A Taste of Design

I hope everyone had an excellent 4th of July weekend. . . now get ready for the heat.  Recently I worked on the Second Annual Award Winning Taste of Design for the Paoli Design Center along with Mainline Magazine.  I fell in love with the venue from the second I walked in the front door.  One of my favorite tasks as a planner is taking an every day space or business and transforming it into a magnificent event venue.

If you haven’t seen The Paoli Design Center before, you need to.  It is a masterpiece all on it’s own.  The design center is located in (you guessed it) Paoli, Pennsylvania in the heart of the Mainline.  It is the one stop shop for all of your designing needs.  Their website states that visiting the center is “like walking through the pages of a luxury interior design magazine”.  They hit the nail on the head.  “The Paoli Design Center’s open showroom spans 24,000 square feet and provides the most elite collection of the industry’s finest product lines including, lighting, tile, marble, furniture, accessories, home theaters, home security systems, state of the art electronics, hardscapes, landscapes, outdoor environments, saunas, wine storage systems, steam showers and more.”  Comprised of six prestigious design businesses (many of them multiple award winners) The Paoli Design Center is your one stop shop for all of your home design needs.  Scattered throughout the center you will find Audio Video Consultants, Lighting by Design, Baltic Leisure, Closet and Storage Concepts, Volpe Tile, & OuterSpaces Landscaping.  You also need to be sure to take a look at the work of Cassandra Ellis.  She does a great deal of the graphic design work for the businesses of the center, including the invitation for the event itself which you can see above.  She is amazingly talented.

The Second Annual Taste of Design took place on June 10th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.  The 420 attendees were combination of prospective clients, past clients, friends, family, and local residents.  All proceeds of the event (donations and raffles) were raised to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Chester County.

Everyone in attendance got to experience a phenomenal evening.  Hors d’oeuvres & cocktails were sponsored by Franco’s Trattoria, Carlino’s Specialty Foods & Catering, Crystal Rose Catering, Chaddsford Winery, Cupcakes Gourmet (yum!), Firecreek Restaurant & Bar, & Doghouse Gourmet Burgers.  We were also joined by special guests EuroMotorcars of Devon, Matt Cleave of Studio XI Photography, and the clothing of Van Cleve Collection shown throughout the evening by glamorous models.

Everything was fantastic however; I was most appreciative of the gorgeous weather, which allowed everyone to enjoy the stunning outdoor area created by OuterSpaces Landscaping.  It reminds me of something from Tuscany.  I could sit out there and relax all day

Thank you to everyone who worked to make this event possible, and a huge thank you to Matt Cleave for all the great images!  Through every one’s hard work we were able to produce an incredible evening enjoyed by all.

Studio XI Photography

www.eventsbymonroe.com

Romance in New Hope (Philadelphia Event Planner)

Last month the associated press published an article noting the 10 MostRomantic Places to Visit in America. http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle272347510_most_romantic_places_to_visit_in.html?cat=16.  I was excited to see New Hope, PA included in the list.  It is one of my favorite places to spend a sunny day, and also is where I will be marrying my fiance next April

When we began looking at venues we first went to Font Hill Castle in Doylestown, which is an absolutely gorgeous venue.  I was sold from the moment we pulled down the classic tree lined driveway.  Jack Skudris, owner of memorable affairs, took us on a thorough tour of the facility, and spent a great amount of time discussing the many options they offer.  We left the meeting ready to go home and sign the contract.

I am extremely organized and always on the ball with planning my clients weddings and events.  Lucky for me, I am a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to my own.  After thinking about it for a few weeks we came to the conclusion that it just wouldn’t work with our budget (Yes. . . even event planners have a wedding budget ).  I came across the reception site we would book completely by accident.  In fact, I was working on a client’s wedding when I found it.  I had not been to the venue yet, but had seen it on Memorable Affairs website, when I decided it would be a good option for my clients.  I scheduled a meeting with Pat Kor to check it out before taking my clients.

The venue is Occasions, and is located right in New Hope in Union Square.  I fell in love with the rich colors, extensive decor, and chic modern vibe.  I couldn’t believe the pricing, and how much they included in their package.  I can honestly say you will not get more for your money anywhere else in the Philadelphia or surrounding areas, and I have a lot of experience to base this comparison on.  They even include linens and napkins of any color you want for no additional charge.  This is virtually unheard of!  I regretted that I hadn’t been out to see this location sooner.  The pictures they have, although beautiful, do not do the location justice.  You really need to see if for yourself, and feel the energy of the building.  In addition to my love for the location, working with the staff of memorable affairs has been just as amazing of an experience.  They are always available, and will schedule their meetings at your convenience, not theirs.

Needless to say, this is where my reception is booked.  I can’t wait to start planning all the details.  The fact that it is in New Hope makes it all that much better.  I love the uniqueness of New Hope, the shops, bed and breakfasts, art, etc.  I am also excited to be able to make our wedding a destination weekend without our guests having to travel far.  I will be blogging about the whole planning process as I mentioned in a blog a while back, and would love feedback.  Although I have been to New Hope many times, I would love some advice on good spots for photos.  So.. to all my readers and photographers out there, what are your favorite spots in New Hope for pictures??  Help me out

Photos : Provided by Memorable Affairs