Attire for trendy MOB's and MOG's

Sometimes when we think of the attire our moms are to wear for a special occasions like "YOUR" wedding we immediately think of an outfit that pairs them up with their age! Thankfully fashion has changed and most moms have kept up to speed with it. In research of our latest fashion trends, we found some pretty amazing dresses that scream modern MOB/MOG! What accessories would you pair these up with and is your mom daring enough to wear these? Check these out and let me know your thoughts

Color of the day... BLUE

BLUE

My ultimate favorite color! Blue reminds me of happy times with an overwhelming feeling of calmness and serenity! In my opinion it is best paired with yellow (hence the very beautiful sunflower being my FAVE flower!!) and white. Check out this inspirational board for ideas and ways to combine the two while making a fashionable statement!

Color of the day...GREEN

GREEN... not just going green but using it!

Who knew that green would turn out to be such a fantastic color to combine with! Check out these boards which use green as both the main color and as an accent element. I'm loving the color combo of green, white and black.
Lots of brides are going green to make a bold statement, however using the color is not a bad idea either! Do you have any funky green color combos you wish to share?

photos courtesy of project wedding

Color of the day.....PURPLE!

Purple...

photo courtesy of project wedding

When I think of the color purple, the thought of lavender scented flower fields comes into mind (I know that sounds super corny but soooo true!!).

Although the color may not suit everyone, pairing it up with the proper accessories can make you look like a million bucks. I find that party guests are being a bit more daring and making a statement by wearing bold colors.

photo courtesy of project wedding

European magazines suggest that different shades of purple (violet, magenta, lilacs) is the latest in party goers fashion!!!

Eros Ramazzotti

If you have absolutely no idea who this man is then you are missing out! Eros Ramazzotti is an amazing and talented Italian singer that has had a successful career for over 20 years. His voice is definitely unique but his lyrics will make you fall in love. He recently visited Miami and held his concert at the James L. Knight Center. I am pretty familiar with all his songs and even sang along with the ones he sang in Italian (Lord knows what in the world I was actually saying...), however, when I heard the lyrics of this song,I immediately made a note of it and said to myself this is a PERFECT song for a first dance (oddly enough my mom turned to me and said the EXACT same thing!!). The song is called I Belong to you .

For a list of his upcoming city tours (including Altos de Chavon in the Dominican Republic on May 22), log onto to his website.

Enjoy and Happy Planning!

Pantone Wedding Colors

Choosing a color theme for your wedding can sometimes be nerve wrecking not to mention very stressfull. The Dessy Group has come out with their 2010 Pantone Wedding guide which include 194 color swatches! You can order your color guide on The Dessy Group website for just $35 + shipping and handling. My order is already in... dont stay behind and order your today!

Happy Planning!

Calling ALL Brides to be!!!!!!!

Add a little funk and uniqueness to your event by renting a photobooth! Color Me Photo Booth has just announced their first contest to win a FREE photobooth rental for your wedding! The rules are super simple...

1. You must register to become a fan on their FACEBOOK page

2. Your wedding must take place before 12/31/10 and in Miami Dade County

3. HOUND ALL of your friends to vote for you - but remember they can only vote 1 time, multiple votes may disqualify their entry!

Get ready...... set..... REGISTER!!!! Good Luck

New Beverage Trends

What's a party without drinks??? Still a PARTY!!!

The cost of having a premium full bar - meaning all types of name brand liquors- can be quite costly! Although having a signature or welcome drink is not a new trend, it continues to maintain its popularity! Signature drinks are a great way to diminish crowds at the cocktail bar and is a fun way of introducing your favorite spirits to your guests.

If your significant other happens to love beer and you cannot live without a daily glass of wine yourself, then this is a perfect excuse to serve just that... Beer and Wine! You may want to make it a bit more upscale by exclusively serving bottles from your favorite vineyard or your favorite brewery! If your budget allows, consider hiring a Sommelier. He or she can go around answering any questions your guests may have on a particular grape or region. This will allow interaction within your guests and they may learn a thing or two! On a more casual note, you can have a wine/beer tasting session where your guests can enjoy products from different countries.

Serving beer and wine doesn't always mean you are trying to cut cost, most of the time it comes down to preference. So the next time you are planning an event,consider some of the fun suggestions above and remember to have fun trying to come up with a name for your chosen drink!

