I cannot express enough how thankful I am for Chef Rossi, Charmaine, and the rest of The Raging…read moreSkillet team! From the beginning, Chef Rossi was warm and welcoming and immediately shared my excitement about the wedding. What I love most about TRS is that everything is customizable and Chef Rossi wants to make sure her food reflects the wedding vision. She paid attention to every little detail I asked for. Creating a menu and signing an agreement with her was such a breeze! Closer to the wedding, her administrative team was totally on top of every change and request I made. I felt at ease going through a walk through, setting up the timeline, and making sure all bases were covered. They have years of experience and that was certainly demonstrated from beginning to end. On top of all that, her food is some of the best food I have ever tasted in my life. It is not typical wedding food and we received hundreds of compliments throughout the reception. Every item on the menu reflected who my husband and I are as people. Chef Rossi is an extremely unique caterer and we absolutely loved every second working with her! Thank you thank you thank you! The TRS helped us create memories that will last a lifetime!

Before we even tasted the food, we knew Chef Rossi and the Raging Skillet were going to cater the…read morewedding. When we met Chef Rossi she took the time to get to know us. She was friendly, fun, and extremely helpful. She went over everything having to do with cost up front!! The tip, tax, rentals, etc. And when she gave us an initial estimate, and sensed (correctly) that it was out of our budget, she happily told us where and how to make cuts and found ways to save us money. We felt totally at ease and then came the food... AWESOME!!!! She invited us to not one, but two tastings. We loved everything. We liked her first menu, which was a perfect fit for our theme, so much that we only ever made ONE menu item change. The Raging Skillet went above and beyond, supplying me with an inventory of what mixers, sodas, and juices would be needed so I could go buy them myself and save more money. The day of the event, the staff was amazing and the food was fantastic. The right amounts at the right time and all the appetizers and main dishes were outstanding. We received numerous compliments on the food through out the event. Honestly... Through every step of the way leading to the wedding, I felt I could never have done it with out Chef Rossi. She is an amazing person who cares about her clients and delivers top notch food.

Let me first say, I"ve lived in New York City for 21 years (as of tomorrow.) And, anyone who lives…read morehere, and has ever tried to plan an event, knows, one of the hardest things to find is an exception event planner who is as efficient and attentive to details, as she brilliant at taking the reigns and making everything perfect. There are probably 100 horrible "event planners" for every amazing one. Finally, I've found someone who is both top drawer, and beyond talented at what she does. And that person/company is Ruth Lapin Events, hands down. I first met Ruth Lapin years ago at a function. She impressed right off the bat, and dazzled me. So, when I began looking for an event planner, the first name that came to mind was Ruth Lapin. Actually, I should say, the ONLY name that came to mind was Ruth Lapin. You know what I'm saying? Anyone who has ever tried to coordinate something as "simple" as a toast at a cocktail gathering or even a child's birthday party understands that event planning can be an ordeal. It's like, "schedule,s, details and last minute emergencies, OH MY!" I have an event coming up, and thought of having to deal with the vendor, negotiate a decent price (by New York standards), vet the people who are doing the serving, the food prep and cooking, the teeny tiny details that start seeming like nails on a chalkboard, the whiners and criers, the family (and ALL their drams), the backup plan for an outdoor event (in case it should rain), etc ... Seriously, do you want to start playing the price game with the vendor who will only sell and deliver the specific napkins (or the personalized t-shirts) if you buy a minimum of some crazy number that's 100 times more than you actually have use for? Moreover, Ruth has exquisite tastes. And, most importantly, she takes the time to talk to you, listen and really understand what it is that you want, not what she thinks you should want. So I'm always confident that what she's going to come back with, and suggest is going to be conceived and created from my vision and my wants and needs. She also has such an eye for design, inevitably she's added some elements that you never considered because you didn't know enough to consider them. I love the vibe. I love the positive energy. I love the synergy of working together. Never once, in all the years I've worked with Ruth, has she disappointed me. In fact, quite the opposite. She's always impressed me in new and exciting ways. Ruth Lapin is who I want to be when I grow up!

Brilliant, resourceful, compassionate, and savvy, event planner. She planned my favorite cousin's…read moreincredible wedding at Capitale at which I was [the overly involved] maid of honor, and it was just the loveliest occasion. No stone was left unturned, she thought of every last detail, recommended the most talented vendors, it was just such a relief for my cousin to have someone navigate, always taking into account the personality, vision, and budget of the couple. In this case, the bride and groom did not always see eye to eye, but Ruth was able to "marry" their divergent visions, both were so delighted by the outcome, and we all had the best time. She seems so well-connected and well-liked in the industry, and she's extremely affable, warm, and witty. I recommended her to my best friend, who is finally getting married to his gay partner of twenty years, can't wait to see what she whips up for this fabulous pair.

After our engagement, it just occured to me that we don't really have a dream wedding. All we…read morewanted was to be united and to celebrate this blessed union with the people we love. With less than 3 months of planning, we feared that there wouldn't be enough time, but FetebyJanina proved us wrong. Janina embraced everything in stride, with a smile on her face, words of positivity, and excitement. Her optimism radiated through us and everything felt as if they were falling into place. The way she planned and coordinated our wedding was like painting. She took both our colors and carefully brushed each one until our blank canvas became a work of art. Our words of gratitude and these photos will never be enough to define her work. FetebyJanina and her team (Sasa, Bianca and Warren) gave us not only a wedding, but an unforgettable first day of our marriage..

