Events by Missy & Company

Colorful bridesmaid dresses - Somewhere over the Rainbow!

2012-02-26T16:29:00.004-08:00

Almost all couples want their wedding to be unique and personalized...well hows this for different...rainbow!!!

A rainbow represents positive energy and the 7 different colors of the rainbow represent different meanings and symbols about life. Some believe that these meanings and symbols can be dedicated to your wedding. But the vibrant colors are already enough to make the wedding special and upbeat.

Choosing for a rainbow-themed wedding can really be fun to create.

The colors can incorporated into the favors, floral decor, linens, the wedding cake, accessories, decorations...the possibilities are truly endless.

And the contrast of the brides wedding gown against the array of colors in the bridesmaids dresses will look amazing in your pictures!

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dream

Theresa & David's wedding ~ November 5th

2012-02-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

Theresa and David were married on November 5th 2011 in St Josephs church in Bronxville NY.

The church was stunning: old catholic with stained glass windows and painted rafters... but not as stunning as the bride. Theresa wore a chiffon ivory gown that fit her perfectly and made her glow. David wore a tuxedo with Milonguero style shoes. Theresa surprised David and his family with reciting her vows in spanish.

After the church we took the party to the CV Rich mansion for delish food, family and fun. Theresa and David fashioned the mansion into an Old Hollywood theme; with placecard ticket stubs and old movie posters as table numbers which the guests loved. After the bride danced with her father, they broke into a Conga and the entire reception room joined, a first I have ever scene at any wedding!

I was privileged enough to work with Theresa for almost a year on their wedding (to the day as a matter of fact) and I have to say she is one of my most favorite brides I have had the joy to work with. I wish them nothing but the best life has to offer and much luck and success in their marriage.

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa Fife

Events by Missy & Co

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dreams"

Fab Wedding professional spotlight ~ Flower ME events

2012-02-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

Our fav wedding professional spotlight of the week is Margaret from flower ME events.

I met Margaret recently and was drawn to her great personality, unique style and amazing floral ideas! She is one of my favorite local florist and is revolutionizing wedding flowers one peony at a time!

Name & business ~ Margaret Egiziaco flower ME events

* Website address ~ www.flowerMEevents.com

* Contact email ~ ME@flowerMEevents.com

* Phone number ~ 914-231-9655

* Years in business ~2

* How did you get started in your business

About 9 years ago I was looking for a part-time job during high school. I wanted something pleasant, so I pulled out the yellow pages (hard copy! yeah, I can’t believe that either) and cold-called veterinarians and flower shops in the White Plains area. One lady said she could use me as an assistant. She turned out to be my boss, who was awesome, and taught me everything I know! I quickly became a floral designer and I worked my way up to manager when she had a baby. I worked there for many years (throughout high school and breaks home from college), and also freelanced during college while earning my bachelors in chemistry. After I came back from Baltimore for good, I got a job in a chemistry lab where I tested the impact of biodiesel fuel on engine oil. I continued to freelance, and also earned my MBA at night full-time, while working full-time. Although I enjoyed my work in the chemical field, my passion for flowers drew my attention away from the lab. After completing my MBA in 2010, I quit my job and pursued my business full-time! We now have a storefront on Main Street in Dobbs Ferry.

If you were speaking to a potential client, how would you describe your business and what exactly your business offers?

We are revolutionizing the floral industry. We are not a traditional flower shop; we are Floral Consultants who service events-only. We design and create each piece based on the theme, vibe, and most importantly, our clients’ personalities. And…we make house calls! We offer limitless in-home consultations, or will meet you at our office, a coffee shop, or any destination of your choice! We’re young and contemporary, and pride ourselves on our unique creations. Our business offers our clients a personalized experience and customized product. We’re perfect for the people who are sick of the status quo, and would like to try something new. We like to use the phrase, “we’re not your mother’s florist” because… we’re not!

* Whats your inspirations / where do you get new ideas

It’s an on-going joke at the shop how obsessed we are with fashion. It is not unusual for use to model a bouquet from a couture-style gown, much like top cake designers do. We are constantly reading not only flower and wedding publications, but high-end fashion and style media as well. The creative juices don’t stop there- we are always checking out new material swatches at home-design stores for our bouquet ribbon, fruits, veggies, and herbs at the grocery store for organic inspiration, and parks and backyards for natural elements to bring the outdoors in. Most importantly, we surround ourselves with new and creative people. We are always bettering ourselves by learning from each other, and pride ourselves on staying ahead of the curve.

* What does your product offer that your competitors do not

As Floral Consultants, we offer our clients a personalized service they will not get anywhere else. We’re not going to open a pre-fabricated sample book and tell you to pick something. We work together during this creative process to construct pieces of floral art, which portray your individuality and style. Unlike many traditional flower shops, we have a trained Canvas and Design Artist on staff. While we do use different media as inspiration (magazine photos, dress material, venue site, our iPad portfolio), we make all your pieces with you in mind. Some clients prefer to be very hands-on, while others prefer to have little to no input. Regardless, flower ME events caters to the entire spectrum of clientele.

Our implementation is just as customized; our clients are guaranteed the freshest flowers, because we do not stock, but order for each specific event. When possible, we hand-select the most beautiful flowers available, straight from the wholesaler. Because we do not stock flowers, and employ our team on an events-only basis, we are able to keep our overhead low and thus offer these personalized services at competitive prices. We offer a free preview of once piece, and delivery is free. Whether you want to spend a few hundred, or tens of thousands, you will get more bang for you buck with flower ME events.

Is this your dream job and why

Yes, yes, and yes! When I started in this industry 9 years ago, I always thought to myself, ‘I wish I had my own shop’. I’m thrilled that I am finally able to take my unique and client-oriented concept and implement it. Besides my love for the art of floral arranging, I love meeting new and different people everyday. The more diverse my clients, the more diverse the pieces, and the more I get to test my artistic ability. While I love seeing my all clients’ faces for any event, my favorite moment is when I deliver the bouquets to the bride. There is nothing like seeing the reaction to your creative work, it is an amazing feeling that I am fortunate to get all the time!

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

Events by Missy

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dream

Wedding Planning 101 - How to set a wedding budget

2012-01-29T14:43:00.001-08:00

Congratulations...your engaged. One of the toughest tasks you need to get out of the way is the budget. Many couples have no idea of how much a wedding costs, and with the average wedding costing approx. $30,000, you should start saving sooner than later!

These few steps will get you in the right direction:

CONTRIBUTIONS - Talk to your parents to see what they can help with. There are traditionally certain aspects of the wedding that parents will pay for, so be sure to ask, don't assume your parents are helping though.

GUESTS - its simple math, the more family and friends you have at your wedding, the bigger the budget. You will need more space, food, decor....so intimate not only keeps the cost down, but allows for more time with your guests.

RESEARCH - check out wedding venues & wedding professionals in the area you plan on getting married in to get an idea of how much things can cost.

WEDDING DATE - the wedding date you choose is a two-fold budget tool. First, the longer your engagement is, the more money you get to save towards the wedding. Second, the time of year you get married will also factor; if you get married during the "off-season" you can get everything from your venue to wedding professionals as a discounted rate.

Be sure to set a budget and stick to it. Once you get these steps done, then you can decide on what you and your fiancé want to spend on the wedding, no one wants to go into debt over their big day, so plan wisely.

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dreams"

Annie & Matt's Suft Club Wedding

2012-01-22T16:49:00.000-08:00

Annie & Matt were married at the Suft Club in New Rochelle NY on a rainy Friday afternoon, but the rain definitely didn't slow this day down. The indoor reception was officiated by a close family friend who knew Annie since childhood, the bride wore a spectacular ivory dress that made her simply glow.

The celebration continued afterwards in a stunning reception room for 240 of their closest friends and family that danced the night away to a live band. Matt's dad and brother joined the band for a few songs and the crowd went nuts!

Totally love it when child sweethearts get married ~ I wish Annie & Matt the best of luck as they start this new chapter in their lives!

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dream

2011 Engagements that will turn into 2012 hottest Weddings

2012-01-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

There were a lots of Hollywood engagements in 2011, but these are the 3 that I loved so much... that waiting for these weddings in 2012 is driving me nuts!

Ricki Lake & Christian Evans ~ in August, he proposed while the 2 were vacationing in Spain

Anne Hathaway & Adam Shulman ~ in November, they confirmed their low-key engagement

John Legend & Chrissy Teigen (picture courtesy of binsidetv.com) ~ he popped the question over the holidays in the Maldives

I cannot wait to see these couples tie the knot this year, they are my favorite couples and I wish them all the best in their wedding planning and new lives together!

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dreams"

The Knot 2nd annual gala NYC

2011-12-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

The Knot Magazine held its annual Gala at the New York Public Library and it was amazing!

Carley Roney, Editor of The Knot Magazine, helped celebrate the weeks end of Bridal Market with a gala fit for New Yorkers. The bridal and events community came to party in style with experts, gown designers and all the wedding professionals and celebs you could think of!

JoAnn Gregoli from Elegant Occasions collaborated with The Knot events team to create a magical evening with the assistance of a few choice Association of Bridal Consultants volunteers..including myself! I was honored to be asked and privileged to work with a great group of people that helped make this evening a success.

Photo credit ~ Jacqueline Vazquez

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

Events by Missy & Cupcakes by Missy

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dreams"

November 2011 Recap

2011-12-01T17:11:00.001-08:00

Thanks so much for reading about our monthly recap ~ I hope everyone had a happy and festive Thanksgiving holiday!

