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I Dare You: Alternating Table Designs

Wedding Sugar

burgundy and merlot centerpieces with calla lilies and other flowers with black goblets

white flowers with black linens and black ghost chairs

I think this concept that Colin Cowie used for Jay-Z and Coldplay’s NYE party is smart, chic and modern. There were to two different table designs alternating through the party. I don’t just mean “alternating centerpieces”—I mean completely different chairs, centerpieces and linens.

On silver tables, were beautiful florals in shades of merlot, burgundy and purple. Paired with dark runners and varying holders, the black goblets are gorgeous! The clear mirage chairs scream uberchic.

Not to be outdone, the “black” table featured all white florals in different containers with the black goblets and black mirage chairs.

There are other guest tables that appear to be squares with black linens and silver covered chiavaris. these tables had fuchsia flowers bunched in the center.

Different concept—one event. It is striking.

Greatest Moments in the History of Weddings

Wedding Sugar

This is a glimpse into some of the greatest moments in the history of weddings—not the greatest weddings in the history in time. It’s small (and not so small) moments and gestures that changed weddings or are so endearing, we hope that they catch on for other weddings in the future. While I couldn’t list all of my favorites, here are a few that are remarkable.

J.Lo’s Surprise Wedding

This moment is great, because Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony truly did catch their family and friends off guard with their backyard nuptials. There are no other pictures that are known or seen publicly, which makes this all the more extraordinary. I love the idea of completely surprising your guests with a wedding in a meaningful and personal setting. Can you imagine the guests who decided to skip the party only to find that it was a wedding later? Mmmmhmmmm!

A King Gives Up His Throne

I remember being so captivated by this story in high school (a mere two years ago…UGH perhaps in dog years….). If you aren’t aware of this unassuming couple, it is American socialite Wallis Simpson and her husband, Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor. Wallis was a two time divorcee and as King and the head of the Church of England, the king could not marry her because of the religious complications. His love for her was so great that he abdicated his throne in order to marry her. It was his brother, King George that inherited the throne (yes, the one from The King’s Speech) and gave his brother the title of “Duke of Windsor”. As the wife of a Duke, Wallis was known as a Duchess, however she could not have the “Her Royal Highness” with her name. But knowing all this, I love their garb for the day: Classic, elegant, and uncomplicated to the point of being understated.

Princess Diana

From one royal wedding to another…Princess Diana’s wedding had captivated not only her country, but he world. Her wedding inspired many weddings of her time and those many years later (Mariah Carey’s wedding with Tommy Mottola was patterned after the royal wedding. Diana’s wedding made it okay for women to splurge: her wedding dress was a puff ball meringue wedding dress, with huge puffed sleeves and a frilly neckline. The dress was made of silk taffeta, decorated with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. It was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, and had a 25-foot train.

American Royalty

First, this is the best picture ever. Second, when JFK Jr. finally wed, you heard hearts break across the world. However, you couldn’t help but to become endeared to his new beautiful bride, Carolyn Bessette. The evening wedding ceremony took place in the wood-frame Brack Chapel of the First African Baptist Church on the private Cumberland Island (not too far where we are in the St. Simons/Jekyll Island area). What made this wedding so beautiful was its intimacy and timelessness. Looking at this picture today, you would have a hard time believing it took place over 10 years ago. Moreover, the intimacy and personal details made it even more special: the bride wore Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ clip in her hair and her bouquet was designed by the same woman who designed the White House rose garden. JFK Jr. wore his father’s wristwatch. Additionally, the church, which had no electricity, was lit with candles and kerosene lamps, and the couple stood under an altar adorned with greenery arranged by Efigenio Pinhiero, Jackie Kennedy’s longtime butler. The guests were shuttled to Greyfield Inn, where they dined on the couple’s favorite food and watched their first dance to a Prince song. If for nothing else, this saves them a special place in my heart.

