Over the Top Cake Toppers!

Welcome to "Feature Friday!"
This week's hot pick?  Bling Cake Toppers

Bling Cake Toppers, based out of Ohio, make cake toppers and other cake and bridal bouquet decorations that are covered in Swarovski crystals - any letter and any number in just about any font.  If you want your cake to sparkle and dazzle, Bling Cake Toppers are the one for you!

 

We asked Diane Bradley, the owner of Bling Cake Toppers, how she got her start designing cake toppers, and here's what she said:

"I started the company because I have a knack for the arts and crafts. My aunt was turning 90 and I was responsible for planning the whole event. Turning 90 was cause for a major celebration and I wanted to put extra emphasis on the "90" at the top of her cake. I made my first cake topper and it looked fabulous! My husband was the person who inspired me to turn making cake toppers into a business. He saw me make the first topper and noticed that the activity was not a chore, but more of a labor of love and he planted the seed of "why don't you offer to make toppers like those for others who want them?" This was the start of Bling Cake Toppers."

What's so special about Bling Cake Toppers?
There are over 100 crystal color options to choose from!  Why, because Diane understands "bride speak", the language of brides.  What that means is, if your wedding colors are "pool blue" or "eggplant purple", Diane understands exactly what you are referring to and she can coordinate the crystals to match!

What does the Brower Power Design Team love about Bling Cake Toppers?
Bling Cake Toppers are not just for weddings!  They can be a fabulous addition for birthdays, anniversaries, bar/bat mitzvah, quinceaneras, and any other event that has a celebratory cake.  And best of all, Diane can customize your topper!  They are not limited to just letters and numbers -- if you send Diane your image file that can be converted to a pdf, she can make your custom shape!  Super cool!!!

Can I afford a "custom" Bling Cake Topper?
The answer is yes!  Dont let the word "custom" scare you away from your perfect topper because you fear it will be to costly. Most times, there is no increase in price for a custom topper. Pricing is based per image/object, letter, or number. The price you pay is determined by the height you want your topper and is not dependent on the letter, number, or object you choose. Pricing range from $45 for the 3 inch height to $145 for the 6 inch height.

What other products does Bling Cake Toppers offer besides cake toppers?

Bling Cake Toppers also sells ribbon letters and keepsake stands and frames. Ribbon letters are covered in the same Swarovski crystals as the toppers and can be used to decorate any bouquet. This is an option for an unexpected flare for any bouquets and are a great option as a bridesmaid wedding gift.  And your cake toppers are much to pretty to only make a one time appearance at your premier event.  Get your name, date, or event title embossed on a wooded stand or shadow box frame and display your beautiful topper on the mantle of your fireplace, on your end table or nightstand, or hang in a special place in your home. These toppers make prominent statements well after the event is over and make for a wonderful conversation piece!

Contact Information:
Bling Cake Toppers
www.blingcaketoppers.com
Diane Bradley
e-mail: diane@blingcaketoppers.com
(513) 259-7894
Follow on Facebook at Bling Cake Toppers
Orders may be placed securely online or feel free to email or call for additional information.

So what are you waiting for?  Get over the top with Bling Cake Toppers!

See you on the next Feature Friday!  In the meantime dont forget to join our blog and follow us on facebook and twitter @BrowerPower.

Have an "event"-ful weekend!
Hugs,
Christine & the Brower Power Design Team
at C. Brower & Co Creative Events

Some "Ideal" Entertainment for Your Next Event!

Welcome to "Feature Friday!"
This week's hot pick: Ideal Ensembles

Ideal Ensembles is a group of musicians, string quartets & trios, specializing in writing arrangements of your favorite music for your wedding, anniversary party, corporate event or special occassion. When it comes to popular songs they strive to preserve the sense of the original while adding their own artistic twist. Their repertoire ranges from classical music, to The Beatles, to U2, to Billy Joel and more!

What's so ideal about Ideal Emsembles, you ask?

All of Ideal Ensembles performers are active performers in and around New York City. They are classical trained musicians and composers with extensive backgrounds in the arts and symphony's. They've perfomed in many of New York's famed hot spots including Cipriani's, the Central Park Boat House, Tavern on the Green, Oheka Castle, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and countless others!

We asked owner of Ideal Ensembles, Yury Shubov, to tell us a little about himself and how he got his start in the entertainment industry and here's what he had to say:

"I was born in Odessa, Ukraine and began studying violin at the age of 5. 

