The Perks of Being an Event Coordinator - Part One

Beautiful Villa Vecchia

Last Tuesday I, along with about 30 or so members of the Event Industry, were exclusively invited by Brian Aaron, the chef and owner of Aaron's Catering to participate in a venue visiting extravaganza. I must tell you that I felt very proud to be able to be part of such an exclusive and well planned and professional event, where not only did we get to visit some of Miami's newest and trendiest venues, but also some of the oldest and most fashionable as well.

 The whole day began at 9:30 am at our first venue, 1111, the seventh floor of a garage building conveniently situated at the corner of Lincoln and Alton Roads. Upon our arrival we were greeted with the sweet aroma of fresh brewed coffee from Mokafe Cafe Espresso Bar, and by various members of Aaron's catering including Alex Nino, one of the Client Development Managers at Aarons, who graciously picked Lasting Impressions Events to participate in this tour.. After a little bit of getting to know one another time, we all got a chance to hear about this great venue from Gary J. Pallaria, the special event manager; this is quite a unique place offering up to 25,000 square feet of event space, with a great view of the city and the ocean. This space is available for all kinds of events and for someone who is looking to do a unique out of the box party.

The 7th Floor at 1111

Around 10:30 or so, we made our way down the elevators to the sunny streets of Miami Beach, were a Limousine Bus from Worldwide Transportation  awaited us. From 1111 we were taken to The Brakewater Hotel on Ocean and 9th,  an elegant and chic Boutique Resort reminiscent of  the Art Deco Era but with all the comforts of today, and to the Art Deco Welcome Center right across the street.
  The Director of sales Anna Noriega was in charge of the grand tour and as we made our way through The Brakewater we couldn't help but notice all of the details in this beautiful place, from the windows, to the floors, to the ceilings, it was as if someone had pushed back the hands of time and we were once again back in the 40's and 50's. The Rooftop Terraces, both north and south are ideals for cocktail receptions, small weddings or other gatherings. Sexy and Cozy its sure to be a hit with any guest at any event. For a bigger reception the Art Deco Center has plenty of space to accommodate up to 300 people.

Inside the Art Deco Welcome center, perfect for a larger reception

  There are so many positive things to say about both of these venues that I would have to write a separate blog just about them.  Used them together or on their own, The Brakewater and Art Deco Center are two exceptional places in the heart of South Beach. I  highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a venue that it's trendy, modern and classy. I also want to mention that Ocean Ten, nestled between The Brakewater and The Edison hotel is great place to dine, drink and dance, a perfect place for an after party, or for that matter a before the party, party. And, by the way their Mimosas were fabulous and really hit the spot on such a hot summer morning.

The Terrace at The Brakewater Hotel

Another view, all the furniture can be removed and tables can be added instead.

A look at one of the Suites.

Mimosas at Ocean Ten

The Foyer

 
Too soon, we were escorted back to our buses and off we were again touring the streets of Miami Beach, this time to a private home appropriately named "The Temple House",  being that it once was a Jewish Temple. The owner, Daniel Davidson and his assistant Cynthia Acosta were at the door to welcome us and immediately we were captivated by this incredible looking home.

A look at the Great Room from the Mezzanine

The Mezzanine

As you walk through the tall double doors, a grand foyer makes way and opens up to the great room. Now imagine waking into a temple's main room, the pews replaced by large white, sexy, cozy sofas, the walls all painted white and a huge wooden table in the middle of this immense room, simply and elegantly captivating. You can hold any type of receptions here without having to use any other part of the house, but if you want to .... there are other great areas to use, such as the upstairs mezzanine which overlooks the great room, or outside by the pool, or should I say below, since this pool happens to be up a floor.  The refreshing waterfalls cascading from the walls, enticed us on such a hot day and it was hard avoiding the inclination of diving into the cool, sparkling clear water. The Temple House, as unique and innovative as its owner, it's sure to fill up all of your senses with spiritual tranquility and  happiness...not to mention the fabulous party you can throw here.

The Fabulous Pool

What else can be said, a picture is worth a thousand words

From the totally modern Temple House we were driven to the fabulous house of  the Quintero family, Villa Vechia. Hidden behind majestic mahogany and iron gates this privately own 1928 home has to be one the most beautiful venues in Miami. Nestled  in two acres of waterfront land between Pinetree Drive and Indianccreek in what is referred  to as Millionaire's Row and with views of the Fountainbleu and Eden Roc, it really is one of a kind.

First look into Villa Vecchia

Back of the Villa and it's lush garden

Beautiful lush gardens, a sparkling blue pool with a fully equipped cabana, a Grand  ballroom styled in the Versailles fashion which sits 150 guests comfortably, this house has been the center of many, many functions in our city and has been hosts to many dignitaries such as Dr. Kissinger, Margaret Thatcher, and Bill Clinton. The majesty of Miami Beach can also be the perfect venue for your next royal event.

The Grand Ballroom

Makes you want to go for a dip?

 After visiting this grand old lady, we made our way back again to our buses where a nice Sushi lunch was waiting for us, got to tell you that I am not a Sushi lover, but the way Aaron's catering made it I've got to say it was delicious. While having our lunch we were also on the way to our next destination ...

 Awarehouse- talk about unique and this one really wins the prize, a warehouse in the Wynwood area is truly an artist paradise.  A blank canvas for anything your mind dares to conceive, with 20,000 square feet of art gallery and performance venue which houses a state of the art modular stage, sound and video production and lighting.

