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I thought I would steer away a bit from the usual articles and discuss my experience as a party event planner working on the set of NCIS LA.  Believe it or not, but many of the concepts of catering and events apply to the TV production world as well.

NCIS LA is in their second season and already they are back in production.  Like catering and events there are strict call times, various locations and of course lots of great food.  The closest counterpart to a party event planner on the set is the 1st AD.  The 1st AD is the person who keeps the production on schedule while filming, sets the itinerary and tells the crew what shot to set up next.  It is important for budget reasons that they continually keep a strict timetable so that little if any overtime (and hence increase of costs) occur.

Similar to other special events, the catering on the set of NCIS LA is great and we are well fed all day.  As with other catering and events I have been involved with, the food served on the set caters to all tastes.   There is a great breakfast buffet that encompasses all diets, vegetarian, gluten-free and then a mid-morning meal as well.   Breakfasts are hot with various egg dishes, pancakes, oatmeal, fresh fruit, cereal, pastries, breakfast potatoes, etc. and then the afternoon meal maybe Thai, Mexican or Continental.  Of course, there is a candy station (deadly), fresh vegetables and fruit, nuts, chips, the list is endless.  All I can say is, there is food available all day and I must say, to stay away from all the delicious temptations is a real discipline.

Being a party event planner on a major Hollywood sound stage is also a lot of fun.  For once, I am not the one organizing!  I get to relax a bit in that arena but it is still work.  The average work day is 13 hours with an hour taken out for lunch.  At the lunch break, I usually go to the commissary for more food and recently saw Jane Lynch (the cheerleading coach from Glee). 

My job on the set is to play background or as some may say an extra.  I have been a member of SAG for 17 years so at least I am putting my membership to work.  Basically, we walk behind the main actors in the scene to make the office appear as a real working environment.  In fact, I am in a couple of scenes and hope to make the final cut!  You’ll just have to tune in when the season starts to find out. 

Well, as they say in Hollywood, that’s a wrap.  I hope you enjoyed getting a party event planner perspective on the set of NCIS LA.  Like catering and events, the days are long but it is a fun group of people to work with and you don’t leave hungry!  Until next time remember the Budget Bash mantra:  make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

Labor Day is just a week away and typically this holiday weekend signifies the end of summer and the end of wearing white.  Therefore, why not go out with a bang with a white theme party?  Here are some party decoration ideas including some finger food ideas for a white party theme.

First, set the tone for a white theme party with an invitation that specifically states what the party is all about.  Last summer I attended a white party theme special event and on the invitation  it specifically stated that you had to wear white to gain entry into the event.  Believe me, when it is mandatory that you wear white and you don’t, it’s obvious!

Next, think about party decoration ideas.  Some quick and easy flower arrangements using all white flowers are a must as well.  Roses, hydrangeas, orchids, mums, daisies are all readily available flowers that you can use for these arrangements.

Submerge a white Cymbidium orchid in a small glass container and maybe add an accent color with the glass beads.  Or, do a reverse color flower arrangement for your white theme party by using white rocks, a clear glass container and submerging a green, yellow or pink Cymbidium orchid.  (Other flower arranging ideas with instructions can be found on pages 59 to 65 in Budget Bash).

Other party decoration ideas include white votive candles, pillar candles of various heights and shapes as well as white taper candles will not only add a nice ambiance to your event but also stay within your theme.  If you can’t rent white furniture or don’t have it readily available, then pick up some large white pillows or bean bag chairs and throw those on the floor to help accent your white party theme.  Of course for your food, rent or purchase white linens, white china or (plastic will work as well) and don’t forget a white dance floor.

Now here are some quick and easy finger food ideas for a white theme party. These selections can easily be found at your local market if you don’t have the time to prepare them prior to your event.

1.  Selection of white European cheeses and sliced crostini
2.  Garlic, plain and eggplant hummus accompanied by sliced pita bread
3.  Artichoke heart bruschetta served on an endive leaf
4.  Brie and pear quesadilla
5.  Skewered tortellini with parmesan dipping sauce

Of course, finger food ideas for dessert can include the following:

• White chocolate fondue or heated marshmallow sauce for dipping fruit
• Vanilla cupcakes
• Frozen bananas rolled in coconut
• Skewered cheesecake bites

(Note the brie and pear quesadilla recipe along with the instructions for the artichoke bruschetta can all be found in Budget Bash).

