Even the bride who plans her own wedding needs help on the big day. After all, someone has to manage the vendors, direct your wedding party, and handle guests. While your first inclination may be to use a family member or friend, this can be disasterous if they are not experienced or reliable.
Another big day-of challenge is decorating your reception space. The fact is you are going to be BUSY on your wedding day! Between hair & make-up, photography and all the wedding day whoop-la, there is just no time to haul in decor and create a beautifully decorated space. That's why we specialize in event design, which provides our clients with both a uniquely designed event and expert services to execute the decorating.
Vision Event Designs is now offering the perfect combination of services to give you peace-of-mind on your wedding day: Day-of management plus reception event design. Not only will you know a professional is on the job to manage the details, you'll also be delighted by the beauty and creativity of your reception decor. We think this package is ideal for any bride who wants to wake up on her wedding day feeling assured, and has a unique "vision" for her reception that only an expert event designer can bring to life.
Contact us to schedule a complimentary event consultation, and take the worry out of your wedding day.
We love creating all types of weddings -- traditional, contemporary, ethnic, trendy...you name it. Every once in a while we get to design for a couple whose style is so funky and far-out that we have to really stretch our creative legs. The wedding of Ruthie Estes and Matt Woodliff presented us with just that opportunity.
The young couple had a unique color scheme in mind: hot pink, purple and black. Lots, and lots of black! Ruthie and Matt also chose to be married at nightfall right in front of the beautiful Chattoohoochee River. Playing on the evening setting, they decided to make stars a central part of their theme. (The bride even got a star-spangled back tattoo for the occassion!). Our challenge was to create a tasteful event on a shoestring budget that honored their unique style. Here's how we did it.
The venue was an older, dated site. We had to completely change the energy of the space to reflect the youthful bride & groom. To accomplish this we draped the ceiling with pink and purple tulle and used heavy uplighting throughout the venue.
The couple wanted their wedding to feel like a real party. Uplighting on the front of the venue sets the festive tone for guests as they arrive.
Table decor included hot pink table linens, black chair covers and hot pink chair ties. Colorful solid linens are great for accenting the table without breaking the bank.
We used christmas ornaments to pull in the "starry night" theme indoors & outdoors.
For the outdoor ceremony we set up an arch decorated by the bride with tulle, silver garland and christmas lights. The arch was flanked by elegant pedestals and floral centerpieces, and the entire area was lit with hot pink uplighting.
The bride's father performed their very touching wedding ceremony. In keeping with the style of the event, we used a hot pink aisle runner lined with rope lighting to jazz it up.
The groom and his groomsmen win our award for most stylish attire...and coolest hair!
The bride and her bridesmaids were all gorgeous in their classic black & white dresses.
We are big believers in making your special day YOURS. This wedding is an excellent example of how to use personal style throughout the ceremony and reception design. We had a ball designing Ruthie & Matt's one-of-a-kind event, and we're glad we could be a part of their once-in-a-lifetime moment.
When preparing to entertain this month, one doesn't have to look hard to find the perfect color scheme to create a warm and inviting space for your guests.I am sure you've been marveling at Mother Nature's artistry as you drive around town this time of year.The trees that were once fresh shades of olive, emerald, and forest green have started their fall transformation into brilliant reds, opulent oranges, rich purples, earthy browns, and glamorous golds.What wonderful colors to infuse into linens, centerpieces, and lighting to make your fall event one to remember!
Linens
With so many textures and colors to choose from it can be quite a chore choosing the perfect table linen and napkins for your event. This is why I love the DesignCenter on the BBJ Linen website (www.bbjlinen.com).There you can play with a myriad of color combinations for your primary linens, coordinating linens, napkins, and chair covers.Whether you are hosting an intimate gathering or a grand gala this is a great place to experiment with color combinations. I especially like the NEW Autumn Kyoto top linen, accented by chocolate, copper, and moss lamour.
