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10 California Wines to Try

Steals [ $15 or less ]
White: Edna Valley Vineyard Paragon Chardonnay 2007
Red: Cycles Gladiator Syrah 2007

Good Values [ $16-$30 ]
White: Geyser Peak "Block Collection" River Ranches Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Red: Hahn Meritage 2007

Special Occasion [ $31-$50 ]
White: Shramsberg Blanc de Blanc 2005
Red: Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Deep Pocket Wines [ More than $50 ]
White: Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay 2006
Red: Continuum Cabernet Sauvignon blend 2006

Critics' Choice Award
[ hard to find but impressed the judges ]
White: J. Rochioli Rachael's Vineyard Chardonnay 2007
Red: Evening Land " Celebration" Gamay Noir 2007

source: Sunset Magazine, November 2009 issue [ sunset wine awards 2009 ]

Feature Sample Sale Dress | Grace by Amy Michelson

Grace by Amy Michelson is a Romantic Dress in Ivory Silk Organza over a Nude Lining . The Bodice is adorned in Gorgeous Alencon Lace
Size 8
Retails for $5400
Sample available for $2800

Favorite Footwear Picks for Fall!

To start .....a teensy confession:

Hello, my name is Traci Romano , and I am mildly [ wink] addicted to shoes!

I love the change in seasons because it means a change in footwear.... and who among us does not love shoes? I must also preface this post by saying that I consider shoes an investment. A great pair of shoes should last you a very long time and your local Cobbler should be your best friend. Treat them well, and they will return the favor.

So here is what I am loving right now ..........

This is a GREAT neutral over the knee boot by Sigerson Morrison

This Beauty is by Jimmy Choo but for H+M! So the splurge is much less damaging on your Prada Wallet!
For a shorter boot, there is nothing I want more than these Manolo's - I am simply in LOVE!
This d'orsay cuff by Manolo is my favorite shoe of the season.

Available in Red or Black the Valentino Flat Bow Peep Toe is an amazing Pump that will probably get the most wear in your shoe closet[ you do have a shoe closet don't you? ].

Enjoy the upcoming Fall Season - attend great parties, and wear GREAT shoes!

Real Card Studio's Whimsical Invites Featured in Brides

One of the great designers we carry in our paper studio is Real Card Studio. Their designs have always been a client favorite at TRE. This month one of their more whimsical designs, Bellini, is featured in Brides Connecticut.

Want to see them in person? Please schedule an appointment with one of our stylists today | 203.354.9791 We can show you these and many more!

Philanthropist, Friend, Wine Enthusiast, Restauranteur | Jeff Benjamin

Last month I blogged about a past ARAMARK colleague and friend Chris Santos who now is Executive Chef and Owner of Stanton Social on the lower east side in NYC.

Today I want to introduce you to another colleague who worked with us at ARAMARK and is also a graduate of the same Hospitality School I attended ; The University of Massachusetts, at Amherst.

Jeff Benjamin

Jeff has always stood out in my mind as a consummate professional with a refined taste and passion for fine service, food and wine. He also devotes a great deal of time and energy towards philanthropic pursuits.

 I once organized a holiday celebration for impoverished children in Brooklyn, NY and Jeff was one of the first people who said he would attend and assist in this effort. Our Brooklyn event was more than 10 years ago and I will never forget Jeff's generosity. I will also never forget him introducing me to "Jack on Ice", which I still enjoy today [wink].

Jeff pictured above at an Alex's Lemonade Stand event which he generously supports

Jeff enjoyed a successful career at ARAMARK and has continued to excel since leaving . He is now  co-owner of two of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. Vetri and Osteria

Vetri

" Probably the best Italian Restaurant in America" 

-Alan Richman, Bon Appetit 2005

When visiting Vetri make sure to try the Spinach Gnocchi , which are like little pillows of spinach and ricotta in brown butter.  Vetri is an intimate restaurant that offers the Chef's Grand Tasting on weekends.  Venture for a fabulous bottle of wine - there are more than 5,000 bottles in their wine cellar .  A great choice for a romantic dinner or intimate gathering of friends and family.

Osteria

James Beard Nominated BEST NEW RESTAURANT 2008

The Wood Burning Stove is the stand out at Osteria.  I will be visiting Osteria the first weekend in May and can not wait to try the Classic Margherita Pizza. They are also known for their Wood Grilled Octopus, which I am hoping my girlfriends will enjoy.  All of the Pasta is of course homemade and with enough notice you can request a seat at the Kitchen table which seats 14 for a special Private Dining Experience.

Congratulations on all of your success Jeff - Cheers!