New Catering Trends

So.. the first thing that is most commonly heard lately is I want an elegant, stylish dinner menu for 300 guests under 10k!! Although its almost impossible to guarantee you can certainly work your way around it!

One of the things to think about is going green. You can be so creative and unique by going green. Disposables are a great option and I am not just referring to foam plates and cups. There are trendy disposables which are biodegradable and can be found at Sweet Flavor. Looking online is a great option and sometimes more economical however, always consult with your caterer prior to purchasing in order to make sure it goes well with your selected menus.

Another up and coming trend is to have a chef bar*. This simply means you come up to a bar (that has 4 or 5 attending chefs) and order your small plate from a list of menu options. It's almost like ordering a la carte! This is a wonderful option for a rehearsal dinner or casual reception. Your guest will get a kick out of watching their meal being prepared before their own eyes!

*Note: if this serving style is an option for your event, please make sure you have enough bars around for all the guests to enjoy their meal in a timely manner. I would really be annoyed if I had to wait 30 minutes in line for a small plate that only takes 30 seconds to devour!!

Another idea to having attended chef bars is to create a unique theme with it! For example, if you travel around the world and wish to incorporate your destinations into your event you may want to label your event Stops around the world. This would mean having 3 or 4 stations with different traditional plates from each country. Another label can be Continents. Having meals from each continent (think about the adventure and time you would be putting into creating this event! How fun, exciting and memorable this will be for yours guests!!)

Sushi Bars - I have to admit I love sushi and get excited whenever a client decides to include this in their menu, however, it can be a bit overrated. Sushi bars have been a hit for a while in the event scene but as a guest it can get pretty annoying having to wait for the chef to make the rolls, cut the rolls and adorn the rolls! A clever alternative to having a live sushi bar is to having small plates with assorted sushi rolls and perhaps even some nigiri preset for the guests to pick up, eat and place down.

One of my favorite details to include at my events is a "to go" container. This can be anything from mini donuts, churros (a Hispanic tradition often accompanied by hot chocolate) to your favorite cookies, even an extra piece of cake. If you welcome your guests with a drink, why not send them off with a treat? Besides, they can always use it to soothe their stomach after having that last drink.

My final thought for this post is to try and put more emphasis on your venue and or caterer to support your local grower. Many times the condiments and vegetables they use to prepare the meal you are serving can be purchased locally. This in turn, may eliminate unnecessary shipping costs and any fees incurred at customs. You may come across some caterers that stern in their ways and may not be willing to alter their recipes this way but at least its worth giving it a try!

Pre-Summer sale going on at AR!

Spread the word on our pre-summer sale!!!

Book our services before August 1, 2010 and receive the following:

• 50% off our FULL service package


• 15% off our Intermediate package


• $200 off our Month of package


• 10% off ENVELOPMENT orders


• 50 complimentary "thank you" notes


• $100 0ff rental of Color Me Photobooth (http://www.colormephoto.com/)

Email us at alice@affairs-remembered.com or call us at 305.432.4455 to book your complimentary consultation!

My favorite cookies!!!!

French macaroons (not the chocolate dipped coconut ones....) are my ultimate favorite cookies in the world! I first discovered them while at a tasting at the Ritz Carlton South Beach. I immediately fell in love...... it was beyond love at first sight, it was magical, my palate was experiencing a parade of fireworks........(I know...I know a bit dramatic.. but totally true!)

Throughout my search for new and fun things... I found a website that delivers them!!!

Panna Dolce www.pannadolce.com

These colorful and tasty macaroons serve as delicious treats or favors as well as a magnificent compliment to your gourmet coffee!

Check them out and tell them you found them at Affairs Remembered!
Indulge your taste buds.. they will be thrilled!

Gigi Garces turns 15!

Gigi Garces turns 15



Allow me to share with you a story on a very special girl, Gigi Garces.

I first met Gigi in August 2008 while working on Annette and Isidro’s engagement party. Upon her arrival, she immediately came up to me and kissed me hello and gave me a very warm and friendly hug. At first I wondered who she was and then figured out she was Annette’s cousin.

During the party she came up to me a few times to hug and kiss me and even danced with me!! Throughout the planning process of Annette and Isidro’s wedding I had the opportunity to see Gigi a few times. It was at their wedding rehearsal and the wedding day (May 2009) that Gigi really stood out to me.

