Top Ten List – Bridal Emergency Kit

Planning a wedding?  From my experience, I know that from among the hundreds of things you are working on, checklists and emergency kits always come in handy.  To kick-off my section on ‘Top Ten List’, let me share the must-haves in a bridal emergency kit.

What is it?

Bridal Emergency Kit is one of the most important things that every bride should have assembled for her big day.  You can request someone from your bridal party to put this together for you, or maybe your wedding planner/coordinator will provide the kit for you.

What are the Top Ten Items to include in a kit?

Top Ten List:

1. Sewing Set
2. Hair Accessories
3. Cleaning Set
4. Clear Nail Polish
5. Cotton Swabs
6. Mini First Aid Kit
7. Women’s Sanitary Pack
8. Granola Bar/Snack of your choice
9. Drinking Straws
10. Tissues

We are going for miniature version of all items, as the point is to have the essentials without taking up space on the make-up counter in the bridal suite.  The sewing set will include items such as safety pins and small scissors, and the hair kit should have a mini hairspray bottle, bobby pins, hair elastics etc.  I recommend the cleaning set to have a lint brush and stain removal wipes for any dress emergencies.  Definitely throw in antacids and pain relievers into the First-Aid kit (always check for allergies).  In addition, you probably know that clear nail polish can also come in handy even for stocking runs.

Extras that I would recommend are mints, earring backs, travel iron, hair dryer and nail polish in the same color as the bride’s manicure.

tanaRi provides this service to our clients and the below comment from a bride makes it a worthy effort!

“My favorite part of the special touches that tanaRi provided was a bridal kit placed in my bridal suite before the event.  It was the most convenient and unexpected little kit, and was so carefully thought out.  I ended up using so many of the items that in retrospect would have been lost without.”

(Photos courtesy: tanaRi and TruStudioDesign)

Personalized Excitement with Picksie.

When I started this blog, I had the vision to bring you not just the magical world of weddings, but also tips, tricks, and cool information out there that would make your day more fun and exciting.  On that note, I want to share with you this fabulous app – Picksie – developed by my friends, Saju Thomas and Nitesh Mittal.

What is it?

Picksie is an app that recommends restaurants, nightclubs, bars and movies for users based on their location and preferences.

What makes Picksie different from Yelp and others?

With Yelp and other search-engines, I have to know what I am searching for beforehand, and the results are numerous and overwhelming.   Picksie cuts through this clutter and gives you a limited list of recommendations based on your preferences, location and the situation you are in at the time you ask.  For example, Picksie will not show you a restaurant at lunchtime that is only open for dinner, or recommend an outdoor biergarten when it is raining outside.

How does it work?

In short, Picksie is not a search engine.  It is a recommendation engine with a push mechanism.  You do not have to figure out what you are doing beforehand.   Picksie uses your location, the time of day (within two hours), the weather outside, as well as curated selections by handpicked experts and guides like Zagat. Picksie has also joined up with Fandango so that it can provide movie suggestions, with the correct show times displayed.

What do you love most about Picksie?

The best part about Picksie is that it does the work for me. Wherever I am, I am guaranteed an instant short-listing of relevant yet diverse results. I do not want to go to a Starbucks to find out it is closed. I love the fact that I am discovering new places and not just searching for places I already know.  I want to try the new Thai place around the corner. Picksie helps me do just that.

I also like that users can connect with Facebook or Twitter, and share their Picksie activity on the networks if they so choose.

My verdict?

Definitely check it out!  You can sign up for Picksie on the website or get it in the iTunes App Store.

(Photos courtesy – Picksie)

Join my work/play weekend @ Montauk!

tanaRi is spending our weekend in Montauk for Amanda and Dane’s wedding.  While we are here enjoying the gorgeous weather and preparing for the nuptials, let me share with you some of the ‘must check out’ options at Montauk.

First stop – Ruschmeyer’s.  The newly opened hotel, restaurant and bar, is brought to us by KING & GROVE, who also owns Surf Lodge.  Formerly an old-school camp (back in the 50s), Ruschmeyer’s captures the feel of a nautical camp with modern design and hippie-chic atmosphere.   A great spot to relax and enjoy the beach with some cocktails in hand, we loved our stay at Ruschmeyer’s and the ‘summer camp for grown-ups’ experience.

Next location we checked out was The Surf Lodge where Amanda and Dane’s dinner rehearsal took place.   If Ruschmeyer’s had a camp feel, Surf Lodge was a surf lover’s paradise.  Surf Lodge is a hotel, restaurant and lounge all in one. The restaurant menu is build around seasonal ingredients and local fare, which turned out great as we decided the menu and beverage options for the dinner party.