Centerpieces
With all the ripe pears, apples, and gourds available at this time of the year there are several options for simple centerpieces that are sure to get your guests attention. Stick with the basics and your centerpieces will shine whether you use footed bowls, cylindrical vases, wooden bowls, or wire baskets to mix the fruits of the harvest with candles, moss, or fallen leaves!Don't be scared to get creative and take a hot glue gun to mini pumpkins or squash and embellish them with your guest names for assigned seating!
Lighting
Candles, candles, and more candles!Find various sized pillar candles and votives to match your color scheme and strategically place them on the dining table and around the space to give your room that warm amber glow. If you have the budget you should consider getting a few amber up-lights to place behind plants and in dark corners to add some drama .
*Images from Better Homes and Gardens, BBJ Linens, and Pro Motion Entertainment
Just over a year ago we had the pleasure of planning the wedding of Shatavia & Borquaye Thomas. They were married by the bride's grandfather at his church in downtown Atlanta. An elegant reception for 200 guests followed at the Omni Hotel. Shatavia chose the perfect combination of fall colors for her wedding: copper, gold, and tangerine. Their wedding was so beautiful we thought it would be nice to relive it through our pick of favorite photos.
The bride was stunning in her white satin dress with a sweetheart neckline. Detailed beading adorned the bodice and veil. Her wedding bouquet was the perfect compliment, and the pop of color looked phenomenal against her dress! The groom was incredibly handsome and regal in a black tuxedo with a white shirt and tie. After the ceremony, the bride and groom were whisked away in style in a silver Bentley. We can't think of a better way to ride!
A fabulous reception immediately followed the wedding ceremony and featured a plated dinner, music, and dancing -all in a beautiful setting rich with warm colors and lighting.
Reception tables were decorated with a luxurious chocolate satin linen, embroidered in copper and gold. Copper centerpieces, gold napkins, and amber lighting accented the tables. We chose a gold satin chair cover with a delicate organza sash in chocolate to finish the look. Floral bouquets were placed on the head table and around the room to add a touch of elegance.
Shatavia & Borquaye were thrilled with the outcome of their celebration, and so were their guests. We're certain this happy couple will enjoy a lasting union! It was an honor to be a part of their very special day. We wish them all the best!
So, we made our television debut earlier this month on Bravo's hit reality TV show "The Real Houswives of Atlanta". Both Rona Dana and I were filmed for the show during our event consultation with Kim Zolciak, one of the shows most popular stars.
Needless to say, we are thrilled with the exposure we have gotten from the show! Did you know the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" is the highest rated series in the franchise? The support from friends, family, and clients has been overwhelming. Our clients are tickled pink that they have a "celebrity" planner working for them! We're no celebrities, but we're pretty proud of the plans we made for Ms. Zolciak's birthday bash.
For her birthday party we wanted a very HOT theme. Our designs featured hot pink & black to give the event a sexy feel (fitting for Ms. Zolciak, the quintessential Blond Bombshell)". We proposed specialty drinks to honor the birthday girl including "The Zolciak Attack" and "The Kimopolitan". Other design elements included hot pink lighting, contemporary lounge seating, and a fabulous ice sculpture.
While we would love to get the opportunity to work for Ms. Zolciak again, we truly appreciate being able to serve all of our clients...even if we don't get any TV time out of it.
This weekend we have the privilege of participating in a very worthwhile event called "The Pink Affair", an annual fundraiser hosted by the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) North Fulton Link Alumnae Chapter. The Pink Affair was founded in 2002 to promote breast cancer awareness, research and education. What began as a small auction at the home of a chapter member has grown into a hugely successful annual event that attracts over 250 participants. In the past seven years the ZTA North Fulton Link Alumnae Chapter and The Pink Affair have raised $259,000 in the fight against breast cancer.
A CAUSE THAT'S CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS Vision Event Designs has contributed an event planning services package valued at $2,500 to their silent auction, and I personally will be volunteering at the event. To learn more, go to http://www.thepinkaffair.com/.
