ThankFULLness

PHOTO CREDIT: SUSAN STRIPLING PHOTOGRAPHY

​We had quite the road rally this year, and it feels so rewarding to look
​in the rear-view mirror to see the tremendous amount of positivity
and merry making that we created for our clients in 2021. 

It’s also so good to feel the rumble of my engine start to slow. We kept an intense pace. 
I am so eager to share the moments and the reviews with our followers and future prospects
as this year comes to an end and a new year awaits.
 
As with any race, we were not the only ones in high gear at the starting line. But unique in this race
of getting back on track and making up for 2020, we were amongst MANY other winners. 
 
I dedicate this month’s blog issue of “A Planner’s View”
to the vendors we raced with and alongside,
through what I felt was the most challenging, intense
and rewarding career stretch I have ever experienced. 
 
My hope is that this post will reach those I most want to thank for this gallant year as well as
those that we did not have the honor of working with but hope to in the future.

My deepest appreciation and gratitude goes out to...
the venue owners and managers, vendors, artisans and laborers that supported the vision that my clients and I held for their day, showed up wholeheartedly ​to get to the finish line united and with a smile. 

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​Where do I begin? How loud can I roar my gratitude to all of you? 

​In order to truly appreciate what it took this year to succeed and shine, I’d like to touch on the many extras that each of you stepped up to face that went above and beyond the norm of getting the job done:
 
1. The demands of Covid protocols...vaccinations, tracing, testing, vac cards, waivers,
​documentation submissions, and simply taking responsibility to do the right thing. 
 
2. The many last minute adjustment of guest counts that impacted catering, rentals,
floor plans, signage, personalized guest cards, gifts and so much more. 
 
3.  Adjusting and modifying to endless supply shortages and delivery delays.
 
4. Labor shortages that impacted every owner and became not only a scheduling nightmare
but impacted the already very long workdays to even longer ones.
 
5. The ongoing uncertainty of Covid variants added so much more to the communication focus,
client management and your own health risks.
 
6. The #*! weather!!! Sideways rain, mud, inside out umbrellas, need I say more?
 
7.  etc….I could go on and on, but you lived it and know it as well as I.

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All of this took so much grit, blood, sweat and tears
(maybe you didn’t cry, but I did once!) and it took so much more. 

Beyond looking back, when I “feel” back to each event, my heart swells again and again because of the compassion, the patience, the generosity, the extra effort that was in each conversation and interaction with all of you. Even though you were exhausted, stretched to your limits and working so very hard to juggle the immense and complex schedules and demands, I always felt that each of you put your struggles aside to be there for me, my team and our clients . In many moments it felt like survival, but in reflection,
it is truly a most heartening way to look back to the challenge and see
the greatest parts of humanity show up with sincerity and grace. 
 
I do believe that when life feels most challenging, the gifts are the greatest.
You have been that for me. ​I will always cherish these memories, the highs and lows, the “oh-my-God’s”, the “holy sh_ts”, the “really’s?” and many other expressive and spontaneous utterings
that erupted ​in my moments of stretching to new limits.

​Despite it all, look what we did!
​21 in 21

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Mostly, I will cherish you, the many friendships that blossomed, the trust that was built and the endless proud moments we created by taking the time to work together and be together with heart and soul. 
 
A heartfelt thanks to my pros!
I hope for many more opportunities with you
and​ with far fewer obstacles on our racetrack. 
 
Bless you and wishing you and your loved ones a truly warm and wonderful holiday season!

​XOXO
Paula

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For blog followers and onlookers seeking talented party makers…
SO VERY HONORED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR 2021 PROS
...listed below categorically and alphabetically 
​ [ WEBSITE LINKS + INSTAGRAM HANDLES ]
 
Please take a moment to explore the offerings and talents of these incredible venues, vendors and artisans. If I had the time, I would write a sidebar shouting kudos to each and every one of them.
Trust me, support them, spread the word!

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BABYSITTING
Hudson Valley Ceremonies @hvceremonies
 
BARAAT HORSE
Loon Meadow Farms
 
BARTENDING | LIQUOR 
Domaney's Liquor @domaneysliquors

CAKES
Nine Cakes @ninecakes
 
CALLIGRAPHY
Marjorie’s Letters @marjoriesletters
 
CATERING
Farmer’s Wife @farmerswifeancramdale
Foremost Caterers @foremostcaterers
Harvest Real Food @harvestrealfoodcatering
Mazzone Hospitality @mazzonehospitality
Simply Divine @simplydivinenyc
Suburban Kitchen @suburbankitchenny
The Breakroom @thebreakroomgw
The Kitchen Sink @kitchensinkny
Wood Fire Food @wood_fire_food
 
DRAPING
Bearfly Designs @bearfly_designs
Drape Kings @drapekings
Stortz Lighting @stortzlighting
 
FLORALS
Arbor & Flora @arbor.and.flora
Athabold @athabold
Boston & Burke @bostonandburke
Country Gardeners @countrygardenersflorist
Croaked Oak Farms @crookedoakct
Flower Blossom Design @flowerblossomdesign_
Flowers by Felicity @flowersbyfelicity
Fleurtacious Designs @fleurtaciousdesigns
Hedge Floral @hedge_floral
Kamilla’s Floral Design @kamillas
Putnam Valley Florist
Sprig & Social @sprigandsocial