Surviving a Beach Wedding

All of these delicious pictures are of Survivor contestants Rob + Amber’s wedding, created by the illustrious Colin Cowie. This is a gorgeous wedding which completely revolutionized how beach weddings would take place and be experienced. The vibrant colors, estate seating, dotted with whimsical, yet upscale, elements into the décor. After this, many couples began to create dynamic and large events on the beach or nearby.

Weddinglicious

I’ve been a fan of Fergie since she was Stacy Ferguson: 1/3 of Wild Orchid. When Mindy Weiss planned the wedding for Fergie and Josh Duhamel, it was a beautiful, lush affair. While this is fabulous in its own right, what made it to the great wedding moment list is what happened during the reception. A slide show was shown with photos of the couple at different stages in their lives. At the end, Josh surprised Fergie with a video segment of 40 of their closest friends dancing and lip-synching to her hit, “Fergalicious.” The video included a pregnant Rebecca Romijn dancing at her house and Stacey Kiebler and boyfriend Geoff Stultz singing and dancing in the shower.

At the conclusion of the meal, an after party was held in a third tent decorated to look like a Moroccan lounge. The tent included couches and a graffiti mural that read “Fergie Loves Josh.” At one point Kid Rock jumped on stage and sang his hit “All Summer Long,” joined by the bride. This is a wonderful homage to the significant other to honor their achievements by including your family and friends. It makes the day all the more meaningful.

At Last…

If Christina Aguilera’s Christian Lacroix wedding dress in 2005 wasn’t sumptuous enough, it was only surpassed by her talent and generosity. First, guest received invitations in a silk lined invitation box came a note which read, “While we celebrate the richness of life and all the circumstances that have blessed us in career and love, we are mindful of those who are suffering greatly as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The best gift you could give us is a donation to any of the organizations helping the stricken citizens of New Orleans.” Also, during the reception, Christina serenaded her husband with her rendition of “At Last”. If you’ve never heard her cover of the song, you are missing one of the best covers of Etta James’ classic. I’ve always thought one of the best things an artistic couple or member of that couple could do is perform or present their art to their significant other at the wedding reception. Also, Christina’s wedding décor sparked the love for hanging crystals and crystal trees.

Event Vision: New Orleans Cocktail Hour Part II

Wedding Sugar

We talked about food and drinks in Part I of our Event Vision: New Orleans Inspiration Series. Today, we’ll focus on décor. Since your cocktail hour will be a less structured and traditional part of your wedding reception, you can really embellish with details and color. Unfortunately many people believe that the only thing available for New Orleans inspiration is Mardi Gras—which can quickly turn your event from a stylish fete into an instant cheesefest. There is so much more to New Orleans than Mardi Gras and food—however, the same principals can apply to your décor: go big and bold…with no apologies.

One thing New Orleans is known for is parasols. You can opt to use them as props for your pictures or photo booth, but definitely consider having them become an integral part of your décor. Don’t confuse them with the oriental parasols, but seek out colorful and ornate Victorian parasols and hang them from the ceiling of your tent or reception venue. They make a great entrance or lighting fixtures!

If your wedding is outside, you can still have your bit of New Orleans. One of my favorite things is the French Quarter’s wrought iron balconies. You can have your own variation by bringing in your own iron elements such as arches, gates and fences and hanging lush ferns from them.

New Orleans is an old city—full of rich history and culture. Many of its architecture and design influences come from baroque periods and designers. You can bring the old world into the new world by incorporating modern pieces like these tufted benches for seating and baroque mirrors and frames.

Photo: Melissa Schollaert via featured wedding on Elizabeth Anne Designs

I really do love this arrangement of lush flowers on this antique gold stand. Its fullness makes up for its size but provides soft colors (but feel free to go bolder!) which will look great on cocktail tables and bistro sets.

Speaking of bistro sets, toss a few around in your cocktail hour if it is outside, along with some vintage street lamps. Both are a part of the New Orleans experience and can easily transport your guests.

