Blog UPDATE

Hello All,
Just wanted to let you know that we have now moved the site over to Preston Bailey.com. The new link is: http://www.prestonbailey.com/inspiration/blog/


This blogspot blog will no longer be updated. Please adjust your RSS feeds accordingly.

Thank you!

More Pictures of the Set-up

Too busy to write a full post today, so here are more pictures of the set-up:

I'll post more pictures of the party tomorrow!

The Set-up: A Celebrations Transformation

It's only one day before the big Celebration! I was very torn in choosing a space for the event--in these economical times I didn't want to give a party that was too slick, so it was essential to find the right venue. I love the Armory because it's a raw, empty space that sort of reminds me of a high school gym.

It's been an interesting challenge transforming this space. For each new venue, there are specific elements I always focus on:
• The walls--how do I cover them?
• The ceiling--what am I going to hang from there?
• The floor--depending on the space, sometimes I think, "How am I going to deal with this?"
• The entrance
• The actual decor itself

It's always good to have as much time as possible for setting up. This being New York city, we only have about 48 hours to set up the lighting, the flowers, the stage, projections, and so much more. My crew and I will definitely be pulling an all-nighter for this one.

I'll have more pictures of the set-up process to show you tomorrow, but for now, tell me....

What was the most exciting transformation you have ever created or witnessed?

What's Hotter Than Naked?

I think some people find it hard to find just the right thing to wear to a party. When I throw my own, I try to give direction that's fun and amorphous so that guests can take the direction and interpret it in their own way. For example, at my last book launch party, the only attire request I had was to wear red (by the way, the rebel Martha Stewart showed up in orange). I love surveying the scene as guests show up to see all the clever ways they decided to get dressed.

For the Celebrations party, I wanted to come up with an attire request that complimented the mood of the party. January tends to be a depressing month since it's so cold, it's post-holidays and some people are partied out. That's exactly why I wanted to throw the party at this time to bring back the mood of sexy, fun and hot...hence the attire requirement for this party: hot.

I've been so busy traveling and planning my party (along with many others...work never stops) that today it hit me: I haven't chosen anything to wear to the party yet. What does one wear to a party where the attire requirement is "hot" and all the guests have already seen the invite?

When I grew up in Panama, I used to have to wear a uniform of white shirt, tie and slacks so I promised after high school that I would never wear another tie again. So, generally, I'm opposed to wearing suits--even though that may be someone's definition of hot.

This is where you come in my loves. I need your help figuring out what to wear to my party. Tell me your suggestions, please!

Oh, and stay tuned for tomorrow. We'll be talking about my favorite part of the party...the decor.

Conversation with: Marcy Blum, Event Planner Extraordinaire

Similar to how doctors shouldn’t treat their own family, it doesn’t work for me to plan my own parties. So, I turned to the best for help with the Celebrations launch party (and many others--Marcy and I have worked together for years).

...And just because she happens to be one of my longtime friends who makes me laugh endlessly is just extra icing on the proverbial 20 foot tall cake.

Enjoy!

PB: Let’s talk about how you became an event planner and why you wanted to embark on this career.

Marcy: When they released me from the asylum (from Preston: I could not help but laugh out loud) I decided that I needed something to do. Okay, actually I was a foodie and I went to school to be a chef and worked as a cooking teacher and all sorts of things and it evolved from there over the years.

PB: How are you different from other event planners? 

Marcy: (With a little smile) I’m good at it! (from Preston: More laughter from the two of us)

PB: What was one of your most challenging events?

Marcy: Every event is challenging. The interesting thing is that it’s always a different challenge. Just when you think, “Now I know how to build a tent in the middle of outer Slobovia in the pouring rain,” the next time, it’s in a desert or everything’s fine but the client’s impossible...Life is constantly different.

PB: What’s your favorite part of the event planning process? 

Marcy: You know, I hear this question all the time and the truth is most of us lie and most of the time, I lie (laughs) but really it's the joy of the process itself, rising to the challenge yourself.

I find people endlessly fascinating--both the good parts and the bad parts. I’m just fascinated by the mystery of what makes them tick; what makes someone come in and say, “I really want something simple and elegant,” and what they think of as simple and elegant is yards and yards and yards of satin wrapped around everything...

PB: What kind of advice would you give to a client looking for an event planner?

Marcy: Oh, to hire me! Of course. (Laughs)

PB: Okay, last question. Can you share some of the surprises you have planned for my Celebrations party?

