Anne Potter Events

Cake Lovin'

2012-01-23T21:05:00.015-06:00

My wedding cake is getting a little love!

Check it out - just click the 'next' button above the image on this article and ta-da you'll see my cake! (Or look...there it is below!)

One of the easiest decisions of my planning was choosing my cake. I knew exactly what I wanted! The purpose of the cake-detailing was to replicate the detailing on my dress as well as highlight the stephanotis in my bouquet. (It had become a family tradition to have stephanotis in our bouquets!)

Chad Fitzgerald of The Cake Guys made my wedding cake as well as my sister's. Chad is currently competing on TLC's Next Great Baker. Nearly 4 years later, I still LOVE my cake.

Best of luck, Chad!

Here are a few pictures to show some the detailing on my dress, my bouquet...and well, just some of my favs! I haven't looked at these pics in awhile, so it was hard to choose!

And, an early Happy 4yrs to my husband. It's been a 'treat'!!! (hehe)

A Turkey Tradition

2011-11-27T15:54:00.015-06:00

My husband, David, and I love to host, and this Thanksgiving we hosted our 2nd "Orphan's Thanksgiving!" It's an Ortho tradition where couples who aren't able to go home to spend Thanksgiving with their families celebrate together. It sure makes being away from your family easier - we are blessed!

This year we had 17 adults and a handful of little ones. (A few more than last year, and we'd love it if it kept growing!) And with all those people, that means I get to decorate a lot of place settings. Hosting Orphan's Thanksgiving is among my favorites for two reasons: setting the tables and cooking the turkey. The only thing that could make this holiday tradition better is if I had a Thanksgiving parade march right down my street!

I love any excuse to get my china out (Vera Lace by Vera Wang)! The large silver bow on each matched the silver trim of the plates and helped make each setting special. (It was kind of like unwrapping your own little gift...and you knew you were going to fill that gift with an amazing meal that you'd been waiting an entire year for!) If you know me well, you might know that I love peacocks. These cocktail napkins that my mom gave me for my birthday were the perfect focal point for each place setting. They added to the richness of all-things-Thanksgiving! And, I have to thank a friend for letting me add in some of her china - didn't quite have enough for 17 - and for letting me borrow her great grandmother's sterling silver.

And there he is! A 22lb turkey and two hams! Thanks to everyone else who brought all the sides and desserts. We all have a lot to live up to next year.

Just as important as the decorating and cooking is the carving! A man's job!

And, I have to throw this in there as a side note. David helped me hang this new wall art just in time for our Thanksgiving guests - a little inspiration - Cook Like A Texan! Texas Monthly magazine covers I've been saving!

A Real Rustic Wedding

2011-11-06T21:00:00.041-06:00

Here's a sneak peak at Dana and Jake's rustic wedding!

Both the ceremony and reception were held at the Mayowood Stone Barn - and they were beautiful! The barn has such character and might just be my favorite venue in Rochester.

The barn has a bridal suite as well as very neat Blacksmith Shop (above).

Decor outside the main entrance.

And now the details!

LOVE this saloon sign that Dana's dad made her. And, it was so fun to see her reaction when she saw it for the first time. So special. Gotta love dads!

The head table!

Both the bride and her mom were very crafty. They added little touches to just about everything you could think of - including these chairs, the place mats and the burlap and cinnamon sticks on the candles below! I think the wedding suited Dana perfectly.

Love the arches. So authentic.

To. Die. For. This old high chair is amazing!

There were a few fun items ready for the cocktail hour - as you can see Grandma Marley's Mix was quite the hit!

The barn has a stable full of furniture and all the knick knacks that you can imagine. It was fun searching for this stool and crate to display the cups for the snack mixes.

The ceremony was held upstairs in the loft. If you know me, you probably know that I love surprises. One of the things I enjoyed most about this wedding, was the big reveal of the reception area. We had curtains drawn as guests made their way upstairs, so that they couldn't see what was waiting for them downstairs! As the ceremony was going on, I was busy lighting candles and pulling back the numerous curtains, so that as the guests returned downstairs for the cocktail hour, they would be wowed by the decor and the barn itself!

And the beautiful ceremony site. Imagine the view from that huge window - if that's what you can call it - when it's open. I've seen the it in the summer time and it's stunning!

I have to attribute my bow tying skills to my mother! Thanks, mom!!!

Dana and Jake, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding day! You are wonderful, your friends are great, and your family is so kind. (Dana's parents were sweet enough to make sure I was enjoying myself too. They even insisted that I eat dinner at their table!)

A Change in Seasons...

2011-10-02T16:02:00.033-05:00

...means a change in home decor!

Well, there is no denying fall now. The mornings are crisp, the leaves are changing beautiful colors, and it's football season. (Go Frogs!) I went to an apple orchard today, and needless to say, I came home inspired to decorate our house with a new sense of fall!

What's great about all of the little pieces that make up this arrangement is that everything (expect the pumpkin) came from my yard...or my neighbors! Shhh.

My absolute favorite thing about this arrangement is the dried hydrangea. During the summer, I had bright pink, purple and blue hydrangea bushes, and I love how they have turned this fall!

To make this arrangement, I simply worked in layers. I set the pumpkin in first, positioned the sticks in the back for height, and then worked my way around the front with the hydrangea, sedum and yellow leaves. Once I got to this point, I felt like it needed a little something extra, and so I laid my eyes on a tree in our front yard with these great red berries!

And moving inside...

These jumbo acorns from my mom are the perfect touch to my dining room center piece!

Love it! Besides the great, new centerpiece, the richness of this room is so inviting. We have three walls painted a putty gray and the wall you are seeing is a plum brown.The jewel of this room is the light fixture! Just a side note!

These leaves I actually saved in a baggie from last year...did I think Rochester, MN wasn't going to have enough leaves this year?! I also adore pheasant feathers...and I have to say, though they aren't from my yard I didn't buy these either! hehe.

These same items add a bold color to really enhance our mantle.

Had to throw in my hand-painted, purple acorn from my mother-in-law. Wonder why she picked purple?!