I was a member of several youth ensembles and performed on

Ukrainian television as well as in a variety of venues including The Odessa Opera House. After moving to the United States, I continued my music education through private study and at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City and then at SUNY College at Fredonia. I was the concertmaster of the College Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, and was frequently invited to play with the Fredonia Chamber Players (currently known as the Western New York Chamber Orchestra.) Additionally, I led a string quartet that was often referred by faculty to couples looking to hire wedding musicians. After graduation, I returned to New York City and quickly integrated myself into the music scene.

As a wedding musician, I’ve worked for top music contractors and have performed for many high-profile clients. I play an average of 40 weddings a year. Every wedding brings the new challenge of creating the perfect ambiance for each individual client, a challenge that I am always happy to accept."

What type of services are available for events?

String quartets (2 violins/viola/cello) and trios (2 violins/cello or violin/viola/cello) are their primary focus, however, virtually any instrument can be substituted or added to an ensemble.

Duets and solo performers are also available.

Can I afford a string quartet or trio for my event?
The answer is YES!!!
Ideal Ensembles rates are more than affordable for your next event! Trios range from $600 - $900 for 1-2 hours, and Quartets range from $800 - $1200 for 1-2 hours.
(Note: Prices listed are as of 12.1.10 and are subject to change in 2011. Additional travel rates may apply based on location of your event.)

Contact Information:

For more information or to book Ideal Ensembles for your next event, contact Yury Shubov at info@idealensembles.com or 917.754.1938

Website: http://www.idealensembles.com/

Facebook: Ideal Ensembles

Twitter: @idealensembles

Linked-In: Ideal Ensembles, LLC

The team at C. Brower & Co Creative Events can't wait to work with Ideal Ensembles at our next event! Maybe I can get them to work on a Lady Gaga arrangement for me! Do I hear Paparazzi or Poker Face anyone?

See you on the next Feature Friday! In the meantime don't forget to become a blog follower and join us on facebook and twitter @BrowerPower!

Have an "event"-ful weekend!
Hugs and kisses and holiday wishes!
Christine

Something Old, Something New, "Something Heirloom", Something Blue

Welcome to "Feature Friday!"

Today's hot pick?  Emici Bridal

Dupioni Silk Flower Sash  $250

Something Old

What I love about the products by Marie Conrad, owner and designer extraordinaire of Emici Bridal - Heirloom Quality Bridal Accessories, is they evoke the feeling of being in a different era, that of a classic 1940’s wedding. One can imagine a beautiful bride walking down the aisle in a vintage gown wearing a beautiful silk sash with hand dyed, hand crafted silk flowers and rhinestone embellishments.

Catala Bloom Bridal Sash  $90

Emici has a wide range of bridal products for your special day including sashes, ring bearer pillows, hair and dress accessories, flower girl baskets, and even bridal bouquets! 

Many hours go into each of these works of art with hand picked fabrics that are grouped together and then cut, formed, embellished and added to the silk wrapped stems.

Every item is created and carefully constructed with great affection by Marie herself with the hopes that it will be enjoyed for years to come.

Ruffle Ring Pillow Collection  $110

Something New

Here’s a sneak peek at a new collection of ring pillows coming soon to Emici Bridal. These pillows feature silk ruffles in various shades and shapes. The photo to your right is created out of silk satin with an ombre hand dyed dupioni ruffle topped with a gorgeous rhinestone center. These creations are one of a kind as each hand dyed ruffle will have variations.

Fuschia & Orange Crush Silk Dupioni Catala Flower Bouquet  $520

Something Heirloom

I asked Marie what inspired her to start creating heirloom bridal accessories and how she got her start in the business. Here’s what she had to say:

“I first got started making bridal accessories about 10 years ago. I had a job in retail at the time so it was not really about making it my career. I just always liked to design and create so it was a great outlet. The progression is what interests me. Experimenting with new techniques, figuring out ways to seperate my designs from all the others. The challenge of creating something memorable for my clients using the best materials I can find. Inspiration comes easy, picking one new project to finish is the hard part. I have no less than 12 ideas I am contemplating at any given time. Some make appearances in my offerings and some hang around for months while I wait for the perfect finishing touches.”

Fleur de Lis Silk Dupioni
Lavendar Sachet  $20

Something Blue

Those of you who know the Brower Power Design Team know we love blue (just like our logo!) so it’s no doubt we would have to highlight one of Emici’s beautiful blue creations. The photo to your left is the Fleur de Lis Silk Dupioni Lavendar Sachet (set of two)  in a Robin egg blue embroidered silk dupioni with light brown ribbon. Thin satin ribbon attach to your rings and a ribbon strap across the back to help the ring bearer carry the pillow. It is hand tufted with a mother of pearl button on the back. Truly gorgeous!

