Good evening everyone! Wow - last night was a lot of fun. I am sitting here reading emails from people who attended last night - both brides and their families and our great vendors, all saying what a great vibe there was in the air.

Guests were checked in by my wonderful bridal attendants, Jessica, Jessica, and Zanthea. Michael Hunter and his fellow musicians gave us some great background music. Guests mingled in the lobby while sipping apple cider cranberry spritzers and trying 10 of our fabulous hors d’oeuvres, including my personal favorite, the lobster and brie burrito. We also set up the bruschetta station - yum! Special Occasions did the great linens and the Winterthur Floral Team did a great job on all of the florals in the front. Dave Williams of DVideography was able to showcase some of his marvelous work as well.

Winterthur Florals, Holiday Inspired

After “cocktail” hour, guests slipped into the main room and were greeted with an amazing room and so much to see. Steve Croce was spinning some tunes, Brian Toner with Eventions had some great lighting, and we had both of our cake vendors - Kimberly Withers and Liz Marden.

Eventions GoBOWarm Lighting

Claudia from Special Occasions worked with me and we set up so many different tables with collections for the spring, summer, and fall to inspire. Theresa Floral did the flowers, each one different and beautiful.

Sweet ideas for the sweetheart table

Flowing orchids on the buffet - Theresa Floral

We also featured some of our standard linens and worked with our friends at Party Rental to show off some great enhancements including glassware, chargers, tea lights, other color cushions, and chivari chairs. Theresa made the white collection simple yet sensational and the Winterthur team took ivory to new heights.

Party Rental Glasses, Theresa FloralParty Rental Chargers, Winterthur Florals

And of course there was more food if I am going to call this a tasting ,right? Salads, salads, and more salads. 5 great entrees and 5 featured items off of our fun stations. I have a vegetarian couple getting married here and the chef whipped up 2 great options for them to try as well. Everyone got to try so much food and we should have gotten everyone up and dancing to burn some calories before Thanksgiving.

And don’t forget - this was our first one. Shoot me an email or respond to this post to let me know your thoughts and feedback. Have a great holiday everyone!

I had a great time today working on a photo shoot with our buds from Eclatante - design and planning and our other fellow colleagues - Donna from Beautiful Bloooms, Marie Labbancz Photos, and Claudia on hair and make-up. I can’t wait to see these shots published. Here are a few of the pictures that I took. As soon as I get the professional ones I will have them up for you to see how cool this was!

Reflecting Pool

Blue like the water....

Staging the ceremony space

Lower Level of the Pool - Super Cool Aisle Runner

Reflecting Pool - Lower Level

Hi everyone. Another great night here at Winterthur. Tonight we spent the evening with Val and Ty who knew they wanted to get married here because the mother of the bride is a treasured Winterthur employee and they love it here - like we all do!

Val and Ty had a few things you should see - they used the Rolls Royce Winterthur owns for pictures, they used our very own Winterthur Floral Department for all of their flowers, and they took advantage of the option of having their names up on the flatscreens as well. Take a look at the fun pictures and let me know your thoughts

Staff greet guests w/Strawberry Lemonade as they step off shuttles

Charming - the "Vand T" at the pool

Love this great natural collection of plants where they got married

Powerpoint and a photo presentation in the lobby

Black overlays over white - great look

Pulling up in the Rolls

Congratulations Val and Ty!

No weddings on the 4th of July so we will all be watching fireworks next weekend. After that we have 2 a week so keep looking back to get some great ideas for your wedding!

Good evening everyone. If you have not been to Winterthur lately -this is a great week to do it - the daffodils along the front hills are popping up, the trees are flowering - Spring is Here!

And so are some new options for you. Now you may have your name in lights, er, flat screens. Winterthur has come up with various slides, colors, and fonts that you can choose from and the evening of your wedding they will appear on the flat screens to enhance your experience. The charge is a flat rate of $250. Check out the slides and let me know your thoughts.

