Featured Vendor: Prestige Party Rental

Prestige Party Rental
241 North 10th St.
Prospect Park, NJ 07508
973-942-5300

http://www.prestigepartyrental.com/

When a bride plans a wedding, her mind first goes to the big items she knows she's going to have: first will probably be her dress, then where she wants to hold the wedding, and maybe flowers, the house of worship, or maybe her honeymoon.

While we've recently written that brides should first consider how many people she wants to have at her wedding, since that determines the where she can have it -- with all the rest falling into place afterwards -- it's only after getting into the nitty gritty of the planning tat she realizes there are a lot of tiny things to consider that comprise a good portion of what you're going to need at the wedding.

And that's where Prestige Party Rental comes in. They are a top supplier of tents, linens, plates, chairs, silverware, you name it. From ballroom style ladder-back chairs and tables to umbrellas, utensils, and even ovens if you need them! There is dinnerware, flatware, and glassware available, along with silver service, chafing dishes, and concession carts including hot dog and ice cream carts, popcorn makers, and sno-kone machines.

Prices have also proved very affordable. At my wedding, which I have referenced several times in these features, Prestige provided not only a large tent to cover a patio for our cocktail hour, but also provided a second tent during the reception as well as screening materials to block certain views. Their professional staff delivers all the equipment to your venue and sets it up free of charge. They return to dismantle it all at the end.

With almost 30 years in the business, we find it very easy to recommend Prestige Party Rental for your own wedding needs. Below are just a few of the exquisite tents they've erected at parties great and grand.

Featured Venue: Harvest on Hudson

Harvest-on-Hudson
1 River Street
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York 10706
914-478-2800
http://www.harvest2000.com/hoh/index.html

Nestled on the banks of the Hudson River and across from the soaring cliffs of the Palisades, the Harvest on Hudson restaurant is a gorgeous restored Tuscan farmhouse featuring gardens, patio dining, lounge, and a 30-foot high stone fireplace.

It's hard to decide which is better: the sumptuous menu inspired by authentic Italian recipes, with ingredients culled from the on-premises organic gardens, or the dramatic and breathtaking views of the river and sheer cliff faces.

It's easy for us to recommend Harvest on Hudson because we dined there this past August as part of a wedding anniversary celebration. We were seated on the patio and were treated to a glorious sunset. The staff was very attentive, the food delicious, and the Mediterranean ambience incomparable.

But beyond being a beautiful location for dinner, Harvest also is a unique wedding facility where it's possible to have the ceremony on the public lawns adjacent to the river (or in the restaurants own gardens) followed by receptions in the restaurant.

Regardless of whether its an event for many, or just a couple's romantic evening, Harvest on Hudson is an opportunity to enjoy a largely unknown pearl amid the splendors of nature.

Featured Artist: Franklyn Margasak

The Wedding Artist
Franklyn Margasak
theweddingartist.net
610-388-0891
Email: theweddingartist@verizon.net

For leading fashion illustrator Franklyn Margasak, it's the challenge of interpreting the beauty of a woman that allows him to create unique charcoal illustrations of brides.

"Doing wedding art is a rebirth for me as a fashion illustrator," says Franklyn, "enabling me to utilize my skills in marrying images of brides and grooms to wedding charcoal portraits."

And Franklyn should know a thing or two about illustrations. A career spanning more than 20 years illustrating magazines and newspapers throughout North America has prepared him to become a unique phenomenon in the wedding industry: quite possibly the only high fashion bridal portraitist in the country. He has worked for the likes of Polo, Armani, and Prada and his works create beautiful, haute couture bridal portraits in charcoal. Today he runs The Wedding Artist.

In addition to his stunning custom portraiture, Franklyn's works can be used in a variety of creative ways, particularly if they are commissioned prior to the wedding. For example, you can receive an individual charcoal "head shot" portrait or one as a couple (here's an excellent engagement gift!). Or, the bride to be can have a full fashion gown portrait created.

Those pictures can then be transformed into invitations or Thank You cards; one-of-a-kind momentos for your guests, such as an antique crystal glassware etching; life-size art and banners; and favors (keychains, candleholders, or elegant candy dishes are just some of the possibilities). It's only your imagination that limits how you use your portrait, but talking with Franklyn will assuredly allow the two of you to discover how best to utilize this custom illustration.

Below are just some of Franklyn's terrific creations and if you'd like to discuss the endless options of this unique opportunity, you can contact The Wedding Artist at his website, or call him at (610) 388-0891.

Featured Caterer: Sterling Affair

Sterling Affair
575 Madison Ave., Suite 106
New York, New York 10022-8511
212-686-4075

Last week we offered the first in our series of featured unique event professionals, The Hermitage, an historic house in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, that hosted such luminaries as George Washington, Aaron Burr, and the Marquis de Lafayette, and serves today as a unique venue to hold a wedding, party, or other celebration.

This week's spotlight might not enjoy the same storied history as The Hermitage, but its level of class and distinction are of equal stature. Sterling Affair is a full-service catering and event management company serving the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Once again we are able to highly recommend Sterling Affair because of their work on my wedding. Principal Peter Fazio oversaw the event with the aplomb you'd expect from a caterer having received hands-on training at top establishments such as the Waldorf-Astoria and the Culinary Institute of America. He provided many extras, and the personal service received that day is a model to be emulated. Guests still exclaim over the ice sculpture!

Sterling Affair has easily crafted events at locales notable for being landmarks as well as historical. It has exclusive arrangements with the Italian Academy an Rexcorp Plaza, as well as relationships with many more. Their food matches the venue, too. New American cuisine combine with classic French and international flavors for romantic and delicious presentations, including hors d'oeuvres, salads, main courses, and desserts. Let's not forget the wedding cakes. My own was one of their wondrous creations.

Below you can find a sampling of some of their many exquisite preparations.

Featured Venue: The Hermitage

The Hermitage

335 North Franklin Turnpike

Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey 07423-8311

201-845-8311

www.thehermitage.org

Located on five acres of lawn dotted with centuries-old trees, The Hermitage in leafy Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ, in Bergen County, is an exquisite example of domestic Gothic Revival architecture. The 14-room historic house incorporates a stone house that was the Revolutionary War headquarters of General George Washington as well as the site of Aaron Burr’s marriage to Theodosia Prevost. Other visitors to The Hermitage include James Monroe, William Paterson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Alexander Hamilton.

The current house was built in 1847-1848 for Elijah Rosencrantz, but a structure existed on the site since at least 1740. However, the earliest sections of the existing house probably date back to about 1760.

The Hermitage has been preserved as a museum, so rental of the actual house is not permitted. However, across the lawn is the equally historic John Rosencrantz House featuring Jaqua Hall, a 1,650-square ft. meeting and banquet room. French doors open onto the 1,200-square-foot, stone-paved Jaqua Patio while another entryway opens onto the Victorian Terrace connecting the hall to the parlors of the John Rosencrantz House. Jaqua Hall can accommodate events from 20 people up to 150 people.

I can attest to the architecture, landscaping, artistry, and beauty of The Hermitage because my own wedding was held here in 2007. The services were held on the lawn, followed by a cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres under a white tent set up on the Jaqua Patio. The reception for our 150 guests was held in Jaqua Hall.

In January 2010, the Friends of the Hermitage entered into an exclusive arrangement with a new vendor, Take Away Gourmet, professional caterers located in nearby Waldwick. If you're interested in securing use of The Hermitage's facilities for private parties, inquiries should be directed to Take Away Gourmet, 26 W. Prospect St., Waldwick, NJ 07463 (201) 612-1111.