Photos from an intimate New Year’s Eve Wedding celebration – December 2011

Photos courtesy of Errol Colon

I can’t tell you how excited I was to receive a call about a New Year’s Eve wedding! Especially upon hearing this couple’s unique love story and the special circumstances of their nuptials (and I will honor my promise to respect their privacy). I worked with them to bring together all the elements of an exceptionally memorable New Years Eve wedding.

The couple exchanged vows in the grand entrance hall of their home with their closest family and friends in attendance. Following the ceremony, guests toasted the couple with Dom Perignon. A custom menu of mostly vegetarian hors d’oeuvres and small plates were passed by Puff n Stuff, and guests ate, mingled, and danced until the New Years Eve countdown began.

The weather could not have been more perfect for such a grand fête! Guests were led out onto the client’s private dock to view the fireworks over the lake. They cheered and sipped champagne and asked if they could do it all again next year… (Exactly what we like to hear!)

Photography | Errol Colon Photographers
Catering | Puff n’ Stuff
Floral | Raining Roses
DJ Music | Junction 88
Cake | The Sugar Suite

Photos from Emily & Brad’s wedding at Lake Nona Country Club – November 2011.

Photos courtesy of Marc Harmon

Featured Wedding Professionals:
Planning and Coordination: A Flair for Affairs
Photography: Marc Harmon
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Lake Nona Country Club – Orlando FL
Floral: Lee Forrest
Make Up: Your Wedding Make-Up
Wedding Cake: It’s Tasty Too

As promised, pro pics from Stacy and Matt’s wedding: Here they are!

Stacy was thrilled with her bouquet and the attendants bouquets!
We loved the combination of roses and orchids – it was perfectly elegant.

Bride Stacy had the most beautiful smile!
She was beaming with joy and excitement the entire day!

Destination Wedding tips:

Allow plenty of extra time for photographs!
Click here for more destination wedding tips

Floral design by Raining Roses
Stylist/Make Up by Your Wedding Make Up
Video by Seth Cohen
Photography by Rhodes Studios
Entertainment by Horizon

Destination weddings are so much fun!

Last week we welcomed Stacy and Matt from Ann Arbor to sunny Florida!  In a few short months we designed all the elements of their destination nuptials which took place in the town of Celebration.   It was an intimate affair, but the energy was high – there was no doubt everyone was ready to celebrate!

{Pro pics are forthcoming}

Bride Stacy was stunning in her figure flattering wedding gown, and her attendants looked breezy and beautiful in aqua tea length dresses.  Professional hair and makeup styling made the ladies picture perfect!

Gorgeous floral was a key element for this destination wedding.  The bridal bouquet was exquisite, as were the floral trees which were used at both the ceremony and reception.  Guests enjoyed a fabulous plated dinner followed by dessert and dancing.  The couple made a grand exit with a classic car.

Loved our team for this wedding: Raining Roses, Horizon Entertainment, Rhodes Studios, Visual Effects by Seth, Your Wedding Makeup, Party Flavors, and the Bohemian Hotel Celebration

It’s no secret that Florida is a popular destination wedding location – statewide we offer historic hotels, glorious gardens, beautiful beaches and amazing attractions!  Should you be considering a wedding here, we’ve prepared a few Destination Wedding Tips to help you get the most from your out-of-town wedding:

1. Marry off peak. Weekday weddings are by far the most affordable.  Don’t compete with the locals for prime dates and Saturdays; opt for a weekday instead. Vendors and wedding professionals often reserve discounted rates for mid-week weddings.
2. Whenever possible, decor should be ‘multi-purpose’.  For this wedding, two of the floral trees were used at the wedding ceremony and then moved to the reception
3. Work with what you have. The venue was so well appointed, there was little need to bring in linen, decor for the cocktail reception, etc.
4. Don’t leave anything to chance. You can’t simply rely on websites (things are not always as they appear).   Working with an experienced Planner will give you piece of mind; trust them to advise you and guide you to qualified wedding professionals.   (We’re so glad Stacy & Matt chose A Flair for Affairs; if we can help you please let us know!  Otherwise, the Association of Bridal Consultants can be an excellent resource.)
5. Keep It Simple Sweetie. Don’t bog yourself down with too many things to pack (such as cake knives, or favors, etc.), and don’t over-schedule yourself – leave plenty of time for last minute errands, driving to and from various locations, and photo sessions.