And let’s not forget your bar menu.  Create a white party theme specialty drink list and don’t forget to include:

• A White Russian
• Vanilla vodka on the rocks
• Kahlua® and Cream

I hope you can use a few of these white party theme ideas along with the party decoration ideas mentioned above for your end of summer party over the Labor Day weekend.  The finger food ideas mentioned are readily available and not too expensive and will help keep your white theme party intact.

Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

It’s hard to believe that we are already starting event coordination for one of the premiere red carpet events in Los Angeles, the 17th Annual SAG Awards®.  Special event planning for this event usually starts about six months out and we are right on target.

One important aspect of all red carpet events is the food, and I am excited to say that today we had our initial tasting at Lucques who will once again cater the event.  Part of the task of special event planning is to review with the caterer the parameters of the food served at the event and then of course, taste it.  I know, it’s a tough job.

Sorry I can’t reveal more right now about our event coordination for the 17th Annual SAG Awards® but I will as we progress throughout the months.  It is an honor for us to once again be a part of one of the most prestigious red carpet events here in Los Angeles.  We are delighted to work with a team of special event planning experts and together make this event a magical evening for the attending guests.

Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

It’s so easy to pick up recipes with the countless resources available such as the various food shows on television, lifestyle magazines and the internet.  Recently, I was working out at the gym and playing on TV was a food show featuring summer appetizers.  One of the easy-to-make recipes they featured were the best crab cakes with lump crabmeat I have ever tasted.  I was so impressed with how easy the crab cakes were to make and how great they tasted that I thought I would pass along the recipe.

Best Crab Cakes with Lump Crabmeat

1 pound lump crabmeat

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs

1/4 of green onions

2 tablespoons of mayonnaise

1 tablespoon of lime juice

Couple of splashes of Tabasco sauce

1 egg

Salt and Pepper to taste

3 Tablespoons olive oil

Place the lump crabmeat into a bowl and go through it to ensure there are no shells.  Add to the crabmeat the mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, chopped cilantro, green onions, egg, lime juice and Tabasco sauce and mix together.  Add salt and pepper to taste and refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes.

Remove the crab cake mixture from the refrigerator and form the crab cakes.   The recipe will make 8 nice size crab cakes.

Fill a bowl with about a cup of Panko breadcrumbs and then take your formed crab cakes and gently place them in the bowl and cover them with the breadcrumbs.

Now, cook the best crab cakes by heating them in a non-stick frying skillet and coating the bottom of the skillet with olive oil.  Place the crab cakes in the heated skillet and cook them for about 6 minutes, roughly 3 minutes on each side.

Once the crab cakes are cooked, remove them, place them on your serving dish and serve the best crab cakes with your choice of toppings, whether it be guacamole, tarter sauce or a Thai chili sauce to name a few.

Other summer appetizers that are impressive and easy to make are the following:

1. Skewered Cooked Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce (recipe on page 77 in Budget Bash)
2. Dates with Goat Cheese Wrapped in Prosciutto with a Balsamic Glaze
3. Mini-Hot Dogs (old-fashioned but everyone loves them!)
4. Shot Glasses with either Gazpacho or Cucumber Soup

And for dessert to compliment those great summer appetizers be sure to include:

1. Skewered Summer Fruit
2. Brownie Bites
3. Lollipop Cookies

The above mentioned appetizer selections can all be served via tray-pass and therefore you don’t have to worry about setting up a buffet.  Just make sure that if you tray pass the crab cakes to make them in bite-sized portions.  For easy decor, use loose flowers such as Cymbidium orchids, small rosemary branches or tea roses on your appetizer trays.

I hope you enjoy making these crab cakes with lump crabmeat.  As I mentioned earlier, I thought they were the best crab cakes I have ever tasted.  They are an easy item to prepare and will impress your friends if you serve them along with other summer appetizers at your next party.

Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical for all!

