Category Archives: Parties

Paperwhite centerpiece/Tara Guerard/Corbin Gurkin

I love having simple blooms throughout the house during the holidays. These paperwhites are a favorite and can make a great centerpiece or focal point for entry tables, buffets, mantles, bar tables, and more. They typically take about 4 weeks to bloom, so we’re showing you how so that they are good and ready for your holiday home. Thank you to Corbin Gurkin for the photos.

Paperwhite centerpiece/Tara Guerard/Corbin Gurkin

Gather your supplies- You’ll need a container of some kind, make sure it’s something fairly sturdy or solid that can hold the weight. I like to use these black river rocks to anchor the bulbs and give the roots something to grow around- but you could use anything you may have or what’s available at the craft store (glass beads, granite rocks or pea gravel). The plants can topple a bit once they start growing, so the anchors are key. And, I do polish off the top with some moss to hide all of the parts.

Paper white centerpiece/tara guerard soiree/ corbin gurkin

Set your “anchors” in the bowl or vessel you have chosen and arrange as many bulbs as will fit on top of the anchors with the sprout opening facing upwards. Be sure to give it a good watering, but only until the water reached right below the base of the bulb. If the bulbs sits in water for long they can rot. Check water levels frequently, and water when water gets about an inch below the rocks. Be sure to keep the planting in a cool darker place out of direct sunlight.

Paperwhite centerpiece Tara Guerard/ Corbin Gurkin

Finally, cover with the moss to hide the bulbs, rocks, and roots. They should take take root within about 3 weeks at which point they should moved to where they can get sunlight. Viola!  I find that a centerpiece is often forgotten when you are hosting as you are setting tables, grocery shopping and preparing food, and hosting your guests. This is something you can do now and set and forget! Or, that’s always something you can ask and offering guest to bring instead of a bottle of something.  Happy Holidays!

11.28.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Etiquette, Flowers, Gifts, Parties, Uncategorized | Comments >>

We hope you enjoyed our wedding Wednesday post on Gaby and Ward’s super glam Kiawah Island wedding last week.  Today, we’re sharing a quick post on their rehearsal dinner because I think it’s always fun to see how the whole weekend comes together in photos.  Thank you again to Corbin Gurkin for the sweet images.

Gaby and Ward welcomed friends and family at the Ocean Room at Kiawah Island for their simple supper. The rooms itself lends itself more to the masculine feel, which works out since the rehearsal dinner is typically hosted by the groom’s family. But of course, we have to make sure the bride is happy too! Hence, the mixing of dark grays and browns, textures, and the pop of pink flowers.

One long table was the perfect way to set the tone for the blending of families…

The menu cards were flipped over and hand printed with each name doubling as place cards… Love this easy space and cost saving detail. And, you know how I love to adorn napkins… simple ribbons with a camelia tucked in made a pretty detail.

A sweet and attentive groom takes care of his bride’s tears, due to her father’s toast.

Brides, it’s so great to have your wedding photographer on hand friday night as well, because you can get some lovely photos together before the big day… Love it.

11.27.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Parties, Rehearsal Dinner, Uncategorized | Comments >>

For this episode of Life Is a Party, we visit our friend and former Mother of the Bride, Anne Hutson whom we have known for such a long time. Anne invited us into her home in the small waterside village of Rockville, SC. She makes the best cheese wafers you have ever tasted and we use them all the time for our guest bags, or for favors, etc. We hope you enjoy and will head over to our YouTube channel to see the full episode.

9.26.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Entertaining, Food and Drink, Gifts, Parties, Recipes, Videos, Weddings | Comments >>