08452-digital-wedding-signage

Coming soon - slide show options that you create with your family and friends photos and we post on the screens for you!

Hi everyone - I just got some great pics back from this event. Look at the great food Jason did and the amazing display by Brian and his team at Evantine Design. And did I mention that our pod was picked as the favorite for the evening from attendees and from our peers? what a boost!!

Sample Table Setting

Sample Table Setting

Food Display Table

Dream Cocktail Hour

Wouldn't you love to have this at your party?

Signature Cocktail

Food

Mini Cubans

Food

and more food!

Hi gang! 1st wedding of the season this evening - we are officially kicking off the 2009 wedding season. I will blog later this week with some pics from tonight’s wedding - right now I want to let you know about this great event we are participating in on the 25th - Fresh 2009.

Fresh is the premier catering and design showcase in our area every year! Everyone who is anyone in the events industry is there. It is a great way to share ideas, see the upcoming trends, and get inspired for the new season. I always leave feeling so filled with ideas that I can’t way to implement.

This year they are opening the doors to the public - with the target of brides to be - for the first time ever. You will get to the latest and greatest in design and decor - taste some of our new menu items, and hopefully get inspired or grab some ideas for those last minute things you don’t have settled yet. For more information visit their website at http://www.isesphila.com/displayconvention.cfm?conventionnbr=6418

Good afternoon everyone! There is some exciting news on the Winterthur estate today - the museum has received the amazing gift of this car from the Beals estate. This Rolls-Royce adds a new dimension to our visitor’s experience as we interpret this era of Winterthur as an American country estate. It truly represents the luxury vehicles that the guests of Henry Francis and Ruth Wales duPont traveled in when visiting Winterthur in the early 1930’s. Other owners of a Phantom I Rolls-Royce include such names as JP Morgan, Vanderbilt, Goodyear, Rockefeller, and of course, various duPonts!

Want to know why I am letting you know all of this information?

I am trying to find out from all of you how many of you would be interested in having the Rolls-Royce outside of your wedding venue here at Winterthur to enhance your day? Imagine your guests pulling up and seeing the Rolls-Royce in front of the Visitor Center or outside of the Reflecting Pool or Gallery. It is such the perfect addition to the ambiance of your wedding. And think about what the pictures next to it and inside of it could look like!

The car would be moved from its designated location by one of our specially trained drivers and would be positioned next to your ceremony or reception area before and after (weather and light dependant). We are thinking the charge would be approximately $500 for this service. What do you think ? Respond to me and let me know your thoughts and ideas and help me with this fantastic new feature we are so lucky to have!

Good morning everyone - Happy President’s Day!

It seems even the wedding mags have jumped on the economy trend this month as all of our favorites mention money saving tips on their covers. It seems everybody is looking for a way to get more for less or save to some extra money.

I volunteer with a charity that is near and dear to my heart - the Delaware Humane Association - and we have been talking economic strategy there as we start to worry about the waning donations being made - especially on the lower level (which all really add up - trust me!).

Rachel and I have always believed that the best favor you can give your wedding guests is the gift of a donation. Reading the magazines and working first hand with a charity - it seems this make even more sense right now. Favors can run you anywhere from $1.00 per person to $10.00 per person - of course dependant on what you choose. Rachel and I see so many favors left behind every single weekend - and in the end - they are thrown out. How about taking that $60 - $250 dollars and making a donation to a local charity or one that is special to you. Get a nice large 8 x 10 or 11 x 14 frame (that you can recycle for your wedding photos afterwards) and print up a letter explaining what you have done and to whom you made the donation and why it is special to you. Your guests will feel better about not having to take home one votive candle and you can feel great knowing your money is going right to work and that every dollar is needed right now.

Ideas for charities that you support? Let us know so we can share them with other brides and grooms and shed some more light on your favorite charities!

Good morning everyone. I love Winter at Winterthur -the snow covered grounds would be the perfect back drop for wedding pictures right now!