As a wedding event planner, it is always fun to unexpectedly come across a wedding or special event being set up.  Recently, I was traveling in Spain and our hotel had one of the most beautiful outdoor wedding locations I had ever seen.  I saw that they were hosting this wedding using white wedding décor which of course sparked the idea for this blog that describes various wedding decorating ideas.

First let’s discuss outdoor wedding locations and why this site in particular stood out as one of the prettiest I have ever seen.  Situated on the Mediterranean, the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort has a stunning view of the ocean from their large lawn where the wedding was held.  They also have a path with bougainvillea archways that is beautiful for bride and groom pictures.

Other wonderful hotel features in respect to fabulous outdoor wedding locations is the grand patio where cocktails were held.  This terrace is located just off of the main bar of the hotel and is beautifully furnished with outdoor furniture.  Therefore, you can save some money and not bring in any of your own furniture (other cost-saving wedding ideas can be found in Budget Bash).

Finally, as a wedding event planner, I felt completely at ease speaking with the catering department as they were setting up the event, and I got the sense that the hotel is very accommodating and understands the task at hand in making the wedding day special for the bride and groom.  In addition, the food and service I experienced at the hotel were among the best I have had at any hotel.

Now for some wedding decorating ideas I picked up while watching the hotel set up the white wedding décor for this wedding.

• Use smaller tents and put them together creating individual spaces or rooms versus one large tent.  Plus the bonus of using smaller tents is that you can leave off one corner and create an outside lounge or dancing area.
• Keep costs down with your lounge by using just votives on the coffee tables or simple white cymbidium orchids in votive glasses. (Check out other easy inexpensive décor ideas in Budget Bash – Simply Fabulous Events on a Budget.)

As a wedding event planner, I really liked the idea that they used sand as filler for the flower vase instead of colored glass or rocks.  This is a great white wedding décor idea incorporating the location with the wedding.

Other wedding decorating ideas include:

• Use different types of flowers and vases on the tables for an eclectic look and a contrasting color such as black for an accent color.

• Cover the chairs with white chair covers to give a clean and uniform style to the event.
• Bring in some fun décor pieces like these 2’ diameter-sized large round candle holders and intersperse them around the reception area.

I hope you found these wedding decorating ideas interesting and can possibly incorporate them with your white wedding décor.  As I mentioned above, the hotel in Mardavall was spectacular and I would consider one of the prettiest outdoor wedding locations I have seen.

Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

Last night I had the most delicious easy and quick dinner with heirloom tomatoes and I thought I would share this summer salad recipe with you.  This quick dinner recipe uses just a few ingredients including balsamic glazed halibut and takes only minutes to make.

Heirloom tomatoes are in season right now and they are so delicious whether plain, dressed with olive oil and accompanied with basil or tossed in a summer salad.  Last night I used the tomatoes with this easy and quick dinner that is also a low-fat and healthy recipe.  What is so great about this quick dinner recipe is that you can make it for yourself or serve it at your next dinner party.

The first part of this quick dinner recipe is to marinate the halibut in a bowl of equal parts olive oil, balsamic vinegar (2 tablespoons each) and a clove or two of garlic.  Coat the halibut and place the fish in the refrigerator for about two hours.

The ingredients I used to make the summer salad were:

•    Arugula
•    Dates
•    Heirloom Tomatoes
•    Shaved Parmesan Cheese
•    Lemon, Olive Oil and Salt and Pepper

Once the halibut is marinated, cook the fish in the oven until tender and flaky but not raw in the middle.  (For detailed instructions on this recipe and more turn to page 95 in Budget Bash.) While the fish is cooking, toss the arugula, dates, heirloom tomatoes and shaved Parmesan cheese.

Then slice a lemon in half and squeeze the juice onto the summer salad (be sure to squeeze the lemon with the rind facing towards the salad so as  not to get any seeds onto the greens), add some olive oil and salt and pepper to taste and place the salad onto your dinner plate.

Once the halibut is cooked, place it on the plate to the side of the salad or on top whichever you prefer and serve.  (Note, for this easy and quick dinner recipe you can also substitute a chicken breast for the halibut and still use the same marinade.)  Serve this quick dinner recipe with your favorite white wine and enjoy!  The blend of flavors along with the sweetness of the dates (substitute figs when they are in season) is light and delicious.

