The Swanky Planner

Winter Wedding Lounge

2012-01-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

Looking back on our events, this one at Studio 450 was most definitely one of our coziest!

Studio 450 is another one of our FAVORITE loft venues. (And you might not know - I have a soft spot for this NYC loft because I was married there a little over 12 years ago)

SO many things I love about this loft space like its size, the room layouts and the fact that it has two floors and a really nice size deck. But most of all I love its shinny whiteness (yes I think I made that word up but it perfectly describes the space)

Studio 450 is on West 31st St at 9th avenue which I would best describe as a fairly non-descrpt (and kind of always gray) area of the West Side. There's usually scaffolding of some sort on one of the buildings in the vicinity. I know I'm not 'selling' why this 'great' venue is so great very well but honest, I'm getting to my point, which is this.

There's something wonderfully magical about going to this dingy gray part of New York City, riding up a huge metal freight sized elevator to the top floor, not knowing what in the world to expect from a party in a place like this. Having the elevator doors open and arriving into a truly lovely, bright, spacious, glossy white venue with sunny (or sunset) views of New York City in all four directions.

What I absolutely love about this space is that its a large open white pallet. Its urban chic. It's a space where you can truly create ANY type of environment.

I've been lucky to work in this venue dozens of times and have had the opportunity to do a lot of very creative themes. But since I first stepped into this venue, I have ALWAYS wanted to do a cozy 'ski lodge' event! I have done lots of other 'winter' environments but I finally got the chance to do my cozy ski lodge here at 450!

Looking forward to a cozy New Year!!!
Cheers to your next event
xoxo Maya

Unique Wedding Venues: Hempstead House on Sands Point Preserve

2011-12-29T15:44:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for a truly unique and breathtaking venue for your wedding....a venue that "all your friends and family haven't been to hundreds of times already" then Hempstead House on the Sands Point Preserve in Port Washington may be a perfect match.

Only 30 minutes out of NYC, this little know Gold Coast Estate is one of my MOST FAVORITE venues to share with clients who are looking for Unique, Private, Indoor-Outdoor option and Views of the Water.

This venue has A LOT of Pro’s:

• Its close enough to the city that busing guests is a viable (and generous) option

• Sprawling grounds make for a beautiful entrance on to the property but also for fabulous photos throughout your big day.

• A huge manicured lawn with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound give you an outdoor ceremony and or cocktail hour option but also tenting area if needed.

• Amazing architectural details.

• Gorgeous and spacious rooms for lots of different party configurations

• A wonderful staff of people on the property who make it a pleasure to work with

• The ability to bring in your chosen caterer

• A breathtaking (clean palate) which makes it a perfect foundation to create a multitude of wedding styles!

A few Cons:

The space is NOT HUGE so based on your expected guest list the smart decision may be to add a tent to your plan to make transitions from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception as smooth as possible.

There are two spaces where the dance floor makes the most sense but both have small obstacles. A sunken floor with a fountain and an area with a fireplace cutting the room in half could be obstacles or can be beautiful elements its all how you look at it.

Keep in mind, this an OLD ESTATE and while it has been updated and very well maintained by the preserve it is a historic building and so it is drafty and cool in fall and winter months and certainly can be warm in the summer. Heaters, Air Conditioners and a Generator are all definites to add into the budget. A restroom would also be advised for outside ceremony and cocktail hour because of where the bathrooms are located inside.

All in all I cannot say enough wonderful things about this venue! Gorgeous, Vast, Elegant without being Stuffy, Traditional but Timeless.

Take a look at our photo gallery and the creative board of how we were inspired to produce our Great Gatsby Wedding at Hempstead House and keep your eyes out for our (soon to be featured) 'Sleepy Hallow' HALLOWEEN Wedding at Hempstead House!

Do you have a favorite "unknown" venue?! Let me know! I'd LOVE to hear about it!

Cheers to your next event!
xoxo
Maya

10 Ways to WOW your Wedding Guests

2011-06-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, the cake, the gown, and the centerpieces are all important, but these 10 ideas are not only super-simple -- they're also guaranteed to make your wedding rave-worthy.

1. Create a Welcome Video

Most likely you won't be able to greet all of your out-of-town guests when they arrive, so consider arranging a virtual welcome. Talk to your videographer about creating a brief video of the two of you welcoming them to your wedding location, and provide tips for things to do in the area along with what they can expect for the rest of the weekend (or simply create your own with a digital video camera!).

2. Don't Underestimate the Welcome Bag

Another easy way to impress? Give each guest a welcome bag. Fill an inexpensive basket or canvas tote with bottles of water, a bottle of wine or locally brewed beer, something salty, something sweet, and a piece of fruit. Don't forget to include a welcome letter (or video) as well as a detailed itinerary for where the guest needs to be and when. Leave the whole thing with the hotel concierge for the guests to pick up when they check in. And be sure to provide them with maps and lists of local restaurants, museums, and other attractions in case they want to explore on their own.

3. Keep Them Entertained -- Not Overwhelmed

You don't want to stress your guests out with too many activities, but a few entertainment options before the wedding will really show them how much thought you put into their visit. Suggest group activities like area hikes or tours for your guests to mingle and get to know each other before the main event. Lay out planned weekend activities for guests in a timeline so that everyone is in-the-know.

4. Ditch the Boring Ceremony Aisle

It's probably the one detail of wedding planning you forgot about, but it's also one of the simplest to take to the next level. A creative DIY runner, rustic pew arrangements in Mason jars, or even a quirky patterned rug can all dress up a plain aisle -- and make a major impact on your guests.

5. Make Inventive Escort Cards

The escort card display is the first thing your guests see when they walk into your reception -- so make it good. Have your calligrapher write guests' names on pretty vintage mirrors, print names on horse show ribbons, stick the cards in cupcakes, or attach each card to a tiny can of champagne with a note that reads, "Do not open until the wedding toast."

