Wedding Decor- {More!} Furniture Rentals

In a previous post, I mentioned how the use of furniture groupings not only enhances the look of a "typical" wedding reception, but also offers some glamour and respite for enthusiastic yet weary dancers adjacent to the dance floor.

For this particular on trend wedding that I designed in collaboration with AFR Event Furnishings and Tommy Murphy with Greenery Productions we used furniture EVERYWHERE!

Our guest dining tables, nearby lounge seating by the dance floor and even outside which was a downtown rooftop. I loved the crisp, hip vibe this look offered which perfectly defined my trend-setting couple!

*Images Courtesy of James Christianson*

Real Weddings: Kate and Jared Saft

What and exhilarating weekend we had last week--

We were offered the opportunity to experience and style a memorable wedding for the delightful, lovely and charming Kate {then Gissy!} and Jared Saft.

Jared jokingly repeated throughout the weekend that he "just showed up," but Kate and I worked side by side thoughtfully and creatively planning a weekend and a wedding to remember for a lifetime.

Working with Bonnie Garfield, as ever, proved to be a fine endeavor. Her guidance with the family throughout the process was invaluable, and her banquets team is bar none.

The team on hand made all proposed plans effortless and as well as a fine-tuned party!

Kate and Jared's refined style shone through in all elements of decor, food and beverage--

The band kept the dancing going and going {even through dinner!!} and we can't forget Kate's planned surprise for Jared which was having him picked up in a DeLorean!

Thanks to my "Cast of Characters:"

Bonnie Garfield- The Portofino Bay Hotel

Solutions Bridal

Damon Tucci Photography

Tommy Murphy- Greenery Productions

Shannon Caine- Beautiful Music

Bob Schilling- Fifth Avenue Band

Corona Cigars

Plumb Fun Photo Booth

Sarah Hanna Calligraphy

Simply Cinematic

Showorks

American Audio Visual

Simone Rosas-Makeover Station

Kate and Jared, Mr. & Mrs. Gissy and Ms Ellen Saft:

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me with the most important day in your childrens' lives and for so sincerely and sweetly opening your hearts and family to me. This is not the end; simply the beginning!

The Grand Bohemian: Romance, Glamour and Whimsy...

Many locals and worldly travelers alike are aware of Orlando's landmark luxury hotel, The Grand Bohemian. Well known for its sleek and contemporary design, guests can also expect to experience a "dazzling blend of art, music and memorable hospitality."
Downtown Orlando and the Grand Bohemian made for the perfect scene and back-drop for Megan Machaby and Hunter Donnelly...
This handsome couple met in college {Florida State University} several years ago under what I consider to be the most fun and delightful of circumstances; the circus! FSU yields a prestigious circus "school" and Megan and Hunter learned and performed as trapeze artists together.
Inspiration was easy and literally handed to me given their extraordinary history together, and I had an incredible time with creativity and ideas while recruiting a phenomenal team to pull it all of for this beautiful couple. We designed my favorite after-glow of all time with a menu of cotton candy, pretzels, hit dogs, peanuts...get it?? Circus food!
Images and the slide show will tell the story far better than I, and I shall leave you to just that.
I would be remiss, however, if I did not acknowledge the incredible group of wedding professionals whose contributions offered layers of beauty and overall success.

Venue: The Grand Bohemian Hotel {Simon: You dominate!}
Officiate: Reverend Randal Miller {The most personal ceremony you can ask for}
Floral& Room Design: Tommy Murphy/Greenery Productions {Brilliant!}
Photography: Abby Liga, {AKA: Rock Star!}
Video: Seth Cohen, Visual Effects by Seth
DJ: Brian Scott
Cake: Anna Cakes
Linen: Wildflower Linen
Event/Lounge Furniture: Unique Option

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}

Inspired Wedding Tabletop Decor: "Big Sur"

A question I often ask my clients, vendor partners and even myself is "What inspires you?" I find that if thought our carefully, it can open the door to many creative opportunities and experiences.

Several months ago, I had the distinct pleasure of having been asked to participate in an evening to assist The Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes to "Impress, Indulge and Inspire." Guests that already had their special date on the books grew increasingly excited over the designs created by our area's top wedding and event planners, floral designers, furniture rental ingenues and the like. Prospective clients invited could not get their dates on the books quickly enough after the stellar evening.

Enlisting a team that I was extremely compatible with was my first priority. With that in mind, I immediately called Tommy Murphy with Greenery Productions and Awny Kashoggi, owner of Unique Option. As I have come to delightfully expect, an initial pow-wow between us sparked such enthusiastic creativity and inspiration. Getting in a room with these gentlemen is exhilarating and I left the table dizzy with the anticipation of seeing our collective ideas brought to life.

Indeed, the reality far exceeded my expectations!

Our first table we labeled ,"Big Sur" as this same team was inspired by a recent couple, {and recent blog post} Christie and Harvey Heller.

Organic, earthy, natural and hearty with a splash of "over the top," the table was presented with the use of camphor vines with cymbidium orchids wired woven amongst the branches, a natural stone overlay over moss green velvet and shantung linen provided by Wildflower Linen. Awny's water walls surrounded by candles in varying heights carried our imaginations to what we had dreamed the ideal rustic yet glamorous environment would be out west.

To tell our story from beginning to end, we had invitations, escort cards, and menus designed with organic paper, real leaves and stones by the innovative Amy Morelli of the 2u Collection.

I was fortunate enough to have the gracious offer from Damon Tucci to capture my table images and the rest are from Tommy's trusty camera.

What inspires you...?

Real Weddings: Christie and Harvey Heller

How do you not only marry a couple that lives in 2 separate states, but truly come from 2 very different styles??

Clearly these lovebirds have enough in common to be madly in love nut, the challenge?? One of them {Christie} hails from Boulder, Colorado and the other {Harvey Heller} hails from Orlando.

As I brainstormed my approach to designing this wedding, I was perpetually challenged by respecting both and "marrying" not only these 2 people, but their lifestyles as well.

Christie and Harvey were such a delight, mainly in part because of their implicit trust and in me. Christie was still living in Boulder and her visits were few and quick.

They were already established with their venue, Maison and Jardin prior to enlisting my help and were set with space, food and beverage. They even got married in Big Sur the weekend before which made my main objective planning a superb party!

While elegant and stately, Maison was hardly rustic {Boulder} or the intrinsic "Orlando vibe."

hmmmmm...

Recruiting Tommy Murphy with Greenery Productions put our best foot forward and were overjoyed with putting ideas and proposals together to get our couple inspired and eager to see their results. We felt particularly challenged by an "addition" to the venue that revealed the mechanics to a tent frame. The creative ceiling treatment prepared by Tommy's designers was spectacular! Natural wood lattice accompanied by camphor vine and hanging amaranthus and greenery transported us to and enchanted forest.

Striking linen from Wildflower Linen offered such a sophisticated flair-

The design was further complimented with design ideas and furniture groupings from Awny Kashoggi with Unique Option. The entire outdoor space was dedicated to a social hour where guests sipped on 2 signature champagne cocktails and enjoyed music and the ever popular photo booth by Plumb Fun.

As guests were invited inside, they experienced a"woodlands" scent easily created by using a sensory teaser by Scent Events.

Christie and Harvey were so thrilled they invited the entire vendor team to share in the culinary delights prepared by Maison for all of their guests. Fabulous!

...and because "pictures say a 1,000 words," I was fortunate enough to have photographer and fellow girlfriend, Abby Liga on hand for these wonderful shots-