Ohhh, and I found these dark berries in our backyard. They added an extra dimension to this arrangement.

From our house to yours...Happy Fall!

Photos! Serving a Serviceman & His Wife

2011-07-22T17:15:00.016-05:00

If you saw my second to last post, you might have been patiently awaiting the photos to follow the story of Jessica and Patrick Zeigler's wedding day...I know I was! Well, they are here! And gosh, am I excited to show them off...even though I had very little to do with what you see in the photos. Again, I was the day of coordinator for Jessica and Patrick. Everything was planned and ready - I just had to set up and make sure everything ran smoothly - and I'm proud to say it did!

Enjoy everyone!

Bride's bouquet by Le Jardin. All the floral arrangements for the day were gorgeous. And if you know me, you know I loved the great job they did with all of the peacock feathers...wait until you get to the photo of the cake!

You may have heard me say it before, but the "first see" is one of my favorite parts of the day. I wasn't here for this one, so thank you Ben Sassani for capturing this moment for the rest of us to enjoy! And, thank you for sharing all of these photos. Your work is truly amazing!

Ceremony was held at the beautiful Plummer House in the lower gardens.

And the reception was at the Rochester Art Center.

Jessica and Patrick, thank you so much for allowing me to share in your day! God bless.

(Also, found this link. If anyone wants to watch Jessica and Patrick's Extreme Home Makeover Edition, here you go!)

MY Best Friend's Wedding

2011-07-11T11:59:00.042-05:00

Well, where do you start when it's your best friend's wedding?! I apologize if this one's a little lengthy, but it's hard to pick and choose between all the details!

My sister Megan's wedding was beautiful, SO much fun, and I had looked forward to it almost as much as my own wedding! Megan did a wonderful job explaining her vision to her vendors, my mom and myself - one of the most important jobs of the bride. She wanted a more casual, country-elegant celebration. And that's exactly what was accomplished!

Hands down to my mom, as she really did the majority of the planning. I helped here and there, but it was a little hard to do from Minnesota to Texas. When I flew down to experience the venue myself, I helped out mostly by determining the flow of the event - one of my favorite things to think about before an event. I also did some coordinating the night of to make sure everything went smoothly for Megan and Jay. Darren Moll, from the Ashton Depot in Fort Worth, was the...should I say...the "wedding over see-er!" He and his staff did an absolutely amazing job. Darren oversaw my wedding three and a half years ago, and my dad knew he wanted to work with him again. Darren started from the very beginning by finding THE ranch that my sister had been dreaming of and wrapped up the evening with his staff providing the best 5-star service that you can ask for!

How about some pictures?!

Station Branch Ranch, Granbury, TX

I moved these crazy hay bales with Frank, the ranch foreman. Who knew I could lift a hay bale myself? Frank deserves a huge thanks as he worked harder than anyone getting ready for this wedding. I can't even list all of the things that Frank spruced up for us - buffed the barn floor, repainted the entire barn and guest house, planted flowers, and tended to the land and livestock as he loves to do!

Bob & Charles Ross in Amarillo have now made 5 pairs of custom cowboy boots for my family, amongst many other things!

Fan programs to help cool our fabulous guests.

However, God showed how He works in wondrous ways! The day of the wedding, Granbury reached a record high - 109 degrees! (It was even a little hot for me!) An hour before the ceremony a huge rain cloud (in the middle of a horrible drought mind you) rolled in over us, cooling things down a good 10 to 15 degrees.

Megan and Jay went back and forth about not getting married in a church, but the rain cloud showed that He was present during their vows. How can He not be glorified in the middle of His beautiful creation?!

Now one humorous moment during the ceremony was due in part to my dad - imagine that! He repeated something he said at my wedding. I guess you can call it another one of his funny traditions. When the minister asked who gives the bride to this groom, my father answered, "Her mother and I are good to go!" Typical!

My husband's favorite photo that he took - Jay and his two brothers!

Grand entrance to the reception.

Cafe Lights strung from stall to stall. L-O-V-E.

Decor leading you to the tent! Something you can't see in this picture is a beautiful lavender wreath that was hung around the gate entrance.

One thing that Megan completely let me have the reins over were the linens. She of course could have vetoed whatever I picked, but she knew I was dying to pick something out! We chose warm, silver taffeta floor length linens. To. Die. For!

The Blooming Bride did a wonderful job with the flowers.

Cakes were provided by The Cake Guys. They were delicious!

The reception was a blast! My mom (above) is clearly having a good time! My dad had a heart-felt speech prepared for Megan complete with music (Another One Bites the Dust) and all! Jeffrey and I, on the other hand, were pretty nervous about our speeches. We made a great pair - both shaking and had no idea what to say! But, we both did a great job...if I do say so myself!

And you have to notice the amazing, purple Waterford champagne flutes that Megan and Jay used. GO FROGS!

Other vendors included Davy Knapp Photography (thanks for the wonderful photos) and New Ground Band.

Can't ask for much more than to celebrate with the closest friends and family. We are truly blessed and all have so much to be thankful for. Megan & Jay we love you!

Sneak Peak: Serving a Serviceman & His Wife

2011-07-10T16:37:00.014-05:00

Yesterday, I had the great honor...privilege...pleasure...opportunity (you choose the word!) to coordinate the ceremony and reception of a serviceman and his bride - Staff Sgt. Patrick Zeigler and his wife Jessica. Many of you may know the inspirational story of the Fort Hood survivor and his amazing wife. This is a real couple, and this was a real wedding!

Jessica called me the day before the wedding to see if I would be willing to be their day-of-coordinator. I was not only willing, I was thrilled! It's not an everyday opportunity to thank, or for that matter, serve someone in the military, their spouse and their family in return for all that they do. While I don't know every detail about the couple or their story (not many can, I'm sure), it was easy to pick up on a few things - what they mean to each other, their family, and their friends. With only spending 24+ hours with the bride and groom, I can tell you they represent the meaning of marriage - determination, commitment, selflessness and thankfulness.