Don’t forget your décor for your reception either—small touches like naming your tables after New Orleans’ famous streets, making your food buffet look like it’s part of a Mardi Gras float can bring so much authenticity to your event. Don’t forget about the music, either (you’d better not!): Play songs from natives like Louis Armstrong, the Marsalis brothers, etc. to get people in the spirit. If you really want to get people moving—when it is time to get your guests to move on to the reception, do it Mardi Gras style with a trumpet player playing “When the Saints Go Marching In” taking them into the reception pied piper style. If this doesn’t work for your event, you could always do it for your wedding reception entrance or send off, where guests can toss feathers and beads.

I hope this inspires you for your New Orleans’ themed wedding!

*Garnish*: for more inspiration, check out these links:

http://www.mailelaniphotography.com/blog/martini-and-adam-•-married/

http://eventjubilee.com/blog/on-royal-street-french-inspired-photoshoot-in-new-orleans-part-ii/

http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/new-orleans-wedding-dress

Details: Great Lighting with Crystal Decor

Wedding Sugar

There is just something about gorgeous lighting that takes any event from drab to fab. Pair it with crystal centerpieces: crystal candelabras, crystal chandeliers and crystal globes, and you have a a stunning combination of faceted lighting that makes the ultimate statement.

Photo by Los Angeles Photographer, Andrena Photography

above images :: rrivre works

Event Vision: New Orleans Cocktail Hour

Wedding Sugar

New Orleans wedding ideas food drink sezerac, st charles, gumbo, crawfish po boy inspiration ideas

New Orleans is world-famous for its food. The indigenous cuisine is distinctive and influential. From centuries of amalgamation of local Creole, haute Creole, and New Orleans French cuisines, New Orleans food has developed. Local ingredients, French, Spanish, Italian, African, Native American, Cajun, and a hint of Cuban traditions combine to produce a truly unique and easily recognizable Louisiana flavor¹. But it is not just the flavors of Louisiana that makes it special, it is the soul and spirit behind it. I come from a family that has roots in Louisiana and this passed down from generation to generation. You show your love by feeding people good, hearty meals. I laugh as I write this now, because it doesn’t matter when you walk into my parents’ house, my dad will say “You want something to eat?” (he makes a mean gumbo, by the way).

dgw-beignets-project foodie oyster-poboys-sl-258232-l--myrecipes

So when you ask your guests if they want something to eat, offer them unique specialties like beignets (French doughnuts served with coffee and chicory, known as café au lait). Oysters are an area favorite, and one way to get them with another favorite the Po’boy, above. There is also absolutely no way anyone will let you leave New Orleans without trying a crawfish. You can incorporate them into your cocktail hors d’oeuvres by offering New Orleans French Bread Pizza – with Andouille Sausage, Crawfish and Provolone.

gumbo healthy-delicious

You can also serve “mini” version of New Orleans staples like étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, and other Creole dishes. The Monday favorite of red beans and rice (Louis Armstrong often signed his letters, “Red beans and ricely yours”).

But what about your drinks?

Well– everyone gets a Hurricane when they are in New Orleans.It’s an extremely sweet alcoholic drink made from lime juice, passion fruit syrup and rum. Wikipedia says: “The creation of this passion fruit-colored relative of a Daiquiri drink is credited to New Orleans tavern owner Pat O’Brien. In the 1940s, he needed to create a new drink to help him get rid of all of the less popular rum that local distributors forced him to buy before he could get a few cases of more popular liquors such as scotch and whiskey. He poured the concoction into hurricane-lamp-shaped glasses and gave it away to sailors. The drink caught on, and it has been a mainstay in the French Quarter ever since.”

First: awesome story. Second: I want one now.

The official drink of New Orleans is the Sazerac. It is said that “Hurricanes are for tourists, Sazeracs are for natives!”

