Tag Archives: tips

Oct 01, 2014

wedding bar 3

The wedding bar says a lot about the personality of the couple, but whether more relaxed or formal there are a few things we’ve learned along the way that are important to keep in mind to ensure all guests are served in a stylish, safe, and timely manner.

This starts with the fact that the bar is a part of the wedding decor and should be treated as such. In order to keep it from being an eyesore, we like to wrap our bars in fabric. In the photo above, we matched the fabric to the custom envelope liners from the invitations to tie it all together. And if you look at the photo you will notice that each bartender has at least four feet of space each, giving them ample room to make delicious drinks. Also make sure you have at least one bartender per 40 guests. Super important! Both of these tricks will keep guest happy and served quickly.

wedding bar 6

If you can’t tell, we’re all about coordinating (it’s the little details that really make a wedding special), and in this example, we’ve created custom paper liners to dress up the passed trays of custom cocktails. Passed drinks are a nice way to make sure everyone gets served, and if you narrow down the drink selections for the cocktail hour, this is an easy and fun solution.

wedding bar 2

We like to add personal and decorative elements to the bar, and in this case we added personalized matches, used as small favors. But speaking of matches, please, please, pretty please don’t put candles on top of your bar! Guests and bartenders are always reaching back and forth and it’s an easy way for someone’s sleeve to catch on fire!

wedding bar 4

While we love the idea of adding fruit to cocktails when appropriate, we don’t love the idea of putting the fruit on the side of the glass. It looks cheesy and makes it hard to drink. During cocktail hour, we also recommend having snacks set out on the bar such as nuts or cheese biscuits to keep guests from getting hungry before the meal is served.

10.01.14   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Event Planning, Food and Drink, Weddings | 3 Comments
Sep 20, 2014

TailgatingSince partying in any form is what we’re really all about, we thought it would be fun to share some of our teams’ tailgating essentials just in time for football season.  We’ve got you covered with everything from what to drink and what to wear to how to serve it. Most importantly, don’t forget to support your team (dig out those jerseys…), make it look nice (beautiful serving pieces and even a festive tent or tablecloth go a long way), and have fun!

1. Boiled Peanuts, $10; 2. Johnnie Walker Black Label, $33; 3. Napolean Fireplaces Napoleon Portable Grill, $359; 4. Govino Stemless Shatterproof Wine Glasses, $24.95; 5. Carolina Panthers Kolder Kaddy Can Holder, $5.45; 6. Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers Autographed Nike Game White Jersey, $290; 7. The Giovanna Boutique Tent; 8. Sam Edelman Gigi Sandals, $64.95; 9. Lettered Olive Wooden Spotted Feather Stir Sticks, $6; 10. South Carolina Gamecocks WinCraft 12’’ x 15’’ Double-Sided Car Flag, $14.95; 11. Rectangular Table Skirt, $100; 12. Clemson Tigers Cornhole; 13. Philosophy Hope Oil-Free SPF 30 Moisturizer For Normal To Oily Skin, $42; 14. Glacier Double Wall Beverage Servers, $159-199.

9.20.14   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Parties | 1 Comment

Soiree Dog

As we all know, dogs can seem like a part of the family and it can feel wrong to leave them out of a celebration as big as your wedding. We’ve had a few Soirée brides ask to include their dogs in their weddings, and while we’re all for it, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make sure it’s a success for everyone (including your dog!).

First and foremost, it’s important that you consider whether or not your dog is really up to the challenge. While we know it may be fun to include them, you really don’t want them to become a distraction or problem during this special day. If you have a well-behaved dog, we say go for it, but if Fido is still leaning basic commands like sit and stay, you might reconsider.

wedding dogs

Secondly, make sure to appoint someone to dog duty for the day, meaning they watch the dog while you’re getting ready, bring the dog to the ceremony, and look after the dog during and after the reception. While you might think that you’re furry friend will be at your side constantly, you’ll have lots of other things to worry about and you wouldn’t want them to get lost in the shuffle. Having a friend help with this will relieve some of the pressure surrounding the wedding day festivities and ensure everything goes smoothly. (image source)

Last but not least, bring treats and lots of them! While your dog may do everything you ask when it’s just the two of you at home, this is a much different situation with lots of distractions. Your dog will be in a new environment with lots of new people, and sometimes all you need is one little treat to help them refocus on the job at hand.

9.17.14   |   TARA GUÉRARD
Event Planning | 1 Comment