Tulle Accent Feathered Silk Rapture
Rose Fascinator   $95

It’s no surprise to us these exquisite creations have been featured in Modern Bride Magazine, marthastewartweddings.com, Brides Noir and numerous e-zines and blogs.

Price Point

The price point for these heirloom treasures can range from $20 to $1600 so there is something for everyone at Emici Bridal!

Ivory & Cream Silk Catala  Jeweled
Bloom Bridal Bouquet  $900

Contact Information

If you would like to view more beautiful Emici Bridal creations, visit their website at http://www.emicibridal.com/ and become a fan of their facebook and twitter page.  If have any questions please feel free to email Marie at marieconrad@emicibridal.com

I hope you enjoyed this week’s Feature Friday!  Don’t forget to join our blog so you don’t miss out on any Brower Power Feature Friday fun!  Follow us on facebook and twitter!

Have an “event”-ful weekend!!

Hugs!

Christine

An Eco-Friendly Out of the "Box" Product!

Welcome to "Feature Friday!" 

This week's hot pick?  Creative Custom Card Boxes!

There is no doubt that brides and Event Professionals love this product as Creative Custom Card Boxes was the winner of the 2009 Brides Choice Awards on WeddingWire, Featured in Eco Beautiful Weddings Magazine as an Editor in Chief's Pick  and soon to be on WE TV's Platinum Weddings!  These beautiful hand crafted card boxes, designed by mother-daughter team Marni Gold and Linda Protovin of River Edge, New Jersey, are the perfect way for brides to personalize their wedding.  But.....Creative Custom Card Boxes are not just for weddings!  They can be customized to fit any event theme such as Sweet 16's and Bat Mitvah's,  Baby Showers, Anniversary's and Non-Profit event functions. 

Each hand painted Card Box can be made to order in any color to match your event, with coordinating ribbon and optional embellishments such as Swarovski Crystals, pearls, feathers, and personalized logo plaques. They come in a square or round boxes (or a combination of both), and in 1 to 4 tiered options with dimensions of the boxes based on your overall number of guests.

We asked owner Marni Gold how the idea of Creative Custom Card Boxes came to be and here's what she said:

"I came to the wedding and party business in a slightly different way than many.  I'm a trained singer and experienced voice teacher who studied opera and musical theater in college, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from the University of Central Florida.  My performance career took me to Germany, England and Italy, where I was inspired to share my passion for music through teaching.  After attaining my Master's Degree in Education, I taught at the local high schools in New Jersey and now teach private voice lessons at a music school in New Jersey.

I was planning my wedding in 2008 and was searching for a unique and secure way to store gifts and cards at the wedding reception.  Frustrated with the gaudy, tacky, and just plain expensive options I came across, my mom and I decided to create an eco-friendly custom card box that was simple, elegant and understated that still corresponded with my wedding colors and theme.  This was a natural fit with both our years of entertaining and decor experience, and so the idea of Creative Custom Card Boxes was born!"

This mother-daughter team understands the importance of personalization and exchanges fabric swatches, photographs, and other items of importance with their clients for inspiration when designing the custom card boxes.  They also pride themselves in making sure their card boxes and other products remain as affordable as possible.  (But we'll get to price point later on in the blog!)

  

What does C. Brower & Co love about Creative Custom Card Boxes?
The Brower Power Design Team loves all the options and fine details offered by Creative Custom Card Boxes (and our fans know we are all about the details!), but we really love the fact that the creative artistry of these boxes are all Eco-friendly.  Each box is handcrafted out of heavy duty Eco-friendly recycled paper mache, then hand painted using durable acrylic paint.

How can I keep my cards secure during the event and how do I remove them afterwards?
The lid on the two tier box is actually glued shut, with ribbons securing both tiers in place.  Cards are retrieved through the back of the box and you have the option to add a free security closure for extra added security at your event.  You can request this feature when filling out your Design Specifiation Form during checkout on the website or you can call with your special request.

What other options and products does Creative Custom Card Boxes offer?

In addition to the 1 to 4 tier boxes, Creative Custom Card Boxes offers the "Guest Wishes" Guest Book Box.  It's an innovative new alternative to the standard guest book used at weddings and other social occassions, or the wish trees often used at non-profit events.  Guests fill out wish cards with their thoughts, feelings, best wishes and blessings for the guests of honor and insert them into the "Guest Wishes" box.  It echos the design of the Creative Custom Card Box, reflecting the colors and style of the event, but more importantly it makes a wonderful keepsake!    