Sazerac
2 1/2 oz Rye whiskey
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters (remember him?)
1 small dash Angostura bitters
1 sugar cube
absinthe
lemon twist
couple of drops of water

Tools: spoon to stir and muddle with
Glass: two Old Fashioned or Sazerac glasses

Of course, there is also the beautiful St. Charles Punch. It’s just as rich as it is beautiful, so be prepared for robust flavor!

St. Charles Punch

Adapted from Stanley Clisby Arthur’s Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em:

1 teaspoon rich simple syrup (2:1)
1 teaspoon orange curaçao
1-1/2 ounces fresh lemon juice
1-1/2 ounces ruby port
1 ounce Cognac

Arthur’s original instructions: “Dissolve the sugar with a little water in a mixing glass. Add the lemon juice, the port wine, the Cognac, and last the curaçao. Fill the glass with fine ice and jiggle with the bar spoon. Pour into a long thing glass, garnish with fruit, and serve with a straw. […] Don’t omit the straw; this drink demands long and deliberate sipping for consummate enjoyment.”

Gorgeous picture and recipe from Chuck T’s Flickr Stream.

If you really want to go authentic, create a mock Bourbon Street—with stations featuring cocktails some of the best establishments on the avenue. Each station can be an ode to the local bars, such as Pat O’Brien’s, Bourbon Pub, Napoleon House and other bars and restaurants.

With New Orleans being full of such color and flavor, there will be no drought on inspiration for you to draw upon for your cocktail hour for your wedding reception. Stay tuned for Part Deux for inspiration for décor and other elements

1. Food in New Orleans, Wikipedia

The Importance of an Event Planner/Producer For Your Non-Wedding Event

Wedding Advice

When it comes to non-wedding events (birthdays, anniversaries, parties, etc.) many hosts don’t know that they have great resources in event planners. For smaller parties, I will admittedly concede that it can be overkill. However, if you begin the process of securing a location, bringing in caterers, etc. your party has grown in scale and could benefit from a planner. Many hosts opt to rely on caterers or florists for recommendations. While these vendors can be of great help, their resources can be limited outside of the scope for which they are handling your event.

Here are some ways that an event planner/producer can help with your event:

Create a concept or inspiration board to start your planning
Match you with vendors that are inline with your event
Help you maintain your budget
Come up with ideas for your menu, flowers, décor and location
Be onsite to help set up while you get ready
Coordinate the event and maintain the flow of events so that you can enjoy the event

Even if you are the Type A personality that loves to plan things and are highly detailed and organized (I hear that a lot!), you can still enjoy the benefits from a planner. An analogy: When I am not feeling well, I will journey over to CVS and pick up something to alleviate the symptoms. When it is something a bit more serious or the symptoms are chronic, I will ask the pharmacist for some advice. They can tell me about which medicines are new and improved, non-medicinal remedies and prescriptions I may want to talk to my doctor about. So, it’s great to rely on and have the help of an expert. True, I could ask the check out girl that I am interacting with, and while she may see a trend in what people are buying, she doesn’t know the trend in what is working because her job is to check people out. I let her be good at her job and rely on the pros for sound advice.

The same can be said of event planners. Most wedding planners also plan and produce non wedding events which can be a great resource to you. It doesn’t hurt or cost anything to speak with them about how they can improve or enhance your event.

Happy Planning!

Photos :: Sarah Yates

I Dare You: Untraditional Centerpieces

Wedding Sugar

art unusual vases and statues with pink orchids and purple table linens and hanging crystals

Hear me when I say this: I adore the look of this room. True, I am already on a purple kick in 2011. I am becoming obsessed with orchids. Granted. Hanging crystals still have a special place in my heart. However, when I saw these centerpieces that are more like statues, I was in love. I love that these tables don’t completely dominate the room, leaving other tables underwhelmed. Remaining tables are in unique pyramid vases. This was for a benefit for the Nevada Ballet company, and the pieces were meant to evoke a dancer’s legs.