6. Add Music to the Transitions

Hire a bagpiper, a drum line, a gong player, or even a strolling guitar player to lead guests from one space to the next. If you're not set on an instrument, localize it: For a tropical setting, hire someone to blow a conch shell, or in the mountains, hire an alpine horn player to announce when it's time to move.

7. Rethink Wedding Transportation

Okay, you're probably not going to have a parade float, but that doesn't mean you can't be creative with your transportation. Your guests will gape when they walk out of your ceremony and see an awesome antique car or retro school bus waiting to pick you up! Or choose transportation that pays homage to your wedding venue, like a hayride for a country ranch wedding or even a Snowcat for a winter mountain reception.

8. Give Them A Say!

Use your RSVP cards or wedding website to let your guests have an opinion on something other than chicken or fish. Let them request a song, create Mad Lib-style return cards you can then display at the reception, or have them vote on the top-tier flavor of your wedding cake! Guests will love seeing the details that they helped choose come to life on the wedding day.

9. Serve Food You'd Want to Eat

Think about what foods make you happy -- whether it be ice cream sandwiches, mac and cheese, watermelon, donuts, or tacos -- and add them to the menu. One of our favorite new ideas: a potato chip bar complete with all the dips. Talk to your caterer about putting together a truly personalized (and delicious!) menu. Then watch your guests chow down.

10. Send Them Off with Breakfast

Even if it's not an all-out postwedding brunch, plan to give your guests a little goodbye breakfast the day after. Rent out the hotel conference room and talk to the staff about creating a breakfast buffet. Or simply arrange for bagels and coffee to be delivered to your guests' hotel rooms before they depart.

-- Justine Lorelle Blanchard - The Knot & News Channel5

Special thanks to: Maya Kalman of Swank Productions in New York City and Kelly Karli of Frosted Pink Weddings in Colorado.

Baby's Breath. YES Baby's Breath

2011-05-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

There are a few flowers that in my opinion get a really bad rap. (*more of this list to come)
Baby's Breath is probably at the top of that list.

The poor bodega flower has built a reputation of being the "cheap filler flower" used in the arrangements you'd get at a grocery store, bodegas and unfortunately still some flower shops. ( And because its primarily used as a way to mask the small amount of flowers they are bundled with it always makes me think of a cheap date. )

BUT the truth is if you use ANY FLOWER (en mass) by themselves they are always breathtaking! And Baby's Breath is no different (and to most a surprising reality!)

If you look at Baby's Breath up close you'll see it's actually a beautiful, delicate and very romantic grouping of flowers. To me there's something ethereal and kind of effervescent about them. They feel almost cloud like. Really perfect for a modern romantic wedding.

So the next time you see Baby's Breath give it a closer look. I am here to attest that Baby's Breathe (done right) CAN be elegant, gorgeous and unforgettable!

*And Yes Baby's Breath does have a strange (un flower like) scent however in a large open space such as this one it was completely undetectable.

HUGE THANK YOU TO:

5TH AVENUE DIGITAL

ROBERT EVANS

DAVID NICHOLAS

BELLE FLEUR

CREATIVE EDGE PARTIES

Something Blue and The Ring Bearer Pillow

2011-03-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

I've been a wedding planner and designer for over 10 years now and I've always been baffled as to why the ring pillow ALWAYS seems to have to be the same boring satin square pillow.

So in recent years I've made it my mission to make sure that I suggest really unique ideas for the "forgotten last minute bridal items" like the ring pillow and the something blue tradition.

Viola! These phenomenal Rose Pillows answers both problems in a simple and chic way!

While they do come in two styles ( I happen to LOVE the felt one!) they also come in different colors one of them being a GORGEOUS BLUE!

So rethink that boring Ring Pillow and opt for something that not only will make for beautiful photos but will also look SUPER SWEET in your new home as a throw pillow!

XOXO

~Maya

Get Kate Middleton’s Chic Wedding Style

2011-02-18T15:52:00.000-08:00

Since news of her engagement to the prince broke, Kate Middleton’s name has been everywhere. And it’s no wonder – she’s stylish an obtainable way and that gorgeous ring is definitely worth emulating.

Kate Middleton’s white Reiss engagement dress may be sold out everywhere, but you can get the look with Temperly London’s Silk Jersey Dress ($895).

Kate’s blue Issa dress is also a sell-out piece – but you can grab your very own on eBay – you’ll look completely royal (various prices).

Don’t forget the ring. This sapphire stunner is a guaranteed home-run – and totally Kate-worthy.

BRIDEFinds.com has all the best wedding shopping. Check out our guides to more great sapphire rings, bridal hair accessories and we’ll even help you out with your wedding invitations.

Alice in Wonderland Invitations

2011-02-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

Alice in Wonderland and Mad Hatter themed events have become more and more popular and here at SWANK we LOVE them! SO many different ways to be creative and it's a design theme that really works for ANY age group.

Right now we're working on an AMAZING Bat Mitzvah with an Alice in Wonderland / Mad Hatter theme. And when it comes to invitations I strongly believe that the invitation "Sets the Tone" of what guests can expect to come at the party itself. So for this client we wanted to pull out all the stops!

The invitations we created in house have been causing a HUGE stir with not only the teenagers but also the adults who have all been finding this masterpiece in their mailboxes.

They came out so cute we wanted to share them with you! (but changed the info to keep their privacy)

Guests received a large white box with customized label that went over the entire top of the box and led them down to the open side.

When they open the box and opened the beautiful deep purple tissue paper they found the mad hatters hat invitation!

On the tag is the invite information

And on the bottom of the box guests found their (double sided) RSVP card and envelope!

We've been getting a lot of "OMG's" and "these are amazing!" messages from the clients and their guests. And the Bat Mitzvah girl is now being inundated with people who want to be invited just to see what else we've come up with! (which of course we LOVE to hear!)

