Sweet Sixteen Soiree

While weddings have been keeping me very busy this summer, I also have been working on a sweet sixteen for a very deserving birthday girl. When I was hired at the end of the July, I immediately got a group of A-list vendors together and began pulling ideas that would make the party a night to remember. Given the size of the crowd, we decided to throw a dessert themed dance party.

The invitation was found at Village Press at the beginning of the planning process, so it quickly became the focus of our decor theme.

The party was held in the back yard of the birthday girl's home. The yard has two levels to it, so we created a dessert lounge around the pool and put the D.J. and dance floor a few steps above the pool.

For decor, we skipped flowers all together and mainly focused on lighting. Alex from A.G. Lighting hooked us up with pink "up" lighting for the gazebo, string lights, white lanterns and spot lights for the corners of the pool. I also floated 34 glass bubble vases into the pool. Each vase contained pink water and a floating candle.

Every birthday party needs a birthday cake, so I gave Olexa a call. They were able to create a cake beautiful enough to be the focus of the dessert bar.

Kathy G. & Co. created some amazing sweet treats for the party. Cake pops on a stick and red velvet cupcakes were displayed on the dessert table along with a variety of pink candy, the birthday cake and Osler's sandwich's (just in case someone didn't want sugar).

Cellophane bags and custom labels were available for guests to make their own favor bags filled with rock candy, jelly beans, M&Ms, taffy, chocolate balls and sour belts.

FYI...I ordered the 36 oz. balloons online and had them blown up at Party City. The balloons were definitely one of my favorite details to the night.

What better way to end a hot summer night than with an ice cream sundae bar. Guests were served vanilla ice cream in a Cosmo glass and then given free reign to pile on the toppings.

The entertainment for the evening was DJ Chris from Feel The Beat Entertainment. The laser show that went along with every song was all we needed to create the perfect atmosphere for the dance floor.

Raspberry spritzers were also available for guests as they danced on and off the dance floor.

We also brought in a screen and projector (vaguely seen through the trees in this photo) to play a photo slide show of the birthday girl and her friends. The photographer for the night, Will Dickey, was even able to upload photos taken throughout the night to play during the party.

All and all, this was definitely one of Gather's favorite parties. The clients were an absolute delight to work with and I was so happy how everything turned out!

Happy Planning!

-NB

Rehearsal Dinner: Where are all these people going to sit??

Times have changed in the wedding world and what used to be "the way it has always been done" is not necessarily the way it's done today. I could go on and on giving examples in regards to the wedding ceremony and reception, but tonight I thought I would focus on the rehearsal dinner.

If you were to ask your grandmother who should be invited to a rehearsal dinner, she would likely tell you the wedding party and family only. If you were to ask a young engaged couple who they think should be invited to their rehearsal dinner, they will likely say the wedding party, family, out-of-town guests, close friends and parents of their close friends.

Over the years, rehearsal dinners have grown from a small intimate dinner to what some people would consider a second reception. I have seen couples go as far as having a 10 piece band, open bar, wedding cake and favors for hundreds of guests...I think "Rehearsal Party" is a more suitable name for this type of event.

So, now that you have this large guest list, it is now time to conquor the biggest task of all.......the placecards and seating chart. There are two big projects here....who is going to sit where and how are you going to inform guests (many of whom will not know each other) where they are sitting. The place settings and placecards open the doors for you to get creative and bring your whole event together.

The guests at this event had to follow clues to figure out which table they were assigned to. To me, this might be a little much; however, I liked the look of the board and give them credit for thinking outside the box. I would put the name of the guests on the envelopes and include the table number and menu as the insert.

Menus with the name of the guests at the top are a popular option. Not sure what the number 6 is for....regardless, I think it is pretty!

Who would have thought my least favorite flower would make sure a neat place card holder???

A traditional placecards with a fresh look ...


This couple's theme was based on things that are "just better together".....

Why not order everything you need as a set....invitation, placecards, table number and menus.

Something as simple as a paper napkin ring can do the trick....

An all-time favorite - antique keys!

Happy Planning!

-NB

Gather Wedding: Marc & Prim

I am so excited that the wedding photos from Marc and Prim's wedding are in. The happy couple got married June, 5, 2010 at St. Francis Xavier. The reception was held at Matt Jones Gallery. Gather was initially hired to be the weekend coordinator for the big event. However, as we got closer to the big day, the bride decided to let us get more involved with the planning. Below are some beautiful photos taken by the talented Stephen DeVries.

(got to love the guy crashing the photo!)

SPECIAL THANKS TO........

Catering: Occasions by Wynfrey

Florist: Carol Riley with Lilies

Cake: Barb's Cakes

Transportation: Trolley Time Fun and Coats Classic Cars

Venue: Matt Jones Gallery

Happy Planning!