She was given the responsibility of junior bridesmaid in which she played the absolute best role! Gigi was excited to be walking down the aisle and show off her new beautiful dress! Throughout the wedding she participated in all the festivities and by midnight she was pooped (poor thing) and was taken to her room at the Mandarin.

After the wedding Gigi and her family attended another family wedding in which I planned. I was as delighted to see Gigi as she was me (I was so happy that she had remembered me)! I spoiled her the entire night with lots of chocolate dipped goodies from the chocolate station and hot glazed doughnuts – YES her mother wanted to shoot me!!!

Gigi has been a blessing to the Garces family. She brings a smile to everyone’s face and is filled with so much love and charm you automatically want to hug her and be a part of her world!

I am so happy that I had an opportunity to meet her and share this wonderful story with you!

Here are a few fun details on Gigi – provided by her mom, Maria Eugenia Garces

• Gigi was born in Miami, Florida. Baptist Hospital on January 17th, 1995 to Gaspar and Maria Eugenia Garces
• Gigi attends Atlantis Academy, she is in 9th grade.
• Gigi loves to read and her passion is the American Girl Doll Collection. She has the entire collection including the pets, books and accessories.

Gigi recently celebrated her 15^th birthday in New York’s Waldorf Astoria

Although I did not take part in planning her celebration, I wanted to share what this incredible mom planned for her little girl!

Gigi loves to travel, to meet new places, loves to shop online, loves New York, and loves to have parties and celebrations. The party took place at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Gigi’s closest family members flew in to participate in this intimate celebration.

The flowers were made by Floralia, the florist of the Waldorf and given to her as a gift from her godmother. The dinner was set on an ambassador table. The cake was a chocolate Opera cake of (picked by Gigi herself). We had an amazing harpist playing, which happened to be the musician chosen to play at Ivana Trump’s wedding! Prior to the seated dinner, they had a ceviche bar and passed Hordeouvres.

Her dress was made by the well known and lovely designer Victoria Lopez-Castro. Her hair and makeup was done at the Kenneth Salon (located at the Waldorf) and her makeup was touched up by her lovely sister Giselle Garces.

Prior to this fabulous dinner, they had a week filled with entertainment thanks to Gigi's Godmother and aunt, Beatriz, which traveled twice to NYC to ensure the plans were moving along as expected. Gigi saw Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia on Broadway and even had another party at the American Girl Café!

I would like to extend a personal thank you Martha Ramirez from UDS Photo for taking the amazing shots of Gigi and her family!

Pauline Ferry and Luis Torres

An absolutely beautiful couple tied the knot on March 13, 2010 in the historic Coral Gables Congregational church followed by a stunning reception at the Alfred I. Dupont building located in downtown Miami.


Pauline is very detail orientated and was very specific on how she wanted her dream day to flow. She tends to run "fashionably late" often, so this day I made sure she she stayed on task! Luis is very handsome and polite and catered to his family and guests while awaiting on his nervous bride! He arrived to the church on time and was in awe when he saw his absolutely beautiful "Pauly" walking down the aisle.

The reception took place at the elite Alfred I. Dupont building in downtown Miami and was catered by Mena Catering. The fantastic moments of the evening were captured by Alex Rodriguez and Artistry Wedding Films. The crowd was entertained by DJ Hiram Bernal and Grupo Swing. The stunning table decor was provided by Petunia Flowers and the lounge rentals by Event Outfitters.

Thank you Pauline and Luis for allowing me to be a part of your special day. I wish you lots of love and luck on your wonderful journey!

Goenaga - Gutierrez Wedding

Ingrid and Franco were the most laid back and easy going couple I have had so far! Their only requirement were that everything looked nice, the music was pumping and the liquor was flowing! The wedding took place on Saturday February 6 (Superbowl weekend) and this couple sure made it a festive weekend!!!! The ceremony was held at Coral Gables Congregational and the reception at Dadeland Marriott.

The guests began dancing as soon as the ballroom doors opened! The room was glowing with ambient amber lighting and lit candles all around the table. The Victorian centerpieces were provided by Teresita Arias while the lighting and music were provided by Ubi's Music and Lighting production. Photography was done by Alvaro Salazar for Studio 40. Lourdes Ramos from Dadeland Marriot was wonderful to work with as well!

This couple was fabulous to work with and has wonderful family!

Congratulations and may you enjoy the ride!

Coasters as favors!

