IT'S A GUY THING
Part II of IV

© Melissa Nowakowski April 2008

THE THEME: Classic Gentleman's Club or Cigar Lounge

Regardless if your guest-of-honour actually smokes cigars, there's nothing more suave than an evening in a Cigar Lounge or Gentleman's Club (the non-stripper type). Have your guests dress "business casual".

THE VENUE: Choose a venue that encompasses dark oak furnishings and an open-air space, whether it be a patio, an accessible rooftop or just an outdoor area. A venue that has pool tables works well for entertainment value (even thought they aren't typically found in Cigar Lounges). Our fave venue here in Toronto for this type of theme is THE ACADEMY OF SPHERICAL ARTS -- dark furnishings, pool tables galore and all around class...not to mention fantastic food. Our second choice is THE ROSEHILL which is as classic as you can get with its leather couches, chic ambiance and classic dark styling.

THE STYLE: Rely on the furnishings and ambiance to set the style. If your gut instinct is to add florals, compromise and use arrangements of moss and willow branches instead. Other classic centerpieces can include large martini vases with a floating candle or filled with dark coloured ball ornaments.

THE ENTERTAINMENT: Utilize classic old-school or new wave jazz for your background music. If games are your thing, host a snooker/pool tournament using teams of 2 while guests are mingling. The winners of the tournament can win a bottle of Scotch. No pool tables? Have three large round tables decked out in dark linen and have a 4-person-per-table poker tournament (with half hour breaks) for those who aren't into the mingling scene.

THE FOOD: Provide a spread of lamb burgers, stuffed potatoes, grilled portabellos, beef saté skewers, veal tortières, etc. If the party is for a birthday, design the birthday cake to be an open humidor with chocolate cigars inside, or as a fedora.

THE GIVEAWAYS: Serve cigars as favours to the men (this is where the patio or outdoor space comes in). No smokers? Serve chocolate cigars instead. For the ladies, give away a cute beaded necklace or bracelet or, as a more cost efficient option, serve them with a cream or red rose.

THE ALTERNATIVE:

Like the overall look but want a more laid back feel? Try having ONE NIGHT IN HAVANA.
The venue remains the same but with the right accents you will have a completely different -- and more casual -- feel to the party.

Have your guests attend in Cuban Inspired Dress -- linen shirts, guayaberas, summer dresses, wide-brimmed summer hats, etc.

Skip the centerpieces and place areca palms or large, palm-tree-like plants in corners and around the room. Use banana leaves as place mats for platters or as chargers for a sit-down dinner.

Play salsa-inspired music in the background or -- for the more extravagant minded -- have steel pan drummers perform for an hour or two then switch to a Latin DJ. For added entertainment, have your guests participate in a few rounds of "Mentirosa" (a dice game that involves dice and a whole lot of bluffing!) or, for a more mixed, adventurous crowd, hire a salsa instructor to teach some salsa moves.

Serve Mojitos and Sangria's and delicious Cuban-inspired food - tostones, palomilla steak, empanadas, tasajo (beef jerky), plantain chips, papas rellenas (fried stuffed potatoes), etc.

Keep your cigars as your favour-of-choice for the mean. For the women, give away beautiful paper fans or vibrant-coloured maracas.

IT'S A GUY THING
Part I of IV

© Melissa Nowakowski April 2008

Today I sat down for a consultation with Gwen, a young woman whose husband was turning 35 years old and for whom she wanted to throw a birthday party. But not just any party -- a "guy party". A simple gathering in their home consisting of nibbles and beer simply wouldn't do. She wanted big. But not beautiful.

"The trouble is he doesn't trust me to throw a party" she said, "He's worried that I'd throw a 'girly' party and so he'd prefer to not have a party at all. I've been trying to come up with 'manly' party ideas but I'm stuck as to exactly what that is".

Throwing bashes for men can be somewhat difficult -- especially when planned by a member of the opposite sex. There's a fine line between luxurious and, as Gwen calls it, "girly". And let's face it -- men desire to keep up their "I'm a man" persona, are very visual and aren't into the social aspect of parties like women are. Think of the last time you dragged your guy to a cocktail party. Remember that spaced-out look he had and the number of times he checked his watch?

