A Nice Day for a Green Wedding

It's getting easier and easier to be Green! Being "Green" has been a trend among the environmentally conscientious for some time now. From buying organic foods and natural cleaning products to investing in eco-friendly appliances and not mowing the lawn in the middle of the afternoon. The movement to protect the planet is not limited to food consumption and homeownership, it has left its mark on the wedding industry too!

Here are just a few products/ideas for all of our Green Brides/Grooms.

ECOURA:
Ecoura makes jewelry from renewed gold in order to avoid depleting natural resources. The company plants a tree in honor of the engagement of each couple who purchase a Ecoura ring. Ecoura is dedicated to balancing their environmental impact and also promises to use eco-friendly materials in their marketing and requires their partners to perform based on the standards of the Renewed Gold Pact. For more information, visit http://www.ecoura.com/ecoura.html

The Green Bride Guide:

Check out http://www.greenbrideguide.com/ for all that you need to know about planning a green wedding! The website offers tips, approved vendors, and even gift registry ideas.

For example, a chalk board clock. Price: $82.00

Or how about a Deluxe Bamboo Sheet Set? Bamboo rayon is natural, antibacterial and provides superior comfort. Price:$382.00

Green Wedding Tips

1. Have the ceremony and reception at the same venue, or one near the other, to reduce driving.

2. Buy a vintage dress/tuxedo from a resale clothing store.

3. Have seeds imbedded in the invitation paper so that guests can plant them and enjoy the flowers later.

4. Rent real glasses/dishes and cloth napkins to avoid using disposable products.

5. Instead of throwing rice or birdseed, have guests ring bells or blow homemade bubbles.

These are just a few ideas for a green wedding. Find more here: http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/greenwedding.htm

The Literal Approach: Green & White Wedding

These images of a green/white palette can be found at:

http://greenweddingshoes.com/green-white-wedding-ideas/

A Window to Fountain Square

The Center's downtown location is just another part of the venue's appeal. We absolutely love being so close to Fountain Square and all of the activity in the heart of Cincinnati!

I thought it might be nice to share with you some of what we can see from inside The Center. Here are a couple of images and I'll try to keep you informed of the various events held throughout the year.

The beginning stages of the ice rink, seen in the center of the picture. Photo taken on 11/4/11.

The skating rink opens on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 10:00am! Admission is $3.00 and skate rental is also $3.00. For more information, go to http://myfountainsquare.com/ and click on the calendar tab. 



The Christmas Tree is up! Photo taken on 11/18/11.



On Wednesday, November 23 the Turkey Bowl will take place on Fountain Square. People will be bowling turkeys on the ice from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.

Macy's Light up the Square will be held on Friday, November 25 from 6:30 -7:30 pm. The description of the event from the Fountain Square website is below.

"Festivities began on the Square at 6:30pm with live music and ice skating. At 7p.m. hosts Jeff Thomas from Q102′s “Jeff and Jen in the Morning” and Channel 5′s Sheree Paolello will emcee live from P&G’s Music Stage and Santa will make an appearance by zip lining off of the US Bank building with pyrotechnics. Once the tree is lit by a Mayor Mallory a firework explosion will erupt from Macy’s rooftop! For Cincinnatians that cannot attend Channel 5 will feature the event in a live 30 minute broadcast."

Behind the Scenes: Secret Artworks

How does an event come together? I followed Artworks, a non-profit arts organization founded in 1996 to connect artists of all ages through community partnerships and public art, throughout the day as they set up for their Secret Artworks: The Master's event on November 18th, 2011 in The Center.

This year's event was the sixth annual Secret Artworks fundraiser. Over 400 artists were invited to create 5"x7" pieces. Guests purchase tickets and art vouchers and only discover the identity of the artist once they have purchased the piece.

For more information on Artworks, visit http://www.artworkscincinnati.org/.

Pulling off the Perfect Event:

Step 1: Planning

Before the event can happen, it must be planned! The planning process includes, but is not limited to, selecting a venue, (we recommend The Center) meeting with caterers and other vendors for lighting, furniture and entertainment, sending out invitations, and coordinating the logistics for setting up the event.

Step 2: Setting up the Space

Artworks volunteers brought in support poles and boards displaying the 5"x7" pieces of art.

