20 years for Hialeah Miami Lakes!

On July 31st, Mia Restaurant and Ultra Lounge opened it's doors to the most fabulous "class" of people Hialeah Miami Lakes has ever seen: Class of 1990! Led by the guru who embraces life, Wayne Louk and the fabulous group of committee members, we had over 120 guests who celebrated alongside fellow classmates.At Ryncta Productions, I can't say we've ever seen a class that was so bonded and so connected with one another. We truly enjoyed working with the committee over a period of six months, and being involved in their memories over the years.

The night included a walk down memory lane with a slideshow of some of the best images, music that rocked the house in the early 90s, courtesy of Jay Meletiche, and so much dancing and shouting it made my head spin, literally!

We want to thank all the Class of 1990 members that attended and we really enjoyed making your night special and over the top! With such strength and love in your class, we at Ryncta Productions, believe you will be celebrating together for years to come.

Special thanks to Milagros for your beautiful photography and Jay Meletiche on the ones and twos. Also, thank you Wayne for letting Ryncta Productions be a part of your special event! You are truly our Cuban Bruce Lee!

Garba Raas - Rich, Colorful, Vibrant!

This past Memorial Day, I had the pleasure of attending and helping my neighbor's Radha and Mahesh as they entered into holy matrimony, Indian-style. The celebration of their nuptials lasted over a five day period where the entire family was involved in planning, performing family traditions, and hiring the best of the best in the wedding industry. Not to mention, the fabulous write-up they received in the Orlando Sentinel .

The reason we, at Ryncta Productions, love the Indian culture is because of the intricacy that goes into every detail, from over the top catered buffets at every event to the imported sarees that brides travel all the way to India to get custom made.

One of my favorite moments of the entire series of events was the Garba Raas. Garba is an Indian form of dance that originated in the Gujarat region. It is more similar to Western folk dance than to the presentational style of Indian classical dances such as bharatanatyam and odissi. The name garba comes from the Sanskrit term Garba ("womb") and Deep ("a small earthenware lamp"). Many traditional garbas are performed around a central lit lamp, but in Radha and Mahesh's case around a large revolving peacock shrine with endless gems and elaborate candles. The circular and spiral figures of Garba have similarities to other spiritual dances.


Guests dance around the center, bending sideways at every step, their arms making sweeping gestures, each movement ending in a clap. As I took my first "leap" into the beautiful circle of colorful, free-flowing grandmothers leading the circle, I felt a sense of pride in experiencing the beauty of this culture. Although the dance was quite simple, family elders throw in their own special touches by adding in semi-circles, and spinning in circles with other family members seeing how fast they can go! And, this goes on for more than 45 minutes and you wonder if it will ever stop, but then it keeps getting faster and more intense! The family members seemed to embrace my presence and I was even asked if I was a professional Indian Dancer!

There was also a huge interest in Garba amongst the youth of the Indian and in particular Gujarati diaspora in Garba. Garba and Dandiya Raas are popular in America where more than 20 Universities have Raas Garba Competitions of a huge scale every year with professional choreography. During the Garba Raas, dance is the most important element of the traditions. A dance group from the local university came in with the bridal party as they were being introduced and added the extra touch of glamour to an already over the top event.

Eventually, the dance switched to Raas, another Gujurati dance with sticks and my personal favorite. If you ever loved to play the drums and square dance, you love some Raas! Guests were given a set of two colorful sticks, which they would play across for another person in a line. And what I learned about this dance is once you start in the line, you aren't leaving for a good 45 minutes, so be prepared to bang it out!

The bride and groom had so much energy and participated in everything and that was simply beautiful. Also, Garba can be enjoyed by all and is a good form of exercise.

I was impressed with the level of compassion between the Indian community, the acceptance of other cultures, and the detail of decor. Indian weddings are elaborate because in past traditions it was a celebration owned by the entire community, and sometimes when the bride married, she'd be sent off to another village, and may not see her family and friends for a very long time. I think it's important for all of us to look back at our own heritages and incorporate elements of our own cultures, so that we can appreciate all our ancestors did to form our traditions today.

Radha and Mahesh, they were a beautiful couple, inside and out, who truly honored their culture and shared that with me. Thank you for letting us be a part of your memories!

Can we be a part of your Indian wedding? If you need day-of coordination please contact us at rynctaproductions@gmail.com or visit our website at www.rynctaproductions.com.

Ryan Gonzalez
Ryncta Productions, Inc.

