Category Archives: Parties

Feb 26, 2019

photo by Liz Banfield

There are many ebbs and flows in weddings as years go by, we find ourselves being asked by clients to design different elements all the time, but one thing stays constant and that is making each one personal.  Here are just some of the ways we have personalized our events for our clients (aside from the obvious in the printing areas i.e. invitations), so hopefully this will trigger some thoughts or ideas for you.  Above, a jazz band led our couple out to their send off, a nod to the “second line” tradition in New Orleans, where they met. photos by Tec Petaja

This was one of my favorite touches at this wedding… The father of the bride had an impressive wine collection that he had been working on over many years. So, we built a display as one of the centerpieces of the dining room. The bottles were served up in labeled decanters and guests were encouraged to help themselves during dinner service.

photo by Christian Oth Studios

One of the easiest places to add personal touches is in the wedding welcome gifts. For our couple, marrying in Palm Beach, but from Texas, lots of custom elements filled this goodie bag. A filled beach bag for guests to enjoy while in Florida, perhaps not having packed one seemed like the perfect choice- along with turkish towels in the wedding colors.  Texas shaped corn chips and Texas salsa were just some of the snacks included along with Florida salt water taffy… all of these little thoughtful details go a long way to personalize your weekend for your guests. photos by Corbin Gurkin 

For this Southern beach wedding at home, lots of playful touches were woven throughout.  The mother of the bride and bride herself gave us their favorite quotes from movies, books, etc. and we used them to jazz up pillows on the lounge seating, cocktail napkins, and coasters.  Guests loved seeing and seeking out all of the different ones throughout the party.  top photos by Tec Petaja; bottom photos by Liz Banfield

Many of our clients love seeing details featuring their dogs incorporated into their wedding.. Water bottles featuring our couple’s Frenchie on the label were included in the wedding welcome bags and served up again at the reception. Another couple’s two Australian Shepherds made their first appearance on the save the dates, and then again in custom take home cake boxes we called “doggie bags”…

photos by Corbin Gurkin

Of course, one of the easiest and most traditional ways to personalize your day is with a monogram.  Here, the first initials of our bride and groom were design elements all throughout the design. First on a floral version greeting guests at the front door, then on aprons worn by the cocktail servers, and mixed in on pillows throughout the lounge seating.

There are so many other ways and details that can be personalized, so share with us any that you have done or are planning to do!

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

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photo by Corbin Gurkin

What is a wedding or other special celebration with out Champagne (or sparkling grape juice which can be styled the same way)!!!! Here are some of our favorite ways to serve up, set out, or celebrate with bubbly!

Orchid in Champagne

photo by Liz Banfield

One of our “signature” Soiree designs is adding dendrobium orchids to glasses of champagne. It gives it a pretty and extra special finish, and they are food safe of course. A tip to help keep lines down, is to have  servers ready and waiting for guests with trays of champagne, red, and white wine, or even waters so that not everyone has to rush the bars.

photo by Tec Petaja

A classic and favorite of mine, is a pairing with caviar.  For a wedding cocktail hour, we had a lovely serve your self caviar station with servers standing by with chilled champagne… It was part of the guests’ favorite element to the party.

Collar Collage

For many of our bride, we worked with Lettered Olive to create champagne collars for our clients based on the wedding paper design. It adds an impressive couture touch for guests.

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Fruit Collage

Probably the easiest and sometimes the prettiest way to serve up the sparkling, is by adding fruit or another edible ingredient (lavendar, rosemary, strawberries, etc) or creating a champagne cocktail that calls for flavorful additions.

Sorbet in champagnephoto by Liz Banfield

A big hit at some of our weddings has been adding a complimentary dollop of sorbet to a glass of champagne as an after dinner finishing touch.

pink champagne

photo by Liz Banfield

Even just a beautifully hued sparkling Rose champagne can be all it takes to add a special touch.  Here, a champagne tower is created by nesting boxes stacked with glass toppers in gradual sized squares to allow for spacing of the glasses.

2.04.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Events, Flowers, Food and Drink, Parties, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Sometimes the rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, or Post Toasts (as we are now calling them more often) from our weekends are too sweet not to share. Carleton and Gael married at her family home in Birmingham, Alabama in an affair with a Southern chic feel and French notes, as a nod to the groom’s heritage. For the intimate dinner, our bride rocked a pairing of Brandon Maxwell pants, and a Remy Brook top, looking amazing next to her tux clad groom.  Photos by A Bryan Photo

For rehearsals, when possible, we set up seating so that all of the family members and other participants can get a feel for where to sit and to make sure we have it all covered- sometimes people forget that Aunt Susan needs to sit up in one of the front rows!!  It also really helps with spacial planning for the actual ceremony and alter.

Leading into the wedding, we try to incorporate hints of whats to come in different ways into the rehearsal dinner design. Here, sleek seersucker linens provide a palette for the layered French garden tablescape.

Custom printed vellum menus wrapped around French baguettes, and were tied off with butcher’s twine and a fresh sprig of lavender. A baker’s tier of pastries was mixed with gathered blooms and antique glass votives for an unexpected centerpiece.

As always there are many emotions and special moments with loved ones, so I can’t impress more to consider having your wedding photographer there to capture those moments over the entire weekend…

1.28.19   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal Style, Entertaining, Event Design, Event Planning, Parties, Photographers, Rehearsal Dinner, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Uncategorized | Comments >>