Marcy: Well...we’re going to have a lot of very enthralling, sexy and interesting things planned--both in entertainment and the guests--don’t forget the invitation said the attire is “hot.” So, I’ve been looking for something hot for several weeks, I may just bring my boyfriend...

Your parties are about surprise and they’re very sensuous. I’m usually all about the food and you throw parties that are about the vibe. So, just wait for something very unexpected.

In the video below, Marcy snuck in one last thing she wanted to say after I thought the interview was officially over and I stepped out of the room. I was touched to hear what she said. Click play to watch.



For more info on Marcy Blum or to contact her, please email: lea@marcyblum.com or visit http://marcyblum.com/.

Now it’s your turn, share one event that took you months and months to plan, and tell me...was it worth it?

Stop Giving The Same Old Tired Party Favors Everyone Else Gives

I have been to many fantastic events where I received gigantic bags of goodies (most of it very useful, but some ending up in my re-gift closet), but there are times where I've received a favor that was especially spectacular (like special cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, Kiehl's products, or a 1 hour massage treatment).

Before we get into talking about spectacular favors, let's pull back and ask this very simple question:  Do you think it's necessary to give your guests a party favor after you've spoiled them all night with great decor, great food, and great entertainment?

For me, the answer is a big fat YES.

However, please do not give another frame or candle. If you choose to give a present, make it relevant and something that's special to both you and your guests. The price tag is not that important (though I truly did love receiving that hour long massage).

For example, one party favor I like to give a lot when I entertain at home is the gift of leftovers. I always make sure to have extra food and nice containers so that each guest can leave with their own package. (I've been told many times that it was a great way to re-live the evening the next day.)

Another thing I object to is please DO NOT put your favors on the table as part of the decor.  Most of the time your guests don't know what to do with it during diner, and sometimes, as we break down the event, we find that a lot of guests simply forget to take them.

A much more dramatic and memorable way to distribute party favors is to instruct the waiters to come out with your favors on silver trays and hand them out to each guest individually.

So tell me, what was the most exciting party favor you have ever given or received?

More Information Is Up on BaileyandBlum.com!

 As promised, we now have all the details up about the mentoring weekend Marcy Blum and I will be giving from March 5th-7th for a limited number of 40 attendees.

Visit http://www.baileyandblum.com/ for more information about the weekend agenda and how to sign up.

Conversation with: Olivier Cheng

I grilled Olivier Cheng, founder of Olivier Cheng Catering and Events, to get some insight on the catering business, discuss what food trends are in and out, and try to find out what special food he has on the menu for the Celebrations launch party.

But before you read the interview, here is Olivier’s tip on how to help your caterer help you find your food vision. Press play to watch.



PB: Tell us about how you got started in the catering business.

Olivier: My background is in business and architecture and I got started in the catering business because I worked for a friend of mine who was an architect and ran a little luxury resort in Colorado. He really loved what he did and I helped him on the business and design side to help run and manage it.

I came back here trying to figure out what I’d like to do and I liked the idea of working on food, catering and design so I worked for somebody I knew here in New York, and then I worked for a celebrity chef to help him start a business, and from there I started my own business.

I just really wanted to make something that was not your typical catering business. For me, it was more about doing beautiful food, about the way things looked in the whole story--from how the staff looked, etc...Obviously you have to complement everything all the way around. [I wanted] to really treat it like a fine restaurant but in a catering experience.

PB: Now let’s jump to what’s really important. What’s your favorite food?

Olivier (smiling): Well, I have to say that one of my favorite foods is one of your favorite foods...and that would have to be short ribs. I think you’d agree with me that short ribs with a little celery root is the way to go.

PB: What food trend do you think has been overdone in the past year?

Olivier: That’s a good question. Since New York is so eclectic, it’s hard for me to say what...

You know, I’m wondering if this sort of American comfort food thing is--with the cupcakes and everything--I feel like that’s really getting saturated and I think that’s something that has sort of seen its day.

PB: What’s the strangest food request you’ve ever had from a client?

Olivier: It would have to be for this wedding we did where it was just a two person wedding and the bride really didn’t eat anything. I think she was lactose intolerant or vegetarian and the groom was a complete carnivore. Since we were only feeding two people, I think for their hors d’oeuvre for their wedding we served her one type because that was all she could eat and we served him like 10.

