Center City Wedding

I had the great pleasure of attending a good friend and colleague's wedding on April 16, 2011 in Center City Philadelphia.  The ceremony was held in the atrium of the Curtis Center.  The four-star event was extremely elegant and unforgettable.

It was very apparent that the couple chose a theme and carried it throughout the ceremony and reception.  This made it very hard to select one Society Pages Spotlight, so it has to be shared with a few of my favorite decorations from the night.  The couple decided to decorate the space with simple black and white.  The colorless palette created a timeless look and allowed the one vibrant accent color to pop out (as seen in the hydrangea in front of the altar below).

To create a warm feeling, the couple used lots of draping along the walls of the atrium.  It completely transformed the space from an everyday office building into a ceremony room.  Those who know how to  decorate will always opt for draping when given a large space and attempting to close it in.

The wedding cake was truly a piece of art.  It was so simple, yet ornate.  It tied seamlessly into the classic theme of the wedding, looked great and was delicious (its often hard to do all three).  Notice how the hydrangea even made its way into the cake space.  I've said it before: love is in the details...

Esquire1911 tip:  Especially when hosting a wedding, one should remember to accommodate guests when the event lasts several hours.  If you keep your guests comfortable, they'll stay longer.  Add some lounge furniture along the reception space.  It takes up lots of room so the space doesn't feel empty and allows guests to kick back and rest their feet from all of the dancing.  Lounge furniture (as seen below) can be rented from any event design company.  Trust me, its worth it.

Easter Egg Hunt

On April 23, 2011, the day before Easter, I volunteered to host an Easter egg hunt for children in Camden, New Jersey.  The event was sponsored by the Rutgers Law Alumni Association with support from the Rutgers Black Law Students Association.  This was our first year doing the egg hunt and it was a tremendous success.  Each kid received an Easter basket, snacks and a fun-filled afternoon.

If you know anything about about Camden, NJ, then you know how important it was to host this event for the local children.  The city has been named one of the most dangerous cities for several years and the children there are often discounted and presumed to fail because of their circumstances.  This volunteer effort gave the children a positive and memorable experience and let them know that people do care about them.

The Society Pages Spotlight has to go to the Easter Bunny.  When he showed up, the kids went wild and it truly made the event memorable.  Below is a pic of the kids doing the hokie pokie with the Easter Bunny.  You'll never guess who's in the bunny costume.  :)

A Few Good Men

On April 9, 2011, the Burlington-Camden Kappa Foundation hosted its third beautillion titled, "A Few Good Men."  The beautillion program consists of four months of workshops, enrichment activities, community service and individual mentoring designed to prepare high school juniors and seniors for college and subsequent life.  The culminating event, the beautillion ball, is a black-tie affair where the "beaux" and perform talents, dance a waltz with their "belles" and receive a scholarship.  The Society Pages Spotlight goes to "Mr. Beautillion 2011" (below), who was given the title as a result of his extraordinary performance throughout the program.

The event was held at Lucien's Manor in Berlin, New Jersey.  This venue offered a magnificent ballroom (which you can see in the bottom photo) and picturesque landscaping.  The photo below captures all 23 of the beaux and belles before the night's event began.

Although the beaux are young, each of them realized that the beautillion was a formal affair and required strict adherence to the rules of black-tie attire.  Each young man wore a black tux, white shirt and black bow tie.  This created a timeless and mature look for the beaux.  Their belles wore black evening gowns with black opera gloves.  They can all look forward to prom as an opportunity to spice up their black-tie looks.



Esquire1911 tip:  Oprah once commented that "love is in the details."  I strongly believe in this as well.  In decorating the ballroom, we selected red uplighting to line the room's ceiling.  It was a subtle addition, but a perfect touch to include the fraternity's colors.  I'd recommend uplighting/pinspot lighting at any formal affair.  It adds so much and is a true expression of love.

Its been a while...

Okay, so I know its been a while since I last blogged... Its certainly not due to a decrease in my social life. Its really just a testament to my ever-increasing workload. But after watching some of my closest friends launch blogs (Table for Two and then some) and (Visions of a V.I.P.), I've been inspired to get back in the game. So, let's see how long I can keep it up.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Family Reunion Sunday Brunch

On Sunday, October 25, 2009, the Phi Sigma Pi, Alpha Tau Chapter Endowment Fund, Inc. hosted its inaugural Family Reunion Sunday Brunch at Phillip's Flagship on the Washington, DC waterfront. The event ended the Howard University homecoming weekend and gave friends a chance to reminisce about good times while supporting a fantastic cause. The proceeds from this event went toward scholarships for DC area students pursuing a college education.

Howard homecoming is as sartorially savvy as Fashion Week in New York, and this event was no different. Brunch attendees donned big hats, bow ties, blazers and bags that made bold statements. It was great to see young ladies and gentlemen revert to wearing their Sunday's best when attending brunch.