Season for Bridal Showers- Fun Ideas for the perfect event!

How the heck did we come up with the celebration"Bridal Shower" and how the heck did it start? The Bridal Shower originated with the intent to strengthen friendships between the bride and her friends. In this gathering, the bride’s friends would give her moral support and help her prepare for her marriage. The idea to give gifts is fairly new; originating circa the 1890’s. At one shower, the bride’s friend placed small gifts inside a parasol and opened it over the bride’s head so that the presents would "shower" over her. When word of this hit the fashion pages, people were so taken with the idea that they decided to do the same at their showers.

Getting gifts hitting me over my head may not be my idea of the perfect bridal shower but it's important to us at Ryncta Productions to give you some fun ideas when planning your next shower on a budget or some fun ways we can do it for you! Here are just a few great ideas:

1) Entertainent Theme- Want to have a fun co-ed shower? This is a fun theme for a bride and groom who are movie buffs or love sports. Why not make a fun entertainment lounge or movie theater in a rec room or rent out a small movie theater? You could do your invitations on old movie postcards that feature classic couples on stage and on screen and serve fun foods such as popcorn, licorice, and movie theater favorites. Fun games to play would include wedding karaoke, or even a fun movie quiz challenge.

2)"Green" or bohemian bride- This bride likes to be different so why not set up an evening of eclectic foods and gifts to pamper her. This theme would work best in a small tearoom or cafe or at a spa. Hire a fortune teller or mehndi artist to entertain the guests and set-up a goddess goodies bar where guests can indulge in some of their favorites such as nail polish, bath beads, aromatherapy oils, incense, etc. and let the ladies scoop some of these goodies into their gift bags. Set up the event Morrocan style with pillows on the floor, serve drinks in Morrocan tea glasses, provide fun bangles, and serve fun satays on sticks!

3)Sin and Heaven Theme (for the playful, sexy and sophisticated bride)- It's the perfect combination for a chocolate lover's lingerie shower. This theme would work best in an intimate room in your home or at a fancy chocolate shop. Decorate your space with sexy reds and pinks and why not write your invitations in lipstick or include a chocolate kiss. Guests should be advised to bring slippers, shoes, sexy mood-enhancing CD's, undies, teddies, and jammies for the bride. Serve Hot Cha-cha chocolate, mocha liqueur cups, anf fun Bridal sweet martinis. Play a fun wedding night game where someone writes what the bride says after opening each gift. When all gifts are opened, read her phrases back out loud with the proper giggle-inducing emphasis- you want to sound like she might on her wedding night.

The bridal shower is something that should be planned in advance and given a lot of thought. The bridal shower is espiecially personal and intensifies the excitement about the big day to come. What I hope you'll take from this is that in planning a bridal shower "anything goes". We are always here to help you make your vision perfect and best of luck to you!

Meet the Martinez Family!

Happy New Year Ryncta Fans!

The Christmas season did not go without love this year in the Ryncta family. Between all the kisses under the mistletoe, hot cocoas by the fire, and time spent with the family, I can't go without mentioning one of the most important memories I was lucky enough to be a part of. About 10 months ago, I met Chela and Gabe from San Francisco. Fun-loving, full of spunk and compassion, I then became a part of their story. Some of our best conversations involved some of my favorite topics such as jelly beans, tango dancing, and visiting boutique hotels. And I can't imagine how tasting cake and alfajores, having drinks at some of South Florida's most fantastic venues, and spending hours listening to some of their favorite music was unbearable for them lol,(being sarcastic). After months of emailing, setting them up with some fantastic vendors, and my daily conversations with Chela discussing everything from bustles to pumpkin cheesecake, we were ready to bring the loving couple down the aisle in "style".

The Sundy House and the fantastic staff AJ and Anayda provided the perfect comfortable "home meets romance" feel. They are one of my favorite vendors! The setting itself mixed with the unique blend of orchids and arrangements provided by my favorite Brit Jackie and the team at J.P. Morgan Flowers, added the right amount of flair! To capture all this beauty, I relied as always on my right hand man Miguel and his team at Miguel Irias Photography. Photo above.
And let's not forget DJ Shawn on the ones and twos with Complete Music!

But at the end of the day, a wedding is not a wedding without the blushing bride and her groom. She was absolutely gorgeous thanks to hair by Miriam and makeup by Rocio. She looked beautiful, had love in her eyes, and for that I am grateful for my job.

