You’re about to put a whole lot of work into planning a party that your guest of honor won’t know anything about until he or she walks into the room. It would be so deflating if your honoree found out ahead of time. The party would still be fun, but that special element would be missing. Here’s how to throw a surprise party that’s really a surprise: Before You Even Start Make sure the person you want to surprise will enjoy it. Some people really hate to be surprised, and after all this party should be what they want. Enlist a Fellow Conspirator You’ll need someone to wrangle everything before you get there. Or it might be more reasonable that someone else bring the honoree to the party. In either case, if you live with the honoree, have your conspirator be the one who accepts the RSVPs. Invite the Guest of Honor Tell him or her you want to go out for the big day. Just the two of you. Or if it’s a really big birthday and you want to avoid all suspicion, pick a date other than his actual birthday. The Saturday before might be a good time to spring something. And if you think even that might arouse curiosity, make the party a Sunday brunch. Who would suspect a surprise brunch? Alternatively, invite him to go to a party for someone else. But be kind and, whatever the diversion, make sure he’ll be dressed for the event you’re really going to. (This goes double if your honoree is female. Even a guest of honor will be unhappy if she’s dropped unprepared into a dress-up party.) Invite Guests by Mail or Phone Use snail mail or the phone, no exceptions. Make it very clear that it’s a surprise party and that the invitees are honor-bound to reveal nothing. Remind them to be careful not to let anything slip or ask questions that they wouldn’t normally ask. Do Not Email Anyone About the Party Even if you’re sending an email on a different topic, don’t include anything about the surprise party. People forward emails without giving it too much thought, and also have an annoying habit of responding to emails with copies to people who shouldn’t be seeing them. Soon enough your guest of honor is reading all about the big surprise next Saturday night. Do Not Post About It on Facebook That’s a given, right? No matter how secret the page is. Don’t Tell Any Blabbermouths You can adore someone but you know that, given the slightest chance, she’ll unwittingly spill the beans. Tell your Chatty Kathy to save the date, but tell her you’ll coordinate the details the day before. She’ll still have time to buy a present or write a birthday IOU. The Big Surprise Decide how you want to do it. It all depends on where you’re having the party and how well you think you can orchestrate the guests. It might be easiest to choose a venue that will take care of much of the set-up and planning for you so you can concentrate on the surprise. Do you want to walk into a dark room and then have the lights go on and everyone yell “surprise”? Do you want to be sitting at your favorite Los Angeles bar or restaurant and have people join you in ones and twos until the honoree realizes what’s going on? Do you want it to feel like a regular get-together of the gang until everyone just starts singing Happy Birthday flash mob style? Have Everyone Arrive Early If you’re doing the standard surprise and the honoree is arriving at 7, tell everyone to be there at 6 because the honoree is coming at 6:30. That way, even stragglers won’t be walking in just as the honoree gets there. Make sure you plan ahead if your guests will be traveling to the party on the freeway so you don’t let Los Angeles gridlock on the freeway interfere with your party plans. Open the bar at 6, though, so people aren’t standing around getting cranky while they wait. Don’t Let Cars Give It Away Friends know what cars their other friends drive. Although parking in SoCal is a pain, make sure people aren’t parking in your driveway, in front of your house, or right at the entrance to the restaurant. Should you be heading toward the party site and your honoree looks you straight in the eye and says “I know all about it,” you can still plead innocence. Look sad and say you didn’t think he’d want a party at all and you wish you’d thought of it. And if that doesn’t work, you may as well come clean. It’s not the end of the world. The truth is that surprise parties are often more exciting for the guests than the honoree. They’re the ones whose anticipation has built up, and they’re the ones who have enjoyed being complicit. Fortunately, it won’t take much convincing for the honoree to think of the blown secret as the opportunity to do a spectacular acting job. That way, everyone wins!
