Inspiration... Rosecliff's Newport Flower Show

I went to cover the opening of The Newport Flower show.
This is always a wonderful event~ So many great ideas for weddings and gardens.
Above the charming Philip F. Pelletier Director of Special Events and on top a performer from TEN31 Productions
wemakepretend.com

Advantage Newport

You ask.... Why Get Married In Newport R.I. ?

It was the original Hamptons after all! A summer playground with wonderful style!

An Editor at www.DestinationIDo.com just asked me ...

"What does Newport , RI have to offer to a couple
trying to organize a wedding?"

A simply spectacular assortment of locations - Dazzling ocean views – Elegant style from the classic to the contemporary!

From a former summer White House, two Vanderbilt mansions, a Belmont stable that looks like a medieval castle, Classic Hotel ballrooms, to a new hip South Beach-style venue … Intimate or Grand, Old World or Modern…the diversity of the venues Newport has to offer is unparalleled

Newport has so many resources for a couple and their guests to take advantage of on the wedding weekend.
Boating, Biking, Fishing, Scuba Diving, Beaches, Golf, Tennis, Great Restaurants, Shopping, Antiquing. Museums, Historic sites, Art Galleries , Nature Preserves and great festivals for every season.

Summer of course is a favorite time to enjoy Newport but don’t overlook the romantic feeling of the Holidays with cozy firesides and Victorian Christimas decorations or Fall when the leaves are turning and the air is newly crisp…Personally, I look forward to the Jazz Festival every summer as a Grace Kelly-worthy occasion (after all she immortalized the festival in the film, High Society) but The Clam Chowder Cook Off and the Boat Show are also great times in Newport.

Some couples will even choose to plan their wedding weekend around these festivals.
Buy tickets for your guests and build these fun, fabulous festivals in to the wedding weekend activities.
I love the Americas Cup Charters, where you can rent Historic 12 Meter sailing yachts and create your own Americas Cup Experience!!!

It’s a Newport tradition to hold a Pre-Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Race, the Groomsmen Vs the Bridesmaids!
Newport is also the home of the Tennis Hall of Fame and tennis courts are plentiful - if boat races don’t engage the wedding party, tennis is an alternative.

And for true tennis buffs, the Casino is one of Newport ’s most extraordinary places to get married and hold wedding festivities…
Newport offers entertaining pursuits for singles as well as couples, families with children as well as parents of the bride and groom
Every one feels welcome here. So come be married in The City by the Sea, we’ll do our best to see that you live happily ever after. Photo From The Movie Evening, filmed and set In Newport RI

Inspiration....Teddy

Decorated by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the 1880's, at the start of the Theodore Roosevelt administration, augmented by floral displays and strings of electric lights the East Room was used for a gala state dinner.
With all its interiors incrementally altered into a showplace of ornate Victoriana, Theodore Roosevelt's White House renovations of 1902-1904 were billed as a "restoration". Indeed his New York architects, McKim, Mead & White, did return a Neo-Classical flavor to the White House décor. Only it wasn't the delicate English-derived, 18th century Neo-Classicism of the Federal Period, but the considerably richer Beaux-Arts Classicism characteristic of their own time and associated with France that they favored instead.

"Nautical Newport Weddings"

Yacht Club Style Weddings are as popular as the Americas Cup it self.

This show will offer great Red White and Blue ideas for a clam bake
welcome dinner or nautical wedding. The creative talents of
A Newport Affaire and R.I. Rentals and Cape Lettering Arts
will collaborate a nautical tabletop wedding table In the Newport Wedding Gallery June 6th – June 28th 200

www.rirentals.com
www.anewportaffaire.com
www.capeletteringarts.com

The show will be on July 4th 2009– July 26, 2009 At The Newport Wedding Gallery

Water Fire and We Make Pretend

Check out this collection of TEN31 Productions' characters performing at Providence's Waterfire.
So much fun!
http://www.waterfire.org/season-schedule/2009-waterfire-schedule
www.wemakepretend.com

What does it cost to have a Wedding in a Newport Mansion?

The cost to rent a "cottage" the venues will vary from about $4,000 to $20.000. But don't for get about the "plus plus" says Event Planner


Nancy Swiezy of A Newport Affaire
The extras such as a tents, tables and chairs, parking and the venues mandatory event staff can double your rental rate, so read the contract .