Martinez Family thanks for allowing us to meet such beautiful people, for letting us mingle with the "crazy" aunt, and most importantly choosing us to share in your moment. We will never forget it!

Ryan Gonzalez
Ryncta Productions, Inc.
Want us to plan your special event? Contact us at rynctaproductions@gmail.com

Fa La La La La...Holiday Parties with a twist!

Congratulations my friends! You've made it to the 10th month of 2009. The time of year when the weather starts to cool, the "Boots" come out, and you local drugstore is filled with candy corns, pumpkins, and the occasional dancing Santa Claus.If you haven't caught it already, there is a new bug out there (and it's not the Swine flu). We are talking about the Holiday bug. All of a sudden, nothing seems as bad. The tunes start pouring in on the radio and your phone calls from friends and family begin to increase. But then, the awaited questions start, "What are you doing for the holidays? You having a party? How can we make it different this year?" Or maybe it's your boss or employees, "Where are we going to have our Annual Holiday Party? Can we even afford a party? Who is going to plan it? Who in our company even has time?!"

No one needs this kind of stress especially at the end of the year when we all should be celebrating. That's where organized folks like ourselves come into play. The superheros of organization and creativity, Ryncta Productions (I think we need a theme song already!)Here are some simple ideas you can try to bring some jingle to your party and some cheer to your guests. Enjoy!

1)Give the gift of a Gratitude Box
This holiday season, give a gift that comes from the heart with a gratitude box.The cost is as little as $6 to $36 to make, depending on how elaborate you want to get. You can cover a shoe box in wrapping paper or buy cheap, fun boxes online, for as little as $2 a piece A beautiful ribbon adds a personal touch with a monogram made from hot glue or hot glue some cranberries. Pine cones, flowers or other seasonal items also make great garnishes.If you're hosting a party or having a holiday meal, buy small boxes and have them waiting for your guests at their place settings. Next, ask your guests to write a special note to each person at the table. To make it easy, create printable note cards:
"What I love about you…"
"Thank you for…"
"My holiday wish for you…"
Print out and cut up multiple copies so your guests can write their messages and slip them into each guest's box. Your guests will go home with lovely party favors filled with heartfelt sentiments.

2) Create edible centerpieces- Individual sweets on a pedestal in the middle of each table double as décor and dessert! Picture candy apples dipped in caramel or chocolate and then individually wrapped in cellophane with beautiful ribbon and nested among evergreen sprigs. Not only will the centerpieces look festive and eye-catching, guests can either eat their candy apples for dessert or take them home as favors. You can also cut a few pieces of evergreen from your Christmas tree to use as the base.

3) Specialize your drinks instead of a full bar- Instead of a full bar for a party or dinner consider having a few special mixed drinks only. For example, have just Hot Toddy Holiday Cocktails and mint martinis. Fewer drinks means fewer ingredients and means that you can buy larger (and less expensive) mixers and alcohol bottles. For more ideas about holiday drinks read 10 New Years Eve Party Cocktail Recipes.

4) Make it fun, bring your kid out- One of my favorites is a Charlie Brown themed Christmas Party. A Charlie Brown Christmas has been charming the world with it's touching tale of the true meaning of Christmas. Google it! Your party could be the talk of the year! Gotta love Charlie Brown!

5)Why not have your holiday party after the holiday?- There are no rule books, so why not have something that your family and friends can still look forward to?? Hire a planner who is tasked with cutting costs, and then schedule your event for January, when the holiday rush is over, enabling your planner to better negotiate rates. Once the holiday season is over, vendors will cut costs even more and you will be able to enjoy more perks!

Want more tips?? I'm here to help! Become a fan of Ryncta Productions, Inc. or visit our website at www.rynctaproductions.com.

Happy Holiday party planning!

Ryan Gonzalez
President
Ryncta Productions, Inc.

Click, Snap, Shoot, PROPS!

Your wedding photos play witness to your day, add a visual to the unseen eye (your children, future relatives & friends), and they map out the most important day of your life from start to finish. A photo is just not your photo unless you take the time out to make it yours. The wedding day is probably the most important time for every married couple. These moments must be captured so they last forever. Since weddings happen only once in a lifetime, the photos must be of top quality and must capture the true feeling of the moment. Photographs should capture all the special moments of a wedding. As whatever happens that day will not come again in life. Wedding photographs leave an everlasting memory in the life and family of all members. Once the wedding is over, one can keep those wonderful memories alive only through wedding photographs. Even after the couple grows old, they can show the photographs to their later generation and could recall all past memories.