Volunteers placed signage around The Center.

Goodwin Lighting came in to provide lighting for the event!

Vicki of Goodwin Lighting installs uplights in the entrance.

Glen and Vicki from Goodwin Lighting work on lighting the Dome room in The Center.

Camargo delivered furniture for the event

Take note of this "Before" picture of one of The Center's siderooms, later transformed into a VIP lounge.

Vicki working more of her lighting magic.

The bar being set up under the dome.

Cocktail area set up next to the bar.

The band setting up to provide entertainment for the evening.

Food and drinks begin to arrive from Jeff Thomas Catering and other vendors.

The coat room, prior to the event.

One of the side rooms, set up for volunteers.

The Arcade was used for registration tables.

Remember the blue room from the earlier pictures? This is it!

Final Step: Have an event!

Doors open!

View from the entrance

And the guests begin to arrive!

The band begins to play

The bartenders in the back lounge get ready

The coat room, full of coats! Over 500 guests attended the fundraiser!

Romantic Movie Quotes

If you’ve been following @TheCenterCincy on twitter, you know that it is Romantic Movie Quote Week!

 There is no particular reason for this week’s theme. Maybe someone was inspired by the romantic atmosphere of the reception held in The Center on 11/12/1. Perhaps someone saw this list http://weddingphotography.com.ph/4434/50-romantic-movie-quotes-love-couples/ and thought, “Hey, those would be easy to tweet.” Regardless of the inspiration, there is something about perfectly scripted words, delivered by a convincing actor, that makes even the most cynical person wish that art and life could be more alike – that a girl really could just stand in front of a boy and ask him to love her.

Of course, the cheesy attempts to reference these famous quotes, similar to the Notting Hill line that I just snuck in there, alter the original sentiment. Which leads me to (drum roll please) - romantic movie quotes within other movies - a theme too complex for twitter.

Movies referencing other movies can make the romantic comical. For example, the exchange between Danny and Beth in Role Models where Danny starts off with, “Where am I going to find a girl who hates all the same things I do?” And then works in “…You complete me… You had me at hello.” With the brilliant conclusion of quotes: “Who are you going to call? Ghostbusters.”  

Or, referencing the classics can remind us that cheesy is not bad at all, like in Easy A when Olive asks “Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80’s movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I want to ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80’s move, preferable one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason.” And for as long as people are watching and quoting the classics, the hope is that chivalry hasn’t gone away. Maybe the lawnmowers will be replaced by… I don’t know, segways, but the point is that romance lives on.

In the words of Jane Austen (which have been adapted into theatrical masterpieces numerous times) people want to be “nonsensical” and “incandescently happy.” Movies capture that. As Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice says, “We are all fools in love.”  

Here are some more classic Romantic Movie Quotes that were too long to tweet:

“I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” When Harry Met Sally

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That’s what I hope to give you forever.” The Notebook

A Blast from the Past!

You’ve probably already seen the pictures of our space arranged for a holiday party and a wedding reception on www.thecentercincinnati.com - and there will definitely be more of those to come - but I would love for you to see the potential The Center holds for other events as well.

On May 9, 2011, in conjunction with Cincinnati Fashion Week, A-Line held a launch party in The Center! The night was inspired by the Warhol Factory/Studio 54 and featured dancing, fashion and creative expression. Not only is The Center a great location and place to celebrate, but keep us in mind for fundraisers too! The cash bar proceeds at the A-Line launch benefited STOP AIDS.

Check out these great pictures shared with me by A-Line magazine! Most of the pictures were taken by Jesse Fox, and the Warhol-esque photo-booth photos at the end were done by Framester.

A-Line Magazine rolled out the red carpet in the Mercantile Center Arcade

Registration tables at the entrance

Great view of downtown/Fountain Square!

One of The Center's many side rooms, available for guests to use!

Guests of A-Line Magazine's launch party look over an issue

Another side room, set up as a bar!

Fountain Square at night! (Behind the people, of course.)

Framester's Photobooth Images projected onto The Center's walls!

The Center's ballroom doubles as a runway during Cincinnati Fashion Week!

Couldn't resist using this picture to plug our location! 115 East Fifth Street