I Love the Shiny and the Pretty Stuff!!

Hello!! The last couple of weeks have been hectic but good. I am working on both Weddings and Corporate events and am grateful to be busy and love what I do. Speaking of things I love, I have to tell you about one of my favorite places to take clients. If you are a lover of all things shiny and gorgeous then you must not walk, but RUN to Twinkle Twinkle at 40 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables and visit Alicia Balmelli.

For those of you who do not know me personally, I NEVER recommend a vendor unless they are great and there is NEVER anything in it for me. I do not accept commission from any vendors. With that said, I will tell you why I think Twinkle Twinkle is such an amazing shop. First, Alicia, the owner, has amazing taste. She knows exactly what to order and what Brides want. When I take my clients to visit vendors, I make sure Twinkle Twinkle is my last stop because once they walk in, it is difficult to get them out. From the minute you set foot into the shop, you are in sensory overload. If you're lucky, you will be greeted by the Twinkle Twinkle mascot, Josh. You will need to go in and meet him as words cannot describe him properly. Take your time and peruse the beautifully lit glass cases. Not only does Alicia pick out great high-end costume and silver jewelry but she has a gorgeous collection of handbags, cake accessories, gifts for the groomsmen, and more. I could go on for days!

Here is what you need to do. If you tell Alicia that "Ana Cruz Rocks!", you will get a special gift with purchase. Try on my faves, Alicia knows exactly what they are, headpieces, bracelets, handbags, all of it! It is important to look at yourself wearing these fab items in what I call the "mirror of death." This mirror is located at the rear of the store and has the power to compel you to buy everything you see yourself wearing. Hence, the mirror of death (to your bank account). Do not worry the jewelry is not as expensive as it looks. It is a great place to shop for quality accessories with out really killing your bank account. The service is phenomenal and every client gets the star treatment but the paparazzi are not allowed in the shop. Photos are prohibited in the kingdom of Twinkle Twinkle but the shiny and pretty stuff is abundant.

Ana M. Cruz

Ana Cruz Event Planning

www.anacruz.com

305.788.5540

Mother Nature Can Be a Very Mean Lady!

As promised, I wanted to update you on the wedding I managed last weekend for my clients Hans and Soraya.  They are the type of couple that everyone meets and loves, so every vendor involved with them truly wanted to do anything and everything to make their wedding day extra special.  Mother Nature had other plans.  With the dream wedding scheduled in the quaint private beach at La Siesta in Islamorada Florida, we needed to have amazing weather but had just the opposite.  Think - 20 to 30 mile per hour winds and constant rain.  Luckily the couple had an air-conditioned tent so the reception could be salvaged.  The ceremony was on the hotel's dock where the designers at Landy's Flowers had created a beautiful bamboo arbor with tropical flowers to match the gorgeous centerpieces inside the tent.  All was very beautiful, scenic, organic but unfortunately rainy.  As the bands of bad weather blew in, we would get the occasional reprieve from the rain.  I remembered how the bride and groom had told me that the ceremony was so important to them.  They even hired former T.V. anchor and current radio host turned Officiant, Kelly Craig, to write a sentimental, and very personal ceremony just for them.  The vision of the ceremony with the ocean as the backdrop was their dream.  

As 5:00 p.m. approached the weather showed no improvement.  I had to make the phone call that every planner dreads - "We are going to have use your plan B for the ceremony".   The bride was disappointed but knew that although I could control just about everything the weather, was out of my hands.  Just as the florist was starting to move flowers into the tent, there was a break in the weather.  The bride was in route (did I tell you both she and the groom were arriving in separate boats? Not complicated at all!!).  I decided at that very moment to take a shot and laugh in the face of Mother Nature.  I thought, "Listen lady, you will not take my clients ceremony dream away".  Five minutes after my risky decision the  groom showed up with his Father and Groomsmen to Phil Collins, "In the Air Tonight" or whatever it is called, just think of a shout out to Miami Vice.  The groom walked up the aisle and took his place at the altar next to his Best Man/Dad and his Officiant, Kelly Craig.  He gave me the green light to keep the ceremony on that dock no matter what.  Just then, the bride's cabin cruiser was in the distance.  She and her bridesmaids would be docking in just moments.  I felt a drop on my face and my heart sank.  The guests were total troopers and sat quietly under their umbrellas.  As the bride approached they cheered for her and it was such a warm moment.  The groomsmen were waiting for their partners on the dock and I approached the bride's boat.  I asked her if she was ready for an adventure and she smiled and said, "It is what it is".  The rain was now coming down in bigger drops and their was no mistaking that this couple was getting married in the rain.  There are many that say that it is good luck when it rains on your wedding day, but I know that that was probably invented many years ago by a very savvy planner in my same predicament.