The large garden and terrace, great for outdoor events

Inside Awarehouse and a view of the loft

The Stage

Awarehouse is the perfect venue for anything you desire from fashion shoots, to fundraisers, to art exhibitions, weddings and private events, it is sure to please the Artist in you.

Next up Villa 221,one of  Miami's most extraordinary and unique event venue.       

The steps into Villa 221

 Nestled in the heart of Miami, Villa 221 is a 100 year old historic Spanish Villa providing over 8,500 square feet of event space. It's a stunning venue for both indoor and outdoor events which can include art exhibitions, trade shows, fashion shows, concerts, and any type of special occasion events.

A beautiful and welcoming "portal" (porch) greeted us bekoning for us to go in. 

The back of the house is where old meets new.

The large yard accommodates overt 500 or more guests.

Inside Villa 221

The second floor is completely redone and each of the room easily flow into one another, making it perfect for any social gathering. Villa 221 truly is a little hidden gem in Miami, don't miss out on the opportunity of having your next event in this unique venue. I would like to thank Aaron Goldstein for being such a gracious host.

The morning wound down and the afternoon sun was high upon us and on we went to our next venues...and these I will leave for tomorrow's post. Hope you enjoyed our "little" tour.

Omar and Johanna's Wedding - May 21, 2011

Last Saturday, May 21st, I had the pleasure of coordinating a small backyard wedding for Johanna and Omar.

  I've got to tell you that even though this wedding was done with two weeks notice, it turned out absolutely beautiful. The bride and groom weren't really thinking of having a wedding at all, but their families really wanted them to have a memory of their union. So they all pitched in and with a little bit of help from various members of the family, Johanna and Omar tied the knot.
 The bride chose green and white as her color pallet, and opted for ready to find Areca palm leaves, white roses and carnations, and a bit of curly willow for the centerpieces. I put together an iron swing holder as a canopy and dressed it up with tulle netting, and added some strings of crystals and stringed roses to give it a unique a classic flair. The father's groom served as the Ceremony  Officiant and he proudly  married his son to his lovely daughter in law, thus making this truly a family affair.

The guests were treated to homemade appetizers of different cheeses and crackers, tiny pigs in a blanket, delicious meatballs in semi-sweet sauce, and trays of different hams and salamis. Later they dined to a  delictable "Arroz Campesino", a sort of Paella but instead of being made with seafood, it is made with pork, chicken and chorizo. Delicious.

The newlyweds

Lounge and cocktail area

A very tired and satisfied wedding planner

 I would like to thank Omar's sister Silvana and his brother in law, Adrian for hosting this beautiful event, and for helping Lasting Impressions to put together such a happy occasion. All in all, the backyard looked beautiful, the weather was terrific, the food delicious, and everyone dance the night away and had a wonderful time. Congratulations to Omar and Johanna, may you have a wonderful life together, and congratulations to the family for loving them so much to honor them with this celebration. It was a pleasure to be part of your wedding and I thank you.

Why are people afraid to hire a wedding coordinator?

It is all a matter of Economics. People believe that if you call an event coordinator there is an extra cost to add to your event budget. And while there probably is an added sum, they need to consider a few facts which might out-weigh that fear. Here are few reasons why you should hire an event coordinator:

• Time is money. A good coordinator knows this, and while you are at work earning your keep, a coordinator will be doing all of that extra legwork, which you have very little time for. When you hire a coordinator you let your ideas flow, your planner listens and takes note and then he or she puts it all together for you, detailed, in a sort of work plan. Then they begin to shape it together until your dream has come alive. If you are the type of client who likes to take part in every aspect of your event, your coordinator will be able to guide you and take you to the right places so you don't need to waste that extra time or gas looking for what you need.

• An event coordinator has connections, which means they can save you money. They have a vast majority of vendors (venues, caterers, bartenders, lights, DJ's, musicians, decorators, florists, photographers, videographers, favors, invitations, etc) to whom they can turn to depending on your needs, budget and expectations. Coordinators also know the latest trends and fashions and how to make it happen even when you are on a tight budget.
• In reality, on the day of your event you should feel pampered and calm and shouldn't have to worry if everything is going as you would like. If you don't have a person to be looking out for you on this day, then you or a member of your family, or a close friend would have to, which means they would not be able to enjoy your celebration and neither could you. Your coordinator is on the lookout so if something should arise during your event, she or he will take care of it, and in most cases you will not even be aware of it. You should be as worry free as possible on such a special day!
• Event coordinators make sure that everything is scheduled on a time line, which means everything is orchestrated or choreographed in order for it all to take place at a precise moment and so that you can enjoy each and every minute of it.  Good organization is essential to an incredible event.
• Most event coordinators work with you in pricing. They usually charge between 10 and 20 percent of your total budget. When you have a small budget, most planners will work with you and either charge you a flat fee, or a fixed price per person, ultimately giving you the best price for your memorable event. 

When taking all this into consideration remember what benefits you will have when you hire a professional. In reality it would probably end up costing you less than if you would have done it all yourself. Nothing beats the price of knowing that you placed all of your cares and responsibilities in someone else's hands; and although that responsibility has a cost, it comes with the reward of knowing that in the end it all happened without a glitch and it turned out perfectly beautiful!