Sunday, May 31, 2009

The importance of a the Save The Date card

When you are planning for your wedding, you often want to give out of town guests plenty of notice to make their travel plans. A great and increasing popular way to do that is through save the dates. While the invitation is often quite formal, Save the Dates have the unique opportunity to be funny, quirky, and different. They can be as simple as a card with your names and wedding date, or as complicated as a message in a bottle, tiny calendar, or deck of cards! The possibilities are endless and it is a moment to make a statement about you as a couple. It is also a great opportunity to send your guests information about travel arrangements or a website to help them with their plans.
Cathy Colbert of www.1stimpressionsinvitations.com

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

White Roses Blue Hydrangea and Baby's Breath


Stunning! From Brides.com

Green Garden Weddings Come to The Newport Wedding Gallery


“Green Garden Weddings”
Garden weddings are as important to Newport as a weddings held in our historic mansions. The creative talents of floral designer Linda Pierce from Of The Earth,
Potter Lee Segal of All Fired UP,
Briana Hill of R.I. Rentals www.rirentals.com
Beatrice Clifford of Pressed Flower Artistry www.pressedflowerartistry.tv
will collaborate a green tabletop wedding table
In the Newport Wedding Gallery
June 6th – June 28th 200
Open Saturdays and Sundays
11:00 to 5:00 or by appointment
Website www.thenewportweddinggallery.com
Blog www.thenewportweddinggallery.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Color Watch

I was seeing a lot of 6o's influence at the gift and stationary show this year so look out for those kicky pop culture colors coming your way!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Flower Power Welcome Bags


I found these great welcome bags in NYC . They come in assorted colors and prints are green and fun!
at $10 a bag its great way to welcome your guests to town and reuse after the wedding when shopping.
The Newport Wedding Galley
917 355 0689
nancy@anewportffaire.com

Preppy Ribbon Trends






These new some fun finds in ribbon i found at the New York Stationery show!

The ultimate wedding planning bag coming to The Newport Wedding Gallery!

This is the perfect desk-on-the-go for brides, or anyone that has a client or project-based lifestyle. The bag puts a feminine modern twist on the more masculine briefcase by providing special places for everything a woman needs, as well as a chic exterior that appeals to a woman's aesthetics. When unzipped, the bag lays completely flat, creating an instant workspace. On the left is a fully equipped tool station featuring an assortment of storage and planning tools—pens, pen loops, highlighters, scissors, a stapler, a tape measure, a 3 ring hole punch, a calculator and Post-its™. Directly behind the tool station is a large accordion-style pocket for storing file folders or magazines. The interior spine has three 2″metal binders with 15 dividers with customizable tabs for labeling the sections, business card holders and plastic CD/DVD holders. Behind the divider section on the right interior of the bag, there is a fitted area for a pre-punched letter-sized pad of paper for note taking. And for ladies who want their laptops nearby, there is a padded section in the back of the bag for secure storage, which doubles as a “catch all” if they choose to leave their computer at home. The front of the bag hosts a large pocket that unzips for storing additional necessities.
Priced at $189.00, is made of a durable black micro-fiber with animal-friendly black patent leather accents in white and black. A Croc version is available at $229.00, as well as an orange canvas version with brown croc trim priced at $209.00.
www.Thenewportweddinggallery.com