November 4th ~ Theresa & David's rehearsal...what a great family!

November 5th ~ Theresa & David's wedding ~ one of the best weddings ever...conga line and all!

November 7th ~ Professional Woman of Westchester 1st anniversary, great networking event and the speakers discussed woman & wealth...great topics!

November 8th ~ met with a lovely September 2012 bride to see how we can help

November 11th ~ most popular wedding days of 2011, congrats to Kim & Julio on their big day!

November 12th ~ baby shower in Kingston NY, the mommie-to-be was so cute!

November 15th ~ 2nd meeting with Sept. bride and her fiance...booked!

November 22nd ~ attended the ABC-NNJ-LNG meeting at Cake Fiction...so delish!

November 24th ~ Happy Thanksgiving...kids home from college and the house filled with family =)

November 26th ~ consultation for a "cupcake party" ala Cupcake Wars for Cupcakes by Missy

November 27th ~ surprise party for Jackie of ABC for her birthday...she totally didn't know! Big thanks to Renee, Rosie & Darryll for helping pull it off so effortlessly!

November 28th ~ hosted our ABC-LNG to chat about 2012...excited for this upcoming year!

November 29th ~ Cupcakes by Missy donated for Bravo TV's Mad Fashion episode featuring Jene Luciana, author of The Bra Book...so much fun! Photo by Jessica Warzoha with Maria Lago

November 30 ~ ended my month meeting with my bride Theresa for a cocktail and catch-up, such an amazing bride and I was so happy to see her again!

This month was filled with so much fun that it flew by so fast!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dreams"

Michelle & Adam's Wedding ~ 10-15-2011

2011-11-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

Michelle and Adam were married on October 15th 2011 in beautiful St. Mark's church in Mt. Kisco NY in a traditional ceremony with family and friends. Then we all moved to the Travelers Rest restaurant for an unforgettable reception; dinner and dancing the evening away. Michelle's parents celebrated their 30th anniversary on their wedding day, so dances a spotlight dance to their wedding song, a sweet tribute that had everyone in tears.

Michelle and Adam were wonderful clients to work with and I wish them health, wealth and happiness in their marriage!

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa Fife

Events by Missy & Co

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dreams"

Wish Upon a Wedding gala ~ October 5th, 2011

2011-11-13T05:46:00.001-08:00

Wish Upon a Wedding is a non-profit organization that provides weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness and serious life altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation. It was created to celebrate the courage, determination and spirit these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes.

The New Jersey/New York Metro chapter held their First Annual Blissful Wishes Ball at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston, NJ with lots of vendors donating their time and services to make this event amazing. Special thanks to Candice Benson and the rest of the board members for organizing such a great event.

I was so happy to be have to be a part of this event and meet the next wish recipients Valarie & Larry, their story was truly amazing.

Photo credit to CLB photography ~ pictured: Kelly Friedman-Adams, Yvette Sebcion, myself & Kimberly Myl

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa Fife

Events by Missy & Co.

914-426-5650

Our October Recap 2011

2011-11-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for reading about our busy schedules friends and fans! This October was busy with volunteering at lots of events and having fun all the way!

October 1st ~ met with an awesome new bride and started planning her June 2012 wedding

October 5th ~ attended the Wish Upon a Wedding Gala for the Metro NYC/NJ chapter & meet the new wish recipients for the chapter, such a sweet couple!

October 9th ~ photo-shoot with Jessica Warzoha Photography for an upcoming project, she caught some amazing shots!

October 10th ~ the ABC-LNG in NYC held a tasty meeting at McCormick's in NYC to discuss meetings for 2012

October 13th ~ final venue walk-thru with my November couple

October 14th ~ Michelle & Adam's rehearsal

October 15th ~ Michelle & Adam's wedding

October 16th ~ ISS Launch party in NYC - much luck to Stacie on her newest project

October 17th ~ volunteered to help with the decor and set-up for The Knot's NYC Gala at the NYC Public Library with Joanna from Elegant Occasions

October 20th ~ met with a lovely new bride and her parents about her upcoming June 2012 wedding at The Plaza

October 23rd ~ our local ABC-LNG brunch for Consultants; the topic was asperations and goals and was so enlightening, we did the decor =) see photo

October 25th ~ private home tasting hosted by Mimi Fusion Caterers..beyond delish!

October 28th ~ FINALLY met my awesome March 2012 couple; she's from Australia and he's in the Army and was stationed in Iraq...such a perfect couple!

October 31st ~ HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

This month was filled with so much fun that it flew by so fast! Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Best Wishes & Happy Planning ~

Melissa Fife

914-426-5650

"Designing the Day of your Dreams"

Sonia & Jared's wedding

2011-10-30T06:35:00.001-07:00

Sonia & Jared were married in August 6th at West Point Club in NY.

I was blessed to be a part if their day by creating their wedding favors - custom cupcakes!

They choose our 2 most popular flavors; Lady in Red (red velvet cupcakes with creme cheese icing) and Cookie Monster (chocolate cupcakes with butter creme and oreo icing). We then created custom stickers with their monogram wrapped in white boxes for their guests to take home.

I had a great time coordinating with Sonia over the months leading up to her wedding, I wish both her and Jared a blessed marriage!

Check out the awesome review they left for us as well ~ http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/cupcakes-by-missy-west-harrison/0ca73e48ffc588bd.html

Best wishes and have a sweet day~

Melissa @ Cupcakes by Missy

914-426-5650

www.EventsbyMissyco.com/cupcakes

Creating a Wedding work-book for your planning ~ a must-read for brides to be

2011-10-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

Planning a wedding is hard, but if you create a simple Wedding Workbook you can have all of your ideas, details and helpful information all in one place.
For your workbook you will need the following:
large 3 ring binder
calendar
dividers Photo courtesy of
envelopes wowglowingbride.com
hole punch
paper
Purchase a 3 ring binder in your wedding colors ~ your first official wedding task
Divide your binder into sections: Dresses, Guest List, Flowers, Ceremony, Food, Bridal party, Entertainment, Venues, Paper, Decor and Misc items.
Punch holes in your notebook paper and fill up your wedding planning notebook with the paper. Your notebook will expand with the more planning that you do, so keep extra paper on hand in case you need to add more later.
Punch holes in the envelopes and place one of them into each section of your notebook. This will come in handy for keeping up with the smaller things such as, receipts, business cards, color swatches, and pictures.
Place your calendar in the front workbook. This will help you to reference and keep up with important dates and deadlines.
Remember to take your wedding notebook with you every time you go any place to visit and plan for your big day.
We hope you will be able to create your Wedding Workbook and fill it will all of your wedding planning dreams.

Best wishes and happy planning ~
Melissa @ Events by Missy
www.EventsbyMissyco.com
914-426-5650

Our September recap

2011-10-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Greetings fans and friends ~ thanks again for checking out our blog and the monthly recap.

This month was busy and fantastic! Finally got my home-office together WHOOHOO for progress!

August 1st ~ met with Debra from Weddings by Debra Thompson

August 4th ~ worked with Debra on a great wedding in Upstate NY

August 6th ~ attended awesome ABC event at The Foundry ~ what a spectacular venue!

August 9th ~ Cupcakes by Missy created tasty Justin Bieber cupcakes for the twins

August 12th ~ Professional Woman of Westchester networking event where Cupcakes by Missy donated cupcakes and heard panelists speak about being news-worthy ~ great event!

August 14th ~ attended Pink Crown Events launch party of her Stella & Dot venture ~ congrats

August 17th - met with my bride Annie and chatted about her upcoming wedding

August 23rd ~ Annie & Matt's wedding at the Surf Club in New Rochelle ~ such a perfect couple

August 26th ~ our ABC-LNG held a fab event with Mark of Queen of Hearts; he spoke about establishing great relationships and we then shared a yummy dinner at DoubleTree hotel and networked...great evening ~ check out our great group shot!

August 30th ~ Cupcakes by Missy created custom favor cupcakes for Erika's rehearsal dinner

Photo courtesy of Walter of Sage Studios ~ check him out http://www.sagestudiosphoto.com

This month was filled with so many great moments; excited to welcome another month of challenges and accomplishments!

Best wishes and happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

914-426-5650

Anika and Sid's Wedding ~ August 6th 2011

2011-09-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

Anika and Sid were married on August 6th, 2011 in a beautiful ceremony at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center in Stamford CT.

The bride wore a spectacular ivory dress that made her simply glow surrounded by her closest family & friends as the groom donned red converse!

The celebration continued afterwards in a stunning reception room draped in red and black fabrics with the warm glow of candles.

The bride & groom had a red and black sweets table, sang karaoke and circles the dance floor where guests brake-danced the night away! This is one of the most unique and fun weddings I have ever had the privilege to be a part of...hands down!

I wish Anika and Sid the best of luck as they start this new chapter in their lives!

Beautiful photo courtesy of Renee Matthews Photograhy ~ www.RYMImages.com

Best wishes ~

Melissa Fife @ Events by Missy & Co.

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

914-426-5650

4 tips for keeping your wedding guests happy!

2011-09-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to consider when planning a wedding, we often forget to keep our guests in mind, but these few tips that can really make a big difference!