-NB

Hiring a planner for the Rehearsal Dinner

While I spend most of my time working on weddings, I occasionally plan rehearsal dinners as well. I love having the opportunity to work with the groom's family as well as the bride's family to make the entire weekend special. There are some advantages in using the wedding planner for both events. The planner can insure the two events are unique, while also giving the entire weekend a consistent feel.

Both the wedding and rehearsal dinner can get expensive. The wedding planner can also help share some of the expenses between the two families.

Cost Saving Tips......

If you are looking to cut back on the floral budget, use the same florist for both events and ask them to re-use the flowers from the rehearsal dinner for the reception.

Buy a larger package from the photographer that includes Friday night and Saturday coverage. You usually get a good price break.

Instead of having two cakes at the reception, I am seeing a trend in the groom's cake being served at the rehearsal dinner instead of the reception.

I was recently hired to finish the planning for a client's rehearsal dinner. Since I was already working on the wedding, it was easy for me to pick up where the bride and groom had left off. They had already decided on the newly renovated state rooms at The Club, and invitations were already in the mail. I was left with the fun stuff...linens, table settings, place cards and logistics.

I collected wine bottles for a week (they were not all from my house, I promise) and used them for table numbers. To tie the weekend together, I used the wedding logo on one side and the table number on the other.

I robbed my sister and a friend's cork collection to make the place cards. Hint: You need to cut the back of the cork off to make it lay flat. Be careful, I almost lost my finger!

I made a large chalk board wall that listed all of the guests and their table numbers. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of it. I am hoping Seven Devries, the photographer, got one that I can share later!

Stay tuned for a post featuring Marc and Prim's beautiful wedding.

Happy Planning!

-NB

Gather Wedding: Fawn and Collin

Fawn and Collin were engaged in December of 2009, but did not decide to start planning their wedding until a few months later. I was thrilled to take on the task of planning their Birmingham wedding while the couple concentrated on studies and work in Washington D.C.

The couple's dream was to be married at The Cathedral Church of The Advent. Neither being members, I was happy to make a simple call to the church I have called home all of my life to see what we could do. Not thinking there would be an open Saturday in such a sort amount of time, I crossed my fingers and was thrilled to accept the only date available...May 29, 2010.

With only three months to plan and a bride living hundreds of miles away, we pulled together a team of incredible vendors:

Hannahelanine Photography (Nashville)

Rush Videos

Scott Wedgeworth

Emily Holmes Custom Stationary (Nashville)

Ryan Morrison, bagpiper

The Cantina

When I asked Fawn what she wanted to do for a wedding cake, she said she wanted to make peanut butter pies. I thought we would eventually order a wedding cake....how can a bride have time to make pies for 150 guests and still have time to walk down the aisle?

What can I say, Fawn is pretty awesome and pies were the hit of the night!!

As if the pies were not enough, Fawn also made 300 of Collin's favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Collin is one lucky man! The pies and cookies were incredible!

Thank you Fawn and Collin for letting me be a part of your big day! Your wedding was perfect and I loved planning every minute of it!

Happy Planning!
-NB

Gather Wedding: Meg and Devon

If you have had a chance to watch the video I posted on June 2nd, then you have seen the wedding of Meg and Devon. While the video by Jason Wallis shows you every detail of the day, I wanted to share a little more about this magnificent day!

Meg, an interior stylist (http://www.megcook.com/), knew exactly want she wanted when she set out to plan her small, spring-time wedding. The planning began around the ceremony and reception being held at her father's house at Smith Lake. It was very important to the bride and groom that only family and very close friends attend their intimate affair. They wanted a "laid back" feel without losing the formality of a traditional wedding.

The ceremony decor was focused around a large white umbrella. We had Scot Wedgeworth create an exquisite floral arrangement within the umbrella that served as a haven in which Meg and Devon said "I do."

The photographer had to head back to Birmingham before Meg and Devon wanted the reception to end, so we changed things up a bit.......we created little cones filled with rose petals that were in the chairs of every guest when they arrived at the ceremony. The cones had a sticker that read "as the happy couple comes your way, toss the petals and shout hurray!" Mission accomplished -- we were able to get the "going away photo" without having to rush the reception.

My favorite detail of this wedding were the various cake toppers Meg's late mother collected over the years. Devon's sister, a cake designer form Tuscaloosa, created multiple wedding cakes for Meg, and a delicious cinnamon roll cake for Devon. Having a cake designer in the family was a huge perk! Check out her website...For Goodness Cakes.

I am hoping to have some photos from Jason Wallis to add to this post. His photography skills are far better than mine (actually, I think Tom took these....have I mentioned that the blog editor's job description now includes working every wedding as well? This might be a topic for another post).

Happy Planning!

-NB