Weddings & Events

The Colin Cowie Difference

Colin Cowie Celebrations is more than a full-service event design and production company. We pride ourselves on turning dreams into reality by always thinking ahead and partnering with our clients each and every step along the way. We hear. We listen. We respond. We have our finger on the pulse of the latest trends in food, décor and entertainment, always focusing on the personalized details that make an event one-of-a-kind. Our proactive approach and whatever-it-takes philosophy are why we enjoy such a loyal following among our clients.

What truly separates us in the competitive landscape is our five-senses approach to creating exceptional experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime. Our team is extremely motivated and dedicated to making every celebration reflect the host’s personality, taste and budget. Our experience with logistical details, from guest flow to entertainment to photography, ensures a seamless event, whether it is a high profile event for 250 or 125 family and friends at a wedding on the lawn of your home. Most importantly we want you to be comfortable with what you are spending and will work with you every step of the way to ensure the right results at the right price. We realize that when we exceed your expectations, you become our good will ambassadors to our next satisfied client.

Our corporate division’s creative use of strategic event planning delivers targeted results that can significantly contribute to a company’s brand image, always ensuring Colin Cowie’s quality is flawlessly executed. We have tremendous sensitivity to corporate pressures in today’s economic environment and we work within your budget to achieve your event goals, always delivering a meaningful, memorable and magical time to guests.

Grammy Party Extravaganza

When music label Cash Money Records, who represents top musical performers like Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj, asked me to host their 2012 third-annual pre-Grammy party for 1,000 guests, I knew we had to come up with an amazing concept. I had created this same event the previous two years, so this one had to be even bigger, better, and more talked about than the last two star-studded parties. The event took place in Los Angeles at Sound Stage 18 on the Paramount Pictures lot, and no other word but “incroyable” could possibly describe how we transformed the bare-boned venue (an empty sound stage) into the streets of a naughtier and more sensual Paris.

Parisian street lamps were set up and stunning 14-foot tall cherry blossom trees were brought in. With backdrops of realistic-looking storefronts showcasing five “La Masion de Cash Money” bistros as food stations, guests couldn’t get enough of our delectable classic French meets classic American specialties like sweet and savory crêpes, steak entrecôte and buttermilk-fried chicken. Naturally, each dish was paired with an expertly selected wine, enhancing the bistro-like experience.

The Palace of Versailles inspired the décor in the lounge, where guests walked among ornate over-sized gold mirrors, sat on lush plum and black velvet upholstery and danced under monumental crystal chandeliers. Black candles lined the gilded bistro tables topped with arrangements of gold roses in julep cups and yellow mimosas mixed with tall branches. The VIP area was a raised hexagon lit by large chandeliers and draped with ceiling to floor fringe. Surrounding columns were topped with plaster sculptures, creating a sumptuous French parlor atmosphere.

A jaw-dropping 10-foot gold fountain was also on hand, as well as a floor-to-ceiling video montage of the changing seasons in Paris, from winter to spring and summer to fall. My team also designed large mock kiosks—the kind of structures I see when walking near Metro stations in the City of Lights—that ran cutting-edge video of Cash Money Records’ favorite musical artists. Guests were given 3-D glasses that, when worn, revealed a bejeweled image of the Eiffel Tower embedded with the Cash Money Records logo.

The evening’s pièce de résistance? Cash Money’s entertainment, of course. So, in a nod to French burlesque, a dozen dancers opened the show with the French national anthem before proceeding to wow party goers with choreography and high-wire acrobatics, all while decked in boas and bustiers. And this was just the warm-up act! The main events of the evening were performances by Erykah Badu and rappers Drake and Lil Wayne. Still, I couldn’t resist closing the event with a bang: a cannon shot golden confetti onto the crowd as a finale, making this pre-Grammy party a night to remember.

A Young Man’s Bar Mitzvah Bash

I've known Zack since the day he was born. In fact, I designed his parent’s wedding years ago at the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles. Zack is definitely not your typical teenager. He is far more mature than his 13 years. He has a love of fine food and sports, is well travelled and behaves like a young gentleman.

His parents wanted a celebration for his friends and family that showed just how loved and appreciated he is. They didn't want a party where the children and adults were separated–they wanted to celebrate together. The Trump Soho was the ideal place for the dinner and party, where three areas of the luxury hotel would be used to entertain the guests.

The celebration began with a joint cocktail reception where guests both young and old enjoyed sushi made to order, fabulous crispy pizza and signature cocktails, including a “Zackatini” and a “Zackapolitan” named after the guest of honor himself. On the adjacent patio the kids enjoyed a variety of entertainment and games personalized for them, including customized Havanas flip-flops. While the kids were having fun, the adults enjoyed the music of a chic and elegant electric rock violinist.

Sticking with my rule that cocktail hour should last no longer than 45 minutes, guests made their way to the dining room where long tables, some clad in mirror and some dressed in cobalt blue linens, created a very modern yet masculine look. The dining tables were laid out geometrically with the two main tables running parallel to the dance floor and the rest perpendicular to them. Keeping with our theme, a series of round circular metal rings were filled with miniature white calla lilies. Hundreds of cobalt blue votive candles illuminated the scene. Each place setting was a mix of cobalt blue and silver studded with a blue water goblet.

We decided not to seat the guests immediately, but instead take them right to the dance floor in the center of the room for the Horah. The emcee, Troy Curtis, and the Eric Nicolas eight-piece band had everyone on the dance floor in a second. For dinner, we planned a three-course menu designed to honor Zack and his family’s love of fine food. The adults enjoyed a choice of pan-seared branzino or grilled lamb, while Zack and his friends feasted on tomato tortellini with meatballs and beef sliders, served family-style.

Between dinner and an overly decadent dessert, a video montage of Zack and his family captivated the room. Immediately after, the traditional candle lighting took place with Zack as emcee. He called his closest friends and family up to honor him and light a candle. You couldn’t help but be impressed as Zack told a personal story about each honoree and what made them so special to him – including one for his parents with words of praise any parent can only dream to hear, and another for his sister where he told her how proud he was and how much he loved being her brother.

The kids enjoyed their dinner and games in an adjacent room before making their way to the SoHo penthouse space. Dressed with lounge-like white furniture, a stage complete with plasma screens, a candy bar and a mock cocktail bar, the kids rocked out with Troy Curtis and his dancers, who taught them new moves and grooves. The adults arrived after their dinner and dessert. We all got a big kick out of watching the kids but before you knew it, we joined in too!