food stall

There would be a few words that come to mind when describing the country of Italy, Food, History & lots of Wine. While exploring all the above on my recent holiday to the lush countryside, I had the pleasure of taking some time out from being a Wedding Planner and playing bridesmaid for the day for some dear friends that tied the knot. Hardly a chore when surrounded by the most amazing vineyards on the planet! And so the journey began, one that took us on an experience of tradition, culture, Love, a lot of Fun, but lets not kid ourselves�the real marriages in Italy revolve around FOOD! There we found ourselves Castello di Verranzzano, a fairytale castle in the heart of Tuscany�s Chianti region, a place where the only food served was that which was in season, local and grown from the thousand year old land that�s been passed on generation to generation. The only wine that touched your lips was that which was harvested for that season only, and when it was gone, it was gone! Afte...

Wedding Styles  Gathering inspiration for Matt and Randy's Wedding this November at Korakia Penisone in Palm Springs.

Men Can Get Pampered Too Wedding Styles In the planning process we always think about pampering the bride and her bridesmaids and don't think about pampering the groom and groomsmen.   However these days there is an upcoming trend that is from back in the day, but with some modern twists, men's luxury barber shops.   These shops are tailored around a man's world with leather chairs, flat screen televisions, and men's magazines.   Men can enjoy a simple hair cut, a hot towel treatment, or have an old fashioned straight blade shave and end with a cigar and cocktail.   What better way for the groom and groomsmen to have a little pampering of their own minus the typical fru fru woman's salon atmosphere. Cheers to the men in our lives that enjoy a little pampering too!

CHEERS TO WILLIAM AND CATHERINE By Pauline Parry In Britain, a Royal Wedding is reason to celebrate! And perhaps it's even more important to those of us Brits living here in the United States. It makes us feel connected to our friends and family back home plus it gives us a chance to share our culture with friends and family here. And really, how often does one get to watch TV in their pajamas and a tiara? At 1 a.m. my guests, brave souls that they are, began to arrive. The evening (or morning?) started with hors d'oeuvres and champagne with hibiscus blossoms (see first photo). Dan Smith, our resident mixologist at Good Gracious (and creative director) had created this drink plus a fabulous Blonde Tomato Vodka Martini that we'd have later with breakfast. Our chef de cuisine, Joanne Purnell had created a menu that was English at heart but with a California spin, as you will see! Here is the appetizer menu... And at 3 a.m. as Catherine and William were entering Westminster A...

Wedding Styles By Desire� Recently I was in Palm Springs for a walk through with an amazing couple that is getting married at the Korakia Penisone in the fall.   And while I was in town I had the pleasure of visiting a few other fabulous properties.   While taking in the swanky details of each location I realized how amazing Palm Springs is for weddings.   Where else in Southern California do you have almost perfect weather all year round and are just far away enough from the major surrounding cities that you feel like you've just reached a desert oasis?   Every location in Palm Springs has its own style, whether it is bohemenian, modern, or old Hollywood glamour.   Here are three venues that I wanted to share as they all offer that something special and an incredible setting, where you can create your signature wedding celebration. Korakia Penisone : Bohemenian Chic Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs : Desert Modern Viceroy : Old Hollywood Glamour Along with a...

By Aaron Kaniecki Believe it or not a year has gone by since my arrival here in the United States. So much has happened on both a personal and professional level in such a short space of time. Personally, I arrived, lived with my aunt/boss Pauline Parry, saved up and bought a car three months in, moved into a friend�s house, and learned how to live the �American way� Professionally, I have traveled to Washington DC, Arizona, Kentucky and Las Vegas to name a few, I have worked on events for 1500 people down to 10 people, I have been to some of the most amazing hotels and locations southern California has to offer, and also been to some of the smallest houses. The events industry is massive, and a party can be thrown at any place at any time� it just takes planning. As for my time in the office, I have seen some changes take place. I was sad to see some people leave, yet excited for the prospects of the new people arriving. I have got to know and relate to all of my new colleagues, even ...

Wedding Styles After the proposal, the excitement, the sparkle and the sharing with family and friends it is then �Let the Wedding Planning Begin�.  You have selected your planner, determined a date and selected the location for this wonderful occasion and the fun begins! The invitation is an essential part to the celebration and completely sets the tone for �your wedding� in addition to providing all the necessary details to your guests. It should convey what the overall ambiance will be, if the wedding is going to be casual or formal, the wedding invitations should reflect it.  If there is a specific style or theme, this is ideal time to begin �to make it your own� wedding.  Keep in mind there are a variety of invitation options to choose from and you can be INSPIRED to create a style, a color, a monogram and any other design details that will bring your wedding vision alive. It is always quite wise to send a Save the Date card so guests can �mark� their calendar....