Event Planning

Not quite the Dog Days Of August – We’ll settle for the Duck Days of late July

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Want ducks marching down the aisle on your big day? The best trained ducks in the country are found at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN where they have a Duck Parade twice a day.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0b4eR9xuPg]

From the Peabody’s Website:

“Back in 1932 Frank Schutt, General Manager of The Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwick, returned from a weekend hunting trip to Arkansas. The men had a little too much Jack Daniel’s Tennessee sippin’ whiskey, and thought it would be funny to place some of their live duck decoys (it was legal then for hunters to use live decoys) in the beautiful Peabody fountain.

Three small English call ducks were selected as “guinea pigs,” and the reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. Soon, five North American Mallard ducks would replace the original ducks.

In 1940, Bellman Edward Pembroke, a former circus animal trainer, offered to help with delivering the ducks to the fountain each day and taught them the now-famous Peabody Duck March. Mr. Pembroke became the Peabody Duckmaster, serving in that capacity for 50 years until his retirement in 1991.”

They also have a GORGEOUS art deco ballroom, conveniently right around the corner from the ducks’ “penthouse suite.” Rooftop Terrace And a fleet of Cinderella pumpkin carriages parked outside.  Cinderella Carriage on Beale Street

Trained birds, a beautiful, historic reception site, fairy-tale royalty modes of transportation…what more could we ask for? The Dog Days of August have a lot to live up to!

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My Little Etiquette Shop: Shuffling Placecards is a Gamble – and the House always Wins

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Oh the poor bride and groom.  They slave away in the last busy weeks before their big day, trying to achieve that elusive goal: the perfect seating arrangement.  PlacecardThe one where feuding cousins are on opposite sides of the dance floor, and Uncle Carl the anesthesiologist plays wing man for the med student who’s chatting up a bridesmaid at the next table over. But when the Mr. & Mrs. enter to cheers and glide onto the dance floor, they look around and realize that their careful plotting has been horribly botched.

We know what’s happened.  For years guests have taken it upon themselves to “improve”  seating plans. If they aren’t sitting with a particular friend or family member they do what they believe is an innocuous thing; switch placecards, or “lose” escort cards.  They don’t think about the fact that their seating has been carefully considered. Event staff may intervene – but more often than not, they (wisely) decline to engage this type of personality so as not to ruin a lovely evening.

How can you help?  Simply put, sit where you’re asked.  Period.  No one stays in their assigned seats much after the entree anyway, it’s not going to kill you to wait until cake to catch up with your sorority sister across the room.

The “House Always Wins” part works like this:  karma wise, you’re sealing your fate of future event tables full of Mommies & Me, Aunts Who Can’t Hear, and Uncles Who Don’t Shut Up.  Plus you can count on word of your behavior getting back to the bride/groom or mothers thereof, enshrining your difficult reputation for the rest of your days.  Every Christmas Party, Baby Shower, Barbeque…you’re forever “the one who messed up the wedding.”  Are you good with that? No? Then reign in your inner maitre d’.  Really feel the need to seat people? Open a restaurant.

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In celebration of all the celebrations in New York today, we share the NYT’s profile of Julie and Alissa

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Tina Fineberg for The New York Times

MORRISTOWN, N.J., JULY 9 Julia Wood, left, and Alissa Ginsberg before the religious ceremony.

We love this tender photo of the wedding of Julie and Alissa. Their story is romantic and heartwarming – check it out!

Congratulations ladies!