Sticking to your day-of timeline ~ Be sure to create a wedding timeline and try to stick to it. There is nothing worse then running late and having to push your whole wedding back and keep your guests waiting. Your venue will not be willing to extend your reception if it starts late and you want to be able to enjoy it for as long as you can.
Having your ceremony and reception close to each other ~ Although its your day, you should definitely keep this factor in mind for your guests traveling; your reception and ceremony should not be further than 30 minutes apart. Your older guests will not be up for the extra long day, your out of town guests risk getting lost and guests are now forced to find a way to entertain themselves during the break of events.
Limited personalization ~ We love the cute napkins with your names and aisle runners; but your guests know your names, wedding dates and event your new initials...so don’t go over the top!
Planning accordingly for your outdoor ceremony and reception ~ Be sure to plan ahead; whether your getting married in April, July or September its so important to make sure your guests are comfortable. Sitting in the sun or at sunset the temperaturevaries greatly and no one likes dealing with these extreme temperatures... even it it is your wedding day.

Hope these tips help your big day!

Best wishes and happy planning ~

Melissa@EventsbyMissyco.com

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

914-426-5650

Our August recap

2011-09-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings fans and friends ~ thanks again for checking out our blog and the monthly recap. This month I finally took a long over-due vacation WHOOT! But lots of work too!

August 1st ~ met with my fav local florist @ Johnston's about a huge proposal...love Heather's ideas!

August 5th ~ prep with team for Saturday's wedding ~ lots of details

August 6th ~ Anika & Sid's wedding @ the Stamford Museum..the rain didn't slow this party down at all! See how amazing she looked!

August 7th ~ Cupcakes by Missy created tasty favors for Sonia & Jared's wedding guests ~ individual take home boxes with personalized logo stickers

August 9th ~ met with Jen of "Mrs. Why Knot" and Maria of "Three Events & PR" for some cocktails and wedding chat...these girls rock!

August 10th ~ NNJWEP networking event in NYC with Kim of "Lulu's Inspirations" and Allyson of "Skinny Love Designs"...good times!

August 12th - August 23rd ~ VACATION...totally amazing time; reconnecting with the hubby, quality time with the kids, relaxing...what better way to wrap up the summer

August 24th ~ attended Bosco's annual Wedding Professionals networking event with Jacqueline of "Lifetime Events by Jacqueline" and helped man our ABC booth

August 25th ~ ABC-LBCNG steering committee meeting to discuss 2012...lots of exciting things

August 26th ~ Rob starts Freshman year at Southern State University of Connecticut WHOOT

August 27th ~ Shantel's returns to Brockport College as a Sophomore WHOOT

August 30th ~ Jason decides instead of returning to University of Albany as a Junior to enlist in the USMC. We visited with a recruiter and he has begun the process; he has decided to dedicate his life the same way many of the men in our family have...and I couldn't be more proud WHOOT

This month was filled with so many great moments; I'm sad its over but always excited to welcome another month of challenges and accomplishments!

Best wishes and happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

914-426-5650

Why every bride needs a wedding planner ~ and not just because I am one!

2011-08-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

After recently meeting with one of my favorite local florists to pow-wow about an upcoming wedding we were working on together, she mentioned to me a wedding she did the weekend prior that the bride opted not to use a planner. In addition to not ordering enough centerpieces for her reception (YIKES) the limo didn’t show up to the church and the DJ that was hired didn’t MC the evenings events...insert drunk best man here!!

Now granted, a planner wouldn’t have been able to get behind the wheel of a limo and get her family from the church, but a planner does have had the know-how to ensure that limo would be there in the first place.

Here are a few reasons why a Wedding Planner is needed:

Your centerpieces are wilted and falling apart, they need to be fixed pronto
The venue didn't stock the bathrooms with toilet paper
The bustle on your wedding dress breaks
The best man forgets the rings
All of the sashes on the chairs are not tied
The limo gets lost
Your outdoor wedding has no back-up plan when it starts to rain
The 20 DIY items you decided to do now have to be set-up
The wedding cake arrives looking beat-up
NO ONE WANTS TO WORK ON THEIR WEDDING DAY

Now if you have hired the right planner, these tasks and lots more are handled with grace and the wedding can continue with no one knowing these mishaps had happened, and the bride-to-be doesn't get stressed!

If your planner does their job right, you may even ask “why did I even need a planner in the first place, everything ran so smoothly on my wedding day”. And it will be at that moment you know your wedding planner did their job 100%, because your day was so perfect!

Happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy

914-426-5650

What to do with your fab Wedding Dress once the big day is over

2011-08-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

If any of you have not seen my wedding dress it was massive; I mean like the entire bridal party could have fit under there with room for more. I saw THE DRESS in a magazine, went on a crazy mission to NJ to find it and as soon as it put it on I knew it was mine. It’s funny…after I ordered THE DRESS my hubby and I were looking in wedding magazine that happened to have a photo of THE DRESS and he pointed at it and said “ I love this one, you would rock it!”. I was floored; I couldn’t believe he actually picked it.

Now for those of you that know me personally, THE DRESS I choose for my wedding is the equivalent of my polar opposite…seriously. So when the wedding was over, I was left with this amazing dress that I had no idea what to do with.

There are several options for brides these days;

You could pay to get it preserved and be able to hand down to your daughter. Now knowing my girls, they would want a dress that was totally unique to them, so this wasn’t an option for me. Although they did love THE DRESS, sad to day it wasn’t them.
The ever-so-popular “Trash the dress” session is amazing to do! I would have LOVED to do this, but I would have been broken hearted to run THE DRESS. But after chatting with a recently married gal who did a Trash the dress session, she mentioned she snagged a wedding dress that was in sale for $100 and used that, SUPER IDEA!! Needless to say I have a trash the dress session coming up this summer, so excited! (TTD photo courtesy of weddingbee.com)

Donate it, which is what I did. There are many so many great organizations to be able to donate your wedding dress to, but I choose Brides against Breast Cancer. The idea of my donation going to help brides with this horrible disease made me feel like I was definitely doing the right thing.

For more info on donating your dress to Brides Against Breast Cancer visit their website http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/

Thanks and have a great day!

Melissa @ Events by Missy

914-426-5650

First Annual ABC-LNG Souiree

2011-08-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

On July 19th, our NY local group of the Association of Bridal Consultants celebrated our 1 year anniversary WHOOHOO! Our ABC family gathered at the Wyckagyl Country Club in New Rochelle where we all enjoyed dinner, drinks and dancing into the evening with members from all over the Tri-State area. David Woods, The President of ABC joined us for the evening which was a real treat, Joann Gregoli our State Coordinator, along with Meeting Coordinators from our other NY-LNG's and the lovely ladies from the ABC office as well.

Our photographer for the evening Jessica Arditi from Jessica Arditi Photographer generously donated her time to capture the moments perfectly for us ~ the picture is our group; Rosario, Me, Darryl, Jackie, Renee & Quandra) and Tim Ryan from Treasured Moments shot a clip congratulating our Japanese ABC family on 10 years with the Association of Bridal Consultants....we had lots of FUN shooting!

BIG thank you to Jackie from Lifetime Events by Jacqueline for starting the chapter a year ago, being so dedicated to ABC and her own event planning business, and coordinating the evening.

I am happy to call her my mentor and friend. Also thank you to my fellow steering committee members; Darryl, Renee, Quandra and Rosario...our group rocks!

You can see Jessica's work on her website ~ http://www.jarditiphotography.com/

Japan clip ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBvlE6ydSYE&feature=player_embedded

Big smooches and lots of love!

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co

914-426-5650

melissa@eventsbymissyco.com

Melissa@EventsbyMissyco.com

My July wrap-up

2011-08-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

Holy cow July is over already!! I can’t even believe how this summer (and wedding season) is flying by…this month was filled with lots of exciting things, we had a real blast

~ July 2^nd ~ double graduation party for my last 2 High School kids…we are so proud of them

~ July 3^rd ~ went to a Sade concert at Mohegan Sun with my sister and Step-Mom

~ July 4^th ~ dropped Rob off at Southern Connecticut State University for a hand-selected NASA program he is attending thru August

~ July 6^th ~ confirmed details with florist & photog for our soiree

~ July 7^th ~ went into the city to meet with 2 NYC brides

~ July 8^th ~ my birthday … 36 years young!

~ July 9^th ~ my favorite ladies took me for dinner and drinks for my birthday

~ July 10^th ~ walk-thru with my 2012 bride at the Tarrytown House….350 wedding guests and it’s a party!

~ July 14^th ~ WWBC panel discussing “Relationships, Communication & the Laws of Attraction” great discussion for ladies trying to run a business while maintaining personal relationships!

~ July 15^th ~ it was announced that I am the new ABC meeting coordinator for the Westchester group..whootwhoot for me! So excited and honored

~ July 16^th ~ confirmed the details with vendors working on Megan & Ricks wedding

~ July 18^th ~ Cupcakes by Missy created special treats for our soiree

~ July 19^th ~ Association of Bridal Consultants first annual soiree for the LNG Westchester / Lower Hudson Valley / Bronx chapter…we had an amazing time dancing, eating and celebrating 1 year of hard work and dedication to not only ABC, but our Wedding businesses and each other

~ July 20^th ~ attended the Best of Westchester event at Glen Island where the best of the best displayed their great food, desserts and products for all…dragged the hubby along and he had a blast!

~ July 21^st ~ enrolled Dominique into college…she’s officially a med student #proudmama

~ July 22^nd ~ the hottest day of the year marked the wedding of Megan & Rick

~ July 23^rd ~ met with my October bride to go over some details, love when my brides are organized!

~ July 26^th ~ WAG party for their Connecticut branch with Maria from Three / Events PR

~ July 31^st ~ with 2 of my girls in tow, we attended an advanced cupcake decorating class in NYC…quick…someone order some cupcakes with fondant flowers!

