The Lord of the Wines

Maybe, like me, you've come to associate New Zealand with The Lord of The Rings/The Hobbit Trilogy movies. After all, the rolling green hills, lush forests, mysterious caves and even active volcanoes make the idyllic setting for "Middle Earth."

At the Oyster Bay Launch at the Trinidad Hilton, hosted by Massy Distribution, I discovered though, that New Zealand also plays home to some of the world's most distinguished wines. In fact, many wine connoisseurs attribute this to New Zealand's unique terrain and climate.

At the event last night, guests were treated to a wine tasting and education facilitated by my friend Francis Ragbir ( one of T&T's very own wine experts and also an all round jolly fellow!). 
 

Francis telling us all about the proper way to do a wine tasting

I was surprised to find out that Oyster Bay is the #1 premium New Zealand wine brand in the USA and is ranked #7 in terms of premium wine brands imported into the US. The last two years in a row, has also seen Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc being listed as a Top 200 wine brand in Wine and Spirits Magazine.

Even the Wall Street Journal has poured ( pun intended!) accolades onto Oyster Bay, citing that "Every seafood restaurant should have a Sauvignon Blanc from Oyster Bay." Across the pond, it's also the most consumed merlot in the UK. Interesting facts, indeed.

We were asked to sample four wines in turn and each came with a food pairing. 

Four tastings of wine each, makes for very happy bloggers!

 Here's my take on them (I'm no wine expert but I can tell you what I liked!):

Salmon cake, brie cheese in filo, tuna taster in cucumber and beef brisket (on the spoon)

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc - My favourite of the four! This was a medium-bodied, aromatic, spicy wine. I would even say that for me, I detected herbal notes. Definitely a type of wine that you can savour. We were asked to sample it with a tuna taster wrapped in cucumber. 

Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay  - This was a crisp, tart wine that you could perhaps start dinner off with and continue drinking, since it's light bodied. At first whiff, I got hints of peach. We were asked to sample this with the salmon cake.



Oyster Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir - This was very fruity and fragrant - with notes of vanilla and cherries. We were asked to try it with brie cheese wrapped in filo pastry. This wine would also pair well with chicken and fish.

This Merlot also went very well with the chocolate and fruit dessert.

Oyster Bay Hawke's Bay Merlot - This medium-bodied wine had big, rich flavour. I'm actually not keen on red wine but I would definitely have this another time; since I found its acidity level perfect for me. This was my second favourite of the four. 

We were asked to try it with beef brisket. I certainly think, as a red wine option, that this would be a crowd pleaser for weddings



All in all, my table had so many interesting people and blogger friends that I felt quite at home. Every one left with a gift bag with this nifty wine opener!

Would you like Trinidad Weddings.com to cover your event or review your product? Drop me a line at simone@trinidadweddings.com and I would be happy to help you.

Join us on www.trinidadweddings.com for more!

The Face of Trinidad Weddings Magazine 2015

We’ve always featured real brides on the cover of our magazine, the TW Wed-Zine

It’s our philosophy here at www.trinidadweddings.com,plus, we think there’s no better inspiration for our readers than a local bride smiling prettily back at them!

Our next cover could feature you! 

This is why we've launched the #FaceofTW promotion.

Every day since our promotion started last week, we have been flooded with entries but here are just some of the beauties who've entered:

To find out how to enter and win FABULOUS prizes, click here: http://www.trinidadweddings.com/FaceofTW/

M&D’s ‘Discover’ Event

Marketing and Distribution’s (M&D) “Discover” event on October 5, 2013 was an absolute pleasure for www.trinidadweddings.com to cover.

It was a night of wine and premium liquor tastings, fine cheeses and appetizers that all culminated in quite a swanky soiree.

The objective of Discover was set to be more than a gathering of the nation’s taste-makers but also to provide an event for true connoisseurs to socialize and sample luxurious libations in an elegant environment



A selection of Crystal Farms' Cheeses paired with Gamay wines.

  

True to expectation, The Oval’s Century Ballroom was filled with a smartly-dressed crowd who savoured M&D’s display of its entire Wine and Spirits Portfolio.

Yes, that’s over 100 brands; such as Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque and Mumm Champagne, Absolut vodka, Ballantine’s 30 year-old Scotch, Jose Cuervo Res de la familia Cakebread (winner of the Readers' Choice Award for Best US wine), Louis Jadot Gevrey Chambertin, Cascine Prosecco and Fonseca 20 year-old Port to name a few.

