Hosting  a Cocktail Party?

Here are some steps to help guide you!

Want to throw a cocktail party, but have no idea where to even begin? Well this will show you step by step information on what you need to throw an elegant successful cocktail party all on your own! Cocktail parties are a great way to entertain because they accommodate any kind of guest list, from a casual get together with friends to a formal business gathering.

1. The normal time frame for a cocktail party is about two to three hours and they are usually held between 6 to 10pm. This makes it easier to plan a cocktail party on any night of the week because usually everyone is out of work by that time.
2. Buy more ice then you think you will need just to be on the safe side. You should have about 1 lb per guest.  This ice is needed for keeping cans cool and chilling the drinks.
3. You should also have many different glass sizes and styles at your cocktail party.  This provides variety and makes it more interesting. You have to go out in style.  You should have twice as many glasses as you do guests because not everyone will drink the same thing twice.
4. For the wine drinkers you should have 1 bottle for every two people, for the beer drinkers you should have one six pack for every two people, and then get one or two liquors that can make a bunch of different cocktails. Then of course you have your mixers, you can’t forget those! Examples of some mixers are orange juice, soda, ginger ale, cranberry juice, and seltzer.  Also have lemons, limes and olives on hand.
5. As far as the menu goes you should have a variety of different foods to accommodate everyone present at your party. For instance, meat, vegetarian, hot, cold, spicy, and sweet.  I know many caterers average about 5 pieces per person so take that into consideration when planning how much to buy, depending on the amount of guests attending.
6. At the end of the night it’s always nice to offer coffee or tea to your guests before they get ready to leave.  It’s a nice way to wind down the night.

I hope these steps help for you to have a successful cocktail party on your own! Enjoy and happy planning!

-Alyssa

BYOC
Build. Your. Own. Centerpiece
Fabulous centerpiece ideas for those who love to save

Whether it be a corporate function, a wedding, or a social gathering the décor of a room is always important. You always want your guests to feel as though the event is a place where they can relax and enjoy themselves while leaving all their worries in the lobby. An important part of the feel of a room has to do with how the seating areas are decorated. Guests will either be sitting at the average tables (round or rectangle) enjoying drinks and a meal or standing at cocktail tables enjoying each other’s company. You would be surprised how much of an impact table décor can make on a room. Imagine a plain white event space with your standard 72’ rounds with just plain linens and a few place settings…boring. What kind of impression would that make on a guest? Probably none. Now, imagine that same space with tables with a floral piece in the middle surrounded by votives. Immediately the look of the room is changed. Depending on ones budget you can go extreme with table décor but if you don’t have the budget of the stars then here are a few ways to wow your guests without breaking the bank…

Candles

Using candles as centerpieces is a classy alternative for floral arrangements. First things first, no scents. You don’t want your guests to enter a room filled with the scent of cake batter or cinnamon spice. Its great for your personal living space but we must keep in mind that if you are using multiple candles per piece that smell is going to be extremely strong so stay away from scents and stick to unscented candles. Candles placed in a tall glass vase and gathered together in alternating sizes looks stunning especially when the lighting of the room is dim. Add flower petals around the base of the vases and you have just upped that piece from classic sophistication to chic and fabulous. Another great way candles can be used is by using floating candles. My personal favorite is using the same style of vase I mentioned before, filling the base with water, and having about a 3’ white candle floating at the top. Here’s a fun idea that you can do yourself or have a florist help you with. Take flower petals or a single flower and have it in the base. I personally love the look of orchids in the base with the candle at the top; it’s so elegant and looks quite expensive. The look that the water gives to the flower is really magical and sure to make quite the impression on your guests

If you’re not much of a flower person you can use acrylic gems, sand, even seasonal items like chestnuts or leaves to dress up a simple candle centerpiece. You can find these items in stores like AC Moore and Michaels as well as your local 99-cent stores! They tend to carry glass vases for $1 so that’s a sure way to save some money. Candles are a beautiful way to light up not only the room but also the faces of your guests while enjoying your event.

Minimal Flowers

In a perfect world we would all be able to afford extravagant floral pieces with jewels dripping from the branches and a small orchestra playing in the vases but unfortunately some of us have other things to put our money towards other than pretty petals. Now a days many grocery stores sell beautiful floral bouquets for around  $19.99 where you can get two-dozen flowers for half the price of a florists. Now brides if this is for you I wouldn’t suggest to you on your wedding day because this is your day so enlist the help of a friend or maid of honor to do the honors. If this is for a corporate function one can run to the store a few hours before the event and keep the flowers in the break room fridge until its time to party. Try taking about 4 or 5 roses and cutting them down so the stem is about 5 inches tall. Place in a small square or round clear glass vase. Have about 3 per table for a medium sizes table and just 1 for a cocktail table and poof! You have an elegant centerpiece. For added flair use different color flowers, in each piece. Also you can place a mirror on the table and place the vases on top. This look is very clean and crisp and will definitely impress your guests.

