Product Description

DESCRIPTION: David Tutera is a highly regarded event designer whose clients have included Jennifer Lopez, Elton John, Barbara Walters, and the Rolling Stones. He is also the host of the Discovery Channel's hit one-hour show, the Party Planner with David Tutera, in which Tutera lends his expertise on how to throw unforgettable birthday parties on everyday budgets. Each chapter of BIG BIRTHDAYS covers a party by focusing on the look, the scent, the touch, the taste, and the sound of the celebration. There is a party for every milestone from age 1 through 100, including a father/son fishing party for a 5-year-old, a "turning-over-a-new-leaf" party for a 40th birthday, and a safari send-off for a 65th birthday. The parties are set in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations, such as a nightclub and an apple orchard. Featured are food menus, cocktail recipes, how-to's for simple projects, and 100 "Tutera Tips" for décor, invitations, entertainment, place cards, table settings, floral arrangements, and party favors. Tutera brings a fresh, original twist to birthday parties while honoring individual tastes and personal touches.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #335619 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

From Publishers Weekly
A party planner to the stars, Tutera presents a semi–how-to entertaining book with guides for celebrating 10 landmark birthdays: the first, fifth, 16th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 65th, 75th and 100th. Each chapter includes notes and ideas in a variety of categories, which change from chapter to chapter but generally include such entries as "the look," "the texture," "the taste" and "the sound." The 200 color photographs are lush and appealing; the prose is tinged with fabulousness. Many suggestions are fleshed out with step-by-step instructions (e.g., a personalized baby blanket and whitewashed farm tables), but most readers would be better served with more practical information, such as recipes for more recommended menu items—of which there aren't many in this volume. However, Tutera (The Party Planner; A Passion for Parties) includes many recipes for cocktails, such as Lunar Lemon Quencher and Blazing Red Martini, and they're fun, inventive and easy to follow. Even if several—or most—aspects of these parties are over-the-top and often unrealistic, the book is gorgeous and inspiring for anyone hoping to throw unforgettable bashes. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
'The book is gorgeous and inspiring for anyone hoping to throw unforgettable bashes' - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

About the Author
AUTHORBIO: David Tutera has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, E!, and the Style Network. His work has also been featured in such publications as the New York Times, USA TODAY, The Times (London), The Wall Street Journal, InTouch, and Town & Country.

Customer Reviews

The Small Things
When I decided I was going to throw a dinner party, I went online to find a party planning book and when I came across Big Birthdays by David Tutera I went right out and bought it.
It gave me great ideas for how to set up the table arrangements at a low cost and what dishes to serve. Some of the ideas that I used were so simple and were a huge hit with my guests like the Spin Art Invitation and the Spools of Thread Seating Cards.
When planning any party it always seems to be the small things that WOW the guests and if you need some ideas for those small things then this book is perfect for you.
I also have to say that I loved the layout of this book. It was divided into several different parties and each party was then divided into sub categories including; The Look, The Texture, The Taste, The Scent, and The Sound. These categories after all are what truly makes the atmosphere of any party great and having it broken down made planning for my own party that much easier.
Big Birthdays had great pictures and easy directions that helped me, so I recommend this to anyone that is in need of some help in order to plan a birthday party, anniversary, or even a small dinner party.

a MUST read
Having a summer birthday has never been much fun, it somehow always goes uncelebrated. This year I was inspired to throw my own festivities. What was supposed to be a quick search for party ideas turned into a total body experience after delving into David Tutera's book Big Birthdays. In his book he executed and fabulously captured five birthday parties exploring the five senses (look, scent, texture, sound and taste) through each event. His tips ('Tutera Tips') were the most helpful; it was almost as if he could hear my questions and answer my thoughts concerning each party scenario. After my celebration they will have to reprint the book, Tutera's ideas were truly an inspiration. This book is a must-have for any status of event planner.

Highly Recommended
This year my grandmother ceebrated her 80th birthday, and with that, I wanted to surprise her with an elgant dinner party for some of her closest family and friends. Having never embarked on such a thing before, I set out to Amazon to find a book that would help me from beginning to end. David Tutera's latest book, Big Birthdays, gave me many great ideas. I immediately fell in love with the sophisticated White-On-White dinner party. The instructions and focus on details allowed me to easily recreate the atmosphere and ultimately throw a spectacular party!! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to host such an event and will definately look to David Tutera in the future for inspiration for another great get together!