Whats most important about the invite (in addition to all the important information being on it!) is that it creates excitement in the guest. After all you want them to come to your event right?
So next time you're doing an invite think out of the box - or in this case, think about what cool stuff you can do in the box!

Tell me about the best invitation you've ever received I'd love to hear about it!

xoxo
~Maya

Winter Wedding Accessories

2010-12-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

Baby it's COLD OUTSIDE!
But its warm and fuzzy in the bridal salon as you prepare for your final fitting.

So you're having an amazing Winter Wedding. You've thought of everything. The veil, the rings, the jewelry, the bag, the shoes. You're all set, right?

Well not yet. While its warm and cozy inside, it's FREEZING outside! And on your wedding day you will inevitably have to go outside in your gown at some point. When that happens what will keep you warm? (and no, the love of your fiance will not cut it!)

Make sure you plan on some sort of a jacket or wrap. Fur (faux or real) is my personal favorite. But the style and materials are really up to you. Take a look at the style of your gown, your body type and how much time you plan on being outside (are you taking photos all over the city or just going from the limo to the venue?)

Whatever you choose realize that it will be in your photos forever so you want to love it. And while white is the most common, color is also very cool! Whatever you choose Just make it your own.

AND...don't forget to give the same advice to your mom's, grandmothers and bridal party.

I cant tell you how many bridesmaids I've seen shivering on the streets of NYC waiting to quickly rip off their every day coat to snap a few shots.
Make sure everyone is prepared and you will insure that everyone has an amazing day!

Cheers on your upcoming wedding!
~Maya

Photos: Sharon Schuster, A Stylish Design, Natural Expressions, Davids Bridal

Cupcake Alternatives!

2010-07-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

I am loving these awesome alternative to the now (TOO typical) tiered cupcake display!

***Come on Brides....lets start a much needed NEW TREND!

Here are some ideas I Love:

Sprinkles Custom Cakes just introduced Cake Shooter, a push-up pop with three layers of cake and icing. The shooters are available in four flavors: Yellow Raspberry Swirl, Pina Colada, O.M.G. (a mix of raspberry swirl and chocolate buttercream icing), and the Sprinkles Signature (vanilla Bavarian cream and white icing). The label on each pop can be customized with a company logo or message for no additional charge, though a week’s notice is required They also have a super cute and interactive Sprinkles Mobile Another cute (and local) idea is your very own Ice Cream Truck like this one we did outside of Gotham Hall in NYC Cake Pops are decedent little cakes on a stick that are as yummy as they are cute. Each Cake Pop is made to order so you can make it any cake flavor, any color fondant on the outside and any design detail on top! And if you're not into cake at all...how about Ice Pops or Shaved Ice!Peoples Pops transforms local sustainably grown fruits and herbs into Popsicles (they do pretty awesome shaved ice too!)

What are some of your new ideas to do for dessert.... instead of the Cupcake? I'd love to hear!

xoxo

~Maya

Summer in the City means Weddings in the Hampton's!

2010-06-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

This weekend marked the beginning of summer... and in New York City the official exodus of New Yorkers out to the Hamptons! And while I love having such a beautiful vacation-land so close to home.... in my world this weekend also marked the beginning of wedding season in the Hamptons!

The Hamptons offer New York couples the ability to have a true 'destination wedding' while still being extremely close to home. There are beautiful beaches, quaint churches, acres of farm land, vineyards and don't forget the magnificent mansions all available for rent for your special day! (or week if you want to really make it luxurious!) There are also a bevy of private yachts, yacht clubs, dance clubs and charming bed and breakfasts to choose from as well. Each has its own allure and offers your guests a different glimpse into the often talked about Hamptons experience!

There are so many great reasons to choose to have your destination wedding in the Hamptons.

· It makes for a great mini vacation weekend for your friends and family.

· There are great pre and post wedding activities to keep your guests busy. Shopping, Wine Tastings, Antique Shops, Biking, Water Sports....the list goes on and on!

· And when it comes to your wedding design concept, there are a ton to use as inspiration! From beachy, to shabby chic, to nautical, to rustic barn, the options go on and on!

But before you set your sites on getting married out there -there are some things to strongly consider.

· Traffic. When you try and take thousands of people in cars from a 4 lane highway gradually down to a 1 lane country what you get is TRAFFIC...a lot of traffic. As new yorkers we may be used to this concept but many of your guests will not be. So it’s really important to prep them. Make sure that you mention the length of time it may take to get out to the Hamptons on a Saturday morning (if they are not planning on staying out there the night before) Nothing makes for a grumpy guest quite like the panic they feel when they see they are going to be late for the ceremony or even worse miss it all together because they didn’t plan enough time for travel.

· Accommodations. The Hamptons is certainly not known for being “budget friendly”. So what you may think is an “affordable” option for a hotel or B&B night stay – your guests may think is a portion of their life savings. You need to know your guests and try and set their expectations or plan accordingly to make sure that everyone feels they have an option.

· Heat. You may have been dreaming about your beach wedding for months now, but make sure you consider your guests. East Coast beaches aren’t exactly like the palm tree lined beaches of the Caribbean. Rarely is there any type of coverage or shelter from the sun. So make sure that you provide sun & sand comforts in advance for your guests such as parasols, hand fans, ice water and even a shoe valet so guests don’t have to walk in the sand with their shoes!

· Transportation. While most of your guests will be driving and will have their car to get out to the Hampton (taking the train or the Jitney is also a great and convenient way to get out to there) Most party hosts worry about “getting” their guests to their event but not “leaving”. The Hamptons can be very dark and desolate at night. Lots of small winding country roads. Not the kind of place you want any of your guests driving after having partaken in your very generous open bar! The police in Suffolk County take drunk driving very seriously! So you may want to consider a bus or car service for the end of the night to help get your guests home safely.