This month was filled with heat waves, melted cupcakes and beach weddings….but I wouldn’t have changed 1 day!

Thanks for reading and happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy

914-426-5650

Our vendor Spotlight of the week ~ Brannon Conza Photography

2011-07-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

I found Brannon on the spectacular world of twitter and was instantly amazed by her work. She has a true gift; being able to capture such emotion in her images, I just had to reach out and meet her. I hope you love her as much as I do!

Name ~ Brannon Conza of Brannon Conza Photography

Website ~www.BrannonPhoto.com

Contact email ~ BrannonPhoto@gmail.com

Contact Phone # 845.418.2528

Lets meet our vendor of the week Brannon Conza!

When you speak to potential clients, how would you describe your business & what you offer ~ I am a professional portrait photographer specializing in working on location with natural light. My favorite subjects are, quite simply, people. I am a people person, and I just love working with people whether they be days old or many decades old. Although I'm willing to do more formal style portraits, my true joy is in lifestyle photography - just capturing people being themselves, living their lives. I find that the most true and accurate photographic reflections of people come when they are relaxed, which means keeping my sessions as easygoing as possible. I try to start building a rapport with the client from my first e-mail or phone call so that by the time I arrive to our session, we've already started the process of getting to know each other and I'm more friend than stranger. I offer sessions for newborns, children, teens, families, couples, products and events.

Where do you get new ideas & inspiration from ~ Honestly every session is different since each person and place that make up the session is different. As corny as it may sound, I kind of just let "the moment" guide me inspiration wise, I don't really go into a shoot thinking "I'm going to try and recreate that XYZ shot I just saw recently." While I am aware and admiring of much of my fellow photographers' work, I really do try to just stick to my own artistic vision when it comes to my own work. Considering that my clients selected me based on what they saw in my portfolio, I feel I would be doing both myself and the client a disservice by trying to recreate another photographer's work/style or some current trend. I really just let the session tell me where to go next. Every subject and every place inspires me in a different way, and I absolutely love that.

What do you offer that makes you unique ~ I suppose the thing that sets me apart from my competitors is, well, me! Just little old me. My vision, my editing style, and the process of interacting with me before, during, and after our session. I realize that the amount of photographers locally is growing, so it's obviously important to differentiate myself somehow. I suppose the thing that's most important to me when presenting my work is to have a picture speak as being just that - my work. I think that at this point my photos are different and recognizable at some level because they have a kind of "modern classic" feel to them. While my photos do have somewhat of a modern look, one of my main goals is to have my work still be classic, standing the test of time. I think that one of the things that makes photography important is that it is something that is passed down from one generation to the next, therefore giving you a glimpse into your past. I want people in the future to look at my photos, see the subject, and feel the emotion - without being distracted by some dated trend whether in editing, styling, etc. That's not to say there's anything wrong with other photographers or clients embracing some current look or fad - it's just not for me, and I appreciate that clients who choose me are like minded, making us a great match.

Tell us why this is your dream come true! This really is my dream job. It affords me opportunity to get out of the house, drive around the gorgeous tri-state area, meet fantastic people, and be creative! It's basically everything I love wrapped up into one activity - and I get paid for it! Who could ask for anything more? I think my favorite part of my job, though, is the true enjoyment I get when I pull up session photos to edit them, and I will actually spontaneously smile or laugh out loud remembering the particular moment that is facing me on my screen. That and seeing families grow and change from when I saw them at their previous session. Honestly, I can't count the times that I have said to my husband: "I love my job."

Thanks so much for taking the time to read a little about Brannon, if you would like to see her beautiful work, check out her site www.BrannonPhoto.com

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy

914-426-5650

How to take great pictures with your digital camera ~ these tips WORK!

2011-07-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

I recently attend a seminar where Phil Cantor was a speaker and gave some great tips for taking amazing shots with an ordinary camera.

I know as an event planner, I like to post some "unofficial" shots faster that the average photog’s 6 week turnaround time. So here are a few great tips from Phil for flawless photos:

Make sure the flash is OFF, natural lighting is best for pictures
Always take 2 shots of the same image or person, just in case 1 doesn't come out great
Step off to the side when shooting in front of glass or mirrors to reduce glare
Do not use the zoom feature, step closer if you want a tighter shot
Do not leave lots of head-room, center the objects in the photo

These tips have worked great for me so far, good luck to my fellow amateur picture takers!

To check out Phil Cantor's amazing work check his website http://www.philcantor.com/

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Melissa @ Events by Missy

http://www.eventsbymissyco.com/

914-426-5650

Our 2nd Wedding Anniversary

2011-06-26T17:41:00.001-07:00

Webster’s dictionary defines an “anniversary” as a celebration or other commemorative ritual marking the date of an important event.

My husband and I recently celebrated our 2^nd wedding anniversary by going away together for a few days to Cape Cod; we had an amazing time going on a winery tour, whale watching, long walks on the beach and lots of quality time together. With 5 kids, it’s pretty hard to get time to just talk quietly, so this time together was a great way for us to re-connect.

But we did realize that our weekend was missing something, our kids! They are such a huge part of who we are and what we do. And I began to understand that our marriage was just not about us, but that when we got married, it made our family whole. In addition to my 3 children, I adopted my brother & sister years ago, and the day we said “I DO” everything just came together effortlessly. My husband is the best step-dad, older brother, friend, advisor and mentor to my children.

So we decided that going forward our anniversary will not just be about him and I, but about our entire family.

Best wishes & happy planning your upcoming anniversaries!

Melissa @ Events by Missy

914-426-5650

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

How to create your Wedding Website

2011-06-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Creating a website for your wedding is simple and can be a great tool for your guests as well. We have suggestions for 2 simple FREE websites that we recommend to our clients when doing their site; but there are a ton out there to use, both free and paid. They can be simple or very detailed and coordinate with your wedding style, colors, theme. So have some fun and get to work :

Here is simple list of the items that can be included on your wedding website:

Basic Info ~ You'll definitely want to include your names, your wedding date, and where and when the ceremony and reception will be held.

Directions and Maps ~ Basic directions are essential on a wedding website, and it's also helpful. You can link directly to maps like google as well so your guests are 1 click away from your site.

Hotel Information ~ Whether you have reserved a block of rooms or just want to recommend nearby options, out-of-town guests will need help from you in finding a place to stay. Be sure to include a few options at different price points.

Suggested Attire ~ Guests always want to know what they should be wearing to your wedding. And every event is different, so its okay to suggest what you would like. Is it a formal affair, or relaxed enough to sport jeans and cowboy hats? If you have a vision in mind, suggest it!

Wedding Party Info ~ Who are your bridesmaids and groomsmen, and why did you ask them to be in your wedding? These are usually fun stories about how you asked your bridal party to be included, share them here!

Registry Info ~ Though it's NOT okay to include registry information on your invitations, a link on your website will probably be appreciated by your guests. If you have more then one its also nice to let your guests know they have options.

Stories about Your Engagement, where the happy couple met ~ Hearing about your romance will help guests get excited for the big day.

Photos and/or Videos ~ Guests can appreciate seeing a few cute photos, but it's especially nice for those who've never met one of you to see how handsome, gorgeous, and in love you are.

The 2 sites we recommend for your FREE wedding website are http://www.eweddings.com/and http://www.theknot.com/ are both simple to navigate and are very user friendly.

So sit down with your fiancé and create your wedding website; its another great way to spend to quality time together and have some fun.

Best wishes & happy planning~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

914-426-5650

Lisa & Clark's wedding

2011-06-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

Lisa & Clark were married on June 11th, 2011 in a beautiful ceremony at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.

The bride wore a Grecian ivory dress that made her simply glow surrounded by their closest family & friends.
The celebration continued afterwards in the stunning Ocean room of the museum where the space was lit with blue up-lighting that made the whole room feel like we were under the sea. The bride & groom provided guests with tasty treats that included a custom candy bar which was all purple!
Guests partied the night away to a live band who sang everything from 80's rock to new rap hits and kept the dance floor packed.

I wish Lisa and Clark the best of luck as they start this newest chapter in their lives, high school sweethearts and best friends who tie the knot!

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy

www.EventsbyMissyco.com/cupcakes

914-426-5650

Amy & Jay's Wedding Cupcakes

2011-06-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were privileged to create the cupcakes for Amy & Jay’s wedding.

Their outdoor reception was held at the beautiful Washington Irving Sunnyside Estate in Tarrytown NY under a white tent with the green grounds as the backdrop.

They choose for the selections to do an assortment for all of the guests to experience:

Raspberry Sorbet ~ raspberry cupcakes with fresh whipped crème
Devils delight ~ chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing
Le Chapeau ~ vanilla cupcakes with chocolate icing
We also created a custom cupcake especially for Amy & Jay’s wedding

Vanilla cupcakes with chocolate chips and vanilla icing

The couple had a very eclectic reception, so we set the cupcakes out on assorted pedestals for guests to choose their own treats…cute little signs assisted with their selections.

We had a great time working with this couple to help made their day extra sweet.

Best wishes for Amy & Jay on this awesome adventure they are about to begin together!

Melissa @ Cupcakes by Missy

914-426-5650

Our May Recap

2011-05-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

This May was a super busy one here at Events by Missy; with client meetings, site walk-thrus, Cupcakes and to end it all a wedding…productivity was the name of this game!