Jessica and Patrick had a small, beautiful ceremony at the Plummer House in the lower garden and then celebrated their reception at the Rochester Art Center. This was a wedding that completely showed who they are and what they love! The bold navy and eggplant, bright green and accents of gold and peacock feathers represented the bride's rich personality. They were surrounded by supportive and loving family and friends. They served Mai Tais as their specialty drink and had friends from Hawaii sing and play guitar (they were amazing!). The groom lived in Hawaii for several years as his dad was stationed there, and Hawaii is where the couple met! One of the most unique details was the memorial table mixed among all the other tables at the reception. It was set with complete place settings and draped in a sheer gold overlay. The purpose of this special table was not only to remember their dear friends and family members lost, but to also remember those currently serving our country. Patrick said a few heart felt words after cutting the cake, reminding everyone of those currently serving in our military and why they serve - Love and Freedom.

Many of us were more than happy to support this couple and to symbolize support of our servicemen, women and veterans. What an honor. What a great way to say thank you! All vendors included: Le Jardin European Style Floral who also provided the linens, Sassani Photography (Ben came all the way from Houston, TX! To view his photos from their first wedding, click here.) Canadian Honker the caterer, Brad O'Conner Photography supplied the photo booth, Hy-Vee provided the cake, Seize the Moment Entertainment was the DJ, and live music was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Randy Allen from Hawaii.

I hope to post photos soon, so check back often. But for a sneak peak, you can watch this video clip from local KAAL News Ch. 6.

I truly believe every couple has a love story, but this is a story I will never forget!

(I didn't feel right telling the bits and pieces of their story that I know, so here are a few links if you'd like to read more about Jessica and Patrick: About the Couple, Extreme Home Make Over.)

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-05T21:18:00.018-05:00

The first party at our new house. We were so excited to celebrate 4th of July - two fold - with a housewarming party! With that came fun decor and details!

Specialty drink! White wine, carbonated lemonade, lime and mint.

Patriotic planters.

Biggest flag on the block. Do have to say we are proud!

Impromptu dessert. I'm a strawberry girl!

And a very unique piece created by my husband. We've saved many wine bottles just waiting to use them in a fun way! So, in an attempt to keep the mosquitoes away and add a little classy touch, we made these...

Paper lanterns and cafe lights.

It was a great party, and we enjoyed celebrating with everyone. To those who were here, thanks for allowing us to share our new home with you!

HOLY Proposal

2011-05-24T21:11:00.003-05:00

Wow am I a sucker for weddings...and proposals. I cried a little...ok a lot...at dinner when my husband showed this to me! You HAVE to watch this!

Mum's the Word

2011-04-29T21:53:00.033-05:00

No no, not "mum's the word" as in "silence" - "mum's the word" as in I immediately thought of my mother's wedding dress when I saw Kate Middleton's this morning! Check out the similarities.

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images, Glamour.)

Beautiful lace and a gorgeous, respectful neckline!

The new Duchess of Cambridge's dress was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. It's said she chose the brand Alexander McQueen for the "beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing." She hoped her dress would combine a traditional and modern look, which makes sense as the UK is a country that loves their history and she knew millions would be anticipating the statement she would be making in her dress.

Of course, we all recognize the statement Princess Diana made in the 25ft train that she wore so elegantly.

An intersting fact about Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress is that it had to be made of material obtained using ration coupons, since Britain was still recovering from WWII. Here she is on her wedding day in 1947 as well as her admiring her wedding gown, along side the Duke of Edinburgh's naval uniform, that had a 13ft embellished train.

(Press Association, AP)

(Yonhap, AP)

A few other photos that caught my eye!

(Warren Allott, Reuters)

Sweet moments with her dad.

(Dominic Lipinsky, AP)

The Royal couple wed at Westminster Abbey. I have read that a more traditional location for Royal weddings is the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace - either way, a location near London is ideal, so that the mass public can partake in the rare day! 600,000 people filled the streets the day of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding in 1981.

Now, the part that I actually got to watch live! Police officers were lined in front of the crowds of people as they lead them near Buckingham Palace to see Prince William and his bride to appear on the balcony for the first time as newlyweds.

(Darren Staples, Reuters)

The kiss they all chanted for. I just had to post this picture - look at the munchkin in the bottom left, Grace Van Cutsem!

With every wedding I have either planned or coordinated, I always shed a little tear at some point during the ceremony. As I was getting ready for work this morning, I did get a little teary eyed when I saw this kiss. Funny, as I wasn't expecting that at all! Guess that goes to show how much I love weddings and everything that they symbolize.

Love this similar photo nearly 30 years earlier of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

(Oil Scarff, Reuters)

(Alastair Grant, AP)

I can only image the details that went into the Royal wedding. I was excited to find a few images of the cake!

(Getty Images, Glamour)

(Getty Images, Glamour)

The cake was made by Fiona Cairns, who is known for her luxury cakes.

Whether you were someone like me who was excited about Prince William and Kate's wedding or weren't, it's a wedding, or day rather, that made history!

(Martin Meissner, AP)

Social Media's Influence on Weddings

2011-04-05T12:50:00.017-05:00

So we all know how quickly social media changed our culture - through Facebook's amazing connectivity and Twitter's breaking news platform - the list can just go on and on. It's changed the way we interact, engage and share information with one another. But, how has it influenced the wedding industry?

First, there were the wedding websites. Today, they are on every save-the-date and in every bride's bookmarks tab. It's a great way to share the engagement story, give fun details about each person in the wedding party, list the date and ceremony time for the person who forgot to pack their invitation (and of course, info on the registry)!

However, things have grown from there. Brides are posting minor and major updates for all to see - "trial hair today," "found my dress," hashtag this, hashtag that, and of course the infamous countdown until the wedding day. Along with posting updates, brides are asking questions - "what's the best band in town?" or "what florist would you recommend?" This is very important for wedding vendors to recognize (and embrace) as word of mouth has grown exponentially.

