Zelen's Skin Science

This past week, I had the pleasure of styling an editor event for Zelen's Skin Science (www.zelens.com).  Co-founded by Anouska Hempel (www.anouskahempeldesign.com), the event took place at the Morgans Hotel on Madison Avenue (www.morganshotel.com) in New York City.  

With sleek, modern furniture and accessories, and classic arrangements of green foliage, it was the perfect setting for the event.  I juxtaposed the various containers for the greens using some lab beakers and some modern stainless flower pots.  Accent pillows that coordinated with the color scheme of the product worked well on the chairs and sofas.

A Big Thanks to Sarah and Jon Rapaport!

On August 16th, I produced a wedding in Lincoln, MA for Sarah and Jon.  After many months of planning, it was a huge success!  While planning an event hours away from where it takes place can present it's challenges, I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.  When Sarah asked me to coordinate and plan her wedding in January, I was thrilled.  She has such great taste, and was open to many ideas.  

The theme for the wedding was classy, simple, and clean.  Nothing was overly fussy, and even the formal aspects of the day had whimsy surrounding them.  Shades of purples, violets and greens were the colors for everything.  

Starting with a ceremony under a tent, followed by an adjacent cocktail hour in a historic home, and finishing with dinner and dancing in a second tent, the evening had great flow.  With pre-ceremony lemonades and teas, cocktails and passed hor doeuvres prior to dinner, and amazing food stations for the main event, Sue at Swartz Catering and her team did an outstanding job!  (www.swartzcatering.com).  The flowers by Carol Silverston had the architectural elegance and sophistication that any bride could appreciate.  Only a photographer like Carl Bower could capture the magic on film to feel the movement, excitement, and emotion of a celebration such as this.  (www.carlbower.com)

Simple table runners made of purple linen, with same-flower arrangements and green leather napkin rings adorned each table.  The ceiling of the tents were filled with more than 200 lanterns and over 10,000 small white lights.  The dance floor, in the center of the tent, was the focal point of the dance with music by Scott Arrington from Murray Hill Talent.  (www.murrayhilltalent.com)  

From the rehearsal dinner to the brunch on Sunday, the entire weekend went off as planned.

A big thanks to Sarah and Jon for this wonderful opportunity!

Plan your event around the space, don't plan your space around the event!

I believe that using the physical space of your event location and it's features is key in making your event look truly amazing.  Using architectural details, color schemes, and existing furniture and accessories to your advantage will ultimately let you use more of your budget on other aspects of the event like food or entertainment.  

I recently did an event for Stirrings, the wonderful drink mix company (www.stirrings.com).  The space that was chosen was a roof-top patio with a crisp, modern feel.  There was furniture there that had clean lines, and the floor was gorgeous teak.  We were able to add steel grass arranged in glass vases, navy blue pillows, and white candle holders to help complete the look that was already started.  The space felt like summer near the beach.

When choosing a venue for a particular event, it is important to have in mind the theme of the event, or simply the colors you are thinking of using.  This will not only help you find a space that will work, but will enhance your decor.

Trying to make a colonial garden feel modern, or trying to pull off asian cuisine in a barn aren't impossible, but take much more effort, and usually more money.  

Remember, use the space to your advantage!

Introducing Patrick J Clayton Productions!

Introducing Patrick J Clayton Productions, my full-service event planning and project management firm, and how I can help plan and execute your next event.

I founded PJCP in 2007 with an eye toward creating a truly unique concept -  an affordable solution to event production, design and execution.  your event could be a small dinner party for four, a baby or bridal shower for 25 or a wedding or fashion show for hundreds.  I specialize in working with your budget to produce a spectacular event.

PJCP is an event design and production company that brings a sophisticated touch and flawless execution to special events, parties, product launches, and trade shows.  With experience in retail and interior design, visual merchandising and product marketing, I blend art with commerce by incorporating luxury and design trends into my event production services.

I look forward to using this blog as a means to keep you up-to-date on my latest events, photos, and tricks of the trade!  

Be sure to check out my website!

www.patrickjclaytonproductions.com