Category Archives: Event Design

One part of the design process I most enjoy is personalizing the details of the wedding.. I love getting to know my clients and the things they love, the common interests they share, the places they have lived or travel.  All give me inspiration on how we can find small ways to make those into details- sometimes even surprises for the couples.

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For this client we created a custom monogram with Lettered Olive to use throughout on printed items.

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The bride’s family had a custom of having matchbooks printed with their photos.

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We always like to do surprise details for the couple.

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The bride’s hometown has a store that is famous for chocolate covered cookies that many people have as favors for their weddings. So we had them wrapped in her wedding cookies and created monogramed stickers for the packaging.

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For this couple’s Oklahoma City wedding, we personalized the welcome bag full of local hometown tidbits and gifts for the guests as well as the bride and groom’s favorite treats.

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It was hugely important to this couple to incorporate their Australian Shepards somewhow. We knew that there would be plenty of cake leftover so we created “doggie” bags for guests to take home with outtakes from the couples’ engagement shoot.

Black Rock Racing; Lestor Prairie, MN

This couple was marrying under an antique Oak tree, so Lettered Olive created this image which we used on the cocktail napkins, ceremony programs, invitations, and dinner menus.

Black Rock Racing; Lestor Prairie, MN

We custom printed sleeves for the getaway sparklers out of the same paper and pattern used throughout the wedding with a sweet little wish for the couple.

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For a couple that loved wine (the groom was a collector) we set up a wine bar using bottles from his personal collection as well as finding a bottle that he wanted to add to his collection and had all of the wedding guests sign it in lieu of the guest book.

6.22.15   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Gifts, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Weddings | 1 Comment
Jun 16, 2015

Margot Shaw, Editor in Chief of Flower Magazine (click here for a special free trial)  has been a great friend and supporter of mine for many years. We quite enjoy her and the magazine, as well as Margot’s Southern sensibility. Get to know her a little more and see pics from our last wedding featured in Flower.

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Favorite drink before noon?

I am a coffee lover, so anything java related, preferably a large cup of strong coffee with lots of milk and a bit of sweetener.

Favorite drink at 6pm?

After a long day at “flower”, I reach for Dasani lime flavored sparkling water or some decaf green or chamomile tea.

Hors d’oeuvre that is always in the cabinet or fridge?

I always have and serve cheese straws, and roasted rosemary pecans – If people are tiring of these, I haven’t heard about it.

Music go to when friends are over…. i.e. Pandora station?

I have a play list that starts with mellow jazzy stuff like “Girl from Ipanema” and

Oscar Peterson and ends the night with Stevie Winwood “Roll with It” in case

folks have moved into a dancin’ mood.

Where would you like to go on vacation?

I would like to vacation on the Amalfi Coast, but would like to tour Portugal – it’s VERY floral and I’ve never been.

Favorite flower?

My favorite flower right now is the poppy – hard to grow where I live, but so sassy and sculptural – just a few, doing what they want make my day.

Dream guest to have over for dinner?

Elizabeth I – such a brilliant, complicated woman who managed to navigate very tricky waters throughout her rule. She’s been portrayed by everyone from Betty Davis to Cate Blanchett and I’ve read several biographies. But I’d like to know the real her.

Favorite restaurant? 

May I have 2?  1.Bottega in Birmingham –

And favorite thing to eat at this restaurant?

the Parmesan soufflé is still my favorite indulgence

2.Hot and Hot Fish Club also in Birmingham

And favorite thing to eat at this restaurant ?

Tomato salad- it’s got a succotash thing going with fresh silver queen corn, fried

okra and smoked bacon. Make you walk sideways.

Our San Antonio, Texas wedding was graciously featured in their annual wedding issue…

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Flower girls looked garden fresh from head to toe wearing rose crowns, and petals in the hems of their dresses.

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Pews were decorated with greenery, roses, and ribbon above lanterns filled with rose petals and candlelight.

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Tables covered in pale-pink sequined linens were dotted with elegant arrangements of roses, ranunculus, dahlias, and hydrangeas.

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With four layers of roses between five tiers of cake, the wedding cake was almost too pretty to eat.

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The vintage getaway car was decked with masses of roses.

6.16.15   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Cakes, Event Design, Event Planning, Events, Flowers, Press, Reception, Spotted!, Weddings | 1 Comment
Jun 12, 2015

Last week I missed my connection flight from our site visit in Aspen and ended up stuck in Chicago. It ended up being a lovely little layover, even though I terribly missed my children!

Chicago building

This is amazing, that whole side of the building is just a mural painting!

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Dinner at Trenchermen. It was beautiful and sooooo good!

Trenchermen menu

The wine list at Trenchermen are in beautiful handmade leather bound books. Want to do this for a wedding dinner!

Trenchermen Scallops

Had their Scallops, so yummy.

Trenchermen wine wall

Love this look- inspiration for a wine cellar or kitchen area for bottle storage. Would be lovely behind a bar at event too!

public lobby

Stayed at Public. This is the entryway which again has me inspired for some wedding decor. I love Ian Schrager hotels, he’s a genius!

public chair

Loved seeing this in my room… I have a chair in my New York office with a sheepskin draped over it, so made me feel a little at home.

lake michigan

View of Lake Michigan. Funny, it’s 90 degrees here in Charleston, yet this still looks almost wintery to me.

Brownstone 1

Was so surprised by the gorgeous Brownstones. Im so used to seeing them in New York, but they were equally lovely here.

Brownstone 2

Brownstone 3

6.12.15   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Event Design, Events, Food and Drink, Interior Design, Travel, Uncategorized | Comments >>