blog

Not Your Average Cocktail

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:54:32 +0100

Summer is right around the corner, which means more weekends spent at the beach, more activities outdoors and more entertaining. Our belief at Amy Kimball Events is that you can transform any standard household item into something spectacular just given a bit of inspiration and effort. If you plan on entertaining in the city or the country, there are simple ways to make an evening stand out. A fruit that’s considered essential to summer is watermelon and chances are you’ll have that on hand. Why not create a watermelon, arugula and feta appetizer? Use items you typically carry in your fridge to entertain to ensure you’ll use these items once the party is over. This, too, applies to alcohol. It’s always good for a host to have both red and white wine, champagne and a variety of liquor on hand when entertaining. Take one of these standard alcoholic beverages and transform them into your guest’s new favorite drink. These specialty drinks end up being a talking point between old friends, new friends, business associates and family. People will also remember the unique drinks at your event and will try to recreate them on your own. No matter what your drink of choice is, here are a few ideas of how to put a fresh twist on a classic cocktail.

{Bing Cherry Mojitos}

{Smoretini via How Sweet It Is}

{Champagne Punch}

{Watermelon Lemonade}

{Pomtini}

Have any suggestions for summer cocktails? Let us know! Bottoms up!

Entertaining this Mother's Day.

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:36:17 +0100

As planners, one of our specialities is paying close attention to detail. This tool is essential for success in this business, but often times we don't realize how important it is in our everyday lives. One of our biggest passions here at Amy Kimball Events is to transform an ordinary space into something spectacular, including homes! Use holidays to experiment dressing up your home and then implement what you liked moving forward. Lucky for us there's one right around the corner: Mother's Day! Here are just a few simple and inexpensive ways to pay attention to detail in your own home (and mom) this holiday.

{Image via Real Simple}

Create a floral centerpiece - This weekend use your mother's favorite flowers as the focal point of the dining table for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner!

{Image via Martha Stewart}

Cut out hanging paper flowers - Perfect for an outdoor brunch, these flowers can be made with just a few snips! Use your mother's favorite colors to make a creative, colorful and enchanting atmosphere.

{Image via Martha Stewart}

Design monogram decorations - Trace and cut out your mother's initials to use as a part of a napkin ring or place card. This will take only a mere five minutes and is a thoughtful way to make your guests feel welcome.

{Image via Martha Stewart}

Make sophisticated streamers - No, streamers are not just for kid's birthday parties anymore. These streamers cut into circles and made with metallic paper are a sophisticated way to draw attention to particular furniture, bar or food station created in your own house! To bring out the metallics in the paper, use silver or gold votives to add a bit of light.

How will you pay attention to detail this weekend? We would to hear from you! Happy Mother's Day to all!

The Written Card Revival

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:39:57 +0100

The handwritten note or card has become somewhat of a lost art. Nowadays, we can always call, text, email, Skype, iMessage, BBM or Face Time, but it's rare to receive a handwritten card. Here, at Amy Kimball Events, we want to start "The Written Card Revival." And what better way to bring these back than Mother's Day, which is just around the corner. Whether you're contemplating to buy or make something for your mother or important women in your life, a handwritten note will always put a smile on her face. Sure, you can always purchase one at Hallmark or Target, but why not go the extra step and create a card yourself. Not only does it show your personality, but will also show your time and effort. After all, it's always the thought that counts. Here are just a few ideas for you to help bring out your creative side!

The Peakaboo Card

The Cutout Card

The Every Occasion Glitter & Stamp Card

The Family Tree Card

Why not make your own bouquet to go along with your handmade card?

The DIY Bouquet

A handmade card can be sentimental, funny, nostalgic, sweet, but above all thoughtful. If these ideas have inspired you to make your own Mother's Day card, be sure to show us your final products! We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Get Inspired!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:33:01 +0100

Being inspired is a beautiful thing and also a fun part of this business! As designers, we need to be surrounded by that inspiration on a daily basis to get ideas for new projects, new jobs and new clients. While everyone draws inspiration from and for an abundance of reasons, here are just a few tips to keep you on your toes:

1. Work hard, but know when it's time for a break. We all love going 90 miles per hour, but sometimes this hinders us from really seeing what's in front of us. It's easy to look, but to really see we must remember to slow it down. Remind yourself that at some point you need recharge to get that inspiration and then apply what you did when you recharged when you go to work.

2. Keep an open mind. It's much easier to be inspired when you believe anything is possible.

3. Look up. In Boston, we all walk the same streets, drink the same coffee and read the same headlines in the Globe. We walk by so much culture, history and character every day, but we never look up. Buildings, monuments and lights all appear different when we glance upwards. It gives old memories new light. We can find small details every day that we never noticed before. Use these details, build upon them and grow.