I am going to write today about the passes that guests are able to partake of at Winterthur during the wedding weekend (thank you to one of our fabulous mothers of the bride for the idea!).

First there are two separate things between the Associate Level Membership and the passes that come with that and then the wedding passes for guests the weekend of. Passes are available to all of your guests the day before, of, and after the wedding (assuming our business hours). Guests do not need to show anything - they simply let the staff at the front desk know which wedding they are attending for the weekend and they will be given a wrist band which allows for the following: Tram Tours (weather permitting), Garden Access, Gallery Access, Intro Film Access, and access to the bookstore, gift shop, and restaurant.

I think we get asked before every wedding for the best way to let guests know about this exciting opportunity. I love adding it to your wedding website if you have one. That is such a great way to share all of the information with everybody quickly and it is environmentally friendly as well as it reduces the need for more paper and brochures.

Should you not be doing a wedding website, there is another idea that I have stolen from one of our couples a few years back. Request brochures from Winterthur through me about a week prior to the wedding. Get yourself some large mailing labels and add the following lines”See the estate where we are to be married. Winterthur offers free pass no the following dates —— for our guests. Simply mention our wedding —– and you are in!”. You can then take the brochures and put them in the welcome baskets at the hotel.

What about the guests not staying in the hotel? Truthfully - most of the guests around town are not going to partake - they may be busy working or doing things around their home. Word of mouth is always great and making an announcement at the rehearsal dinner works as well.

Associate Level Members will also receive guests passes that may be used year round as friends and family come into town - a great perk with membership.

Hi Everyone!

It looks so amazing outside my window right now - a light snow - I love Winterthur in the winter - it is such a peaceful retreat! Rachel and I wanted to chare some exciting news with you - run out right now and buy the Spring Summer 2009 issue of Brides Philadelphia - we are all over it!

On the contents page is a picture of the great staircase coming from the back of the home to the pool. Inside - they scooped up Laura Novak’s fabulous pictures of one of our favorite wedding couples - Chris and Camille (see our blog from August). They have a real wedding spread on pages 116 - 118. And check out our newest ad. We changed some pictures and the colors and I love it - page 205. Let me know your thoughts as well.

True to trend - also in the magazine is a story about signature cocktails with some pictures and recipes. Check out our blog from last week about the same topic.

And I am working on new wedding packages with some new day time availability and hors d’oeuvres receptions. Brides talks about those as well and I have read them and added some notes to my homework.

Finally - wondering why I have not blogged from my sisters wedding - I just have not caught back up yet in order to write it and due all of the vendors justice. It was so wonderful (doesn’t everyone say that) and I want to share some tips and tell you about the vendors that I am totally indebted to. Look for that one soon (I promise). Hope everyone is well. Have a great weekend - Rachel and I have about 15 wedding tours in the next few days for prospective brides and grooms so we are going to try to keep warm and make them love Winterthur as much as we do!

Good evening everyone. Cold day here at Winterthur but so far it is not icy or snowing here in Delaware!

Rachel and I are in full tasting mode - we are hosting tastings for a lot of our upcoming wedding couples and we have been talking a lot about signature cocktails the past few weeks so I thought maybe it is time to share some thoughts directly from you and to hear your ideas as well.

What is a signature cocktail? This is one of the first chances you have to showcase your style/theme/ideas for the wedding to your guests. Imagine with me if you will - your ceremony has ended outside in the garden or at the reflecting pool. Guests watch you process down the aisle and then follow suit. They are greeted by our butler staff with silver trays filled with red and white wine and sparkling water. Then they see it - what is that fun colored drink in that cool glass that butler is holding? Talk about getting some attention!

We have had so many fun ideas with the drinks this year - we have had blueberry mojitos,  sangria (using my favorite recipe!), cranberry apple martinis - a great addition in the fall, chocolate martinis, peppermint martinis and so many more. Cocktails can reinforce your color theme, remind guests of a favorite trip you took, or introduce everybody to you and your fiancees favorite drink.