For Reservations and Catering Inquiries

Vetri  | 1312 Spruce Street | 215.732.3478

Osteria | 640 North Broad Street |215.763.0920

Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpiece Couture Event

Join us in welcoming Premiere Veiling and Accessories Designer Sara Gabriel as she makes a personal appearance in our Design Studio on Friday, April 10th and Saturday, April 11th.

Sara's collection of headpieces and hair jewelry is meticulously crafted from fresh water pearls, swarovski crystals, hand sculpted flowers and glittering rhinestones. Each and every veil is individually cut by a professional milliner and finished by hand.






Sara and team will be on hand all day Friday and Saturday to select and custom design the best veiling and accessories for your wedding gown.

This event is will book very quickly... please ring the studio today to schedule your personal appointment with Sara Gabriel | 203.354.9791

Fabulous Ribbon Sale!

www.stranodesigns.com

The Bridesmaid Party || March 6 +7 featuring ......

...Dresses...

Lynn Lugo Bridesmaids and Mother of the Occasion Dresses. Always a favorite at TRE, Lynn is known for the amazing color selection she offers and the more than 100 ways you can design your own dress. Want one bodice and a different skirt- no problem! Looking for a contrasting hem or to add a strap in just the right place - no problem. Sashes is four sizes, jackets and wraps a plenty. Lynn dresses the modern bridesmaid to a tee.

Use her online Dressmaker to customize your bridesmaids look or have us create a custom look just for you. How fun!

Receive $25 dollars off of each dress purchased during this twice yearly event!

...Shoes...

To complete your bridesmaids look , select a great pair of metallic shoes from Blue Tux. We have many available in stock and can order anything we don't have in a matter of days.

We are currently loving the Charlotte Style , pictured below!

Styling is fun - so we want to offer you an additional 25% off of every shoe purchase when you buy your maids dresses during our Bridesmaid Party!

...Jewelry...

What would a party be without baubles? We say not a party at all! Find the perfect bracelet, necklace, pendant or brooch to complete your bridesmaids wedding day wardrobe or as a thank you for being one of your gals!

Join us Friday, March 6th and Saturday March 7th
Maids Mojitos for all!
10am -5pm
Ring a Stylist for your personal appointment || 203.354.9791

Banchet Flowers

Julie , Alex and I were thrilled to attend a recent Soiree at Banchet Flowers in New York City. It was a great night that highlighted many of our favorite wedding professionals including Ron Ben-Israel, Shiraz Catering, and Something Different Party Rental.

Banchet Jaigla is not only an extremely talented floral designer in the city but she also has an amazing space to host events. With over 18,000 square feet of modular space it is ideal for : fashion shows, weddings, photo shoots, private parties and so much more.

Erik Ekroth, from Erik Ekroth Photography captured the highlights of the event and was kind enough to share the photographs included in this blog. Erik is a new friend to TRE having just met this past Fall at a Bridal Fashion Show he was shooting in the city. We look forward to working with Erik in the future.

It was a great party, thank you for inviting us!

For your party!

Our friend Sari at For your Party just sent us a great email that we wanted to share... We love working with Sari and know you will too.

.........................................................................
ForYourParty is excited to announce...
Friends and Family Fridays!

During this time of economic uncertainty we want to offer those closest to us a discount so that fantastic parties can go on. Beginning this Friday (2/13) and periodically through-out the year we will send discount codes to be used on specific Fridays. Dress up your party for the small price of $29.00 with 100 cocktail napkins. Your guests will be impressed by your attention to detail and creativity you’ll display with personalized product. Also remember to get your Green Napkins for St. Patrick’s Day, your Tea Favor gifts for Mother’s Day and Colorful napkins stamped with your graduates name for a festive graduation party.

Our Valentines gift to you... 20% Discount Code FFF29

Friends and Family Friday this Friday, February 13, 2009"

Amy Kuschel Bridal Couture Trunk Show | February 20-21

Please join us February 20th -21st as we feature more than thirty exquisite Gowns from the Amy Kuschel Bridal Collection. This is a always a very popular event for us , and appointments will book quickly. All brides who purchase a specially priced gown during this couture event will not only become a member of our bridal rewards program but will also be entitled to a complimentary cleaning and preservation of their wedding gown.

Please ring a stylist to schedule your personal appointment | 203.354.9791

A Conversation with Lisa Hoffman founder of Ceci New York

photography by Karen Mordechai

At Traci Romano Events, we have been fans of Lisa Hoffman from Ceci New York for years. She is truly a visionary and leader in the Wedding/Event Industry. We are thrilled that she shared a bit of herself with us today... enjoy!

