A Carnival Themed 1st Birthday!
 What fun! Miss Kaitlyn turned One Year Old in February, and I was asked to be a part of the planning. Such a lucky girl. The theme was old-fashion midway or carnival.  The party was held at Granite Bay Golf Club, where we brought in a carnival tent and six old-timey wooden games. Many children got into the action, as did a few parents. I retained the services of Sierra College cheerleaders who helped the kids with the games, passed out the prizes, and also worked with little ones at the arts and craft table.   Carnival food was served - tray passed mini hamburgers and vegie sticks in ranch dip (the vegies were an attempt to be somewhat healthy since the buffet included corn dogs, mac & cheese, mozzarella sticks and four styles of French fries) Lordy, Lordy!  I love the cake, in the perfect theme. This cake was served to the guests, while little Kaitlyn got her own mini-cake.   And what carnival doesn't serve popcorn? We set up 5 containers each containing a different flavor. Believe it or not, the favorite might have been the cheddar cheese flavor!  Cute table centerpieces - simple and perfect for the kids to enjoy.  The cheerleaders, holding the Birthday Girl were so much fun, and a huge hit to the party! Here they are in front of a giant popcorn box (filled with balloons at the top).  Each child who played the carnival games received tons of prizes and stuffed the winnings into their own box.  Thank you so much to Jeremy Underwood of Sharpe Photographers who took all these photos, and so many more - we had a blast working together on this event. Happy, Happy Birthday Kaitlyn. Be sure to have mommy and daddy contact me for all your birthday parties! Labels: Granite Bay Golf Club, Granite Bay Wedding Planner, Jeremy Underwood, Sacramento Wedding and Event Planners, Sharpe Photographers
Granite Bay Golf Club Bridal Open House
Anca & Chris - Part 2
After the serious religious wedding ceremony held at The Saints Archangels Michael & Gabriel Romanian Orthodox Church, Chris & Anca enjoyed fun and frivolity at their reception at Granite Bay Golf Club. When guests arrived, they enjoyed noshing at the chocolate fountain and the newlyweds spent a little quiet time on the golf course being photographed by Monica Neumann Lunardi. Anca had purchased a darling faux fur cape to keep the January chill at bay. Very smart!   In our planning discussions, Anca advised that it is a Romanian custom that she circle three times around a bucket of water (originally milk) and then kick the bucket over! The symbolism is carefree abundance and good luck. I happen to own a vintage milk bucket... here it is - with some water.   After this, the newlyweds, parents and godparents gather with a glass of champagne, gave a toast to the bride and groom and to themselves as a family, and then threw their glasses into a pile, smashing them with great enthusiam. This photo is a little dark as I (very smartly) laid a black cloth on the ground so as to make it a bit easier to clean up 12 broken champagne glasses!   Remember I said the Romanian gentlemen kiss the ladies' hand? So cool!!   Chris requested that each table have one bottle of Slivovitz so the guests may enjoy (another tradition in Romania). This is a very sweet plum brandy.  The lovely cake was created by Shelton's Wedding Cake Designs. And as you can see, Chris was so enjoying himself when feeding Anca.   Chris' brother blindfolded the eager groom prior to the removal of the garter.  Then slipped in a "ringer," which Chris was very surprised to feel quite a different leg then his sweet bride!  Other antics occured throughout the evening, such as steeling Anca's shoe and then auctioning it off to the highest bidder. Lots of laughs and good times. Congrats to Anca & Chris, and to Baby Christina due April 2010. You are a great couple, and you'll be wonderful parents. Noroc! (translation: good luck and good health. Labels: Granite Bay Golf Club, Granite Bay Wedding Planner, Monica Neumann Lunardi Photography, Romanian ceremony, Sacramento Wedding Planner, Shelton's Wedding Cake Designs
From Romania With Love
Meet Anca and Chris, my next couple to marry - which will be January 9, 2010. Chris first contacted me on November 9th... yep, that's just two months prior to the wedding date! His lovely bride-to-be lived in Romania, their home country, and he was trying to pull all the pieces together before she arrived last week. I've been working with Anca on her wedding wishes, via e-mail (don't we just love the internet!?), and we've been doing quite well.  