Category: Other

Sweet 16 Backyard COVID Style

This week I was consumed with making a sweet 16 party for my daughter Emerson while keeping it COVID style with a small group of 16 year old girls for 2 hours. First, mission was accomplished. We opted for a sundae  party and watching Sixteen Candles outside (which BTW is a smidge racy according to 2020 guidelines). One would have thought there was 500 girls in our back yard from their voices. It was refreshing to hear the laughter. Our next task will be getting a drivers license:)

To customize the party for Emerson, I supplemented decor items I own with the glory of Amazon (yes, I do own the gold sequin linens and use them ALOT). I mixed crystal bowls with paper ice cream containers and plastic rose gold spoons. Yes, you can do this. We blew up 144 balloons for a balloon swag (yes, balloon decorators, you have job security) and made tissue paper flowers for center pieces. Since my kids have a significant amount of time on their hands, their labor was appreciated.

In addition, I taught myself how to do a video montage (no worries videographers, you have job security too). Although it was a bit rough, it will be a task I will work on as the it was great to see all the (what she deemed) embarrassing photos in one place and I am ahead of the ball for graduation in two years.

To me, the most important thing at an event is to make sure it is customized to the guest of honor. You might be surprised what you own already and with a little help from amazon, you can throw a memorable party!

P.S. Emerson still lets us take her photo. Emerson (blonde on the left- yes, I have a blonde hair blue eyed daughter:)) with her two besties she has known since she was an infant (and she is the last one to get a license:))

Happy Platinum-Versary

Happy 17th Anniversary Tiffany (Robinson) + Brandon Boggs on July 26 (2003). I still have the sweetest thank you note from Tiffany and Brandon and it reads: 

Dear Amy,
Thank you so much for all your help in planning our wedding! I on’t know what we would have done without all of your advice and planning expertise. My father told me that our wedding was more organized than the Battle of Hastings (why the Battle of Hastings and not the Invasion of Normandy or some other battle I don’t know) and that is in large part due to you. Thank you!
We had such and amazing time at our wedding and I can honestly say that we wouldn’t have changed one thing. The unexpected rain storm  we actually loved. The Chinese umbrellas we thought would be used for shade, instead they kept people dry. 
Thank you for taking the time to work with us!

I appreciate the kind words as well as the humor from her dad. Mostly because as a planner, you do feel like you are creating war plan to execute. 

Happy 17th to Tiffany + Brandon! and ironically, it is supposed to rain on the 26th. If it does, it is because of Tiffany + Brandon:)

And the Royal Wedding Photos are RELEASED!

Compliments of PEOPLE Magazine! and of course, my thoughts:)

I absolutely LOVE when old traditions are brought into an event. I am swooning over the florals and the fact that Princess Beatrice wore the same tiara her grandmother wore at her wedding as well as an altered gown. STUNNING!!! Hopefully some more will be sent out:)

(From People Magazine) One day after the couple pulled off their surprise royal wedding, Beatrice and Edoardo shared a romantic glimpse of their flower-filled day in two new photos.

One photo shows the bride and groom exiting All Saint’s Chapel in Windsor Great Park, a short drive from Windsor Castle. Beatrice, 31, wore two extraordinary pieces on loan from the closet of her 94-year-old grandmother, Queen Elizabeth: a vintage ivory Peau de Soie taffeta dress by Norman Hartnell — the designer who famously crafted Elizabeth’s own WWII-era wedding gown — and the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara, which was worn by the Queen on her 1947 wedding day to Prince Philip, 99.

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The historic tiara “is arguably the most sentimental [piece] lent from the Queen yet, for a very special reason,” a source tells PEOPLE. “The Queen saved this grand tiara specifically for Beatrice. It was always reserved for her as they are exceptionally close.”

Beatrice carried a bouquet of trailing jasmine, pale pink and cream sweet peas, royal porcelain ivory spray roses, pink o’hara garden roses, pink wax flower and baby pink astible. In keeping with royal tradition, sprigs of myrtle were included in the bouquet. The bouquet was made by Patrice Van Helden, co-owner of RVH Floral Design. Also keeping with royal tradition, the bride’s bouquet has now been placed on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.

“The wedding was incredibly romantic, with a pastel summer garden theme,” says the source.

Beatrice’s ring was designed by U.K. jeweler Shaun Leane and Mapelli Mozzi’s is a vintage gold band designed by Josh Collins.

The bride’s dress, which was trimmed with ivory Duchess satin and encrusted with diamanté, was remodeled and fitted by the Queen’s trusted dressmakers, Angela Kelly and Stewart Parvin. With its organza sleeves, the gown echoed the one worn by Beatrice’s mother, Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson, at her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew. (Both brides also share the same fiery red hair!)

Cheers to the happy couple!