Take a look at some of the amazing drinks we have served and think about the impression they would make on your guests on your fabulous wedding day….Bellini, Blood Orange Cosmo, Blueberry Mojito, Blue Margarita, Peppermint Martini, Cosmic Mojito, Green Apple Martini, Mango Martini, Pink Martini, Raspberry Passionfruit Cosmo, Smoking Pomegranate Martini, Starfruit Slider, Watermelontini, Cran-appletini

Hopefully these will inspire you add a signature cocktail to your party and take it to the next level!! Seen other ideas you like and want to share them with Rachel and I? - submit them here - we would love to hear from you!

Next week - my report on my sister’s wedding - we are almost here. I hope everyone has a safe weekend and we will chat again soon.

First and foremost everyone here at Winterthur Museum and Restaurant Associates wishes all of you a safe and prosperous New Year! Rachel and I are ringing it in with high style and BLING this evening with a beautiful wedding here at the Visitor Center.  This wedding is a real treat as there as just so many creative ideas that I can not wait to share with you. And a reminder to those of you who are reading for the first time - click on the highlighted words to see pictures!!

Tonight’s theme - definitely BLING! There are tiny sparkly touches everywhere you look to create this one of a kind wedding. Lets start with what may be my favorite thing tonight - the cake. Almond cake with almond buttercream - but look at it. The cake topper and the cake jewelry (something new to me) work in perfect harmony to create this stunning masterpiece. Walker Cake, Walker Cake 2

Our couple really embraced the champagne idea for tonight as ell. I love this idea - they have silver markers and are asking their guests to write remarks on the bottles. They will, in turn, open a different bottle every month on their anniversary and get to read their friends and family good wishes. Walker Champagne Table

 So how about the square tables? We rented these tables for the couple - it certainly gives a different look. I had somebody just remark that it makes it look so special. With these particular tables we can seat up to 12 people so fewer tables but they do take up just about as much space as a few more smaller ones. I think they look really great and give a lot of room to the guests. Walker Room, Walker Tables

The sweetheart tables is so decked out - I love it. It always feels so sad when people don’t think about their own table or skimp their. Set the tone - you are the special couple and your tables should showcase that special something. Walker Sweetheart

 Danielle has wanted a candy table for her guests from the first time we started talking. She saw a specific picture of the candy arranged like a rainbow and we have duplicated it here for her. How cozy in front of the Christmas trees. Wakler Candy Table

We are unveiling one of our new stations this evening - the Caribbean one. Yes - I worked on it with the chef becuase of my love of that food. Red Snapper with Banana Jam - yum! Bay Scallop Ceviche with Citrus and Kiwi - Divine!

We have a small break now while Rachel and I gear up with tastings and new inquiries for the Spring season. We have a lot of great topics lined up for you in the next few weeks (including my own sisters wedding next Saturday!) so please keep checking us out each week. If you have ideas you would like us to write about please email us at this link. once again - happy New Years and we look forward to working with so many of you in 2009!

Good afternoon everyone!

Busy day in the office today here at Winterthur- we have just finished revising our catering wedding packages and I just sent them to be posted on the website for everyone. Jason has worked on some great new food items and we listed some stationary food ideas as well as some ideas for signature cocktails. I hope everyone likes them as much as we do.

We are still working on a package for a heavy hors d’oeuvres reception for the partiers out there that want to be mixing and mingling at their wedding. We are also working on a brand new idea - day time brunch weddings!! I am ironing out the particulars and hope to have that information listed by next week.

Rachel and I have had such a great time working with everyone this past year and we are really looking forward to the new bonds and families we will work with in 2009. We wish you all a safe and happy holiday with your families!!

Brianne and Raj could not have had a more perfect fall Wedding! The temperature was 65 degrees and sunny and the leaves here at Winterthur are absolutely gorgeous right now.