4. Connect and surround. Each city has its own personality and so do each of us. We must, like any other relationship, have chemistry with our surroundings. No matter what city you live in or where you travel to, connect with what's around you. Whether it's the ambitious streets of New York or the rolling hills of French countryside, use those landscapes to inspire you. When you're in these places, whether it's your every day life or a vacation, surround yourself with people that provoke thought, emotion and love. It's these people that often give us the most inspiration without us even knowing.

5. Be the inspiration. Embrace the idea of being a student of life and never stop learning. Use this knowledge to simply be better - a better employee, a better mom, a better daughter, a better person. There's always room for growth and therefore so much success ahead. We can't wait to see where it takes you.

From the Runway to You.

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:35:44 +0100

Investing in classic pieces for your home is always a smart financial investment. Like your wardrobe, your home can be a mix of highs and lows - designers, that is. You can take an expensive piece of furniture and pair it with an inexpensive and trendy area rug. The same thing goes for your wardrobe and for your wedding day. Fashions are cyclical; although something may be a trend now, it will be out of fashion as soon something new comes around the next year. Here are a few fun trends we're seeing on the runway that can be translated nicely to your home or event. Take a look!

Colorblocking

Photo via Martha Stewart

This trend has been prevalent on the runway, in magazines, on fashion blogs and in stores around the country. It's easy to follow and is fun because you get to play with different color palettes. Almost anything goes with this trend (as long as you don't use primary colors together!). For those of us afraid of wearing color, this is a perfect way to test the trend out before you put it on your body. It's also unexpected. There is always the obvious choice when it comes to designing, but dare to be different. Try using different colored plates or mix and matching chairs for dining (as depicted above). Check out a few more ideas from Martha Stewart here.

Statement necklaces

Photo via Style Me Pretty

Another trend that seems as though it is here to stay is the statement necklace. A great way to spice up an otherwise plain outfit, the statement necklace is an inexpensive way to make an outfit your own. Although we see this a lot on the runway, we also see it on our brides. Style Me Pretty shows us how to make one on your own for your special day.

Pop of Color

Pops of color are everywhere and we can't get enough! In the photo depicted above, our beautiful bride, Kaki used her floral arrangement to add a dash of color and our handsome groom paired his tux with a pair of bright red socks. Fun, full of personality and fashion forward - what more could you ask for?

Which trends are you eager to try at home or in your event? Let us know!

What does your escort card table say about you?

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:16:31 +0100

Earlier we talked about how invitations or save the date cards are often the first thing your guest visually receives for your event. The escort card table is one of the first things guests see when they enter a wedding reception and therefore must make a statement about the couple's personality and the event itself. Here are just a few different ways to approach putting together the perfect table.

Backyard Bash - using a clothespin and writing your guests names in penmanship is a rustic way to tie your event together. Use a colored patterned ribbon for a splash of color and create a shape for your choice in the paper for a little quirky fun.

Favorite features - have something in common with your significant other that you want to incorporate into your wedding? In this photo, for instance, a couple shared a love for the art of wine and wine making and chose to incorporate this passion into their escort card table. Incorporating little personality traits like this into your event goes a long way with not just clients, but their guests as well. It gives everyone a little insight into the beautiful matrimony that is being made.

Feminine Fete - white is always a great foundation to start with for your wedding. Not only is it traditional, feminine and classic, but it also provides a nice landscape to build lighting on. There's no limit to what lighting can do with a simple color like white as it's backdrop. If you do choose white as your color centerpiece, don't forget to add some texture to make it pop as seen in the photo above.

Glamourous Ground - there's making an entrance and then there's making an entrance. We always strive for the latter and this escort card table sums it all up. A sophisticated, chic, over-the-top luxurious first reception impression, this escort card table has sequins, crystals, touches of pink and romantic lighting. Without a doubt, this presentation is inviting and something guests will remember from your event.

{Photo via Lily Spruce}

Thinking of a more laid-back event? You can choose not to have an escort card table and use a chalk board instead. Perfect for a wedding in a backyard, estate or barn, using a chalk board and listing your guests names and their table numbers can ignite conversation. Guests see their sitting with friends or new acquaintances and it sparks dialogue.

Whatever your taste may be, let your escort card table speak for you. Have fun with designing it. You may be surprised to see what it has to say.

All photography is by Person & Killian unless otherwise noted.

Three Things We're Loving This Week

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:43:02 +0100

Another holiday weekend is upon us - a time to be with family members, give thanks and entertain guests. It's also a time for all of us to recharge without our beloved Blackberry, iPad or laptop! There's no better time to recharge than with friends and family around the holidays. Tradition plays such a big role during the holidays and this allows us to reflect back and see how far we've come throughout the years. This weekend, we challenge you to completely recharge and celebrate your life with the people in it! In addition to the excitement of Easter and Passover coming up, here are three things we are loving this week (and hope you are too)!

