The Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony is a Jewish tradition passed on from generation to generation.  The rite of passage celebrates the beginning of the transition to adulthood.  But after months of preparation for this special day what better way to wind down and truly celebrate than a HUGE party with all of one’ s nearest and dearest!

Now, the party is not complete without your 13 year olds’ wonderfully carried out theme.  The theme is the perfect way for the bar/bat mitzvah boy/girl to express their creativity and passion!  My passion at the age of 13? PINK! I loved the color and everything that went along with it.  From the pink and black table linens and the pink and white balloons decorating the entire room to my pink ball gown, made to mine (and my mother’s) every specifications, everything had to be in order for this special day!  As a side note, sometimes having the bat mitzvah dress made can be a great solution if you and your daughter can’t find the right dress.  For my thirteen year old self I had to have a beautiful pink dress with as much “poof” in it as I could have, and for my mother, the perfect fabric.  Having a dress made can also end up costing way less than shopping at a boutique; just bring in a style or pictures of a dress your daughter may have tried on already and the material you would like to use and voila! The perfect bat mitzvah dress!

The Perfect PINK Dress!

The party itself is full of its own traditions that will hopefully never get old.  We all know the usuals of a fabulous event; cocktail hour, the speech, dinner, dancing and dessert, but what we must not forgot are the true bar/bat mitzvah party traditions! The perfect DJ knows EXACTLY what is expected of him.. the classic games, the wonderful prizes, and all those classic line dances.  Whether they’re hula hooping as fast as they can, playing the ultimate game: COKE & PEPSI, or dancing to “cotton eye Joe”, this fantastic time is also when the adults can relax, have a drink and enjoy a conversation while the kids are going crazy on the dance floor.  For those of you who are not familiar with the game Coke and Pepsi here is a brief summary… Each contestant chooses a partner and stands directly across from them on opposite sides of the dance floor.  One side is named Coke, the other Pepsi.  When the MC announces “Coke” the players on the Coke side must run to their partner’s side as fast as they can in order to not be eliminated, and vice versa for the Pepsi side. The MC can also announce 7UP, Dr. Pepper, etc. that require the players to either switch sides, freeze, or run in the middle and do a quick dance, whatever the MC announces as his/her rules.  Each round the slowest pair is eliminated until there is one team left standing, and hey it doesn’t hurt if your partner is the bar/bat mitzvah kid.  This might be a silly game but you have to play it to understand its glory.

View of the Room at the Mansion

Now of course it is not a true bar mitzvah without the candle lighting ceremony, in which the bar/bat mitzvah kid honors guests from near and far by calling them up to light one of the thirteen candles on the cake.  It is important for them to show their gratitude to their family and friends who were there to support along the way, as well as to remember those who were not able to be there on this special day.

Candle Lighting Ceremony

We also must not forget to include the awkward boy-girl slow dances or dancing the more traditional Jewish dance, known as the horah with your family, and handing out the best party favors (tshirts, scrubs).  For my bat mitzvah I gave out blue flannel boxer shorts with the logo “I danced the night away at Arielle’s Bat Mitzvah”. And finally, as the movie Keeping Up with the Steins teaches us, we simply have to outdo the bar mitzvah the week before.

All in all it wouldn’t be a classic bar/bat mitzvah without all of these wonderful traditions that you expect to have, so why not let us help you!

Arielle Shemesh
610.955.8115

So many talented industry professionals went into making this gala a success!  It’s not everyday that you get to attend the most fabulous party in a tent in a parking lot in the middle of January.  Well NACE Philadelphia pulled off the most creative and over the top event.  Creating a three tiered tent (1) for dining (1) lounge (1) white dance floor, not to mention a stage for the band that was suspended over the dance floor.  Thank you Ed Knight at EventQuip!

The amount of man hours and effort that went into the behind the scenes were unexplainable.  It was not just one company that did it all- it’s the twenty plus chair members that pulled some strings, let alone helped make it a success.  There was no challenge that this team couldn’t handle.

 Event location:  EventQuip

Event decor:  Evantine Design

Lighting:  Eventions Productions

Draping:  Event FX

Glassware and rental:  Party Rental LTD

Portable restrooms:  Bobby’s Potty’s

Awesome women:  Creative Juice Group

Food Service:  Starr Events

Valet:  Empire Valet

Tarot Card Reading: Marilyn Sukonik-Zeff

Menu Cards: Paper Rock Scissors

Photography: Barton Paul Photography

This award winning team definitely “Brought Back the Glamour” in 2011.  We are excited about the 2012 NACE Gala which will be at the ACE Conference Center on April 22 catered by Wolfgang Puck Catering.