The couple had a wonderful day and truly embraced fall for the theme of  their wedding. With leaves scattered around, gourds and pumpkins as accents and the warmth of candle centerpieces really brought everything together. The couple used Asian lanterns in the Visitors Center for the reception. This time of year, they held their cocktail hour in our lobby with the front desk as the bar. Room 1, Room 2, Decor, Cake

 The room looked beautiful as always. Nicole and I truly love simple candle arrangements as centerpieces or as extra decor in the cooler months between November through March. That is always a fun idea and way to keep things elegant and simple. Candles

Whoa - where did the week go already and look at me getting behind. I can’t believe I missed posting all of these cool things that Miranda and Chip did last Sunday here at Winterthur. Chip and Miranda are a great couple and I worked with them a lot over the phone and via email. Both very busy with their careers in the art fields and with spending time with family and friends.

 Miranda had some great ideas of how she wanted to utilize the space. Their ceremony was on the east side of the Gallery at 6:30pm, as the sun was setting. Guests were greeted with steaming cups of hot apple cider and wine as the ceremony finished and while some lingered, most moved inside and took advantage of the time to go through our permanent exhibit. Guests were seated and treated to a fall inspired dinner complete with apple fritters and spaghetti squash!

Sine there were 50 guests and we did not want them to feel lost we set the guests up in a “U” which was really cozy and encouraged guests to talk more and get to know each other. I love the color combination and the small touches like the runners and the pressed leaves - Maher tables 1, Maher Tables 2

Even the cake was fall inspired - Maher Cake 1, Maher Cake 2

And Miranda and Chip wanted to make sure that all of their guests knew had helped them and where they could get all of the really cool things that they had so they made these cards to show everyone - Maher Cards 1, Maher Cards 2

And these may be the coolest seating cards/favors I have ever seen. The pressed flowers indicates where guests are to be seated and inside is a CD as a favor for the guests - Maher Placecards

 2 more weddings this evening and 1 tomorrow night and then the pool closes for the season and we slow down and try to get a head start on the wedding coming up for the rest of this year and next Spring!

Hi Everyone

Tonight is an overall wonderful eclectic surprise everywhere you look!

Camille and Chris Wilkinson were married tonight on a perfect August weather day - 84 degrees! Great Karma huh? Camille is an artist - Chris is a golf pro and the wedding was so representative of the two of them.

Flowers by Yukie did all of the arrangements - Camille and her mom purchased all of the vases for them to be used. Each flower arrangement was unique to the vase - Purdy Flowers, Purdy Flowers 2, Purdy Flowers 3, Purdy Flowers 4, Purdy Flowers 5, Purdy Flowers 6

Eventions is in for lighting -Purdy Lighting, Purdy Lighting 2

Favors this evening - Coffee! It smells so good in here - this would be great idea on a cold fall night or a winter wedding - the smell just envelopes the room! Purdy Coffee, Purdy Coffee 1

Cakes - one for the bride - and one for the groom - Purdy Wedding Cake, Purdy Grooms Cake

The tables of honor were a little different this evening - Purdy Head table

 And I don’t know what to call these things but I love them! -Purdy Spikes

Great ideas for all!

Friday night was absolutely gorgeous here at Winterthur. Man Yee and Samson could have not had better weather for their ceremony and reception here. With the sun shining and a nice breeze it didn’t even feel like August!!

 Man Yee and Samson had a beautiful wedding with some fun added extras. One thing that we have seen a couple people do is provide a sign in the parking lot for their wedding guests. It helps them know where the ceremony and receotion take place. Sign They were so put together and everything matched perfectly. They had everything from a photo booth for their guests to a traditional Lions Dance to an added dessert station of chocolate goodness. They had an Asian theme which works well inside the Visitors Center. Their place-cards were river rocks and fit in well. River Rocks They also has menu cards and tea fortes as their favors which all went together. Table Layout , Favors One of my favorite things was their cake topper. It was custom made and looks exactly like them!! Cake Topper

 It ended up being a really nice night and I think they were really happy with everything!

