Category Archives: Travel

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

One of the most stunning winter weddings I can remember is this celebration from 2013 in Oklahoma City. 525 people for a sparkling silver and gold, glamorous, personalized over the top New Year’s party. There are so many details I want to share from this wedding it was hard to chose our favorites. Liz Banfield was there with us to capture all of the twinkling tidbits.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The bridesmaids sparkled in two piece silver sequined tops and ballgown skirt ensembles from Synderela. Our friend, Julie Sabatino with The Stylish Bride, worked with the bride and designer to develop the custom creations.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The Brides’ childhood church was the perfect ceremony backdrop. We added our own special touches to their already lovely Christmas decorations, which included lush eucalyptus garlands, spruce wreaths, and glowing candle cylinders covered in custom laser cut metallic paper.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

One of the most stunning ceremonies I’ve seen, after the processional, the lights were dimmed and the rest of the ceremony was held by candlelight. Truly magical and you could feel the love in the room!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Wow, did Lettered Olive get to have fun and create some spectacular design for the wedding papers.  Gold metallic foil printing, laser cut papers, velvet finishes, and a pop up skyline were just a few of the details.  We love the way the bride wrote her name along with the grooms, so we used her signature as a detail throughout too just to personalize it even more.

 These guest welcome bags truly showered the guests traveling from afar and  celebrating with them over a holiday weekend. A custom candle with printed matches, custom letterpress coasters and Veuve Clicquot splits, waters, favorite snacks and candies from the couple, and an “emergency” kit left the guests with everything they could need for a comfy stay.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Guests were greeted with a glowing welcome to the reception, where the exterior of the private club was covered in the wintry candle cylinders.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The finest details were not spared for this event. White gloved servers donning aprons in the couples’ custom monogram (and custom bowties) received guests with an array of offerings including Manhattans (where the couple reside) and Champagne.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The cocktail lounge was a sight to behold. Suede covered loungers with orchid “chandeliers” offered guests a place to gather, and the escort cards were mini versions of the paper covered cylinders with the names caligraphied on them, and displayed together on shelves for a statement wall!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The dining room shone in silver and gold. Lamplight and candlelight came together to create the most perfect ambient dinner experience, and while there were over 500 guests, it still managed to feel somewhat intimate!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Tables alternated complimenting pewter sequined linens topped with oversized clear crystal candelsticks and ones topped with soft silver suede and crystal lamps. All of the menus were backed in a gold laser cut velvet and place cards were gold name plates affixed to the letterpressed menus.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Two of my favorite little dinner details were the bride and groom chairs- embroidered with the handwritten names; and the first course soup served in these stunning gold bowls- fabulous!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

A spectacular 8 tier cake with handmade flowers by Fancy Cakes by Lauren out of Dallas, Texas.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The couple share their first dance as husband and wife on a dance floor covered with their custom “fireworks” design.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

This uber glam reception lounge provided the perfect pad for ringing in the New Year. The copper topped bar we built on site, and I always find the glassware to be an awful site, but we built a display for it, and it became a lovely backdrop.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The going away favors were a lovely packaged snack mix that included roasted dried black eyed peas- a traditional food said to bring luck to those who eat it on New Year’s day.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

If there was ever a perfect time for a sparkler send off and fireworks at a wedding, it’s on New Year’s. The couple drove off into the night as coordinated “sparklers” popped as they drove by in their vintage convertible. Happy New Year to all!

12.13.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Cakes, Dresses, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Dec 06, 2017

This is one of my favorite weddings to share this time of year. It’s been 7 years since we traveled to Arkansas to do the December wedding for this couple. While the groom was running for public office, the bride was in her second year of law school and planning her wedding! She was graceful under pressure and both she and her family were a joy to work with.  We planned this grand fete in under 6 months and with only one site visit. This  dress still shines as a favorite. We were with her when she tried it on for the first time and you could just see how it was truly the one for her- a perfectly pleated silk faille Carolina Herrera masterpiece, paired with a vintage fur wrap for the chillier moments.

printing-collage

Influenced by classic blue and white china, complimentary patterns were paired together throughout the printed pieces. Lettered Olive designed a custom monogram featuring a lion head door knocker, that the bride wanted to incorporate throughout.  We had custom velvet shoe bags made to use as the guest welcome bags. Full of champagne, local sparkling water, and snacks, guests had everything they would need for a pre wedding celebration.ceremony-collage

Pieces of the perfect blue and white fabric we found to use throughout the wedding decor, made the perfect bouquet wrap. The bride’s dress had a row of covered buttons, so we added that little detail for her on her flowers. Simple all white flowers (peonies and roses) were just the thing for this winter wedding.

