Marianne Buncher Chijner has been a professional calligrapher for almost thirty years.    From escorts cards to menus to envelopes, Marianne’s beautiful hand calligraphy has provided the perfect touch for countless TEG events.

I am delighted to be invited to contribute to The Event Group’s Blog!

Sharing my calligraphic skills with those who are planning any of the very special events in life is something that I have enjoyed for nearly thirty years.

Everything that I create stems from a labor of love, and my calligraphy (so I’ve been told!) reflects that passion.

In this day and age, many wedding invitations, escort cards and other stationary essentials are being addressed by computers.  While this method is perfectly fine, hand calligraphy offers personal and unique touches that cannot be replicated by technology.  Often referred to as “the art of fancy lettering,” hand calligraphy helps to establish the tone of the event from the moment the invitation arrives in a guest’s mailbox.

There are so many components that are involved in this ancient art form.

The process begins with dipping the penholder and nib in the carefully blended ink and then applying just the right amount of pressure needed to create the thick and thin lines that form each letter.  These precise movements are called the down and upstrokes.

In addition to placing the right amount of ink with the right amount of pressure, the calligrapher must also know how to plot and space the address on the envelope.

So when establishing a budget to celebrate a special occasion, think about adding the personal and unique touch that can be provided by a professional calligrapher’s services, and let an expert assist you in creating ‘the perfect beginning to a wonderful end!’

Happy planning!

Marianne Buncher Chijner

mbscribe@comcast.net

The Kentucky Derby, on Saturday May 3rd, is right around the corner! We are looking back at a past Kentucky Derby party that we had the pleasure of coordinating. The event was held at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. The Heinz History Center has great spaces and lots of natural light. It is the perfect venue for parties, weddings and events of all kinds!

Derby props greeted guests as they entered into the Mueller room.

The party decor was based off of the phrase ‘run for the roses’, the Kentucky Derby’s unofficial tagline.

The mint julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. A mint julep is composed of sugar, water, mint, ice and bourbon. For this event, Common Plea Catering served mini mint juleps in silver cups.

High and low cocktail tables were set with small centerpieces of fragrant red roses in traditional silver mint julep cups. The bright red roses were the perfect pop of color against the crisp white pin-tuck linens.

The focal point of the room was a large display of red roses amid a vignette of white banquettes and mirrored coffee tables. This was not only beautiful, but provided a great place for guests to rest their feet and set their drinks down.

The guests viewed the ‘greatest two minutes in sports’ on a large screen. Before the race started, party-goers were able to place faux bets at a betting window that we had specially constructed for the event. Those who chose the winning horse were then entered into a raffle and given prizes at the end.

 There were lots of traditional derby foods served. From hot browns to fried green tomatoes, there was plenty of southern cooking for everyone. In the photo above, you will see delicious, creamy lobster mac ‘n cheese served in silver horse pails.

No guest left hungry, that’s for sure! A sweet treat buffet was available for guests to come and go as they please. Aren’t these derby themed sugar cookies by Bella Christie’s fabulous?

We hope this post inspires you to host your own derby party! For more event inspiration, find us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!