· And last but not at all least...Noise. The biggest issue when planning a wedding in the Hamptons. While music is obviously an integral part of an amazing party, the Hampton’s are primarily residential areas. A lot of flat land and large open masses of water equals noise traveling FAR! It’s pretty amazing just how far the sound of amplified music and people having fun carries, and thus The Hamptons have instilled Noise Ordinances that are strictly adhered to. Most areas require that you substantially lower or completely shut off any amplified music by 9:30-10pm. And for most people who want to have a sunset ceremony and a late Saturday evening reception, 10pm is EARLY to be slowing the party down! And trust me, from years of experience, there’s nothing more stressful to a bride or groom than to have to deal with the police on the night of their wedding to discuss shutting the party down! Unfortunately there aren’t many ways to get around this other than to plan an early event that can wind down around that 10pm hour. One of the ways I have found to ‘pre empt’ the call from your neighbors to the police is to send a note in advance. Whenever we rent a home for our clients we usually send a hand written note (with a bottle of wine or champagne) to all of the neighbors explaining that we are having a celebration on this particular date and that while we will try and be mindful of the noise we produce, that they also please understand that this is a once in a life celebration. Inviting them to stop by for a drink and a dance is also a generous way of enticing them to celebrate with you instead of complaining about you.

All in all, the Hampton’s is an amazing place to throw an unforgettable “Destination Wedding” weekend. But like any other even, planning the details for the pit falls ahead of time is what ensures a flawless event that was enjoyed by all!

Here are some of my favorite Hampton Wedding Details!

This ones a bit X-RATED :)

2010-05-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

This ones a bit X-RATED :)

So last friday my very successful & clever friend/colleague Zoe Alexander sent out this letter to all us DIVAS (if you're a fab business woman & don't know about it you should check out Divas Who Dine (www.divaswhodine.com) -but that's another post) Anyway, Zoe sent this out & I loved it! Not only because I do think its excellent advice but also because we... (busy women, newly engaged women, married women...ALL women!) sometimes make things more complicated then they have to be - and that goes for dealing with the men in our lives. I get asked for advice all the time by friends, colleagues and clients - especially when it comes to relationship issues- and this is exactly what I think but never thought to write down!) Well that's why Zoe is a well paid and published journalist!

So here's her letter.....I think it should become a popular mantra & hashtag like #FF - maybe we do #FYMF (F Your Man Friday):)
Like the title says - its a bit X-rated so you have been warned. But for any of you that know me....well you know me!
Anyway Enjoy!
xoxo ~Maya

It's almost Friday night here in LA and hopefully you're not still working, especially if you are on the east coast. I wanted to address something because it has been coming up a lot in private DIVA consultations...it's the issue of being so fabulous at work that when you get home you don't the time or energy to be fabulous to your husband or boyfriend. A couple of DIVAS even admit that they are so drained when they come home from work that they just want to be alone and not spend time with their men. Or they are so grouchy that they snap at their guys for small offenses. Is this you? Well, i remember something that Whoopi Goldberg told me years ago when I interviewed her. Valentine's Day was coming up and I asked her what she thought was the one thing a busy, working woman can do to ensure her man stays happy in the relationship. She said without missing a beat. "F-ck him!' She added: "Whenever one of my friends comes to me and says she's having problems in her relationship, I say,'Well are you f-cking him?' And 9 times out of 10, the answer is that they haven't been having sex regularly. Men are very simple. Just f-ck them and compliment them frequently."DIVA Lisa Lori of Lisa Lori Communications actually dispensed similar advice to me after I had Miles. I was telling her that I was so tired from late-night feedings that that the thought of having sex with my husband was not appealing. Lisa is pretty laid back so I'll never forget the seriousness of her tone when she told me the following:"Listen to me. You take one for the team. You have sex with him even if you don't feel like it right now. He needs to feel loved too and so often when we have babies and work, we focus so much on that and ignore him. That will slowly eat away at your marriage if you leave it too long. That's where some girl who comes along and showers a man with attention can get in. "So ladies, on that note, it's Friday night. Turn off your computer, I-phone and/or Blackberry and go f-ck your men! If it's been awhile and you're a little rusty in the sexy department... here's a song to inspire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e82VE8UtW8A
Have a wonderful weekend!
All The Best,
Zoe Alexander

Swank Wedding in Israel!

2010-04-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

One of the things I really LOVE about my job is that I get to travel to beautiful places to see people celebrate love "their way". Especially when it's somewhere completely different, like the Middle East! Different types of venues, different locals, different styles of dresses, different food...everything different! I LOVE IT!

I was recently lucky enough to be back in Israel (where I was born) for both business and pleasure and wanted to share these photos of our lovely couple and the beautiful wedding we created for them.

*Some Cool Facts about This Wedding:

The venue, STOA, is outside of Tel Aviv, and was actually an old indoor basketball court. Keeping the "bleacher" "levels" was a really cool element to play with.

The brides dress (as well as the dresses of all the women in the wedding party) was custom made and had a full skirt to cover her legs for the religious ceremony but then it was removable as she went into "party" mode!

(more photos to come on our site!)

Mazel Tov to all of you planning your wedding where ever it's going to be!

xoxo ~Maya

You Just Got Engaged! Now What?

2010-02-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulations! You just got engaged!

I know its such an exciting time and you want to get started planning NOW.
BUT hold on! One thing I'm sure you haven't thought of is what if I loose my bling?!!?

I know....what do you mean? But yes things do happen. Diamonds do fall out of their settings and rings do slip off of fingers. What would you do if that happened? (other than sob)

So first things first! Call your insurance agent and get that bling insured! Doesn't cost much at all to add it your renter or homeowners insurance. But if the unthinkable happens knowing you were smart is priceless!

Cheers to your engagement!
~Maya

Non Floral Wedding Centerpiece

2010-01-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against flowers! LOL
- some of my best friends are florists!

