Details From The Surprise Wedding

I know I promised you this last Monday, but late is better than never, right? The flowers and details for Tom and Michelle's wedding were absolutely stunning. Buffy Hargett more than delivered as usual.

Tulips were hung from the ceiling in the foyer at Park Lane.

The place cards were arranged in shiny green apples. If you are as anal as I am, you might want to set aside an extra hour to get the cards perfectly straight. This project was a little more difficult than it appears.

The table numbers were displayed in fresh pears to go along with the fresh look.

I wish I had more photos of the food but Kathy G. and her staff knocked it out of the park on this one. Not only was it one of the wonderful meals I have ever had at a wedding, the service was impeccable!

Matthew DeVine is my new favorite musician. I love his solo act, and I am thrilled I get to work with his big band is September.

The most beautiful detail of all was Michelle! She was gorgeous inside and out.

(FYI...I wasn't dressed for the wedding yet.)

So thankful to be busy!

Wow, what a week! Meetings, meetings and more meetings, but I am happy to say A LOT was accomplished! I scoped out venues and vendors for a September wedding, worked on details for a May wedding, assured my July MOB (mother of the bride) that the bride would be saying "Neillie, Neillie, Neillie"....instead of "Momma, Momma, Momma," gathered supplies for a Dessert Party and began the planning process for an unbelievably urban engagement party.

I have to say, I have enjoyed the last two hours on the sofa with Pizza, Chambers (my precious Wheaten Terrier), Tom and DVR, but now it is time to get back to work.....

Inside my mind this week you will find.......

1) Handwritten Calligraphy Invitations....This invitation is done by Laura Hooper. Her work is amazing. Check out her save-the-date maps.

2) Couple's Monogram.....Very cool idea to truly make your wedding your own!

3) Cupcake toppers for a prince and princess party....Etsy.com here I come.

4) Pink Bubble Gum arrangement for a 18 year-old's dessert birthday party

5) Yes...I am not kidding...possibly a port-a-potty. Don't worry, by the time the event comes around, you will not even know it is a potty. Just the right decor (and maybe a few drinks) and the men will think this is just another restroom.

6) A carb heavy/meat heavy hors d'oeuvres

7) A florist that that will create simple/elegant arrangements for a good price. Okay..so the arrangements I need made are far more simple than this bouquet, I promise. This is the color we are using so I wanted to put it out here.

8) Hotel room blocks in two cities. It is a huge hassle to deal with sales managers at various hotels. Pat Rice will take the stress out of it for you!

9) Wine with Arden from Arden Photography to discuss the world of weddings.

10) Last but not least....Advertising for Gather!

Happy Planning!

-NB

Personalize your Event

Tom surprised me with a new wedding book a few weeks ago and I can not begin to tell you how awesome it is. Jung Lee is an amazing wedding planner in New York who created her own event planning company after planning her own wedding a few years ago. She was in need of a planner herself and only found two types of planners....neither fitting what she was looking for. There were the either the planners who only wanted to re-live their wedding again through someone else, or those who focused more on completing the basic checklists than actually "creating" the event. Jung Lee strives for more....

I have spent many Saturday mornings sipping coffee with my nose in my new book reading every word on every page. I have realized that it is not just the beautiful settings and details she creates, but the fundamental principles behind her weddings that I admire so much. I just love the phrase "personalization and orchestration of the entire experience."

Personalization and details are my favorite things. Whether it is a birthday party, wedding, rehearsal dinner or house party, there are unique ways to make the event your own, and leave your guests admiring all the details. For example, I am working on a Sweet 16 party for two great girls. To start with, we are personalizing the party with their own party logo created by Razzle Dazzle Creative Design (I cannot show you yet, it is a surprise)!! By the time we are done with it, I hope you will see this logo everywhere (oh, how fun it would be to be 16 again).

Below are a few fun ideas I have seen while researching for some upcoming events ....

Not a huge fan of silhouettes, but I do like the fact they used them starting with the invitations and carried the theme through the reception.

This is a paper cone filled with puff balls for guests to throw when the bride and groom leave the reception. Instead of letting the guests assume what they should do with the puff balls, they added a nice little touch....
"As the bride and groom come your way
toss the pom poms and shout hooray!"

A signature cocktail is an EASY way to add a little spunk to your bar! Everyone loves this little detail...have a way to let your guests know why you chose this drink (favorite color, brings back special memory, etc).

LOVE this crossword puzzle. What a cute way to tell your guests a little more about the bride and groom (or the hostess)! This puzzle was placed under the place setting at the seated dinner.

I am working with a bride and groom that have a theme "A bicycle built for two." Katie, if you are reading...another way for you to incorporate your theme!

This might be my favorite for few reasons....1) Guests will love wearing these pins with different couple sayings while also seeing what other one's say - editor's note, Tom is not as excited about the buttons as I am; 2) As the planner, I will love thinking of things that are "better together!" and 3) Tom and I kitchen dance to Jack Johnson's "Better Together" and I just love that song!

Happy Planning!

-Neillie