Archive for the ‘Reception’ Category

Today’s summer inspiration comes from one of my all time favorite things: gingham!  I just absolutely love the clean look of a bright summer gingham, whether its a button down or a dress, even just as ribbon on a flower pot.  And the bright white and color combinations make it absolutely perfect for summer fashion.  These pictures were just some of my favorites (I really had to refrain from including hundreds!)  Enjoy!

PHOTO CREDIT:

1. http://weddingcenterpiecesonline.com/gingham-wedding-ribbons.html

2. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

3. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

4. http://www.theknot.com/

5. http://hankandhunt.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-heart-stripesdotsand-checkspart-2-of.html

6. http://alfrescoweddings.blogspot.com/2010/07/gingham-accents-for-your-wedding.html

7. http://itsabrideslife.com/grooms/gingham-ties-vests-and-suspenders/

8. http://www.thewhitelibrary.com/

9. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cococake/4817082426/

10. http://thingsthatwelove.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/table-setting.jpg

11. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

12. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

13. http://lisaricephotography.com/blog/2011/03/monday-math-wedding-decor-on-a-budget/

14. http://manolohome.com/2009/10/27/check-check-check/

15. http://www.petdogonline.net/?p=219

16. http://www.modeleweddings.com/2011/03/sweet-nothing-from-modele-weddings/

17. http://www.modeleweddings.com/2011/03/sweet-nothing-from-modele-weddings/

Well, it is another beautiful summer day and in honor of the sunshine, our summer highlight of the day is sunflowers! These large, happy flowers somehow capture the essence of summer: simple, fun, and glorious in their bright, bold colors.  Using sunflowers in your wedding, whether as a simple addition to wildflower bouquets and arrangements or as inspiration for your entire color scheme, will add tons of festive summer beauty and cheer!

PHOTO CREDITS

1. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2675740104_08c09d3a7f.jpg

2. http://www.sunflowergardenwedding.com/

3.http://jenadevents.blogspot.com/2009/02/for-jennifer-sunflower-wedding.html

4. http://www.w-weddingflowers.com/sunflower-wedding-flowers-2/

5. http://blisstree.com/feel/party-ideas-inspired-by-sunflowers/

6. http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/2009/08/real-invitations-jennifer-james/

7. http://www.pdbloom.com/Sunflower%20Table%20Marker.jpg

8. http://www.momentaldesigns.com/2011/05/05/inspirations-sunflower-wedding-invitations/

9. http://bellafiori-events.blogspot.com/2010/04/flower-inspiration-rembrandt-yard.html

10. http://www.azweddingfloral.com/tag/sunflower-wedding/

Summer is absolutely my favorite season.  Despite being an avid snowboarder, and having a deep appreciation for the transitory natures of Fall and Spring, I can honestly say this is true.  For me, there is something magical about the longer days spent soaking up sunshine and the glorious sunsets that often come well after dinner.  I look forward to barbecues, walks in the woods, and days at the beach all year long, as well as the inherent time spent with family and friends.  And Summer is not just my favorite season, it also happens to my favorite season for weddings.

So, in honor of Summer and beautiful Summer weddings, I will be doing a series of posts highlighting some fun and unique decor aspects to really channel the fun of Summer.

Enjoy!

Part I: The Summer Barbecue

There are few things that truly capture the essence of summer like a barbecue.  It’s outdoors, involves tasty food, and brings people together for a good time.  I absolutely love barbecues!  For a wedding, the barbecue can be the focus of just your menu, or of the entire reception.  Either way, your guests will love such a tasty offering!  If you want to go all out, you can use it as inspiration for your table decor, using gingham and bandana prints.  You could even give guests mini bottles of BBQ sauce as favors!

Photo Credit:

1. http://www.jackdostal.com/images/WeddingBarbecueSunset.JPG

2. http://www.potterybarn.com/design-studio/articles/how_to_throw_a_summer_barbecue_by_summer_barbecue.html

3. http://www.yumsugar.com/Come-Party-Me-End-Summer-BBQ-Look-4414785

4. http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2009/05/25/summertime-let-the-parties-begin/

5. http://andwhataboutgrace.blogspot.com/2009/09/weddingand-summer-bbq_14.html

6. http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/backyard-bbq-reception-inspiration-help

7. http://thecordialcricket.wordpress.com/

8. http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/08/27/wedding-favor-ideas/

We all know a well stocked bar is, in most cases at least, key to a successful wedding reception.  But the bar, more specifically what is being served, can be a great way to add personal and unique details that guests are bound to remember (or try to forget as the case may be.)  Rather than picking some arbitrary, overly sweet cocktail as a specialty, think about the other aspects of your wedding and use those as inspiration; your goal should be a drink choice or two that ties into the rest of the wedding and really reflects you as a couple.  Look at things like your own personal favorites, your decorations, even the weather.  By finding a specialty drink that flows with the surroundings, you can create an even more seamless reception.

DÉCOR INSIRED

We love the idea of translating a wedding theme into liquid form.  For instance, if you are using the glamour of the Roaring Twenties as inspiration, consider offering Champagne Punch and Old Fashioneds.  You can even go one step further, and rent champagne coupe glasses, the traditional shallow glasses used in the era.  Your guests will feel like true members of the Lost Generation holding such glamorous drinks.

