Will you marry me?

"Will you marry me?"

Those were the words on my good friend Nicole's cake (from http://www.margaretsfrenchbakery.com/) for her surprise 30th birthday party. I guess she had two surprises!

Nicole is not only a wonderful friend, but a collegue, as my lead assistant for Nicole D'Ambra Wedding Consulting she serves as part of the backbone of our company. Another amazing friend, whom I met through Nicole, is Melissa, Melissa is a dear sweet person, and also, one of my assitants, I couldn't do what I do without them! Nicole's birthday is on Christmas, and this year she turned 30! (sorry Nicole, the cat is out of the bag) So Melissa and I thought it would be nice to throw her a surprise 30th birthday party. We contacted her boyfriend (now fiancee!) Lee, and we told him our idea. Lee also had been wanting to plan a surprise 30th birthday party for her, so we joined forces! For about 3 months the three of us planned and planned. Nicole had no idea what was going on! It was so hard to not tell her! The catch is, Melissa and I had no idea about the proposal!!! We did make a guess that it might happen based on a few things Lee had said to us through e-mail...("i have something being custom made for her", "i'll take care of the cake")...

Well, to make a long story short, we planned a funky and hip surprise 30th birthday party for Nicole at Nola's in Palo Alto http://www.nolas.com/ (a Mardi Gra themed restaurant). This all made a lot of sense to us since Nicole is a native of New Orleans. Melissa and I chose Popcorn Pink linens for the tables, Topaz Iris napkins, and Organza Wisteria for a runner (all linens from http://www.classicpartyrentals.com/ thanks Mindy!). The napkins were folded into triangles (loved it) and Melissa found authentic Mardi Gra masks, black, white, and blue for the boys, purple, red and pink for the girls, they were magnificent! Marivic of Marizette Paperie http://www.marizette.com/ made the most beautiful hand crafted custom menu/placecards for each place setting, each had a little metal Mardi Gra mask on it and feathers coming out the top! Melissa and I found cracked glass vases in silver glass for the centerpieces, we used three different heights and alternated them down the middle of the table. They were filled with monocromatic purple arrangements fashioned my mwa, they included blooms of Purple Misty Emille, Purple Fancy Carnation, Tree Fern Tented Silver, Extra Fancy Purple Roses, and Redish/Purplish Hanging Amaranthus. We also had found little silver tealight candles with glitter votives inside, they were the perfect finishing touch! Melissa made the most spectacular and spikey little pink and purple cup cakes (hey, we may be in the biz, but we still love good boxed cake!) with sprinkles on top=) She bought a cute little stand, and situated them lovingly on a table covered in Dazzle Purple linen. Since Nicole loves photos, we figured a polaroid guest book in lavender would fit the bill (from http://www.adessoalbums.com/) throughout the night we made sure each guest took a photo, slipped it into the guest book, and signed their birthday wishes to Nicole in the book=) What a keepsake! The table with the lavender guest book on it was covered in Lavish Silver linen. We also had enough Popcorn Pink Linen to cover an extra table for purses, and favors, and such that guests didn't want at their seat with them during dinner.

The food was amazing! We started with appetizers such as Crispy Calamari & Delta Blue Lakes, N.O.La ‘Frites’, Chicken & Steak Satays, and Crawfish Andouille Dumplings. Next we got to choose from French Quarter Caesar or ‘7’ Steak and Crab Gumbo. Then our entree choices were Southern Style Fried Chicken, Spicy Seafood Jambalaya, Flier’s Famous Skirt Steak, and King Creole Salmon. Nola's staff rocked! I'm a vegan and they totally took care of me with a
Vegetarian Portobello Mushroom Tostada, minus the cheese pls. Yummy! Their service was outstanding! I really never knew Nola's rocked so much, but it really really did and do!

You might be wondering how we got Nicole to her own party without her knowing... Well, thank goodness she's also my assistant because I secured her to assist me on a fake wedding! That's right! We wrote up a fake timeline, site layout, the whole nine yards! She took it hook, line, and sinker! So, I picked her up that day like I normally do before a wedding, and I went over the timeline with her in the car on the way over like I normally do. Melissa called me from her cell phone a few times and I pretended she was the bride=) Nicole didn't suspect a thing! I even pretended that the Bride needed us to stop by Target and get more polaroid film, which we did to stall and give guests more time to get there=) While we were at Target, one of her friends who didn't know it was a SURPRISE party text messaged her "happy birthday girl! have fun tonight!", I wanted to DIE! I was like "Oh you know one time I got a text message a month later, and it made no sense! They probably sent it on your Birthday and it's just now sending." I felt sick...hehe.