One of the best things to do regarding social media is to listen. It's not all about pushing information out. It's about taking advantage of what you have right at your finger tips! It's about listening to and engaging with the vast amount of resources you have in front of you. Take the "what's the best band in town?" post, this can be a huge time saver for brides. It has just reduced the amount of time brides have to spend researching. It's taking the necessity to "Google it" out of the picture. In June of 2010, Facebook saw 5x more pageviews than Google did. Impressive.

And since we are on the research topic, how about the amount of blogs that have a presence on Facebook? My top two favorites to follow are Green Wedding Shoes and Style Me Pretty. Again, the need to research is just not as high. As I am perusing through my news feed, I am constantly getting trendy tips and ideas from such pages. Another great place to get ideas and inspiration are from the photos shared through social media outlets. For example, I was able to use pictures posted on Facebook from a friends outdoor wedding in Colorado to get some inspiration for my sister's ranch wedding in Texas!

Another common way that I am seeing Facebook being used as a time saving tool is to collect addresses. There are more than 500 million Facebook users and over 50% of them log into Facebook on any given day; therefore, you have a pretty good chance that that includes your friends and that they'll respond to your message, sending their address pronto!

Now I do have to have be honest and say there is one thing that I am not a fan of in regards to this movement. And that's collecting RSVPs online! Now, it saves money by eliminating the need to print response cards and purchase postage and is extremely convenient for all parties involved; however, I am just too traditional! My vote will always be to mail it in!

So now I'm ready to listen. Tell me how you have seen social media play an influence in the wedding industry!

Classic Then, Classic Now

2011-03-27T19:07:00.013-05:00

Vintage themed weddings are a great new trend for Spring 2011. Whether the entire wedding is inspired by vintage elements or just a few pieces are brought in, it's a wedding theme that will keep guests talking! What I love about this theme is you don't have to take it literally or over the top to make it a show stopper. The smallest infusion here and a simple touch there are all that you need.

Centerpieces.

Mix-and-match dishes.

Cake toppers. Too cute!

There's not much more than intricate lace that screams vintage to me. A few ideas to incorporate lace for that vintage touch is to mimic the wedding dress' lace in unexpected places - on the wedding cake, the edging of the invitations and programs, or throughout the table settings.

One of my absolute favorites - actually what inspired this post - vintage brooch bouquets. Found at Annie Laurie's Antiques.

For the bride.

For the bridesmaids - vintage-inspired headbands. I will be wearing one for my sister's wedding this June!

And, for the one who dreams of being the bride.

Can't forget the transportation. The last impression is just as important as the first!

Permission or Forgiveness?

2010-10-01T20:39:00.031-05:00

I enjoyed this wedding for many reasons. It challenged me in a way I hadn't been challenged before. You may know, I am now living in Rochester, MN. The mother of the bride contacted me from Kansas City; and therefore, we had a bit of a working, long-distance relationship. Surprisingly enough the mother and I had only two phone conversations and one meeting the day before the wedding. I have to say I was extremely proud of the bride's vision, the mother's organization, and my implementation with the amount of detail that went into this wedding.

Even better, this bride and I could easily be best friends - we love the color orange, Corvettes and are both major daddy's girls.

Let's get started! The ceremony was at Country Club Christian and was very traditional and classy. Everything was simple, black and white - with the exception of the bride's surprise orange bouquet!

Her mother's dress was remade to fit her perfectly. You have to love the uniqueness and significance of this dress.

For all you daddy's girls, I couldn't resist this picture!

And, without a doubt, I have to highlight the mother of the bride after all of her hard work. She and I worked very well together. This is how a lot of our conversations went: "Anne, I don't care what they tell you, I want 12 votives on each table." "Anne, it doesn't matter what they say, I want the Corvette parked right here!" My external answer: "Yes, ma'am!" My internal thought: "I LOVE this lady! Let's get things done!"

Gotta love the first see.

For their recessional, the bride and groom had a traditional, petal toss exit. It was great that the church allowed us to drop real petals in the aisle, which is pretty uncommon. Anticipating the newlyweds to cross the threshold, a few youngsters were waiting above in the balcony to shower them with petals! So, not only did they get petals tossed from side to side, they had them drop from above. This was one of my favorite things to coordinate. I love the little touches! (And though you don't get a great idea from this picture, just use your imaginations!)

Here is one of the 'do you ask permission or forgiveness' instances. If you can't park the Corvette on the street, why not just back it up right on the sidewalk? Our families would get along so well!

There was also a running joke/concern between the father and the youngest son of will the car stay idling - will it actually start for them to ride away in...

Success! Dad was so proud of his baby (both car and daughter)!

And now to the party! The reception was held at the Hilton President downtown where they turned it up a notch. Unlike the subtle, black and white ceremony, the reception screamed with personality in orange and green. There was a definite transition, while taste and class were never compromised. There was a cocktail hour in the mezzanine and once the wedding party arrived, the guests were escorted to the ballroom.

The flowers provided by Botanica were exquisite.

The mother of the bride gave her kids these figurines as Christmas gifts when they were young. Now they are being used as their cake toppers. Love it!

It's common today for the bride to choose something interesting and personal as her guest book. This could be a photo album, a coffee table book of their favorite city or a symbol of something important to the bride and groom. This couple chose to let their guests write notes to them and drop them in a large brandy snifter. It was a great focal point of the entry table.

And my baby of the wedding - the entry table. Give me something with great detail and you'll make my night! Another commonality between the bride, her mother and me was a love for orchids.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your big day. It was such a treat for me to travel to Kansas City, and your wedding night will always be one that I remember. I hope that the same is true for you and that it exceeded your expectations!

Photography - Wirken Photography. Check out Becca's blog here.
Cake - Take the Cake
Flowers - Botanica
Chair Ties - Be Seated
Transportation - Horizon Limousine
Band - KC All Stars

Look what I spotted...

2010-08-14T15:39:00.022-05:00

I have a new favorite route to run in Rochester...3 miles to the Historic Mayowood Mansion and back. But today, it's a favorite for a new reason! I spotted a wedding. My first Minnesota wedding. I was so excited I had to go back for some photos.