You can still throw a fabulous party with a theme. Just because the guest of honor is male, it doesn't mean that themes have to go out the window. The trick to throwing a grand-scale party for men is to play to the key male senses: sight, sound, touch and of course, taste.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning that bash for the man in your life -- whether he's a pal, a husband or a family member:

COLOURS: When choosing colour combinations for your fete, stick with naturals or dark shades. Black with white/grey and red always work well together. Other colours like maroon, navy, varying shades of brown (from tan to chocolate) and darker shades of green like forest and sage work nicely too.

GUESLIST: Track down his group of pals -- including family, relatives, friends and co-workers. Be sure to invite any friends or family that live out-of-town or whom he hasn't spoken to in quite a while. Even if they can't attend, they should be invited. And you never know, they might just want to be part of the surprise! Don't necessarily limit your guestlist to men -- most men have female colleagues too and what party is complete without us women to keep the men engaged?

THE FOOD: Men don't nibble. They eat. So be sure to have an abundance of food on hand whether it's via buffet or platters. If you prefer the cocktail party style and have your food passed, be sure to estimate for at least 4 to 5 pieces per person and choose hors d'oeuvres that are filling and boast with flavour.

THE DRINK: Ensure that you have standard liquor and wine on hand for any females that may be attending your soiree but men-targeted beverages are must-have's. Beer, scotch, rum and whiskey are always great choices. Our favourite choice of beverage for men? Drambuie. Versatile and flavourful, Drambuie can be mixed and served in a number of ways: neat on the rocks, mixed with club soda, mixed with Ginger Ale, or our all time fave: Drambuie mixed with orange juice and topped with Ginger Ale. Serve with lime wedges and you're all set.

Stuck for a theme? Stay tuned for Parts 2 through 4 in which I give tips for four separate themes -- from the upscale to the ultra-casual -- that work well for male-dominated parties.

THE BRIDAL SHOWER

(WHAT, WHEN, WHO AND STEPPING OUTSIDE THE LIVING ROOM)

© Melissa Nowakowski 2008

When one thinks of a Bridal Shower, images of a bunch of women sitting around someone's living room unwrapping gifts and playing games that follow the theme of weddings come to mind.

My how things have changed.

Bridal Showers have come a long way since those days. While most Bridal Attendants still lean towards the living room-scenario as the most cost efficient Bridal Shower, many Bridal Attendants have begun to think outside the living room or incorporate details that cater more to the Bride's style and personality.

But first things first. There is often confusion over many of the details pertaining to Bridal Showers. I am going to clear up that confusion and give a peek at some truly unique Bridal Shower ideas.

Is it Mandatory to Throw a Bridal Shower?

The answer, which surprises most gals, is no.

The history of the Bridal Shower (the short short short version) is that once upon a time a Dutch girl was denied marriage to the love of her life because he was poor. If the girl chose to marry the poor boy, her father would deny her a dowery and any emotional or financial support. The girl , as saddened as she was, chose to marry the poor boy anyhow. The village, learning of the girl's plight and touched by her story, gathered together and each brought an item with which the couple could start their lives together. This gathering turned into a party, the father relented when he saw how many from his community supported his daughter's decision and all ended happily ever after.

See where this is going? The point to having a Bridal Shower is to provide the Bride with support that will aid her in her new life with her husband. Is it mandatory? Absolutely not. It's TRADITION. Some Brides truly want a shower, others are on the fence about them but some Brides are uncomfortable with being in the limelight and would prefer to not have one at all. The best thing to do is to have a discussion with your Bride to find out if she would like one or not before planning a tradition that she may not want. In fact, nowadays some brides are even expressing their wishes as to what kind of Bridal shower they want to have!


Who Throws the Bridal Shower?

This can get tricky as culture can get in the way of etiquette. In some cultures the mothers of the Bride and/or Groom feel that it is their duty to throw their darling daughter or daughter-in-law a good, old-fashioned shower. But in fact, in the general wedding-world it is improper to have either of the mothers host the shower. This is because if the mothers host the shower it might be viewed by some as them simply trying to get as many gifts for their daughter as they can or simply a bragging-session about their daughter getting married.

This doesn't mean that the mothers shouldn't be involved. The involvement of the mothers is always encouraged, but it is actually the Maid of Honour who is responsible for hosting the Bridal Shower. Bridesmaids, of course, can offer emmense support for the MOH -- especially when many costs are involved -- and often very much want to be involved.

When should the Shower take place?

