Category Archives: Event Design

Jun 04, 2019

We loved getting to be at the famous Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida for this blue and white beauty.  Our bride was girlie, and wanted lots of feminine touches like butterflies, patterns, and lush florals. So, Lettered Olive was really able to bring that in on the printing pieces… The save the date featured a photo and die cut edging.  The wedding welcome packet included a mixture of patterned backings envoking european tiles, and of course butterfly stamps!  Thank you to Christian Oth for the photographs.

Over the  top beach bags were the perfect wedding welcome gift. We stocked them with turkish towels in the color scheme, hand painted butterfly cookies by Sweet Guilt, and local taffy treats, and since the couple lives in Texas , chips and handmade salsa was a must…

Our bride donned bridal shoes from Louboutin, a custom gown by Mackenzie Brittingham at Stanley Korshak Bridal  in Dallas, TX, and florals by the Breakers wedding floral team… we of course sourced vintage ribbon and had her initials embroidered for her “something blue”.

A traditional ceremony was held at the groom’s childhood church. One little touch I love doing when the ceremony is offsite is to have a special decorated “just married” vehicle for the bride and groom to ride in alone to the reception.

Guests convened at the Breakers for cocktail hour in the courtyard, featuring several of our custom fabric covered bars, and oysters on the half shell served by Oysters XO. A garden style table covered in bright florals served as the escort card station… Die cut butterfly cards on garden stakes were handwritten with names and table numbers.

The dining room was set with a mixture of long and square tables topped with custom blue linen cloths, and alternating taller and smaller florals… miniature lamps and a sprinkling of candlelight added an old world ambiance.

A “sweet” dessert table featured a hand painted blue and white floral wedding cake by The Breakers, and the bride’s favorite French Macaroons.

After dinner, guests danced on a custom blue and white patterned dance floor, took vanity fair photos in front of the floral photo booth wall, and hit the after party until the wee hours in a separate party room in the hotel.

 

6.04.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Event Design, Flowers, Food and Drink, Photographers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

We are thrilled to finally be able to share more details from this elegant black tie affair we did in Kansas City.  It’s currently featured in the new The Knot, Missouri magazine.. and was gorgeously captured by Tec Petaja.  We came to know our bride’s family when doing a wedding for her cousin several years ago in Greenville, SC. We are so lucky we get to end up designing weddings for clients who are members of the same family, we are doing her cousin’s sister in law’s wedding coming up this fall!

Lettered Olive crafted the paper suite and accessories, which included a custom wedding crest, hand drawn illustrations, and subtle patterns used throughout.

We also did a killer wedding welcome bag for this event.  A camouflaged LL Bean boat bag included a “mini bar” guests could indulge in without needed to break into the hotels, cocktails, accouterments, snacks, and even a canvas “cure kit” with hangover or other ailment remedy recipes and supplies.

The bride chose an Oscar de le Renta gown- the Luvi, and classic Manolo bridal shoes; and our groom wore a Ralph Lauren Purple label tuxedo.  Florals in creams and pale pinks worked well with the bridesmaids’ neutral full length gowns. 

Following a ceremony at the bride’s childhood church, the couple greeted guests at their reception held at the historic Union Square station.

We set the escort card table at the entrance to cocktail hour so that guests would surely find their names before getting too far into the party.  Plus the oversized floral urn was a lovely greeting for guests.

Amongst passed hors d’eouvres and cocktails, Leon Lane’s Inspired Occasions set up a decadent seafood display including oysters on the half shell, crab claws, and a caviar display with everything you could imagine going with it. 

Delicate lounge seating and cocktail tables made for a lovely cocktail hour, meanwhile a baby grand piano was brought in and placed on it’s own stage for live background music.

In the dining room, we built a display for the father of the bride to display and serve his curated wine collection… Decanters with handwritten tags allowed guests to make their own pairings during dinner. This is one of my favorite features from this wedding. Love always getting to incorporate personal details, but luxury touches like this take special to the next level.

In addition to one of our favorite pretty touches, carpet was laid in the dining room to help with acoustics in the vast hall. Fabric curtains were also hung and live greenery draped the ceiling to soften what could be considered large cold room. Soft linen topped the combination of long and square tables.

Mini table lamps in addition to candles provided ambient lighting.  Low and lush florals filled the tables, and fresh greenery was a sweet accent for each place setting. Lettered Olive created leather bound menu booklets with each person’s name branded as place cards.

A sweet and simple cake was accented with fresh greenery, and placed in the dining room to be easily cut with a good view for all, but served in the lounge afterwards to get guests up and moving.

Different seating vignettes allowed guests lots of areas to steal away for conversation and rest from dancing (even though the floor stayed packed all night). The feeling was to bring the outside in using fresh trees and greenery, and the bar was covered in fabric featuring a woodland scene.

After the bride changed into a Halston Heritage jump suit, the party was in full swing… Late night food was served from a mock “food stall” and branded boxes added a cute decor moment for what can sometimes be old hat.

Streamer bombs went off as the couple made their departure… Late night fun was had by all at the after party. We loved our time in Kansas City and can’t wait for the next family affair.

5.29.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Dresses, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Flowers, Food and Drink, Photographers, Press, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

photo by A Bryan Photo 

We often see a lot of designs, posts, print spreads, and inspo boards on what to wear for your wedding day, but we don’t want to forget all of the fashion fun you can have for your rehearsal dinner.  Today, we are sharing just a few of our favorite rehearsal dinner looks for your shopping inspiration.  Above, one of our most “liked” looks comes from our bride who married at her parents… And, for her rehearsal dinner, she sported Brandon Maxwell pants, a Remy Brook top, and statement earrings. Loving the pant look, and hope more brides consider it…

photo by Tec Petaja

Speaking of a pant look, this bride (who is an interior designer) designed her own crop top/palazzo pant look and had it custom made for her. To add some personality and flip up the more bridal look that she was going to wear the next day, she sported some side braids…

photo by Corbin Gurkin

This beachy bride went for a pretty in pink look for the welcome party night of her wedding weekend. So into the pink dress idea, both for other parties and actual wedding days!

photo by Corbin Gurkin, Liz Banfield, Corbin Gurkin

Of course, the little white dress look is still a fave… Shorter, a different hemline, or profile are what many brides are opting for.

photo by Lauren Bailey Photo

Of course, not to forget the gentlemen, a recent article in the New York Times discussed the trend of getting away from traditional tuxedos. We love to see a different look, and one of the most popular for us due to our Southern and coastal locations, is a white dinner jacket.

photos by Elizabeth Messina and Corbin Gurkin

Navy tuxedos with varying styles of bowties are a big hit right now. We like this look for a groom who may be a little nervous to step too far out of the box, and navy is so classic it works for all seasons and locations.  And, ditching a tuxedo all together for shades of grey suits is a great look also… Happy dressing and happy weddings!

4.30.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Rehearsal Dinner, Shopping, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>