We got to Nola's and needed to park, now, I know there is a parking garage right next door to it, but if we parked there we would've had to walk right by the window of the room for the party to get in, and I was afraid she'd see and it would spoil the surprise. So, I tried to find parking on the other side of the street, and didn't have any luck. Nicole being "helpful" told me "you know there is a parking garage right next to the restaurant?!" I was like "oh great! thanks! you're awesome...(i was freaking out inside)." We parked in the parking garage, and I called the "Bride" to tell her we were coming in very very soon. (My hubby Matt told me that he yelled out "Put on your masks people! She's comin' in!") I stood at the top of the garage with Nicole and before we walked by the room, I pointed at an art gallery and said "have you been to that art gallery before?" she said "no", then I had to think of something else, I said "have you been to that nail place before?" she said "no, why?" I said "oh they have great specials on Tuesdays, only $10 a mani pedi...bs...bs...bs..." We were at the door! I ran inside and hid, and she walked in after me, digital watch and clipboard in hand, her face dropped when she saw a room full of people in Mardi Gra masks yelling "SURPRISEEEE"!!!!

Well, long story short again, she LOVED her party! But it didn't end there! Melissa and I were still unsure of whether or not Lee was really going to propose, and it didn't seem like anyone else knew anything about it either. Until it was time for cake, Lee came up to me and said "c-c-can, you get everyone together? I'm going to go get the cake." I said "Sure!" and then grabbed Melissa by the arm and told her to help me. We got everyone situated around Nicole, and it was super quite, people were probably wondering why we had decided to gather everyone around her for the "cake" when they would have been fine in their seats, but they didn't know! Two guests even tried to leave early, and we stopped them "you CAN'T go" I said "I can't tell you why, but you CAN'T go!"



Lee came walking in the room with the "birthday cake" and we all started singing "Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you, Happy...." we stopped, all of us in the room noticed that the cake said "Will You Marry Me?" and on a pink pillow of frosting was a beautiful diamond engagement ring. We were all shocked and excited, but didn't make a peep. Nicole looked at the cake and said "Awww how cute", "wait a minute!" "will you..." "AHHHHHHHHHHHH" Nicole let out a scream that any girl should when being so surprised, she jumped up into Lee's arms and started crying, she was so happy, she then said "it's all too much, too much!" between crying tears of joy=) Lee got down on his knee and proposed to her, but she was in so much shock thank goodness we have photos, because she totally doesn't remember. We told her "you need to say yes!" and she did=) Lee slipped the ring on her finger and the rest will be history=)))

CONGRATULATIONS NICOLE AND LEE! LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!!!



Nothing makes me happier than making others happy, and to see these two together and in love is the best thing on earth!

*Check back later this year for photos of their wedding=)))



Love you guys,



Nicole

***Photos courtesy of Sam owner and photographer of http://www.fontejon.com/

Nicole is Invited to Speak in China!!!

Ok, so I'm not over the shock yet, but I have been invited by the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants to represent them at the 2008 China Wedding International Wedding Expo in Beijing China. In 2007 one of our members was invited to go and speak there to over 300 Brides and Grooms, wedding professionals, and others in the industry, this year they've invited us back again and I have the honor of going to speak to them!

Whewwww, I'm saying that a lot this year! I'm so honored to have been chosen, and I'm just super excited about this opportunity! We fly out February 27th, fly for a day and arrive on the 28th, then the show is on the 29th, and they are taking us sight seeing on the 1st, then we fly back and get home on the 2nd. My husband Matt is hoping to come along with me and keep me company, and we may stay a few extra days to visit things like the Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square (exciteddd)!

They have asked us to cover a wide variety of topics about weddings in the United States such as how marketing works for wedding professionals, how wedding professionals structure their services and pricing, and what the newest trends are in event design. We'll be speaking in front of 300+ people, they want us to prepare power point presentations and such to aid us in our speech, and they will provide us with a translator. I'm not nervous about the speaking in front of people, I do that all the time, I'm just really excited to share ideas with them!

If you are interested in learning more about the show you can see their web site at:

http://english.chinawedding.com.cn/

I promise to take tons of photos and video and blog about the trip afterwards. I can't wait to share what I learn there with you!

Much love,

Nicole

Nicole D'Ambra Wedding Consulting has been added to Best Wedding Blogs.com!!!

Exciting news!

Nicole D'Ambra Wedding Consulting has been added to http://www.bestweddingblogs.com/

Check it out!