Your Wedding-Day Emergency Kit Big day. Lots of people. Lots of details. So many chances for minor mishaps that could be resolved easily if only you had the right stuff to fix them. Herewith, a suggested list of supplies that might come in handy for you, your wedding party, or family members. Hotel gift shops and housekeeping departments carry some of these items, and your wedding planner may bring some of them with her, too, but you’ll be ready for almost anything if you have your own stash right at hand. Pop the list into your purse and bring it with you as you make your ordinary rounds in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Check it when you’re in the drugstore, dollar store, or beauty supply shop and soon you’ll have everything you need. As a bonus, buy travel-appropriate sizes and packaging and pack everything into a tote. Then you can offload the ones that were wedding-specific and take the rest along on your honeymoon! For Personal Care and Grooming Some disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, breath mints or spray, contact lens solution, eye drops, hand lotion, a few tampons and panty liners. Also hairspray, nail polish remover pads, nail polish (both clear and the color you’re wearing), an emery board, super glue, a comb, some bobby pins, hair elastics, Q-tips, and tweezers. Bring sunblock if your wedding is outdoors. Add a mirror you can use to see the back of your hair and dress, and any makeup you’ll want for touchups. Your perfume, too. Super-fastidious brides might also want to pack some drinking straws so they and their bridesmaids can hydrate themselves pre-wedding (with water or something more festive) after their lipstick is on. Don’t forget tissues for wiping smears as well as tears. For Minor Medical Issues Aspirin or other headache reliever, Motrin or other muscle pain reliever, Benadryl or other antihistamine, antacid, anti-diarrheal, antibiotic cream, and Band-Aids. Also, prescription medications and an Epi-pen if either you or the groom use them. If you’ve got room, toss in a can or small bottle of ginger ale; sometimes it’s better than anything else to soothe an unsettled stomach. For Wardrobe Malfunctions A sewing needle and thread (white, black, and the color of the bridesmaid dresses), small scissors, safety pins, straight pins, spare earring backs, a lint brush or roller, double-sided fashion tape, no-iron hem tape, stain-removing stick or towelettes, white chalk (for camouflaging stains), anti-static spray or dryer sheets, a travel-size steamer, a travel-size iron, a pair of sheer Peds for anyone who might need them. If you’ve got written instructions for bustling your dress, don’t forget to bring them. Also consider bringing a pair of white ballet slippers or other comfortable shoes to put on in case a night of dancing leaves your feet howling. For Miscellaneous Problems An extension cord, Scotch tape, and extra batteries for whatever might require them. A piece of sandpaper for giving traction to the bottom of a pair of brand new shoes. A book of matches or a lighter. A pen and a pad of paper or post-its. A bottle of club soda. For the Wedding Itself Contact lists of vendors and members of the bridal party, copies of your vows and the ceremony and reception schedules, copy of the music playlist (in case the bandleader or DJ left his in the car), cash for unexpected tips or other expenses. Some people recommend bringing “extra” wedding rings, but if by any remote chance yours are misplaced, how much nicer to temporarily borrow rings from family or friends. For Any Children in the Wedding Party Bring some non-sticky, non-sugary, won’t-spill munchies to keep them occupied pre-ceremony. Pretzels, bananas, or green grapes shouldn’t pose any problems. Juice boxes could be iffy, but definitely no grape juice. For the big girls and boys among you — yourself included — who might have skipped breakfast or lunch, you could bring a box of energy bars or trail mix. But no grape juice for any of the grownups, either. And that goes for red wine, too. For the Groom Duct tape. He will use it to fix everything the rest of the list won’t.
By admin
September 24, 2014
Venue: Brandview Ballroom Photography: Eliz Photography Videography: Mher Video Photobooth: OnThreee Catering: Anoush Catering Florist: Petals LA Dessert Station: My Cuppy Cake Pops Dessert Station: Sweets By Ana DJ: DJ Hovo Fragrance Bar: Starring Fragrances Date: June 2014 Much like a wedding dress is custom tailored to perfectly fit a bride, a bridal shower should also be customized to suit a bride’s taste. When Suzie started to plan a shower for her sister Rosie, she wanted to make sure the celebration was a beautiful and fun reflection of Rosie, and her love of fashion. Along with the help of their sister Seta, Suzie decided to go with a fashion-themed soiree at Brandview Ballroom with 150 of their closest friends and family. Suzie and Seta were having lunch at the Glendale Americana one day and decided to stop by Brandview to “try it on for size.” Suzie says that within the first few minutes, she knew they wanted to book Rosie’s shower there. After enjoying a lunch provided by Anoush Catering, guests were treated to a dessert bar courtesy of Sweets by Ana and My Cuppy Cake Pops. Among bedazzled cake pops and high heel accouterment were chocolate covered Oreos, chocolate drizzled fortune cookies and cupcakes decorated with dresses. Suzie says her favorite part about working with Ana was the attention to detail and Ana’s dedication to high-end ingredients. She also noted, with a smile, that Narine from My Cuppy Cake Pops would send photo updates of the desserts, and everything ended up picture perfect! Suzie knows that the perfect scent complements the perfect outfit, and she wanted to do something unique for Rosie. Suzie called upon Starring Fragrances for a perfume bar where guests could create, bottle, and take home a custom scent. Suzie contacted Starring Fragrances a year in advance to ensure that the amazing perfumes would be an aromatic success. Just like a fashion show, the shower was accessorized with style. The soft, beautiful flower arrangements, provided by Petals LA, matched the dessert color palette. Floral displays were dressed up with mini mannequins. And the sweetest accessory? A “wishing tree” where guests could hang messages with warm sentiments across its branches, written on fashion tags! In between nibbling on desserts and creating fragrances, guests grooved to the tunes of DJ Hovo, who Suzie says has spun at her family events for the past 3 years, and really “knows how to get the crowd on their feet!” When they needed a dance break, guests meandered to the photo booth, threw on some novelty sunglasses, an oversized hat, and struck a pose. From our team at LA Banquets, congratulations to Rosie on her upcoming nuptials!