There were also unique execution stations such as the Absolut Vodka Martini Makers Bar, Alize Cocktail Bar, Jose Cuervo shots as well as a Bubbly station.

One of my favourite cocktails is the Tom Collins. So a stand-out moment was when bartender Clinton made one for me on-the-spot with Beefeater 24 Gin. One of the best Tom Collins ever!

My Tom Collins being made!

Tasty hors d’oeuvres such as scrambled eggs with caviar served on spoons, spinach filo pastries, samosas, shrimp and pineapple on skewers and chicken sliders were had by all in attendance.  Of note was Jaffa’s authentic Indian buffet, featuring naan, mushroom pakoras and butter chicken accompanied by a selection of Patak chutneys and sauces.

Guests were given champagne flutes as tokens and treated to a rocking after-party with DJ Nuphoric, as the event drew to a close.

Trinidadweddings.com’s relationship with M&D began when they were an elite sponsor for our event, The Wedding Convention in September 2013; and we certainly look forward to more fabulous events from M&D.

If you would like TrinidadWeddings.com to cover your event, please drop us a line at contactus@trinidadweddings.com

All photos by: TrinidadWeddings.com

Plan Your Wedding on Wheels Limo Tour!

I’ve been in the wedding industry in Trinidad & Tobago for 10 years now and after all this time, it was refreshing to see a wedding promotion that was so different and innovative!

The “Plan Your Wedding on Wheels Limousine Tour” hosted by Jennifer GoberdhanSignature Weddings and Events was the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago.

It first came to life as a creative way to commemorate the launch of the company’s business and website, www.jennifergoberdhan.com


5 brides & Jennifer Goberdhan (2nd from left)

Then, preparations started off on Facebook - with a competition for brides-to-be. To enter, they had to introduce themselves and their fiancé and describe how they met and became a couple.  The ladies who had the most interesting and heartfelt stories were chosen as the 5 winners.



The 5 brides who won, were taken in a gold, Hummer limousine (another first in Trinidad & Tobago!) to different wedding vendors’ locations.

While enroute to the vendors, they were given “do-it-yourself” tips on planning their weddings by Jennifer Goberdhan herself, who is an internationally trained Wedding Designer and Planner with the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute in the US. 



Getting glamed up by Fashionista Image Management

The lucky ladies generated buzz and excitement wherever they went and emerged from the Hummer (kindly provided by Transport Solutions)!  

Stops were made at: Bakery Treatz, Claudia Pegus, Trinidad Weddings (that’s us!), Fashionista Image Consultants, Berment’s Catering, Naalri’s Photoplanet, and Spira’s Celestial Gemstones & Jewelry. 

Each vendor eagerly gave insider advice to the brides and showered them with gifts of their specialty  products and services .

Lunch at Berment's Catering

Cake tasting at Bakery Treatz

Jewelry Shopping at Spira's Celestial

Gift of a Trinidad Weddings Tote bag

Hors' D'oeuvres & TW Wed-Zine Magazines! 

Fashion styling tips from designer Claudia Pegus

The goal is for Jennifer Goberdhan’s Plan Your Wedding on Wheels Limo Tour to mushroom into a highly anticipated event in the future and to create a business development avenue for all partnering vendors.

According to Jennifer, “These vendors are selected for their expertise and standards of premium quality, in order to introduce brides- to-be and the people of T&T to an experience that is not only fun and different but of a standard that is world-class.”

All photos on this page were done by: Naalri's Photo Planet

The Outlet Market’s Cupcake Challenge

There are some offers in life you just can’t refuse-  getting to be a judge at a cupcake challenge, is one of them!

And so it was, on June 29, I took it to task at The Outlet Market’s Cupcake challenge, that was held at the Chinese Association.

Other judges on the panel were: Joel  Villafana, TV6 Sport Anchor and co-founder of TriniCooks.com, Tricia Corbin Oliveire from The Brown Box and Michelle Sohan from Bakery Treatz. We were an animated bunch but have no fear, we took the tastings seriously.

From left: Simone, Tricia and Joel





If the sugar rush hasn’t affected my brain post-challenge, I would estimate we tasted about 12 cupcakes.  

Competitors had to present us with their cupcakes, tell us a little about themselves/their baking history and present us with recipes for each cupcake.

Popular contenders for the “win,” were pina colada, chocolate and red velvet flavoured.  However, the plate of cupcakes that floored us and indeed demolished all the competition, was submitted by the youngest competitor, 16-year old Shennaih Moore.

She gave us a trio of curry-lime, tiramisu and maple-bacon cupcakes. 




