Finding magical locations to host events is just one of the hats planners wear.  With an exclusive invitation from the Lisboa Convention Bureau, I joined planners from around the world to experience the seven hills of Portugal.  Our away home from home during the stay was the Pestana Palace Hotel.  This Five Star hotel is a nineteenth century Palace, now fully restored to its former glory and classified as a National Monument. The Pestana offers 190 sleeping rooms and sits on a lush, private park with many subtropical trees and colorful flowering plants.  From the gardens to the Lake House, one can enjoy impressive and panoramic views of the Tagus River.  Our first evening was spent exploring the “old world” where our guides, in costume, transported us back in time.  They engaged us in the stories of their lives as we journeyed the limestone streets to a Fado dinner celebration.  Fado (translated as destiny or fate) is one of the main highlights of the culture that bridges the past with the present, through song and dance about the sea or the life of the poor. 

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The Club at Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Florida is that gem! Up until now it has remained an exclusively private club to the members and their guests of this upscale community.  The property is a first class facility and it offers a 31 room Inn, a World Class Golf Course, Spa, Marina, a beautiful ballroom with pre-function area and several meeting spaces.   Read more »

Want to “dazzle” your guests and a clever idea for your next event?  Why not throw a SPArty.  Just imagine your party space transformed to look, feel, smell and sound like a spa… Then imagine being able to enjoy many of the services and amenities that are available in a traditional day-spa with your closet friends while sipping a fabulous libation and noshing on gourmet delights.  Then think about how your guest will be vying for an invitation. 

I enjoyed one of these amazing evenings and now I am hooked!  SPArties Mobile Spa offers spa services performed by a fully licensed/certified, professional and experienced staff.  They service all of New Jersey, New York City and the surrounding areas, Philadelphia, Southern CT and all of South Florida. They will travel to ANY location, nationwide.  So why not slip in one of your favorite new age CD’s, pour yourself a glass of wine and start making out your guest list!  SPArties is perfect for grand openings, award ceremonies, release/product launches, recognition ceremonies, bachelorette parties, bridal & baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, staff appreciation, gatherings for family and friends – for any or no reason at all!  SPArties will work with any budget, in any location and with any amount of guests – no SPArty is too big or too small!

Check out their website  www.sparties.com or call 877-SPArtie(S) for additional information. Join their blog at http://sparties.blogspot.com/

One of the best perks about being an event planner is that our clients take us with them to some of the most beautiful locations around the world.  When June Russell, our December bride, contacted us it was her desire to have her wedding in the Bahamas.  So we pulled out our passports and boarded a tiny plane to start scouting for locations.  After several sites, our bride selected The Green Turtle Club on Green Turtle Cay in the exotic Out Islands of Great Abaco.   The island is just three miles in length and is reached only by boat.  The Club and Marina sit on a picturesque harbor surrounded by some of the most spectacular beaches in the world. This tiny gem was the perfect setting for her magical wedding.  Honoring the tradition of old English-Bahamian hospitality, the Club offers a quality of service and attention to detail and a perfect combination of casual elegance and sophisticated comfort. Read more »

Lynda Zettel and Steve Marsalona started planning their walk down the aisle with us nine months before the big day. However, like most brides, Lynda had been planning her wedding for much longer.  Wedding planning is a labor of love and working with Lynda and Steve was just that.  As wedding planners, we try to guide our clients through the planning process encouraging them not to lose sight of what their special day is all about. Many couples get lost in the all the pretty details and they lose site of the fact that the celebration is centered on their love of each other, their family and friends. But not Lynda and Steve.  With attention to even the smallest of touches, each guest was made to feel special. Read more »

Many newly engaged couples begin planning their special day by creating a list of things to do. That list can easily overwhelm the faint of heart and the question is raised…

“Should we attempt this all on our own or should we hire a professional planner?”

I suggest that you think very carefully when it comes to answering this question. Remember unless you are very savvy at throwing parties and extremely well versed on protocol, planning your wedding can become quite stressful. Then think about your actual wedding day, do you want to be handling all the details and challenges that may arise or do you want the day to seamlessly unfold for you? Professional planners have a network of other professionals, with proven track records, whom they have worked – and established relationships with over time. A professional planner should always be five steps ahead of the bride & groom, insuring that every detail is in place and that backup plans are ready should they be needed leaving you and your betrothed free to enjoy the celebration. Read more »