their leaving the US with all the exciting news of the upcoming weekend and of course a few needed supplies; hangover kit, towel, water bottle, etc.  The baskets and weekend wedding guides were the creation of the Finishing Touch Event Design ((http://www.thefinishingtouchevents.com/) team and were a huge hit!

Jenn and Eliu along with most of their guests arrived on Friday and the fun began.  We kicked off the weekend with a “Bienvenidos Gathering” (Welcome Drinks) at the lobby bar and it was clear right away that the weekend was going to be a blast for all involved.  The group stayed at the bar long after I excused myself but were up on the beach bright and early the next day. 

Saturday was filled with an amazing excursion for many guests to swim with the Dolphins and Sting Rays.  Although I hear the water was pretty chilly, all had a wonderful time and got some amazing pictures.  The group then came racing back for the rehearsal on the beach ~ um and yea they were racing! Saturday night, the group gathered for the Rehearsal Dinner at one of the resort’s many wonderful restaurants, Bana Bistro, where guests dined on Asian Fusion fare served family style around the table.  It was during this dinner that Jenn and Eliu shared a very special favor with all of their guests.  Our design team had created a photo book which featured all of the guests who were in attendance at the wedding along with a write up by the Bride and Groom on why each guest was so important to them and what it meant for them to be sharing in their wedding celebration.  It was just another one of those special personal touches that truly exemplified them.

 

 

And finally after all the planning and preparation, it was the wedding day!  In my time as a Wedding Consultant, I have seen and been touched by many wedding ceremonies but none more than the one I witnessed on Naos Beach at dusk.  Performed by one of Jenn’s closest friends, the ceremony was a mix of spirituality and culture that brought tears to not only the eyes of those in the wedding party but all in attendance including myself and the crowd that had gathered around to watch the entire 45 minutes.   Jenn’s brother also added a special touch by providing all the music, played on his saxophone.  We often tell Brides and Grooms to remember that although they are throwing a great party the importance of the day is found at that moment when they become man and wife, and this was certainly not lost on Jenn and Eliu.

  

But party they did once the ceremony concluded.  Guests started the festivities with drinks at the Ciel Sky Bar before being ushered back to Naos beach where they were welcomed by the designs Jenn and our team had worked on for so long.  Brilliant Fire Orange linens were atop tables covered with white orchids and peacock feathers ~ Jenn’s favorite!   The tented structures we had designed were up lit with a warm orange glow.  We also incorporated many special touches such as customized table numbers and seating cards, all matching the brilliant design of the Stationary created by our design team. 

 

 

 

Guests danced the night away to a live Salsa band and lively music spun by local DJ, Sueno Caribe.  There was also a special surprise photomontage created showing Jenn and Eliu’s lives, which was shared on a large movie screen set up just off of the dance floor on the beach.  After the Wedding, the party continued in the resort’s nightclub until the wee hours!

Leaving the Dominican, I was truly sad to say goodbye to Jenn and Eliu’s friends and family who I have grown so close to over the planning process and especially during the weekend festivities.  A special thank you again to Jim and Maria Mullan and Obed and Linda Gonzalez for allowing us to be involved in such a special day for their children.  I will never forget the experience of working with all of them to bring together such an amazing day!

Thank you again to the wonderful vendor team, both here and in the DR, that helped make the day perfect.

Photos by Photo Souvenir

Happy Planning,

Candice

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary to Two of Our Fabulous Couples

We would like to wish a very Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary to two of our fabulous couples -Debbie & Julian and Nancy & Rafael.  

Debbie & Julian came to us from London and were married at the amazing Mandarin Oriental in New York City with a beautiful Qunice Blossom motif. 

Click here for more on Debbie & Julian's amazing day!

 Nancy & Rafael were married at St. John the Baptist Church in Paterson, NJ and held their Old Hollywood Glitz and Glamour reception at the wonderful Westminster Hotel in Livingston, NJ.

For more on Nancy & Rafael's glamorous wedding, click here!

We wish both couples a lifetime of happiness and love.

From,

The Team at The Finishing Touch

An Engagement Story: Front Page News!

Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times in one's life and the proposal will be remembered forever.

Grooms are popping the question in new and exciting ways, making it more and more personalized, which truly adds to that special moment.

Our newly engaged couple Rosemarie and Robert agreed to let us share the details of their unique engagement. To create his perfect proposal, Robert had a fake newspaper printed up  (www.trixiepixgraphics.com) with an article featuring his and Rosemarie's engagement. Recently, many of their friends have become engaged so he used that as a way to present the paper to Rosemarie, saying "Now look who is getting engaged!" and tossed the paper to her. When she read the article and realized what was going on, Robert got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Of course, she said yes!!

The Finishing Touch Congratulates Rosemarie and Robert and wishes them all the best!!

~LBI Wedding Road Show 2010~

Yesterday was the 2nd Annual LBI Wedding Road Show-and it was a great success! Vendors from all across the state came out to greet the brides and grooms-to-be. Candice, Soroya and Stephanie of the Finishing Touch headed 'down the shore' along with fellow ABC members Kathi Evans of All the Best Weddings and Celebrations and Christine Hyder of Christine Hyder Events. The team represented ABC at several fabulous locations along the island such as The Stateroom , LBI Foundation, Surf City Yacht Club and Mallard Island.

With the sun shining brightly, nearly 200 excited couples came out to see what the island has to offer. Along with meeting the happy couples, it was great networking with some familiar and many new faces!  Some ABC members also had the opportunity to take a trolley tour of LBI to check out some of its finest locations. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time and we are already looking forward to next year's Road Show!