Kelly Craig welcomed everyone to Hans and Soraya's Baptism!  That definitely got a laugh from the crowd.  The ceremony was beautiful and meaningful.  The couple stood under a big colorful umbrella that was totally Florida Keys and a great photo-op.  The ceremony ended and suddenly a beautiful and vivid rainbow appeared directly behind the "altar".  I could not make this up, people.  It really happened.  The rain stopped and just when I though I had defeated Mother Nature the wind almost knocked me in the water.  "Feets don't fail me now!  Where is that lovely air-conditioned tent with the gorgeous draping and chandeliers?  It was in the distance like a beacon with gorgeous lighting provided by Party Sparks.  The rest of the night was dreamy and fun and at the end of  the night I felt good that the couple got their dream ceremony albeit soggy.  The bride and groom could not be happier.

Getting rained on, the waves of water in my non-functioning Blackberry's screen, the loss of my favorite Swarovski pen in the sand and the memory of the last time I ate which was the night before, could not take away my fabulous mood after a job well done and giving my clients exactly what they told me that they wanted the first time we met.  Who said this job isn't glamorous?

Ana M. Cruz

Ana Cruz Event Planning

www.anacruz.com

305.788.5540

I Would Rather Have a Vendor with a Heart Than One with a Fancy Store

More from Ana Cruz....

I am really excited about my Blog.  I can be a bit technically challenged but writing has always been a passion of mine.  In looking at the header photo I knew exactly what to write about.   The florist that created the flowers for the gorgeous wedding pictured, was Leda Avila with Geranio's Flowers, a small Mom & Pop shop.  The flower shop, located in the Little Havana area, is clean, small and not very fancy.  I have to admit that the first time I was brought there by a client I was taken aback because the photos I had seen of their work just didn't go with this small neighborhood flower shop.  They say you learn something new everyday and that day, boy did I learn!  It is not about the big fancy shop that passes out champagne to their potential clients or the shop that has the most amazing displays.  Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking fancy blinged out places, I do love them, but what you see may not be representative of what you get.

Geranio's Flowers has something so much more important than elaborate decor.  They have great ideas, excellent customer service and a strong work ethic.  Best of all they have heart and they truly care about their customers.  I have no hesitation referring them business.  It is important when selecting your vendors that you choose those that fit your style, budget and personality.  Don't forget, the shop you visit is only a building, what counts are the people inside.  Do your vendors have heart?

Ana M. Cruz

Ana Cruz Event Planning

www.anacruz.com

305.788.5540

A Good Planner Should Always Make Their Clients Own It

From our good friend Ana Cruz

Those of you who have ever heard me speak know that I am big on people owning it.  What does that mean when planning a wedding?  Simple, the bride and groom should make their event unique to them in some way.  It means that instead of letting a bridal magazine or T.V. show be their inspiration they should look no further than their own relationship for inspiration.  One of my favorite weddings ever was that of Aaron and Eric.  It was not just because they were incredibly fun people to be around but because they understood what "owning it" meant.  They had a love for good music, good parties and good tattoos.  Yes, I said tattoos.  They had their close friend/tattoo artist ordained so he would perform their ceremony.  The couple picked the National Hotel on South Beach as their venue.  Although they wanted to have a rockin’ wedding, they also wanted something elegant and tasteful that everyone from Grandma to their young cousins could enjoy.  

I began first with color scheme.  The bride loved purple.  We paired luxurious black linens from AB Cover Designers with a periwinkle meets blueberry cushion on a mahogany chivarri chair.  

For the flowers, Vivian from Vivian's Petals brought buckets and buckets of orchids from solids to spotted with hints of Picasso calla lilies.  Each table's floral design was different and each was truly a work of art in shades of purple against a silk black backdrop.  

So far you are like cool, but how did you make them own it.  Well, I asked their Officiant/Tattoo Artist to draw a picture of a bold but romantic tattoo design.  Think of swirls and hearts meets a tribal tattoo.  I gave the artwork to Sean McCourt from the Party Pros and he created a custom gobo.  Picture pool side at The National Hotel with amazing swirls of light on the floor.  

To say that the wedding was gorgeous would be an understatement.  Grandma never knew the beautiful lighting designs were in fact tattoo designs.  The couple knew it loved it and yes,  they owned it.  

For a finishing touch I add a sterling silver chain with Swarovski crystals to join the Bride & Groom chair.  In the center point between the two chairs?  A skull of course!  I just could not resist.  See this image on my website’s gallery, www.anacruz.com.

The moral of my story?  If no two couples are like, then no two weddings should ever be alike.  

Ana M. Cruz

Ana Cruz Event Planning

www.anacruz.com

305.788.5540