  

In addition, hand crafted custom cake table decor letters and monogram cake toppers are available.  They are a beautiful and budget friendly way to give your wedding cake table or any part of your reception that little special touch.

 



Price Point?

Creative Custom Card Boxes prices are fantastic!  They range from as low as $60 - $125 with additional pricing for add-on embellishments.  Visit their website at http://www.creativecustomcardboxes.com/ for more information on embellishment options and to place an order! 

For additional questions about Creative Custom Card Boxes, contact Marni Gold at 888-315-9296 or info@creativecustomcardboxes.com. 

Can't get enough of seeing those beautiful card boxes? Follow them on facebook!

Oh....almost forgot!  Please join me in wishing Marni a very Happy Birthday today! 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Feature Friday!  So you don’t miss out on any future Brower Power Feature Friday fun, join our blog or follow us on facebook and twitter!

Have an “event”-ful weekend!!!

Hugs,

Christine

It's All About YouBooth!!

Welcome to our next segment of “Feature Friday!” This week’s hot pick is the YouBooth from 5th Avenue Digital.

What is a YouBooth, you ask?  

YouBooth is a new streamlined and modern version of the old-fashioned photo booth.  5th Avenue Digital has deconstructed the old kind of photobooth, taking away the walls so people can move around freely in front of the camera. It’s a great entertainment element for corporate or social events – fun, interactive, and instant gratification as guests can have their photos printed out instantly to take home! What a great party favor for guests to walk away with at your event!

Ummmm…. what happens if my guests leave and forget to take their photos?

No need to worry because the folks at 5th Avenue Digital have got that one covered! They can send you the links to all your event photos so your guests can have copies for their website or photo albums or just to share with colleagues, family and friends.

What does C. Brower & Co love about the YouBooth?

Besides the fact that its tons of fun (and our design and production team loves fun!), we love that the YouBooth is compact and attractive, just like a piece of modern furniture. It’s a beautifully varnished birch wood chest with a plexiglass top, roughly the height of an average adult. For event designers there is nothing worse than having your guests walk into an event tripping over tripods and large set ups and gadgets that stick out like a sore thumb. YouBooth takes care of all that mess and blends right in creating an aesthetically pleasing look that draws people in because all the elements (camera, printer, paper) are self contained in the booth, giving a clean silhouette. Unlike traditional photobooths, this one is free standing with no cramped seating to squeeze into. You just stand in front of it, press the foot pedal and voila! Out come your photos!!  Pretty cool, huh?

Corporate clients – listen up! Social clients –you too!

YouBooth is available with a custom photo template that allows for branding for corporate events, or commemoration for weddings, Mitzvah’s, Sweet 16’s or other social occasions. The photo format can also be customized and programmed to deliver a series of images – two, three or even six images per sheet, in color or black and white and branded with your logo or message. In addition, YouBooth images can be simultaneously shown on large screens around the venue so everyone can share in the fun! Check out the latest video of YouBooth in action at the New York Methodist event at LaVenue. YouBooth was such a big hit that its line was bigger than the one at the bar!

What else is so fab about YouBooth?

YouBooth comes with a great prop kit which allows people to do more than just stand there and pose for a photo. The props bring out a sense of play and silliness that makes for more fun and engaging photos. Props can include empty frames in various sizes and paper lips and mustaches for all the masquerading fun! But -- here is the best part about YouBooth that I love (and my team knows how impatient I can be!), YouBooth prints out photos within 10 – 15 seconds for instant gratification! And, no event is too big for YouBooth – this powerhouse of a machine is capable of printing 550 4x6 photos or 330 5x7’s before needing a change of paper so it can run for hours and hours unattended.

Can I afford YouBooth for my event?

You betcha! You don’t need a huge entertainment budget to have YouBooth at your event. It’s reasonably priced and provides such a great entertainment value for your event that you may even want to order two for your larger corporate or social event! 

I cannot wait to put YouBooth into my own client proposals!  To find out more about pricing, give my friends at 5th Avenue Digital a call at 212-741-6427. Owner Elizabeth Beskin and Director of Sales Beth Baynum will be very happy to assist you!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Feature Friday!  So you don’t miss out on any future Brower Power Feature Friday fun, join our blog or follow us on facebook and twitter!

Have an “event”-ful weekend!!!
Hugs,
Christine