It had to be one of the most unique parties I’ve done food-wise since their tastes were so different yet there was only two of them. When you’re doing that for 100 people, it’s a little different, but for just two, I think the clash stood out to me the most.

PB: How do you plan your menus? What’s your process?

Olivier: We’re very client-oriented. One of the very first things I always do is talk to the client and figure out what they love and what they envision for food. To me, it’s really about the client and to direct the client to help them find their vision.

PB: Here's the final question we’ve been waiting for. What are you planning on serving at my Celebrations launch party?

Olivier: Well, a lot of it is a surprise so I shouldn’t really be revealing to you what we have planned...BUT one of the things we’re doing is that I want to serve some of your favorite things.

At the parties we do together, I see that your eyes light up when you’re around the food table so one of the things I’m doing for you is that we’re going to serve what I was talking about earlier which is one of my favorite things as well... braised short ribs with celery root puree. So I hope you will love that.

Now tell me dear readers, what is one amazing dish you recently had and where did you eat it?


Photos by: Olivier Cheng Catering and Events or Jason Wyche

To Park or Not to Park

I've been intrigued by the responses you posted about yesterday's bathroom attendant entry so I thought I'd bring up another small, but important detail that sometimes causes an issue: parking. The big question is, should you, as the host, pay for your guest's parking? I once worked with a client that not only paid for her guest's parking but also gave specific instructions that no one should accept tips (she tipped 20% to all the car servers).

On top of that, she also offered to give each guest a single rose on their way home.  We all struggle in this industry to come up with unforgettable moments for our events.  I thought this was a true moment of class. (Of course, she could also afford this luxury, which makes a difference in what you choose to offer your guests.)

Tell me about an unforgettable service you have either given or received that made an event memorable and why it was so great.

Let's Talk About Bathroom Attendants

Yesterday's post got me thinking more about servers and attendants at events. I believe in great service as much as anyone, in fact I pride myself on giving grade A service, but there is always a limit. For instance, I still find it incredibly uncomfortable when I go to the bathroom and finish my business to find a usually very sweet attendant trying to hand me a towel for a tip.

I am always left with the vague feeling that this sweet person was just assigned there to make sure guests wash their hands properly (or wash them at all--seriously men, I’ve seen some of you just walk right out of the bathroom after you exit the stall).

Being from the old school of what goes around comes around, I never know what tip is appropriate. Fifty cents hardly seems enough, a dollar probably about right...but then, of course, partly out of guilt or generosity I end up over-tipping.

 I strongly suggest that if you do plan to offer this very private service at your next event, please pay the server beforehand and have them refuse any extra gratuity.

How do you feel about bathroom attendants? Do you think it’s a luxurious touch or an awkward encounter?

The Importance of Eye Candy

I've always said that LA is full of gorgeous people (even the ugly ones are pretty) but New York is where the characters are. Since this city is such a melting pot of different cultures, there's a diversity in beauty and types of people that you may not see in another city. Besides great food at a party, it's always wonderful to have some hot servers to accompany the hot food. Okay, I know you're thinking this may seem trivial or superficial, but let's think about this: The devil is in the details. If you're going to oversee all the other crucial details of your event, why not ensure that there's some great eye candy to go along with the main entree?

Yes, I am being a little cheeky--but there's nothing wrong with admiring beauty, and if that means also getting to flirt with a random stranger, then all the better. And listen to this, at one of my parties a guest and a server ended up clicking and making a real connection. They later got married!

One semi-related, but semi-not side note to this thought--I really dislike when waiters are asked to wear tuxes at a black tie affair. It's confusing to distinguish the servers from the guests and can cause some awkward moments. I can't tell you how many times I've been at a formal event as a guest and I've had other guests come up to me to ask for a drink (talk about profiling).

What do you think? Is eye candy important?

Conversation with: Ira Levy

Today’s interview is with Ira Levy, founder of Levy Lighting. Ira has worked with me on many past events, infusing my designs with his brilliant lighting sensibilities and creative touch. We talked about different lighting techniques, how to stay innovative in the industry, lighting trends for 2010 and so much more. Plus, don’t miss the video at the end where he shares what special surprises he has in store for the Celebrations book launch party.

PB: Can you tell my readers what it means to be a lighting designer and how you started your business?

