Category Archives: Parties

Jun 13, 2017

When designing a party or wedding, we try to think through not only the design of the actual wedding, flowers, tent, etc. but also of course the food and drink! Visually how things are presented to us here affect the entire experience, and we are big fan of dressing up our passing trays and our display stations. One of our signature elements are our tray liners. Sometimes a custom monogram, or a pattern used in the wedding printings, we print a mix of complimentary designs to line our passing trays with. Enjoy our video that shows you some tips on how you can do this at your next party. And, to see the entire episode, head over to our You Tube channel. New episode coming soon!

photo by Liz Banfield; paper design by Lettered Olive

photo by Corbin Gurkin

Another trick that is easy and affordable is to use leaves that have been washed and dried out of your garden or from a local flower shop… Anything to not use old school lace paper doilies.

6.13.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Food and Drink, Parties, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

May 09, 2017

What’s Old Is New

photo by Corbin Gurkin

We loved sharing our tips on mixing old and new for your tabletops with Architectural Digest. So, today we’re also passing on some more of these tips to you. Above, complimentary patterns are at play here- mixing older or more recognizable patterns like the blue and white toile plates with fresher or more modern patterns like on the linen fabric. And, adding a lamp or overhead light in combination with candles adds a completely unexpected touch.

photo by Liz Banfield

Ways to mix on a more simple and refined level are by letting one or two items provide the depth of the design and then balancing with lighter looks. Here, the modern gold flatware seems a bit heavier and the flowers provide a rich color and texture focal point, so mixing in delicate crystal and china here was key.

photo by Corbin Gurkin

Playing off of our Arch Digest quote of mixing shiny with not so shiny, bright and not bright, we set this table with an eclectic mix. A rustic concrete urn with natural succulents provides a great balance to the shine of the modern gold bowls and flatware. I really like mixing rustic with glamorous or using materials that can be both like suedes and leathers, and stones like marble and agate.

5.09.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Interior Design, Parties, Press, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

May 02, 2017

Leaving Your Mark

Of course, when you get married you want it to be the best day of your life. And, you want your guests to have an amazing time that they will be talking about for years. Our job as a planner and designer is to suggest a flow of both the timeline and space so that everything works and has maximum impact. But, there are also very easy ways to leave your mark with little details- here starting with your printed materials. Lettered Olive started by combining all elements of design for us to pull out and use throughout the wedding decor- lace pattern from the brides’ dress, a custom monogram (this is what we really focused on as you will see), the color palette, and scenery from the wedding venue.

Coordinating the presentation and items in your wedding guest welcome bags is a great way to brand your wedding and leave guests with lasting takeaways. Baseball hats and frosted cups (everyone loves a frosted cup!) emblazoned with the couple’s monogram were treasured treats. Even the snacks and information were branded by stickers carrying the colors and monogram.

To formalize the monogram in places like the ceremony and wedding dinner, the monogram received a formal border and was changed to a more neutral color.

Guests love sitting down to a beautiful setting… This is always a great area to bring in pretty design pieces. The bordered monogram and calligraphy used in the early printed items are brought back on the menus.

It’s easy to loose sight of places to brand your self later into the event, but printing pillows or fabric to use as a photo booth backdrop, etc is easy on websites like Spoonflower. Or at For Your Party.com print cocktail napkins or drink stirrers with a simple element to have at the bar. Favors and send offs are other areas to consider- we’ve printed custom lighters or matches for a sparkler send off. All photos by Corbin Gurkin.

5.02.17 | TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Parties, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>