OH HOW WE LOVE THEE...

A little birdie gave Et Lofte Events a heads up about some gor-GEE-ous custom clutches -- perfect to adorn any cocktail gown or add va-va-voom to any wedding attire (And heads up Bridesmaids - these clutches are not just for the Bride!)

This planner has fallen head over heels for these BEE-u-tiful clutches by Bee Gee Bags. And best of all they ship to Canada!

Pink Poppy Clutch $90 US

'Line up Girls' Black Allium Clutches $50 US ea.

ET LOFTE LOVES!!! Trees Everywhere Clutch $72 US

Noir Birdie in a Clutch $94 US

ET LOFTE LOVES!!! Blue Beehive Clutch $52 US

TWO-STEP YOUR WAY TO INTO THIS!

Photo courtesy of The Wedding Choreographers

© Melissa Nowakowski 2009

Combine charismatic choreography, thrilling live performances and lessons that will get even your two left feet groovin' and you've got The Wedding Choreographers -- a dance entertainment company that is sure to add flair and that touch of originality to any event.

Founded by Minerva, The Wedding Choreographers has all the right ingredients for a dance company: youth to follow the latest music and dance trends, versatility to provide a variety of services from choreography, dance lessons and live performances in different styles, affordability and flexibility to work with varying budgets.

She may look young but don't let her youth fool you -- this dance mogul has talent and experience to impress. A professionally trained dancer, prior to launching the company Minerva was an NBA All Star Dancer and choreographer, performing across the globe and has performed with top artists like Matisse, Glass Tiger and more.

So what does this dynamic gal have to offer with The Wedding Choreographers?

Create a one of the kind First Dance as husband and wife or have your entire wedding party wow your guests with a thrilling entrance! At $125 per one and half hour session, choreography packages include 2 choreographers (one male, one female), a rehearsal at the reception venue, a 'music edit' (a combo of music blended into one song for all you non-technical folk) and a final copy CD with your song. But don't think you have to be Ginger Rogers or Fred Astaire to take advantage of these grooves. The Wedding Choreographers can work with anyone regardless of rhythm (or lack thereof) and experience (ditto!).


Kick up the party a notch with live performances in a variety of dance styles from Hip-Hop (our fave!!!), salsa (swoon!), Brazilian, Indian, Hawaiian, Belly Dancing and more. With a soloist starting at $250 and a group performance starting at $1000 these live performances offer an affordable and engaging addition to any event.

Need to turn your two-step into something with a little more...er...oomph? The Wedding Choreographers have got you covered with private lessons in a wide range of dance styles from salsa, swing, waltz and more. The best part? No need to get your groove on in the sterile atmosphere of a formal dance studio -- for $100 per lesson The Wedding Choreographers will come to you in the comfort of your own home! (so trip, fall or bump into your partner all you want -- you'll be the only one who knows about it!)

By now you know that this planner is all about giving guests an experience that they'll be talking about long after the event is over. That said, our all time fave service that The Wedding Choreographers provide is on-site hip-hop and salsa lessons for your guests! Whether it's a full routine or just a few steps, The Wedding Choreographers will get your guests on the dance floor and learning some super cool moves. A perfect way for your guests to feel a part of the celebration (not to mention a great excuse for your guests to interact with one another), on-site group lessons are an excellent form of entertainment for Weddings, Bridal Showers, Bachelorettes, Bar/Bat Mitzvah and more. In this planner's opinion, with rates starting at $250 this service is the ultimate in event entertainment!

Whether you have an audience of left feet or your guests are dance floor mavens, they'll dance away from your event having experienced an evening they'll never forget thanks to the talents of The Wedding Choreographers.

SING A NEW TUNE ON BRIDAL TWEET

Image courtesty of BridalTweet.com

© Melissa Nowakowski 2009

If you're in tune with social networking, you likely have a Facebook profile and even more likely are well aware of the newest fad in social media, Twitter.

But one gal has taken the world of 'tweeting' one step further. Christine Dyer is a wedding enthusiast from New York City who had just recently married in 2008. Dyer loved the way Twitter connected people and provided a way for like-minded people to network. However Dyer also wanted the ability to create deeper relationships with those whom she had connected -- much like Facebook offers.

That said, Dyer created a twitter community targeted solely for the wedding/event industry and its enthusiasts. A perfect blend between Facebook and Twitter, BridalTweet offers the opportunity to connect with people, places and products -- all wedding related and all under one roof.