Ira: I was in school and saw the Pretenders in our gym. I was completely blown away by the fact that this whole show was produced by students. The next day I joined the concert committee and got involved with producing the shows. That means when I was 19 I worked with U2, Eddie Murphy, Santana...all these groups, and I always took a liking to the lighting part of it.

We started a nightclub on campus and I continued with that after college and worked with nightclubs in general. From working with techno nightclubs, I became involved in the rave scene. One of the first rave parties I did in New York, actually, was at the Armory at 26th and Lexington! It was before Marc Jacobs, before VH1, before anybody did a party there. We were there. It’s funny to be coming back full circle.

PB: Oh, that’s such a great coincidence. Tell me more.

Ira: When I decided to go out on my own, I started in fashion. I did something for Donna Karan where she wanted water in her new apartment (because she does meditation) so I installed a water projection for her. From there, I started working with Calvin Klein and all these different companies.

My sensibility from a lighting point of view came from fashion, which is about clean lines, meticulous installations and a really professional approach. I wasn’t involved with social events at first, and for years people would say to me, “You know who would be a perfect fit for you? Preston Bailey.”

PB: Can you tell me more about staying on the cutting edge of lighting innovation?

Ira: I’m really married to technology. I think that especially with light, it’s such an important thing. It’s a mysterious art form and technology is an important aspect of what I do.

I like to be very forward thinking in what I do, for creative stimulation and from a competitive standpoint.  I think that a lot of people, especially in this social market, are stuck in a low-tech world, but I think there’s a way to use technology without it feeling “high-tech” and cold.

Let’s talk about lighting technology like cell phones. Every year they get smaller and lighter, and with lighting it’s the same thing. Now, we’re able to illuminate things brighter, cleaner and sharper but with a smaller fixture.

PB: What are some lighting trends for 2010?

Ira: Well, projection is getting to a point where it’s becoming much more user-friendly so we’re able to use projection as different types of light and backgrounds for different things. So, rather than having to constantly use fabric and material like that, you can now utilize light as actual projected elements.

There’s also interactive technology where people are now becoming part of the event. Rather than just walking in, people will enter a space and be able to play with something. Right away it sets a mood and tone for the personality of the event.

PB: What’s your favorite part of doing lighting design?

Ira: My favorite part is when you first walk into a space and you really visualize how you can transform it. For example, the first day of set up--I enjoy seeing the equipment, the trucks, the people... These jobs are on such a large scale, we spend a week or two working on them so we get to know each other, bond and become a family.

For the last question, Ira sent me a video clip of his plans for my book party and what he has in store for the guests. Click play below to find out what sort of lighting surprises guests can expect at the Celebrations book launch. 



If you’d like to contact Ira or need more info from him, feel free to email: info@levylighting.com

Can you tell me about a party you attended where the lighting really impressed you?

Announcing Bailey and Blum.com

I promise to write more about this later, but I just wanted to let you know that I have an exciting event coming up in March. Marcy Blum and I will be hosting a mentoring weekend March 5th-7th in New York City. More information will soon be up on the website, so check it out: http://www.baileyandblum.com/

Conversation with: Darren Olarsch

I sat down with Darren Olarsch, President of On the Move Entertainment and Events to get his thoughts on the entertainment industry, how to stay innovative in the ever-changing world of music, and try to get you the dirt on who will be performing as the surprise guest at my Celebrations launch party. Did he reveal the secret? Read on to find out.

PB: Tell us about your company and how you got started.

Darren: On the Move has been around for 18 years. We started, literally, right out of college. We wanted to be in the business of having fun and being able to make a little money and found that the music business was the calling.

PB: What makes your company different from other entertainment vendors?

Darren: We’re a boutique entertainment company. We prefer to be a smaller company where my partner Joe and myself are in touch with every single client. We’re involved with every single song that gets played at every single party. That personal touch makes whatever we’re doing, at any party, pretty special.

PB: Can you share your thoughts about music and how it should affect the flow of the party?

Darren: Sure. Especially for a party like your Celebrations book launch, we believe in building the party. So, instead of hitting everybody hard as soon as they walk in the door, it’s a process. It’s taking people on a trip. When they come into the room, we start out with something ambient, a little mysterious and then build up the tempo from there. By the time this party gets kicked into full gear, it’s rockin’.

PB: How do you stay innovative within the entertainment industry?

Darren: You need to be in touch with what’s going on out there in the clubs and the scenes, not just here in New York but globally. My DJs don’t just work here in New York, they do events across the globe from Europe to Asia. There are hot tracks happening right now in Europe that haven’t even hit the States yet. So by the time they hit here, if we’re the first ones doing it, we look like the heroes.