BUT I DO LOVE non floral wedding centerpieces
because it shows a real desire to be different (and sometimes quite budget friendly)
(and I say 'sometimes' because not always will flowers be less than some of the non floral centerpiece ideas we've come up with!)
One of my favorite non floral wedding centerpiece ideas is the Candelabra.

They can be purchased or rented. You can find them is all different shapes, sizes, materials and finishes. And like the ones we used for this wedding at The Edison Ballroom they can be painted any color that goes with your decor vision!
(these were a strange chipped antique gold so we sprayed them high gloss black)
This one is a particularly fun DIY centerpiece because the bride is a jewelry buyer for a popular chain store and so we used the necklaces she sells as embellishments on all the centerpieces! (which some of the guests that worked with her realized as they were complimenting us on the decor -too funny!)
While this particular wedding was very much a black & white theme
(as well as feathers - which will be another non floral centerpiece blog) :) We used white taper candles (make sure to ask your venue about flame rules) BUT in the past to really jazz things up you can buy (or even spay paint!) taper candles any color you want! (with non flammable paint)
Picture sunshine yellow, a soft violet....any color or combo of colors that you may find hard to buy. OR if you wanted to get really crafty and ombre would be outrageous!

Whatever you decide, just know that centerpieces do not have to include any flowers and can still be magical and elegant.

And as always, your wedding decor should be an expression of YOU!.... so be chic, be sassy, be be bold...be YOU.

Cheers to getting married in NY!
~Maya

Photos & Video by the awesome and talented Jorg Windau
Planning, Design & Production by Swank Productions

Congratulations on your Engagement!

2009-12-26T17:02:00.000-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS on your ENGAGEMENT!

I've been asked to be the NYC Wedding Specialist for TheKnot.com Blog!

2009-11-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

SO EXCITED! Can't even begin to explain!
I am thrilled to have been asked to be the NYC wedding specialist blogger for the knot.com's new New York City Page! http://newyorkcity.weddings.com/

I'll be sharing the details of weddings we're planning, things that inspire me, design ideas, vendors we love, sample sales, you name it...if it has to do with weddings in New York City we'll be talking about it!
Would LOVE it if you followed!

Here's my first post!

Tomorrow I'm showing a wedding client one of my favorite little secret venues for their upcoming Summer wedding. On a fairly nondescript area of 10th Ave. between 20th & 21st St. is The Desmond Tutu Center a true oasis of serenity. For a client who is looking for a venue that has magnificent lawns (yes two huge lawns!) and a Gothic-Castle-type of feel this event venue is a true gem. Things I love about it.
The lawns!

The two lawns are really nice sized and fairly level. Perfect for outdoor ceremony's and cocktail hours. There's a wonderful serenity to the outdoor space that makes you immediately forget that you could possibly be in New York City. The trees are big and bushy and beautiful and when you're there in the spring or summer time you hear birds chirping and see the butterflies in the flowers!...its sublime and very romantic! (can you tell I like this place!) The space is both a hotel and a seminary so there are rules that need to be followed, but with enough notice they are very reasonable with requests. Oh and there is also a tennis court which you can also tent if needed (which is always a great option because you've got a built in floor!)
My other favorite part of the venue is the reception hall!(the Refectory)

This room is just breathtaking. There's a regal feel you get when walking up the stairs and entering the heavy doors to this long beautiful room. I have to admit that scene in Harry Potter is exactly what I thought of the very first time I saw it. The length of the room. The two giant fireplaces at either end. The Gothic wooden chairs. The chandeliers. All amazing! Very cool and very chic! There's a lot that can be done to this venue to create some amazingly breathtaking design moments. (by the way, there are a bunch of large paintings hanging in the room, but again, with prior notice they are really great and will take them all down if you'd like)

The venue is also a hotel, which for a wedding venue can be another added nicety. The rooms and suites are all quite large and designed with what I would call handsome, modern and chic details. The rates are really reasonable and can give your guests the ability to have a little NYC vacation weekend in Chelsea!

As as wedding planner, if I'm going to rave about the place I have to also tell you the things you might not love (but honestly you can get past)

The entrance,while very nice, clean and neat is a functioning hotel front desk - and thus does feel just like one. Its small and fairly neutral, maybe even a bit dry. So to a bride thinking about a venue I can see how that might be a small concern. BUT, I think it's a minimal issue and is definitely something you can glaze over and solve in creative design ways. (I would say lets chalk it up to another one of those 'NYC wedding venue' experiences).

*I have theories you'll start to get to know as you get to know me!

In order to help my clients find the best venue, I try to get them to understand and accept this theory. Most NYC venue entrances (other than hotels) are 'gritty' and 'urban' to say the least. Not what a stylish bride might normally think of as a beautiful, cool or chic wedding entrance to her wedding venue. BUT, when you enter the venue and the event itself! - That's when the WOW moment happens! That's a huge part of what makes a NYC wedding unique for you and your guests! So, in order to really be happy with picking a NYC venue for your wedding - I think you have to be open to this theory and make the decisions based on the wow factors to come, not necessarily what the outside of the building or the area looks like.

Anyway, I digress. The other thing you may be concerned with while walking around the property is the playground. Yes, there is a playground. (again, it's a hotel and a seminary that has a nursery school. No big deal, it wont effect your event at all). If you feel the need, screens will make it disappear on the day of your event, so don't event think about it twice!

All of that being said, as a wedding designer I love the bones of this venue! Its a beautiful, peaceful, and very cool space where truly magical moment can be created. Now after writing about it, I'm even more excited to show it to my clients tomorrow! I will certainly keep you posted on the details of the visit and of course the wedding planning to come. If you have any great stories or details of events from this venue you want to share I'd love to see them!

Cheers to getting married in New York City!
~Maya

OK! So I've been completely MIA when it comes to writing our blog!