“We’re on a tight budget.”

Yes, I know (but I don’t say it out loud). Times are tough, money is tight, and everyone is trying to save a buck. But lately, I’ve been hearing this way too much.

And you wouldn’t believe the trends I’m starting to see! Flower-less centerpieces, DIY linen installations, sub-par vendors, and more! It sounds funny, but in the end, it’s really not.

Maybe you’d like to poll the guests from a recent wedding that I coordinated (notice I said coordinated, NOT planned). The bride contacted me to help her with the reception design and we put together a great look for her. However, she insisted that she wanted the reception to be ‘cocktail style’ – meaning that she wanted the guests to mingle – therefore she only ordered 100 chairs for 200 people…. Hmmmm…. I think you can see where I’m going with this.

“What’s your budget?” I ask. Rarely do I receive a truthful answer, that is, until I quote a price. It’s not a problem because I know my services are not inexpensive. I charge what I’m worth: I’m an educated, experienced, nationally recognized industry professional. I work with clients and couples who realize that what I bring to the event planning process is more than the ability to create a memorable day – I help them create amazing and memorable moments. I am a specialist; it’s like comparing stitches to brain surgery.

Anyway, I do appreciate that many people are on a budget. Whenever possible I do the best I can to meet them where they’d like to be. After all, I love what I do, so for me there’s a lot more to it than the paycheck.

In a previous post, I wrote about how Brides and Grooms can protect themselves while shopping for vendors. Check it out – there is a lot of good advice there. This post centers on something different; it’s about being realistic. There seems to be a trend towards style over substance. Let’s go back to my story about the bride with the 200 guests. Do you think those guests cared how good the room looked when they realized they might have to stand for the rest of the evening? Nope – they bailed at their first opportunity. Do you think they felt valued and appreciated? Nope.

It’s my responsibility to tell my clients if something won’t work, or doesn’t work well. I educate them. What I’m seeing lately is so many people (future brides and grooms, potential clients) who are out of touch with what things cost being serviced by vendors who want to say yes (because they need the business) – this is not exactly a recipe for success.

My free advice for today is this: If you truly can’t afford the wedding of your dreams – put it off and save more money. If you want to save an extreme amount of money without cutting corners, scale back your guest list, move up your wedding date and consider a week-day event. Also, if you’re planning a wedding or special event be a good host! – that’s just good manners.

Rose, Carnation Aisle Pomander

I love, love, love pomander balls! For starters, they are incredibly versatile! Pomander balls (also known as kissing balls) can be used as aisle decor, table decor, personal flowers, cake toppers and accent decor.

Pomanders begin with a styrofoam or oasis sphere: oasis is used for floral pomanders because it can be saturated with water and styrofoam can be used for any other style which is does not require water or moisture (such as silk, tissue paper, etc.).

Flower Girl

Pomanders can be constructed in a varety of sizes – it all depends on the size of the sphere that’s used for the base. And don’t forget: once you cover the sphere completely, it’s size will grow significantly – anywhere form 4″ to 6″ on average!

While somewhat fragile (due to their construction), they can easily be moved and reused throughout the day if handled with care.

Rose Pomander Centerpiece

Rose Pomander Centerpiece

There’s no disputing the fact that pomanders deliver a lot of look! While they can be quite pricey when constructed with roses -due to the shear number of blooms required to give a fully rounded look- the cost can be controlled if careful attention is given to the overall size and design.

Beachy Carnation Pomander - brides.com

Tissue Paper Pomander

For example, hydrangeas are an economical alternative to roses or carnations. Pomanders constructed from non-organic flowers (silks) may offer some savings, be made in advance (if it’s a DIY project) and can also be re-used. Or, you may want to try paper pomanders! Pomanders constructed from tissue paper are extremely affordable and deliver colorful & stylish impact equal to that of it’s floral counterpart.

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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