BridalTweet allows you to 'follow' vendors, enthusiasts, brides and grooms much like Twitter but also provides many applications similar to Facebook like Discussion Boards, Groups and Photo Albums. As you navigate through this wedding community you can certainly add "friends" (those community members with whom you'd like to establish a relationship) but unlike Facebook, your community page is visible to anyone who stumbles across it.

BridalTweet also has one very cool feature that sets it apart from Facebook and Twitter -- it has a Blog section in which you can blog right on your profile page. Whether you copy and paste your entry from your own blog or write up an entirely new one, a notification is posted on the BridalTweet main page when you have posted a blog entry on your community profile.

Oh, did we mention that you can customize the look of your page too?

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about BridalTweet (besides the fact that it grows bigger every day!) is that while it is a fantastic new marketing tool for wedding vendors, it acts as a wedding COMMUNITY -- a place for all wedding-related people to gather, share thoughts and connect rather than a whoo-haa of wedding industry competition and advertisements. Of course, as word spreads about this wonderful new community the question will be -- will this fabulous community last as one big wedding familia or will it become overrun by competitive wedding vendors all vying for the attention of the brides and grooms? Only time will tell but in the meantime, this wedding planner is enjoying connecting with like-minded wedding peeps from all over the world.

ET LOFTE IS BACK!

Et Lofte Events apologizes for the long lag in blog posts. Rest assured, we had good reason for our extended absence and while we were out some excited things have come into play.

We're excited to announce that Et Lofte Events has garnered 2 new additions -- both personally and professionally.

On February 4th, 2009, Et Lofte Events' lead coordinator Melissa M. G. Nowakowski gave birth to a bouncing baby boy -- Tristan Josef Gino Nowakowski (how's that for a mouthful!). After a brief 3 month maternity leave, Melissa has jumped back into action, coordinating beautiful weddings and exciting events (Not to mention scoping out the latest trends and unique products for all of you out there!)

Also, on April 20th, 2009, Et Lofte Events welcomes its brand spankin' new Associate Planner Lindsay Honeyman!

Lindsay has been active in the wedding industry for the last two years as a certified wedding coordinator, a destination wedding coordinator and now as a certified Sandals Resort specialist She has has also spent 7 years working in various aspects of the music industry, from artist and business management to accounting and has worked with some of Canada's top recording artists. Lindsay has been an Assistant Planner with Et Lofte Events since January 2007 with responsibilities ranging from assisting lead coordinators with weddings and events to coordinating weddings on behalf of Et Lofte Events. And we're absolutely thrilled that Lindsay has now joined our team as Associate Planner!

We're also excited to announce that Et Lofte Events has officially joined the world of social media! Follow us on Twitter or visit us at the all new BridalTweet (more info on that soon!)

And Et Lofte Events is partnering with A Green Tie Affair, PNMedia and other exciting event industry leaders to create a super exciting, breathtaking event for 2010 and it's all for a good cause! Stay tuned for details on what we're calling the 'Cadillac of events'!

Be sure to keep checking the Et Lofte Events blog for more exciting trends, fresh new products and thrilling event industry news...there's a whole lot more coming soon!

(Oh, and just in case you were wondering about Et Lofte Events' Lead Coordinator Melissa M.G. Nowakowski, her planning career kicked off after years of working within Marketing, PR and special event coordination. In the past 6 years Melissa has coordinated and directed a wide range of events from galas, corporate events and product launches to weddings, social events and even concerts for audiences of 3000. Within the last three years Melissa has focused her talent mainly on weddings, special occasions and corporate events and has quickly become known and respected as a planner with out-of-the box vision, dedication and passion).

YOU’LL BE DRAWN TO THESE LIKE A MAGNET!

© Melissa Nowakowski January 2008

As most of our faithful readers know, Et Løfte Events is dedicated to making our clients’ weddings unique. And making your event unique lies in the details, no matter how big or small.

And so Et Løfte Events is always on the hunt for the most original products and ideas to provide to our clients, regardless of the type of event. We search the furthest corners of the country and partner up with some of the most distinctive Canadian companies to create events as one-of-a-kind as our clients.

We exceptionally love it when the absolute smallest detail packs an unexpected punch. That said, may I present to you the power of magnets. Yes, you heard us correctly, MAGNETS.