2009-11-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

OK! So I've been completely MIA when it comes to writing our blog! I know, I know! What's the point in coming to read a blog about event planning & design if its not going to be something new to read! Well you know what you're absolutely right! Things have been so busy the last couple of months that i kept telling myself, i need to do it, i need to do it, but by the end of the day was way too exhausted to share with you all the awesome stuff we were doing! So frustrating!
so long story short...I'm going to try and do a bunch of back to back recap blogs to catch you up to date. and then...well the possibilities are endless!
So how far back should we go. Well you know what its starting to get chilly here in New York City so lets reminisce a bit about a beautiful day when the temperature was a perfect 70 degrees!

We have a wonderful client that does an end of summer event for their employees and their families every year. This year we knew we had to be economical (the budget had been slashed by two thirds from last year - ouch!!) But we knew it had to be chic no matter what! So we decided to do a new take on the typical company picnic and create an

"Old Time (Country Chic) Americana Picnic"
(thank you to Martha Stewart for showing evevryone that country can be chic!)

To set the tone... a perfect venue with outdoor and indoor space

(with the weather we've had this year!...hello rain plan!)

Guests were greeted at the tent with small individual picnic baskets.

Each picnic basket filled with a checkered blanket and tons of fun toys for everyone

we decorated the interior of the tent to have a warm and fun

old time Americana country fair feel.

Complete with a beautiful yummy pie station

An empty grass area was turned into comfy cool seating areas for guests to eat and chill out
Inexpensive Decor Details like wrapping silverware in bandannas

- make a "standard company picnic" into a CHIC gathering of family and friends.

Even a standard BBQ menu can be chic and inviting!

And don't forget how awesome it is to have PONY RIDES - everyone loves a pony!

Here's to making your next picnic-bbq a chic and fun day for everyone!

SWANK 2nd Annual SAMPLE SALE!

2009-10-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

SWANK Productions is having its 2nd Annual SAMPLE SALE!
Tons & Tons of great Decor & Furniture from this years hottest events PLUS we're redecorating our office so EVERYTHING WILL GO!
Dont miss this event, last years was a huge hit!
Wed 21st & Thur 22nd - 10am-6pm -
231 W29th St Suite 605 NYC!
Cash Only

The Plaza gets The SWANK Treatment

2009-08-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

The Private Copper Room

"Rat Pack" Billiards Boys night out

Two different looks for the Ballroom

Swank Productions is now the preferred, recommended

and simply adored designers for the newly re-opened Oak Room at The Plaza!

Swank is bringing new attitude to this iconic venue by embracing its elegant, masculine aesthetic and rejuvenating it by mixing bright color concepts. The Oak Room was recently featured on the hit TV show Gossip Girl. It’s not only the perfect location for Manhattan’s big wigs to come enjoy a delectable steak, but it’s the place to see and be seen. Private events are a huge part of this landmark’s business. It’s a justified assumption that for every fabulous party you need a fabulous designer and party planner! Swank Productions just recently designed and produced a photo shoot for the Oak Room’s makeover “After” shots. The shoot features four different looks. The first shot was designed to pick up on the rich oak wood paneling throughout the room. The tablescape featured chocolate brown taffeta linens, regal purple floral arrangements, and gilded details as wellas a more formal look incorporating the exsisting newly renovated chairs in the space. Another table was designed using the Oak Bar’s original incarnation as a men’s only club. A color palette of billiard green and burgundy were utilized for this table. Cabaret lamps, champagne buckets, bottles of whiskey were placed on the tables. Vintage billiard balls were placed at each setting. The final look was a private dining room with copper walls. A color scheme of copper and acid green was conceived inspired by oxidized copper (i.e.- The Statue of Liberty). Gold leaf, mother of pearl, and amber details were incorporated into the tabletop design.

We are thrilled that Oak Room patrons will now call upon Swank to personalize the space for them with luxury Event Planning and Couture Design!

Swanky Bride Reviews her SWANK Productions Wedding

2009-08-24T18:53:00.001-07:00

A huge THANK YOU to our Swanky Bride for giving us this "love note" on video!

Big xoxo!

~Maya

2009-07-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

SWANK Productions has partnered up with fine china distributor Michael C Fina for what will certainly be an eventful and swanky year. Between in store table designs and bridal events, Swank will be showcasing new designs and events at the magnificent flagship store on 5th Avenue about once a month for the coming year!

If you have not been to their flagship store on 5th ave in NYC you must! Michael C Fina is the world-class retailer of the worlds most beautiful diamond and gold jewelry, flatware, crystal, and other fine gifts and home accessories. Known for always being at the forefront of glamor and luxury this is the first stop for discerning couples celebrating their nuptials and clients who love to entertain.

Rather than the traditional china table displays... Swank will be doing what we do best, creating custom designs using Michael C Fina's extensive stock of breathtaking china, home goods, bath goods (and of course some fun props and gadgets) to produce one of a kind masterpiece table scape. This month, check out our elegant rendition of the chic gypsy life. Our "zodiac" inspired tablescape features an opulent array of Baccarat crystal stemware, Waterford vases re purposed as crystal balls, Royal Copenhagen statuettes of the zodiac signs and a porcelain cougar just to name a small fraction of the details! Our designs will change monthly (and dramatically) so make sure to come by (and come often!) We know this stores clientele are used to the best of the best and we plan on delivering exactly that! We promise each display table more memorable than the last!

More info about bridal events to come as well as more photo!

SWANK Productions Planned and Designed TNT Wedding DAY!

2009-07-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

OMG! It was just so much fun watching all our hard work DESIGNING & PRODUCING this amazing wedding for Christina & Shawn! (did we mention we did this ALL in 5 DAYS!!!!) (and did we mention that every product and service was DONATED to us by our AWESOME VENDORS!

Take a look at the BEFORE shot of the room and some of these AMAZING AFTER shots! Another amazing SWANK TRANSFORMATION!

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

We'd LOVE to do a custom wedding for YOU!