After a little research, I found out this is the Mayowood Stone Barn. And wow, is it perfect for an outdoor wedding!

I love the character of the old stone.

I don't think you could ask for a better tree! Amazingly, it acts as a canopy over the whole ceremony, giving it so much energy and intimacy.

Love, love, love chandeliers! Nothing more needs to be said.

And now it get's sneaky! I had to climb through the fence to get these shots...but I couldn't resist. Don't worry. I had a few "get out of jail free" stories ready just in case anyone came out asking what I was up to!

Personally, I'm sensing a secret inspiration due to these flowers...Texas country! Maybe that's why this gorgeous set up caught my eye. These flowers are beautiful and really enhance this vision (Le Jardin European Style Floral). I wish I could meet the bride...I'm picturing an elegant, simple, fully-laced gown with a bit of an antique feel. How about you?!

And I'll leave you looking down the isle. I can't get over the personality of this tree...looks like it just wants to give the couple a hug doesn't it?!

First Dinner Party

2010-07-29T12:49:00.008-05:00

This isn't a typical post for me! Usually I only post events that I have planned or coordinated, but last night David and I hosted our first little dinner party since we've been in Rochester. It was so much fun I decided to show a few of the details.

There are some great running trails behind our house with the most amazing wild flowers. I thought that this would be the perfect excuse to pick some! I'm not sure if you are actually allowed to pick these flowers, so I think my punishment was itching the whole way home!

I just love all the vibrant colors, but I was a little bummed that the started to get droopy so quickly. But, what can you do? They served the purpose for the evening though, and it sure was fun picking them!

I wish I had a pic of the app I made because that did turn out perfectly. It was brie inside an amazingly, golden-brown puff pastry with jalapeno jelly on top! So easy and one of my favs. It was also fun to surprise one of our guests with his favorite beer...

And it brought back some great Kansas City memories while serving it (it's brewed in KC)!

Now David was in charge of the main course, his famous burgers, so I do have to give him credit for those!

Finally, I have to show off the apple pie I made! It's the Pioneer Women's Scrumptious Apple Pie, and you can find the recipe here. This is probably a better fall or winter-ish pie, but dessert is dessert so I figured I couldn't go wrong! To save myself time I didn't make the crust, but if you're looking for a good crust recipe her's is amazing.

We had a great time, and I have to say the couple that came over had the most adorable little girls. If I had pics of them, they'd be up here as favorites too!

A Little "Flair"

2010-07-19T20:21:00.033-05:00

I apologize that it's been awhile since my last post. My husband and I were wrapped up in a big move...to Minnesota.

But I'd like to share a long-standing wedding inspiration and a little bit more about me. Something I have always LOVED are peacock feathers (much to my mother-in-laws disliking)! Don't you feel like you should enjoy a nice bold glass of red wine while looking at these fine feathers?!

To me these gorgeous feathers scream elegant, regal, bold and of course are stunning just like the bride should be! I also believe they can symbolize a Godly marriage, in which they are grand, glorious, exalted and majestic.

So, if you're looking for a bold or vintage inspiration, consider the peacock feather.

Below are a few items I found on Etsy.com that are making me re-plan my wedding as I type.

Including a real peacock feather with your save the date is an interesting and lively way to set the tone for your guests.

A hair piece for your bridesmaids is the perfect balance between staying simple and sweet yourself but infusing this sassy theme.

Less dramatic and informal invitation.

Well I'm definitely going to need one of these stampers!

And this creme colored, bleached peacock feather is a great way of playing with the vision, but toning it down a notch. I also love that this designer has added the texture of recycled paper.

China from Unique Tabletop Rentals (Style Me Pretty).

Beautiful, simple cake from Flora's Divine Cakes.

Bouquet by Craig Sole Design (Style Me Pretty).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A few fast facts on the peacock:

The male is actually called a peacock, and the female is technically called a peahen but can be still be called a "peacock" or "female peacock."
The peacock is the national bird of India...jealous!
The tail feathers are called a "train"...ironic?
And the males flair their feathers to get the females attention. Worked for me!

Schloegel/Dunn Wedding

2010-03-29T21:14:00.027-05:00

For never coordinating a winter wedding before, this was a great wedding to begin with. I think the saying is, "go big or go home," right? I loved every minute of coordinating this wedding. There was even a surprise performance at midnight, so when I say every minute I mean every minute!

Ali and I had a few unique things in common from the beginning. We both played soccer at TCU, and from our initial meeting I could tell we were going to have a ball together. No pun intended!

Ali described her vision as classy and fun with an emphasis on the dance floor. However, that vision was really brought to life by Maple Fields Florist. Her primary color was gold (with a touch of green), and it made for a perfectly elegant winter wedding.

(All photos were taken by Walt Whitaker.)

Bridesmaid dresses were designed and created by Candida Allison.

It snowed the day before the wedding, creating a picture perfect background for the bride and groom!

Ali and Tim were married at St. Peter's Parish, and I had the privilege of setting votives in each cove and on each ledge outside the church. It provided a wonderful first impression for not only the ceremony, but for the reception as well.

The details, my favorite part!

These days brides are getting very crafty with their "guest books." Instead of signing a traditional book that will never be opened again, brides are thinking of things that have a more personal touch and that they can truly enjoy. Things that can be used everyday as decor in their homes. A common idea is a coffee table book, either based on their wedding theme, wedding colors, places the bride and groom have traveled together or maybe where they will be traveling on their honeymoon. Ali chose these wine bottles! Very fun. As they sip a glass of wine together, Ali and Tim can remember the sweet moments or laugh at the crazy dancing! They used the Michael Beers Band, and they were phenomenal!

The cake, desserts and impeccable customer service were all provided by Indian Hills Country Club. This staff truly amazed me! I have never been so confident with a team I was working with.

I do love the popcorn! Some of you may remember the popcorn buffet I did in September. I'm excited to say that I take away more than just a few sweets from each wedding. I really do learn something new from each bride and each wedding and it inspires me for the next. The popcorn was displayed differently for this wedding, and it was a great idea to pre-bag the popcorn. It was easier for the guests and me. I was less noticeable, as restocking the popcorn was much faster and I wasn't cleaning the table nearly as often.

