Sailing over the bounding waves is a beautiful experience but being under the waves is magical….Nina and David Mandel did just that when they hosted a beautiful “Under The Sea” themed Bat Mitzvah celebration for their daughter Jessica at Temple Beth Shalom in Miami Beach!

The Mandel’s “Bat Mitzvah Journey” included a stop to see Francine Luria at Executive Social Planners in Aventura. “Franny” provided the Mandel’s with exquisite invitations for Jessica’s event.

The evening at Beth Sholom was indeed magical. Nina and Jessica looked lovely in their beautiful gowns.

After cocktail hour, the guests proceeded to the lobby to get their place cards for dinner. They were greeted by a magnificent arrangement of gorgeous blue green and white blossoms set atop a tall glass vase filled with sea blue water and orchids. The guests’ place cards were arranged on the table around this floral display.

The entrance into the ballroom gave a subtle hint of the wondrous ballroom décor that event designer Skip Panse and his production and floral teams at ME Productions created for Jessica’s special evening. The entrance structure that supported the thematic sign for Jessica’s undersea adventure was draped with luxurious fabric in several sea tones and up-lit with soft mood lighting.

Expressions like “Oh My Goodness,” “Wow” and “Unbelievable” were heard from the guests as they entered the ballroom.

The ballroom ceiling was awe inspiring. Yards and yards of white, sea green and pale turquoise organza was creatively draped in random patterns throughout the room, giving the feeling that you were under the waves. Schools of fish were suspended on monofilament line at different levels under the wave canopy. Giant jelly fish moved among the kelp that hung at key points of the ceiling. Skip’s vision for the ballroom was one of serenity mixed with high impact drama.

Nina and David’s adult guests were treated to dinner by the expert catering of Lyons and Lyons at dinner tables that were sumptuously dressed with a shimmery iridescent sea green and soft turquoise floor-length linen. The chair covers matched the table cloth and featured a green/blue iridescent organza chair back “poof” that were very unique.

The centerpieces consisted of three tall glass cylinder vases and a large glass aquarium bowl with an underwater sea scene inside the bowl. Sea shells, greenery inside the cylinders that were filled with water, sea glass, and a combination of floating candles and votives created this upscale-custom designed table decoration. The ultimate surprise for their guests were the Japanese Beta fish swimming up and down in the vases! Each table was named for a body of water or an ocean. Custom artwork for all the signage was designed by the art department at ME Productions.

Jessica entertained her friends in a ‘Posh Lounge (see above) with white sofas, occasional chairs and oversize ottomans. High top cocktail tables, white bar stools, interior lighted cube tables and cushioned benches finished the seating. A cool feature of the kids area was a large shark that “swam above a coral reef.”

Mazel Tov to the entire Mandel Family! Kudos to Skip and the staff at ME  Productions for creating another memorable event.

The exclusive Woodfield Country Club was the site for the Bar Mitzvah celebration for Zack Charlse, son of Sheri and Steve Charlse on March 29^th, 2008.

The excitement ensued from the moment that the guests arrived in the lobby. The kids headed off to Zack’s VIP “crib” after being screened by the “club’s bouncer” and getting their VIP passes that were custom created by ME Productions.

Zack made it blatantly honest the over-16 crowd was not an option at this portion of the venue…

The adults ascended the staircase to the second level to partake of the cocktail fete that Chef Bart created to tantalize every ones palate.

Zack’ colors; blue, white, silver and black, along with the custom signage and logo’s that ME’s artists created,branded the club as Zack’s very own.

Back-lit oversize art work and photos of Zack that were combined with sequined fabric created a sleek entrance into “Club Zack”!

The entire room was draped floor-to-ceiling with black fabric that set a club tone and served as a neutral backdrop for the amazing decorations that Skip and ME Productions created for this event.

Sheri and Steve’s guests dined at ME’s hottest new tables. Alternating white acrylic square and round dining tables that were lighted from within by vivid blue battery operated LED lights. These trendy tables were hot and Skip chose to not use linens on them.

Large floral displays of white calla lilies rose from tall glass pilsner vases filled with blue gelled California crystals. Suspended in the crystals inside the vases, battery-operated miniature LED lights glowed. They illuminated the vases from within and created a “Wow” look. Glass blocks, cylinders with floating candles, glass-enclosed votive candles and orchid blossoms set into a bed of coarse rock salt crystals accented the bottom of each vase, creating a sensational candlescape right on the table. Each of the adult tables had been named with the names of famed clubs; some vintage and some current.

Zack and his friends had their own separate area of the ballroom that featured ME Productions’ custom white leather sofas, interior lit hightop tables, bar stools and seating pit areas with assorted electrical accoutrements to decorate the area.

Skip decided to arrange the dance floor in the middle of the room on the diagonal thus having the entire room revolve around the dance floor. Elevated dance platforms were another idea that Skip had to make this event different and chic.

Zack’s friends had use of the existing stage for additional entertainment and activities.

Every detail was handled right down to the custom logo gift bags, the custom logo CD’s and the monogrammed black fleece blankets that the Charlse’s ordered from the premiums department at ME Productions.

The evening ticked like a fine-tuned watch due to the planning and coordination by Woodfield’s Kim Todd and Eric Levesque. Skip said that working with these amazing professionals helped to take the Charlse’s event to the next level.

Mazel Tov to Zack, Sheri and Steve.  Congrats Bart, Kim and Eric and staff for a job well done.  And lastly, hats off to Skip, his assistant Cindy and everyone at ME Productions for a spectacular event!