Cheers!
Kassie Budzinski
610.955.8115

Amie Schroeder Photography

I know my fiance is going to have my head being that we are still in the NFL playoffs, it isn’t even the Super Bowl yet and I am relating romance to the World Series.  However it is only 50 some days until the Phillies are in Clearwater, Florida for spring training! But I digress!

I don’t think there is a more down to earth quote that we could relate to than the one mentioned above.  I am extremely guilty of being a hopeless romantic.  I am recently engaged and I probably could be engaged for quite some time before I actually figure out what it is that I want at my wedding!  But it’s OK- because although I am taking the planning process slow, I still get those jitters that I had when Kevin and I went on our first date, or when I decided to ask him out because he was taking to long to ask me himself.  Haha.  That’s what you want in your marriage right?  Even when you’re celebrating 25 or 50 years of being married!  If you can still look at each other and your heart goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast.  You know that is something special!

Love Shack Photography

I have chosen a few pictures that when I look at them, I know both bride and groom have butterflies floating around in their stomachs… are feeling those same exciting jitters as they felt on their first date and are experiencing an “over the fence-home run” moment!

Every single one of these couples embodies romance!   The excitement as the bride walks down the aisle to her groom and takes his hand- it’s like an instant jolt of electricity running through them as they exchange vows and become husband and wife.

Catherine Hennessey Photography

Even the silly pictures; the way that the couple glides down the street or gaze into each others eyes what seems like an eternity, when really it is only seconds!  That moment that separates you both from the “real world” so to speak- when nothing else seems to matter but the embrace that you are currently in.

Amie Schroeder Photography

The Jewish religion is simply beautiful- the traditions carried through the ceremony and into the reception are extremely moving!  See below, one of my first Jewish Orthodox weddings! I Love the way that the photographer captured this amazing moment.

Roey Yohai Photography

We all want that feeling of excitement, passion and mystery for our significant other- I get it everyday! I hope you experience it after reading this or will find Love & Romance as you embark on your journey through 2012.

Cheers to 2012 and finding romance!

Kassie Budzinski
610.955.8115

Love Shack Photography

For a jaw dropping dazzle, that will leave guests talking for ages, the attention is in the details. I love all those unique intricacies that contribute to the final “dazzle effect”.

Love Shack Photography

Spending my first day with Karen and Kassie at Karen Pecora Events, I got to have a behind the scenes look at their wedding designs, documented through an immense collection of photos. As I poured over their pictures of weddings past, present and fondly remembered, it was those splendid little details that kept sucking me in!

Love Shack Photography

Some of my favorites, all caught my eye with “off the wall” décor details that sizzle and pop with creativity! Olives in a jar are often found in my refrigerator, being a favorite of mine, but olives on display in a tall glass vase? Fabulous! Add multiple vases with varying bite sized morsels; surrounded by a lush display of color and vegetation, and the result is a spectacular take on a crudités station!

Love Shack Photography & Feastivities Events

I love the idea of bringing nature indoors, using different elements in small ways. A great example of this is the image of gleaming smooth river rocks spread around a display of place cards. The added texture is such a great contrast to the fresh white linen and paper. Your guests will be commenting for years to come about all these unique touches that add a punch of personality to the day!

Precious Petals

Precious Petals

To break out from under the ordinary, try using traditional décor concepts such as flowers in a unique way.  This outdoor lake front ceremony has a touch of whismy by hanging chains of gerber daisys to dangle gracefully from a Colisium Pergola as a beautiful backdrop for taking marriage vows. Small flowers, big dazzle!

Precious Petals

Whatever your style may be, scattering small splashes of your personality throughout your special day is a sure fire way to dazzle your guests, and leave a lasting impression!

Love Shack Photography

Make it a Great Day!
Rebecca J. Marino
610.955.8115

Jennifer was excited and so bubbly when we arrived!  I didn’t recognize her from when we first met when she had her hair down.  She was the most ecstatic bride I had ever seen/worked with.  Jennifer had met with Janice Martin of Janice Martin Couture in Ardmore- who took Jennifer’s grandmothers 1920’s vintage wedding dress and transformed it into a beautiful modern masterpiece.  It was sexy, elegant and delicate.  It was perfect.