The Pink Affair:
celebrates the lives of breast cancer survivors and honors those who have lost the battle to breast cancer
involves individuals from the local community and encourages them to help in the fight against breast cancer
informs the local community about the importance of self breast care and mammograms for early detection, breast cancer support programs and the continued need for funding for additional research to find a cure for breast cancer
supports the national crusade in the fight to eradicate breast cancer by donating all proceeds to breast cancer research, awareness and education
When it comes to weddings, there are all kinds of traditions and rules of etiquette. Too many, some would say. They can be downright stifling. But times have changed, and the new bride-to-be is breaking out of the mold and doing her own thing!
In matters of etiquette, I'm frequently asked by engaged couples "What are we SUPPOSED to do?" My reply: "Do what you like!" Maybe this is just because I'm a natural born rebel. You give me a system, I'll pretty much buck it 99% of the time. But it's not just my anti-establishment sentiment driving this advice. There are some practical reasons behind it as well.
A great example: MONEY. The average cost of a wedding and reception is about $28,000. Some people just don't have that to spend and are not willing to go into debt (no matter how important a wedding is). How can you get the fairy-tale wedding budget in line with your reality? Skip out on some of the traditions. Ditch the guest favors, which typically end up left behind by guests. Or scrap the programs--most of your guests are friends and family who know each other anyway. And do you really need an outline for a ceremony that actually lasts all of 20 minutes? It's not like you're spending an hour at the symphony.
Even more important than the money you'll save is the FREEDOM you'll experience! Imagine an event that represents YOU as a couple...your priorities, your preferences. Isn't that what this is about anyway? Don't be a slave to passé expectations. Your guests probably won't mind a bit if they don't have to participate in the same old pomp & circumstance (remember the dreaded Receiving Line?).
So, if you love the traditions and want to go all out, more power to you! But if you want to be a part of the evolution towards weddings where you decide what's right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable, there's nothing stopping you.
Have you already broken your new year's resolutions?
If you answered yes, the problem may be that your good Ch'i (energy) isn't flowing due to clutter in your environment! Feng Shui expert Karen Kinston says in her book Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, "The process of clearing clutter in your home environment is actually the process of releasing, letting go emotionally. When you begin to clear the clutter, you also release old attachments to things that no longer serve you or bring you joy."
Let's back up for a second.If you are like some people I know, you may be wondering what Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) is. Simply stated, it is the ancient Chinese art of placement used to create balance and harmony in your environment.
So, if you have "fallen off the wagon" with your resolutions I would like to suggest 10 Tips that I believe will help us all get back on track to achieving our goals!
10 Tips to Simplify Your Life
1. Everything in life is energy. We must keep it moving. When something new comes into our life, something old must go out. Keep the energy flowing.
2. Start tossing 10 things away each day that you no longer use. It will make you feel spacious and airy, within days.
3. De-clutter and organize one area at a time. Attack an area that is visible, which creates the most stress for you. Work in small increments of time. Complete what you start. Satisfaction comes from completion.
4. Eliminate the "buffet" syndrome -doing too much, taking on too much, doing a little of everything. When we pack our lives we miss out on what we truly enjoy.
5. Give up expecting to do it all. Set 'realistic' time frames. Our bodies will tell us if we are doing too much.
6. Encourage family participation. Delegate and assign duties to family members. Children require 'gentle' and consistent reminders in establishing new habits.
7. Structure your life to make yourself a priority. Schedule fun time for yourself and put it on your calendar. Say NO more to others, and YES more to you. Everything we do is a personal choice.
8. Balance is not about compromise, it's about choice. The more attention you pay to all aspects of your life (health, spirituality, relationships, work) - the more balanced you will be.
9. Set aside 10 minutes per day to put things away. Leaving stuff out creates more confusion, chaos, and adds stress to our life.
10. Conditions never change until we change our thinking. Life rewards action, not good intentions. Do today what brings joy tomorrow.
