The expert event planning team at 583 Park Avenue has over 40 years of event planning experience. There is almost nothing about planning an event that surprises us. That said, we receive new and interesting questions from clients on a nearly daily basis. Through this new blog series “Ask 583” we will be sharing many of our favorite questions and our event planners’ expert opinions.

Do you have a question for the event planning experts at 583 Park Avenue? CONTACT US today.

I’m getting married next spring. My guest list has 100 names, his has 30. How can I balance things out?

When planning your wedding it can feel a bit funny to have such a lopsided guest list. You may be thinking, “Will the groom’s side of the aisle look empty?” “How will the reception seating work?” “Will his side feel left out?”

The simple truth is that “lopsided” weddings are much more common than you think. Does having a big family mean you have to marry someone from a big family? Of course not. It’s difficult enough to balance bridal and groom parties, let alone the total number of event guests.

Long story short, don’t worry too much about balancing your invites. Once the event gets going, you will quickly realize that having an unbalanced guest list won’t hinder your guests’ enjoyment of the day one bit.

My 12-year-old daughter is vegetarian and wants to have a “meatless” Bat Mitzvah. Should I veto this idea or let her decide?

This question is particularly interesting to us because usually we hear an opposite version like, “Do we really have to offer a meal that’s vegan AND gluten free?” (The answer is always yes!) The real issue in play here is that the parents, in this case meat eaters, are concerned about a lack of meat dishes leading to a subpar dining experience for their guests.

To concerned parents, we offer these two pieces of advice:

1) It’s her party, she can eat what she wants to

2) With the right caterer, no one will miss the meat

Years ago vegetarian catering meant a collection of pastas and side dishes. These days, that is no longer the case. Event chefs (including our very own Chef Arvin Dhansew) often specialize in creating meatless, even fully-vegan dishes that consistently wow event guests. With all of the options available, none of your guests will leave wondering what happened to their steak.

My fiancée is very concerned about guests sharing photos of our wedding on their Facebook/Instagram accounts before our official photos are released. She wants to ban cell phones from our wedding. How can I get her to change her mind?

One look at Facebook or Instagram can make it seem like social media sharing of wedding photos is the norm. Any couple that doesn’t want their wedding displayed online before, during and after the actual event must be fighting a losing battle, right?

The reality of the situation is a bit different: According to a survey done by David’s Bridal, the largest wedding retailer in the US, 44% of couples think “digital rules are important in setting the tone for guests” and 58% think the couple getting married should be the first to post pictures of their big day. In a nutshell, your fiancée is not alone.

On the other hand, banning cellphones from the ceremony and reception is a bit extreme. A simple note in the wedding program, or an announcement at the beginning of the ceremony should be enough to alert your guests of her wishes. If that doesn’t work, you are totally within your rights to ask guests to remove photos from their social media in the days following the event.

Do you have a question for the event planning experts at 583 Park Avenue? CONTACT US today to ask your question and find out what makes 583 Park Avenue the best event space on the upper east side. One of our event coordinators will be in touch with you shortly.