The Hotel Palomar was at max capacity this weekend- and because it is a dog friendly hotel- both man and beast were taking refuge from the New Jersey shore and surrounding areas.  There was actually a scrappy dog fight in the lobby as we were bringing Jennifer to Avery for their “first look” photo shoot.  As we avoided the two yappy dogs- I positioned Avery on the landing of restaurant Square 1682 within the Palomar.   Passerby’s congratulated Jennifer and complimented on her beauty (she truly was a sight to see).

Michael from Bliss Productions really captured Jennifer’s beauty and the hotel’s ambiance on such a dreary day.  Jennifer and Avery had originally planned on taking pictures at their home in Rittenhouse Square and at 30^th Street Station- but Hurricane Irene had other plans.  No worries though, I swear every time Karen Pecora Events does an event at the Hotel Palomar- we find a different space that has so much potential and Michael was able to work right within the hotel.

We snuck the couple into the women’s powder room on the second floor to where my and Karen’s favorite quote was moved to “Nothing but Blue Skies” (we wish all of our bride’s this- Jennifer and Avery were our exception because of Hurricane Irene)

- There were some great nooks and crannies that Michael was able to shoot on the second floor by the elevator and again behind the front desk.

Michael even took some pictures of Jennifer and Avery under a Hotel Palomar umbrella and a very sleek and sexy picture of Jennifer stepping out of the hotel’s front doors.

As we made our way upstairs to take pictures under the chuppah (made by Jacqueline’s Flowers) Jennifer and Avery’s families soon joined them.  Within the next half hour they had signed the Ketuba and they were bound as husband and wife before the actual ceremony.

As Jennifer and Avery gazed into each other’s eyes and said their “I Do’s” this day was only going to go by even quicker.  The couple walked into their reception with CTO Uptown playing in the background.

Jennifer had been practicing for months on a secret surprise for Avery.  Avery loves when Jennifer sings and plays the piano; it was a lovely gift to Jennifer’s new husband as he sat speechless while his bride serenaded him.

 With the blink of an eye- the day was over.  All the months leading up to this special day and the relationship we made with Jennifer was all over.  It was a truly fabulous day despite all the rain and last minute cancellations from guests.  All that mattered was that Jennifer and Avery were finally married and had the love of their family and friends surround them.

Wishing you nothing but the best!

Kassie Budzinski
610.955.8115

 Held at the beautiful Four Seasons in Philadelphia, Danielle crafted her dream wedding of vintage style in a modern urban setting (such a creative bride!).  From the beginning, it was obvious that Danielle and Brady were both blessed with wonderfully caring families, with many family members attending the plethora of wedding meetings from event design at Evantine to wine tasting at the Four Seasons. 

On the morning of the wedding, Karen Pecora Events arrived at Danielle’s bridal suite to find a very tranquil atmosphere.  Danielle’s beautiful gown was resting on a special hanger, a present from Brady’s mom, with bride’s new name – “Mrs. Sieber” – scrolled in wire.  We also found out that Danielle’s cage veil was made by her sister!  The boys were just as calm, snacking on mini Philly cheesesteaks and trying to figure out how to iron their shirts (they called in reinforcements – their moms!)

Before the ceremony, Danielle and Brady decided to do a “first look” photo shoot in the outdoor courtyard, captured by Amie Schroeder Photography.  We conducted a quick “reaction rehearsal” helping Brady practice NOT turning around until Danielle tapped him on the shoulder.   He looked speechless upon first glance at his soon-to-be bride.

The bridal party was then shuffled off via trolley provided by Philadelphia Trolley Works to the bride’s parents’ stunning penthouse home in Rittenhouse Square for pictures on the family’s balcony.  Then the bridal party traversed the square for more pictures amidst the many people telling Danielle how beautiful she looked.  As the photographer stole away the happy couple to grab a few frames of them alone, the rest of the bridal party found a parked ice cream truck and quickly took advantage of the down time with milkshakes and ice cream sandwiches.

Back at the hotel, a power team of wedding professionals including Evantine Design, and CTO Tribeca were putting the finishing touches on the wedding, including a program table covered in old birdcages, wheatgrass, and classic novels.  The pink and yellow programs were created by Diane Schaffer.

The outdoor ceremony was held in the round under a chuppah of weeping greenery and roses by both a cantor and reverend, with the couple’s pup serving as the ring bearer!