Ali also added some fun detail with the "pop in to see us" stickers on each bag. It was a very cute way to give each guest their new address!

As I mentioned earlier, here is the midnight performance. Ali surprised Tim with a two man Irish band to lead them out of the reception and into their limo. It was a perfect touch, and I do have to say I enjoyed the coordination. Throw in a last minute surprise and I'll raise my hand any time!

Ali and Tim, thank you so much for allowing me to enjoy your wedding day with you. I loved being your wedding coordinator and getting to know your families so well. You have such a fun crowd. Many blessings!

Eddie Ross Workshop

2010-03-20T17:48:00.014-05:00

In the words of Eddie Ross, "This is fun! There's no sweating in etching."

In his latest Kansas City workshop today, Eddie guided us in etching our monograms in modern, glass hurricanes. This workshop was hosted by Creative Candles, which you have to check out for the perfect candle for any style, in any color!

Here's a quick run down of exactly what we did today:

Supplies + Armour Etch.

Jaithan pre-printed the monogram we gave him prior to the event. To get started we placed the printed initials under the transparent con-tact paper, so we could begin tracing with a Sharpie.

Before.

And after!

Once we traced our monogram, we were ready to place it on the hurricane. This became our stencil for the rest of the project.

When placing the con-tact paper on the hurricane, Eddie suggested working from the center out. He noticed that I had just a few air bubbles by my initials, and instead of forcing the paper down and creating a crease, he used an x-acto knife to poke a few tiny holes. He was then was able to easily smooth the paper without any problems!

Next, it was time to cut out the area we wanted to etch. We used an x-acto knife and simply traced on the inside of the black lines of the Sharpie. Once each area had been cut, we peeled off the paper. It was important to make sure that all the cuts of the x-acto knife were connected.

All cut out! We gently cleaned the peeled area with Windex to make sure there wasn't any left over adhesive from the con-tact paper.

Then it was time to etch! And I quickly learned that that doesn't involve scraping anything with a knife! Actually it's much easier, and can be better described as dab & goop, dab & goop!

With a paintbrush, we put a generous amount Armour Etch on each cut out. Again, Eddie had a great tip. He suggested dabbing the area instead of using a painting motion. Dabbing will ensure that the goo doesn't get under the con-tact paper and etch an unwanted area!

We kept the Armour Etch on for about 10 minutes and then washed it off. Under hot water, we used a sponge to gently rub away the excess goo. And then we got to peel away the rest of the paper.

Ta-da!!!

I am so pleased with mine, and I can't wait to put it to great use. The best thing about learning this technique is that it can be used for so many different things! It can be used for vases for a wedding, on a set of glasses for a gift or to make a fun design on a mirror!

Eddie also showed us how easy you can change the look and style of your hurricane by using a different plate or candle color. He found most of these great plates at a flea market.

Thanks Eddie and Jaithan! Can't wait to learn more from you guys!!!

Etch Away with Eddie Ross

2010-03-02T20:27:00.008-06:00

As some of you may remember, I attended a great Eddie Ross workshop in early December last year. Creative Candles hosted the event in their factory, and we learned how to make simple holiday arrangements. I loved every minute of it and have been dying for Eddie to make it back to Kansas City!

Well I'm excited to say...he's on his way with hurricanes and more stylish ideas! I can't wait! He's partnering with Creative Candles for another fun workshop and cocktail party. But, this time we'll be etching hurricanes with our monograms for a look that's personal and chic. And, can I just say with spring inching around the corner I'm ready for some new, fresh decor and creativity?!

So to Eddie and spring, hurry up and get here!

If you're interested and would like to join us, here are the details:

Saturday, March 20
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Creative Candles
3218 Roanoke Road
Kansas City, MO 64111

To RSVP, contact Pam at pam@creativecandles.com or call 816.474.9711.

Cocktails + Ice Cream, Yes Please!

2010-01-30T23:39:00.018-06:00

A definite fav find!!!

Signature drinks have become a pretty popular reception-accessory! They are a great way to add color-infused detail in a way that many guests will notice and appreciate, if you get my gist! Martha Stewart even had wedding-themed signature drinks at her 15th Anniversary: Party on the Plaza. So with that, you know you can take these stand-out drinks to the bank!!!

But to elevate this trend, what about cocktail flavored ice cream?! I think this could be a really fun alternative to a signature drink. This is a great twist on a trendy wedding element, plus it can be unique and sophisticated or fun and flirty - fitting many wedding themes and visions!

The San Jose, CA based business, Silver Moon, produced one of "the outstanding products" out of thousands shown at the Winter 2009 Fancy Food Show. From Mojito Ice to Praline Irish Creme, I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong! Silver Moon says they've taken two after dinner favorites, ice cream and liqueur, and combined them into something truly sensational.

So, treat your taste-buds and impress your guests!

A Little Country, A Little Chic

2010-01-15T17:28:00.074-06:00

Barn weddings were definitely a fall trend last year, and I had been dying to plan a barn wedding for quite awhile! As you can imagine, I was ecstatic after learning that Stacey was planning to have just that!

Stacey is the catering manager at great local restaurant, Room 39. So, simply, she knows the ins and outs of the business; therefore, she knew exactly what she wanted...and exactly what she wanted in me as her day-of coordinator! Our personalities clicked right off the bat!

Stacey envisioned a chic barn wedding that was not only welcoming and warm, but also classic. By the details in this wedding, you'll be able to tell it was all of the above. Although my sole purpose was to coordinate the day of the wedding, I was able to help with a few of these details as well as the layout of the barn. This, in fact, was one of my favorite aspects of this wedding. I greatly enjoyed walking into the empty space and picturing the focal points, guests and decor. The barn consisted of one main room with a loft and a connected side barn. After walking the space, we were able to determine the best flow and layout for the evening.

Stacey and Andy were married at Pilgrim Chapel in Kansas City. I hope you enjoy this country chic wedding!

