Wedding: Susanna and Phil

After a whirlwind of planning and excitement, on April 1, 2011 I had the joy of coordinating the wedding of Susanna and Phil Latham in Fort Worth, Texas. Following the formal ceremony at University Christian Church, guests gathered at The Ashton Depot in downtown Fort Worth to celebrate with the newlyweds’ marriage. The event was undoubtedly a reflection of Susanna and Phil’s love of Fort Worth surrounded by the dramatic elegance of the ceremony and reception venues and décor. 

Wedding: Tamara and Scott

After many months of planning, on February 26, 2011 I had the pleasure of coordinating the wedding of Tamara and Scott Garrett in McKinney, Texas. The intimate candlelit ceremony was contrasted by bright colorful, and fun elements in the reception. There was no doubt the event’s décor was customized to match Scott’s sensibilities and Tamara’s bubbly personality.

Wedding: Amanda and Jim

This past September I had the privilege of coordinating the wedding day of two of my dear friends, Jim and Amanda C.  This wedding was especially fun for me as I had the opportunity to arrange the bouquets and boutonnieres for the bridal party as well as the flower arrangements in the church. From the candlelit ceremony to the whimsical touches of “shabby chic” pearls and lace in the reception, the wedding fit Amanda’s personality perfectly: gorgeous, serious (but only when absolutely necessary), and pink!

Wedding: Abby and Luke

What a precious couple! It was such a joy and honor to coordinate Abby and Luke's wedding this past fall at the Grand Ballroom in historic downtown McKinney, TX. Their love for each other flooded every moment of the process, making them a planner's dream!

Since the Grand Ballroom is such a gorgeous location, we decided to take the design lead from the color palette given to us, as well as to play up the mixture of elegance and natural elements. Crisp whites and luscious cream florals paired with elegant metallics popped against the natural brick wall. 

The Pearl Stables: San Antonio, TX

During an amazing site visit in San Antonio, Texas this week, I discovered an incredible wedding venue: Pearl Stables.

Once a grand home to the brewery’s draft horses in the late 1800’s, today Pearl Stable provides a unique site for events. This venue, equipped with full-size kitchen, is very versatile as it is perfect for a romantic fairytale wedding, a vintage glamour soiree, or a rustic - but chic - reception. The best part is that the Pearl Stables is practically a blank slate that you can personalize any look, theme or "feel” tailored to your event needs.

From the glass bottle custom chandeliers to the red velvet curtained stage, this hardwood-rich venue has more character than I could have imagined. Faux “stalls” provide perfectly private dining spaces, while still remaining on the main floor. The round layout creates a very intimate feel, while still remaining a lavish event.

While the website suggests it can hold up to 600, for a seated reception I would not put more than 375 on the main floor to maintain a certain level of comfort. The spacious foyer allows room for buffet stations and two large stationary bars, which are perfectly placed for flow of traffic and need no dressing up.

For more information, go to the Pearl Stables website. They have great pictures, information on event space rental, and the history of the venue.

Happy Planning!

The Connection Wholesale Florist

Are you on a budget and have been known to have a creative streak? Do you want an inexpensive option for flowers? Enter: The Connection Wholesale Florist in Fort Worth, Texas. A DIY bride’s dream! The Connection offers wedding floral design classes throughout the year for $45, which includes all materials and instruction fees. Each session covers how to hand-tie a bouquet, corsage, and boutonniere as well as how to design a centerpiece. Each class is limited to 10 students, so you know you will get tons of one-on-one attention from Texas Master Florist, Virginia Glover, owner of Willow Creations, a wedding and event design company.

Disclaimer: While you might enjoy having a hand in your own flower arrangements, make sure to have a family member or friend around for back-up. If your bouquet unravels in the heat of your July wedding, you don’t want to be the only one who knows how to fix it!

Party Pick: Why not make it a girls night? Grab some of your hard-working wedding supporters, and treat them to this informational and fun event!

Even if doing all the arranging isn’t your “thang,” The Connection has great prices when buying your flowers in bulk. With great deals like the 15-flower “Texas Dozen,” you’ll be sure to find everything you need and still fit your floral budget!

Irresistible Idea: Teapots

An easy way to add a whimsical touch to your spring wedding, bridal luncheon, or baby shower is to use a unique vase for your floral centerpieces: the teapot. With the revival of Alice in Wonderland, it got me thinking of inexpensive ways to create this fun, customized look at any event.

Quick Fix:
I found an inexpensive white teapot at Bed, Bath & Beyond. For a little more variety in eye appeal and height, you could also grab some cups and saucers. For a classic look, just grab a bunch of assorted flowers, trim at an angle, and place in water in your teapot. Don’t want to design an arrangement? Just grab a bunch of roses – easy, gorgeous, chic!

DIY Project:
Get out your paint pens! Most paint pens you can purchase at your local arts and crafts store (I recommend Hobby Lobby) will work well on a ceramic surface. Make sure to purchase some sort of clear spray seal to protect against scratches. If this idea is foreign to you, ask a customer service representative, and they can help guide you.

For a “ladies tea party”, select some pastels or a neutral color palette. Decorate your teapots with scroll designs, polka dots, or whatever fits your theme. For those advanced DIY-ers, you can get stencil designs and paint on more elaborate designs. For a fun, “mad hatter” theme, choose bold, contrasting colors and big prints (my personal favorites are red, black, and white!).

Takeaway:
For a customized place card, you could write each guest’s name on their cup and saucer. Make sure to make each design slightly different, as this will help create a “shabby chic” sort of feel.

Time Investment:
Elegant ceramic, vintage silver and delicate china teapots are all over antique stores. With so many of them misplaced from the rest of their sets, you can find some unique pieces for low prices if you are watching for them. Mix and match different patterns, sizes, and shapes of teapots, but keep in mind an overall color scheme. Finding enough for your event may take some time, but the overall effect you will create is timeless beauty!

Happy Planning!