Curry-Lime Cupcake (bottom middle)
Top: Tiramisu
Right: Maple-Bacon
Photo by: TrinidadWeddings.com

The best tasting out of the lot and surely the most novel, was the “curry-lime” cupcake.

The cake itself was infused with curry powder, with a gooey shredded coconut filling, topped off with a flourish of lime buttercream.

Michelle from Bakery Treatz (right)
congratulates Shennaih

Atop the cupcake was a chocolate leaf, which Shennaih made from spraying an actual leaf with oil spray and coating it with thick, milk chocolate, freezing it and then peeling away the actual leaf.

I had a chance to chat with Shennaih afterwards, so of course I had to ask,

"What’s your favourite cupcake flavour?"

You won’t believe her answer but I’m going to tell you anyway  -

“I don’t eat cupcakes. My favourite dessert is yogurt!”

Good luck in the future Shennaih – you’ve truly shown others that age has no power over talent!



Andrea Coutain, Founder of The Outlet Market
presents Shennaih with her prize.

 Photos by Elise Romany (unless otherwise stated)

TW Wed-Zine Magazine Goes Global!

Cover of the 2013 TW Wed-Zine

We wrapped production of the 2013 TW Wed-Zine magazine at the end of March 2013; and celebrated in full TW-style on April 12^th at Jaffa at the Oval, Port of Spain.

Want to know why?

We made history!

For the first time ever...a local magazine is available for digital download sale internationally.

Anyone, anywhere in the world can now buy the TW Wed-Zine in an animated, flipping page format, compatible for MAC, PC and mobile users!

Cost is only US $3.50.



If you really want to see what I’m talking about, you can click here to buy: http://www.trinidadweddings.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86&Itemid=155)

I know you’re dying to get a sneak-peek into all the wonderful little details that went into making our event successful! So, here they are:

1.    Our starting point was an aqua and white colour scheme that was meant to complement our logo.

2.    Alison Lee Loy did our beautiful and almost ethereal, floral design

3.    Analicia Garcia Dubrisingh – designer of a line of jewelry called “Fete," kindly lent me some exquisite jewelry pieces  - a  sky-blue, silk- satin wrapped bangle with silver, white & pink cultured freshwater pearls, moonstones, pink Swarovski crystals and silver Czech glass beads sewn onto it and a sterling silver necklace  with faceted teardrop, Rose-de-France amethysts. If you like her pieces, you can get them at The Gallery, Long Circular Mall.

4.    Our lighting featured our logo on the ceiling and was executed by TriniParadise Lighting & Special Effects

5.    We gave out bride & groom cookie favours to our guests – they were baked and decorated by Bakery Treatz.

6.     Our guests also got gorgeous cards featuring a “source list” – which noted every sponsors’ contribution. These were designed by Wedding Reflections.

7.    The Guest Factor was on-hand to showcase their digital guest book. Our guests loved interacting and giving us feedback about our event. If you’d like to see some video messages from our guests, go to: http://www.theguestfactor.com/webgallery/default.asp?id=C562B42E-B13A-4CF6-AA94-5E56366737CA

8.    Inventure Associates superbly handled our magazine design and also our Audio Visual production for our launch.

9.    Stephanie Ramlogan handled my entire fashion styling for the event, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes – literally!  Together we worked with fashion designer, Darcel de Vlugt to come up with the concept for my outfit. The end result was what I call “resort office” – what a Caribbean woman could wear to work.  Brides, if you need a fashion stylist for your wedding, Stephanie is your girl.

10. My makeup was done by Tricia Blaise of Face by Blaise (I loved the magenta lips she gave me!) and hair by Melissa Jones of So You Beauty Bar.

11. Venue, food and beverage were done by Jaffa at the Oval. Did you see Chef Joe Brown’s hand-carved ice sculpture of the two hearts? Simply fantastic!

Here’s a slideshow of how it all came together:

Create a free picture slideshow

TrinidadWeddings.com's Top Wedding Trends for 2013

The wedding industry is always influenced by what’s current in the art, fashion, culinary and interior design worlds. Every new year brings a slightly different approach to wedding planning coupled with interesting trends.

Here are a few predictions for 2013:

Emerald Green – This year, the Pantone Colour Institute has chosen “Emerald Green” as the “it” colour for 2013. The shade is described as “lively, radiant and lush,” and will certainly be seen this year on bridesmaid gowns, bouquets, invitation accents and décor. 

Another colour that is going to be very popular this year is mint green. This delicate, pastel colour fits very well with retro and vintage wedding themes.