Ira and Jody Orlowsky hosted a wonderful Bat Mitzvah celebration for their daughter Bari at the exciting new Haute Cuisine venue, Congregation Kol Tikvah in Parkland Florida on March 29th, 2008.

Bari’s theme, “Sealed with a Kiss,” more commonly known as “SWAK,” started in the lobby with a lovely elevated arrangement of pink roses in different shades set atop a tall glass cylinder vase filled with wrapped Hershey’s Kisses. The display was set atop a table that was dressed in floor-length satin linens to match the color scheme of the evening. Place cards for the Orlowsky’s guests were arranged around this lush setting.

The children had their cocktail hour in the Oneg room that is located right off the lobby. Activities and entertainment for the children included nail fashions and gave each child (and quite a few adults) computerized nail paintings. The boys loved it as much as the girls and some of the Dads sported nail designs from their favorite NBA and NFL teams.

After being treated to the exceptional “fete’’ that Haute Cuisine created in the adult cocktail hour, the children and adults reunited in the Grand Ballroom for dinner and dancing.

Bari’s friends went to her “Hugs and Kisses” Lounge to “hang out” in style with the custom lounge furnishings created by Skip and his staff from ME Productions. Leather sofa groupings, hightop cocktail tables covered in fuchsia metalic shag floor-length cloths, tall cylinder vases each with a giant Hershey’s kiss set atop the vase and white Chiavari bar stools gave the children a “posh” Manhattan-style lounge to enjoy for the evening.

Ira and Jody’s guests dined at the most elegantly appointed tables that were fitted with custom fuchsia linens and black satin napkins. Sleek black spandex chair covers gave a chic contemporary look. Elevated centerpieces of dozens of roses gave the room the look and scent of a rose garden.

The stage was flanked on either side by giant photo/portraits of Bari that were back-lit. This created an amazing focal point to the ballroom that customized it and made it Bari’s very own. The guests all boogied until late night to the great music provided by the DJ under a custom ceiling decoration of black organza with a myriad of tiny Tivoli lights. Large glitter lips and oversized glittered hearts were suspended from the ceiling and added the crowning glory for this spectacular evening!

Congratulations Bari, Mazel Tov Ira and Jody, and Hats off to Skip and ME Productions for another beautiful event!

MEDIA CONTACT:
Deborah W. Roker
954.458.4000, x115
droker@meproductions.com

Is Your Meeting Running Out of Gas?
Spice Up Local Meetings in times of Economic Downturn

(May, 2008 – Ft. Lauderdale, FLA) — Growth in the meetings industry could headed for a severe slowdown as record-high fuel prices and other factors curb demand, some insiders warn. “That slowdown just might affect your next meeting or corporate function,” adds Jim Etkin, president of South Florida’s largest event company, ME Productions.

“Take into account the added pressure of airline passenger security-screening delays and capacity constraints at airports, and meeting planners might soon be feeling a greater pinch, too,” says Etkin. As airlines look to pass on increased fuel costs and companies cut back on business travel due to weaker economic conditions, passenger demand is expected to suffer.

The solution, says Etkin, is to start aggressively looking in one’s own backyard for both clients and venues of choice. “We’re fortunate in that Miami is an international destination. As the American dollar is affected by recession, conversely, the buying power is up for international travelers. In my book, the expectations are that Miami will remain an active destination, and become even more attractive to Latin American businesses.”

However, for markets that rely more on the U.S. traveler, Etkin offers some additional advice:

1. Focus on regional meetings. It might be more cost-effective to use third tier destinations and boutique locations for events and break that meeting for 500 people into regional events of 100 each. And, use local vendors. Preferably find a DMC company that offers more “under one roof” as opposed to shopping around for independent vendors. A company like ME Productions is actually more cost effective in that clients don’t spend time and energy shopping for vendors in florals, entertainment, sound, lighting, et cetera. In addition, vendors are pre-screened so quality is maintained. This is more often available through larger DMCs, but smaller companies might also have a preferred vendor list, saving clients cost, energy and effort.
2. Don’t skimp on quality. That is one area where being cost-effective could backfire. “You still need to deliver all the content in a meaningful and entertaining way, or risk losing your message entirely.”
3. Promote using events. Etkin suggests that the ad budget, while necessary, could be replaced by other media approaches that include direct messaging and public relations.
4. “Go Green” when it make sense. “Going green” can be affordable when “done right,” says Etkin. “For example, when our team went to Jamaica for one client, they made certain to ship less material and use local products. Even the centerpieces were made from local vegetation and island artists. This saved having to ship enormous amount of material and ornaments, and resulted in a considerable cost savings.
5. Provide a “gas allowance” for potential clients. Why not consider an incentive for a tank of gas to clients who come “on site” for a visit? Auto dealerships have been doing this for years, along with other promotions. Those ad dollars might be better spent used as an incentive for face-to-face client meetings rather than blind pitches to a mass audience.

About ME Productions
Florida’s largest meeting and special events firm, ME Productions, is an award-winning full-service destination management and event production company specializing in national and international corporate and social events, décor, floral design, destination management services, business theater, staging, audio-visual, music and entertainment. For further information, contact Hal Etkin at (800) 544.0033, extension 121. The company web site address is www.meproductions.com, or send e-mail inquiries to oncallpr@aol.com.

ME Productions is headquartered in Pembroke Park, Florida. The company’s Central Florida Office is located at 6220 South Orange Blossom Trail, Suite 140, Orlando Florida 32809, 877.888.4436.

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