art unusual vases and statues with pink orchids and purple table linens and hanging crystals Pink Orchid Centerpiece Ideas

Rant: The Truth About Shoots + Blogs

Terrica Talk

I’ve noticed a lot of talk: be it backlash, adoration or fervor about shoots, inspiration boards and the like in the wedding blogosphere. Mrs. Avocado over at Wedding Bee gave her take on it in her great post “Moment Junkie”. Reading the comments on her post and elsewhere, I noticed a lot of brides feeling intimidated, inspired, frustrated, etc. One bride even likened the “wedding porn” being like the regular, in that it leaves “normal” weddings feeling inadequate.

Since I always have something to say, here it is:

Remix of Death of the Photoshoot pending…

When the styled shoots first came onto the scene, they came in breaking the door down and in vast numbers. I started to feel like Jay-Z with his D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) anthem. They (shoots) were running rampant and dominating all the blogs. It was like—“Okay, shoots are great, but they shouldn’t be the sole content of every wedding blog or vendor portfolio.” (FYI, I tried to contact Jigga for a remix: Death of the Photo shoot, but I am sure my calls were erroneously overlooked). At any rate, I felt like Jay-Z: a beautiful event can stand on it’s own without the excessive styling. A beautiful event is full of details, but it’s also full of moments and memories.

BUT…

A styled shoot isn’t there to capture memories or moments. It’s there to capture style. Evoke inspiration. Styled shoots are a necessity. You may not like it, but life isn’t all puppies and rainbows, luxeling.

Case in point:

Yes, these are practically insane. Short of Lady Gaga, I am not sure of anyone who would wear this willingly in public. But this doesn’t stop designers from creating them. It is an extension of their art; a way to express their creativity. Even some of the less shocking, but still ill-matched runway looks, I have seen on the red carpet paired with other clothing items and they look STUNNING.

Take these editorials from Vogue. These looks are meant to inspire you and serve as a form of expression. No one really expects anyone to do this in real life. Again, it’s just bits and pieces. So, comparing your wedding with that of a styled shoot that has comped linens and flowers is dangerous for your health. This is especially the case if you are DIYing several aspects of your wedding and you are less than crafty or not a professional. Also, as many people have pointed out, the shoots occur in a controlled environment…but it’s supposed to. It’s a shoot. Although truth be told, I’d like to see some of these styled shoots “gifted” to small weddings so that it can be documented realistically. But that’s a post for another day.

I totally get that it’s about the moments and the memories. But it’s not all about that. Anyone who tells you different is a liar. Like the quote from the movie says “That’s just what the pretty girls say to make the ugly girls feel better”. It’s about both. It’s about creating an experience that will foster the moments and the memories. Truth be told, the memories and moments will come anyway…but the backdrop? Priceless. It’s just like the movies—Avatar had a great, but basic story line. But without the backdrop and special effects, it was basically Dances with Wolves.

The key is to check for the following with any inspiration board or photo shoot:

Content: All of the pictures should be visually aesthetic and flow together so that you can see the shape of the event through the images.
Context: Not all inspiration is visual; this is why all of our event vision boards have a story line or explanation for why certain things were chosen or suggested. Details are great. Ridiculously great. And they can inspire other details. Even fashion mags are great about inspiring you and informing/educating you:

Comparability: Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples when looking to establish your theme based on an inspiration board and/or shoot. You want to make sure your ideas will work with your venue, tables, and space.
Cost: One thing I am noticing with brides is the sticker shock of what it takes to create “the pretty”. Just like with fashion shoots or boards, you may not be able to afford everything in the spread, but you may be able to afford a few statement pieces. You could also check out discount retailers (i.e., Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc.) for brand name products or similar items. Even stores like Z Gallerie or Pier One for eclectic mixes. Even if your budget is cost-conscious, opt for really nice, quality pieces—even if they are small. It is far better than large, cheap pieces that leave something to be desired.

