Partnership with Youtube !

Thank you so much for your support !!!

More at Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, My  wedding blog

Thanks

Edgar Allen, The Wedding Project

Keep on planning !!!

The right location!!

How would you know which is the right location?

Let’s start by saying the right locations is the one you’d like the most and the one offering you the most bang for your buck; however before choosing a location …. do your homework, see if it is within your budget, can you afford it? is this the location that you always dreamed about?,  the food is good, the service is second to none, the food presentation is unbelievable, the banquet manager is always available and courteous, there is always somebody willing to help you even when the Maitre D’ is busy with another bride; The right location makes things look like no effort at all, the right location let you be yourself and takes care of every guest professionally and with the most care, the right location would have you back again as a guest to their restaurant for a complementary dinner for you and your husband…

More at Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, My  wedding blog

Thanks

Edgar Allen, The Wedding Project

Keep on planning!!!

Be realistic about your budget!

Budgeting is the single most important task you will be working on as soon as you get engaged; 90% of all weddings go over-budget  and the number one reason is poor planning and high expectations, expecting what you can not afford; The first thing I would suggest to do is start working on a Excel sheet putting numbers down… trying to come up with a realistic budget; Couples usually would like to invite every Tom, Dick and Harry they ever met, the reality is once you come up with a list of guest…… start trimming it down, do you really need to invite your 4th grade teacher Mrs. Jones? Find a location that does not charge any extra fees, they will some location that simply are out of your league, look for locations you’d like and are willing and can work with you while planning your wedding, hire local vendors, remember vendor from out of town will charge you more due to traveling expenses and in some cases you must set them up in hotel rooms….. an extra cost you do not need…Local vendors not only know about each others work, but all of them will be happy to give you free advise, think about who needs transportation, accommodations and who doesn’t…. it’s not your responsibility to pay for everything when it comes to out of town guests….

More at Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, My  wedding blog

Thanks

Edgar Allen, The Wedding Project

The New Wedding Decade!

The new decade is here and with it comes changes and challenges to our industry… things are changing rapidly and what it was cool back in 2000 is not even mentioned anymore around caterers, wedding planners  and brides to be. As we look forward to finally come out of a recession, new plans and new ideas are developing and will be happening soon. Ten years ago internet was very much still in its infancy, there was no Youtube and not Twitter; Social media was not born yet,  nowadays everyone is connected to some form of social media network and with Facebook reaching already almost 350 million subscribers, the world of catering is becoming smaller. brides are savvy brides now and they know what they want, they are connected, e mailing, posting, sending, twittering, facebooking, commenting, you tubing and many other new terms we learned over the last ten years. Thanks to all our brides to keep pushing us to be innovators in our industries from catering to photographers, video, music, bands, DJ’s and all other vendors;  I look forward to continue doing what is a passion to me and my colleagues in the industry……. more at Facebook, Twitter, my wedding blog, Youtube ….. Thanks and keep on planning …

The Wedding Project

Wedding Blogging

Wedding blogging is becoming a full time profession for some wedding writers, for me wedding blogging is a fun way to dish out advise to brides to be; there are so many areas to cover and obviously I’d speak of those areas where I’m considered an expert, catering, food and beverage, planning and logistics, wedding themes, floor plans, seating arrangements, budgeting and hiring vendors. I’d try to blog a least once a week so I can keep a “waiting” audience happy with the content of my blog. Sometimes it could be boring due to the fact that again there are so many people writing about weddings now at days. the worst part it seems to me that they all are around the corner from my home office…. thanks to the internet I’d supposed … blogging is a way to connect and keep a fresh weekly presence in the wedding world, the e-mails and connections are endless, the satisfaction of a well planned wedding brings me back to the nineties commercial famous line “priceless”. However between blogging, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and many other sources of social media….. blogging has actually … (well..almost) become a full-time job; there is so much research to do, plus writing my own content, making sure brides get advise as soon as an e-mail comes to my mail box….. remember brides want answers right away….. more at  Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Blogger….. Thanks  Edgar Allen                 The Wedding Project   Happy Holidays!

Creating an awesome menu!!

While planning your wedding one of the things  you’ll be selecting is “the menu”; Your caterer would have you come in and sit down for a choice of items to be included on your final menu… here is a nice suggestion … although some food items may not be something you’d like .. remember…. just because you don’t like them that doesn’t mean your guest would not love them either. Make sure there is plenty of food throughout the cocktail hour, couple of stations e.g. carving stations with at least two items (turkey and meat), a pasta station with also two different kids of pasta made to order, Tex-Mex station, hot chaffing dishes selections (six dishes), a cold display with international cheeses, tropical fruits, grilled vegetables with some nice gourmet salads, nice selection of homemade breads and plenty of passed around hour d’ouvers  etc etc; Your cocktail hour should have plentiful and enough food for everyone … regardless of different tasting personalities;  Moving along to your main ballroom area … start with a pre-set appetizer whether is a salad or a signature dish …… follow by a nice hot course ….. pasta is always a great choice…. then is the main course ….. have your staples beef, chicken, fish, those are the most common…. however have other alternatives or choices open as well ….. duck is always good, a different kind of fish is a great choice, adding a veal chop sounds good, a vegetarian dish for those friends that don’t eat any kind of meat and finally if there is someone with any special request or allergies please make sure you let the banquet manager, your maitre d’ and your chef know about it so they can accommodate them….dessert should be a nice and large viennese hour with all the works,  all kinds of cakes and pies plus homemade baked goods, mini pastries, every kind of cookie ever made, chocolate fountain with chocolate dipped strawberries, melon, pineapples and other sweets followed by coffee, decaf, tea and a Starbucks coffee display set up just for you!!       and that is an awesome menu you just created….  more at Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, My Blog Thanks