FOOD TRUCKS
It’s a Pizza Truck @itsapizzatruck
 
GAMES
Upstate Jamboree @upstatejamboree
 
GLAMPING
Glamp Star @glampstars
 
GOLF CARTS
W&B Golf Carts @wbgolfcarts
 
HAIR
Allure Traveling Beauty @alluretravelingbeauty
Artisan Beauty Bar @artisan_beautybar
Artist House Salon @theartisthouseny
Hello Lovely @hellolovelykc.com
Kanwal Batool @iamkanwalbatool
Kindred Beauty Co. @kindredbeautyco
Lauren Germain Pratt @laurenb0105
Le Shag @leshagbeauty
Renee Russo @reneemrusso
SB Beauty @sbbeautynyc
Willow House Beauty @willowhouse.beauty
 
ICE CREAM CARTS + TRUCKS
Bona Bona Ice Cream @bonabonaicecream
Fortunes @fortunesicecream
New York Food Truck Association @nyfta
 
LANDSCAPING
AB Landscaping @ablandscaping
Gillooly & Co Design @gillooly.design
Old Farm Nursery @judymurphy5452
Salisbury Garden Center @salisbury_garden_center
 
LIFEGUARDS
Hudson Valley Ceremonies @hvceremonies
 
LIGHTING
Bearfly Designs @bearfly_designs
Gillooly & Co Design @gillooly.design
Handy Boys Event Services @handyboysllc
Sprig & Social @sprigandsocial
Stortz Lighting @stortzlighting
 
MAKEUP
Alexandra Angelone Bridal @alexandraangelonebridal
Allure Traveling Beauty @alluretravelingbeauty
Artisan Beauty Bar @artisan_beautybar
Hello Lovely @hellolovelykc.com
Kanwal Batool @iamkanwalbatool
Kindred Beauty Co. @kindredbeautyco
Lauren Germain Pratt @laurenb0105
MBD Beauty, LLC @mbdbeauty
SB Beauty @sbbeautynyc
Willow House Beauty @willowhouse.beauty
 
MUSIC
Bill's Toupee Band @billstoupee
Continuo Music LLC @continuomusic
David Ross Guitarist @davidrossguitarist
DJ Dina Regine @dinaregine
DJ Lauren Murada @laurenmurado
Elan Artists @elanartists
Kaos Production @kaosproduction
Lucy Music @lucymusicny
Matthew Friedman & Stiletto @mattybfree
M4U Events @m4uevents
Silver Arrow Band @silverarrowband
Steve Gravino Guitarist
Wendy Kerner Harpist
 
OFFICIANTS
Rabbi Steven Kane
Rev. Al Zadig
Rev. Jude Smith
Rev. Sarah Henderson

OUTDOOR EXPEDITIONS + WATER SPORTS
Hudson Valley Expeditions @hudsonvalleyexpeditions
 
PARKING
Classic Valet Parking, Inc. @classicvaletparking
 
PHOTO BOOTHS
Bluebird Hill Events @bluebirdhillevents
Kaos Production @kaosproduction
 
PHOTOGRAPHY
Adam Okimatsu Photography @adamokimatsuphotography
A.H Pham @hieuterus
Danila Mednikov Photography @danilasphotography
Didier Gault @didiergault1
Elena Wolf Photography @elenawolfe
Golden Hour Studios @jessepafundi
Susan Stripling Photography @susanstriplingphotography
Undressed Moments @undressed_moments
Wildly Beloved Photography @wildlybelovedphotography
YM Visuals @yannismalevitisweddings
 
RENTALS
Columbia Tent Rentals @columbiatentrentals
Events Unlimited Tent & Party Rentals @events_unlimited_party_rentals
Mahaiwe Tent Inc. @mahaiwetent
NorthEast Tent Rentals @northeast_tent_productions
North Country Vintage Rentals @northcountryvintage
Total Events @totalevents
 
RESTROOMS
Premier Executive Trailers @premier_executive_trailers
 
SOUND | AUDIO + VIDEO TECH 
Bearfly Designs @bearfly_designs
Handy Boys Event Services @handyboysllc

BRIDAL STYLIST
Lizzy Polden @lizzypolden
 
TRANSPORTATION
Casanova Carriage @cassanovacarriage
Coxsackie Transport Inc. @coxsackietransport
JTR Transport @jtr_transportation
Premiere Transportation @premiere_transportation
 
VENUE
Ellsworth Manor @ellsworthmanor
Glynwood @glynwoodevents
Oak Hill @oakhill_on_hudson
Old Drovers Inn @olddroversinn
Southwood Estate @southwoodproperty
Taconic Ridge Farm @taconicridgefarm
The Pines
Troutbeck @troutbeck.ny
 
VIDEOGRAPHY
Danila Mednikov Photography @danilasphotography
Kieran Mangels Photography @kieranmangels
Margo Sees Stars @margo.sees.stars
The Candi Project @thecandiproject
Valerie Barnes Photography @valeriebarnesfilm
 
YOGA 
Ascend Center @ascendcenter

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Take the time to celebrate who you love and what you love in 2022!