May 2^nd- skyped with my over-seas bride for 2 hours on her venue options

May 5^th - met with my September bride at her venue to do a décor idea session

May 7^th – Cupcakes by Missy did 3 giant cupcakes for a Bat-Mitzvah in Elmwood Country Club mazel-tov to Rachael

May 9^th – attended a huge networking event in NYC given by Wedding Wire where I met some fab new vendors (and my twitter peeps)

May 11^th – Cupcakes by Missy donated mini’s at the SPCA event held White Plains, amazing!

May 12^th – emailed my clients …closed for the weekend …HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HUBBY!

May 16^th – Association of Bridal Consultant LNG meeting with guest speaker Rebecca from The Knot magazine on how to get your work featured as a Real Wedding ~ see photo...don't we look great!

May 17^th – site visit at the West Point Club, such amazing views of the Hudson Valley

May 19^th – launch party for NNJWEP at 46 Lounge, networked with some great Jersey peeps and saw some old friends as well

May 21^st – Cupcakes by Missy created 300 cupcakes for Amy & Jay’s rustic outdoor wedding, they even had a custom cupcakes especially for their event

May 24^th – met with Theresa & David whose November wedding details are coming together

May 27^th – met with Lisa & Clark to finalize the details of next months wedding; from candy buffets to lighting, this NYC wedding is going to be over the top in every way!

May 29th - Alecia & Michael's wedding at Tappan Mansion was fab, with everything from a juggling clown for the kiddies to a cigar roller for the adults!

May 31st - secured a venue for our overseas clients...so excited for this military wedding!

Thanks so much for reading & have a great day!

Melissa @Events by Missy & Cupcakes by Missy

914-426-5650

www.EventsbyMissyco.com/cupcakes

April Recap ~ this one was a whirlwind!

2011-04-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hey fans, followers and fellow wedding professionals! April, as the old adage, came in like a lion for us but definitely not out like a lamb LOL!

4-2 ~ Wedding cupcakes for Britta & Frank ~ beautiful couple

4-3 ~ we hit a slight speed bump...hospitalized with a gallstone YIKES THE PAIN!!

4-7 ~ Web-inar follow-up Q&A with the 21st Century Bride folks ~ more great info!

4-9 ~ met with my mentor Jackie from Lifetime Events by Jacqueline to work on my accreditation with ABC, thanks as usual for your help Jackie!

4-10 ~ Birthday cupcakes for Emily, her mom BID AND WON our gift certificate we donated, flattered to say the least!

4-11 ~ chatted with 3 CT brides about their upcoming wedding and worked on proposals

4-13 ~ ABC LNG meeting at Morris Yacht Club with Jacqueline @ JMP Image Consultants; she discussed dressing the part and communicating with your clients, GREAT SEMINAR!

4-15 ~ met with a July bride at the Ritz Carlton about our DOC services

4-16 ~ Baby shower...ooohhhh we LOVE babies!

4-20 ~ 2 venue tours with champagne; The Castle on the Hudson & Tappan Hill Mansion

4-25 ~ met with my October couple to chat about decor...their idea is so unique and i LOVE it!

4-28 ~ met with fellow Association of Bridal Consultant members to discuss upcoming events

4-30 ~ met with my fav November couple at Johnston Florist to discuss their personals

This month was amazing for us; we met lots of great people, ate some amazing food and enjoyed some delish cocktails! Next month is already jam-packed...we can't wait!

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa - Events by Missy

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

Melissa@EventsbyMissyco.com

914-426-5650

Congratulations your engaged...NOW WHAT?!?!?

2011-04-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations; you guys are finally engaged! He planned the romantic dinner, bought the roses, ordered the best champagne, got down on bended knee and you got the ring!

So where do you guys go from here? Here are the first few steps every couple should take as soon as they get engaged…

First things first; Get that rock appraised and insured! If you are homeowners just call up your policy holder and send them the appraisal certificate from the jeweler. If you are a renter add it to your renters insurance policy as mentioned above. If you don’t have renters insurance, get some! This was a major purchase and not to ensure your engagement ring would be like buying a Mercedes and not getting the car insured!
Start spreading the news! Call the folks and future in-laws, your best friends (if they weren’t in on it) and shout it from the rooftop! There is nothing people like to hear more than good news, and this news is great.
Set a date ~ even if it's not THE day. The first thing people will ask is “when is the big day???” It will save you a lot of inquisitive looks and blank stares if you have a date in mind, or at least a time frame. When people ask, a great answer is something like “were working towards early Spring 2012”. That will satisfy their curiosity, and also help you and your fiance with an idea for the big day.
Daydreaming about your vision. Get some bridal magazines for dress inspiration, check out websites for decor ideas, talk to travel agents about honeymoon spots. It's perfectly OK to go into planning mode. IF you haven't been dreaming about your wedding since you were a kid, now is the time to start. Start a scrapbook for all of the items you start collecting of this things you want ( and don't want ) for your wedding. You can also download some apps or programs to help you manage your wedding ideas, tasks and time lines.
Show me the money! Get your finances and budget together for the wedding and start a savings account for the wedding. You really do NOT want to reply on credit cards to pay for anything for this wedding. Save a little from each weekly paycheck, it will add up fast. Luckily you don't have to pay your vendors everything up front, so save, save, save...every bit helps. You can also speak to your parents and see if they will be able to help out at all, or foot the bill entirely.
Work on your guest list. Speak to your parents about who they would like to invite as well. Be sure to remind them this is only a list of people that will possible be invited, nothing is set in stone. Ask them to prioritize their guests, just like you and your fiance did. TIP ~ The more guests you have the bugger your budget.
Let’s celebrate! Have an engagement party to share the joy. Traditionally this can be hosted by the parents or the couple themselves. It’s a great way for family & friends of the soon to be’s to get to know each other if they don’t already. But remember, the invite list must be people you plan on inviting to your wedding! And just so you know, an engagement party is not a gift-receiving occasion. You may receive flowers or a nice bottle of wine though.

And finally remember to have fun! This is your time to shine; enjoy each other as you begin this journey and plan for the biggest day of your lives. Everyone will have opinions and suggestions, but in the end, its your day so do it your way!

Best wishes & happy planning~

Melissa Fife ~ Lead Designer & Owner

Events by Missy & Co.

914~426~5650

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

March 2011 Re-Cap

2011-03-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hey fans, followers and fellow wedding professionals! March was a crazy month indeed; from meetings with clients to meeting with other fabulous wedding professionals...this month was nothing short of busy!

3-3 ~ Spring fashion show at Niemen Marcus...this spring hot color is Coral!

3-5 ~ Cupcake tasting for an April bride with our Dalmatian & Le Chapeau cupcakes

3-7 ~ Liberty Hall event in NYC with amazing live performances by Elan Artists

3-8 ~ attended the ABC LNG to discuss floral emergencies...very informative and great info

3-10 ~ met with my Bride Theresa to pow-wow about her wedding in November...she is a rockin client!

3-14 ~ networking event in Yorktown with WBC

3-17 ~ Diamonds & Demin fashion show hosted by local Queen of all Media Kris Ruby

3-21 ~ prepped & baked 200 mini-cupcakes for our event on 3-22

3-22 ~ Cupcakes by Missy hosted a booth with tasty treats for the networking event at Cabo to help support our Troops ~ see photo

3-24 ~ attended the Grand Opening of The Elan in NJ...amazing new venue for events

3-25 ~ Giant cupcakes for a Bat-Mitzvah...Mazel tov!

3-26 ~ attended the MACS woman's inaugural summit; this was a truly inspirational and spiritual day!

3-28 ~ attended the 21st Century Bride seminar

3-29 ~ attending the Design & Decor expo in NYC...great ideas and ideas!

3-30 ~ met with a beautiful July bride to chat about her beach wedding

This month was amazing for us; we met lots of great people, ate some amazing food and enjoyed some delish cocktails! Next month is already jam-packed...we can't wait!

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa - Events by Missy

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

Melissa@EventsbyMissyco.com

914-426-5650

Introducting our "LOVE IS IN THE AIR" contest Winner!

2011-03-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

For the month of February ~ Events by Missy ran a contest called “LOVE IS IN THE AIR” where we asked couples to submit their love stories for a chance to win free Event Planning services from us, along with other great prizes from our vendor partners.

After receiving 119 entries ~ we chose Alicia’s submission. It was hands-down the most unique and playful entry we got, and here it is….this is their love story in a nutshell, as told by the “Cat in the hat”…

"We met online

Our place in time

He asked me out

“Why yes!” no doubt

I found out what he was about

Long distance chats

Some small phone spats

He moved to CT To be with me

Of love I thought “well, could it be?”

Hiking, skiing and we shopped

And with his looks, my heart just stopped

Falling in love

Can’t let go of

So thankful to our God above

He's smart and he's strong

Waited my whole lifelong

For someone who completes my heart

From him I'll never be apart

And oh the joy when our lives start!

“A perfect match”

Opposites attract

From Colorado to CT

No better man was made for me

Our dream wedding is now our plea …won’t you please let it be?"

Thanks so much to Alicia for this amazing story, you know I cried reading it! Cannot wait to get started in planning this wedding, its going to be amazing!!!
Another big THANK YOU to our vendors partners who contributed to our contest to make it even better ~

Royal Amethyst Invitations ~ http://www.royalamethystllc.com/
Brannon Conza Photography ~ http://brannonphoto.com/

Creative Cardboxes ~ http://www.creativecustomcardboxes.com/

Favors by Dorinda ~ http://store.favorsbydorinda.com/

We cannot wait to share all of the fun details of this wedding, congrats again to Alicia!
Best wishes & happy planning~
Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.
http://www.eventsbymissyco.com/

Reception Music ~ At a Glance

2011-03-21T05:03:00.000-07:00

The music at your wedding can be one of the most important elements of the evening. Do you want quite dinner music softly playing in the back-ground or maybe a dance-club atmosphere where you and your guests party the night away. No matter what your style, the list below can help you along in the process. These songs are for when the spotlight is on, the room is hushed and all eyes are on you...so choose what best reflects your personality. Here is a list of our favorites:

Father ~ Daughter Wedding songs
Are you a daddy's girl or even his Hero? This will be the best gift a daughter can give!

Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
Unforgettable - Natalie Cole
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
Daddy's Hands - Holly Dunn
Daughter of Mine - John McDermott
Times of Your Life - Paul Anka
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
A Song for My Daughter - Mikki Viereck
My Special Angel - Bobby Helms

Mother ~ Son Wedding songs
Is there anything equal to the beautiful bond of love a mother shares with her son? Certainly not! Son’s wedding is like a grand festival for a mom!

Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
A Song for Mama - Boyz II Men
A Song for My Son - Mikki Viereck
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Unforgettable - Natalie & Nat King Cole
Have I Told you Lately - Rod Stewart
The Perfect Fan - Backstreet Boys
The Rose - Bette Midler Hero - Mariah Carey
Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison

Cake Cutting Wedding Songs
Sweet are the moments of celebrations! Cutting of a cake by the bride and the groom is certainly one such moment.
How Sweet It is - - James Taylor
Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
Its your love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
The sweetest thing - U2
Pour some sugar on me - Def Leppard
That's amore - Dean Martin
When I'm 64 - The Beatles
Cut the cake - Average White Band
Recipe for making love - Harry Connick, Jr.
Only wanna be with you - Hootie & the Blowfish

Bouquet Toss Wedding Songs
One of the interesting traditions is of course a toss of a bouquet by the bride. Make this moment more interesting and sweeter in tune of sweet music.
This ones for the girls - Martina McBride
I feel like a woman - Shania Twain
Hey ladies - The Beastie Boys
Hit me with your best shot - Pat Benatar
Its raining men - The Weather Girls
Another one bites the dust - Queen
Can't hold us down - Christina Aguilera
Girls just wanna have fun - Cyndi Lauper
Diamonds are a girls best friend - Marilyn Monroe
One way or another - Blondie
Single Ladies - Beyonce

Garter Toss
One of the most humorous traditions at any wedding reception and can be loads of fun. Depending on your personality, it can be reserved, edgy or quite risqué.
Do You Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart
Hot Legs - Rod Stewart
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
I Want Your Sex - George Michael
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Push It - Salt N Pepa
Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
Super Freak - Rick James
The Stripper - David Rose
The Thong Song - Sysco
You Can Leave Your Hat On - Tom Jones \ Joe Cocker
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC\DC

No matter which songs you choose for your special day, be sure to reflect your style and most of all have fun!

Best wishes & happy planning ~
Melissa @ Events by Missy
http://www.EventsbyMissyco.com/

Celebrity Weddings in 2011

2011-03-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

There are 3 weddings that are set for this year that I cannot wait to see; the engagements all happened in 2010, but 2011 will be their year to shine!

PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON

Prince William got engaged in October 2010 to Kate Middleton, but the engagement was not officially announced until November 16, 2010. Their wedding will take place sometime April 2011. This will be a grand royal wedding that will definitely rival the wedding of the Prince’s parents.

KRISTEN BELL AND DAX SHEPARD

Actor Dax Shepard may have not gotten the girl Kristen Bell in his recent comedy, however when in the real world, the same cannot be said. The 2 got engaged in February of 2010 and are set to marry in 2011. LOVE these two together and cannot wait to see what the wedding brings.

JESSICA SIMPSON AND ERIC JOHNSON

The singer-turned-fashion-designer is engaged to her NFL football player boyfriend, Eric Johnson. The proposal happened on the ever-so-popular 11-11-10 and plan to get hitched (as Jessica would say) July 16, 2011 in Vermont.

There are so many other celebrity engagements...whats your favorite? I just cannot wait to see these weddings!

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

February 2011 Re-cap

2011-03-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

February 2011 Recap

Dear Fans, friends and followers ~ February was a rough start for me personally; my Grandma (who raised me since I was a child) passed on February 3rd. It was with a heavy heart that I started back in the swing of things. There was a wedding I was hired to coordinate on the February 5th, that fortunately I was able to have another Planner I am close with stand in my place. I missed several events, meetings and to-do's, but I am slowly but surely trying to get things back on track. I want to thank all of my event professionals that reached out with kind words during this difficult time, this is really when you see how supportive we all are of each-other.

2-4 ~ 200 Oreo cupcakes for Andreana & David's wedding

2-5 ~ Gabrielle & Marc's wedding ~ thankful our fellow planner stepped up to help out!

2-10 ~ Oreo cupcakes donated to the Father / Daughter dance for Girl Scout troop 2147

2-14 ~ Kicked off our LOVE IS IN THE AIR Contest

2-15 ~ Launched our 1st constant contact email blast...fingers crossed

2-17 ~ Dinner with my fav local Event planner Jacqueline from Lifetime Events by Jacqueline

2-19 ~ Signed a client from Australia ~ her wedding is at West Point Military Academy

2-20 ~ Wedding Steps Bridal show at Fox Hill Inn ~ met several newly engaged couples

2-21 ~ Conference call: Stand out and prosper

2-22 ~ Met with perspective new clients for a spring 2012 wedding

2-23 ~ Wedding networking event in CT ~ met tons of professionals & new connections

2-25 ~ Sent out 4 proposals all for 2012 weddings

2-26 ~ 200 Mini-Cupcakes for a birthday ~ we used lavender and they were a hit!

2-27 ~ Heather & Michael's wedding

2-28 ~ Met with Maria from Three Events / PR ~ she rocks and I cannot wait to collaborate with her on future events!

2-28 ~ closed out our LOVE IS IN THE AIR contest with over 200 submissions! WOW =D super excited to announce the winner next month!

February started out pretty rough, but with the grace of God we made it thru!

Again, thank you all for your help and support and here's to March...in like a lion and out like a lamb.

Best wishes and happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

5 Simple DIY Projects for your wedding

2011-02-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

There are tons of ways you can add that special touch to your upcoming wedding. Budget savvy couples these days are incorporating more and more DIY projects into their weddings; from aisle runners to petal cones and everything in between, you can totally make your wedding your unique.

Get your bridal party together and have a DIY party or spend some quality time with your fiance and do these fun projects together. Here are a few of our favorites that are simple to complete, you can create them on any budget and oohhhhh so fun to do!

Save the dates ~ These are sent to your guests to let them know about your upcoming nuptuals. Get creative with them, fun and playful, you can do a cute photo in a park of you both. Or for a destination wedding, use a mock postcards or luggage tag. This is the first introduction to your wedding, let them see you fun side, so if you are going with a theme, this is the time to introduce it.

Aisle Runner ~ this is a beautiful way to add a personal touch to your ceremony space. We did one for our wedding and guests complimented us on it all day; incorporate your initials, monogram, wedding date, theme, favorite colors...anything you would like to make it your own.

Favors ~ anything goes when it comes to favors, but edible is all the rage. Guests want to reflect on your day with something they can enjoy, and what better way to say thank you for coming than a little treat. Homemade wine, cookies or chocolate would be that something special guests would love to have. Just keep in mind you don't want to be baking then evening before your wedding.

Petal cones ~ another item we did for our wedding; little holders for rose petals. Guests use them to hold petals and shower you as you walk down the aisle as husband and wife.

A great way to again incorporate your wedding colors into the ceremony, and super simple.

Menu cards ~ such an elegant touch to your wedding. Venues often provide their pre-printed versions, but what better way to add a special touch then with a personalized menu card. Tying in your monogram or colors on a playful menu is another great,

easy-to-do item.

Any of these great DIY items are sure to make your wedding personal and unique, all super simple and fun to do.

If you have any questions or would like directions or template for any of the above, please email us and we would be happy to help ~ melissa@eventsbymissyco.com

Best wishes and happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

January started off with a BANG!

2011-01-31T14:54:00.001-08:00

January 2011 Recap

After a somewhat slow December, I decided to get myself in gear and start 2011 off right! Education, networking, clients...OH MY!

1-1 ~ First signed contract of 2011 signed ~ whootwhoot!

1-4 ~ Wedding cupcake tasting for February couple

1-13 ~ Met with Theresa and David at their venue for a walk thru and meeting, they are on a planning roll!

1-17 ~ Met with a new Bride who needs a DOC for her September wedding at the Surf Club

1-17 ~ Met with Rochelle & Devon and saw a possible venue for their 2012 wedding

1-18 ~ Attended "Wish Upon a Wedding" launch party in NJ - what a fabulousorganization

1-19 ~ ABC meeting at Whitby Castle ~ Jewish weddings 101 ~ see photo

1-22 ~ Met with a new September couple who are planning a beautiful outdoor wedding

1-22 ~ Met with Rochelle & Devon and saw 2 possible venues for their 2012 wedding

1-29 ~ 11th Annual Westchester County bridal show with 6 clients - love these girls

1-30 ~ Met with couple about this weekends wedding - crossing the T's and dotting the I's

1-31 ~ Excellent meeting with a new florist I would LOVE to start using. Then went to the city to have a tasting with my clients to at a potential venue for their 2012 wedding.

January started off in high gear and finished just as great, we are hoping to have just a good if not even better, February!

Cheers to all of our clients, fans and friends!