Thursday, May 21, 2009

From Long Island Business News:The economy puts a hitch in the wedding market



Nancy Swiezy, a wedding planner who does a lot of work on Long Island, has become an expert on getting married. She’ll tell you that regardless of the economy, people are tying the knot. But right now they’re cutting back on how much to spend on the celebration. “They’re getting married, but the head count is down,” Swiezy said. “The guest list is sometimes smaller by half. Instead of 200 guests, we’re looking at 100.” She’s also seeing people wait longer before booking venues to get better deals. “The sales cycle is so close to the date of the wedding, it’s shocking,” said Swiezy, owner of Manhattan-based Nancy Swiezy Events and A Hampton Affaire. “They’re waiting to three to four months to put money on a venue. If the date is open, the venue will negotiate. The consumer knows this. This is business they [hotels and other venues] weren’t planning to get. Three months out, they’ll be more open to negotiating a better deal.” Swiezy said she’s seeing more people book weddings on off nights, such as Sunday and Friday. And more people are booking off season, in May or even October and November, rather than the proverbial June wedding. Some weddings planned a year or more in advance, well before the economy tanked, are going full steam ahead according to initial plans. But even those booked a year in advance are retrenching. And wedding venues are cooperating. Therese Coppola, director of sales and marketing for Danfords Hotel and Marina said they’re making an extra effort to “work within a couple’s budget. “ “We offer different menus at various price points,” Coppola said, noting the importance of different price points in a down economy. “Many brides and grooms are downscaling their wedding choices across the board along with the number of guests they are inviting.” And Nasser Samman, general manager at The Garden City Hotel, describes his property in these times as “affordable luxury,” noting the importance of being able to “customize menus to budgets” in a difficult times. The Roslyn Claremont Hotel has been using more lounge furniture such as ottomans and coaches rather than formal seating at some weddings. “It’s this free-flowing cocktail style event with stations around the room, informal seating and up-lighting,” said John D’Aguanno, the Claremont’s catering sales manager. “There are ways to work it out so it’s more cost effective.” And they’re offering cheesecake lollipops as a cheaper, informal alternative to dessert stations.
“These things have been out there, but they’re becoming more popular,” D’Aguanno said of alternatives. “It’s a way to give more bang for the buck.” Lloyd Van Horn, general manager of the Montauk Yacht Club, said his hotel hasn’t adjusted wedding packages. But he argues groups get a “destination wedding” without huge travel costs. While hotels in high season may be reluctant to discount rooms, Swiezy said they’re being accommodating in other ways with room blocks of 10 or more. “A lot of times they mandate you do some food and beverage like a brunch. They’re being more flexible with that,” Swiezy said. “They might not mandate you have to have an event at the hotel.” Couples and families are spending less on weddings. They’re shrinking guest lists, shifting from sit-down dinners to buffets, ditching open bar for beer and wine and doing rehearsal barbecues rather than dinners. Two out of five weddings Robbins is helping organize this summer eliminated sushi bars or raw bars, often costing $25 to $30 a person. Christopher Robbins of Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs summed it up, saying menus are not as likely to be as luxurious as a few years ago. He said, “In 2009 the focus is not on beluga caviar and foie gras” for parties in general and weddings in particular. “You’re scaling back on the things you’re requesting to eat,” Robbins said. “That makes sense financially. It’s also how you’re perceived.”

by Claude Solnik
Log Island Business News http://libn.com

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Wedding Elopememts in Newport R.I.


A Newport Affaire now specializes in elopements. We believe that all weddings are special, even the smallest ones! Since elopements are truly about the couple, we design packages that accommodate your taste, personal style and budget. We can create a wedding in a grand historic home, an elegant garden wedding or a New England clambake by sail or by the sea. We have unique locations and venues that are perfect for 2 to 100 guests. Our services range from as little as $500 and as much as $10,000 depending on the complexity of the events.
So come join us In the city by the sea! www.ANewportAffaire.com

Friday, May 15, 2009

The Boat Show is in town!

May 15 - May 17 Newport Spring Boat Show The largest in-water spring boat show in New England is a showcase of brokerage and new boat specials, both power and sail. Buy at the show and be on the water for the summer season. A variety of makes and models from 16ft- 65 ft. Over 100 vendors with marine equipment, services and accessories round out the Newport Spring Boat Show. Friday and Saturday: 10am-6pm and Sunday, 10am-5pm.
Place cards made out of small sail boats...How cute!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Plan a Lilly Pulitzer Wedding... The Ingredients for a Colorful Wedding


The Ingredients for a fabulous Lilly Table top Started with R.I.Rentals.

We used raspberry linen was our base line, Lime green, pinks striped and Light pink checked napkins created the patch worked effect Lilly is known for. Modern Square Plates and seashell flatware brought in that Palm Beach influence .

These were the products we used from The Lilly Pulitzer Party line,

Lilly's Mugs were used for favors and coffee service $15 a mug
Paper shopping bags were used for Welcome Bags $6 each
The umbrellas were inhanced in to place cards $7 for 8
Wrapping paper was used on the bride and groom sign $7 a roll
The place cards were used on the trays as menu cards $6 for a set of 8
#3 Table Number was a Lilly frame $19

All products can be special ordered at The Newport Wedding Gallery

The Lilly Pulitzer Wedding was a great collaboration of three great New England Company’s
Custom inhancement by Limoncellostyle www.Limoncellostyle.com
Rentals By R.I. Rentals www.rirentals.com
Art Direction By A Newport Affaire www.anewportaffaire.com


To read more about this event visit www.TheNewportWeddingGallery.blogspot,com

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Sailing Boutonnieres


While most of the floral details will focus on the bride and the reception don’t think of the groom and groomsmen’s boutonnieres as an afterthought. This small accessory can add the groom’s personality to his wedding day look. Many brides will have their florist select a single bloom from the bride’s bouquet for the groom’s boutonniere but there are other options. New York  based floral designer nancy Swiezy has just launched a complete line of “Sea Side Boutonnieres” that allow the groom to wear a custom designed boutonniere that reflects the wedding’s location, theme or his favorite pastime.

nancyswiezyevents@gmail.com
nancyswiezyevents.com
917-355-0689

So wonderful for a ring barer as well!

