Category Archives: Event Planning

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

This couple was such a joy as you can see shining through from their photos. We planned this wedding weekend (New Year’s Eve rehearsal dinner, New Year’s Day wedding) at Marlsgate Plantation in Arkansas from afar with only one site visit. Oh, and the groom was running for political office, the bride on the campaign trail with him and finishing up law school. Of course it all came together and couldn’t have been more perfect. Liz Banfield photographed this fete for us. Lettered Olive did all of the pretty papers.

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

6099.10.2011.02.©LizBanfield

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

Linda (Hoigaards Employee)

6.10.15   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Cakes, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Parties, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Weddings | Comments >>
Jun 09, 2015

Last year we did a feature for Trad Home on how to style a holiday table, but there are so many tips here that will translate to any summer dinner party! All using items you can pull from around your home and easy how to’s! Photos by Corbin Gurkin.

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Finding enough seats to accomodate all of your guests may be a challenge, so don’t be afraid to mix seats.. Benches, upholstered chairs, dining room chairs, etc. can all work together. Also, scour your home for items that could be used for eclectic decor- using small stacks of books and placing candlesticks on them, using compote dishes or juice glasses, or emptying different bowls laying around can add variety and dimension.

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Also, placing varying serving dishes with nuts, olives, fresh summer berries add to the decor and also offer different appetizers without having to offer a formal course.

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Handwritten menus are such an easy way to amp it up for your guests. You can even find mixed materials to write on- these copper sheets came from Lowe’s, but you could use different picture frames (write on the glass), old stationary or wrapping papers. Use a fine tip Sharpie, which also comes in plenty of colors!

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Here in Charleston we have access to many shells, specifically Oyster shells. We used oyster shells to create salt and pepper wells, and then raided our serving collections. Any shells with a bowl component would work obviously.

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If you are dining outside and have added lighting, extra cords can be unsightly. Find greenery or vines that you can attach to the cords to camouflage them.

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Of course we would be remiss if we didn’t discuss setting up a bar for your guests. Make sure you have a selection of everything along with the appropriate glasses,  in case someone only drinks wine, or only drink scotch.  It also takes a load off of you as a host for guests to easily be able to serve themselves.

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If you don’t have decanters for everything (btw- they are often available for a fraction at antique stores), using glass pitchers, wine decanters, or lovely old bottles can work just as well. Be sure to let your guests know which is in each container again with handwritten signage.

6.09.15   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Parties, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers | Comments >>