Most gals opt to have the shower within a month or two prior to the wedding day. Etiquette states that Bridal Showers should be held 3 - 4 weeks after the wedding invitations have been sent, but showers have been held anywhere from six months prior to the wedding to the actual week of the wedding day (this is a great and most convenient option if the bulk of wedding guests are from out-of-town as they will already be in the area -- it will save them from double trips).

Who should be invited?

Do not -- I repeat -- do NOT invite anyone who has not been invited to the wedding. Regardless of how close that particular person is to the Bride, if she hasn't been invited to the wedding, she should not be invited to the shower. It's just plain bad taste. Why would you invite someone (not to mention expect them to contribute or purchase a gift) when they weren't given the courtesy of being invited to the wedding itself?

Not sure who should or shouldn't be invited? Ask the Bride's mother, sister, aunt or anyone close to her for a guestlist or even better, ask the Bride herself.

STUCK FOR A UNIQUE IDEA?

There's no rule that states that a Bridal Shower has to take place in the MOH's home, that it has to take place in an afternoon or that the events have to involve games, food and the unwrapping of gifts. Let's face it, given the wide age range of women that will be at the party, some women are just not that into games and the like. Below are some examples of unique shower themes that go beyond the norm.

THE SPICY SHOWER:

Host a late afternoon shower in someone's party room or a room at a community centre (or heck, if you have the cash host it at an actual salsa club). Serve Tapas in combination with sangrias and mojitos. Have a long table brimming with craft materials such as cardstock, linen paper, popsycle sticks, beautiful beads, feathers, etc. As the guests arrive have them sit at the table and create decorative paper fans. These will serve as the guests' takeaways. Then, serve your tapas and once everyone has eaten, host the gift opening. Afterwords, hire a salsa or belly dance instructor for an hour to teach the women the sultry art of salsa or belly dancing. The women will have a blast as they partner up with each other to learn some swankylatin grooves or will bust a gut (literally) learning sexy belly dance routines.

THE FOODIE SHOWER:

If the Bride is a 'foodie', rent out a room at a cooking school or college. Draft up a "menu" of easy but tasty appetizers and desserts, purchase the necessary ingredients and print each recipe. Once everyone has arrived, devide the guests in groups of four (bridal party and Bride included) and have them create one of the dishes/desserts from the menu using the ingredients provided. Determine which group makes which dish/dessert by having them draw the dish names from a hat. When all dishes have been created, place them on a table and let everyone enjoy their culinary experience. Because each member of the group will have a task to make the dish, the preparation time will be less than usual and the guests will not only have fun cooking but will learn a new recipe! For the takeaways or 'favours', create little booklets with each recipe that was made.

THE SERENITY SHOWER:

Let's be honest, what woman doesn't like to be pampered? There are some spa companies that provide 'demonstration' type parties wherein they provide spa services for groups and then provide the opportunity for the women to purchase the products used afterwords. There's no sales pitch -- these companies simply provide the demonstrations for word-0f-mouth marketing. There are a few makeup companies (similar to Avon or Mary Kay) that do this as well or there are esthetician/makeup students that would jump at the chance to do the same to gain experience. That being said, create a "serenity shower" by inviting your guests over for an afternoon of pampering. This type of shower is best for groups of 20 or less. Have one room dedicated to the spa services, one room dedicated to makeup and another room dedicated to tasty treats and beverages that the guests can enjoy while awaiting their turn. Purchase a number of the spa and makeup products, create two prize baskets and have a draw for each.

THE FASHIONISTA SHOWER:

Is the Bride a fashion diva? If so, take the traditional bridal shower and accessorize! Ask your guests to wear their most stylish-DAY outfit to the party. Host the gathering at a unique yet fashionable venue such as the Bata Shoe Museum or the Design Exchange and arrange for a tour for your guests.

Or hire an image consultant and once all guests have arrived, have the consultant give a mini-seminar on looking your best or the up and coming fashion trends.

To liven things up afterwords, host a project-runway game: have a pile of different fabrics, clothing items and accessories (such as hats, scarves, bracelets, purses, etc) on a few tables throughout the room. Divide your guests into groups of three (2 being the designer and one being the model) and giving the groups a very short time limit, instruct them to put together a complete and fashionable outfit. Watching the guests run amok trying to put together a fashionable outfit with mismatched items is tons of fun for the Bride. Once the time is up, host a fashion show wherein the "model" parades down a "catwalk' and the Bride chooses the most fashionable outfit. That group wins a prize that is fashion related -- whether it's a pile of fashion magazines, a basket of coordinated accessories, etc.

