Becca & Dustin – More! (Part 2)

Because of Beth’s (True Love Photo)  extreme  photographic talent, and never missing a design detail, I have so many fantastic pictures to share of Becca & Dustin’s June 19th home wedding.  Sit back and enjoy!    Becca envisioned a little bit of Southern Elegance (she and her sister spent a few Saturdays on  ladders hanging  Spanish Moss from the trees), and wanted to upscale the vibe by adding lots of color, crystals, and hanging lanterns.  Check, check and done!

Tables were named and peacock feathers added to compliment the table linens selected.  It’s always a pleasure to work with the great gals at Celebrations Party Rentals.  And thank you so much to my pal Sarah with Cuttings Floral Design for the perfectly coordinated flowers.  Love ‘em!

To compliment that Southern feel,  The Zebra Club, our fun and accomplished bartending service, created Mint Juleps.  Hummmmmm (oh, I only sampled!)

This picture has histoy to it… Beth and I have been setting up this shot for a few years.  Becca and Dustin enjoy a great cold beer… thus their toasting goblets were filled.

And, have you ever seen a wedding cake that followed with the theme so beautifully?  Carissa with Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts really outdid herself!  What a focal piece!

Becca ‘s mom and dad love to garden and the entrance to their property had a long driveway lined with all sorts of flowers.  Daisies, cosmos, dahlias and a beautiful crop of just beginning to bloom sunflowers.

I gave Becca the suggestion of making a bride & groom scaregrow, as it seemed so fitting with the garden.  She had the best time shopping in thrift stores for what she referred to as “the ugliest ’70s style wedding gown.”  Rather than a top hat for the groom, they used a Billibong logo baseball cap.

After a scrumption and plentiful buffet dinner prepared by Bravo Pasteria, wedding cake, fun at the photo booth (complete with goofy hats) by Jensen Films, then the dancing began, under the light of paper lanterns.  Doug & Dara with Music on the Move added some wonderful special touches and a little interactive frivolity, and then the p-a-r-t-y dancing began.  Crewful at 10:00?  NOT!

Thank you Becca and Dustin, and also your wonderful families.  It was a delight to work with you over the year.  I’m going to miss you!  You’re great parents to baby Coralynne. Enjoy your wedded life and your beautiful family.  Also a huge thank you to all the vendors who worked so hard and so caringly to create a fantastic day for this couple.

"Building" a Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving is always at our house, and thankfully, we have a small family. Six will be sitting at the table; a manageable group. I don’t mind cooking, but what I really like is “table top fashion.” I just finished setting the table, and thought I’d rest a bit before peeling the potatoes.

First the blank slate…

Then the required cornicopia… filled with lemons and oranges from our tree, a small squash, harvest corn and a cluster of grapes. Those are old sunflower heads that I grew years ago.
We must add in the obligatory Pilgrams and Indians. Funny, I never noticed that the eyes of the Indians looks like they’ve enjoyed a little “firewater!”

Set the table with seasonal china and colored wine glasses, and the job is done!

Let’s eat!

More on the NACE tabletop competition

In a previous post (June 26, 2009), I discussed the very fun and unique table top design contest sponsored by the National Assn. of Catering Executives (NACE) and by Real Weddings Magazine. My friend Kendra and I created the table we named Riviere Chocolat Diamant. I wanted to share the wonderful video clip that Mike Jensen of Jensen Films created, showcasing all the tables, and he included “interviews” with most of the table top designers. And yes, that’s goofy me in the yellow top… it’s hard to be very serious talking to a man with a black box in front of his face! Seriously, Mike is an awesome videographer and a joy to work with. His final production work on a wedding video is genius!

Log on to http://www.sacramentowedding.blogspot.com/ Be prepared to be wowed, and amused, too!

Riviere Chocolat Diamant

Tuesday night was a blast! My good friend Kendra of Pfeiffer Event Planning, and I, joined forces to enter the NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) tabletop competition. And there was some stiff competition! The name for our table was Riviere Chocolat Diamant – roughly translated into River of Chocolate Diamonds.

We used no flowers, just a few cool seed pods, but we did incorporate chocolate covered raisins for the “river” and white rock candy for the diamonds flowing through. Classic Party Rentals provided the luxurious chocolate satin table linens and we had a great time selecting the beautiful complimenting chargers, china, flatware and glasses.

Carissa of Sugar and Spice created a unique towered dessert, although due to the heat of the late afternoon, along with the candles and camera lights, the tower had to be dismantled so as not to topple (but heck, the taste was still the same – delicious!)

Thanks to Jacqueline Photography for taking wonderful detailed shots. In the next issue of Real Weddings Magazineall the fabulous tables will be shown… wait until you see the 1st Place winner (really, really unique and wonderful!).