The venues "preferred vendors" may be at a higher rate than if you had the wedding in your back yard. But your photos will be priceless!
For more information Contact
Nancy Swiezy Events
NancySwiezyevents@gmail.com
917-355-0689

Green Garden Weddings In the Newport Wedding Gallery

Creative Potted Plants by Floral Designer Linda Pierce Of The Earth

Hand made mixing bowl centerpiece by Potter Lee Segal of All Fired UP

Table Top , Natural wood chair and Linen By R.I. Rentals www.rirental.com

Hand Made recycled paper table numbers, place cards and chair backs by Beatrice Clifford of Pressed Flower Artistry www.pressedflowerartistry.tv

This was a great group effort with a Green results!
By using local potted plants, regiftable hand made containers, reclyled paper and natural dried Flowers, with reusable local rentals makes this a beautiful green solution for a garden wedding.

A New Bridal Shop in town makes a WISH affordable!

Second hand roses can find a wonderful wedding dress for a bride or her mom! Courtney and Lisa Sarro have just opened a great store that is not only green but a great value for a bride on a budget.
With the high divorce rate and the unlikelyhood a daughter would ever fit or want to wear her mothers dress,
why don't you regift to another bride?
Brides maides can drop off dresses as well.
This way your not stuck with 27 dresses!
One could give the funds made off of the resale to a charity as well.

664 Thames Street Newport RI
www.wishnewport.com

A Note of Gratitude

Dear Nancy,
We will never forget the passion and creativity you brought that contributed to our wonderful special day.
It was really a fairy tale wedding,
Magical ,unforgettable and exceeded our expectations.
Many thanks for all your time and care.
Kind regards,

Kamil and John

This is what makes my job so special!

Hey Sailor... Why don't you join me on top of my Newport wedding cake!

I found a Artisan that makes the most darling custom cake toppers .
So you and your favorite sailor can grace the top of your cake!
$125 @ The Newport Wedding gallery

Advice from A Newport Wedding Planner Are "Wedding Groups" a good thing?

Wedding Groups "are committed to sharing referrals to increase revenue" for the membership.

As a wedding planner, I ethical can't join one of these groups.

I'm my clients vender match maker,
I work for the client not any groups membership.

My job as a planner is always to look for new talent and sevices for my data base.

The Newport Wedding Gallery is experiential marketing that gives brides a opportunity to engage and interact with vendors brands, products, and services in sensory way. When in the gallery I'm showcaseing the services of the members.

But when it comes to my clients at A Newport Affaire, their needs come first.

The Newport Wedding Gallery
ANewportAffaire.com

Come practice your first dance at The Island Moving Co.'s Gala

Join Alex Donner at Doris Duke's Rough Point for Island Moving Co.'s spectacular fundraising event. Enjoy the stunning setting, fabulous food and dance the night away with the Mr. Donner's Orchestra!
Auction proceeds enable Island Moving Co. to continue its important mission of presenting world-class dance and touching the lives of children through the company's critically acclaimed educational programs.
Saturday, June 27, 2009 ~ 6:30pm-Midnight
Rough Point ~ 680 Bellevue Avenue, Newport
$250 ~ Full evening; $75 ~ After Dinner Dancing (9:00pm-Midnight)
Space is limited! Please RSVP to Island Moving Co. at 401-847-4470

Can I have a Newport R.I. wedding on a budget?

A bride came in to the Newport Wedding Gallery last weekend thinking she could not afford to get married here.

She asked

"Can I have a Newport R.I. wedding on a budget?"

Yes!


Says Event Planner Nancy Swiezy.

I have worked with society families and New York struggling actors. And the key to success is less is more, quality over quantity, a shorter guest list and booking your wedding off season. Even the time of day can make a big difference in stretching your budget.

We have some wonderful wedding solutions in Newport RI with a rental fees under $4000. And that is in high season with a water view! Be willing to do some of the vender’s jobs your self, as long as it can be done a head of time.

Ironically, with the smaller guest lists, Im seeing more luxurieous wedding venders being hired. You can have that hand made crystal incrusted invitation when your only buying 25 to 50 of them!

So keep a open and flexible mind to who, what, when,and were for your wedding will be held!

Advice From A Newport Wedding Planner....Think Out Side of the Box with your Bridal Registry

Bridal showers are helpful for girl who has never set up a proper home.

But with many couple getting married in their late 20's and early 30’s additional small appliances are the last thing they really need.

So why not think out side of the box with your Bridal Registry?

What do you really need?

A hardware store, a furniture store, a travel agent, or even a wedding vendor could be listed on your registry.

Naomi Raiselle of Generations Cinemastories told me a story how the brides maids and groomsmen chipped in to buy the couple videography services. It was something they wanted, but had to cut out of the budget.
The couple was so grateful and over joyed!
Naomi has even created gift certificates for the occasion the family or friends want to sponsor her services.

