Keswick Bound!

This week the entire Engaging Affairs team is off to visit Keswick Hall near Charlottesville, Virginia for a few days. We've been lucky enough to plan several weddings at Keswick over the years and we love this stunning resort. Breathtaking!  We'll have more fun details on the property and all the amazing new options for events when we return.

Brunch Wedding Receptions!

YoungDesigns

I love breakfast. Really bad-for-you breakfast like French toast, pastries and pancakes drenched in syrup. Done well, breakfast is quite a decadent meal.

 ElizabethAnneDesigns

And I love breakfast for wedding receptions. We've done brunch weddings or even midnight breakfast spreads. Our own Sara served fabulous breakfast foods during the cocktail hour of her evening wedding and it was a massive hit.

You can get really creative with traditional breakfast food and make them passable for a more elegant presentation like mini pancakes, tiny frittatas and layered yogurt parfaits.  This stylish omelette bar from 100 Layer Cake is divine!

100 Layer Cake

You can also have some fun with drinks--make-your-own Bloody Mary stations and Mimosas with various garnishes come to mind.

100 Layer Cake

All this talk of breakfast is making me hungry!  Cheers!

Reem Acra at Saks Jandel!

Badgley Mischka Trunk Show!

A North Meets South Romance {Brandi + Justin}

The bride, a sweet Southern Belle.  The groom, from the North and die-hard Mets fan.  Somewhere in the middle they met and fell in love.

The elegant affair began on a warm Saturday morning in October.  The Groom started off his wedding day with a game of whiffle ball with his friends on the Mall.  While he was enjoying the day outside, the Bride and her lovely ladies were busy getting ready at the beautiful Willard hotel.  Thank you to Diane of Hair by Diane and Pattie Martin for amazing hair and makeup!

The out of town guests along with the bridal party were transported to the Mellon Auditorium by shuttles and limos provided by International Limo.  The Bride and her brother rode over in a vintage car provided by Regal Limo.

As guests arrived at the Mellon Auditorium for the Fall-inspired wedding, they were greeted by passed apple cider.  The very talented Pop Culture Strings played modern and traditional songs as guests found their seats.  After the bridal party made their way down the aisle, the Bride entered with her brother to "God Only Knows" played by the strings.  So sweet!

Cocktail hour consisted of delicious specialty cocktails called “Snaps” made from Ginger liquor, a raw bar set up on the upstairs terrace and, for their newspaper-themed guestbook (the couple works for a newspaper company), an antique typewriter sat next to where the guests signed blank sheets of paper, balled them up and threw them in a small trash can!  After the wedding, the couple planned to flatten them all out and place them in a scrapbook to remember the memories.  So creative!

Once cocktails were over, guests were ushered back inside the main hall for dinner and dancing.  The room was stunning with amber lighting and rich purple, orange, red and blue flowers and linens.  Thank you to Capitol Décor for all of the amazing flowers and John Farr Lighting for the perfect ambiance!

The delicious dinner and wedding cake was provided by Occasions Caterers.   In addition to the wedding cake, the Bride surprised the Groom with a Mets themed groom’s cake designed by the famous Charm City Cakes.

Dancing started off downstairs in the main room thanks to Sound Connection and continued at the after party on the 3^rd floor terrace until the wee hours of the morning.

 The 3^rd floor terrace, decorated in white furniture with a custom white bar and lit with pink and blue uplights was packed with the guests dancing until the party shut down.  Guests were also able to enjoy late night snacks including a S'mores station.

All of the amazing images were captured by photographer, Steve Canning.   Thank you also to Blue Sky Films for capturing all of the day’s memories on video.

Thank you to my special team of assistants, Amanda and Emily!

Congratulations Brandi & Justin, and thank you for letting us be a part of this amazing day! What a fabulous couple!

Christine

Henna Cakes {Creme-Delicious}!

Images via Creme-Delicious

I am in love with these fabulous mini cakes for bridal showers or as favors for Indian weddings. I saw them in O Magazine and immediately started to swoon. How gorgeous are they?

