From Bridezilla to Blushing Bride

A chat with wedding planner Rosinne Chlala

For most brides the excitement and joy of getting married to their prince charming slowly begins to fade when budgets and guest lists start to fly, while venues and catering choices drive them to the brink of madness. Finding the groom is the easy part. But among the table swatches, motifs, Uncle Stan’s food allergies, and miles and miles of tulle is a glimpse of hope, the wedding planner.

After owning a successful gourmet retail shop in South Norwalk, which self-proclaimed foodies often frequented, Rosinne Chlala and brother Bill soon started to outgrow their shop. With their original vision of a one-stop shop catering and accessories store, word got out fast, and within a few short years this brother and sister duo turned their dream into an award winning professional catering and event planning business. In 1994, Roe and Bill opened Festivities, where hundreds of brides have trusted Roe and her team with their ultimate special day. From backyard weddings, afternoon tea nuptials, to blinged out fabulous weddings, Roe has seen and done it all. I had the chance to sit down with the fairy godmother of brides herself and talk about what she knows best, weddings.

It’s no surprise why this planner can turn any bridezilla into a blushing bride. Roe’s sweet disposition and kind, confident nature even put me at ease. With over a decade of experience, Roe and her team have perfected the art of putting on any memorable event. With impeccable attention to design and detail, award-winning catering by Chef Kaliff, hospitality and comfort for all guests and family, brides and grooms can enjoy themselves knowing Roe has got it all covered. This wedding planner will transform that oversized binder of ideas into your dream wedding. Among several awards, including “Caterer of the Year” and “Best Partner in Event Design” by Best of the Gold Coast, Festivities has been awarded “Best Wedding Caterer” by TheKnot.com in 2007 and 2008.

When asked what she enjoys most about working with couples, she adds that listening to a bride and groom’s vision and helping them see that vision come to life gets her excited. She also adds that helping a bride and groom avoid making mistakes is also a favorite part. According to Roe, every single detail and every element has to fit, from the number of feet on the dance floor down to the last shrimp cocktail. You might wonder what sets Roe apart from all the other wedding planners, lets just say it’s logistics. With an extensive background in catering, Roe has experience with the nitty gritty and often not so pretty parts of planning an event. Her expertise gives guests, family and the couple freedom to enjoy their day. Some words of wedding wisdom to brides and grooms; spend time on your ceremony, whether it’s creating your own traditions or following in the footsteps of your families, take your time. Roe’s best advice to newly engaged couples are to not lose sight of the goal. The process of planning a wedding is a couple's first time taking new steps together and representing themselves, but in the end, it’s a party!

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Are you newly engaged or having trouble planning your special day?

Roe is hosting “Considered Chic”, a workshop where brides will learn how to bring their visions to life using a visual road map. Brides will discover what kind of style they want to achieve, important elements to include and how to stay on budget.

“Considered Chic” will take place at the Delamar Hotel in Southport on Wednesday, February 22 from 7:00-8:30.
The fee is $35 per person.

Register today - Space is limited!
203.847.7774
festivitiesevents.com/workshops