The reception took place at Marlsgate Plantation just outside of Little Rock.  The couple did do a “first sight” at the plantation house before the ceremony. This worked so well for this event, since the sun sets a bit earlier this time of year. Liz Banfield was also able to steal the couple away to capture some amazing private moments before the sunset.

We scored a vintage lion’s head door knocker while out sourcing that we knew we had to snag to use somewhere- like the fabric covered escort card and “sign in” board.

Shades of blue in the ceiling upped the look of the all white dining room. Antique wrought iron chandeliers with pillar candles became amazing statement pieces.

dinner-collage

Special little touches like golden pillar candles, white velvet linens lined with thick blue piping, and lush white carpeting made for a warm, glowing, and breathtaking dining room. the letterpressed menus by Lettered Olive mimicked the fold out cards from the save the dates. Noted with the lions head monogram and calligraphied with each guest’s name at the place setting, the pull out menu pieces had guests keeping them all as take homes!

The 5 tier cake was hand painted with each different pattern used throughout the wedding printing and decor and was the centerpiece of the dining room.

A 40 foot bar covered in the blue and white damask fabric anchored the lounge tent with shelving to create a focal point for the blue votives.

6102-02a-2011-02-lizbanfield

To give guests a different feel for dancing, we darkened up the lounge with navy blue and gold tones.

getaway-collageRice produced by the bride’s family’s business was packaged in custom stamped muslin pouches to toss during the couple’s getaway…Wishing our bride and groom the happiest of anniversaries.

 

 

12.06.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Fashion, Flowers, Photographers, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, The Lettered Olive, Travel, Weddings | Comments >>

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

This couple hailing from New York City took over resort town Bald Head Island, NC with big city sophistication. The bride  knows a thing or two about throwing an event having worked for Creative Edge Parties, so we had a blast planning all the details of her wedding together. I loved the beautiful architectural elements her amazing dress by Junko Yoshioko and birdcage veil by Sara Gabriel brought to the table.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The famous landmark of the island, Old Baldy was a star of the scenery.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The ceremony was held at the quaint Village Chapel on Bald Head Island.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

I love that moment of the bride and her father just before they walk down the aisle. What a treasure of a time for both of them to have before he presents her to start a new family. Whitebox Weddings captured the images of the day for them.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The groom’s and groomsmens’ boutonierres were fashioned from a single cotton boll wrapped in burlap.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The cotton blossom bouquets accented with berzillia berries complimented the slate gray and white color palette… Pops of bright orange were accented throughout.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The island allows few cars, so golf carts are the main mode of transport… luckily that makes for fabulous photos.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

Having worked for a huge catering operation in New York City, the bride had an integral part of planning the fall menu.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The seating cards for dinner were flags planted in boxes of cotton blossoms. Tables were named after each of the couple’s favorite songs instead of numbered.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

Dark fabric swathed the otherwise oversized and over white tent. This created a luxe intimacy that kept the seaside affair warm and comfortable but still had the aire of glamour.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

Modern square place settings worked with the menus designed by Regas NY. Vases were wrapped with cotton muslin to provide a softer glow during the evening dinner.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The long tables were a favorite of guests that evening. Everyone felt as if they were at a dinner party they didn’t want to leave!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The big square bar we created adjacent to the dinner tables made for a perfect spot for guests to cozy up for a cocktail during dancing or to catch up with an old friend.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

In lieu of a wedding cake, the couple offered individual banana puddings. Love this!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Whitebox Photo

The reception area offered these amazing views of the coastal marsh.  For more photos from this wedding, head here to Weddings Unveiled where it was featured.

11.22.17   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Bridal Style, Event Design, Event Planning, Reception, Travel, Weddings | Comments >>