Amy's Toast

Brilliant and so clever. Made me cry...




With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

With such grace...

Here is a little picture to put a smile on your face. When the DJ called up all the single divas...he showed up too. Darn it, he had every right to!

Have a great rest of the week everyone.

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Life as a Reality TV Star

I wouldn't quite say I am a Star now (Mom would) but I did get the chance to shoot a reality TV episode recently called Party Mommas. The show is produced in Ontario, Canada and is featured on the WE channel and Slice. My show has aired in Canada thus far and is repeating several times on the network now. I am waiting to hear when it will air on the WE channel in the states.

Here is a few paragraphs explaining what the show is all about.

Party Mamas follows outgoing mothers as they plan over-the-top extravaganza parties for their children. Gone are the days of pin the tail on the donkey and pizza parties, now it’s time to super size these events.

Party Mamas is a jam-packed, nerve-filled, triple-latte-paced ride through the lives of outrageous and energetic mothers who pull out all the stops to throw “the best party ever for their little darlings.” This is a series where “too big” and “too much” are considered a plus.

In our case the show was focused on a Party Poppa named Brian. Brian is an enthusiastic
single father and has an adorable son named Spencer. With the help of Brian's daughter, Sophie, and his gracious parents we were able to put together a spectacular Bar Mitzvah for Spencer to remember forever.

The synopsis of our episode according to the producers goes a little something like this:

Party Dad Brian is throwing his son Spencer a Bar Mitzvah party that must be different from the rest. Spencer has a huge imagination and likes to dream...BIG! Spencer's demands for his party keep growing, and Brian along with event planner, Cicely, are doing their best to keep up. But with one disappointment after another, will Brian be able to deliver the most amazing party and make Spencer's dreams come true?

Brian, Spencer, Sophie, Grandma & Grandpa had personalities that shined like the top of the Chrysler building. (Remember Annie speaking to Mrs. Hanagan?...me being more dramatic).
It was an adventure working with the family to plan this party for Spencer then to hear the news that we were going to be on a reality show was just the icing on the cake.

Now that I have experienced first hand what it is like to be on a reality TV show and being a fan of that style of tv myself, I have a completely different take and appreciation for the casts and the "true" experiences.

We shot the whole episode in about 6 days which included endless hours of filming, and setting up of scenarios. Everything was completely laid out and almost scripted but overall we did get the opporunity to let our personalities pop.

I saw the episode for the first time a few days ago and was pretty pleased with the overall outcome. It's a bit cheesy and has some expected over-acting (to be expected as I was voted, "Most likely to be on Broadway" in high school). Brian's "character" was hilarious and Spencer was so cute as after each segment he apologized for acting so demanding...such a sweet heart.

Here are a few pictures from the days of shooting and I will post some of the actual event when the photographer releases them to me.

First day of shooting started at Encore Creative. I introduced Spencer to the Fog Wall at Encore Creative. This picture is of Spencer giving his side interview.

David, the Director, was such a hoot. He had a hidden gift of being able to play ANY song by ear on the piano. We played "Stomp the Director" within minutes of meeting. He was a gem.

Here is a shot one of the camera men that looked like an young Steve Martin and our director David getting set up for our final interviews.

My final interview recapping the events of what had "happened" thus far.

Party Poppa, Brian giving his final interview. He is such a character. I believe a TV network should produce a show about him and his humorous family. Ratings would go through the roof. Guaranteed.

Overall, the experiance was wonderful. The crew, producers, Brain and his family, all the vendors involved and my staff were all onboard for the ride and boy it was one.

I do have a copy of the show so if you want to see it you have to buy me dinner. Believe me, it's worth watching. he he he

With all the Life has to offer...Your local reality TV superstar,

Cicely

Life IS Good

Apparently, people are so impressed by our services that they are advertising us proudly on their tire covers. It's true! Life Design Event Planning IS good!

Things That You "Don't" Want to Happen at Your Wedding

No open flames near flowers
No diving into pools
No dancing on tables
No heavy drinking the night before



Some of the most funny, but horrific things happen at weddings. Just hope that none of these happen on your big day!

But Are Your Shoes Autographed?

I have an amazing client that loves every aspect of planning her wedding even down to picking out the right pair of shoes to be worn on her special day. Pink is her favorite color and we are incorporating it into the design of her wedding in all aspects possible with great chicness and maturity. She wrote me this morning the cutesiest story that I just had to share with my readers. It oozes of her enthusiastic personality and an ever so loving and just as fun fiancé.

Cicely:

Okay, so you remember the amazing hot pink Christian Louboutin wedding shoes that I bought for the wedding? Well, Ryan and I were trying to decide what to do today, and I was like, "Let's go to the mall!" He was cool with that, as he always is, and when we walked into Neiman's, we saw this line of ladies in the shoe department, with a photographer at the head of the line. We walked over, and I looked down at their shoes - they were all wearing Louboutins! I love his shoes (the black ones of mine that you like are his as well), so I notice when people have them on, and I rarely see them out. A salesman came over and asked if he could help us, and I said, "Is there an event going on? Why are all of these ladies wearing Louboutins?" He says (GET THIS!), "He's here! Louboutin is here!" I kid you not, I grabbed his arm, and said, "NO." He said, "Yes! He's signing his shoes!"

Long story short, Ryan and I flew back home and grabbed the wedding shoes. They have now been signed: "For the big day C Louboutin"!!! :) :) :) He told me not to get pregnant before the wedding, or my feet would swell and the shoes wouldn't fit. :)

SO EXCITED!! And would you believe that the couple behind us was also having the bride's wedding shoes signed?? - Heather

Heather, love your stories, your energy, your passion for planning your wedding and the love that you and Ryan share for one another. Thank you for choosing me to be a part of it.

With all that Life has to offer, Cicely

Could you picture your Dad doing this?

I actually found this on Planning Forever's blog and died laughing. I just had to share with my readers. Show this to Dad and see if he is in!

Enjoy watching, Cicely.

My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding; My Guilty Pleasure

I just finished watching the second episode of VH1's "My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding" and was in total awe and amazement by the extravagant weddings that were produced thus far. I will say first and foremost that you don't have to spend an extraordinary amount of money to have a Fab Wedding. Couples that have the opportunity to put these events together...well...more power to them. I can't judge because fabulous weddings, events and people who throw them is my business. I say bring it on! Below are a few of the season's finest. Stay tuned and let me know what you think! The show aires every Thursday night on VH1 at 9:00pm EST.