OK - I know - I am cheating. I was simply too tired on Saturday evening to update you all and write!

 Looking back at the wedding this weekend it was so very Sarah Savini. After working with the Savini family for over a year I feel that I really got to know Sarah really well and her touches were apparent everywhere.

 Beautiful Blooms did the flowers and they were so creative - as always! Savini Flowers, Savini Flowers 2, Savini Sweetheart Table

 The placecards were very zen - Savini Placecards, Savini Placecards 2

And everything was coordinated just so with the help of “Two Paper Dolls” - Savini Menu Cards, Savini Tablecards

 I know I have mentioned before how much I love the idea of using one of the Winterthur Books from the bookstore as a guests book that you can keep on your coffee table - Savini Sign In Book

 Linens are from Special Occasions and I think the room and the tables look great - Savini Set-up,

 We also worked with Sarah to create a lounge after 9pm in the lobby area, complete with a Bellini Bar - Savini Lounge set-up started, Savini Lounge

The cocktail tables on the patio added character - Savini Bug Jars

And how about this cake? - Savini Cake

 Marie Labbancz was their photographer and I am looking forward to sharing some more photos with you when I get a copy of some of the professional ones from Marie!!

Heather and Chris are so extremely happy right now. They ended up with a HOT but beautiful night for their wedding. The forecast at the beginning of the week looked a bit iffy, but it turned into a nice night. Heather did not want to worry about a thing on her wedding day so she decided to get a tent adjacent to the patio for her ceremony and cocktail hour just in case. Although there was no rain, I think the tent helped with the heat as well-it kept the sun out! Tent

They are such a happy couple and had some wonderful ideas! For example, Heather’s Grandfather has a 1931 Sedan that dropped Heather off right in front of the Visitor’s Center. They got some great pictures with the old car. Also, they had a wonderful idea for the lobby as well. They strung pictures from home made flower vases of themselves and family. Take a look and see. Strung Pictures ,  Pictures 2 , Picture 3 Theyhad a beautiful cake with ribbon to tie the whole color theme together. Cake

 It ended up being a wonderful night and another great wedding at Winterthur!

Kristin and Steve were married at St. Anthony’s this afternoon and are having their cocktail hour in the Gallery and dinner and dancing in the VC. We don’t get too many people that do this but it is a great way to show off Winterthur to all of your guests.

Kristin is surprising Steve with a cigar bar that has sentimental value on another front - her father, who has passed away, collected old cigar boxes so we have filled them with the cigars Kristin has provided as a treat to her new husband and the guests. Casey Cigars 1, Casey Cigars 2, Casey Cigars 3

There is a 40 x 60 tent on the patio tonight that Yukie and her team came in and added the wow factor to - check it out -  Casey Tent 1,  Casey Tent 2 And who does not love a sofa at the end of the night to kick back on; I guarantee you it will be packed all night! Casey Sofa 1, Casey Sofa 2

And since I have been remiss with the pics the past 2 weeks here are a few more for you Casey Flowers, Casey Room, Casey Cake

I will be posting again tomorrow night and I am crossing my fingers the rain moves in quickly this evening and out before the afternoon tomorrow evening!

Saturday we held the surprise shower for Ms. Sara Savini - one of our fabulous brides who is getting married here at Winterthur in August. The food looked great - the bride to be looked shocked - and the bridesmaids and guests looked happy. I think the standout - other then this super fun cocktail bar we had set up - was the flowers. These flowers were done by Theresa Clower of Theresa Florals. Theresa and I have worked together for years and I so excited that she has decided to devote her time to florals full time. I wish I had some pictures for you but I was kind of running around a lot that day and never got a chance to snap any. They were all tall and filled with different colored water with these balls of flowers hanging - very cool and very whimsical. I think Sara’s favorite part may have been the buffet centerpiece that the vase was full of flip-flops - a nod to Sara’s rumored 300 pairs!