Sandy Patangay, an award-winning New York-based henna artist, founded Crème-Delicious last year after realizing she could create edible versions of her henna designs. Her yummy flavors include chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, and green tea, and the cakes are baked at a downtown Manhattan cake studio. Each fondant-covered, heart-shaped cake is hand-decorated with piped frosting, sugar beads, and edible glitter dust. The cakes are presented in individual acrylic boxes tied with satin ribbon. Perfect for favors at the end of the evening!

Photo: Jika González for BizBash

Each fabulous cake costs $20 plus tax, with a minimum order of four. Discounts are available for orders of more than 100. Orders placed within New York are hand-delivered; orders for clients outside of the city are shipped via UPS next-day air. 

Paloma Trunk Show {Love Couture}

Vera Wang Trunk Show!

Stephen Yearick Trunk Show {Love Couture}

An Irish Mexican Romance {Linda + James}

What a gorgeous and personalized wedding!  It's always fun blending cultures and heritages into the wedding day and especially when the backgrounds (Irish and Mexican) are so fun. Working with Linda was a wonderful experience.  She was a bride who knew what she wanted.  The only thing in question for her wedding day was if the rain was going to hold out. 

Linda chose to hold her wedding reception on the grounds of her father’s residence.   Thanks to Select Event Rentals, we had a beautifully draped tent for the dinner reception just in case the rain decided to rear it’s ugly head.

Fortunately for Linda and James, they awoke to a very warm and sunny Saturday in September.  The bride and her friends had a relaxing morning getting their makeup done by Jordin Winn and their hair styled by Jim Berdine.   Photographer Mark Betlinger of Rodney Bailey Photography was able to capture some amazing getting ready shots of the bride. 

While the bride and her girls were getting ready upstairs, the groom and his guys were taking pictures around the house downstairs.

After the photos were taken, shuttles provided by Atlantic Transportation arrived to bring the bridal party and families to Our Lady of Mercy for the ceremony.  Fabulous videographer Julie Gross of Blue Sky Films captured the arrival of the bridal party and guests at the church.  

Father Monsignor Filardi led the ceremony that incorporated some Mexican traditions in honor of the bride and her family such as the bride and groom wrapped in the rosary lasso. 

After the ceremony, guests arrived at the residence greeted by valet provided by Unipark.  They enjoyed delicious cocktails and appetizers provided by Spilled Milk Catering while listening to the sounds of a mariachi band.   The bride and groom served "The Irish Mexican" as their signature cocktail (includes Kahlua, Tequila and Whiskey)!

Guests then entered the reception tent where the all white wedding reception was reflected in the tent draping, linens (provided by Party Rental), stunning floral decor (provided by Edge Flowers) and candlelight.  The fountain that normally sits in the center of the driveway, became the focal point of the tent, surrounded by tall candles and twinkle lights.  The whole effect was magical!

To help get the party started, the bride and groom had a shooter called the Irish Margarita placed at each placed setting  (includes Tequila, Crème de Menthe and Triple Sec).  The green of the drink looked amazing on the tables! 

Spilled Milk Catering was able to succeed in the challenge of incorporating the bride’s Mexican heritage and the groom’s Irish background in each and every food item that was served throughout the evening.  Some of the items included Corn Beef Quesadillas, Spiced Lamb Shephard's Pie with Cilantro and Guinness Battered Shrimp with Mango Lime Salsa.  Delicious!  After dinner, guests snacked on a candy/dessert buffet. The bride’s mother not only designed the look of the display but also baked some of the items!

The amazing "Broad Sound" kept the guests on the dance floor all night long.  

Thank you to Blue Ribbon Restrooms for the chic portable restroom trailer and to all the vendors that made the wedding spectacular.  Beautiful job! Thanks to Mark and Rodney for letting us share the gorgeous images of the day. Thank you also to my amazing assistants, Sarah and Emily. 

Congratulations Linda and James!

Christine