Brady waited patiently as Danielle glided down the aisle- “I was so nervous before the ceremony.  Not because I was afraid to get married, (technically, we were already married since we had signed the Ketubah 30 minutes earlier) but because I had never been to a wedding before and I didn’t know what to expect,” says Brady.

Immediately after the “I do’s”, the celebration began with vintage-themed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails – with names like “l’amour” made from cotton candy vodka – on the outdoor patio.

There was also an old-school-themed candy table with treats from blue rock candy to circus peanuts.

The party soon moved inside, set to the musical stylings of the band Tribeca.  The newlyweds were honored with touching speeches from their parents and siblings, followed by a special musical performance by the bride herself to her new hubby – she played the guitar AND sang by herself on stage!!  It was quite obvious that these two are head over heels for each other and have a long, exciting road ahead of them.

The entire event went beautifully, graced by a little bit of good luck rain in the morning, followed by a sunny ceremony and celebration late into the night.  As wedding season begins to turn into the holiday season, and outdoor nuptials are replaced by layers of snow, this wedding gave us a wonderful last hoorah! this summer and a wonderful new beginning for Danielle and Brady.

Congratulations you two!  Thank you for letting us be a part of your magical day <3

Jillian Stahl
610.955.8115

We love change! And at Karen Pecora Events- things change on a regular basis. So it was no surprise that Karen had conjured up a pretty sweet idea for a new marketing campaign for our “Kid’s Party” division! (See our ad below)

We would do a casting call for really cute kids on Facebook to be in a photo shoot for us. Our e-mail inbox was flooded with inquiries and photos.

Gary Nevitt Jr. was our fabulous photographer, and was really great with the kids.

Having 27 kids ranging in ages from 2-13 was quite a challenge that the team at Karen Pecora Events was willing to take, and photographing them would pose only a slight obstacle for Gary!

It was Karen’s idea to have all of the kids in a bright red t-shirt with “My Mom’s friend is the Best Party Planner on the Main Line” while jumping up and down, holding balloons and wearing party hats. It was a great idea in our head- and it was executed as best as it could be done with 27 kids! Thank you to the parents and the kids for your cooperation! We loved every minute of it- it totally fits in with our crazy work style.

It was quite the site to see outside of Main Line Art Center- where an hour after our photo shoot, a couple hundred parents with their children would walk through the doors to Main Line Parent Magazine’s “Ultimate Birthday Bash”! This was just the event that every kid needed to be at. There were an array of different industry professionals that you could have at your child’s birthday party- everything from a kid’s ZUMBA class to scientific experiments! And of course what is an “Ultimate” Birthday Bash without tons and tons of cake! Every kid’s dream of eating nothing but sugar. Bredenbeck’s, Alison’s cups & cakes, Splendora Cake & Tea Company, Smidgen’s Bakeshop and Kathy’s Just Desserts created over the top birthday cakes with mini cupcakes to taste test.

The event was “ultimately” a huge success as well as our photo shoot.  Check out our newest ad for our kid’s party division! And be sure to look for whats happening next on the Main Line from Main Line Parent Magazine.

Have a Stellar Day!

Kassie

610.955.8115

If I got married again this is totally what I would carry… it’s fun and crazy and anything but ordinary!  It features Phalaenopsis and mokara orchids in a color that I personally LOVE!!!

I know Kassie loves purple and her wedding will most likely be purple but I love this bouquet for her!  I love the acacia, craspedia, ranunculus, tulips, balsa wood and bamboo curls.

I love green bouquets up against a white or Ivory dress.  This one is from Precious Petals.

I love this fun colorful bouquet from an industry friend, Melissa Brannon, Uncommon Events.  This to me is summer fun at it’s best!

Now let’s get a bit real.. Most brides want to carry elegance in white and ivory.  This beautiful bouquet was created by Evantine Design and features stephanotis, Roses, Lily of the valley and Dendrobium orchids in a classic creamy confection!

No matter what your style… your bouquet should be something that you love.  To me it is just as important as the dress you wear, the food you serve and the song you dedicate to the man you love the most!  Call me – I’d love to chat about what makes “YOU” who you are!  610-955-8115!!

Enjoy!
XOXO
Karen
Karen Pecora Events

As my multiple personalities were fighting amongst themselves on if I wanted an all white bouquet with some color or a bouquet that is as wild/retro as my personality- I realized I think I would be happy with just about anything- as long as it had some variation the the  flowers below!

