From penning and sending the invites to incorporating a subtle theme into a classy ceremony, we have some great advice for the party planner and, of course, some apparel advice for those attending!
Try this cool Venue
You don’t have to be in eastern France to raise your flutes. Lucky Long Islanders can start clicking their own flutes full of sparkling wine at Southold’s Sparkling Pointe Vineyard & Winery—the only New York vineyard to make sparkling wines exclusively.
Sparkling Pointe takes up 29 acres in the heart of Long Island’s North Fork Wine Country and truly sparkles. And, since its inception nearly a decade ago, the place has become a prime party destination.
With the architecture one would find in the Champagne region of France, décor that includes impressive Venetian crystal chandeliers and captivating views of the vineyard, this is a must-party-here place. It hosts a number of enticing options. For a large crowd, one would want to aim for the Grand Tasting Room. The outdoor grounds are perfect for tented occasions, which can be held on the Great Lawn and Terrace. For a smaller party, you won’t find anything cooler than the VIP Bubble Room. It’s perfect for private celebrations and corporate events, accommodating crowds up to 50. It’s set up as a hip lounge equipped with a flat-screen television and fireplace.
Not only is the venue a sight to behold, the sparkling wines on the menu are equal in taste. Don’t trust us? Trust expert winemaker Gilles Martin, whose expertise the owners enlisted the help of, or you can check out the many awards they have earned over the past few years.
You may leave saying the same phrase Mr. Perignon once did: Come quickly, I am tasting the stars! when you get a hold of one of their sparkling wines. Choices include everything from NV Topaz to NV Cuvee Carnaval. Speaking of Cuvee Carnaval, it’s the Sparkling Pointe’s latest creation and already an award winner. The newbie is a pale gold, extra dry wine that took home the silver medal at this year’s Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
“The inspiration for that was to produce a sweeter wine that represented the very festive Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro,” says Judy Cordasci, private events coordinator at Sparkling Pointe.
The venue’s many events include live music, Friday night Ludmilla Brazil Playing, Bistro 72 Taste of the East End Happy Hour and in-store wine tastings. Sparkling Pointe, 39750 County Road 48, Southold. 631-765-0200. www.sparklingpointe.com
Incorporate A Subtle Theme
Sure, when you think of a themed event, you may think cheesy and done-to-death. It seems like themed weddings especially are a thing of the past. But the main reason they rose to popularity in the first place is because they are a load of fun. With that feeling still lurking in every bride-to-be’s heart, more and more wedding folk are incorporating a subtle theme into their classy celebrations.
One way to use a theme without going overboard is to limit it to one area, such as wardrobe. A great example of this: Bride-to-be Christina Geraci of Stony Brook is taking on a 1920s Art Deco theme for her autumn wedding.
“The color scheme is silvers, whites and creams with black accents and there might even be some feather accents,” says Geraci. “The bridesmaid’s dresses are silver and have silver brooches that match the brooch on my dress. My dress is very simple, A-line with a portrait collar, and a brooch and a 1920s hairpiece. I also got a short white fur coat to wear over the dress since the wedding is in November.”
Geraci has it right. Having it at the Empire State Building, that would be Art Dec-OVERBOARD!
Dress To Impress
Party guests have it pretty easy. Hosts have a bit more work to do, but no matter what role you are playing best-selling fashion author Charla Krupp says it’s easy to look great.
“In short, the best way to go is a solid colored dress,” she advises. “Forget the suits—so over! Make sure the dress flatters you in all the right places. Nude heels are always going to make you look longer and leaner. Carry a small clutch bag, not an office or everyday handbag.”
For the men, Krupp suggests avoiding white and opting for a fun, fashionable color.
“A dark suit and a lively colored shirt and tie,” she says. “Lavender? Pink? Something not so solemn and dull as a white shirt.”
All About Invites Q&A
Hosting an amazing party requires great food, great entertainment and, of course, a great group of people. The first thing to focus on will be your guest list and invitations. Invitations set the tone for any event; you want your guests to become excited from the moment they open their invitations and respond, “Yes!” It is important to choose an invitation that represents the type of event you’re having—whether it be a themed birthday party, wedding or other social affair. To find out the “do’s and dont’s” regarding invitations I sat down with Jenna Anello, Invitation Specialist at PWP Event Planning Design and Boutique.
Q:
Jenna, what kind of questions do you ask before you start taking out samples?
A:
I like to ask clients if they have started looking for invitations previously and if they are drawn to things that are more simple/elegant or something a bit more modern/colorful. There is also the consideration of one’s budget.
Q:
Should a client have a price range in mind before shopping?
A:
You should have an idea of the amount of money you want to spend on the invitations, but try to be flexible; you might fall in love with something and, although you didn’t anticipate spending a certain amount, you can guarantee that if you’re excited about it, your guests will be too.
Q:
What determines the price of an invitation?
A:
The paper style and materials used to create the invite itself. We are past the days where the only type of invitation is made on paper. You can have invitations made out of chocolate, wine bottles that are melted down and even full-sized license plates or CDs.
Q:
What if the invitation is traditional and made out of paper?
A:
If you are going to have a traditional paper invitation usually the price is determined by the number of paper layers and the quality of the paper itself; such as shimmer papers, linen papers, metallic papers or even silk brocade. There is a whole world of papers available today to make your invitation custom. The way you print on them will also have an impact on the pricing. You can choose between laser, which is the least expensive, foil printing, thermography, and letterpress.
Q:
What are some fun and unique ways to send an invitation?
A:
You can give a gift within the invitation—who doesn’t like presents? You can add an extra touch to your event by having your guests become involved in the theme/decor. If you are having a masquerade then send each guest an invite with a mask included to ensure that they will all arrive in costume and your theme will be accomplished.
Q:
Once the invitation is selected, what is the right way to address and word it?
A:
If it is a formal affair, address your guests in a formal manner. When “requesting the presence of Mr. and Mrs. John Pierce” use titles such as Mr., Mrs., and Dr. If the event is more casual, you can be casual when telling John and Michelle “Hey, come party!”
Q:
How far in advance should you purchase your invitations?
A:
The more time in advance means more time to create. You can get a great invitation anywhere from three months before the event, but then you’re limited on custom selections and will have to choose something in-stock. I suggest to start looking within six months, but if you are looking for something “outside the box” give it about eight.
