Beautify Your Bash ... And Your Budget

We've all heard the idiom: "Champagne taste on a beer budget."

The truth is, most of us have it. The fabulous taste and only a teeny-tiny slice of our monthly money pie chart reserved for entertaining. We are the rule, not the exception.

"Like fiber in your diet, budgets aren't fun, but they're necessary," Jes writes in her book "Party Like A Rock Star," where she SUGjesTS 10 Easy Ways To Cheapify Your Party:

1) Edit Your Guest List -- Take a look at your invitees and rethink those guests you could do without. This won't be your last party, and you can invite certain people another time.

2) Change The Date -- Fridays and Sundays are the new Saturday.

(etsy.com)

Or opt for a less popular season. The winter months are usually slower and therefore might land you a better deal.

3) Keep It Short And Sweet -- Leave your guests wanting more...

4) Go Disposable --

hubpages.com

It's OK to forgo the high-end dinnerware and glass rentals for disposable goods. Just recycle it when the party is over.

5) Find The One -- For decorations, pick one thing that rocks your world and go with it.

To offset a white space, pop some color with just a few floral arrangements. Hit up the flower mart and make your own. Choose solid arrangements and line them on your table with a few votives. Instant beauty.

(celebratewithstyle.com)

Or, how about killing two birds with one stone and making your party favor the centerpiece. Display candy in various sized dishes. Stick to one color palette to keep the look simple and clean.

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6) Look Beneath the Top Shelf -- Swap out the Dom for Prosecco or pick a vodka sans the swanky label. You might just find a jewel that tastes even better than the high end options. If you are looking for discount wine, check out klwines.com or visit accidentalwine.com for a great price on a perfect bottle that may have been a casualty in a case where one bottle broke and stained the rest. The inside remains delish.

7) Buy in Bulk -- Get a Costco card and embrace the party platter.

8) Find Workable Spaces -- Choose venues that are party ready -- if they come with packages in place even better -- and make sure the space meets your power requirements so you don't require special needs.

9) Go Indoors -- Outdoor party costs can get out of hand, especially if the weather fails you. Inside fetes are not vulnerable to the added costs of tenting, heating or AC, etc.

10) Use In-House Stuff -- Go with whatever the venue's got on hand. If you can't bear the sight of their house linens, use them as an under layer and rent a cost effective sheer to mask it. Don't like the chairs? Rent covers instead of new ones. Make your tush and your piggy bank proud!

A White Winter's Night

Bethany and Eric's winter white wedding can be described in one word: enchanting.

The bride and groom were married Saturday at Battery Gardens (in Battery Park) under a chuppah comprised of natural birch. We covered the four posts in fresh green moss and adorned them with beautiful silver shaded birch branches that were accented by ice drop garlands, which sparkled beautifully against the sunset.

All white floral arrangements were comprised of Tibet Roses, Anemones, French Ranunculus, Porcelain Garden Roses, Holland Tulips and Hydrangea. To accentuate the flowers, we used silver colored Dusty Miller -- which provided a velvety texture -- and Brunia.

We will post a gallery of pictures shortly, but for now, here are a couple of snapshots to share:

Escort Table

Each centerpiece laid on a circular mirrored base

We Built This Salon on Rock and Roll

This week we finally emerged from the Golden Globes cave that we were hiding out in for the past month. We dusted ourselves off, caught a jet plane to NYC and are raring to go for Bethany and Eric's wedding this weekend!

But first, here is a look back at the magic we made happen for CVS Pharmacy last weekend in LA at Access Hollywood's 5th Annual "Stuff You Must Lounge..."

JG properFUN was once again brought on board to design and build a fabulous beauty salon from scratch. This year we infused tons of vibrant color into the space to offer guests a feminine and cozy spot to unwind in while they got gorgeous (courtesy of essie, Maybelline, Nexxus, Crest and La Roche-Posay). We adorned the space with arrangements of pink and orange Calla Lillies and opted for white furniture set against mirrored frames and silver flooring providing a clean and simple look.

Here is a before shot of our blank canvas at The Sofitel before it was beautified:

These are the renderings that we designed to bring our vision to life:

Here we are halfway through production:

Now for the finished product:

And now, may I leave you with one final picture ... Breakdown!

So there you have it friends. It takes a village, and our village is full of rock stars!

A loveELY day

It goes with the territory.

As event planners, we are constantly one step ahead. One party, or holiday, has barely wrapped and we are already imagining a million more floral arrangements, menu items and color schemes.

So naturally, Team JG has begun volleying Valentine’s Day ideas back and forth between our East and West coast offices, long before Cupid has even sharpened his arrow.

Leading the charge this year is one of our new associates, Karoline. Call her a romantic, or just a dedicated working gal, but this lady dove right into the task at hand and pitched us 101 VDay ideas.

So, without further adieu, may I present to you, four (out of 101) additions to your Valentine’s party toDO list … ala Karoline.

1) DO incorporate bold colors. Keep red in the lead role but sprinkle in some other bright hues. A few great ways to include color can be lush flower arrangements, a bold runner over a white tablecloth, or dazzling napkin rings. If you're going for a youthful look, it's good to stick with the light pinks while integrating some light aqua or other pastels.

Want a more retro look? Some hot pinks with black and white candy boxes will get the job done.

(thisnext.com)

Or if you're thinking of a more classic look, red and white combinations are still fabulous.

(designsforliving.blogspot.com)

2) DO keep in mind though that this special day is for everyone and can stretch beyond the red rose. Pink roses represent appreciation; yellow is for joy and friendship, and peach ones are a sign of gratitude. So mix it up! Make the day about anything you want it to be.

3) DO splurge on party favor bags, like these:

(partyfavorsbydesign.com)

Your small treat bags could include recipe cards for sweet treats or handwritten notes to your guest telling them one thing you love about them!

4) DO, as ever, drink bubbly!

(barnonedrinks.com)

Tray pass this signature cocktail, the "Strawberry Sizzle"

Pair it with an oldie but goodie: white and dark chocolate covered strawberries.

Strawberry Sizzle

1 and 1/2 ounces Absolut Vanilla

1/2 ounce Strawberry liqueur

A splash of Cranberry juice

Splash of Champagne

Garnish with a fresh strawberry