How to Plan your Perfect Wedding



AT AT THE NEWPORT WEDDING GALLRY!

THE GALLERY IS A CO-OP OF CUSTOM WEDDING ARTISANS. ALL THE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO DISPLAY THEIR PORTFOLIOS BASED ON THEIR STYLE ,EXPERIENCE AND RELEVANCE TO THE NEW ENGLAND BRIDAL MARKET.
478 THAMES STREET NEWPORT RI 02840
NANCY@ANEWPORTAFFAIRE.COM

Cheryl Richards Cover Girls opens to night!


To see all the party photos go the www.newportweddings.blogspot.com
www.cherylrichards.com

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Amanda-Elizabeth

Amanda Elizabeth Jewelry offers something sparkly for the groom on his wedding day. The artist makes flower-shaped boutonnieres in silver, copper or gold. Designs include carnations, thistles and oak leaves. After the wedding, the memento can be displayed in a shadow box.

www.amanda-elizabeth.com

Blue Ruled at the Met's Costume Gala last night in N.Y.C.


Blue is truly Newport's favorite color!

My next bride will be using the the inspiration of Navy Blue, Gold, White and Green for her wedding. A very Ralph Lauren look don't you think?
This is her maids dress by Anne Klein.
More of the Gala here:
http://gawker.com/5240322/met-costume-gala-highlights
A very pregnant Heidi Klum in Gilles Mendel. Bee Schaffer, Gisele Bundchen, Madonna, Kirsten Dunst all wore a shades of blue.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Look for A Newport Affaire in The Indian Express

Koyel Chatterjee of The Indian Express wrote a great story about how the Recession is affecting the wedding industry.
Thanks for including us in your story Koyel.
www.indianexpress.com

10 Worst Wedding Toasts Ever from The Knot.com

1. "At a friend's wedding a few years ago, the best man made it apparent that he wasn't such a fan of the bride. The speech went something like this: '(Groom's name), man I love ya, you know I do. I hope you thought about this and that this is what you really, really, really want.' Then he said the bride's name, hit his fist against his chest twice, and pointed at her."

2. "A friend of mine from college got married, and his best man said in his speech: 'Finally John has found someone with low enough self-esteem to marry him.'"

3. "The maid of honor (the bride's sister) not only talked about herself during the whole speech, she also mentioned the possibility of an affair between herself and her sister's new husband."

4. "At my cousin's wedding, the best man ended his toast by saying he wanted the groom to know that he'd be there for him at his next wedding when this one didn't work out."

5. "The best man at a wedding I was in said during his toast, 'Congratulations to the new parents!' No one except a select few knew the bride was pregnant -- not even her parents!"

6. "I was a bridesmaid in a wedding where the best man gave a toast about how cheap the groom was and how they'd been friends all their lives but the wedding was the first free meal he's ever been offered by the 'cheapskate.'"

7. "The father of the bride stood up and said, 'I'm Jill's dad. I just want to say that I met David before Jill did because of my other daughter.' And he sat down."

8. "My cousin gave a horrible toast at her younger sister's wedding a few years ago. She began by saying that she never liked her sister's new husband throughout high school and that 'today he's still at the level of slightly below the scum on the bottom of a dirty waste pond.'"

9. "I attended a wedding where the best man commented on how the bride used to work at Hooters (which her family didn't know about) and how he was jealous of the groom for 'bagging her.'"

10. "During the toast the groom's dad (after many drinks) said that he was so happy for his son and his beautiful wife Sara. But his wife's name wasn't Sara, his ex-girlfriend's was."

-- Miles Stiverson

10 Worst Wedding Toasts Ever from The Knot.com

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Newport's special event professionals get wined and dined!














The Marble House had a gathering last night for New Englands special event professionals. Thanks to Bill Corcoran of Newport Tent, it was a hit!
Photo of host Bill Corcoran and Nicholas and Conney of 41 North.
And yes Bill...your right, I am Newport's greatest fan!
www.newporttent.com
www.41no.com