The greatest thing about fall clothing is the ability to explore your tactile senses. Suede,

corduroy, velvet and moleskin are some of my favorites and all of them could be found at this brunch. This crew stuck with warm autumn colors, yet managed to stand out with their fall fabrics.

Esquire1911 tip: Although each charity fundraiser has its own flair, I suggest adding a silent auction or upscale raffle, when possible. Not only are they an opportunity to raise more money during the event, they keep the guests entertained and guarantee that everyone will stay until the end.

This Sunday Brunch fundraiser featured a Chinese auction with amazing prizes such as an autographed Washington Redskin jersey and Microsoft software. However, the most sought after prize was this unique painting donated by the Rachel D. Crouch Art Gallery which receives the Society Pages Spotlight. The generous artist is a Howard alumna and captivated the brunch attendees with her portrayal of President Obama and his interplay with the black church. The painting helped make the fundraiser a huge success.

Konclave 2009

On August 4-8, 2009, the distinguished gentlemen of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated hosted their 79th Grand Chapter Meeting (known as "konclave") in Washington, D.C. Although the event was anchored at the Washington Wardman Park Hotel, the Kappas certainly painted the entire town red. The konclave itinerary included a family picnic at Howard University, a golf outing, yacht cruise, and both gospel and R&B concert. During the closing business session, the fraternity revealed its new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters and renewed its commitment to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The Society Pages Spotlight goes to this amazing cake display designed exclusively for the Kappa konclave. The cake is a replica of the fraternity's coat of arms and was showcased in the lobby of the hotel for all of the event attendees. The dessert was delicious and appropriately flavored in red velvet.

Esquire1911 tip: Gentlemen, as you attend black-tie events, opt for a bow tie instead of a straight tie. Since most men do not normally wear bow ties, its an opportunity to change up your routine.

The gentlemen of Kappa Alpha Psi are certainly true believers in the bow tie (as seen in this photo taken at the konclave formal banquet).

Its a true sign of a gentleman to hand tie a bow tie. In the video below, GQ Style Correspondent Brett Fahlgren demonstrates the art of tying one. Remember, your hand tied bow tie does not have to look perfect. The imperfection of the tie gives it character. As GQ Magazine says, "your bow tie should not have botox."

Video: How to Tie a Bow Tie

Summer Soiree

On Saturday, July 25, 2009, I attended a summer soiree at a friend's house in Montgomery County, PA.  Several friends gathered at her home for drinks, laughs and great food.  Each guest brought college supplies to donate to the scholarship recipients of the Phi Sigma Pi, Alpha Tau Chapter Endowment Fund, Inc.  

The Society Pages Spotlight goes to these three twenty-somethings in their warm weather attire.  All three were successful in pairing summer outfits (sundresses and linen pants) in autumn colors.  It was a nice break from the traditional bright colors of summer.

Esquire1911 tip:  When hosting a party at your home, its always great to provide your guests with something unexpected.  At the summer soiree, the hostess set up a candy bar for everyone to help themselves to jolly ranchers, tootsie rolls and many other childhood favorite treats.  Adding something like a candy bar keeps your guests moving around the room and promotes conversation, both of which are critical to a great party.

The White Party

On July 18, 2009, the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) hosted its annual White Linen Affair at the Belmont Mansion.  The sea of professional black people looked amazing against the striking backdrop of the Philadelphia skyline.  Under a tent, we danced and ate until the midnight hour.  However, this was not simply a great social event.  The NBMBAA awarded three scholarships during the night and raised money for its Leaders of Tomorrow program.

The Society Pages Spotlight goes to this lovely lady striking a pose in her eyelet dress.  What set her outfit apart was her keen addition of accessories.  The double string of pearls, matching bracelet and white jeweled ring were paired with gold bracelets that complimented her shoes.  She certainly thought about her total look.

Esquire1911 tip:  Love is in the details.  Accessories can give your outfit a 'wow' factor.  Coordinate your accessories with the colors in your outfits and be sure to match your hardware (e.g., silver belt buckles with silver watch bands).  The summer certainly lends itself to a myriad of accessory choices.  You can add something as simple as a pocket square or as elaborate a sun hat.  Be bold and make a statement; but don't make too many.

West Virginia Wedding

On June 21, 2009, I attended a wedding at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV.  The bride is a special friend of mine.  Both her and the groom are graduates of Howard University.  

The couple exchanged vows outside in the formal gardens of the resort.  Everyone was dressed in their best summer wedding attire.  The Society Pages Spotlight goes to this duo in their matching khaki suits (most appropriate for a summer garden wedding).  The only thing missing is the matching pair of FENDI sunglasses for the little one.

Esquire1911 tip:  When attending an afternoon wedding in the South or at a resort, a gentleman should feel free to opt for a lighter color cotton suit in lieu of the more traditional dark colored wool-cotton blend.  Not only will you stand out, you will make it through the ceremony without a sweat.