Summer wedding season is steadily approaching and lovebirds are ready to recite their nuptials amidst loved ones and warm late nights. To mark an early kickoff to our next fun filled and glamorous wedding season LA Banquets invites you to take a look back to the Summer of 2013 for Michael and Stella’s fabulous soiree at the Brandview Ballroom. Throw on your party heels and your fanciest little black dress and enjoy the night just as all of their guests did. Welcome to Throwback Wedding Thursday with Michael and Stella. A Sweet Serenade! Stella knew that a simple glass of champagne wouldn’t do. This was to be a grand occasion. Guests saw the twinkling lights from the Americana sign across the street and felt the energy even before they entered. As the valet opened the doors to the Brandview Ballroom the soothing sounds of a harpist filled their ears. A beautiful champagne tower greeted everyone upon arrival and beside it was a seven foot golden harp. Only the first of many feasts for the eyes. Classic Beauty! This wasn’t just any ballroom. With a place in the National Register of Historic Places the Brandview Ballroom has been a national treasure for decades. World class chandeliers were adorned with draping to accentuate their vintage style, designed in 1921 and timeless ever since. Seafood station? Why not? Candy station? Who doesn’t have a sweet tooth that needs soothing? Every touch was thought of in advance by renowned wedding planner Kristine from Chic Sparkles. That the couple was planning cross country from New York didn’t matter. Chic Sparkles and LA Banquets worked together to make the dream wedding a dream in reality! Celebrate with Bubbly and More! Signature Cocktails were designed with the couple’s theme in mind. Doting nicknames and other special moments from their years together were the drink titles and laughter and enjoyment was had by all! Years of loving history were poured into every cocktail and guests sipped not only indoors but also in the outdoor “hookah station” on the Brandview Patio. But treats and drinks were only the start! New Beginnings and New Feasts! The melding of two families is a truly wondrous experience. Anoush Catering wowed the guests with its Signature Family Style Service! There was never a reason to stop dancing because the food kept on coming. Grilled confections, seasoned delights and 28 years of experience was a great introduction to hundreds of guests that were, for the first time, experienced award winning Anoush Catering Mediterranean cuisine. Let There Be Cake! No wedding is complete without a fabulous cake to complement the night! One tier? Of course not. Three? Not enough. Art’s Bakery crafted a six-tier confection that shimmered the evening through. Candles added a pop that could only be described as perfection. An “L” for love was the only way to top the flowers that rained down the cakes sides. And glass columns and cake stand reflected the love that shined through the happy couples eyes. Every detail carried the special touch of years of devotion and care. Magical Indeed! Thank you for taking the journey back with us for Michael and Stella’s fabulous affair! We can’t wait for more weddings from every season!!!!
People always say you should marry your best friend – someone who knows you inside and out. When Angineh and Hambeik tied the knot at Brandview Ballroom in February, they gave a whole new meaning to the term “best friends.” The gorgeous couple has known each …
He plays a rough and tough boxer on Showtime’s “Ray Donovan” but in real life, Pooch Hall doles out nothing but love for his family. Last month, the actor and his wife Linda hosted a Special Needs Family Prom (which doubled as a Sweet 16 for their daughter Djanai) at Le Foyer Ballroom to benefit their charity, Djanai’s Angels. The organization prides itself on offering a “one stop shop” for parents of children with special needs. The charity offers a diverse range of services to support the many needs of these families, ranging from social and developmental to entertainment and recreational interests. By bringing together typically able kids with those who have disabilities, Djanai's Angels teaches confidence, patience, compassion, and tolerance to children and their families. To celebrate the prom and Djanai’s birthday, guests received the red-carpet treatment, complete with a step-and-repeat, prom photos, and a candy cocktail hour. Among family, friends, and Djanai’s classmates from Grant High, a Prom King and Queen were crowned, and attendees were treated to a fashion show along with music from DJ Kripple King. The festivities were a great opportunity for families and supporters to learn more about Djanai’s Angels, and to give them a chance to mingle with celebrities and likeminded parents. The event also served as a fundraiser for the inClusion Clubhouse, a facility that will cater to those with special needs, and to bring awareness to the community. We were honored to host such a wonderful event, and on behalf of LA Banquets, happy belated Sweet 16 to Djanai!