Hugs,

Nicole

Design Design Design!

Hi All!

Whew, with the wedding season taking a nap, we've been fortunate enough to work on a few special projects. The first being the annual Holiday dinner for the General Managers of the Toll House Los Gatos. Adrienne from Adrienne Marie Weddings and Design and I planned a dinner around the theme Buon Natale! (Merry Christmas in Italian) Our plan was to design a table for a dinner of 20 guests. We used a King's table (or mock King's table made up of 4 8' tables butted up to one another). Next we dressed the table in rich and textured linen from Classic Party Rentals called Monaco Sienna, it played an important role in bringing a luxurious feel to the room. To add a special touch to the brown leather banquet chairs we tied each chair with a golden organza sash from Blanca Samano at A Touch of Elegance. We knotted each sash in the back of the chairs and used a gold pin to fasten little boutonnieres of golden tree fern to the backs, which had stems wrapped in burgundy satin ribbon. More sashes were used to tie off the curtains on the two sets of french doors leading into the room, we also used a gold pin to fasten little boutonnieres of golden tree fern to them as well. Sashes were also down the middle of the table as a runner (waste not!). On top of the runner we spead out italian ruscus we sprayed gold, as well as tree fern we sprayed gold. On top of the runner, golden italian ruscus and golden tree fern, we set square glass vases in three different heights down the middle staggered. Each different height vase had it's own type of arrangement. The shortest vases had broken glass bits we sprayed gold along the bottom of the vase, a little bear grass, golden tree fern submerged under water and poking out around it, and a burgundy dahlia floating atop. The medium height vases were filled with long alstroemeria flowers in a peachey tone with red dashes of color, along the bottom was also a dash of broken glass sprayed golden. The tallest of the vases held red ilex berry stems, also with a touch of broken glass sprayed golden along the bottom of the vase. To bring the table's sparkle and charm to life we used small square glass candle holders wrapped in gold hole-punched foil in between all of the arrangements. Make sure when you are setting a table that your candles are close enough to the arrangements to bounce light off of them. After setting the middle of the table with our special arrangements and candles, we put down a golden charger at each place setting, and golden glass bread and butter plates. On top of each charger we set specialty napkins from Classic Party Rental in a deep burgundy called Topaz Burgundy. This set the scene to bring in a little color and warmth. Each napkin was pocket folded, and into each napkin we tucked a slender golden menu wrapped with a golden cord and mini burgundy tassle, which acted as the menu's belt. An Italian treat of soft and puffy almond cookies hand dipped in amaretto chocolate (by mwa!) were wrapped up in clear celophane and tied off with burgundy satin ribbon to match the ribbon on the boutonnieres which adorned the back of each guest chair. Two tables close by for wine service were also draped with specialty linens from Classic Party Rentals called Empress Gold, this is one of my favorite linens because it has a raised fuzzy flower patter on it=) I like to pet my linen! And of course we couldn't leave out putting two beautiful arrangements on the wine tables, both were a mix of all of our floral materials, and around each we put golden pine cones and more candles. After we helped set the glassware and flatware we were done! Rumor has it that the General Managers were ultra impressed with their golden holiday setting! We hope to do this project again next year!

Ciao!!!

Nicole

Introducing Tanja Lippert Photography!

Dear Brides and Grooms, Wedding Professionals, Friends, and Family,

I'd like to introduce you to Tanja Lippert Photography, Nicole D'Ambra Wedding Consulting's Featured Wedding Professional of the Month for January, 2008!

As a Wedding Consultant it is my job to seek out and refer only the best of the best in wedding professionals to my Brides and Grooms, and Tanja fits the bill! The first time I saw Tanja's work I was drawn into the romantic, rustic, lovely feel of it all. She has an eye for fashion as a past model, and in my opinion she can make anyone look their very best! Tanja is also one of the friendliest and sweetest people I know, she would definitely be someone I'd want around me all day on my Wedding day to help me relax, smile, and enjoy the moments before they pass by.

Here are some awesome slideshows of her work:
http://www.tanjalippertphotography.com/ashley.html (one of my sweet couples!)

http://www.tanjalippertphotography.com/tori.html

http://www.tanjalippertphotography.com/tinaandchris.html

http://www.tanjalippertphotography.com/carrieanddave.html

If you'd like to meet with her for a complimentary initial consultation at her Los Gatos office, please feel free to contact her at:

408-348-4938
tanja@tanjalippertphotography.com
www.tanjalippertphotography.com

Warmest Regards, Happy Planning!

Nicole