| In our last article, we discussed how to turn your | | | | Francisco area we treated guests to an Espresso Bar. |
| wedding into an event and an unforgettable | | | | In the Las Vegas pod, we served Amaretto and |
| experience by creating a personalized theme, | | | | Whiskey Sours along with other mixed drinks |
| element, or style. This week, I will describe the | | | | commonly given out at the casinos. Finally, in |
| specific elements we used to create "A City Theme". | | | | Pittsburgh we offered a variety of Beers including |
| In August of 2007 our company had the pleasure of | | | | the famous I C Light. |
| working with a delightful couple who decided upon a | | | | The entire length and height of the back wall was |
| "City" Theme. They wanted to feature their favorite | | | | accented by a prop master who built a "Pittsburgh |
| cities. These consisted of New York, Las Vegas, San | | | | Skyline" that was lit with b-lites from the back. He |
| Francisco, Key West, and Pittsburgh. They held their | | | | also created special street signs that were |
| reception at the Sheraton Station Square Train | | | | embellished by an artistic photograph of the skyline |
| Station hotel. The reception site itself set the tone as | | | | of each city. These were placed by each city's bar. |
| "the train takes you from one city to the next". The | | | | Custom Skylines of each city were turned into gobos |
| guest accommodations and room block was also | | | | (a lighting term) and shone on the walls surrounding |
| reserved at this "Train Station" Hotel. Welcome bags | | | | the dining tables. The lighting technician also created a |
| placed in the guests' hotel rooms were filled with | | | | gobo out of the couple's custom logo and |
| items relating to Pittsburgh, one of the featured | | | | monogram-their names in front of the Pittsburgh |
| cities, and the couple's home town. | | | | skyline. This was cast onto the dance floor. |
| We carried the city theme into the food by placing | | | | Chocolate coins engraved with the logo of each |
| little table tents (cards) on the butler trays as hors | | | | section's designated city were placed upon each |
| d'oeuvres were passed. For example, we had "mini | | | | plate. Cocktail napkins, cake and cookie boxes, |
| egg rolls from New York's Chinatown", "Crabmeat | | | | invitation seals, program covers, and water bottles |
| Mushroom Caps from San Francisco's Fisherman's | | | | were embellished by the custom Ann & Sean |
| Wharf", and "Papaya Mango Phyllo Cups from Key | | | | Pittsburgh skyline logo. |
| West". The DJ played "Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis to | | | | Guests sat down for interviews with an outgoing |
| represent the famous Las Vegas "midnight buffet" as | | | | "VJ" and were asked questions pertaining to Ann and |
| the couple's own late night buffet came out to | | | | Sean's Trips to the various cities. This was a |
| replenish the guests. He also played various selections | | | | volunteer activity and everyone who participated had |
| of tropical music to highlight Key West, a few polkas | | | | a blast giving additional roasts and good wishes to |
| to represent the Pittsburgh traditions, and other | | | | the couple. To further represent San Francisco, the |
| music relating to the various cities. A live duo | | | | guests were shuttled in a San Francisco style Trolley. |
| performed during the cocktail hour singing tunes such | | | | To further represent New York, York Peppermint |
| as "New York New York", "I left my Heart in San | | | | Patties were wrapped in pink organza bags and |
| Francisco", "Viva Las Vegas", etc. etc. A caricaturist | | | | placed on each seat. |
| was stationed in the "San Francisco area" (as San | | | | An ice sculpture was carved into an intricate |
| Francisco is famous for their artists). He drew the | | | | Pittsburgh skyline. We placed the sculpture directly in |
| guests in "their own favorite city". This was a huge | | | | front of a window and the real Pittsburgh skyline |
| crowd pleaser and a great conversation piece. | | | | was present in the background. A sculpture of blown |
| We designed the floor plan so that every 5-6 | | | | sugar was featured as the centerpiece of an awe |
| groupings of tables were featured as a different city. | | | | inspiring candy table. The artist created an abstract |
| Tables were named after their favorite places in | | | | design of their Pittsburgh skyline logo from this blown |
| each city and escort cards were made into pretty | | | | sugar. The candy table itself consisted of candies |
| luggage tags. A cardboard box was turned into a | | | | inspired by the city theme. Each was labeled with a |
| beautiful antiquey suitcase to match the theme of | | | | tiny table tent. There were Jelly Belly's (discovered in |
| traveling from city to city and to complement the | | | | San Francisco), Ghirardelli Chocolates (also from San |
| escort cards/"luggage tags". The servers in the | | | | Francisco), Clark Bars (Pittsburgh), Baby Ruth's and |
| different city areas wore black caps that were hot | | | | York Peppermint Patties (New York), 5th Avenue |
| stamped with the logo of that city. | | | | bars (to represent large cities in general, Saltwater |
| Each city was represented by a different bar serving | | | | Taffy (Key West), and many others. The cookie |
| different drinks unique to that area. In the Key West | | | | table also offered cookies reflecting the various cities. |
| corner, we served frozen strawberry and lime | | | | A few of these included Pizzelles (Pittsburgh), New |
| margaritas. In the New York City corner we set up a | | | | York mini cheesecakes, and Fortune Cookies (San |
| Martini Bar featuring the Big Appletini, the | | | | Francisco's Chinatown). |
| Cosmopolitan, and the Manhattan. In the San | | | | |