Alina and Don did a fantastic job at using their surroundings and props to add some SPICE and DRAMA to Clearwater Beach. With the evolution of technology, the possibilities are endless when it comes to making your wedding photos gush with creativity! Photographers can do amazing shots but sometimes many lack the creativities of how to add items into the photo that can enhance your look. You simply cannot rely on your photographer to show up on your wedding days with ideas and props to put in the picture.

Alina and Don gave their wedding a tad of everything that defined them as they wanted to be remembered and I truly admired the thought and love that it took to come up with such fantastic ideas. I loved their use of the wedding color blue. The blue backdrops for the showcasing of her wedding shoes, to the starfish swags hanging from the guests chairs, to the photojournalistic emphasis on the bridesmaids feet as they entered the ceremony with feet jewelry playing up their blue, summery, fun dresses. My absolute favorite wedding shots have to be the parasol shots. The parasol, in my opinion, is the best prop for a beach wedding because there are so many ways you can incorporate these into your wedding day. It can be used as an alternative for a wedding bouquet, an added accessory to photos, and even a sun protector on the hottest days. A parasol can do wonders in your photos and give you the classy and professional look that your wedding day photography needs.

Things to think about - firstly, you need to feel comfortable and most importantly be yourself so that your unique personality would reflect on the photos. But a girl needs all the help she can get and if a few props will help you to relax and have fun – why not! Take some props with or ask the photographer to supply some interesting objects that you can use during your photo shoot, for example a hat, colorful sarong (that will double up to keep your dress clean in case you have to get down and dirty), a wedding invitation, your garter, a cigar for the groom etc . Give your photographer some healthy attitude and the right tools to be creative.

We so often invest our precious time in things that won’t last – yes, its important that you look absolutely breathtaking but besides looking beautiful, the photo shoot takes priority as this is what you would take with you long after the champagne has lost its bubble. You can either shy away and lose out on stunning memories or you can forget yourself, go beyond yourself and have fun! I know Alina and Don sure did! Thanks to the Shaw's for bringing me along for the ride!

Ryan
Ryncta Productions, Inc.

Anis Wedding doesn't end with a reception...

Another wedding...another success!!!

I was priviledged to share in another special day of two very special people: Michael and Kim! This wedding was beyond the "norm" and truly showed that in weddings anything goes! What planner expects the end of the night to consist of helping the bridesmaids and the bride hold up the bottom of their hot pink poofy dresses as they cross the railroad tracks to a club where a VIP area awaits for the Wedding "after party." Who knew. No one says its not allowed to go to a club in your wedding dress. It's the bride and groom's big day after all and if it's what they want, it's up to us as planners to make it happen. Traditionally, the bride and groom end with the reception, as guests await to say goodnight and give their best wishes. Then, typically, it's off to the bridal suite where the magic happens. But, nowadays, a four hour wedding reception is not enough of a party.

Couples engaged to be married often spend a year’s worth of planning for their special day, which often passes in a blink of a lovestruck eye. It’s no wonder more of them are extending the festivities to after parties. These post-nuptial shindigs are about ditching the formal wear, letting the hip DJ spin some loud grooves and perhaps scarfing down taco-truck grub with some of the couple’s closest friends.

Etiquette rules for these events are still in the works. Invitations aren’t necessary; couples can post party details on their blogs, Facebook, or even send an e-mail about the after-hours affair. Count on older wedding guests, such as parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, bowing out of the evening after the wedding. It’s the younger folk who are ready to rock when the hotel ballroom closes up at 11 p.m.

Venues for the after-parties vary from hanging out at the hotel suite to moving the celebration to the hotel bar to even going to a private residence. Food is essential to the late-night gathering to appease partygoers stricken with the munchies post-reception. Other touches may include cigars and whiskey, mojito bars or theme decor.

If couples stick to tradition, most likely they’ll pay for the event. If the party shifts to a neighborhood bar, then guests may chip in for drinks and snacks. How elaborate or laid-back of an evening will determine the price.

Ask your planner (people like me) for advice on how to make "The Official After-Party" a success. And if your a true party animal like Mike and Kim, leave for a 6:30 AM flight to Hawaii! (no just kidding).

Ryan Gonzalez
Event Guru
Ryncta Productions, Inc.
www.rynctaproductions.com