It sure beats another toaster!
www.generationscinemastories.com

At Rosecliff The Newport Flower Show

The 2009 Newport Flower Show offers guests opportunities to enjoy judged horticultural specimens and floral designs, special garden exhibitions, free lectures and demonstrations, as well as wonderful shopping experiences in both the Oceanside Boutiques and the new Gardeners' Marketplace. Tickets are also available for special luncheons, lectures and workshops. You'll find that there are many choices as you select which ticket or package offers you the best opportunity to fully enjoy all the hues of Glorious Green, The Natural Path. June 27th and June 28 at Rosecliff
Its a great show and a must if you are going to be in town!
http://www.newportmansions.org/page4702.cfm

A Wedding Cake for a Bouquet!

Take a look at the this florest from Japan called Hibiya Kadan

http://www.hk-wedding.jp/

And Yes your wedding cake can be the inspriration for your bouquet!

If you are thinking about a wedding at Rosecliff .... Here is a great story from New York Social Diary

Here is a great story on the history of Rosecliff called,

The Adventures of Tessie


Film buffs are familiar with the house as that of Gatsby’s in the Robert Redford-Mia Farrow film version of Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” Called Rosecliff, it was designed and built between 1899 and 1902 by Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White for Hermann and Tessie Oelrichs. The beginnings were humble in the classic sense; what could be described as dirt poor. Theresa Alice Fair, known as Tessie, was born in Virginia City, Nevada, daughter of Theresa Rooney, an innkeeper’s daughter and James Graham Fair, a prospector who had emigrated from Belfast, Ireland at the age of twelve.

To Read the article here
http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/2551
To rent Rosecliff for you wedding
http://www.newportmansions.org/page3597.cfm
And
http://newportweddings.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-does-it-cost-to-have-wedding-in.html

A Green Centerpeice for the NY Wildlife Conservation Society Party

Preston Bailey designed this GREEN Centerpiece for the NY The Wildlife Conservation Society Gala in NYC.
Its another example of "less is more "to get a dramatic effect with three key ingredients moss and leaves and stems
Great design does not have to be made out of expensive ingredients!

From NY http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com

The Brides Cake, The Grooms Cake , and now a Dogs Cake!!

Karen Benjamin of Creative Cake Company

Has launch new division of Barkday cakes called;
























Creative Cake Company...for Dogs!

Wag Nation hosted a Sunset Barkday Birthday Party last night at the Canfield House.

For $40 these cakes can serve eight - ten of your closest canine friends and even a human or two!

These all natural, sugarless, vegetarian Barkday Cakes, that actually tasted pretty good!

And yes I did sample them! The Potato and cream cheese frosting tops whole wheat or carrot cake flavors.
They come in His (blue) or hers (pink) paw prints, graced upon the side of the cake.

The cakes are available exclusively through wag-nation


www.newportcakes.com
www.wag-nation.com

Advice and Wisdom from a Maid of Honor

I am Kamil’s friend Kelly and I am delighted to have the pleasure of being her Maid of Honor. And here we are now, beginning your journey together as husband and wife.

As you embark on your adventure, I’d like to share some of my wisdom about marriage with you (limited as it may be, since Joe I recently reached the 3 year mark…). I am blessed with having the good fortune of garnering advice from my parents and my in laws – all of whom have shared long, fruitful marriages.

I’d like to share some of their advice with you. This advice was given to my husband and I on our wedding day and has already been helpful….

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created and nurtured. It takes work and a lot of attention!

In marriage the little things are the big things.
[Seriously – when my husband cleans the house – that’s big! When I thank him for that – that’s big too!]

It is at no time taking the other for granted, the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years. Try to remember this – schedule date nights, always make time for each other.

It is never being too old or hurried to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day and to really, really mean it! not just in that muffled way that we tend to without thinking about it

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It’s making a plan together and working as a team to reach your goals.

It is standing together facing the world and always, always, always having each other’s back.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers your two families together and in defining your own.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other, but cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old with certain knowledge that you’ll be there for each other forever.

Kamil and John - My wish for you is that through the years your love for each other will so deepen and grow, that years from now you will look back on this day, your wedding day, as the day you loved each other the least.

Thanks Kelly for shaing this with us, it is great advice for a couple staring life together.

Have a Celeb-Style Wedding for Less in Newport R.I.