One of the BEST decisions I made for my wedding was hire Fete by Janina. Because of this, I was…read moreable to REALLY ENJOY my wedding day. I did not feel one bit of stress the entire day. Janina was very HANDS ON. She will set up meetings every month (more frequent when it comes closer to the day), would email me a recap of our meetings and would text me any reminders that I need to complete for the month. What TOUCHED me the most was when she even texted me the morning of my wedding day telling me to relax and just enjoy the day and how she got everything taken care of - and that's exactly what she did. Her assistant was with me the entire day offering me drinks, food, etc. Janina was on top of everything (which the guests noticed too as she stood at the corner of our reception place while she was making sure everything was in order!) I'm really amazed with her team!!!! Job well done!! Highly recommended!

I booked Robin to do my sweetheart decor for my wedding. It was the best investment! She executed…read moremy vision and exceeded my expectations. Our sweetheart table was absolutely beautiful and we received so many compliments from our guests. Throughout the planning process she was responsive and communicated in a timely manner. Highly recommend her services. Thank you Robin for helping bring our vision to life!

When I think about planning any event " Here and Now Events " is on the top of the list. Raquel's…read moreprofessionalism and attention to detail is impeccable. Let's not forget the amazing staff and phenomenal vendors used to execute every event, it's breathtaking. I've had the opportunity to partner with Raquel and her team on more than one occasion and I've never walked away dissatisfied. If your planning your next event, contact " Here and Now Events " . Thank you

Absolutely the best coordinator!! I hired Raquel about 6 weeks before my wedding as I wanted to…read moreensure that everything was covered leading up to and on my wedding day. My first meeting with Raquel was great. She is very personable, knowledgeable about the business, and I knew I could trust her in ensuring me and my husband's special day went without any problems. Raquel made sure she was prepared by reading through all contracts to make sure nothing was missed and preparing the day of timeline. She made sure that our vision came true the night of our wedding. There were so many moving parts, Raquel did an amazing job to ensure that everyone was sticking to schedule. Raquel also coordinated with all of my vendors. That was the main reason why I hired Raquel, to make sure that the day of the wedding, the vendors were all knew their part, were to go, vendors showing up on time, how each of them effected one another's services and how everyone would come together as a team to make it one unforgettable night. Raquel was able to do just that so that me and my husband did not have to worry about anything but enjoying our day. Raquel went above and beyond, and even helped me find the bustle on my dress which was such a struggle for the both of us! She was always right there if my husband or I needed anything, even making sure that we ate. Raquel also attending our rehearsal the night before the wedding and did such a great job with leading and directing my bridal party with where to walk, and the pace, while playing the songs we had chosen for the ceremony. Raquel's fees are very reasonable and fair with the outstanding level of service she provides. If I were to host another large event, I will definitely consider hiring her again! Do not hesitate to reach out to her, you will not be disappointed!!

I got married in October and hired Khadeja due to a friend's recommendation. At first, she was very…read morepolite and kind. After we booked her, however, things went radio silent. She had "other brides" she was tending to, and I understood. However, when my time did come, she dropped the ball on the following tasks: -communicating with my bridal/groom party in a timely and professional fashion -arranging the table numbers (many complaints from guests) -transporting my wedding portrait to the venue without hassling me -family pictures with bride & groom at reception -communicating with respect to stressed out family members (M.O.B & cousins) *and most importantly, failing to hire a back up assistant so she wasn't overwhelmed. Her assistant cancelled last minute, understandable. But this is where professionalism plays a big part. As a person who is not in the industry, even I know it is common sense to have someone on standby for such hiccups. She was accommodating to me when it came to my nerves, however that not the only thing I needed accommodations for. A little tip, a client never wants to see her Coordinator feeling bombarded or flustered. This experience was not worth our money.

Khadejah was essential in planning my wedding reception and I'm not sure how I could've done it…read morewithout her! I was planning my reception after moving across the country and Khadejah was helpful, responsive and had creative ideas to make my wedding unique and special. She has great attention to detail so everything came together beautifully. My event ran smoothly from start to finish and she took care of everything so I could have a stress-free night. I would definitely recommend her for any event.

Ara Farnam of Rock Paper Scissors provided day-of event styling for my restaurant wedding reception…read moreand she was terrific! A month before the wedding, we had a meeting with her and the restaurant owner for a tasting and to discuss the setup details. We were so happy she was there because she helped me understand the table setup logistics and she helped us choose the food we had served. Since I was on a budget, I purchased all of the decorations and set up the sample guest tables and welcome table on my dining room table at home, took pictures, and emailed them to her the week before the wedding. The morning of the reception, she arrived at the restaurant, received my decorations and floral arrangements from the messenger service and styled the room to perfection! It was amazing how calm I felt that morning because I knew Ara had the decorating covered. Ara is extremely talented, professional, and warm. She was there to greet me when I arrived at the restaurant and even put the boutonniere on my husband's suit jacket. She is definitely a great person to work with and I recommend her to anyone that needs any kind of event styling. She offers different event styling packages to suit different budgets. My wedding was a success thanks to Ara! Can't wait to work with her again!! Maybe for my anniversary party!

Ara and Paul are my go-to NYC event team - I will be hiring them again in the future. Worked with…read morethem in 2016 for a media event in Brooklyn; they were able to transform the site into a gorgeous space with amazing floral arrangements and great pricing. Definitely recommend!

Latanya and her team did a wonderful job of helping us have a beautiful celebration picnic for my…read moreson's engagement! We had to pivot when the weather in Central Park caused us to have to go indoors for our celebration. LuxxeDates provided a beautiful picnic with flowers and tasty treats galore. I highly recommend LuxxeDates to help turn any occasion into a special and memorable event. Thank you!