Edgar Allen

Wedding Photography — Brett Matthews Photography

Brett Matthews Photography has provided the New York City area with spectacular wedding and event photography since its humble beginnings in 1993.  Its talented staff of photographers approach each event with intuitive vision;  resulting not just in beautiful “wedding pictures”, but beautiful photography inspired by your wedding.  From the graphic designers, project managers, and photo editors, the commitment to personal service never ends. I myself had the opportunity to work with the Brett Matthews professional photographers and as always it has been a pleasure; Brett Matthews stays on top of the latest trends in photography staging themselves as a leading and trendy company, whether is a small engagement party or an over the top bar/bat mizvath Brett Matthews has the expertize needed to have the memories of a lifetime. not only that…. throughout the years Brett Matthews had build a special and unique relationship with selected private country clubs and high end caterers from New York City to anywhere in Long Island and the Tri-State area. Located at 86 Mineola Avenue  in Roslyn Heights New York  11577, they are available to travel across the country or international at a last minute notice!

Founder Sheri LaMagna and her company had been featured in New York Magazine, Cosmopolitan Grace Ormonde Wedding Styles, The Knot and many other high end publications. This is a company I would definitely recommend to any bride searching for the right photography company with years of experience and unique service for the most demanding bride!!!   more at Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, My wedding blog ….. Thanks  Edgar Allen …. Keep on planning !!!

Plan your wedding around YOU!

Planning a wedding is a major task to anyone who had never had such experience, to us the professionals is still challenging, hard work, sometimes irritable but always fulfilling; One of the best advices I can give any bride is to plan your wedding around YOU!. most brides become highly concerned when they take a look at a current calender; Now…. in our society everyday is a special day for someone, national holiday, someones birthday, ethnic holiday, religious holidays, regular holidays, family anniversaries, love ones birthdays and the list goes on and on…. remember is about YOU, not them, is YOUR wedding not theirs, is YOUR special day therefore when you send out invitations there is really no excuse not to be able to attend YOUR wedding; Here is the breakdown: I would imagine you are sending invitations a least 12 months to the big day. By doing that you are giving all of your guest not only….. the “save the date” but also reminding them that they are expected at YOUR wedding; It doesn’t matter which day of the week you are getting married, people would make plans to take one or two or maybe the weekend off to come from all over the country or all over the world…. that’s why you sent an invitation way in advance… is not like you are telling them —- Hey… I’m getting married tomorrow … be here — more at Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, My wedding blog,
Thanks
Edgar Allen

East Wind Caterers

East Wind Caterers-The Inn is located in Wading River near The Hamptons, right off the Long Island Expressway (495 East) from New York City, to me this facility is still very much brand new (under 7 years old) that’s pretty new for a complex this big. EWC-The Inn offers everything a bride could think and more; from elegant and up to date menus to a state of the art spa with rooms available to stay over the weekend. A sprawling state of the art facility with all the bells and whistles a place deserves to impressed the most sophisticated brides.
Let’s start from the beginning … from the moment you arrived you are met by your maitred d’ and bridal attendants which would escort you to your very own and private bridal room located on the first floor tucked away in a cozy area of the building… by this time the bridal room has already being set up with a really cool buffet from hot and cold foods plus a full premium bar. Relax!! come in a get ready for the most spectacular day of your life; Your guest soon will be enjoying a jaw-dropping cocktail hour with food stations all over, open premium-top shelf bar, passed around hour d’ouvers and plenty of sitting to enjoy and mingle with family and friends….!!
East Wind Caterers-The Inn is the perfect location out east to get married, peace and tranquility surrounded by wineries, secluded award winning restaurants, nearby shopping at The Hamptons and best of all a location you’ll be happy you had your wedding celebration there… more at Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, My wedding blog Thanks
Edgar Allen

Going to a wedding!

After all these years in the wedding industry I still get chills down my spine right before the beginning of any cocktail hour, I am anxious, excited, thinking how wonderful is going to be, all the things we have prepared for the guests so we can wow them!—the food, the cocktails, the wine, the passed around hour d’ouvers, the staff uniforms, my own mental check list and everything else…. it repeats itself over and over again every time as it did the very first time… I get to go to a least three sometimes five weddings a weekend —- starting with the now famous Thursday night wedding—- follow by a single Friday night, then a double Saturday and maybe a single on Sunday night… this industry is exhausting in every aspect up until the very last minute sometimes even days after the wedding is over…but is also exciting and fun …. something I live for…. I enjoy making things happening, thinking where and how to set up a room, always thinking about the bride and groom (mostly the bride) … what would work out better for them? this way or that way?                                                         more at Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, My blog Thanks

Edgar Allen