So shoots…take it as a grain of salt. I hear people screaming for transparency. Ok, fine. But in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter? Whether it was styled or a real wedding, it was still someone’s collective creative genius at work. I totally get the whole “controlled environment” thing. But to be honest, honey, Murphy’s Law applies to weddings, too. I could produce the same wedding at the same place, on different days and different elements would come into play. So, for me, this is a non-issue. For sites like Style Me Pretty and Ruffled, I view those as “editorial” sites and blogs written by wedding professionals as “documentary” sites. To simplify: It’s like the difference between Law and Order and Court TV. Some are for dramatization, others are for reality. I do agree, that if a wedding professional publishes a shoot to their site or blog, it should be clearly designated as such (Just like a singer would never sell a studio album and label it or allude to it being a “live” album). At any rate, I’ve noticed that styled shoots are so prevalent that the distinction has been “Real Wedding” in the title, rather than “Styled Shoot”.

So what, if anything, is my beef with the styled shoot?

I’m tired of seeing the same thing over and over again. I’m tired of the groom pulling up his pants so I can see his argyle socks. I’m tired seeing bowties, glasses and fake moustaches. I’m tired of rustic weddings set in fields and barns. I’m tired of a mish mash of “eclectic” mixes from thrift stores piled together against trees and called vintage. Don’t get me wrong, these were great. The first 600 times. Now it’s redundant and borderline annoying (Hey…keep it real). I’m not against these things…I (and am sure you do too) I’m just tired of seeing them. I don’t think they apply to every bride and I am quite sure that all brides would like to see shoots reflective of their tastes (just an obvious hint to the inspiration blogs).

Just my take. What do you think?

*Garnish*: Want photo shoots done right? Check out Candice Coppola’s blog; she styles shoots and also events. So she knows how it works.

Real Mexico Destination Wedding :: Riviera Maya Pt II

Luxury Destinations

Bienvenidos! We’re back with more beautiful images from Elise + Ned’s gorgeous destination wedding in Playa Carmen, Riviera Maya Mexico. After a beautiful ceremony where the bride and groom (married by a close friend) exchanged their own handwritten vows on the beach under an emerald green canopy against a cerulean sea backdrop. After being pronounced as husband and wife, they were followed down the aisle by an authentic mariachi band.

While guests enjoyed the serenade from the mariachi band on the sleek, chic white and Lucite mezzanine terrace, uberfabulous photographer, Daniel Aguilar was off with the couple creating beautiful images like this:

The reception was electric and fun—taking place on the moonlit terrace on the beach festooned with large white lanterns and cymbidium orchids. Guests danced the night away to an authentic salsa band (I know for several guests, I didn’t see them leave the floor for the entire reception, except for the fire show. That’s right! A “surprise” fire show stunned guests as a team of fire dancers manipulated fire to their whim.

Special thanks to the wonderful couple, Elise + Ned—it was great working with you and seeing all of our hard work turn out beautifully! Also, again to gracious Daniel Aguilar—whose whose huge talent is only eclipsed by his humility and kindness. I look forward to working with you more soon!

Real Mexico Destination Wedding :: Riviera Maya Pt I

Luxury Destinations

You may remember following our travels last year as we traipsed through Mexico visiting different venues and resorts and again to produce the wedding of Elise + Ned in Riviera Maya—a beautiful area also known as Playa del Carmen outside of Cancun. When we first met with Elise + Ned, they were considering the option of having their wedding on Jekyll Island. After not finding the right venue to fit their needs ands personalities, we began working on creating the ultimate destination wedding experience for them and their family at the Palace Playacar, which included beautiful tours at Mayan ruins, Gringo + Moustaches dinners, karaoke parties, an emerald green beachside ceremony against cerulean waters and a mariachi band!

Stay tuned for the second part of this post with more great images from the fantastic destination wedding photographer: Daniel Aguilar, who captured so much emotion and art in the couple’s wedding day. Oh yeah, and one word…fire dancers.