Barn at Alexander Majors Historic House and Museum.

Now for the details! Mason jars, mason jars, mason jars!

With a painted, rustic piece of wood, the guests were offered original popcorn, hot apple cider and beer in mason jars! The painted signs were displayed throughout the inside of the barn too!

Now for a few inside photos!

We hung a large cluster of lanterns from wall to wall over the dance floor in the main barn, and the attached side barn housed the bride's and groom's cakes, a perfectly framed bar, authentic wagons and three gorgeous chandeliers!

All the delicious food was catered by Room 39. And even burlap was draped from the ceiling!

The cakes were created by Natasha Goellner.

A little bit of Stacey!

Her hair piece was handcrafted by Janay A. and the bouquets were provided by Ornamental Petal.

Stacey and Andy, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your special day. Your wedding was completely unique, fit your style and catered to your guests. I was challenged as your coordinator and truly appreciate that. I was thrilled to work with you both! Many blessings!

'Tis the Season...

2009-12-14T22:05:00.007-06:00

...for wreath making!

Since taking Eddie Ross' workshop a few weeks ago, I've been following his website updates and fell in love with one of his fun challenges! Ornament Wreaths! Now I didn't enter the actual challenge, but I thought I'd see what I could come up with...

First, I suggest having enough ornaments before you get started!

However, sometimes I just get too antsy...I didn't have enough ornaments...so I decided to incorporate some ribbon! It took up the empty space and added some great texture. And in the end, I'm glad I had to improvise! Because I didn't have enough ornaments, I did have to glue all of my pieces together. I believe Eddie suggests that you need about 80 ornaments total. If you have enough, you can arrange them perfectly where they should just rest and nestle together...in place...not needing any glue!

And here's this year's Christmas wreath...proudly hanging on my front door!

Click here to follow Eddie Ross' step-by-step ornament wreath making instructions! Enjoy your holiday crafts and spread some Christmas cheer!!!

Eddie Ross Workshop

2009-12-02T21:31:00.016-06:00

Well it's not everyday you can say you did this..

Tonight I got to attend an Eddie Ross workshop right here in Kansas City! Eddie Ross is the former editor of Martha Stewart Living and also starred on Bravo's reality TV show, "Top Design." He recently completed a festive home makeover for Today Show's, Kathy Lee Gifford, which will air on HGTV's special “Celebrity Holiday Homes” on December 6th at 7pm.

This was a hands-on workshop where Eddie showed us how to make a sophisticated and simple holiday arrangement.

Here is the before photo along with tid-bits that together make this centerpiece fabulous!

I learned that the holly berries are poisonous, so you probably wouldn't be considered hostess-of-the-year if one of these little guys accidentally plopped into your guests' drink or rolled onto their salad plate...So instead, we removed the berries from the above holly and inserted the berries below!

To add a little snazz, a few of these gold ornaments were placed between the carnations.

They can also be incorporated into your other table decor as Eddie did below with the napkin holder!

And the after photo!

Sadly, I had a prior engagement this evening, which caused me to only catch the very tail end of this great workshop. However, being late sure paid off tonight because I got to take home the arrangement that Eddie made himself!!!

This is my friend, Kylie, and me with Eddie Ross.

Tonight's workshop was held at Creative Candles, a local Kansas City business owned by husband and wife, Ken Weiner and Pam Fleischer. Oprah blew out 50 of these Creative Candles on her 50th birthday. At a dinner party in San Fran, Prince Charles and Camilla dined by Creative Candles-light. Martha Stewart has used them, they've appeared on the Today Show and they've even been to the White House!

Although I wasn't there for all of Eddie's instruction, I greatly enjoy learning, seeing and doing new things. As well as meeting the fun people that go along with that!

Mr. & Mrs. Dilly Introduce Fall

2009-10-29T21:28:00.026-05:00

Welcome back! I am thrilled to have more photos to post...

Jon and Jill were one of the first couples I met when we moved to Kansas City, so it was a blast being able to help plan their wedding. I was so excited when Jill asked me (just hours after being engaged) to be her wedding planner. One of my favorite things about planning is being able to see a full event from beginning to end. And that was this wedding - from the very beginning, to the very end and everything in between!

Already knowing the couple pretty well, I wasn't surprised in the least when Jill wanted a simple but tasteful wedding!

Jill's colors, introducing fall to all of her guests, were red and chocolate brown. Jill's bouquet of black magic roses, orange parrot tulips and orange mokara orchids were a perfect fit for what she had in mind. Jill's bridesmaids also carried orange parrot tulips along with naranga and marie claire roses, which gave a little something extra to her simple red and chocolate choice. Florals were arranged by Flowers by Emily.

Ah, the first-see...always a favorite ;)

Jon, Jill and the wedding party took a trolley ride from the ceremony to the reception site. I'm sure they were having too much fun to notice, but I loved the idea of a trolley in the fall. An old school trolley with a great view of leaves changing colors in Kansas City, perfect!

The reception was held at Lake Quivira Country Club. Picturesque. The bride and groom were able to snap a couple fun photos on an available dock just outside the ballroom before coming in to greet all their guests. Photos were all taken by Elements Studio Photography by Kelly Powell.

Although you can't fully view this large arrangement is was gorgeous! Curly willow, orange mokara orchids and red kangaroo paw. And let me tell you, if you've never used kangaroo paw before, experiment with it. It is so fun and so unique!

Jill also had small arrangements of black magic roses, as well as, medium sized centerpieces that were made of 16" hurricane vases filled with coffee beans and pillar candles, finished with red-wired ribbons (say that three times fast!). If you had time, I could tell you all kinds of fun stories about trying to find that many coffee beans for the most cost effective price!

This 4 tiered cake was made by Michelle of Iced Art, and all the chair ties and table runners were provided by Classy Covers.