Best wishes and happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

Events by Missy ~ Thankful for 2010!

2010-12-28T06:32:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought that this year would have been THE YEAR?!?!?

Events by Missy has become more then I thought it could ever be so fast, I am nothing short of amazed! I am so blessed and fortunate to have the support of my family and friends, they have been an invaluable resource. Whenever I needed them, they stepped up and advised, assisted, volunteered, painted, wrapped and worked along side me without hesitation. A big THANK YOU to all of them, I definitely couldn't have done so much without you guys.

I have also met a great network of fellow event professionals that have been super supportive. There is nothing like working with an awesome group of people who you can call with questions and vise-versa and I am now fortunate enough to call some of them my friends.

So whats on the horizon for Events by Missy in 2011? We will be offering a different package structure for clients to consider when working with us that offers specific vendors we LOVE working with. I will also be changing the content of our blogs, adding a more personal touch to each post. And adding more content to our Etsy site and changing the pricing of some products.

I am also very focused on volunteering a lot more; what better way to give back then to donate your time to those who need it.

In closing, thanks to all of our clients, we couldn't have done it without you! We are honored to have been a part of your weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and every other special moment of your lives, you guys ROCK!!

Best wishes to you and your families for a happy new year!

Melissa @ Events by Missy

December 2010 Recap

2010-12-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

I had decided that I needed to keep my December pretty clear to take care of personal things. With 2 kids coming home for the college break, and 3 kids out on winter vacation, I wanted to be able to spend time with them. Plus I need to start getting my stuff together for the kick-off of a fabulous 2011!

12-1 ~ Networking event at Brazen Fox in White Plains

12-4 ~ Kim & Tony's wedding

12-6 ~ Networking event at Don Coqui's in New Rochelle (200 cupcake went like hotcakes!)

12-11 ~ met with perspective 2012 client

12-16 ~ The Knot web-inar

12-21 ~ Constant Contact web-inar

12-22 ~ Completed 117 holiday cards for business contacts

12-26 ~ Began working on 2011 business plan

12-27 ~ Finishing up entering all receipts, invoices..etc for the tax man next month...BLAH

12-30 ~ final client meeting of 2010 with a 2012 bride - WHOOHOO!

In addition, received a total of 17 etsy inquires and 6 orders for aisle runners.

The site traffic on my website was off the charts and we received 8 inquiries for wedding planing services since 12-25, brides are starting to plan earlier and earlier.

So all in all, not a crazy busy month, but its just what I needed to be able to balance my hectic life.

Best wishes to you and yours and a happy and health 2011

Melissa @ Events by Missy

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

Kim & Tony's wedding 12-4-2010

2010-12-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

Kim and Tony were married on 12~4~2010 in a quaint Catholic ceremony at St Killian's Church in Long Island NY. The bride wore a beautiful ivory dress that made her simply glow from the start of the day to the end. The ceremony was very personal to all involved and was a true sentiment of their new marriage.

The celebration continued afterwards at the stunning Vanderbilt mansion where the space was lit with candles and the warm glow kept the vibe very intimate. The couple worked on many DIY projects that were awesome; from the cupcake toppers, portraits of wedding photos of all of the couples friends and families, to a sign in book with leaves of their new family tree.

Guests partied the night away to oldies rock and the dance floor stayed busy all night, especially with the brides father :) the couple closed out the night with an anniversary dance where the longest couple there that was married was over 50 years...a great treasure to have in any family.

I wish Kim and Tony the best of luck as they start this newest chapter in their lives, it was awesome seeing Kim again and I hope to see them both again soon.

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy

www.EventsbyMissyco.com

November 2010 Recap

2010-12-06T05:54:00.000-08:00

OK... so now I am a little obsessed with recording what I get done every month LOL ~ but on the bright side I am productive and almost daily work on moving my business forward ~ November was a busy month!

11/1 ~ Pow-wow with my November couple about the details
11/2 ~ ABC event in Brooklyn (30 day guide to building your business)
11/3 ~ Listened on 2 Webinars: social media university & marketing plans
11/5 ~ Made and delivered cupcakes for SUNY college student's birthday ( Cupcakes by Missy is us too!)
11/6 ~ Met with potential March 2011 bride
11/8 ~ Professional Woman of Westchester launch party event (100 mini cupcakes by Cupcakes by Missy)
11/9 ~ Met with new Stationary designer ~ Kisha @ Royal Amethyst ROCKS!!
11/10 ~ First coaching session with Megan Kline
11/12 ~ Met with new Florist ~ Oksana @ Flowers by Oksana is AMAZING!!
11/15 ~ NYC Wedding Salon
11/16 ~ Webinar: Time to Mobilize
11/17 ~ Met with potential November 2011 bride
11/18 ~ Met with our favorite make-up artist Desiree @ Elegant Faces LOVE HER WORK!!
11/18 ~ Circle of Influence Networking event
11/20 ~ Met with potential October 2011 bride
11/23 ~ Final meeting with couple for 11/26 wedding
11/24 ~ Head shots and family portraits with Jennifer from Jennifer Morais Photography TRULY BRILLIANT PHOTOGRAPHER!!
11/26 ~ Alex & Paul's wedding
11/27 ~ Met with potential June 2011 bride & did 3 sample cupcake flavors
11/29 ~ Send proposal to June 2011 bride for wedding cupcakes
11/30 ~ ABC event in the Bronx (More PR for less money) ~ see our great group photo courtesy of Treasured Memories

If you would like to check out the fabulous vendors mentioned above:

Royal Amethyst Stationary ~ http://www.blogger.com/www.royalamethystllc.com
Elegant faces by Desiree ~http://www.blogger.com/www.elegantfacesbydes.com
Jennifer Morais Photography ~ http://www.blogger.com/www.JMPNY.com
Treasured Memories ~ http://www.treasuredmemories.tv/Flowers by Oksana is currently updating her website.

Thanks again for check in and we cannot wait to see what December brings us!

Best wishes & happy planning~ Melissa @ Events by Missy
http://www.eventsbymissyco.com/

Alex & Paul's wedding ~ 11/26/2010

2010-11-28T17:06:00.000-08:00

Alex & Paul were married on Friday, November 26, 2010 at St Paul & St Mary's Church in Chappaqua NY. Surrounded by family & close friends, the couple committed their lives to each other in the tiny church during a Catholic ceremony that was very personal.

Afterwards everyone went to the Holiday Inn at Mt Kisco to get the reception started. The cold weather kept from outdoor photos, but the pictures taken in front of an old fireplace will be a treasure keepsake for family and friends alike.

The food and drinks flowed as the couple danced the night away to oldies, classic rock and merengue. And along with the delicious wedding cake, a luscious chocolate fountain was enjoyed by guests both young and old.

I am honored to have worked with Alex for almost an entire year to put together her beautiful wedding, and I wish both her and Paul many years of health, wealth and happiness!

XOXOXO~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

www.eventsbymissyco.com

Helpful hints for Candy Buffets at your Event

2010-11-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a unique favor idea your guests won’t soon forget ~ go with the Candy Buffet. My hubby and I had one at our wedding and it was a hit; adults loaded up on their childhood favorites and the kids loved the idea of choosing their own candies!

Cool Candy Containers

The first thing you need to do is find some great candy containers and candy scoops. You can rent containers or you can purchase them. Clear containers usually work best. They showcase your candy selections and have a charming appeal. Be creative. The sky is the limit when it comes to how you want to present your candy buffet. Decorate with fun ribbons and silly signs letting guests know what each container holds inside.

Decorate the Table

In addition to your candy jars and candy selections, you will want to decorate the table with shots from your engagement shoot, candles, a table runner that coordinates with your wedding colors, or even childhood pictures of the bride & groom.

One of the easiest ways to bring style to your candy buffet display is to put your candy jars at different levels. Raise the containers to different heights by putting books or other supporting materials under the table cloth. Your wedding caterer or cake designer may also have dessert stands you can rent.

Candy Color

Use your wedding colors to inspire your candy selections. You don’t have to stay true to the colors you selected for the rest of the wedding, but it is a great way to tie it all together. The thing to remember with color is that it makes a difference – whatever colors you select. Candy buffets with coordinated colors look much better than random-colored candy selections.

Theme of Your Wedding

Incorporating some details from your wedding theme can help make your candy favors even more memorable. Asian theme? Include fortune cookies. Winter wedding? How about white-chocolate covered pretzels? The possibilities are endless. Use cute take-out containers so guests can take their treats to-go at the end of the evening.

How Much Candy Should I Buy?

Plan by how you want the display to look, not how many guests are coming. Having enough candy is crucial in making your candy buffet look good. If you don't have enough to fill the jars and container, your buffet will look half eaten. be sure to have someone who will re-fill the jars as the night goes by.

Determine how many jars and types of candies you want. 7-10 types of candies = 15-20 pounds of each variety.

No matter what you try for your candy buffet, keep it sweet and simple! Your guests will love it and so will you!

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

http://www.eventsbymissyco.com/

Our vendor of the week ~ Royal Amethyst

2010-11-14T15:43:00.001-08:00

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Kisha Kingston from Royal Amethyst this week, and I have to say she is awesome! She is the founder and owner of Royal Amethyst; a unique stationary house where her designs and ideas are only limited by her imagination. Kisha's personality and energy was great and I could tell from the minute we met she would be a treasure to work with.

The work Kisha showcased in her portfolio was beautiful to say the least. Everything from Save-the-Date cards for newly engaged couples to Baby Shower invitations for expectant mothers....every piece was different in its own way.