PB: What’s your favorite aspect of each gig?

Darren: My favorite aspect of each gig is seeing the reaction of our client. When they’re on the dance floor and they’re movin’ and they look up and realize, “Holy cow, this place is awesome,” that’s when we get the good response. When they look over at us and give us a little wink or a thumbs up...that’s what it’s all about.

For the last question, you can hear from Darren personally in the video below. I asked him: Can you give my readers any information about who will be performing at my Celebrations book party?

Click play to find out the answer:



Who is your favorite band or DJ and why? Let me know. If you’d like to contact Darren or need more info from him, feel free to email: info@onthemove.com.

Party Planning: The Final Invite

As we talked about in an earlier post, the invite is an important first step in party planning. Today, I'm really happy to share with you the final concept we came up with for the invitation to my Celebrations book launch party.  But first, I have to say that I loved hearing all your ideas for the potential concept of the invitation.

Here are some ideas you shared with me:
• The invitation as a puzzle
• Me as a shirtless gladiator on a chariot
• Me on a bed of roses à la American Beauty
• An invitation in the shape of flower, using a color scheme of different shades of purple
• An invite told in a story format handwritten on a brown card
• Champagne bottles as invitations with custom labels

I actually loved the American Beauty concept so much that we tried it out. Here's the image of me in comparison to the original image from the movie (you can click on the image to make it bigger):

As you can see, I'm no Mena Suvari, so we nixed it.

Luckily, I have a private creative consultant (who also happens to be my partner) Theo Bleckmann, who has helped me create concepts for some of my past party invitations. We were talking about New York City landmarks and became inspired by the statue of Atlas holding up the world on his shoulders in Rockefeller Center. It is such an iconic image in a landmark destination.

I was so fascinated by the image that I felt it was the right direction to go in. Here's the final invitation:

I'm working with the fabulous Ellen Weldon to produce these invitations. She is such an amazing, innovative invitation designer and definitely one of my go-to ladies when I need a beautiful invite designed.

What do you think of the invitation? Let me know in the comments.

Busy Day

The "before" picture of the Armory

There's so much to share today--I did a walk-through of the Armory with my team and we discussed the specifics for transforming the space for my Celebrations party. It's so exciting to walk into a raw space and instantly begin to see how my vision will come to life. Not only did I do a walk-through with my own production team, but I also talked to some of the vendors I'll be working with to help me produce the event.

Today, I talked with Ira Levy of Levy Lighting to discuss the special lighting techniques we'll be doing for the event and Darren Olarsch of On the Move Events to discuss the entertainment for my party (including the special surprise appearance by a singer or band I have planned!). I've worked with both people for years, including my past book launches.

I also interviewed both Ira and Darren on their expertise and experience in the industry to share with you on the blog. They shared some really great info and gave some insights into what we've planned for the party. So, stay tuned for tomorrow when I get the first interview up.

Later this week, I'll be meeting with Olivier Cheng (who will be catering the party) and the fabulous Marcy Blum, event planner extraordinaire, to discuss logistics. I'll have interviews and behind the scenes chats with them too.

What is one behind the scenes task you're interested in knowing more about? Let me know and maybe I'll share the answer...

Party Planning: Making Sure Your Party Flows

Let's talk about something important that can sometimes be overlooked: the length of your party. One of the biggest mistakes many people make is they plan an event that is too long.  Most parties should be no longer than 4-5 hours. The beauty of a fabulously planned event is that you always leave people wanting more. I always say you've thrown a successful event when people just don't want to leave.

Here is the general timeline I'm planning for the Celebrations launch party. The party will be from 6pm-10pm (perfect for an event thrown on a week night, 8pm-midnight for the weekends):

6:00pm-8:00pm: Guests arrive. I call this the "lounge" period. Guests will be arriving, checking out the scene, eating some wonderful food, and mingling with others. I always make sure the entrance is welcoming, with waiters ready to greet everyone with drinks and appetizers.

Music is also very crucial here--I don't want to overwhelm guests with something too high energy at the beginning. It's also important the music is not too loud (We'll discuss more about the importance of music in a later post.)

