Category Archives: Event Planning

Dec 13, 2017

One of the most stunning winter weddings I can remember is this celebration from 2013 in Oklahoma City. 525 people for a sparkling silver and gold, glamorous, personalized over the top New Year’s party. There are so many details I want to share from this wedding it was hard to chose our favorites. Liz Banfield was there with us to capture all of the twinkling tidbits.

The bridesmaids sparkled in two piece silver sequined tops and ballgown skirt ensembles from Synderela. Our friend, Julie Sabatino with The Stylish Bride, worked with the bride and designer to develop the custom creations.

The Brides’ childhood church was the perfect ceremony backdrop. We added our own special touches to their already lovely Christmas decorations, which included lush eucalyptus garlands, spruce wreaths, and glowing candle cylinders covered in custom laser cut metallic paper.

One of the most stunning ceremonies I’ve seen, after the processional, the lights were dimmed and the rest of the ceremony was held by candlelight. Truly magical and you could feel the love in the room!

Wow, did Lettered Olive get to have fun and create some spectacular design for the wedding papers. Gold metallic foil printing, laser cut papers, velvet finishes, and a pop up skyline were just a few of the details. We love the way the bride wrote her name along with the grooms, so we used her signature as a detail throughout too just to personalize it even more.

These guest welcome bags truly showered the guests traveling from afar and celebrating with them over a holiday weekend. A custom candle with printed matches, custom letterpress coasters and Veuve Clicquot splits, waters, favorite snacks and candies from the couple, and an “emergency” kit left the guests with everything they could need for a comfy stay.

Guests were greeted with a glowing welcome to the reception, where the exterior of the private club was covered in the wintry candle cylinders.

The finest details were not spared for this event. White gloved servers donning aprons in the couples’ custom monogram (and custom bowties) received guests with an array of offerings including Manhattans (where the couple reside) and Champagne.

The cocktail lounge was a sight to behold. Suede covered loungers with orchid “chandeliers” offered guests a place to gather, and the escort cards were mini versions of the paper covered cylinders with the names caligraphied on them, and displayed together on shelves for a statement wall!

The dining room shone in silver and gold. Lamplight and candlelight came together to create the most perfect ambient dinner experience, and while there were over 500 guests, it still managed to feel somewhat intimate!

Tables alternated complimenting pewter sequined linens topped with oversized clear crystal candelsticks and ones topped with soft silver suede and crystal lamps. All of the menus were backed in a gold laser cut velvet and place cards were gold name plates affixed to the letterpressed menus.

Two of my favorite little dinner details were the bride and groom chairs- embroidered with the handwritten names; and the first course soup served in these stunning gold bowls- fabulous!

A spectacular 8 tier cake with handmade flowers by Fancy Cakes by Lauren out of Dallas, Texas.

The couple share their first dance as husband and wife on a dance floor covered with their custom “fireworks” design.

This uber glam reception lounge provided the perfect pad for ringing in the New Year. The copper topped bar we built on site, and I always find the glassware to be an awful site, but we built a display for it, and it became a lovely backdrop.

The going away favors were a lovely packaged snack mix that included roasted dried black eyed peas- a traditional food said to bring luck to those who eat it on New Year’s day.

If there was ever a perfect time for a sparkler send off and fireworks at a wedding, it’s on New Year’s. The couple drove off into the night as coordinated “sparklers” popped as they drove by in their vintage convertible. Happy New Year to all!

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

Dec 06, 2017

A Winter’s Wedding

This is one of my favorite weddings to share this time of year. It’s been 7 years since we traveled to Arkansas to do the December wedding for this couple. While the groom was running for public office, the bride was in her second year of law school and planning her wedding! She was graceful under pressure and both she and her family were a joy to work with. We planned this grand fete in under 6 months and with only one site visit. This dress still shines as a favorite. We were with her when she tried it on for the first time and you could just see how it was truly the one for her- a perfectly pleated silk faille Carolina Herrera masterpiece, paired with a vintage fur wrap for the chillier moments.

