Category Archives: Entertaining

Sep 06, 2016

Mountains

Here we are transitioning out of summer into the Fall wedding season. In many locales, the fall season by way of calendar starts before temperatures do. For an early fall wedding in Colorado, we created a guest welcome bag that used items with a seasonal feel that but that friends and family could transition throughout the year.

Guest bag

Guest bag Collage

His and her S’well bottles in a wood grain look like fall but are perfect for year round, E.R. kits in canvas pouches offered guests everything needed to enjoy their mountain surroundings, and how cute are these custom embroidered fly fishing hats?

Colorado river

All Photos by Corbin Gurkin

9.06.16   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Planning, Photographers, Shopping, Travel, Weddings | Comments >>

Bride and groom portrait

This wedding wednesday brings us to Part 2 of our Sea Island, Ga wedding recently featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. Thank you to Liz Banfield for all of the pretty pictures!

Place card Collage

The venue itself is full of pretty scenery and architecture we really wanted to incorporate into the design elements. During cocktail hour, guests picked up their escort cards at a table anchored by a  simple but lush floral arrangement. Escort cards are held in place by pieces Georgia granite.

little centerpiece

During cocktail hour, guests could take a seat and enjoy conversation at quaint little seating arrangements.

Dinner tent overall

The dinner tent was swathed in blue fabric, reminiscent of the traditional porch ceilings in the South.  To bring the natural feel of the overall wedding design to the tent, trees were “planted” throughout and created a wall between dinner and the dancing portion of the tent.

Dinner Collage

Guests dined under strands of orchids accented by candlelight. Taking a note from the centerpieces, fern fronds decorated each place setting… Modern brass flatware keeps the table elegant but not fussy.

tree in tent

Cake Collage

wedding cake

The wedding cake by Jim Smeal included intricate patterns similar to the windows at the Chapel where the couple were married. The hand made icing flowers add that feminine frill just perfect for a wedding cake.

Bride and groom first dance

The couple takes the floor for their first dance as husband and wife.

Cocktail bar

Ok, now this is one of my most favorite things we’ve ever done!  We created a half moon cocktail bar with copper tops. Then, we had Spoonflower print fabric with the brides’ favorite painting from the St. Regis bar in New York.  I mean…

Nighttime Collage

Landscape lighting sets a moody tone for guests dining and dancing into the wee hours. To announce the bride and groom’s departure, a Dixie jazz band paraded everyone out to the front of the venue for the send off.

B&W couple

After a quick change in to a departure dress by Anaesia, guests tossed rose petals at the bride and groom…

Car Collage

A vintage convertible decorated with lush greenery made for a one of kind getaway..

8.17.16   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Cakes, Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Aug 16, 2016

Kerr-centerpiece_blog

photo by Liz Banfield

A big thank you to one of our favorite design supply companies, Jamali Garden for featuring us on their blog in their Designer Spotlight series. We have been using many of Jamali’s products at our weddings and events for years and years, so today, I’m sharing some of our favorite products and tips on customizing them to your event.  For the centerpieces above, we used their Antique Black Oval Urns and spray painted them gold!

Hull Umbrella

photo by Liz Banfield

To hide the bars and inner workings on garden umbrellas, we cover with a bevy of flowers (by wiring in some oasis cages), and hang votive style lanterns like these from Jamali.

Frog Collage

photos by Liz Banfield

These handy dandy gadgets, called Frogs, can be hard to find, and we use them for so many things. Often times we cover them with flowers, moss, shells, or any other design element from the current event, and use them on trays to hold the food and drink signage. Or, when using a smaller flower vessel, they hold the stems in place. They have been invaluable to us over the years.

Vickers table boxes

photo by Adrienne Page

For long continuous dining tables, we love the look of longer flower vases… Jamali has numerous choices, but these stained wooden window boxes were just perfect.

Rice centerpiece and candles

photo by Liz Banfield

I love these iridescent votive candle holders… they are on sale right now on Jamaligarden.com. The glass is super delicate and versatile enough to work with any decor, but when used en masse, they can also make a bold statement.  But, one trick I must reiterate- please make sure you use the votive candles with the clear glass bottoms, and not the metal dishes!  It makes for such a more polished look when using clear votive holders.

photo by Gayle Brooker

For a very simple, affordable, but still elegant and formal centerpiece idea- buy phalenopsis orchids from a local wholesale florist (or even Trader Joe’s usually has lovely ones) and put in some of Jamali’s mossed pots!

8.16.16   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Parties, Press, Reception, Rehearsal Dinner, Shopping, Weddings | Comments >>