Here are a few on my personal favorites ~

Sweet 16 Birthday invitation

Tiffany Blue
Petal-fold invitation

Pink & White Pocket Wedding invitation

For more of her work visit her website at http://www.blogger.com/www.royalamethystllc.com

We cannot wait to see what Kisha comes up with next.

Best wishes & happy planning~
Melissa @ Events by Missy
http://www.blogger.com/www.EventsbyMissyco.com

Brown Wedding inspiration

2010-11-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

As we are now officially in the full swing of fall, beautiful rich colors surround us. By far my favorite color for the fall is brown; deep and dark it adds drama and spark to any wedding. Here are a few pictures we came across that we absolutely loved! ENJOY....

Brown linens add a warmth to any table-scape

Beautiful brown programs are a special touch for any ceremony...

Bouquets full of flowers, berries and rich leaves are unique and classic for any fall wedding

No matter how you add this beautiful color to your wedding; whether its chocolate bars as your place cards or a brown sash to your wedding gown, keeping it simple and unique is always the key. Using brown in your fall weddings is stunning.

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart weddings

October 2010 recap

2010-11-01T14:12:00.001-07:00

So I started logging all the things I do for my business on a monthly basis. I met with an inspirational life coach and we discussed time management and what I need to do for myself, and she suggested I create a log of all the things I do for my business every month. I think it may be a great way to track and manage my time better and also see what I get done....here's what I did:

10-1 ~ Super Sweet 16 (ran around getting centerpieces, favors, cake)

10-2 ~ Nicole & John's wedding

10-3 ~ sent out follow-up emails to bridal show participants, wrote 2 blog entries

10-4 ~ met perspective client for June 2011 wedding

10-7 ~ met perspective client for December wedding

10-10 ~ received 2 contracts for upcoming weddings

10-17 ~ Bridal Market in NYC

10-23 ~ Baby shower

10-24 ~ worked on custom cardbox for December client (see picture)

10-25 ~ went thru a stack of magazines and cleaned up my office, major filing and billing

10-26 ~ Biz bash at Jacob Javitx center in NYC

10-30 ~ Halloween party ( 200 cupcakes too )

WOW this was a lot LOL, I hope to be even busier next month...let's see how it goes.

Hope yours was just as busy.

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events byMissy & Co.

BizBash 2010 @ the Javitz NYC

2010-10-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

I attended my first Bizbash this week and it was amazing! I met up with some of my fellow area Event Planners I have met over the past few months. Its always great to speak to other professionals in your field; we all share the same successes and frustrations LOL

The first seminar was Event Planning Documentation ~ creating the checklists from A-Z given by Dianne Budion. It was very informative; it covered everything from finalizing agreements to trouble-shooting for event production.

Next was the seminar on Green Events ~ measuring up to the new standards of business given by Janet Sperstad. This workshop covered how to create green standards for not only your company but for your events.

Our next stop was the Bizbash Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony where Jennifer Gilbert from "Save the Date" event planning shared her story of how her company became the greatness it is, how she fared on the Real Housewives of NYC and how being a business-woman, mother and wife revolves around it all. Very inspirational woman indeed!

The we walked the show floor where exhibitors showed everything from stationary to luxury buses to mini-candy apples (my personal fav!) We networked with tons of vendors and saw some pretty cool stuff - including this super tall lady!

The next seminar was the best way to charge for your event planing services. Ways to structure your pricing all depends on your event, area, years of experience; this info was priceless.

The final seminar of the day was Invitation trends for 2011 ~ color pallets, luxe textures and print styles that are hot for this coming year...all of them to die for

We wrapped up the day with a little more networking and some pictures ~ check out our FB page for them all @ http://tinyurl.com/27phgoa

Cannot wait to go to BizBash again next year!

Nicole & John's wedding 10-2-10

2010-10-24T15:13:00.001-07:00

Nicole & John were married on October 2, 2010 at the beautiful Catlin Gardens in upstate NY. The couple started their day with the always emotional reveal ceremony, which made not only the couple tear up, but on-lookers as well. The ceremony took place on the scenic gardens of the grounds at twilight as the couple said their vows. The reception was filled with memories; family and friends coming together to cerebrate this truly happy day! Nicole & John had a cigar roller entertain their guests after dinner and then the party really started! At the end of the evening, the happy couple thanked their guests with a beautiful bottle of their favorite wine. I am happy to say Nicole & John are two of the best people I have been honored to work with, and I wish them years of health, wealth and happiness!

Jenn & Brent's wedding ~ Sept. 11th 2010

2010-10-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

Jenn & Brent were married on Saturday, September 11th, 2o1o at the Tarrytown House. The bride was stunning in her ivory Vera Wang gown during an outdoor ceremony in the gardens, as the groom waited breathlessly in his Hugo Boss jet black custom tuxedo. After the ceremony guests enjoyed an extended 2 hour cocktail intermission, while the bridal party took pictures all over the lush grounds. When the pictures ended, the real party began as guests danced the night away to classic 80's music and a live swing band! The evening came to an end as the happy couple rode into the night on a horse drawn carriage while guests looked on. It was a pleasure to be a part of Jenn & Brent's happy day.

My Favorite Wedding Movies

2010-10-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a heart-felt comedy to help you thru the sometimes stressful task of planning a wedding. If you’re a maid of honor or bridesmaid or planning a wedding, consider including one of these classics as part of the preparation. These movies are a fun way to celebrate an upcoming wedding.

The Runaway Bride ~ classic comedy; girl won't commit, man trashes her for it, then they fall in love! Love Julia Roberts & Richard Gere in this movie constantly poke fun at each other and it's great from start to finish.

The Wedding Singer ~ Adam Sandler stars in this movie about a wedding singer who was jilted at the altar, and then becomes the worst wedding singer! Drew Barrymore is about to marry an idiot. The two become friends and fall in love. Classic 80's music is the backdrop so its a personal favorite of mine!

The Wedding Planner ~ Jennifer Lopez plays a wedding planner (my obvious favorite!) who falls in love with the fiance of her client. Matthew McConaughey is the groom she can't resist.

So sit back and take a break from your wedding planning to enjoy some of these classics ~ you wont be disappointed =D

Best wishes & happy planning~

Melissa Fife

Events by Missy & Co.

That party was awesome!!

2010-10-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

We know that every event, whether its a wedding, birthday or anniversary, has the same basic principals; food, music, dancing, cake....but here are some ideas that will have your guests talking about your party long after its over =D

Book a performer ~ anything from a balloon twister to an aeriel contortionist will surely keep your guests entertained. How excited would the littler guests be if there was a face painter to help them feel special

Snack stations ~ not that there isn't enough food already, but who wouldn't love a cotton candy machine, a cookie buffet or popcorn machine to grab a little nosh on the way home. And when the weather gets cold, what better way to send your guests off then a cup of hot coco and a warm pretzel.

Memorable exits ~ even though you want to party the night away with your guests, you should make an exit as grand as your entrance. At a water-side venue, race away in a speed boat. Or if your outdoors, have guests light giant sparklers for you to run thru. If your the fairytale type, the horse drawn carriage always adds that special something for your guests to see.

Theme party ~ the sky is the limit here. Just about anything goes; Alice in Wonderland costumes, Halloween theme with spooky masks, Hawaiian luau with a pig roast and grass skirts. Make it fun and fabulous, your guests want to be involved so what better way then to come in costume!

Adding any of these elements to your event will definitely wow your guests!

But no matter what make it truly unique and always fun!

Smooches & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

Rachna & Shahin's wedding ~ July 10th

2010-09-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

Rachna & Shahin were married on Saturday, July 1oth, 2o1o in a ceremony held in Battery Gardens, NYC. The groom was driven in by pedi-cab while his bride waited....adorned in a beautiful Sari while the groom wore a Sherwani. Both families participated in beautiful traditional Hindu & Persian ceremonies that took place under a colorful Mundap. After the ceremony, the guests were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime NYC rooftop reception that included a sprawling buffet dinner, ice cream sundae bar and a champagne toast with a sparkly entrance. After the traditional cake was cut, Rachna surprised Shahin with a Laker's cake, the grooms favorite basketball team! Afterwards the dancing continued into the night. It was an honor to be a part of Rachna & Shahin's wedding, and may they have a beautiful life together!

Best ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.

Photo credit ~ www.ksdweddings.com

Autumn signature cocktails

2010-09-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm, just the sound of the words are delicious! Who doesn't enjoy a cocktail every now and then, especially at a wedding. Here are some we came across that would be a perfect addition to any reception bar menu. And we tested all of them and they are so yummy :)

Pomegranate Martini ~ this one is my absolute favorite drinks all year long and anytime! But Pomegranates are a seasonal fruit harvested in the fall, so it made the top of the list!

1 oz vodka, 1/2 oz. Cointreau Orange Liquor, 3 oz. Pomegranate juice

Carmel Apple Martini ~ this isn't something you can find at a local fair

2 parts butterscotch Schnapps, 2 parts Apple Pucker, 1 part vodka

Pumpkin pie ~ not your grandmas pie, but it's just as warm going down

1 part Bailey's, 1 part Kahlua, 1 part tequila, a sprinkle of cinnamon

Maple kiss ~ this drink will satisfy everyone's sweet tooth

1 oz. whisky, 1 oz. maple syrup, 1 oz. Raspberry Schnapps

We hope you will be able to use these recipes for your upcoming wedding, party, or just a simple Saturday evening at home. Enjoy and remember to drink responsibly!

Best wishes & happy planning ~

Melissa @ Events by Missy & Co.