Tag Archives: liz banfield

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

I love pulling this wedding out of the archives. Our clients wanted a traditional Southern wedding reception, but wanted a mod flair added to it, it was such a fun combination to work with. The pop of the kelly green with the black and white softened it and we went with a very simple script and design which rounded out the modern feel. The bride’s bouquet is still one of my all time favorites that I’ve ever done! Thank you to Liz Banfiled for these photos.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

“Mr. and Mrs” became the tag line, and was used on the cookies in the welcome bag, on the cocktail napkins, and on printed materials throughout. In the guest welcome bags, we packaged a note along with different vintage Charleston  pre stamped postcards and asked that guests write a little something while they were in Charleston for the wedding, and mail them back to the couple. What a great surprise for the bride and groom to have to relive the weekend when they returned home!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The reception took place in a beautiful Charleston building overlooking the water, but we really wanted to make the inside special. As guests entered the foyer, they were greeted by a Dixieland Jazz Band (the couple lived in New Orleans at the time) playing in front of a wall that consisted of hundreds of cymbidium orchid heads hanging from satin ribbon. Stunning!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

The wreaths with custom acrylic and caligraphied Mr. and Mrs. signs were brought over from the church gates to adorn the plan exterior doors at the reception venue.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

To soften the room and create dimension, little seating vignettes filled the corners so guests could have drinks and conversation away from the dance floor.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Mini plates of sushi rolls made for a much more elegant display than a buffet type bar that needed to be constantly replaced. We had a sushi roller on site rolling several varities and plating them for the guests.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

I always try to discourage my clients from going old school on ice sculptures, so we like to come up with something innovative yet functional. So, for the crab salad cocktail, we had holes made in the ice that fit little clear votives. It kept the seafood cold, and was easy for guests, not to mention nice looking!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

We created “pin boards” for guests to write sweet notes for the bride and groom in lieu of a sign in book. We saved the boards for the couple until after their honeymoon and then sent them to their home… Great for a kitchen, office, mudroom, etc!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

For a drop tile ceiling, luckily we were able to cover it with pleated fabric… We also lined the top of bookshelves holding glassware at the bars with flowers and candles, so guests had something lovely to look at while waiting for a cocktail.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Again, in the empty but expansive open room, we wanted to have some ambient lighting over the dance floor (it’s so important to have lights that are NOT too bright, or people won’t dance!), and give something pretty for photos.  So, an old chandelier we built from wood was repainted and repurposed into a floral chandelier.  And they lived happily ever after….

1.13.16   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Bridal, Charleston, Event Design, Event Planning, Flowers, Food and Drink, Reception, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>
Jan 12, 2016

Tara Guerard Soiree by Corbin Gurkin

(Corbin Gurkin photo)

Now that everyone is trying to stick to those New Year’s resolutions, like eating healthy and loosing weight I’m sharing some of my favorite food styling from some of our events. We are so lucky to be able to work with the calibre of caterers that we have here in Charleston, like Cru Catering, one of of faves that we frequently collaborate with. They are always willing to get creative with us! Like this new take on shrimp cocktail- served on the “half shell” over a bed of cocktail sauce. So much more refined at a wedding than “dipping”.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

(Liz Banfield Photo)

Sometimes using unexpected containers is a way to do something fun. Here, at a wedding at The William Aiken House, Patrick Properties Hospitality Group served a palette cleansing sorbet (after cocktail hour before dinner) in individual glass votive holders in the wedding color scheme.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Corbin Gurkin

(Corbin Gurkin photo)

For a wedding at home, I love being able to use the hostess own serving pieces. This tiered sterling serving tray was perfect for canapes on the buffet, and using what the home owner owns adds makes for an organic mix of different pieces.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Corbin Gurkin

(photo by Corbin Gurkin)

I love this new way of serving oysters on the half shell- instead of bowls of Tabasco and lemons that can get messy and need to be replenished, they were served on the ice with the oysters. How awesome are those mini Tabasco bottles?

Tara Guerard Soiree by Corbin Gurkin

(Corbin Gurkin photo)

For a refined and modern cocktail hour food display, Cru Catering painstakingly created perfect mini individual foods like Caprese salad with basil geleee, and asparagus wrapped in smoked salmon in dill creme fraiche.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Gayle Brooker

(Gayle Brooker photo)

 I loved this trio of soup that Caroline’s Catering created for a first course- 3 mini soups in clear glass votives made for a perfect portion and sampling for a fall feast.

1.12.16   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Charleston, Entertaining, Etiquette, Event Design, Food and Drink, Photographers, Reception, Uncategorized, Weddings | Comments >>

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

I could not think of a more perfect way to spend New Year’s than at a lovely dinner party followed by dancing- i.e. you are close friends or family and someone is having their wedding or rehearsal dinner and you’re invited!  You get to dress up, go celebrate with loved ones, and not spend a dime, pretty perfect, don’t you think?  This sweet couple celebrated New Year’s at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas on the eve of their wedding with a fabulous three course dinner followed by dancing in the ballroom decked out for a New Year’s bash. Thank you to Liz Banfield for the photos.

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Dinner menus were etched on clear acrylic cards placed at each seat. Sometimes working with the already in place hotel decor can be somewhat challenging but with a black, white, silver, and gold New Year’s theme, it worked out!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

Place cards were attached to each chair so that the acrylic menus took front and center at each place setting. Tying them with festive silver fringe added to the New Year’s theme!

Tara Guerard Soiree by Liz Banfield

I loved the killer silver fringe chandeliers we made for the occasion. They made for a perfect twinkling touch inside a hotel ballroom. Which, did have this intricate and lovely latticework on the walls and ceiling which was so unique, we lucked out with that design element!

Tara Guerard Soiree by liz Banfield

Of course, Veuve was flowing throughout the night, and all of the proper accoutrements were supplied in the party colors; everyone was decked out in New Year’s gear for the midnight countdown.

Tara Guerard SoireeThe couple rang in the New Year that would bring them a new start as husband and wife, a new home together, and many other personal accomplishments. I’d say that’s a great way to kick off a wedding weekend and a New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone and may 2016 bring a year full of health and happiness.

12.30.15   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Entertaining, Event Design, Events, Rehearsal Dinner, Stationery, Invitations and Pretty Papers, Travel, Weddings | Comments >>