I have used this small but memorable detail in several weddings and thought it was such a cute idea I had to share....

These are paper coasters that have several uses. In my case I have used them as hanging decals to be placed on the rear view mirror of your guests vehicle, by the valet personnel at your venue. You can personalize it to say just about anything like "Sweet Dreams" "Safe travels" or just a simple "Thank you for sharing our day". They are very inexpensive and come in an array of colors. You can check them out at http://www.myownlabels.com/.

Melissa Muniz and Cesar Nieto

January 9, 2010 was one the coldest day yet of 2010 with 39 degree weather.... This did not stop this beautiful couple from tying the knot!

Nancy (Melissa's mom) and Melissa had been planning this spectacular event for what seemed to be forever. All the details were so well thought of and selected with such care, that it truly made it a signature wedding.

The ceremony took place at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Miami Beach followed by a remarkable reception at the Alfred I. Dupont building in the dazzling downtown of Miami.

The bridal party was transported by the City of Coral Gables Trolley while the amazing photographer, Carlos Baez - http://www.carlosbaez.com%20and/ and the talented Julien from Merge Studios http://www.merge-studios.com/, joined in on the fun ride. The guests were greeted with a delicious glass of sangria and delectable hordeouvres from Barton G, while the amazing Fito Espinola played his Spanish guitar.

Upon entering the dining room, the overwhelmingly beautiful floral arrangements designed by EC Florals took everyones breath away. Each table had a tree of its own accompanied by an assortment of candles and personalized menus. VoxBlue welcomed the guests with their upbeat music and very rapidly had them all on the dance floor.

After a night full of love, dancing and laughter the guests were bid goodnight with hot chocolate and churros. Once the guests entered their cars they were surprised to see a hanging decal on their rear view mirrors with Melissa and Cesar's picture wishing them a safe drive home!

Reyes - Conde Wedding

The beginning of the year started great for us. On January 2, we had a beautiful wedding at Deering Estate. Maricelis and Luis had been planning this spectacular wedding for the past year. Maricelis knew exactly what she wanted and did not hesitate to make decisions. Luis is a music guru and chose the music for each section of the night, very carefully.

The day began with a hair and makeup and a very excited bride to be! The ceremony took place on the perfectly manicured lawn overlooking the beautiful and tranquil bay, followed by the cocktail hour. Maloman and their team did a fabulous job in whisking the bride and groom away to take the magnificent romantic portraits with the sun setting in the background! As the cocktail hour came to an end, the guests were escorted to the courtyard for dinner.

Before the newlywed couple entered the courtyard adorned by Roman Cusco and AB Cover Designers to begin their first dance, the guests were treated to a great video montage put together by Ever Clear productions. As the couple walked through the historic door leading to the courtyard, there was so much love felt in the air you can certainly feel it. As the night went on, the guests enjoyed the delectable meal from Joy Wallace Catering, the most delicious bite size cupcake favors by Bite Size Creations and then moved in doors to enjoy the tunes played by Ubi Marrero.

As the guests enjoyed the dancing, the bride and groom cut the delicious guava and cheese cake by Elegant Temptations. We must not forget that the cake was well accompanied by gourmet coffee from Aroma Espresso (it paired up perfectly with the cold weather and the home made "coquito" prepared by the bride herself!!)

Mari and Luis had the wedding of their dreams in which both families put so much time and effort in. Thank you for allowing Michelle and I to be a part of your special day and may the rest of your life be a pleasant dream as well!


Below please find a teaser provided by Ever Clear Productions.... Enjoy !!!!!!!!!

Mari and Luis Wedding Teaser Trailer from Ever Clear Productions on Vimeo.

Mohring / Vivero Wedding Deering Estates

On February 28, 2009, the very beautiful and sophisticated Gisela Mohring married the love of her life, Dr. Richard Vivero. Gisela and I began planning this wedding in early 2007. She had a clear vision of what she wanted and what she liked. From the very beginning stages, Gisela had chosen her colors and knew that her style was geared towards what she called "Vintage Glam".

The celebration took place at the breathtaking Deering Estates. The ceremony area overlooked the bay and tall palm trees. The dinner area was neatly arranged in their intimate courtyard and the dancing took place inside the historic mansion. It was a night full of love, glamour and incredible shining stars in the sky!

Thank you, Gisela and Richard for allowing me to be part of your special day and many thanks to Brett Tyler for the outstanding pictures!!