Ah, and this was my baby of the wedding. As I'm sure many of you have seen the candy buffets by now, I thought that a popcorn buffet would not only be a great alternative but would also give a great fall kick to the reception! This popcorn buffet served as a focal point and favors to the guests, not to mention it went perfectly with Jill's colors. It was a huge hit! You would have thought some people had never had popcorn in their lives. I had one gentlemen tell me he loved it so much he was going to take an extra bag for his plane ride home the next day! And the guests reactions were completely worth it! It was quite the task drizzling chocolate covered popcorn for 300. But you know what, I'd do it again!

Jon and Jill, thank you. Thank you for your great friendship and for allowing me to help you with your wedding. I truly enjoyed. I'm looking forward to the memories from here!

What's Inspired You Lately?

2009-09-08T21:20:00.012-05:00

Well for me, it's been vintage - vintage chic! I ran across this cute little favor from a Chicago wedding. The bride and groom gave little bags that were made of vintage-patterned fabric and held wildflower seeds - what a fun statement and practical too!

Shortly after this fab find, I ran across a website - Papier Valise - on a blog, Green Wedding Shoes. Papier Valise sells unique art provisions to stir up the creator in you! They have interesting fabric, textiles, glass, paper - you name it! But what I loved where these vintage labels.

Just think about personalizing these by adding them to your decor, favors or place cards! The possibilities are endless!

And as you know, when searching on the Internet - one thing leads to another! I ran across a really fun website - Farmhouse Wares - it has vintage chic with a little bit of comfortable rustic written all over it! Here are just a few items that I would love to incorporate into a wedding!

And there you go! Can't you see these brass place card holders with the labels from above and a little bit of you? Fun fun.

All Things Orchid

2009-08-24T20:33:00.014-05:00

My fav find this week is fabulous. It is by far my favorite bouquet! Can I just say I love all things orchid? So, combine orchids with this rich color and style, and well, you have just discovered my favorite arrangement.

This bouquet, made of purple vanda orchids, orange mokara orchids and green dendrobium orchids, was created by Irvine Village Flowers and photographed by Travis Hoehne out of California. If you like this preview, see more of the wedding at love & splendor.

And since I'm sharing only my personal opinion in bouquets, I though I would share a little tid bit about mine! My wedding was classy and traditional with, oh, just a pop of my personality! And my bouquet followed suite.

It was pure white with simple style, while my bridesmaids bouquets stole all the rich color! However, my bouquet had a lot of meaning. My mom and grandmother shared something special in their bouquets - stephanotis - the tiny star like flowers with pearled centers. So I thought I would carry on the tradition by also having stephanotis in my bouquet - the perfect accent! Among the white roses and tulips I, of course, had to add the cymbidium orchids! I was thrilled, shocked, amazed (you pick) when the Thursday before my wedding I found an old newspaper clip from Mother Dear's, my dad's mom, wedding announcement. Her bouquet was made of all cascading orchids. Perfect! A little bit of everyone to walk down the aisle with me!

My bouquet was created by Luis Andrade of Dallas, TX and was photographed by Photogenic Images.

Pop, Roll & Sprinkle it!

2009-08-17T17:38:00.010-05:00

Here's my fav find of the week! Would these not be the cutest, most delicious favors?! I would love to show these off at an event. And you know the guests would be so impressed.

Introducing, Cake Pops by Bakerella!

You could easily incorporate your wedding colors!

As you can see the possibilities are endless! I hope these fun little cake pops made you smile and gave you some good ideas! And don't worry they really aren't that difficult to make, so I hear! My mom just made over 100 and drove them 6 hours for a sorority rush party!

For more, visit the pro at Bakerella and just search "cake pops."

Tracy and Adam Shippee :: March 21, 2009

2009-08-09T20:30:00.004-05:00

I met Tracy and Adam through a mutual friend - at a birthday dinner to be exact! Tracy and I happened to be sitting next to each other. She had just gotten engaged, and I jumped at the opportunity to offer my help. Three months later I got an email saying she would love to take me up on my offer - I was thrilled!

Right off the bat Tracy was great to work with. She had a pretty good idea of what she wanted her vision to be. We expanded on those ideas - and her vision quickly became my vision! Fairly modern and fresh, but elegant!

This was one of my favorite moments of the day! Of course Adam and his groomsmen gave me a run for my money as I tried to get him out the door on time, and Tracy, well I could clearly see all the emotions in her eyes! She couldn't wait to see Adam for the first time. I have to admit I shed a little tear as I raced out of the background of this picture!

The Hawthorne House - Parkville, MO.

Jason Domingues with Jason Domingues Photography did a great job capturing all the events throughout the day. He was extremely easy to work with! Thanks for sharing your photos with me!

Next on my top favs for the day was Tracy and Adam's bubble exit. There was very limited space in front of the modest chapel, but give me the challenge of corralling nearly 300 people and I'm game!

Joe Prenger with Classy Covers provided the table runners. After searching and searching for the perfect pink, Joe came to our rescue with not only the matching color but a great price.

Michelle with Iced Art replicated exactly what Tracy had in mind.

When I say I have a sweet tooth I'm not kidding - and neither is Tracy! Tracy ordered 103lbs of delicious candy. My mouth is watering just thinking about about those sour green straws. Over the last several years candy buffets have become very popular. They serve not only as a tasty favor for guests, but are an easy way to provide a pop of color to a reception. As a planner you tend to see some trends several times, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear the number of guests saying they had never seen anything like a candy buffet before. Needless to say, it was a huge hit!

I know it sounds like a lot, but a good rule of thumb is to purchase 5-10 different types of candy, buying at least 10-15lbs of each. The amount of candy needs to fill the space visually and really isn't dependent on the amount of guests. The candy can serve as a great focal point in one area of the reception and needs to look substantial.

Monica with 18Flowers was awesome to work with. She is very precise and dedicated to her work!

Tracy stressed that she wanted the reception to be simple and fresh. Milkmen used to deliver fresh milk in these thick-glass bottles, so why not use them now to serve ice cold water with lemon. Combining the sweet bottles with a full bouquet of hydrangea gave Tracy the look she wanted!

To Tracy and Adam, thank you for allowing me to share so many memories with you on your special day. It was a joy to meet your friends and family! I wish you a very blessed marriage!