I love their romantic story. September 2008, mutual friends talked Anca and Chris into communicating with each other via the internet. Anca lived in Romania, and Chris lives here in the Sacramento area. They had a lot in common since 10 years ago Chris lived in a neighboring district near the city that Anca lives. After a few months of e-mails, telephone calls and then some video calls via Skype, they could wink-wink and flirt-flirt more easily. In June '09, Anca made a trip to the United States to physically meet Chris. EXCITING! They both knew this was a very special and real relationship they had developed long-distance. It felt comfortable; as if they had known each other a long time. In July, Chris proposed - she said YES! However in September, Anca had to return back to Romania to continue her teaching position, but with the knowledge that she would be back to marry her beloved Chris in January 2010. Anca arrived last week, just before Christmas, and I took this cute picture of a loving couple, while in my office, when we sat down and wrapped up the details. They will marry at the Romanian Orthodox Church in Sacramento, and hold the reception at Granite Bay Golf Club. (I'm so happy Anca loves the club because Chris and I selected it for her sight-unseen!) Labels: Granite Bay Golf Club, Long Distance Wedding Planning, Sacramento Event Planner
Michelle & Kyle's Champagne Luncheon - Part 2
 Michelle and Kyle's November 21st wedding had some fun elements incorporated... guests lined up to have their Polaroid photo taken and then they wrote a sentiment in the guest book (I tucked the book into the newlywed's luggage so they would enjoy reading while on their honeymoon!)  Mike Anderson of Creative Memories Entertainment had the crowd, and especially the bridal party, up on their feet, singing and dancing. Everybody was happy and enjoying the afternoon.  When DJ Mike interviewed Kyle, he learned about the groom's love of football... so cleverly, Mike arranged for the just-removed garter to be slipped over a football , which was previously autographed by Michelle & Kyle. The mad scramble to catch the garter was very amusing!! (or maybe the scramble was to catch a football??) Side note... the fella with his arm in the sling did not make the catch.   The newlyweds changed out of their wedding finery and got (very) comfortable for their departure. With windows painted and balloons fastened, the get-away car awaited the newlyweds who drove to beautiful Lake Tahoe for their honeymoon. Another side note...because the reception ended at 4:00 p.m. there was plenty of time to make a drive to Tahoe and start a well deserved time of R&R... good idea!    These high school sweethearts are a wonderful couple, and I was very happy to be a part of their wedding planning and get them started in a new phase of their life. Labels: Ambience Floral Design, Creative Memories Entertainment, Gino Greglia Photography, Granite Bay Golf Club, Granite Bay Wedding Planner, Karen's Bakery
Michelle & Kyle's Champagne Luncheon - Part 1
On November 21, 2009, Michelle & Kyle exchanged wedding vows before 110 guests in the handsomely appointed Colt Room of Granite Bay Golf Club. This was a daytime wedding, but the rich dark wood panelling, and the ability to close the window shades made for an intimate, romantic, candlelit ceremony. Judge Tom Cecil always does a nice job with the ceremony.  I love the colors Michelle chose for the bridesmaids dresses... her MOH wore sage green with brown ribbon sash, and her two bridesmaids a chocolate dress with sage green sash. The ever-so-talented Katie Edwards of Ambience Floral Design created fantastic bouquets to compliment the dresses - perfectly!   The Champagne Luncheon reception held in the Conservatory was beautiful! I enjoy creating a "Great Table" for the bridal party's head table, and this one was set for 10.  With a gentle nod to the fall season, the table linens from Celebrations Party Rentals were ivory with a tone-on-tone leaf pattern, walnut Chivari chairs added richness to the room, and the sage green and brown color scheme was prevalent in the florals. A unique collection of glassware, including a large apothecary jar, candy bowl, and candlesticks completed the tablescape.   Each guest received a beautifully wrapped favor box containing a juicy, fat, chocolate covered strawberry!  Karen's Bakery created the truly lovely wedding cake - such beautiful chocolate brown scroll work, and look at those stunning sugar flowers (girls... don't they look real?)   Michelle and Kyle were so happy and even though the morning was a chilly one, they soaked up the warmth of their love while spending time on one of the lovely bridges on the grounds of Granite Bay Golf Club.  Congrats you two... a beautiful wedding, for a beautiful couple! My sincere appreciation to Gino of Gino Greglia Photography for capturing all the details (and with such clarity!) I'll have Part 2 up in a few more days... showing more details and some of the fun good time. Labels: Ambience Floral Design, Autumnal Wedding Theme, Gino Greglia Photography, Granite Bay Golf Club, Granite Bay Wedding Planner, Judge Tom Cecil, Karen's Bakery
Hot August Night-Part 2 (it's all about Sean!)