If you want to stretch your budget just a bit you can do a piece with more flowers but instead of a tall piece think low and decorative. Take a look at the pink and black piece above; Pink carnations are used in an inexpensive glass vase wrapped in ribbon that can be brought at any craft store. Black gems are cascading inside via fishing line giving it an extra touch of glamour. This looks expensive but it’s really affordable. Using flowers such as carnations and daises will cut costs in half compared to roses and orchids. Who said a piece needs to be filled with flowers to be fabulous? Your own personal touches are what make the piece special for you and yours.

Candy

Who said candy was just for kids? Using candy in a centerpiece is a fun way to get your guest’s eyes popping and their mouths watering. I recommend candy pieces for children’s parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, baby/bridal showers, and even a casual corporate function. Multicolored lollipops, rock candy, and peppermint sticks coming out of tins or glass containers looks surprisingly pretty and good enough to eat. Having different candies like gummies, chocolate candies, and decorative pretzels in tall glass jars almost like a buffet serves not only as a centerpiece but a favor! At the end of the night staff can hand out decorative bags for your guests to take goodies home. For a corporate function a fun way to tie in the old and the new would be to get vintage/classic candies and display them in small barrels. In lieu of large tables just have tall cocktail tables with simple candles for light (many venues provide votive candles free of charge) and a section of the room dedicated to these delectable goodies. Charleston chews, Hershey bars, Root beers and sugared fruits displayed in these barrels would make your boss feel like a kid again and really… what’s wrong with that?! Candy when brought in bulk is inexpensive and serves for multiple purposes; Decor, parting gift, and best of all great conversation.

Whether you use candles, flowers, or candy for a centerpiece remember that the event is about you…
Wedding … the bride and groom
Corporate function is …celebration of the company
Bridal/Baby Shower … the bride/mommy to be
Retirement … an ode to a life of working hard and success
Birthday… another year older

If you have any questions or would like any ideas please feel free to contact me at Mferreira@pentaevents.com. I have a ton of ideas and would love to assist in planning your special event.

Happy Planning!
-Marie

Valentines Day
Why not throw your very own party this year?

Whether you have a special someone or you’re spending it with a group of your close friends, Valentines Day can still be a fun, eventful holiday. This year why not throw a themed Valentines Day party?  Adding a theme to a party makes it even more interesting and a lot more fun to plan.  From the invitations and decorations to the food and drinks, I will give you ideas to make this Valentines Day one of your best ones yet!

Themes:
Pretty in Pink Party- This can involve couples and single friends. Everyone must wear pink. Yes, even the guys.  Even if it’s a pink tie, at least it is something! You can even give out a prize to the person with the most pink-involved outfit to make it more exciting.

Match Maker Party- Do you have a friend that is nice, fun, smart but just not your type? Well then this is the party for you.  Every one of us has friends like this! Invite all of your single friends and have them invite their friends, this way everyone at your party has a chance to meet someone new. Your perfect match could be closer than you think! It should be a casual yet fun party.

Singles Party- Grab all of your single friends and embrace this lovely holiday together! The more single people at the event, the more new people there are for your guests to meet.

Chocolate Tasting Party- What better way to celebrate such a holiday then with a large amount of delicious tasting chocolate?  Discover a whole new variety of chocolate ranging from lightest to the darkest chocolate.  Break the chocolate into small pieces for each person to try but make sure that in between each sample that there are apples or unsalted crackers for the guests to have to clean their palate so that their flavor is not conflicted. Make sure you label each individual piece so there is no confusion.  Then after all have been sampled share all of your comments with each other.  You will be surprised what others have to say!

Invitations:

When planning a party invitations are one of the most important parts.  It really can show a lot about your party that you are inviting your guests to.  For each of these themes though your invitations will be similar.  You should defiantly personalize your invitations to make them more memorable looking. There is nothing wrong with getting some red or pink construction paper, glitter, markers, and cutting it into a heart shape like you would if you were in grade school.  Then in poem form, put all of your party information down.  Then to finish off the invitations put some heart confetti inside the envelope for your guests to have a sparkly surprise!

Decorations:

Wherever you are having your party, it should be well decorated.  Let’s start with getting some pink ribbon or pink tulle.  This should be tied around the chairs and railings and draped on the windows and doors to give an elegant look.  Next have heart shaped balloons to either dangle from the ceiling or you can tie them to the chairs or outside where the party is taking place.  Group them in odd numbers if possible because it looks best.   Flowers are great to put as a centerpiece on the table.  Roses or Carnations are great inexpensive options.  I would choose red, white, and pink. They will collaborate well with the red or pink table cloth.  Also for the table, if you have heart confetti, sprinkle it all around the table sparingly to create a dazzling effect! Rose petals can also be used for this.    It is also nice to have some heart shaped chocolate in bowl placed around the room that way if your guests want to munch they have something sweet!