I hope you found this easy and quick dinner idea using heirloom tomatoes in a summer salad enjoyable.  What is so great about this quick dinner recipe is that it takes no time to make and is easy to clean up.  Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

Summer is such a great time to entertain.  You have the warm daytime sunshine as well as refreshing nights.  Here are some summer party ideas including a couple of cocktail catering presentations to help you with any special event planning for summer cocktail parties.

Create conversation and interaction with your special event planning.  One refreshing cocktail catering presentation for cocktail parties is to present a new twist on an old idea.  Skewer a piece of cooked shrimp and instead of serving it with a bowl of cocktail sauce serve the shrimp in a shot glass already filled with the sauce.

Other summer party ideas that include shot glasses for cocktail catering are soups, whether they are hot such as lobster Saki shooters (I recently enjoyed at a cocktail party) or cold soups such as shots of gazpacho or cucumber.

For cocktail parties where you may want to serve a refreshing natural and nutritious dessert, why not accompany a platter full of fresh fruit with a shot of a fruit smoothie?

More summer party ideas for cocktail parties include serving refreshing melon balls wrapped with prosciutto or cucumber cups filled with humus, seaweed salad or salmon dip.  (For quick and easy cocktail recipes check out pages 80 to 86 in Budget Bash.)

Lollipop-styled desserts are another cocktail catering suggestion to add to your special event planning summer ideas.  Brownie bites, chocolate chip cookies or bread pudding are all delicious bite-sized desserts you can serve on a stick and tray pass or present on a platter at a dessert buffet.  Clean up is easy too since no silverware or dessert plates are needed just a simple cocktail napkin!

Other desserts that can be served in small individual portions with a creative flair are crème brulee, chocolate pudding or tiramisu presented in demitasse cups with demitasse spoons.

Summer party ideas for your special event planning décor can be fast, easy and inexpensive.  Instead of using a tea-light with your glass votive, drop a Cymbidium orchid in the glass instead.  Or place an orchid weighted down with water and colored glass beads in a small glass vase.

Floating candles in water are always fun for your table décor and you can use colored glass beads on the bottom or add a flower in the container as well.  A great decor idea for cocktail parties I recently read about in Real Simple magazine is to use parchment paper as a luminary wrap with a votive candle holder.  For information and instructions, just pick up the August 2010 issue.  (More quick and easy décor ideas can be found in Budget Bash.)

I hope you found these special event planning ideas for cocktail catering helpful for your next summer event.  Summer party ideas do not need to be complicated or take much of your time.  Cocktail parties are a great way to gather a group of friends for an intimate and casual event, and when you throw your next cocktail party remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

Summer is under way and what isn’t a better time than now to throw cocktail parties.  Here are some cocktail party ideas that don’t take much time to produce and won’t break the bank!

For starters, let’s look at the cocktail party menu.  Keep it light and simple.  Slice chunks of various kinds of vegetables, skewer them, place the skewers in a simple marinade of balsamic vinegar and olive oil, season with salt and pepper if desired and then grill or roast the marinated skewers.

Want to mix it up a bit? For outdoor cocktail parties, stick the finished skewered vegetables in a bed of wheat grass and there you have a grilled vegetable garden!  Or place the finished vegetables on a platter and decorate the platter with loose flowers such as cymbidium orchids or Gerber daisies.

I recently attended a cocktail party at Brookfield Properties where the caterer created a great cocktail party menu that included Macadamia nut crusted chicken lollipops.

Other menu items can include European cheeses with dates and figs, sliced toasts and crackers.

Have some fun serving your appetizers by using a shot glass at cocktail parties. Create a conversation piece by serving either skewered shrimp with a shot glass of cocktail sauce or soups such as gazpacho or cucumber served in a shot glass.  Good old-fashioned milk and cookies where the tray includes shots of cold milk with a side of mini cookies is always fun too.

And since it is summertime, for your outdoor cocktail parties it’s always fun to include tray-passed mini-burgers (can be beef, turkey or veggie) and of course the all-time favorite mini-hot dogs.

Other fun cocktail party ideas include creating an all white themed summer event with a white fabric gazebo such as Brookfield Properties recently produced at their cocktail party.  You can rent a 10’ x 10’ canopy and then use sheer fabric to swag the sides of the tent.  You may need to bring in a tenting company to help with the small tent but you can buy the fabric yourself to create the swags.

