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Thursday, May 12th, 2011
 Left to right: Shannon Reeves, Melissa Martin and Ashley Warren help pick out wines. Photo by Katie King Written by -Melissa Martin - Special to the News Journal
This is the first time since I have been engaged that the wedding details are causing insomnia. I want to take the time this week to talk about tonight’s — I mean, this morning’s — reason for sleeplessness.
The wedding rehearsal dinner is an opportunity for the bride’s and groom’s parents to meet and have a good time. This sounds simple enough, but if you have a large wedding party and a lot of people coming from out of town, it might be hard to find a venue that fits your budget and the number of guests attending.
We have more than 65 guests attending our rehearsal dinner, and they are coming from all over. Even though the rehearsal dinner is traditionally planned by the groom, since I am an event planner and a bit of a control freak, I agreed to knock it out myself. Even though I do this for a living, there are a lot of details involved, especially if you are renting a venue and hiring an outside caterer. Hopefully this week I can leave you with a few tips that will make planning your own rehearsal dinner much more stress free.
Downtown Pensacola has many beautiful restaurants and venues perfect for hosting a rehearsal dinner. No matter where you book, these tips that I’m offering hold true. My fiancé and I have kept all our venues for our wedding weekend local to downtown because of its romantic charm. Due to the number of guests attending, we have rented a large venue on Palafox Street and we’re having the dinner catered by the same local restaurant that is catering our reception. (more…)
Tags: America, Cooking Tips, Event Planning, Fish House, Melissa Martin, party planning, Things to do, Wedding
Posted in Cocktails, Cooking Tips, Employees, Entertainment, Event Planning, Fun, The Fish House, Weddings, wine | No Comments »
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
Written by Melissa Martin Special to the News Journal
 Instead of loading up the kids with sweets at your child's next slumber party, consider serving healthier finger foods such as fruits and cheeses. / Katie King/kking@pnj.com It was a deserted battlefield covered in cookie boxes and candy wrappers. Silly string hung from the ceiling fans and the open rafters where the house cat, Fluffy, was perched high to avoid the fray.
How I had survived the past 12 hours, I did not know. My hair was tangled in bows and hairspray. I had unwillingly become a human Barbie doll; layers of blush and eye shadow shellacked to my face.
Once I regained my composure and untangled my hair, I decided that I would never let this happen again! I was unprepared for how much actually went into hosting a slumber party.
When my niece asked me to host her party because I was “the cool aunt,” I thought, “How hard could watching 10 girls eat pizza and talk about boys be?”
Well, friends, I thought wrong! This week, I want you to learn from my mistakes and be able to run through the battlefield waving your victory flag.
First things first: They call it a “slumber party” to trick us into thinking it’s easy. I warn you, there is nothing easy about it. You need your game face and your first aid kit to make it out alive.
My first mistake was going at it alone. If you have a significant other or a close friend who owes you one, lock them in as your co-host. I do not recommend using your regular babysitter, because once the kids’ parents meet him or her, they might take them away from you and the night out that you’re going to need after hosting a slumber party might be impossible. (more…)
Tags: America, Event Planning, Melissa Martin, party planning, Pensacola, Things to do
Posted in Event Planning, Family, Fun, party planning | No Comments »
Sunday, March 13th, 2011
 It’s brunch season and it’s about to be wedding season. Post-wedding brunches are the new “must-have” for most Southern brides, and in particular, Pensacola brides. Those of us who are lucky enough to live here know Pensacola is a paradise on the Gulf of Mexico. Living in such a beautiful place, it’s not uncommon for relatives to crawl out of the woodwork for a visit or eagerly accept an invitation to a wedding. Our emerald waters and white sands are a big lure, in addition to any other festivity, making a houseful of guests a guarantee even after the big day is over.
There is a simple, and fun, way to mark the end of the celebration and send guests off with a smile. Hold a post-wedding brunch. (link to menu) At the Fish House and Atlas, we can create a custom event (link to special events) to complement your wedding theme, colors or other special accents to personalize your event.
A post-wedding brunch is a great time to recap the festivities and indulge in delicious dishes like Pecan-Fried Green Tomato Benedict (poached eggs and crispy pecan-crusted fried green tomatoes smothered in hollandaise) and Emerald Coast Benedict (hollandaise, poached eggs, and lump blue crab cakes over fried green tomatoes drizzled with white rémoulade sauce).
(more…)
Tags: America, Atlas Oyster House, Brunch, Chef Jim Shirley, Cooking Tips, Event Planning, Fish House, local restaurants, party planning, Pensacola, Things to do, Wedding
Posted in Atlas Oyster House, Brunch, Cooking Tips, Entertainment, Event Planning, Family, Fun, Pensacola, Recipes, Restaurant Specials, Southern Cooking, The Deck Bar, The Fish House, Weddings, party planning | No Comments »
Monday, January 24th, 2011
MELISSA MARTIN • SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL • JANUARY 19, 2011
When guys hear the words “baby shower,” they picture a circle of woman sitting around oohing and ahhing over tiny outfits and rattles as they discuss labor tales.While they are not far from wrong, there have been some serious changes and modernizations in this type of gathering. More and more mothers- and fathers-to-be are throwing co-ed baby showers and creating parties that both of the expecting parents can enjoy. Planning a co-ed baby shower is easy and fun.
 This co-ed baby shower party features Stewart's Fountain Classic sodas paired with a wedding almond cake with butter cream icing, and wedding almond cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes and red velvet cupcakes with butter cream icing by Oh Snap! Cupcakes and Gourmet Bakery. (Katie King/kking@pnj.com) First things first. If you are planning a shower for a friend, talk to the mommy-to-be and see if she wants to make the shower co-ed. If she agrees, speak with her parents and make a guest list of couples and friends they want to invite. Once you know how many people to plan for, you can start working on the menu.
(more…)
Tags: America, Atlas, Atlas Oyster House, baby showers, Cocktails, Community, Cooking Tips, Event Planning, Fish House, humor, party planning, Pensacola, Recipes, Things to do
Posted in Atlas Oyster House, Birthday Party, Event Planning, Family, Fun, Pensacola, baby showers, party planning, quick and easy desserts | 1 Comment »
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