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