8:00-8:04pm: I like to greet my guests with a special welcome message by stepping up to the mic. This is a way for me to welcome everyone I may not have had a chance to personally say hello to, and a way to "officially" kick-off the party. When greeting your own guests, be careful not to make your speech longer than 2-4 minutes max.

8:05 pm - 8:35pm: Time for a special guest performance by a surprise entertainer! (No, I'm not telling you who...) This is the moment to get the energy level up and get people in the dancing mood. I don't want my party to turn into a full blown concert, so an abbreviated set of the band's most popular songs is enough to get everyone in a dancing mood.

8:35pm-10:00pm: Dance, dance dance. Being a member of the Studio 54 era, I definitely love to dance and always hire the best DJ in town to get everyone moving at full swing.

After 10:00pm: This is the moment I'll start saying my good-byes and thank all the guests for coming.  It will be the end of a wonderful night...

Tell me, what's your favorite part of a party? Let me know in the comments.

Looking Back: Centerpieces

The most important thing, for me, about centerpieces is that they need to provide a sense of drama. I think of creating a centerpiece like creating a piece of art on a table.  Centerpieces fit into two categories: low & high.

For low centerpieces, I always like using a profusion of flowers. Use flowers that work together in the same color family, all purples or all reds for example, as opposed to too many colors in one arrangement, which can be distracting and less dramatic.

The benefit of a low centerpiece is that it enables guests to see each other across the table and allows an intimate experience. The benefit of a high centerpiece is that it serves as additional room decor and provides high drama.

Here are some tips for creating your own centerpieces: 

• Think beyond flowers. In the picture above, using a tall black rod as a candleholder made the illusion that the candle was floating in the room. If you pair this with a beautiful low centerpiece, it brings a balance to the table. 
• Flowers can have opposing fragrances. Be careful that the flowers you use don’t have a scent that could conflict with the food.  Some examples of strong fragrant flowers are: gardenias, tuber roses, Casablanca lilies, and paper whites (narcissus). But just because you can’t use them at the table doesn’t mean you can’t use them in arrangements around the rest of the room. Certain clients request their favorite fragrances, so it’s always something we need to balance and pay attention to. 
• I suggest using some low and some high centerpieces--it gives the room more of a flow across the space and it can be more cost-effective (lowers centerpieces are less expensive). The correct height of an average low centerpiece is when it’s low enough that you can see the person sitting across from you at the table. For an average high centerpiece, there are no rules (sky’s the limit). 

Do you have any tips or tricks for creating a dramatic centerpieces? Please share in the comments.

Party Planning: The Guest List

Once you have your invite and your venue, the next important thing is your guest list. Who’s coming to the party?

New York is a very diverse city, and I love bringing together folks from all groups: uptown, downtown, celebrities, royalty, clients, gay, straight, etc... I find that with great décor and enough food and drink everyone has a wonderful time and gets along fabulously.

I think parties are a good place for people watching and dancing. I'll talk more about music and  entertainment closer to the event, but I do think it’s important to plan a surprise appearance of a singer or group for no more than 25 minutes. (You can see the surprise guests from my last party—Sister Sledge--below.) It adds a little extra something to the party that people will be talking about for days after the event. Of course, it doesn't just have to be a band or singer that wows the crowd, any element of surprise that creates a defining moment is something no party should be without.

Who do you think should perform at my Celebrations party this year and why? Let me know.

Party Planning: Choosing a Venue

These are the "Angels" I had at my last party in the Rainbow Room

Choosing a venue, for me, is a very crucial moment. The choice of venue needs to complement and create the feeling of your event. In prior years I chose a beloved space in New York, The Rainbow Room, for all three of my book launches. Being from Panama originally, this space always represented the ultimate New York experience with incredible views of the city in Rockefeller Plaza. (Unfortunately this most cherished venue was closed because of our economy.)

Jennifer Holliday performing in the Rainbow Room

It's been a challenge choosing a space this year. I wanted to find a space that fit at least 500 people, more rustic than I’ve chosen in the past but equally as charming. I found the perfect space in the 69th Regiment Armory—a national historic landmark. Victoria's Secret recently used this space for their last fashion show.

I love this venue because it is open to the decor I have in mind. I don’t want to reveal too many details before the big day, but one idea I have is to set up an Art Exhibit of events I’ve designed, small vignettes created to walk you through multiple experiences. But we’ll talk more about that in a later post...

Jennifer Holliday and me dancing the night away

What are your favorite venues in your city and why? I'd love to know for when I am working in your area.