Have a Celeb-Style Wedding for Less
The Planner: Preston Bailey
If high drama is your style, take a peek at the wedding reception of Donald and Melania Trump, at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. (Trump actually had a ballroom built especially for the occasion!) But you don't have to be a real estate mogul to go for dramatic effect, says event designer Preston Bailey, who worked closely with Trump's bride to create the impression of “old- world elegance with a streak of the dramatic.” Bailey describes the reception's crowning glory as the 12-foot-high table candelabra, layered with roses and hydrangeas and topped with tapers adorned with lush rose-petal garlands. “They beautifully complemented the table arrangements of white roses and gold-rimmed place settings,” says Bailey.
You can go tall and spectacular without breaking the bank, Bailey asserts. “Sleek glass vases, or even tiered dessert stands, can offer the same height and effect at a more affordable cost,” he says. As for cutting costs on the flowers, Bailey recommends choosing a variety of blooms, like roses, daisies and tulips, in the same tones, perhaps in shades of yellow or white. “And there is always the even less-expensive option of using silk versions of roses, orchids, hydrangeas, lisianthus, dahlias and peonies,” he adds. www.PrestonBailey.com

This bouquet was the inspiration for my last brides flowers!

Real Wedding by A Newport Affaire In The City of New York

Here are the Photos from Kamil and John's High Tea Wedding at the New York Jr. Leage.
It was a magical day with a fairytail ending!





Photos by Stavros Panopoulas of Fifth Avenue Digital

Flowers By Nancy Swiezy

Wedding Cake by Cakeline

50 first dance songs by the Knot.com

My last bride danced to" Some One to Watch over Me"

1. "At Last" (Etta James)
2. "As Time Goes By" (from Casablanca)
3. "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Ray Charles)
4. "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion)
5. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John)
6. "Can't Help Falling In Love" (Elvis Presley)
7. "Chances Are" (Johnny Mathis)
8. "Close To You" (The Carpenters)
9. "Could I Have This Dance?" (Anne Murray)
10. "Dream A Little Dream" (Mamas & the Papas)
11. "Embraceable You" (Nat King Cole)
12. "Endless Love" (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie)
13. "Fascination" (Jane Morgan)
14. "Fever" (Peggy Lee)
15. "Forever and Ever, Amen" (Randy Travis)
16. "Forever" (Kenny Loggins)
17. "From This Moment" (Shania Twain & Brian White)
18. "Grow Old With Me" (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
19. "Here And Now" (Luther Vandross)
20. "I Finally Found Someone" (Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams)
21. "I Only Have Eyes For You" (The Flamingos)
22. "I Will" (The Beatles)
23. "If I Loved You" (from Carousel)
24. "In My Life" (The Beatles)
25. "It Had To Be You" (Harry Connick, Jr.)
26. "Lady In Red" (Chris DeBurgh)
27. "Love Theme To Romeo & Juliet" (from Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet)
28. "Marry Me" (Neil Diamond & Buffy Lawson)
29. "One Moment In Time" (Whitney Houston)
30. "Our Love Is Here To Stay" (Billie Holiday)
31. "So This Is Love" (James Ingram)
32. "Some Enchanted Evening" (from South Pacific)
33. "Something" (The Beatles)
34. "Somewhere" (from West Side Story)
35. "The Best Is Yet To Come" (Frank Sinatra)
36. "The Rose" (Bette Midler)
37. "Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You" (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
38. "True" (Spandau Ballet)
39. "Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole)
40. "Up Where We Belong" (Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warrens)
41. "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" (Captain & Tennille)
42. "Wedding Song (There is Love)" (Petula Clark)
43. "We've Got Tonight" (Bob Seger)
44. "We've Only Just Begun" (The Carpenters)
45. "When I Fall In Love" (Nat King Cole)
46. "Will You Marry Me?" (Vonda Shepard)
47. "Woman" (John Lennon)
48. "Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong)
49. "You Are So Beautiful" (Joe Cocker)
50. "Your Song" (Elton John)

A Italian Newport Welcome Dinner

Jennifer and Steven came to me in search of the perfect location for their welcome dinner. Some thing to complement the Castle Hill wedding they were planning. So a gourmet Italian take out store turned in to a causal Sicilian get together in Newport last night!

P.S. A Green Idea. We doubled dipped and used the Chianti bottles for decor and sangria!

Event by www.anewportaffaire.com

JAG Studios

There are so many wonderful Photographers in New York and New England . But Jacklyn from JAG Studios has a cool fresh way of shooting.

Her work just jumps off the page and so did her groom!

So worth looking at www.JAGstudios.net