THE HOLLYWOOD SHOWER:

Perhaps the simplest and most low-key of showers, the Hollywood Shower mixes the glam of Hollywood with ultimate comfort. Deck out the living room or family room with comfy seating, big fluffy pillows, movie posters and scattered "trash mags" like Star, US Weekly and In Touch Weekly. Line the foyer with a red carpet. As guests arrive, hand out a self-made crossword puzzle with Hollywood and celebrity trivia. The first three people to complete the crossword successfully win a DVD. Another game option is to divide the guests into two groups and play a game of Hollywood pictionary or Hollywood Charades. Then, treat your guests to bowls of buttery popcorn, M&Ms and other movie theatre-type goodies and curl up for a good old fashioned movie (or two) and trashy celebrity magazines. Think slumber-party-by-day.

THE SHOWER OF SOPHISTICATION:

Everything about this shower is chic -- from the cocktail party style to the food to the metropolitan atmosphere. This shower works best in the evening. Ask your guests to dress in their most stylish outfits and come to the shower which is held in a private room at a trendy and chic restaurant with dark wood and tons of candles. As guests arrive, pass out a "martini menu". Pass hors d'oeuvres and have a martini-tasting with a seasoned pro. Or, if martinis aren't your thing -- a wine tasting with a professional. Takeaways can be martini glasses filled with flavourful Jelly-Belly jellybeans in your choice of colour with a gumdrop on a toothpick (in place of an olive) and wrapped in cellophane. To add some excitement afterwords, have the young at heart change venues by heading off to a dance club.

THE SUNNY-SIDE-UP SHOWER:

For this choose a restaurant or room that is bright and airy or a patio that is exposed to the sun or garden and hold the shower mid-morning. Have your guests come to the shower in their prettiest wide-brimmed hat and 'Sunday-best'. Upon arrival serve each guest a mimosa and once all have arrived, toast the Bride. Then host a classy brunch buffet of eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, fruit, danishes, crepes, etc. and a range of beverages such as juice, coffee, tea and mimosas. If games are desired, have a table with a wide variety of different potted plants and flowers. The guest who can name the most of the plants/flowers gets to take them home. Or host a grand-scale poker or similar card game. Takeaways can be miniature bud vases.

Additional Resources:

www.bridalshower.com

www.bridal-showers.net

There's no reason for a Bridal Shower to feel like a tupperware party. Get creative -- after all there are no specific rules (other than etiquette of course) -- and most importantly have fun!

ALL HAIL THE MARTINI

It's a little known fact that signature drinks are a cost effective way to reducing your bar costs for any function. But one bar option that is often overlooked is the Martini Bar.

The Martini has long been associated with class and sophistication. From the sleek design of its container to the hundreds of flavour and colour options to the unique styles of swizzle sticks and garnishes. But with that association of class and sophistication comes the assumption that Martini Bars are only for the elite or high-end functions -- racking up costs well beyond the average budget. Not so. In fact, Martini Bars can be a cost effective alternative to the traditional host bar.

Whether it is offering a dry bar in conjunction with a few Martini choices or having a vast array Martinis as the only option, Martinis can add flair to your function without necessarily driving up the costs.

How? It's simple really -- those who don't like Martinis will opt for the non-alcoholic beverages and those who do will have a blast choosing from the many chic options.

Our fave company here in Toronto is The Martini Club International Inc -- beverage alcohol experts and innovators in the field of mixology and cocktail design who provide unique themed cocktails for any function. Owned by Michelle Hunt and Laura Panter and the first specialized bar catering service in Canada, The Martini Club has provided unique themed cocktails for over seven years and for some very high-end clients including the Toronto International Film Festival, CTV, Alliance Atlantis and Sony Entertainment.

Armed with endless ideas, The Martini Club offers cutting edge cocktail design with a full array of unique flavours. Here are just a few that strike our fancy:

The Pumpkin Patch (well-chilled vodka rinsed with sake, sprinkled with toasted salted pumpkin seeds)

The Spring Fling (rum shaken with banana liqueur, pineapple juice and a touch of light cream, garnished with a pineapple spear and a maraschino cherry)

The Baroque Martini (Tanqueray Ten gin stirred over ice, served with Johnnie Walker rinse and garnished with a Gorgonzola-stuffed olive)

Death by Chocolate (dark creme de cacao blended with Kahlua, a wisp of chocolate syrup and a scoop of chocolate ice cream, topped with a float of cherry brandy and garnished with a maraschino cherry)

Don't want alcohol? The Martini Club also offers a wide selection of unique flavoured mock-tails including The Sunrise Blend, The Soda Shop Cola and The Cherry Ale as well as the more traditional bar fare like wine and beer.