Add some color to your white cocktail parties with colored glass décor items such as vases and marbles for your buffet display as seen in the first picture.  Flowers too can be fun and colorful yet simple such as the arrangement pictured below. (For more flower arranging ideas check out pages 59 to 64 in Budget Bash.)

And for drinks, here are some cocktail party ideas that are refreshing and cool for the summer.  One cocktail party menu idea is to make your own spa water.  Just add any of the following to water and let sit for a bit:

•    Fresh raspberries or strawberries
•    Citrus such as lemons or oranges
•    Cucumbers
•    Herbs such as mint or basil

If you prefer serving alcoholic beverages for cocktail parties, think about adding to your beverage menu sangria, mohitos or flavored martinis such as lemon, cucumber or watermelon. (For some cocktail party martini recipes, look at pages 87 and 88 in Budget Bash.)

I hope you found these cocktail party ideas helpful for your summer cocktail parties.  Keep your cocktail party menu fun and light and when throwing a cocktail party remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

Here are a couple of pictures to illustrate wedding flower centerpieces using pink wedding flowers.  Wedding flower arrangements vary in price and when you are on a budget, it is important to think about what types of flowers to use for your wedding as well as the quantity of flowers in each wedding flower arrangement.

When thinking about what type of wedding flower centerpieces you would like to have at your wedding, try and coordinate the colors of your wedding with your wedding flower arrangements.  One simple inexpensive wedding flower arrangement using pink wedding flowers is the above flower arrangement using a pink cymbidium orchid and submerging it in water with votive candles and pink rose petals surrounding it.

In Budget Bash, I give detailed instructions on how to create this wedding flower arrangement.  It is an inexpensive way to create an elegant look on your table and you can make these type of wedding flower centerpieces on your own.   Plus you can reuse the vase, rocks and votive candle holders again for other events you may throw after your wedding.

Using all pink wedding flowers as your centerpieces gives you the options to use pink hydrangeas or pink roses.  It is less expensive to use all pink hydrangeas for wedding flower arrangements because they are larger and use more room in the vase as oppose to pink roses.  An added bonus using hydrangeas for your wedding flower arrangement is that the flower itself dries so beautifully and you can make pretty wreaths with the dried flowers as another reminder of your special day.

Add some color to your pink wedding flowers by wrapping the inside of the glass container with a tea leaf or other such greenery.  Another idea for your wedding flower centerpieces is to place some contrasting colored rose petals around the vase.  If you are considering an evening wedding, add votive candles to create a romantic soft look to your wedding flower arrangement.

Another idea for your wedding flower arrangements is to use succulent flowers and intersperse them with pink wedding flowers such as cymbidium orchids or roses.  What is great about using succulents is that you can then keep the plant after the wedding and have a living reminder of your special day.  Either re-plant the succulents in bigger pots or your backyard if you have one and watch your wedding reminder continue to flourish and grow as your marriage does!

I hope you picked up some ideas for wedding flower centerpieces using pink wedding flowers.  You can keep your costs down with your wedding flower arrangements by using simple floral decor such as all hydrangeas or submerge cymbidium orchids and surround the wedding flower arrangement with rose petals and votive candles.

Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra:  make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun and economical for all!

For red carpet events, it is important for the non profit company you are planning an event for, to have clear and consise signage on the red carpet.  Not only for the non profit company but its supporters and sponsors as well.

Thus, when the image of the celebrity gets picked up from various media outlets, the logo of the non profit company is seen as part of the background image.  This background image is called a step and repeat and is commonly used for all red carpet events.  To help off-set event production costs when planning an event, many times a non profit company will include sponsors on the step and repeat as part of their premium sponsor package.

It is amazing how some red carpet events step and repeats are seen over numerous media outlets multiple times, and often for large-scale events, these images can sometimes be used a year later.  Thus when planning an event for a non profit company, consider using a well produced step and repeat and provide the charity with widespread coverage to the public.

For more information on planning an event for a non profit company, check out Budget Bash and learn about inexpensive decor ideas, constructing budgets and more.