Sean is a fireman... every girl's dream guy ! He is enthusiastic, fun-loving and so happy to marry his true love, Ashley. I thought I'd give some special recognition for Sean's involvement at this fantastic wedding held in August (on a fairly hot night!) at Granite Bay Golf Club. More photos of this vibrant wedding were posted last week. Sean and I cooked up a surprise for Ashley. When she reached for the lovely cake knife at the cake cutting, Sean reached under the table to pull out his very clean, highly polished fireman's ax. Look at Ashley's expression!  Even funnier, is Sean's expression as they actually did cut the cake with the ax. Pure joy! This whimsical cake was designed by Sugar and Spice and...  A very special moment during the reception was the inclusion of a bagpiper and drummer from the Sacramento Fire Department Pipes & Drums Corp. These two musicians marched into the reception room, just ahead of Ashley & Sean. The crowd went wild with applause, cheering, and quite a few had tears in their eyes. It was moving, touching and Sean was beaming with pride. At the perfect moment, the newlyweds enjoyed some quiet time on the golf course and took photos in front of a great sky-on-fire-sunset.  When we detailed the music with DJ Doug LeVine of Music on the Move, Sean told him that he had a special song to end the evening with - For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) by AC/DC. At each one of the four canon-like sounds within the song, the crowd was surprised with four confetti launches - WOW! (Thanks, Doug!!)  Ashley had envisioned a sparkler exit, but Sean, being the cautious fireman, felt a bit uneasy about that, and so we compromised with a pathway of candlelight (contained in glass).  And finally, what better send-off but to leave the wedding reception, riding on the back of an antique firetruck from the Rocklin Fire Department.   Have a wonderful life you two. Your wedding was spectacular (in Sean's words... "Epic") and most memorable! Labels: Bag Pipers, Granite Bay Golf Club, Granite Bay Wedding Planner, Jordan's Photographic Designs, Music on the Move, Sugar and Spice
|
What fun! Miss Kaitlyn turned One Year Old in February, and I was asked to be a part of the planning. Such a lucky girl. The theme was old-fashion midway or carnival.
The party was held at Granite Bay Golf Club, where we brought in a carnival tent and six old-timey wooden games. Many children got into the action, as did a few parents. I retained the services of Sierra College cheerleaders who helped the kids with the games, passed out the prizes, and also worked with little ones at the arts and craft table.
I love the cake, in the perfect theme. This cake was served to the guests, while little Kaitlyn got her own mini-cake.
Cute table centerpieces - simple and perfect for the kids to enjoy.
The cheerleaders, holding the Birthday Girl were so much fun, and a huge hit to the party! Here they are in front of a giant popcorn box (filled with balloons at the top).
Each child who played the carnival games received tons of prizes and stuffed the winnings into their own box.
Thank you so much to Jeremy Underwood of Sharpe Photographers who took all these photos, and so many more - we had a blast working together on this event.
