Please consider joining us next year and help us give back!

~Apres~

~Macy’s Design Cuisine, The Wedding Guys & Be Events~

~Ultimate Events & Minneapolis Hilton~

~Festivities & The Saint Paul Hotel~

~The Depot & Linen Effects~

~Linen Effects~

~Mystic Lake Casino Hotel~

~Open Arms of Minnesota~

I recently zipped out there (directions are simple) for a NACE meeting. Lancer Catering is the on site caterer at the Zoo & Conservatory and they are, simply put, outstanding! Midway Party Rental provided our event decor!

Whether you are looking for something fun and different when planning an outing, portrait session or wedding…consider the Como Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul!

Here’s to a yummy, fun Summer…wherever you go!

Mintahoe is in charge of the catering at this venue and they really do an outstanding job! Mintahoe serves several venues and they boast award winning catering!

Bruce Vassar and Matthew Trettel of The Wedding Guys held the program this month and closed with some insider details and remarks about their recent voyage across the pond for the Royal Wedding of William & Kate! Check out their blog!

Thank you’s can also go out to Apres for supplying the linens and Matthew Sherry of Complete Music for supplying sound!

Another successful collaboration of extraordinary talents!

I’ve recently returned from a working vacation in Mexico. The city of Playa del Carmen, located in the state of Quintana Roo (Q. Roo as it’s known), boasts many hotels to say the very least and even in the midst of a recession, that list is growing. That said, it is this photographer’s opinion that Lunata is among the most quaint. I’ve stayed there and photographed it so many times that I was requested to bring my gear along on this trip and capture it’s essence to later be shared on their website and other media materials. How do you turn that down?

This hotel is located on the famous 5th Ave, a completely pedestrian walk way filled with shops ranging from Swarovski to the local silver vendors and restaurants ranging from the very local Ajua to the very American and sought by some, Starbucks. Kids picky about food or not feeling adventurous? There’s both a McDonald’s and a Burger King. If you can’t find it on 5th Ave., you don’t know what you’re looking for. Whether you have pesos or US dollars, it makes no difference here. But we like to exchange US for pesos ‘cuz, well…it’s part of the experience and it’s more colorful! 

Back to Lunata. This darling gem is located on 5th Ave. between 6th and 8th street and consists of only 10 rooms. 6 that face 5th Ave. and 4 that face the serene, lush garden. What I love is that they have decided to name the habitaciones (rooms) rather than number them. My favorite? tough to pick…but twice I’ve stayed in “Cordelia”…large, 1 King bed on the 5th side (all the rooms on the 5th side have sweet little balconies overlooking the street  so you can people watch from the comfort of your own room!). I’ve also stayed in 2 of the garden side rooms. I just simply recommend that you stay. Let Fabiola pick for you and you won’t be disappointed. With breakfast available each morning in the garden at 8am (included in the cost of the rooms) you can wake up slowly and even get to know the other guests of the hotel. Don’t bother wasting valuable space in your luggage with beach towels either as Lunata has those available to their guests as well. All of the little details are covered and while they have WiFi in all the rooms Lunata now has a community computer for you to check your flight, your bank balance and even your e-mail and, if you must, you can even update your Facebook status!  Creature comforts….covered.

I love this hotel. You will too. Tell Fabiola I sent you! She truly is FABulous!

I’ve posted some shots that I took on this most recent trip on my Facebook Fan Page.

Oh sure, all the usual suspects were on hand which just makes attending these monthly programs a grand outing in themselves (even tho’ my raffle tickets yielded nothing this go ’round!).

Once everyone found their way to the 2nd floor we were all greeted with sumptuous libations and butler passed hors d’oeuvres hosted by Mintahoe and Jeffery Cook of Passport Beverage.

Then we moved to the presentation room where we were tempted with yet more delights for the senses!

If that weren’t enough…we adjourned to the lower level for deserts and dancing! Our DJ for the event was Jay Brian Kochendorfer, Director of Operations at DJSound!

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter of NACE meets once a month at fabulous, local venues year ’round…excluding July, which is reserved for Nationals, where NACE members (nation wide) meet up for a National Conference to share industry trends. It’s been like home to me.  To coin a phrase…membership has it’s advantages!

I have to say, and I know I’m not alone on this one, that while destination weddings are a lot of work the rewards and results are always outstanding. Gorgeous backdrops are a given but getting to spend more time with the entire group of guests, leading up to the big day, makes you feel like family and everyone seems to loosen up more!

(Destination Wedding pricing is quoted individually and available upon request)

My sister’s family and I were poolside as the staff at the Marriott was prepping for a beach wedding on Palm Sunday. I grabbed this shot before things got crazy, I couldn’t resist!

This trip was pure pleasure and relaxation for me and an escape from the past 5 months of my mother’s illness and passing. It was so good to be there with family!

Pete, my brother-in-law, turned and asked me if I’d like him to take my photo and I handed him my camera and he got this great shot of me. Thanks, Pete! Thank you for everything!

I’m waiting to get shots off Pete’s underwater camera from our dive & I’ll post those another day. Above sea level, below sea level, we had a fabulous time!

Thanks, again, Bakers! I love you.

What I know for sure is, despite the weather…..this is gonna be a HOT one! Lots of love here, folks!

Here’s Caroline & Sean…

How about some exterior shots?

Everything inside and out is for sale! All of the vintage tables and chairs were not only positioned and decorated for the event but each piece had a price tag displayed so perhaps at the next wedding reception, because they are all priced to sell, some may not be there!

End of the night, a tender Father-Daughter dance…