Here are my favorite bouquets and Kevin (my fiance’s favorite as well!)

This is my ALL TIME FAVE!! I Love this! It’s so elegant and fun! The black center anemone’s really make this white bouquet pop! Sweet pea is a fabulous fragrant flower that is also nestled in this bouquet as well as lily of the valley! It is not to obnoxiously big and is just perfect enough for that bride to be that wants a bit of flare in her bouquet.  Depending on your style this bouquet is perfect for any style of wedding.  If you are looking to save some pennies: it is key to make sure you know when your favorite flowers are in season so you aren’t paying an arm and a leg.  Anemone’s are in season October through May but they peak in spring.

Beautiful yet retro- is very fitting for this creation! Perfect for a holiday wedding.  You have your standard red roses but you also have the flare of the green cymbidiums, red dahlia’s, and raspberry calla lilies.  Calla lilies are one of the most widely used flower in wedding bouquets and in centerpieces.  They are in season all year but there peak season is late winter to late spring.  They have no smell but are exquisite flowers.  The rectangular gem is a special touch.  Previously, before I started working with Karen- I was working in a floral shop in Reading, PA.  If you have a piece of your mother or grandmother’s jewelry why not add it to your bridal bouquet.   I remember there was one bride who had her grandmother’s crystal rosary that we draped throughout the bouquet.  It was absolutely stunning!  This is such a great option to have.

Meet simply elegant!  This gives your bouquet just a pop of color like the anemone in the first picture.  These are picasso calla lilies.  Like I mentioned above calla lilies are widely used and are just a great romantic flower to use for any type of wedding.  It has so many different looks that it can accommodate any theme/wedding.

Who doesn’t LOVE a vibrant autumn bouquet?  This may seem like a “Here Comes the Bouquet” moment instead of “Here Comes the Bride…” But how fabulous are these colors for fall? Complete with roses, crab apples and plum calla lilies (can you see how much we love calla lilies?) The plum and caramel ribbon with gold pin accents- is simply beautiful for the festive autumn season!

If you do have a little extra to splurge on your bouquet, pins and crystals are great accents to have that extra bling.  A little bit goes a long way.  If you are also wondering what type of boutonniere your groom should wear- some flowers come in miniatures and will look great with your bouquet.  It was so hard to pick just three favorites so you got my four faves!  I know I did promise Kevin’s favorite as well- which was the first bouquet with the anemones, sweet peas and lily of the valley.

Check out Karen’s favorites next week!  We love using Daily Candy, most of these bouquets came from there! There are at least 80 to choose from! Good Luck deciding which are your top 3!

Kassie Budzinski

610.955.8115

The first one I like is a Red, White and Green bouquet.  This bouquet has dahlias, tulips, ranunculus, maidenhair-fern, nerines, scabiosa and viburnum foliage.  I like it because it is not too big such as a cascading bouquet, but still colorful. It has the spring/summer feel which gives hope and new beginnings. This bouquet symbolizes the new journey of life, getting married and creating a future together. It is a very exciting and happy moment.

It can be for a fall or summer wedding and absolutely perfect for an outdoor wedding…A wedding which is fun and exciting!

The second one I like is Harvest Bridal Bouquet.

It has ranunculus, calla lilies, hypericum, wild grasses in harvest hues.  This bouquet gives me the feeling of a relaxing atmosphere, just like the feeling of fall.  A warm scent such as pumpkin or apples in your kitchen.  Although it is comfortable and relaxing, it is still beautiful and romantic.  The pink accent color in the bouquet makes it more feminine.

It will be perfect for fall wedding just because of the color or a spring wedding (with the accent of pink). I think it also fits into a wedding budget which is simple, but adds the “WoW” factor.

The third picture is Purple Silk Rose Nosegay.

It includes rich purple roses and delicate white baby’s breath.  The rich purple catches my eye.  It is simple but elegant.  It will be perfect fit in any elegant wedding ceremony. It can fit the winter season as well as the spring season.  The wedding will have a deep/rich color scheme which gives the sense of royalty, but add in some crystals- and that gives you a completely different feel of being in an upscale wedding. It would be a great fit for a wedding that is at a mansion.

What do you think about my three favorite bouquets? I think they are all beautiful.  I can see myself holding one of them in the future. Don’t forget to come back over the next two weeks to check out Kassie and Karen’s favorite ones too.

LaiSze (Ada) Tang

610.955.8115