Food and Beverage:

For this type of party your best with having appetizers and then dessert.  Starting with the beverages, I would have Champagne and water with lemon and orange wedges inside of it to give it some flavor.  Also something that would be fun to go with the theme of Valentines Day would be Shirley temples!  To make it even more exciting you can buy red glow cubes that have that ice cube look and light up your cocktail.  For food, shrimp cocktail, pink fruit such as strawberries, cherries and raspberries, and mini sandwiches that are in a heart shape.  You can create that look by using a cookie cutter!  Then for dessert fondue works best in large groups!  Get the chocolate fountain and have food such as, marshmallows, fruit, pretzels, and graham crackers for the guests to dip with.  You can also have cookies and red velvet cake as well to give more variety.  This is a great idea and is very different that it will leave your guests in amazement.  Some examples of candy for that are Hershey Kisses, m&m’s, and Red Hots.  Put little red bags next to the table so that guests can take a treat home with them!

Favors:

As for party favors I recommend a couple of ideas.  My first choice would be to personalize a candy bar wrapper and wrap it around Hershey bar and give it to your guests as they leave.  On the wrapper put all the information of your party such as the date and the name of the event.  This will make it more memorable.  You don’t have to use a candy bar either; you can use a lollipop and mint and candy tins.  If you wanted to be even more creative you could do all three of those and have your guests pick what they would like.  There are always the simple goodie bags that you can never go wrong with or candles that are chocolate scented.  All of these

Happy Friday! The busy workweek has come to a close and we thought it’d be great to share with you some great NYC hot spots to go to on this chilly New York weekend. We’ve featured something for all tastes from bars to museums to movie showings and beyond; New York City is always filled with fun events for all walks of life.

February 28, 2011

It’s the beginning of the weekend so lets start off with some fun and exciting events!

If you like beers and microphones…

Free Open Bar at Pulse Karaoke Bar – 135 West 41 Street

Go and enjoy free single liquor drinks, Bud Lite, and wine from 6PM-7PM while singing the night away with your friends. What could be better than free drinks and good company? If your looking for a fun night out where you don’t need to put on your best shoes this is the place for you.  Check out the site at: http://www.pulsekaraoke.com/

If you enjoy Pinot or Merlot…

Upscale Wine Night at 240 Fifth Rooftop Garden Bar and Restaurant – 230 5^th Avenue

Wine and Dine with the fabulous people! Wine and Martinis will be flowing all night at discounted prices. No cover charge, which is always a plus.  For more information visit: http://lwine17b-atom.eventbrite.com/

If you’re in the mood to laugh…

Eastville Comedy Club Between – 2^nd Ave and Bowery

Enjoy a night full of laughs featuring comedians Dean Edwards of SNL, Jay Okerson of Badboyz of Comedy, Nate Baragalz of Comedy Central and many other great comedians. For free tickets call (212) 260-2445. There is a two drink minimum per person but the normal cover charge of $20 is waived so hey why not!?

Take a look at the site if you’d like to learn more: http://www.eastvillecomedy.com/

February 29, 2011

The weekend isn’t over yet! Here are some more fun spots for your Saturday night!

Give my regards to Broadway…

$20at20 ticket prices for Off Broadway Shows!

All you have to do is go to the box office at the specific theater you are looking at 20 minutes before the start time of the show and as long as they aren’t sold out you can get tickets for just $20 dollars for such shows as “My Big Gay Italian Wedding,” “Stomp,” “The Divine Sister,” and many many more. This great discount accompanies the start to NYC Restaurant Week so after a tasty meal enjoy a great performance at a fraction of normal ticket prices. This special promotion will be running though February 6^th.

Take a look at the site for more info: http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/2011/01/20_offbroadway_7.php

If you’re feigning for some Beer and BBQ…

2^nd Annual Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival
La.Venue 608 West 28^th Street from 12PM-930PM

Okay…One word…YUM! Good drinks and BBQ all together? I could die and go to heaven right now! Enjoy tasting of 60 beers, 40 bourbons and tons of BBQ while listening to great music. Admission includes sampling glasses for all the drinks you wish to try. Any questions contact La Venue at (212) 967-9636 or check out the website:
http://www.beerandbourbon.com/new-york/show-info

If you’re in the mood for some art…

Solomon R. Guggenheim – 1071 5^th Avenue and East 89 Street

Enjoy free admission to the famous Guggenheim museum between 5:45 PM and 7:45 PM. This special happens every Saturday afternoon so whether you’ve had a rough Friday night and want to do something low key or have a true love for the arts go out and enjoy the history and beauty the museum has to offer. For more information check out the website: http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/about

January 30, 2011

Many of us like to relax on Sundays seeing that the work week will start the next day so here are some more low key events you may enjoy on a lazy Sunday!