Influenced by classic blue and white china, complimentary patterns were paired together throughout the printed pieces. Lettered Olive designed a custom monogram featuring a lion head door knocker, that the bride wanted to incorporate throughout. We had custom velvet shoe bags made to use as the guest welcome bags. Full of champagne, local sparkling water, and snacks, guests had everything they would need for a pre wedding celebration.

Pieces of the perfect blue and white fabric we found to use throughout the wedding decor, made the perfect bouquet wrap. The bride’s dress had a row of covered buttons, so we added that little detail for her on her flowers. Simple all white flowers (peonies and roses) were just the thing for this winter wedding.

The reception took place at Marlsgate Plantation just outside of Little Rock. The couple did do a “first sight” at the plantation house before the ceremony. This worked so well for this event, since the sun sets a bit earlier this time of year. Liz Banfield was also able to steal the couple away to capture some amazing private moments before the sunset.

We scored a vintage lion’s head door knocker while out sourcing that we knew we had to snag to use somewhere- like the fabric covered escort card and “sign in” board.

Shades of blue in the ceiling upped the look of the all white dining room. Antique wrought iron chandeliers with pillar candles became amazing statement pieces.

Special little touches like golden pillar candles, white velvet linens lined with thick blue piping, and lush white carpeting made for a warm, glowing, and breathtaking dining room. the letterpressed menus by Lettered Olive mimicked the fold out cards from the save the dates. Noted with the lions head monogram and calligraphied with each guest’s name at the place setting, the pull out menu pieces had guests keeping them all as take homes!

The 5 tier cake was hand painted with each different pattern used throughout the wedding printing and decor and was the centerpiece of the dining room.

A 40 foot bar covered in the blue and white damask fabric anchored the lounge tent with shelving to create a focal point for the blue votives.

To give guests a different feel for dancing, we darkened up the lounge with navy blue and gold tones.

Rice produced by the bride’s family’s business was packaged in custom stamped muslin pouches to toss during the couple’s getaway…Wishing our bride and groom the happiest of anniversaries.

12.06.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Flowers, Photographers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Weddings | Comments >>

Dec 05, 2017

DIY Dinner Table

Today, we are sharing a very easy and affordable way to turn your tabletop into holiday perfection. It’s so easy we were able to whip this up in our office before a little holiday Soiree lunch. We used things readily available, and often lying around. This time of year when decorating at home or the office, I’ve found that I often have to trim bottom branches of the tree, or pieces fall off the pine garlands. Taking these and doing something different with them instead of tossing them is what inspired this idea!

My kids love pears, so we always have them around the house. So, we took pears, and the extra tree trimmings and spray painted them gold. Of course, Copper (our new favorite metallic), rose gold, or silver would all be lovely as well. I took the color inspiration from the plates I wanted to use, so if you’re stuck making that decision, look there for an idea (or a napkin, table linen, or whatnot).

While you may not favor them for everyday table use, colored candles can be an easy way to add an out of the ordinary pop of color. I’ve been seeing them more and more at local gift store, etc, but our favorite source for them is Creative Candles.

The rest is up to your imagination to play… We took a very small dish for stacking our centerpiece, but a large clear bowl, or something with embellishments would all be really lovely. I always like mixing candles- votives with tapers, etc to fill up the table, use enough so that a bright overhead light isn’t necessary.

And, of course, there are so so many ways to embellish or “juge” up each place setting. I always find that this is one of the main ways at our weddings that makes guests feel special. Seeing their name written in a special way, or on a unique item (a leaf, a stone, or maybe even a ribbon used to tie the napkins). These looked great mixed on the table, and were straight from the yard- a simple camelilia bloom, or a sprig of your favorite greenery.

We’d love to see some of your favorite tabletop designs, share with us some of the ones you were proud of, or loved creating.

12.05.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Interior Design, Parties | Comments >>