My big cake crush!

I have been not-so-secretly obsessed with the Wedding Cakes of Jim Smeal for quite some time now... and though I've poured over the cakes on his site dozens of times, I just can't stop! What I love most is how he so beautifully executes the "cake-scape" - instead of one tiered cake, he puts together a collection of related, but not matching (if you know me, you know I don't like the "matchy-matchy!") cakes. After having done so many beautiful versions of the candy bar, cookie bar, dessert table and the like, this seems to me like the next, more sophisticated, evolution of this trend. Staff the cake-scape with some well-dressed, uniformed chefs who can elegantly garnish your guests' cake plates with the perfect accompaniments and you will finish your wedding meal with a huge "wow!" Thanks, Jim. Hope to gush about your cakes in person one day soon.

Great book for real party lovers!

I was so thrilled to come across a new "eye candy" book when at a meeting with Erin at Gruber Photographers last week. It caught my eye from across the room and I HAD to have it. Thank you, Erin, my dear, for sending me my very own copy featuring the photographs of Terry Gruber and many others. If you love amazing pictures of amazing events, you will love this coffee table meets resource directory book as much as I do. You can buy it here - enjoy!

New York Wedding Workshop Signature Event

I can't believe that it has already been more than three months since the New York Wedding Workshop Signature event at the Xchange. Time flies when you're working like a dog! Anyway, I really haven't had a chance to share the amazing pictures taken by my friend and participating vendor Spencer Lum of 5 West Studios. As always, he and his associate Irina captured every moment with perfection and I can't wait to get these pix in my portfolio and website.

It is rare that I get to design an event completely according to my own specifications without input from a client, so projects like this are so fun for me. I had been jones-ing to do something with black and yellow and it was going to work so well in this space that I had to make it happen. My outstanding floral vendor, City Blossoms, had a few reservations about doing something so non-wedding-y, but after it all came together I think they loved what we created.

For more about the New York Wedding Workshop, visit the website.

The Bump.com and Baby's Gone Wild!

Not too long ago, my friends at The Knot asked me if I would help them out with their baby brand, The Bump, and design a fun themed baby shower which would then be televised as part of TBS's Movie and a Makeover. So, naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to do a creative project like this and maybe have a moment or two on TV! I had about 10 days to make the design and execute it, so it was a little speedy, but I love planning in a hurry and I was so lucky that some of my trusted industry buddies pitched in to help me out. I had also just recently completed a New York Wedding Workshop event at the venue, AVEvenue, so I knew it well.

After seeing the adorable invitation that The Bump had created, I was inspired to really do something WILD! The first thing that jumped into my head was that I needed to create the table design on a curvy table. Getting linens made in time was not easy, but as always, Party Rental, Ltd. came through for me and made these amazing custom fitted pink bengaline cloths. Once I had the table plan in place, I started to look for some other lounge furniture to complete the room layout. While browsing Jersey Street Furniture's catalog, I realized that my design wouldn't be complete until I figured out how to get a curvy bench to fit at my curvy tables. It wasn't easy and it required a lot of math (!) but we made it happen - complete with custom zebra bench covers!

After the show's producers lost the florist they had secured, I asked the amazing City Blossoms to execute my floral design - and they did it all and far exceeded all of our expectations - with less than one day's notice! Can you say "rock stars??"

As always, Aion Entertainment lit the room beautifully, and was able to complete my vision with the projection of an adorable jungle scene (sorry no pix!). And then - the final touch that wowed the crowd - Thomas Preti Caterers designed the most amazing custom menu, including jungle themed drinks (mocktails for the mama-to-be, of course!) that were a huge hit.

The show aired on Saturday, May 16th on TBS, and while I was only on camera for a sec, it was totally worth such a fun experience. I'll try to post more (and better) pictures shortly.