Of course, in between this scrumptious beach experiences, tanaRi is working hard in putting all the pieces together to the dream wedding for the beautiful Amanda and Dane at Sole East Resort.  The couple had chosen this location for their nuptials as it was ‘the’ place where they fell in love.

The Sole East hotel is housed in a historical landmark 2-story building of classic American Tudor architecture developed by the legendary Carl G. Fisher in 1929.  The large outdoor space within walking distance from the beach was on all levels best suited for this couple’s beach wedding.

We are pleased to have put together an amazingly fun welcome party for all the guests the day before the wedding.  Sole East grounds were perfect for this set-up and tanaRi decorated the space marrying the vibe of a summer lawn party and a beach outing.

As we prepared for the next day’s big event, the thrill level was high and so was the unpredictability of the weather.  Not to leave anything to chance, we finished all the set-up early and arranged to have umbrellas available.

True to New York standards, the skies opened up on the wedding day.  Ever the troopers, Amanda and Dane were not deterred by the wet and rainy weather and were a joy to watch.  In fact, the rain turned out to be a romantic backdrop for the photo shoot with sparking green grounds and serenely beautiful beaches.

We are so thankful to Amanda and Dane for allowing us to help bring their dream wedding to reality.  tanaRi sends our love and best wishes to the new couple.

Signing off from Montauk!

– tanaRi

(Photos courtesy – Ruschmeyer’s, The Surf Lodge and TruStudioDesign)

Destination Exploration – Montauk, NY

Does your heart soar at the sound of waves against the rocky coastlines, the call of seagulls and wind in your hair?

Searching for such a locale, you probably heard about Hamptons as the amazing beach-lined retreat in New York, but were undecided, as private beach parties and extravagant mansions were not your thing.  We have the right place for you – Montauk.  About 12 miles further east of Hamptons, Montauk is a refreshingly spectacular village, surrounded by water on three sides.

A lot has changed in Montauk over the years, but the village retains its distinct natural beauty –its laid-back fish and surf culture and unspoilt, underdeveloped land.  A perfect getaway to relax and rejuvenate while taking in some hiking and fishing, Montauk is a place to visit.  If you travel to Montauk, do not forget your sunscreen and flip-flops but we recommend that leave your blackberry and to-do list at home!

When we travel, tanaRi is always looking at places from an event destination lens and Montauk scored high in this regard.  A relaxed, nautical atmosphere with a warm and friendly personality, Montauk is highly recommended if you are considering an outdoor wedding.

The area has a great variety of restaurants with fresh and scrumptious seafood to great organic food choices, hotels and bed and breakfasts with easy access to the beaches, and enough outdoor and indoor activities to fit everyone’s needs.  Spectacular scenic beauty, boat cruises, Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum and many other attractions provide an amazing natural backdrop for your fabulous event.  Email us to learn more details about planning an event in Montauk, NY.

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(Photos courtesy: Quiksilver, Montauk Business)

Piñata, Sail and a Ring?

Love that blossomed in the world of high fashion, Amanda & Dane’s love story involves a piñata, yummy guacamole, buttery lobster, lighthouses and sailboat.   Sounds interesting? Read on…

Big-hearted Dane found his perfect love match in the smart and loving personality of his co-worker Amanda.  To his excitement, Dane found that the feeling was mutual and the rest is history.

True to their style, the laid-back couple chose the relaxed beach town of Montauk for their first trip together.  Nothing could dampen the spirit of this young couple as they enjoyed the warm and friendly atmosphere of the town, where Amanda remembers enjoying her first lobster tasting.  Dane and Amanda felt the magic in the air – to each other and to the locale.  They vowed to come back and if they ever got married, this would be the destination.

Ready to take the relationship to the next level, Dane made an elaborate proposal plan to unveil during their getaway vacation trip to Playa De Carmen, Mexico.  The getaway had its own dose of romantic mystery, salsa dancing and foodie adventures.  Right before the New Year’s party both of them felt sick that put a speed bump to their party plans.  Not the type to be dispirited, they headed down to the NYE party and Dane found the perfect game – a piñata!

He won the grand prize, which was a three-night stay at the resort with an amazing couple spa/massage treatment package.  On a spur of the moment, Dane and Amanda decided to extend their vacation and Dane got his plan rolling.  He set up an elaborate breakfast for Amanda on the suite’s balcony. In the middle of a romantic conversation over breakfast, Dane proposed to Amanda and got the answer he wanted! The celebration continued and Playa De Carmen, Mexico got a special place in the couple’s hearts.

Nevertheless, when it was time they started planning their wedding, Dane and Amanda zeroed in quickly to their dream locale – the magical, friendly town of Montauk, NY.

(Photos courtesy – Rebecca Zeller Photography)