If your inspiration comes from a place rather than a time, look for regional drinks that your guests may already love or that may become a new favorite.  For instance, if you are going for a Spanish influence, sangria will make a great, festive addition.  If you are offering Spanish cuisine, like tapas, red and white sangria will make a great compliment to your delicious meals!  But if your are using Jolly Old England as your motherland, consider offering Pimm’s Cup, a cocktail punch that is traditionally offered at summer weddings in Britain.

A Jolly Good Cocktail

HIS AND HERS COCKTAILS

If you don’t have (or don’t want) a matching drink for you theme, consider personalizing by offering your recommendations to your guests.  If you absolutely adore a certain white wine, or dirty Grey Goose martinis, share it with your guests.  Even if your fiance’s favorite drink is a tall boy of PBR, both he and his guests should be able to enjoy something near and dear to his heart.

Beautiful and Delicious

SEASONAL LIBATIONS

Another way to offer guests something tailored to your day is to use the weather as your guide.  For hot summer weather, consider something light, refreshing and maybe fruity.  Watermelon is something just about everyone associates with the hotter months, so look into watermelon cocktails or even beer (odd sounding, but absolutely delicious!)  If you are getting married in the dead of winter, offer guests Hot Toddies or hot cider and spiced rum to help them stay warm.

A Delectable Summer Specialty

The final step in selecting your specialty cocktail choices is to choose a fun and unique way to display them to your guests.  You can have the list typed and framed on the bar, or even in larger frames hanging behind.  For a more rustic feel, chalk boards are always a good option.  Or maybe instead of having traditional framed cocktail menus, you have laminated cocktail recipe cards with pictures, like those used by bartenders.  Just be creative! And remember, no amount of drink testing and tasting is too much!

An Adorably Rustic Cocktail Display

We are finally getting around to posting photos from our 2010 weddings – and this one was truly beautiful. Sara and Chris decided to tie the knot in Boston and plan the wedding from their home in Chicago. With an incredible team of wedding professionals we had a fantastic party – with large thanks to Jo Cush Photography and Blooms of Hope for their stunning work.

Hope you are doing well and enjoying the summer, Sara and Chris!

Thanks to the fabulous team of:

Venue: Commanders Mansion
Photography: Jo Cush Photography
Flowers: Blooms of Hope
Catering: Above and Beyond Catering
Cake and Favors: Wilson Farm
Officiant: Mimi Graney

This Saturday, May 21, Old Navy is having a $1 sale on their flip flops. Summer weddings: this is the time to buy!

How many flip flops should you get? And in what sizes?? We suggest:

Purchase enough for your female guests { about 50% of your guest list }
Let’s approximate at 100 pairs. To accommodate the most guests, we suggest:
Size 5: 5 pairs
Size 6: 20 pairs
Size 7: 30 pairs
Size 8: 30 pairs
Size 9: 5 pairs
Size 10: 5 pairs
Size 11: 5 pairs

Then find an appropriate way to display them for your guests. One of our summer clients is planning to greet guests at the end of the venue’s driveway with a glass of champagne and flip flops – sounds like the start of a fantastic party!

{ post-dancing shoes }

In the words of a good friend and photographer, Tyra Bleek, these songs make our heart sing.

As a well-known fixture in Boston’s South End, and one of the hottest spots in town for live music, The Beehive is easily one of our favorite venues!  From the uniquely beautiful décor to the ultra cool atmosphere, The Beehive exudes awesome.

Their website describes it as a “Bohemian eatery” serving up “simple, satisfying, and generous comfort food,” with sumptuous cocktails and world class live music, which is absolutely true- the food, the drinks, the atmosphere: there’s truly no place like it.

But beyond being one of the coolest restaurants in town, The Beehive is an extraordinary venue and an absolutely fabulous place to host a wedding- your wedding in fact!  The space itself is raw industrial with lush décor elements like red velvet curtains and crystal chandeliors, the juxtaposition of which makes the place edgy but decadent.  We absolutely love the ever changing art displays from local artists: they seem to make the restaurant a completely new space with every turnover.  But my personal favorite details are the hand-made, reclaimed wood bars- in the upstairs bar you can actually find the top of an antique toy box.  Just a small thing that shows how truly one of a kind the place is.

We had the chance to talk with Chrystyna Kassaraba, head of event coordination about why she thinks where she works and why The Beehive makes an incredible spot for a wedding.

“The Beehive is unique in so many ways. Be it our general concept, our bohemian design, the caliber of the musicians that grace our stage, being a part of, and supporting the local arts community, our award-winning menu; to our wine list of select wines and champagnes from the ‘not-so-ordinary’ wine makers. Our staff makes sure each detail is seen to and they really connect with our guests and clients.”

When asked about her favorite weddings in The Beehive, the cool factor of the venue came through even stronger:

“All of the ceremonies and receptions have been special in many ways but a few of our favorites where when the groom who plays in a band wrote and sang a song for his bride, we also had a brother of the groom sing a song right after the ceremony which brought everyone, even the staff, to tears.”

She emphasized that when helping a client host their wedding, the goal of the staff is to channel the client’s personality, to make the day a reflection of their love and relationship, and most of all, uniquely theirs.  “We can help with directing couples to vendors that we have worked with and know how to maximize The Beehive whether it is a band, DJ or florist. We are here to make each event reflect the couple.”

We love The Beehive as a unique and urban space with so much potential for a personalized and distinctive wedding! Whether you choose to accent the industrial aspects of the building or the decadent design elements with your wedding décor, it seems all but impossible to go wrong.  The possibilities are endless and fun just to contemplate!