CHEERS!

xoxo

Maya

more to come next week once I'm back in town!

Tis the “Summer of Social Good”

2009-06-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

Social networking has taken a turn for the good and Swank Productions is going to be a part of it!

With the boom of twitter, facebook, blogs and other social networks, it’s obvious how important and powerful social media can be to individuals and brands alike. (I know a lot of “us” stayed away from all of this because it can all seem so useless when someone updates you with their bathroom breaks every 5 minutes) BUT…. we’re so far past that and loving the relationship we’re building with those who are out there and are so very interesting!
Sorry I digress!
Mashable is aiming at changing the world this summer! Mashable is a highly-traffic blog (3 – 4 million unique visitors a month!!!), named a Top 25 blog of 2009 by Time.com and is a top Twitter user, with currently over 610,000 followers and growing by at least 5,000 followers a day. They are the experts and preeminent source for Social Media news and resources for their readers which include big brands, agencies, high level organizations and top-level executives from major industries. They are taking advantage of their intense online power and attempting to raise awareness for 4 really worth while non-profit organizations; The Humane Society, LIVESTRONG, Oxfam America, and WWF International. And of course, Swank Productions will be right there with them, helping to plan and produce this history making event!

On August 28th, Mashable will host “The Social Good Conference” at the 92nd Street Y on the upper east side. Folks will pay anywhere between $100 to $200 to come and listen to amazing keynote speakers and be a part of major social media history. 100% of the proceeds are going to the charities listed above! There will be a livestream on Facebook and live tweets all day long! A ton of high profile celebrities, web personalities and major sponsors are in contract to promote the event so keep an eye out for more news to come!

Looking forward to this event – after all Swank has always been able being Social & loving media!
Always spreading Swanky event info!
Until next time!

xoxo
~ Maya
Swank Productions event planning and design main site: http://www.swankproductions.com/
Where you’ll find a ton more photos and learn more about us!

Wedding Day starring Swank Productions!

2009-06-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

It’s a really exciting time for Swank right now. We’ve been thinking about it since we filmed in January and now the airing is finally right around the corner! I’m so excited and proud that one of our weddings will be featured on the new reality TV show “Wedding Day” on TNT!
(Airing Thursday July 2nd & 4th at 8PM! Yey!)

Mark Burnett is back at it again with his new feel good reality TV show. For those of you not familiar with Wedding Day, it’s the live taping of a “dream wedding” given by their “dream team” (that’s us!) to a deserving couple who get the wedding of their dreams (meaning NO expense was spared!) Think Extreme Makeover: Home Edition… same producer but now they’ve gearing up for wedding season. We had so much fun shooting the episode and now I can’t believe the moment is actually here to share with all of you!

Our couple is Christina and Shawn from upstate New York who are both captains in the US army stationed in Iraq. They came to Swank in 2006 a couple years after getting engaged with the hopes of getting married back in 2008!... but each time it looked like a date could be set it was derailed by one of them being called to serve their country. After their most recent tour kept them apart for almost 22 months, they got the surprise they never expected! A call-back that their wedding story had won and that they were soon home-bound for a wedding experience of a lifetime.

Christina was nervous and excited of course. She had won a fantasy wedding but also would get to know absolutely nothing about the planning of it!!! Talk about asking a bride to TRUST HER PLANNER! Lol!
But, she knew that Swank Productions had put together a team of vendors who were the best of the best and the entire team were all eager and willing to donate all their products and services for this lucky couple…. the goal was a Dream Wedding and we designed with carte blanch in mind!
Now if that sounds difficult, try doing all of this in 5 days! In the middle of January up in the Hudson Valley! Countless hours and sleepless nights went into putting this special day together for this amazingly deserving couple (actually two days if you count the rehearsal dinner!). We were so fortunate to have found all the right vendors who understood our cause and our vision for this fantasy transformation!
The end result was a true masterpiece (wait till you see the before and after’s!) and we couldn’t have done it without each and every vendor involved.
Shhhh…. Wanna know an inside secret? If we were to actually do the exact wedding for a paying client, it would have cost well over $1 million dollars!! Yep we pulled out every stop possible for this couple – and it was so worth it to see that there really is amazing good and generosity left in the world.

I can’t say much else so you have to check out this amazing episode!

Here’s a sneak peak preview!
http://www.darynkagan.com/love/stories/lv_090622_weddingshow.html

I would love to hear your feedback after the show so send me your thoughts!

Always spreading swanky event info!
Until next time!

XOXO
~Maya

Swank Productions event planning and design main site: http://www.swankproductions.com/Where you’ll find a ton more photos and learn more about us!

2009-06-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

Really cool video! Watch an entire Swank event (from set up to breakdown) in 55 seconds! Let's do it for your event!

Swank brides make it into BRIDES magazine!

2009-06-18T14:45:00.001-07:00

It’s not the first time one of our brides has ended up in a national bridal magazine but we’re especially excited about this one! Christina Fanitzi was already a client of Swank Productions when she was selected to be one of the lucky brides on TNT’s new reality TV show “Wedding Day “. (Can't tell you any details about why her story won or about the million dollar fantasy wedding we produced for her in less than a week!...not yet! But soon!)
But we couldn’t stop ourselves from loving the fact that she got to be treated like the super star she deserved to be!
After finding out that she had won and would be on TNT new show, Christina had only 5 days to transform from army captain in Iraq to beautiful blushing bride. At the fitting / photo shoot we were all blown away to hear that Christina “hadn’t worn civilian clothing in 10 months!”. But oh boy did she pull off her transformation into a swanky bride! She looked beyond beautiful and had the experience of posing for dozens of photos in an array of different designer gowns (which we ended up displaying throughout her cocktail hour for all her guests to see)
The article is titled “Fatigues to Fabulous” and shows Christina’s photo shoot & fairy tale dress fitting, with BRIDES editor Mille Martini Bratten, helping her with the transformation. It was like a scene straight out of Sex And The City: The Movie! Check it out on page 148 of the July/August issue of Brides magazine on newsstands now.