Victorian-inspired – Accessories are taking a cue from the Victorian era. This year, we are seeing motifs that were once popular on Victorian jewelry such as: flora, fauna and bows. The incorporation of ribbon, lace and tulle on bridal jewelry pieces, is another Victorian influence. The Victorian influence will also be seen on décor and favour choices; so we will see a return to more romantic, vintage accessories. Other eras that will inspire brides’ style this year are the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s.

Cakes – the lace obsession has not stopped! In fact, it has been going strong since the Royal Wedding in 2011. Lace accents and reproductions will be appearing all over cakes this year, as will fondant flowers and accents that appear to be appliquéd onto the cake.  The use of metallics on cakes, will continue to be trendy this year as well.

Dramatic back views on gowns – Open backed gowns are trending - from plunging deep V-neck backs, sheer back views, lace trimmed key-holes or backs hidden with a smattering of crystals, sequins or embroidery. These gowns will not be for the faint of heart!

Just as it was last year, for 2013, brides will still be embracing dresses with long sleeves, high necklines, cap sleeves and illusion necklines. There will also be a resurgence of the longer bridesmaid dresses versus the shorter ones that prevailed in years past.

Invitations - Also popular will be designs that are foil stamped onto invitations, as well as those that are foil edged (when a metallic effect is applied to the edge of the invitations). Personalisation will also reign – with more couples choosing to do their own monograms, caricatures, crests or logos.

Bouquets: expect more brides to incorporate jewels and brooches into their bouquets. Another trend is the use of succulents (cacti) in the bouquets.

Patterns and Motifs: On invitations and in décor, the “bird” motif is going to be widely seen this year, so will leopard print, zebra print and chevron (a zig zag repetitive pattern).

For more, please join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/trinidadweddings

Or visit our website: http://www.trinidadweddings.com

 

 

Some Wedding Gown Questions answered!

Decisions! Decisions…but perhaps none more crucial than selecting a gown. After all, this is what tends to “get the ball rolling” for most brides! Choosing the gown is often a precursor to selecting invitations, the cake, catering and décor; since they all feed off of each other for style and design inspiration.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions I receive, about gowns:

What are the pros and cons of using certain bridal gown fabrics?

Chiffon is a perfect choice for our climate; it is very light-weight and tends to keep brides cooler than heavier fabrics. However, since it is so delicate, it can snag and tear quite easily. Satin is a classic, formal fabric; the only drawback is that it can show every undergarment imperfection. 

Lace is a perennial favourite – it can be made see-through or used with an underlay. It does not tend to wrinkle as much as organza and taffeta. However, both organza and taffeta’s strengths lie in being able to achieve full skirts and complicated folds.

What are some tips to consider before I buy my gown online?

Ensure that on the website, you can view detailed photos and even get “zoom” views of gowns. The retailer should also provide descriptions including style, fabric, colour, and size, so that you know exactly what you’re purchasing.

Bridal gown sizes do not usually coincide with regular clothing sizes. Therefore, even though the websites may provide you with gown sizes, be sure to view the website’s body measurement guide and gown length. Enquire about hem and sleeve length as well, since adjustments on embroidered or heavily beaded hems or sleeves, are near impossible to achieve in an easily concealed way.

Before purchasing, ensure that the retailer’s website is a completely secure online environment and it does not store or share your credit card information. Find out whether the website ships internationally, so you can arrange for your gown to be shipped directly to you here. If the retailer only ships to the United States or Canada, you can use your US or Canadian Skybox, or simply arrange to have it delivered to a relative or friend who lives abroad.

What gown colour should I choose?

Oscar de la Renta showcased dresses in robin's egg blue and sage green in his Spring 2012 Bridal Collection. Likewise, Vera Wang showed dresses in a taupe, black, charcoal and celadon green. The most popular colour this year though, seems to be “blush pink.”

Both Badgley Mischka and Monique L’huillier showed dresses in blush pink throughout their collections this year. Even Jessica Biel in her recent October 19, 2012 wedding to Justin Timberlake, chose a petal-pink ball gown.

However, if you’re not adventurous enough for colour, you can look to your skin tone for a hint of what “white” would be best. If you are very pink or your skin has rosy undertones, ivory is a good choice. Olive or medium skin tones lend themselves well to champagne, ecru or off-white gowns. If your skin tone is dark, a crisp white or ecru gown would look stunning.

What’s the difference between a trumpet styled gown and a mermaid styled gown?

Trumpet styled gowns tend to flare out just below the hips, while mermaid styled gowns are more fitted and flare out from the knee or lower down the body.

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