Category Archives: Entertaining

Sep 11, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians is breaking box office records worldwide (if you haven’t seen it, it’s fantastic), and with it’s fabulously over the top wedding scenes, it got me thinking about all of the ways we have used an Asian flair in our designs. It can be a very strong theme in printing. For one our recent weddings, the rehearsal dinner was taking place in a meditation garden, so watercolor bamboo made for pretty envelope liners.

photo by Liz Banfield

We don’t back away from our chance to use orchids (of any variety) in our flower works. A colorful mix of Phalenopsis orchids made a vibrant centerpiece for an escort card table. We also use the dendrobium orchid variety as a garnish in champagne glasses… photos 1&2 by Liz Banfield

Of course, food is an obvious place where couples can incorporate their favorite Asian dishes. To put a more formal twist on a sushi station, Sushi chefs prepared fresh rolls for guests, and plated them with chopsticks making it easier for guests to enjoy. And for a couple of weddings with Asian stations, pre setting the dish in take out containers with chopsticks made it super easy for guests to grab and go (cutting down on lines) and adding a decor moment. photos by Corbin Gurkin

We also had a recent groom who loved loved loved Chinese food, so his groom’s cake was a larger than life to go container with fortune cookies and sweet fortunes on top… Cake by Jim Smeal

photos by Liz Banfield

We have had many a wedding where saturated hues and asian flair was blended into the decor… Red has long long standing roots of meaning good luck and fortune in Chinese lore. Whether from lanterns, to red florals, to interior design elements like furniture and textiles we have woven the feel into these weddings yet without it feeling too “themey”.

photo by Liz Banfield

And of course, sending guests off with something “to go” is a fun last thought and easy detail if you don’t want to go overboard.

9.11.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Sep 10, 2018

Lela Rose Pop Up

Come by our new office on Queen Street for a pop up shop from Lela Rose’s Pearl line… Our friends from New York are coming down to debut their line in Charleston… We hear there will even be a match your margarita to your dress bar! Come shop with us next week. And, we are sharing details from the last time Lela Rose was in Charleston for a book signing brunch we hosted at my Charleston home.
taraweddingweeklelabrunch-48

We loved having Lela Rose in town for Charleston Wedding Week. I’m a big fan of her designs, and she’s a fellow Southerner! In order to celebrate the release of her new book- Pret-A-Party we decided to throw a Biscuits, Bloodys, and Book Signing party in her honor. Love having Friday a.m. parties now, going to make it my new thing!

Perfect for a ladies’ brunch, little Callie’s Biscuits in a variety of flavors- ham, jam, and cinnamon.

We set up a Do-It-Yourself Bloody Mary bar with every addition you could think of- peppers, pickled okra, shrimp skewers, even bacon slices. For those needing to go back to work we had a juice bar with fruit and veg garnishes as well. Just putting in simple containers with nice signage makes for a lovely focal point.

9.10.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Announcements, Books, Charleston, Entertaining, Event Planning, Events, Fashion, Flowers, Food and Drink, Gifts, New York, Parties, Shopping | 1 Comment

Aug 21, 2018

Raising the Bar

photo by Corbin Gurkin

We’ve recently been getting several questions and comments on our bars that we build and style, so I thought sharing a post with tips and suggestions would be a great post for Tip Tuesday. The first tip I can start with would be to keep the top of the bar clear and clutter free… Meaning, no plastic straws, cut fruit/garnishes, and the bottles of every brand and type of liquor you are serving. The tables supporting the tops of the bars are the perfect place to stash all of these necessities.

photo by Liz Banfield

One of our client’s favorite design elements are our fabric covered bars. It’s a great way to take a be space that is less than pretty and make it pop with pretty. It also provides a great area to bring in a design element used elsewhere in the event design. Spoonflower is a great resource for printing fabric (or wallpaper which you could also use). We have used a variety of different materials for toppers too- marble remnants, butcher block, copper sheeting, even inexpensive laminate.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

Another design idea that has given our bars major wow factor, is using natural elements en masse. Chopped wood gives a luxurious fall backdrop, and greenery simply stapled on the base covers the bar with affordable glamour. We have even used a tree that was blown over in a recent hurricane to jazz up a rehearsal dinner bar space!

photo by Corbin Gurkin

For an outdoor bar, using two interior lamps changes the feel of the bar instantly. Anchoring the top with lamps (hello, TJMaxx) offers the perfect lighting solution with a glamorous glow all night.

photo by Liz Banfield

If you don’t have the manpower to construct the bars on your own, but have access to a good party rental company, they can be a great resource. These two half moon bars from Snyder Event Rentals put together give a space big enough to serve hundreds. They are formal, sophisticated and EASY. I’ve even seen patterned paper or fabric put in the squares for added design.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

I’m a big fan of bookshelves housing the rental glassware, votives, and signage decluttering the serving area, and offering guests a nice visual.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

For easy bar styling at home, arrange a buffet, console table, or dining table in an area away from the food to avoid crowding. Trays gathered from around your home (or home decor store) can be used to display pretty bottles, cocktail napkins, and bowls of cut fruit or garnish. We used washable dry erase markers to display handwritten beverage options and signature drinks on a framed mirror- EASY, inexpensive and clever!

photo by Gayle Brooker

Decant your wine collection, and display them with handwritten tags for a self serve wine bar. I love this especially for your holiday get togethers.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

A simple linen and embroidered fabric swatch (which is so easy to have made) along with a table lamp give a home made bar a custom and tailored look.

8.21.18 | TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Parties, Photographers, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>