Get that "Boom Boom Pow" at your next Event

There are a few things that every party or event must have to create that unforgettable, "feel good" "atmosphere" that you know is there but never actually thought too much about.. Planners, event production companies and event designers strategically plan the entire event around this one concept. If you don't have the right atmosphere, then your event may be a complete flop. I like to give a couple of examples to explain this idea.
Have you ever been to an event and felt "out of place" or just not in the mood to "party", well there is a reason for that. The concept is similar to when a club promoter will create a buzz for his club by forcing people to wait in line even if the club is empty, the more people outside in line waiting, the more people want in.. Once you are in the club if it's kind of empty and not shoulder to shoulder, you get that awkward out of place feeling. Suddenly the club starts to get packed and "Boom Boom Pow" it's a Party!! The same deejay was spinning the same music and yet now it seems like he's hit the nail the head.. Or, just imagine for a second what "Pirates of the Caribbean" or the "haunted house" would look like if the walls and ceilings were not blacked out and the lights were all on. That would be suckish, you might as well be shopping at the local supermarket.

Here are a few tips to Get that "Boom Boom Pow" at your next party or event.

Numero Uno. And most important of all. You must create an atmosphere. You accomplish this with atmospheric lighting (visual) great music (sound), great food (taste and smell). If it is an evening event and you do not have the budget to hire an event lighting specialist, dim the lights, use candles and dark out drapes and you can even purchase some inexpensive par-can up lighting from your local music store. You can also ask your deejay, chances are he will have some room up-lights.

Numero due. Make sure the space is not cluttered with unnecessary and distracting decor
The space should not be too large, when in doubt believe it or not, smaller is better. If the space is too large you lose the feeling of cohesiveness which is very important for a successful event.

Numero tre. Make sure the entertainment fits the event. Dance music wouldn't fit a luncheon and Sinatra wouldn't fit a high energy party. Don't hire entertainment jus for the sake of having it if you think people will be uninterested. Sometimes less is more.

Numero quattro. FOOD FOOD FOOD!! it should taste as good as it looks... think of ways to creatively display and serve the food.. If your party is during dinner, NO, You can't get away with serving light appetizers and dessert and cocktails... If you want to keep it light on the food, then time your event accordingly.
This should be a good start to put you on the right track...

Happy Partying!!!

Celebrate your mom on Mother's Day: Bella Notte Style....

Every Year, Mother's Day approaches and often I'm so caught up with LIFE that I almost miss the opportunity to Celebrate my mom on this special day... Sometimes It's a little overwhelming being an event planner because everyone has such high expectations for my parties.. Can I always have an over the top party? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! I can't afford that.. (My husband says I am really good with other people's money.. so true, something my fellow planners and designers can agree with..) Seriously, neither can you, so here are some tips on how to give your mom a day she will never forget without breaking the bank.. (I've posted some pictures of a mother's day brunch I gave my mom...)

1) Host a brunch in her honor with 5-10 (max) of her very close friends and loved ones. Ask her friends (prior to the brunch) to write a few words about what their friendships means to them or a moment they shared they will never forget or I remember when we first met.... If they are friends that go way back, have them write about something they learned from her when they were raising their kids together etc... You of course write something as well. Have them put it on nice scrap-booking paper that matches the color of the party for ex, my mom's brunch was red and white...
2) Get a corsage made for all the other mom's attending the brunch (your mom too of course) .. And pin them when they arrive at the party, they will LOVE this small token immensely.. Just because you are honoring your own mother and she is the guest of honor does not mean you can't honor your guests too.. Take a polaroid of them with your mom as they are being pinned. This picture will go in a scrapbook you will quickly throw together (during the brunch) along with their written memoir of your mom. This will take 15 mintues to make and you can present it to her along with her charm bracelett..
3) recite a poem and say a prayer as all the ladies have gotten their food and have sat down to eat. Thank her for a specific event in your life where you can't imagine not having her their for you.
4) Get a charm bracelet and pick charms that have meaning to your mom, for ex, a pink ribbon for breast cancer or a gondola if she loves Italy. Their are a few people that do this on-line. Present this to her after brunch along with her scrapbook.



Menu:
Green salad mixed with cranberries, walnuts, goat cheese or Blu cheese, balsamic dressing
Crepes Buffet Bar (home-made or pre-made) Set out various spreads, like Nutella chocolate, fresh fruit and whipped cream, jams, or eggs/bacon saute with shredded cheese..
Scones, cookies, cream puffs
coffee, and a mango/orange juice or pineapple/orange (you can buy this is the frozen section of any grocery store and it is sooo yummy...
croissant sandwich's

Decor: Have a color scheme, carry it thrrough.. With linens, napkins, chairs , chinese lanterns or parasols add an elegant touch and are inexpensive. Pick flowers from your garden. Make mini bouquets and tie with theme color matching ribbon and lay at the top of a narrow glass cylinder filled with water. Calla lillies work really well for this.

Favor: make a cd with a cover (www.myweddinglabels.com) of your mom's favorite songs and tuck in the napkin for all the guests. Pick a CD cover that matches the color scheme.

This can be applied for any occassion... anniversary, birthday, retirement, just because..

Good luck and if you just can't seem to do it, hire a party planner!!!

THE TRUE MEANING OF "PARTY"

I started planning parties for friends and family while still in college. I was just about to get a degree in Psychology, when a friend of the family said "Viv" you have to help me plan my wedding!! You are a natural at it... "hmmm" I thought to myself, "yeah and I love doing it"... So, I planned my very first wedding and I never looked back. I launched Bella Notte Events shortly after and have been planning all sorts of events since then... I guess you can say I never pursued a career in psychology, unless you consider all the "counseling sessions" I have had with my clients as they plan and approach their "Big Day", or my corporate clients when they stress about their budget.. Do you agree, that "having" a party or "going" to a party or event has to mean much more to us than it seems at the surface. If you think about it, EVERYONE on earth at some point in time and of course in their own way have attended a party, or given one. Why do you suppose they are so meaningful? Because.... people WILL celebrate!! It is part of our nature to want to be joyful and share our joys with family and friends.. This is why I decided to be a party planner, what an awesome job, to be able to be part of someone's biggest joy, their wedding, their first child, the end of an era, or..... do we really need a reason to have a party..
No, Life is reason enough....

I see parties as "mini productions" and the star is "YOU"! The Audience is your guests and the purpose is for you to have one night to be the "star" the "celebrity" of the night!! WE ALL deserve to be the center of attention every now and then and to be celebrated by our friends and family..
So, C'mon what are you waiting for , start celebrating YOUR LIFE!!!

MY FIRST POST!

Well, Here I am with my family. This was New Year's Eve! We had a relaxing dinner at our friend's house.. I am so VERY new to this blog, so it will take some getting used to!

This was a great way to kick off 2009!

"Party Diva" Viviana Salvia, Bella Notte Events gets the Shining Star Award