Image via Martha Stewart

1. The ever-so-crafty folks at Martha Stewart always bring some quick, easy and fun recipe and decoration ideas for the holidays. Candy nests, marbleized eggs, eggshell votives among others are featured here. Plus, many of these items can be created with a lot of household items. No muss, no fuss, these decorations for Easter and recipes for Passover are sure to win over even your pickiest guests.

Image via Country Living

2. Spring is in the air and nothing says spring quite like flowers blooming. Inspired by bright colors and flowers, Country Living has a few crafty ideas to get you in the mood for spring. Floral lampshades, DIY vases, rose napkin rings and flower cookies are just a few things to make your house, condo or apartment spring-ready. Rustic, feminine and full of personality these simple crafts will brighten up any room.

Image via letstalkaboutwork.tv

3. There is no question Oprah is a huge part of American culture and a large influence of women in the media. Always inspirational, selfless and wise, she is an ideal role model for women in business everywhere. Remember to be thankful for what you have each and every day. If you want a different life, all you need to do is change the way you look at it.

From all of us here at Amy Kimball Events, have a wonderful weekend a very happy holiday!

Stationery Overload

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:04:01 +0100

You only get one chance to make a first impression. An expression many of us have heard before. Save the dates or invitations are the first concrete thing your guests will receive for your event and therefore it should visually do the following:

1. Spark intrigue

2. Be short, sweet and to the detailed point.

3. Immediately prompt you to put the date in your iCal.

4. Overwhelm you with excitement. (this is a little out of our control)

Stationery, like the decor of your event, should be appropriate for the occasion and reflect your taste. For instance, if you’re thinking of having a more rustic wedding then you may want to try a chunkier font or even a funky cursive. You may also want a bit of texture instead of the standard card stock. If you’re having a traditionally formal wedding, you may want to stick to script and card stock. Whatever your desire or taste may be, there are always a number of options.

Save the dates, invitations, escort cards, place cards, menu cards, programs and any other signs you may need to direct your guest all require thought and a touch of personality. Without speaking, it gives you the chance to express yourself in a creative manner. Here are just a few of our favorite examples...

All photography by Person and Killian unless otherwise noted.

Three Things We're Loving This Week

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:12:28 +0100

Boston continues to pretend like it's Los Angeles with sunshine and 70 degree temperatures and we couldn't be happier. The power the sun has to affect our moods is quite spectacular, but that's not the only thing keeping us smiling this week. In addition to the weather, here are three things that are currently inspiring us.

It should come as no surprise that as wedding planners we are constantly inspired by the women we work with. This incredibly fabulous jacket by Reiss was worn by our very own bride, Caroline, tossed over her shoulders when taking photos outside. The light mauve feathered jacket was the perfect color and texture to compliment her white dress.

Photos by Person & Killian

A few days ago we talked about "the obvious choice" versus "the conversation starter" and this jacket is a wonderful example of the latter. All of Caroline's bridesmaids were in stunning black fur to match their dresses as well. How fabulous?

Entertaining for St. Patrick's Day, but don't have a menu? Looking to get in touch with your Irish roots in other ways besides drinking Guinness and wearing green? Martha Stewart gives you 30 ideas ranting from irish soda bread, corn beef, shamrock cookies and more! And if you're feeling crafty and want to put a personal touch on the holiday, check out these easy art projects. Here at Amy Kimball Events we believe it takes a little effort and a lot of heart to put some personal touches in your home for any given holiday, St. Patrick's Day included. It doesn't matter if you $5 to spend or $100; use already existing materials in your home that you may have forgotten about, those in storage and even those already existing in plain sight to create something new.

Image: DeBuzz

Last week, Apple unveiled "The New iPad" in San Francisco and we followed all of the live blogging for the event. It's going to be impossible to witness these new products and not think of Steve Jobs' legacy. It's truly incredible how one person has really shaped the world we live in. He was an extremely wise man and this quote is just one of our many favorites.

Follow your heart and intuition and forget the rest.

What's inspiring you this week? Tweet us or post on our Facebook wall and let us know!

The Art of Presentation

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:25:35 +0100

We’re not sure what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, but the weather in Boston has been quite delightful lately. We’ve traded thunderous winds for warm air and spiraling snow for shimmering sun. It’s nearly halfway through March and already we’re seeing signs of Spring. The next few months will bring outfits sans coats, outside gatherings, unconventional bubbly drinks and of course delicious seasonal foods.

As designers we’re always trying to figure out how to present food and drink in a fun, unique and conversational way. When it comes to Spring and Summer months, sometimes the best way to present your food and drink should be a reflection of our mood when those warm days and cool nights roll around - refreshed and relaxed.

Photography by The Blonde Tulip. Catering by The Catered Affair.

Now that we've officially made you hungry, try thinking outside of the box when it comes to food presentation whether it's at home, at the beach or at your next event. There is always an obvious choice, but choose the conversation starter.