And make sure to Save the Date June 30th at 8pm to see how Swank Productions pulls off an unbelievable fantasy wedding for Wedding Day on TNT!

Always spreading swanky event info!
Until next time!

xoxo
~Maya

Swank Productions event planning and design main site: http://www.swankproductions.com/
Where you’ll find a ton more photos and learn more about us!

Penthouse Birthday Bash

2009-06-15T09:38:00.001-07:00

One of the things I love about this business is you never know who’s going to call and when they’ll need our help.
Last week with only 4 days notice, Swank Productions was called in to fashion and produce and elaborate and intimate dinner party for 34 guests in a newly built, posh duplex on Warren St. The client had just recently closed (that day!) on this unbelievable apartment, which overlooks Tribeca and the Hudson River, and with the shiny new keys, my team was the first to actually enter the space, even before the clients themselves! The party was held in honor of their oldest son’s 17th birthday, and was designed around his colorful and playful personality. The design for the event was spectacular and every detail was intended to accentuate the beauty of the new space but also the birthday boy’s style.
The duplex included floor to ceiling windows that led to an enormous wrap-around balcony. High-top tables, white, wicker lounge ottomans, towering palm trees and small cocktail tables were scattered to provide a chic environment for the cocktail hour as guests overlooked the 3 amazing view exposures.

But as I’m sure you know of the event planning world, there’s never a dull moment! The weather was absolutely unforgiving! It poured all day relentlessly. So while guests could go outside for a smoke (did I mention the patio is covered by 30+ foot ceiling!)… Guests couldn’t really go out there and enjoy themselves on the deck as we had originally envisioned. Always thinking on our feet, another lounge area was created in a second room off the balcony only an hour before the party actually began. The white walls were up lit with blue lighting and therefore giving the room a sort of opulent, Versace feel. Luscious palm trees and contemporary lamps were placed all around the fabulous space (remember there weren’t even lights installed in the apartment yet!). The windowsills were covered with clear votives and the white cocktail tables in the center of the sectionals held striking blue ones. The candles gave the lounge a luminescent glow that the guests really seemed to enjoy and resulted in an immediate party atmosphere.
The main dining room, that overlooks most of the spacious balcony, was the most spectacular. The walls were also up lit with blue lighting and the windowsills that flanked the room on three sides called for hundreds of colorful votives which made a truly magical impression, especially when the sun went down! We set one long rectangular table that stretched out the length of the entire room. The design was inspired from the early 90’s new wave era, with electric colors and of course, the “oh so classic” black and white stripe! We used modern, neon pantone chairs to complement the alternating colorful chargers that were strategically placed on alternating black and white linens. The napkins also carried this 90’s theme with a very sleek, bold black and white stripe. All along the center of the table were purple votives that gave the table a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere, but still playful and fit for a 17 year old guy. To give height and further dimension to the table, eight, perfectly round, four foot in diameter, white helium balloons were tied down the center of the table. The glassware also added flare to the table by alternating black and white stemmed goblets. And did we mention that this family is Russian? So needless to say, the party room would not be complete without having eight fabulous, silver, standing ice buckets filled to the brim with chilled vodka magnums and 8 handsome servers waiting to attend to any guests needs. Although the weather outside was drab and cold, the inside of this luxurious duplex was bright and cheery. The transformation was amazing. We took an empty space and turned it into a magical venue to share a wonderful evening with close family and friends.

Take a look at these amazing before and after shots.

Next time it’ll be your Swanky space we transform!

Always spreading Swanky info!
Until next time, Cheers!
xoxo

~Maya

Swank Productions event planning and design main site: http://www.swankproductions.com/
Where you’ll find a ton more photos and learn more about us!

Hello Desmond Tutu!

2009-06-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

It’s been a really a trying but busy first quarter. But with spring & summer upon us, everyone seems in better spirits. And not to say it’s gone, but the economic situation has almost become something we can all joke about.

So, who knows…this may be an eventful summer after all!

The biggest part of staying at the top of our game in times like this is the ability to really impress the all-knowing and skeptical New Yorker with new info they’re unaware of & ideas they haven’t thought of. So in essence, it's helping our clients find those New York gems that everyone talks about . Well, we’ve done our due diligence and after looking far and wide for Gotham City’s unique venues to hold events, we have found them!

Distinctive venues seem to be on everyone’s list of priorities when beginning their event planning process. Last week, we had the pleasure of being guests for a showing of The Desmond Tutu Center on the west side in Chelsea. I had the pleasure of meeting him when Swank hosted a non-profit dinner and silent auction for his foundation and now we've come full circle in working with this space for events. (photo 1 is of the Desmond Tutu Center, photo 2 is from the Swank event). The street-side view is completely unassuming. But when you enter the event spaces, you’re greeted by a castle-like setting with stained glass windows in almost every event room. With high cathedral ceilings, it’s the perfect venue for someone looking for that “something different” for their affair. It’s the ideal marriage between gothic structure and modern style. And that’s just the inside! I haven’t even gotten to the garden. It houses a seminary so the word ‘serene’ would be an understatement. Fortunately, they’re not too strict with noise and event regulations so it’s the best of both worlds. If you’re ever in the area, you should definitely stop in and check it out. And always remember to mention Swank for that special treatment!

And the list goes on... Hudson Theatre, Powerhouse Arena, The U.S. Equestrian Team Center, and Calle Ocho. Stay tuned for an exclusive on the aforementioned places.

My search is never ending so I would love to get some feedback about places you think I should check out. There are so many exciting and great projects coming up and I’m thrilled to share all of it!

Always spreading swanky event info!

Until next time Cheers!

xoxo
~Maya

Swank Productions event planning and design main site: http://www.swankproductions.com/
Where you’ll find a ton more photos and learn more about us!