Wedding Invitations- Raising the Bar!

My goodness, have you seen anything so *swoon-worthy?*

This was hand delivered to my office yesterday wrapped in beautiful clear plastic and a purple satin bow. When I first set my eyes on this invitation I literally gasped !

I'd like to say that in my many years of being a wedding planner, I have "been there and seen that." My exposure to creativity in this industry is so incredibly vast, but this truly broke the mold.

Individually and carefully placed mums were placed on the "purse" where, inside, revealed a dupioni silk-wrapped invitation.

Intended as a luxury weekend sponsored by The Hilton, this can most certainly be the most divine invitation to an intimate wedding or bridal shower.

This extraordinary creation is from the creative collaboration between Lindsey Luxa with Dragonfly Custom Design and Flourish Floral Productions. I've had the great fortune to work with both of them, and their work {clearly} speaks for itself!

Wedding Video Trailer: Lisa and Keith Hargrove

The stars were in alignment when I met and began working with Lisa Campbell & Keith Hargrove. They wanted a destination wedding in the Caribbean, friend and colleague Tami Corday had just been transferred to The Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman and it's all been a match made in island heaven...

Likewise, I recruited partners to travel with me down to Grand Cayman like Lindsey Luxa with Dragonfly Custom Design who designed from here , and new "friend-partners," Joanne & Keisha with Celebrations already established and widely successful on the island that I knew could pull off this sophisticated island wedding weekend off flawlessly.

Our wedding weekend began last Thursday as Garrett and Joy Nudd, Jeffrey Stoner, Jessy and myself flew in to Grand Cayman and checked into the luxe Ritz Carlton. Wedding guests were received by attractive, informative and delicious welcome bags in their rooms and a welcome reception to kick off the weekend on the right note.

Friday boasted a perfect rehearsal dinner off property at a quaint waterside restaurant on the island called The Wharf.

All goodness prevailed on Saturday when we all experienced prime weather for our set, the ceremony and portraits to follow.

Sincere heartfelt gratitude goes out to those friends and partners who contributed their time, talent and hearts to facilitating such a memorable wedding for Lisa and Keith...

The weekend was somehow captured to emotional perfection in this wedding trailer produced by Jeffrey Stoner on the day we arrived back from Grand Cayman. Always moving, always captivating--this trailer keeps you wanting more.

Enjoy reliving this past weekend in paradise!

Inspired Wedding Tabletop Decor:"Daoyi Icepiration"

One may say I over-think things. Of course, I would disagree, arguing that I think things through thoroughly... :)

This tabletop that "the team" and I created was born from a couple of things I had been wanting to do for some time which were:

1. Creating a table scape that was actually "inside" the table. A little "off," I know, but I have grown to expect by now that both Awny Kashoggi and Tommy Murphy just "get me!"


2. Appeal to an Asian aesthetic and culture which I am completely fascinated with.


3. To not just out ANOTHER ROUND table on the floor. The idea was to "inspire" after all!

With that criteria, our "Daoyi Icepiration" table was born. My research showed that Mazu Daoyi's life took an extended journey, much as I refer to the process of wedding planning.

This table was, I felt, the most challenging. Thank goodness I was surrounded by the additional creativity and enthusiasm of Awny and Tommy. Awny's ability to "space configure," much like an architect, brought this table higher with sleek, black leather stools around. He determined exactly how to produce the"inserted" design. Of course, Tommy took it from there with the amazing zen design with carefully selected floral, trays as chargers and stones.

Taking it even one step further, we recruited phenom, Lindsey Luxa with Dragonfly Custom Design to create our menus on acrylic. Yes, acrylic!

I am also especially thankful to Damon Tucci who got the real polished images you see here and even scaled a ladder to get them.

This table was especially marvelous and gratifying. Though we used this as strictly a "show table," I was grinning from ear to ear when the general manager to The Ritz Carlton told me he wished he could eat at that table...:)

Inspired Wedding Tabletop Decor: Effortlessly Elegant

The second table that I featured with my select partners for the most recent Ritz Carlton, Orlando-Grand Lakes wedding show, "Impress, Indulge, Inspire" was named "Effortlessly Elegant."

Borrowing a few words from the E Events tag line, Tommy, Awny and I set out to create a table that was high on style, class, decorum and grace.

I became admittedly nervous while planning the original 3 table "looks" with the gentlemen, fearing I was alienating a large demographic who remained classic and traditional. {When taken off the leash, I tend to get carried away and go for "bravado" rather than "mainstream!"}

To my delight, a 4th table option was offered to me, so I truly jumped at the opportunity to design and plan this absolutely gorgeous table.

This was indeed a "dining table," and one that I personally dined at that evening along with some special guests. Tommy, as always, became insistent on the practicality of the table testing and re-testing the guests' sight-line. {So important, and it was noticed and appreciated by guests that evening!}

I love how the applicationof one floral color hue. White in this instance, made the bold impact and statement I was looking for while keeping the "traditional" bride content as well. Equally as pleasing, were the vases selected for the centerpieces. Traditional glass? Yes. The different shape, however, brings on that "fresh " approach I call for. {That's how YOU stand apart!}

BBJ Linen assisted us with this linen selection for this table and did a magnificent job of bringing what was in my head to the table. I adore how they treated the chiavari chairs with that chiffon and ribbon; it was so ethereal.

Lindsey Luxa with Dragonfly Custom Design created breathtaking menus and escort cards, classic in design but on metallic paper with a crystal accent atop. Perfect!

Along for the ride, taking pictures and dining next to me, was Damon Tucci who was kind enough to capture this table for me as well...{top photo}

Luck Comes in Three's: THIRD Announcement

Pinch me please as the luck seems to keep on coming!

The (well beyond I could have ever hoped for!) wildly successful event that I partnered and produced with The Ritz Carlton, "Down the Aisle" is heading to Denver, Colorado!!!

I am especially excited to have many of the same ingenues that made the event what it was last year including Austin Scarlett, lead designer and creative director for Kenneth Pool. We are using his designs exclusively this year and The Ritz Carlton Denver and I welcome him back to "Down the Aisle" with great enthusiasm.

How does one thank the talented people that helped me last year who didn't even think twice or blink an eye about supporting me once again on the other side of the country? I will tell you Kristy, Jeffrey, Awny, Carl and Lindsey: It is my personal mission to find out how--

Added to the roster this year: Garrett Nudd, Ryan Joseph and Ian Prosser!!!

The sweet faces above you may even recognize!

The show is scheduled for July 9, 2008 at The Ritz Carlton Denver. Creative, thoughtful and enticing plans are already underway and this is a great time indeed.

I wish you could all come and make it, but seats are definitely more limited at this property. If not, you know I am always eager to share...

Below, please enjoy viewing the video artfully produced by Jeffrey Stoner that opened the show last year. It truly grabbed our guests' attention within the first minutes of taking their seats and held their attention all night long...




Finally, you can experience "Down the Aisle" as if you were a guest last year! This video was compiled from those nail-biting hours prior to the show up until the very end...