The minimum booking rate for The Martini Club is based on four hours but you can have them remain for as long as you like for an additional per hour fee. They provide all the necessary liquor, garnishes and mixes for the feature cocktails (at cost!) as well as beer, wine, flat and sparkling water and including staff, bar management and mixologists (the number of mixologists is determined by the number of guests)! The cool factor? They also provide cocktail menus for your guests!

Martini Club rates are determined by a few factors including the number of guests but to give you a rough idea of cost, for a function with 100 - 130 attendees you can expect to pay approximately $2000 - $2200 for four hours of service.

Considering that the average "Bar package" for most venues sits at roughly $30 per head (tallying to $3000 for 100 guests), how could you go wrong with a martini bar that adds elegance and innovation with a touch of chic to your function and can be just as cost efficient if not more?

Cheers!

YOUR BRIDESMAIDS WILL LOOOOOVE YOU

We all know how difficult it can be to get all your Bridesmaids to agree on one dress for your wedding, let alone the same colour or fabric. Either the style doesn't suit one particular girl, the size is completely unflattering for another, their self-chosen dresses don't match in the same shade or fabric or, let's face it, the dress is not something that they will ever wear again.

Here's one dress company that will not only make your gals feel fabulous and true to their individual personalities (not to mention give them a dress they can actually wear again) but will make you look like a God-Sent Bride.

Two Birds is based in the US and has created a dress that is perfect for ALL your Bridesmaids regardless of their shape, size or sense of style. That's right -- A dress -- ONE. This single, solitary gown, made from a blend of jersey spandex and nylon, is one-size-fits-all and comes in two lengths: calf-length and floor-length. Whether your Bridesmaids are size 0, size 16 or plus size -- heck, even if your Bridesmaids are pregnant -- this dress flatters any figure.

But the best part about Two Birds? This dress can be molded into TEN unique styles!

From the "Elizabeth" to the "Isabella" your Bridesmaids will have the option of wrapping the dress the same way for a uniform effect or choosing completely different styles -- and yet they will all be in the same colour and fabric! And no matter which style they choose (the 'Marissa' and 'Jessica' are our faves) Two Birds offers precise how-to instructions online. But your girls don't have to stick with the styles offered online. This dress is so versatile they can wrap it any way they like to create a unique and personalized look. The versatility combined with easily accessable instructions will give your gals a dress that they can wear again and again long after the wedding -- without looking like they're wearing the same dress again and again.

From the simplest of colours like Black or Aubergine, to the most complex of shades like Peacock, Rosewater and Deep Ocean, this sweet-deal-of-a-dress can also be accessorized with matching wraps and are priced at $270 U.S for calf-length and $290 U.S for floor-length gowns. Two Birds will ship orders to Canada -- the drawback is that they can't ship samples however, only orders.

But what to do about the Groomsmen? Well, Two Birds offers ties in two different lengths to match any of the gowns. Starting at $58 U.S each, these 100% Italian-Silk ties can even be monogrammed or paired with customized pocket square. But at that price, it's best that your leading man give these ties as gifts for his 'boyz'.

Flattering, fashionable and flexible these dresses will provide your Bridesmaids with a look they'll love while giving you the overall look YOU want for your big day.

Compromise not required.

www.twobirdsbridesmaid.com

BARGAIN AND BLING: BRIDAL BOOTIES

There are three types of gals when it comes to shoes: those who love shoes (you know who you are, the girl with piles upon piles of shoes in your closet -- some of which you haven't worn more than twice), those who like trendy shoes but will only buy them if there's a sale or if necessary and those who don't give a damn about what's on their feet (you know who you are, the girl with the heels that you bought four years ago with the scruffed up tips).

Regardless of which type of shoe-gal you are, deciding on what to wear on your feet at your wedding is always a conumdrum. Do you match the formality of your dress to your shoes? To you go with comfort? Do you purchase "bridal shoes" or do you buy simple white sandles?

Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing what to dress your feet in:

1. Your guests will see the tips of your shoes. Keep in mind that no matter how long your wedding gown, 90% of the time the tips of your shoes will peek out from under the hem while walking. So whether you decide to go bling or bargain, ensure that at the very least, the tips of your shoes are clean and not scruffed or that your toenails look good.

2. Comfort must take presidence over style. We all know that you want to look fashionable, but wearing those five inch stiletto heels with the diamond strap for 12 hours can kill a girl.

If you're all about the bling, buy the fancy shoes to wear for the ceremony and photos only and keep a pair of white flip-flops/ballarina flats/keds/flat sandles for the reception. Your feet will thank you later. You can always change back into them for your first dance or the garter toss. For those who are all about the comfort, white ballarina flats, white formal sandles sans heel or kitten heels work well. They're formal enough that should someone actually see your feet under that mass of fabric your footsies will still look good, but provide the ultimate comfort for the entire day.

3. Slingbacks can be the shoes from hell. Yes the slingback look is sleek and fabulous, but they can be the absolute worst type of shoe to wear on your wedding day. If I had a dime for every bride with slingback heels whose strap bothered them on their wedding day I'd be a very rich woman.

If you must choose slingback heels to wear on your wedding day make sure they are the ones with the straps that buckle together. The buckle ensures that the strap stays in place. Without that nifty little contraption you have no security and are faced with the repeated problem of the strap sliding down your heel. This happens especially in the warmer months when your feet tend to prespire slightly.

4. Your shoes don't have to be white. If our everyday fashion trends dictate that your shoes don't have to match your outfit, why should the "matchy-matchy" rule apply on your wedding day? You can still have fun with your shoes without having to go with the pure white look. Go for silver or if your dress has blush beading why not choose fuschia or pink strappy sandles? Or for the more subdued gal -- a blush coloured peep-toe shoe? If you're dress encompasses a green sash, why not incorporate a funky pair of green pumps? Or if you're head to toe in white, purple bling-y sandles create some drama among all the virgin white.

This is an especially great option for those gals with a shoe fetish. If you love wearing the latest trends in shoe colours and styles, why in the world would you hide a piece of your personality and wear plain white?

5. You will likely only wear these shoes once. Let's be realistic for a moment. How many of us wear white dresses on more than two occasions, if at all? Given that stat, the chances are that you will wear your "bridal shoes" that same amount of times. When looking for bridal shoes keep in mind how many times you will wear them after the wedding day and then decide if the price is justified. If you know that you will only wear them once or twice, opt for a less expensive shoe that you can wear again with a cute summer dress. I have seen so many brides shell up to $200 for a pair of "bridal shoes" only to have those shoes canoodle with their wedding gown in a box for the rest of their lives.

Whether you're bling or bargain, here are some of Et Lofte's favourite looks for this season:

"ALAURA" from Celebration Shoes - pointed toe, buckled slingback and decorated with Swarovski crystals. *bling*

"KLARISSA" sandle from Payless Shoe Source - intertwining metallic upper straps. *bargain*

"POWELL" from Celebration Shoes - ivory duchesse silk with pastel sequin trim *bling*

American Eagle Cameo Mary Janes from Payless *bargain*

American Eagle Cameo Mary Janes from Payless *bargain*

"BLUSH" by Celebration Shoes - satin with sparkle straps *bargain*

THE COSMOPOLITAN EXPERIENCE

(PUN INTENDED)

The martini has a long standing tradition of being the drink of choice for chic and sophisticated parties. When one thinks of glamourous metropolitan parties, sexy lounges and high-class appeal the martini always comes to mind. Perhaps its the delicate-yet-funky shape of the glasses, the smoothness of the liquid, the stylish accessories and garnishes or the fancy names that they're presented with -- It's all about the presentation.

The incorporation of the martini into functions of any kind has primarily been trapped at the bar. We often leave it to the bartenders to shake, stir, pour and create martinis for our guests, but these "signature martinis" are often nothing more than a traditional martini with a name that suits the function.

But there are ways to bring a new world of martinis to our receptions -- a way that entertains, visually entices and satisfies the palates of any guest. Meet The Martini Club.

The Martini Club has provided unique themed cocktails for countless high-calibre events and celebrity parties including the Toronto Film Festival Academy Awards banquet, Alliance Atlantis and Colin Cowie Lifestyle.