If you’re in the mood for the silver screen…

Tribeca Grand Hotel – 2^nd Ave of the Americas

Between 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM enjoy a free movie and popcorn in the beautiful theater of the Tribeca Grand Hotel. This event happens every Sunday at the hotel unless posted in advance. This Sunday they are featuring Woody Allen’s movies Annie Hall starting at 6:30 and Manhattan beginning at 8:30. Instead of staying in your pajamas all day with mismatching socks why not put on some comfy clothes and take a trip to this event. You don’t have to get dressed up and hey…free popcorn! For more info click on the link and learn bout this fun experience!  Visit: http://www.tribecagrand.com/

If you’re in the mood for some fashion savings…

Loehmanns Designer Sale NYC – 101 7^th Avenue

Starting at 10:00 AM through 8:00 PM enjoy discounts at a discount department store! We’re all cutting back our spending so why not go out and get some great deals on fabulous clothes? Grab a few friends and head to Loehmanns, I’m sure you’ll find something great worth purchasing. For more info and a great coupon check out the link!
http://www.loehmanns.com/coupons/25offclritem0126fnl_fa10.aspx

If you love Chili…

NY Chili Festival 2011 at Chelsea Market – 75 9^th Avenue

From 4PM through 8PM join fellow “foodies” in the celebration of chili, beer, and all things spicy! There will be a 500ft concourse of chili served by dozens of New York City chefs who are competing for the 2011 Golden Chili Mug title. They will be featuring Brooklyn’s Brewery Beers to accompany the meaty spicy goodness. If you ask me this is an event not to miss! Check out the site for more info:  http://chilifest2011.com/

I hope I’ve given you some ideas on what to do this weekend! New York City always has something going on whether it be a art showing, sample sale, or a really great nightclub you will never be bored in the big apple! If you would like any other options or have any questions feel free to email me Mferreira@pentaevents.com. I’d love to hear from you! Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!

-Marie

Low Budget, High Class

We hope everyone had a great weekend!  Here at Penta, we had the pleasure of planning and executing the wedding of Shawnna Jackson and Khayree Jannah on Saturday, January 22^nd.  It was a frigid morning filled with flower petals, tulle, and a happy couple.  With this particular event, we did not have an enormous, celebrity wedding budget but with our creativity, talents and hard work, we executed a beautiful ceremony and reception fit for any popular icon.

The alter was draped with white tulle, filled with scattered purple flower petals and a bundle of wisteria colored roses at each draped point.  This added color and class to the traditionally decorated church.  On each pew, we added a white cone made of cardstock, tied with a wisteria colored ribbon and filled each cone with purple roses.  This simple but elegant décor complimented the bride’s overall classic fairy tale look at an affordable price.  This particular church had an upper balcony that over looked the entire church.  On the balcony, we again used the white tool with the petals to bring the look of the church together.  We worked with the florist to create a simple and elegant bouquet for the ladies and boutonnières for the men.  As a gift to the bride, the florist provided a complimentary throw bouquet in addition to her beautiful bouquet adorned with white and purple roses and tied with silver ribbon.  Many thanks to Sunnyside Florist for being so helpful with this event and providing beautiful décor at an affordable price.  (Ask for Bill at 40-05 Queens Blvd. Sunnyside, NY 11104.  718-784-8226)

The reception was located on the lower level of the church, which was very convenient, not only for us but also for the loved ones attending the wedding. For centerpieces, we placed a simple 3” wide white candle inside a hurricane glass vase, filled the space around the candle with more purple rose petals and placed a mirror underneath.  Around the centerpieces were more petals.  Once the candles were lit, the reflection of the candle light with the petals added that extra touch of glamour to the room.  The room was the perfect size for her 175 guests and the church staff was extremely helpful by providing complimentary lighting décor and classic table settings.  The Penta team really outdid themselves and pulled off a simple yet elegant wedding. Again, we congratulate our bride and groom and wish them a life of happiness.

This wedding is a great example of how an event planner can provide cost effective ideas without sacrificing the style and elegance requested.  Floral design can be quite expensive.  Flower petals are a great cost effective solution to add life and color to your design.  Creating your own centerpieces is also a great way to stay under budget.  Search for photos of designs that you enjoy and fit within your theme.  Then, visit an affordable craft site (Penta’s favorite is saveoncrafts.com) and purchase each item individually.

Never let a budget stop you from having exactly what you want on your special day.  Feel free to contact Penta for additional cost saving ideas for your wedding or upcoming event.

-Alyssa & Marie