Category Archives: Parties

Sep 26, 2016

Happy Monday! Here is a roundup for some upcoming events in Charleston and nearby that we are excited about! First up is the Party for the Parks. This is always a good time! This circus-sized event features a live auction, open bars and cocktail stations, circus treats provided by top local restaurants, thrilling performances, live music–including local band, Sol Driven Train, a menagerie of eccentric entertainers, and much, much more! All proceeds from this event directly benefit the mission of the Charleston Parks Conservancy in over 25 public parks. Click here for tickets.

The Preservation Society’s annual Fall Home Tours start Oct 6th – 30th. You can learn more and purchase tickets through their website.

Charleston’s thriving artist community is producing so much young talent, which means there are so many shows and galleries popping up… Here is one we’re excited to check out.

Speaking of Art, our local Gibbes Musuem of Art has reopened after a rennovation with new collections, and a fresh new event space. Perfect little garden and courtyard for a wedding, rehearsal dinner, etc.

We’re beyond thrilled to be heading to Nashville to participate in Antiques and Garden show… There is an amazing speaker and event line up, so head over to their website for all of the details.

9.26.16 | TARA GUÉRARD
Announcements, Charleston, Events, Parties, Travel | Comments >>

Sep 12, 2016

Barnyard Chic

This weekend, we just wrapped the 7th birthday party for a client’s son who’ve we’ve been doing since his first birthday. I very rarely do little birthday parties, but there have been a few. I thought it would be fun to share since the details are totally different than our weddings! Here is one we did for a set of twins on their 2nd birthday. I call this one “Barnyard Chic”.

The Birthday Cowboy…

You’d never guess it, but this was in a hotel ballroom in NYC!!!!! We covered the carpet with astroturf “grass” and built a barnyard petting zoo with real baby pigs and bunnies. A stuffed animal and reading area was set up complete with haystack seats. Since this was a ballroom, the illusion of outside was created by hanging white fabric and projecting images on it, and finding a lovely grass type print and having fabric printed with it.

At the long dining table, mini guests received little custom coloring books and crayons, wooden barnyard puzzles, and trays of yummy snacks.

Bushels of apples were an easy and affordable but still chick decor. We found wooden animals at a craft store that we had our calligrapher write food items on for our displays.

The desert table made for kids was also perfectly grown up. A built in tv played cartoon farm scenes

Rice krispy treats were dusted with toasted coconut to become “haystacks”, and mini cookies and milkshakes were a sweet little treat for the older siblings and parents in attendance.

Even the kids’ food was almost too cute to eat. Rooster shaped grilled cheeses and sheep shaped pb&j’s were served on wooden trays alongside berry sundaes…

Even the adults had fun with the food…

A perfectly simple and sweet birthday cake with a marzipan barnyard.

Favors were preciously wrapped animal cookies, and burlap sacks of goodies like books, treats, and little toys.

The birthday boy and girl blow out their candles and make a wish!

Thank you to Liz Banfield for the photos!

It would be so easy to take details from this and use for a bridal shower or luncheon or incorporate BBQ for a barnyard rehearsal dinner.

9.12.16 | TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Events, Food and Drink, New York, Parties, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Aug 16, 2016

We Love Jamali Garden

photo by Liz Banfield

A big thank you to one of our favorite design supply companies, Jamali Garden for featuring us on their blog in their Designer Spotlight series. We have been using many of Jamali’s products at our weddings and events for years and years, so today, I’m sharing some of our favorite products and tips on customizing them to your event. For the centerpieces above, we used their Antique Black Oval Urns and spray painted them gold!

photo by Liz Banfield

To hide the bars and inner workings on garden umbrellas, we cover with a bevy of flowers (by wiring in some oasis cages), and hang votive style lanterns like these from Jamali.

photos by Liz Banfield

These handy dandy gadgets, called Frogs, can be hard to find, and we use them for so many things. Often times we cover them with flowers, moss, shells, or any other design element from the current event, and use them on trays to hold the food and drink signage. Or, when using a smaller flower vessel, they hold the stems in place. They have been invaluable to us over the years.

photo by Adrienne Page

For long continuous dining tables, we love the look of longer flower vases… Jamali has numerous choices, but these stained wooden window boxes were just perfect.

photo by Liz Banfield

I love these iridescent votive candle holders… they are on sale right now on Jamaligarden.com. The glass is super delicate and versatile enough to work with any decor, but when used en masse, they can also make a bold statement. But, one trick I must reiterate- please make sure you use the votive candles with the clear glass bottoms, and not the metal dishes! It makes for such a more polished look when using clear votive holders.

photo by Gayle Brooker

For a very simple, affordable, but still elegant and formal centerpiece idea- buy phalenopsis orchids from a local wholesale florist (or even Trader Joe’s usually has lovely ones) and put in some of Jamali’s mossed pots!

8.16.16 | TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Parties, Press, Reception, Rehearsal Dinner, Shopping, Weddings | Comments >>