The Uncommon Bride is the genius behind using magnets as ultra adorable (not to mention totally original) placecards and favours for any event. With hundreds of customizable design options, the handmade magnetic favours can be personalized to coordinate with the colours or theme of your event and each lie in their own bed of tissue within a cute matte silver tin with a clear lid.

MAGNETIC PLACECARDS












Photo courtesy of The Uncommon Bride

This is our all time favourite idea of all the magnetic items. Measuring approx. an inch and a half, these glass magnets come in almost any colour combination and feature each guest’s name. (All you need to do is provide the guest list!) A completely unique alternative to the traditional paper placecard, your guests will not only be wow’d but these ‘placecards’ can double as a favour (At a mere $5 each, they’re perfect for the budget conscious host!)

PERSONAL MESSAGES










Photos courtesy of The Uncommon Bride








Deliver a special “thank you” message to your guests in an unforgettable way with this magnetized giveaway. Just like the magnetic placecards, your personal message is featured on an inch a half glass magnet, is available in a magnitude of colours and costs just $4 each. This cute favour idea also comes in “mini messages” — sets of three or four 0.7 inch glass magnets all lying in a tissued tin container. Also available in almost any colour combination, you can deliver your own personal “mini” message or choose from a variety of options. Deliver your message in a set of three for $5 or a set of four for merely one dollar more.

MAGNETIC IMAGES











Photo courtesy of The Uncommon Bride

Can’t think of what to say? Let a picture do the talking for you! These super chic magnetic giveaways can also be adorned with a graphic or photo that coordinates with your theme and colour scheme. Priced at $4 each, it costs a mere additional $25 to add a custom photo or graphic.

If you’re thinking that Calgary, Alberta is a long ways off from where your event is situated, you’ll be thrilled to know (I know that we were!) that The Uncommon Bride offers their products across Canada, the US and Internationally through their website at www.theuncommonbride.com

But magnetic favours are not the only über adoreable products that The Uncommon Bride offers. Add personalized full DIY invitation and reception kits as well as professionally designed invites, programs, placecards, menus, thank you cards and favour containers and you have an uncommon company that, like us, strives to make your event unforgettable.












(From L-R: Professional invitation design, table numbers, DIY invitation kits)
Photos courtesy of The Uncommon Bride

SINFULLY DELICIOUS

© Melissa Nowakowski January 2009

Step into any chocolatier’s domain and you’ll find a wide selection of truffles and Belgian chocolates — each chocolatier claiming unique flavours and delectable textures. However this Event Planner stumbled upon the garden-of-Eden of divine chocolate — Adam and Eve Chocolatier.

Photo © Ian Bradshaw 2008

Nestled in a quaint storefront on Maitland Street in the Church Street Village, (97 Maitland Street, Toronto, Ontario) this European chocolate shop and barista-style café is home to some of the most innovative products — perfect for any wedding, corporate or social function.

Belgians are, by nature, extremely selective about their food and cuisine and chocolate is no exception. Belgium-born Donna Young expresses this passion and quality by applying this dedication and meticulousness to her products at Adam and Eve Chocolatier for over 35 years.

Adam and Eve Chocolatier houses over 26 flavours of truffles, many of which are exceptionally unique (not to mention heavenly in taste). Some of our favourite distinctive flavours include:

o Banana Split
o Lemon
o Ice Wine (using Ontario Grapes)
o Cassis (Black Currant)
o Black Forest Kirsch










Lemon truffles Photo © Ian Bradshaw 2008


Yet truffles and Belgian chocolates are not the only sinful delights provided. Step into this chocolatier’s kingdom and you’ll be swooning over her many one-of-a-kind products that will treat your guests to an enlightening experience including:

o “Pink Flamingoes” (Belgian Truffle nestled in Ballpark Cotton Candy)
o Swiss Style Chocolate Almonds
o Belgian Chocolate Orange Peel Strips
o Chocolate covered sunflower seeds
o Fresh Australian Ginger (dipped in Belgian Chocolate and Strawberries misted with Cognac then dipped in Belgian Milk Chocolate and dusted with fine cocoa)

And for those who are Diabetic, Adam and Eve Chocolatier carries milk and dark Belgian chocolate pieces that contain Maltitol, a natural sweetener found in wheat, and taste as delicious as any other chocolate on hand.