When and Why did you decide to start Ceci New York?
I started Ceci about 5 years ago. But the real catalyst was when I was working at a design firm in San Diego (my home town) and I was hired to design the Bridal Registry Kit for Macy's and Bloomingdales and all the Federated department stores. It was the first time I started conceptualizing weddings and my coworker who was engaged loved what I was doing and asked that I design her wedding invitations. I approached it as a design challenge rather than a pre-templated invitation card and created my first Ceci Luxe book invitation, it was an instant hit! - I was then offered a job in New York in the web design world designing brands and websites for Fortune 500 companies (Major League Baseball, Hotwire, Eluxury, Tylenol, etc.) but I missed paper and the tactile qualities of print design so much I started designing invitations on the side. Applying the thinking I put into corporate brand design and 'branded' each of my events. My clients loved the concept of having me create their "brand" and/or imagery for their event... it seems to have created a trend! My name was passed around and soon the demand became a full time job!

Where does your design inspiration come from ?
Vintage architecture and glamorous mid-century interiors, intricate tile patterns, and ornate fabrics, but above all turn of the century couture fashion designers have always fascinated me... Every couture gown was completely fabricated and designed specifically for each customer. I love the artistry, craftsmanship, patterns and fine quality that these designers embodied and I strive to offer that level of service. Yet living in New York I just can't help but be influenced by the raw energy and creative edge that the City puts out...as a result my concept for Ceci has always been "downtown style meets classic elegance".

Do you have a favorite color combination ?
Orange will be important and I love the bright cobalt blue. Purple is a huge trend right now but I see that being replaced by stronger color pops mixed with soft grays. Spring is a time for rebirth and typically brings brighter palettes. However, the metallics will continue to carry over from 2008. I think with weddings, champagnes, golds and silver metallics will always be in fashion (desirable).

Is there a design tool that you could not live without? my creative mind and my eyes - if I lost one of those, I would be nothing.

Out of the four White Label Collection Concepts and which resonates with you most? - I love them all but the Destination Collection does at the moment stand out to me. Maybe it's because I am personally planning my own destination wedding. The collection is inspired by travel, culture and sophistication - all elements that are important in life.

Favorite vacation spot?
any where where there is a gorgeous beach, warm sunshine and peace and quiet. But if I had to name one - I had an amazing experience at the One&Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. They take care of every detail for you. Their tag line states "Where heaven embraces the Earth" - I couldn't agree more!

Favorite restaurant in the City?
Right now I'm loving ALTA . It's this little cozy gem of a place in the West Village. It's great to go with friends because the entreés are small, tapas style- perfect for sharing! I personally LOVE to eat and love it even more when I get to share and sample a variety of delightful new flavors through out the meal. Plus ALTA has incredible sangrias - perfect compliment.


Thank you for sharing Lisa!!

Engage!09- Something Blue

Mark your calenders.... Registration begins at 9am on 2/2. This amazing event featuring the who's who in the wedding industry is NOT to miss.

Visit the Engage! 09 Website here to learn more about how you can be in the Grand Cayman June 21--24.

Rosa Clara Trunk Show | January 23-24

Introducing a wonderful event featuring Rosa Clara Bridal Gowns. Preview Rosa's entire 2009 Collection and enjoy Spectacular Savings on these Couture Gowns.

Spend an hour or two with us trying on fabulous dresses, sipping champagne and nibbling on chocolates.

Ring a Stylist to secure your personal appointment at this exclusive event| 203.354.9791

January 23-24
10am-6pm
Traci Romano Events
50 Water Street
South Norwalk, CT 06854

TRE Welcomes Ceci New York White Label Collection

We are thrilled to introduce our brides to the luxurious White Label Collection from Ceci New York. High fashion and exquisite craftsmanship are now available at a ready-to-order price. As the only Connecticut studio to carry this collection we invite you to call us today for a preview that includes: Save-The-Dates, Invitations, Thank you Notes, Menus, Programs and so much more!

Take a peek at some of the designs below. Each invitation suite is fully customizable, and the options are endless from formal black tie to botanical and destination themed as well as chic classic designs.







Contact a Wedding Stylist today to schedule your personal preview of this collection:

Ring | 203.354.9791
Email | events@traciromano.com

We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Look for some great new changes to our Blog in early 2009, we are very excited about the new direction our blog is taking and think you will be to.

Cheers!
Traci

Christos Bridal Gowns are coming to Visit

Our 2009 Christos Collection is scheduled to arrive over the next few months but a few of the pieces are going to be visiting the first two weeks in January. To schedule a sneak preview , ring a stylist | 203.354.9791

Tegani Bridal Jewelry Featured on Cover of OPRAH

I just read about this fabulous news on The Wedding Style Report , published by Luxurious Wedding. Many congratulations to Tejani Bridal Jewelry ! These earrings are amazing and look stunning on Oprah.