Truffles are currently priced at $2 each or $4 for a pair with the option of a corporate discount for orders over $500. Considering their originality, the price is well worth the taste. And the truffles come wrapped in foil, placed in black duet boxes (cylindrical helix shape) and tied off with a ribbon that co-ordinates with your colour theme. (Although they can certainly be purchased without the boxes as well). The best part yet? Adam and Eve offer taste testing!










Duet boxes Photo © Ian Bradshaw 2008

If you want to entice your guests with exceptional delicacies at your next event, just step into Adam and Eve Chocolatier’s garden of goodness and indulge in divine taste…without the sin of course.

SERVE YOUR EVENT SUNNY-SIDE UP!

© Melissa Nowakowski 2008


When one thinks of a party -- any kind of party from weddings to birthdays to corporate galas -- their mind automatically centers on an evening affair. After all, the term “event” has long been associated with the sophistication, style and mystique of the night. Perhaps it’s the stars romantically scattered within the night sky or that dinner is always the largest, more formal of meals. Or perhaps it is simply a matter of convenient timing for guests. There are no historical facts to support why most parties are held in the evening and so we’ll just have to chock it up to tradition. Which is fantastic news because as we all know, tradition can be always be skipped over.

My absolute favourite, yet-rarely-utilized, time of day for a soiree is early in the day. Now I don’t mean a late lunch. I mean early in the day – as in mid- morning. To me, there is nothing more visually stunning and physically enjoyable than a formal function held mid-morning when the sun is shining, the air is fresh and everyone is alive and energetic. There’s a kind of peacefulness associated with the morning and what better way to kick off your day than with good food and good company?

Not to mention that brunch receptions can be much easier on the wallet. Consider this: very little alcohol is consumed during the middle of the day, brunch receptions can be held on less expensive days of the week such as Sundays without interfering with guests' work weeks and brunch items can be less labour and staff intensive (depending on the size of the function and how ornate the brunch of course!)

Below are some design ideas that show how elegant and lively a morning function can be – regardless of the occasion:

• Holding the event outdoors on a patio, under a tent or indoors in a covered terrace or in a banquet room with lots of windows will make use of as much natural light as possible providing natural energy to your event.























(From L-R) Estates of Sunnybrooke, a tented reception in Scarborough, Graydon Hall Manor

• Create a light and airy atmosphere with pastel colours or a bright and playful atmosphere with bold colours. Use these colour schemes in your décor and accents, including your food accents! Flowers always work beautifully with morning events. Not into flowers? A colourful fish in a beautiful vase, beaded garlands entwined in branches or even a Bonsai tree for the ultimate Zen effect are great alternative options. Don’t be afraid to get creative!

• Serve mimosas paired with a chocolate truffle to guests as they arrive and have trays of fruit kabobs and a variety of cheese passed as they mingle













• Roaming magicians or a stationary caricaturist prior to brunch or a cigar roller after brunch can add a fun and interactive twist to your event

• Keep beverages to sparkling water, fruit juices and to light, signature cocktails such as mimosas and daiquiri’s

• Rather than have a DJ, enlist a quartet to play throughout the meal. Even a single guitar player can add an air of romance or tranquility. A live band is a perfect choice for post-meal dancing but a DJ works well too.









Carly and Mark (markhartguitar.com)


• The style of meal will most often determine its precedence in the event. Buffets tend to move more quickly than plated meals which are perfect if you plan to have dancing or entertainment follow the brunch. Plated meals, depending on the number of guests and the number of courses, can be drawn out which works well if you do not have any post-brunch plans.

• Regardless of whether you are hosting a buffet or plated brunch, the food at your mid-morning reception can be just as glamorous as that of an evening function. Think warm brie soufflé with berry compote, Eggs Benedict over Brioche, scrambled eggs with duck comfit, scalloped potatoes, rack of lamb or roast beef in a Brandy glaze, French toast stuffed with banana and mango. Consider food stations for items like crepes and omelets and don’t be afraid to incorporate seafood such as lobster and shrimp in a lobster watercress sauce or a tuna steak piperade.














• Avoid heavy desserts like cheesecake and instead opt for a variety of pastries, fruit and miniature cakes such as strawberry shortcakes.


Weddings are just beginning to catch on to the appeal of morning functions but most other functions like birthdays, bridal/baby showers, anniversaries and especially corporate galas continue to shy away. This is a shame because regardless of occasion, you can host an incredibly elegant event that will always be remembered simply by getting rid of the moon and raising the sunshine.