Posts Tagged ‘sparkler exit’

Unique Weddings in Florida: Casa Feliz, Winter Park

Casa Feliz is one of the most incredibly lovely and unique venues in Central Florida. Located in historic Winter Park at the north end of Park Avenue, set as if it were a jewel in a crown.

Casa Feliz | photo: Art Faulkner Casa Feliz, or “Happy House” in Spanish, is the signature residential work of noted architect James Gamble Rogers II. Built in 1933 for inventor and manufacturer Robert Bruce Barbour, Casa Feliz was recognized for its importance as an outstanding example of Spanish Eclectic style architecture and as the preeminent residential design executed by Rogers. Casa Feliz was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 2008. (more details here)

I have been fortunate to work at Casa Feliz on many occasions:  Weddings, destination weddings, rehearsal dinners, meetings – you name it! – and it’s always a joy to be there!  Everyone who visits Casa Feliz is touched by the charm of the warm wood and cozy interior spaces boasting french doors that open to bright and colorful courtyards.  It’s perfect for events with a guestlist of about 100 or less. The space is extremely flexible but somewhat nontraditional since it is comprised of several connecting rooms.

Casa Feliz couple

Casa Feliz with lighting by Junction 88

Sparkler exit at Casa Feliz | studio blu

One of the standout benefits to having a wedding or special event at Casa Feliz is the variety of photo ops!  Indoors, outdoors, architectural details – such as a curved staircase, balconies, archways, french doors, courtyards, windows – and lots of interesting textures and finishes (brick, wood, tile, etc).   It’s a photographer’s dream!

At this writing, Arthur’s Catering is the exclusive caterer.  Arthur’s is amazing and I’ve worked with them on numerous occasions; twice events which I had planned and they catered were nominated for awards!  Over the years I have developed a very good relationship with their team and I especially enjoy any opportunity to work with Melissa at Casa Feliz because she is so wonderfully detail oriented.

As a destination, Winter Park has a lot to offer visitors and out-of-town guests: first class dining, boutique shopping, sidewalk cafes, museums, boat tours, and tree lined streets that are perfect for walking, jogging and biking.  Known as the City of Culture and Heritage, Winter Park is a mecca for those interested in world-class art and rich cultural experiences. (more details here) Casa Feliz 656 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL

Casa Feliz_A Flair for Affairs

A Flair for Affairs highly recommends Casa Feliz.  If you are interested in planning a wedding at Casa Feliz, or anywhere in Winter Park, please call us!  We are one of their ‘preferred professionals’, and we’re eager to assist you with all the arrangements and make your planning experience both enjoyable and worry free.  We also provide coordination services for the wedding rehearsal and wedding day.

A Flair for Affairs :: 407-896-1476

 

 

25

02 2012

Lake Nona Country Club | Real Wedding Photos – Part 2

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

Photos courtesy of Marc Harmon

Lake Nona Reception by A Flair for Affairs; marc harmon photography

The ballroom at Lake Nona Country Club never looked lovelier! Floral, lighting, linens and decor came together seamlessly to create a dramatically elegant reception in shades of plum and rich purple. (I was so glad that Marc Harmon captured Emily’s reaction to the gorgeous ballroom during a private reveal!)

Lake Nona Reception Details - purple and plum wedding A trio of centerpieces created by Lee Forrest featured orchids, roses and hydrangea, accented with votive candles and black feather plumes; hanging crystals provided extra sparkle.

TIP: Favors at each place setting served a dual purpose: Favors were tagged with a guest name as well as their dinner selection. Combining favors and placecards is also a terrific way to reduce tabletop clutter.

Purple and plum wedding by A Flair for Affairs

TIP: A regular dinner plate can serve as an excellent alternative to renting chargers.

Lighting provided by Soundwave Entertainment enhanced the overall ambiance of the ballroom, while dance lights and a custom gobo created a party mood in the lounge area.

Fun wedding reception

A sparkler exit capped off a perfectly wonderful evening for this fun-loving couple!

Exit with Wedding Sparklers

Featured Wedding Professionals:
Planning and Coordination: A Flair for Affairs®
Photography and Photobooth: Marc Harmon
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Lake Nona Country Club – Orlando FL
Entertainment and Lighting: SOUNDWAVE ENTERTAINMENT® | djsoundwave.net
Floral: Lee Forrest
Chairs: A Chair Affair

See Lake Nona County Club | Real Wedding Photos – Part 1

Orlando Wedding Magazine features Cara & Jared’s Big Day

Cara and Jared’s wedding at Mission Inn Resort as featured in Orlando Wedding magazine.

Cara_mosaic

Congratulations to Cara & Jared, our newlyweds whose wedding is featured in the premiere issue of Orlando Wedding magazine!

Wedding_CandyBar

They were wed in January at Mission Inn Resort – which was the perfect backdrop for their romantic and elegant wedding.  Cara’s vision centered on old world elegance that was glamorous and graceful.  From candles to crystals, and cigars to candy bars – this wedding was an enchanting affair! They even had a sparkler exit! One of my favorite things about this wedding was how they incorporated so many family photos into the reception decor; that was a special touch that really enhanced the nostalgic feel of the evening.

Dalia-Candlelight_2159

Of course there was also a fabulous vendor team working behind the scenes to make ensure that the day progressed smoothly and that everyone enjoyed a stellar evening. Thanks and applause go to:

Mission Inn Resort & Club – Ceremony & Reception Venue
A Flair for Affairs – Planning and Coordination
Cheryl’s Distinctive Creations – Floral and Decor
Brian Adams – Photography
Cakes by Design – Wedding Cake
Entertainment Concepts – DJ, A/V, Lighting

(c)A Flair for Affairs

03

07 2010

Still Hot! {Tips for a Sensational Send-off with Sparklers!}


We seem to get an incredible number of requests for sparkler exits! And why not? – it’s an awesome and affordable photo op! However, there’s often more to coordinating a sparkler exit than meets the eye! While sparklers are generally safe when used as intended, they still require careful handling. So, I’ve prepared some simple tips to help you plan a safe and sensational send off!

Tip #1 – Purchase the right sparklers:

Ideally, you should be looking for the metal rod type in a length that’s either 14″ or 20″ long. Shorter sparklers (8″ or 10″) will burn out too quickly for most staged exits, unless it’s for an intimate group.

Morning Glories are attached to wooden rods (sticks) and have 3 distinct burning phases – usually a red flame for about 20 seconds, then a crackle/snapping phase for 20 seconds, and finishing off with 20 seconds of a green/white flame. Since Morning Glories tend to drop small glowing particles (think of burning tissue paper) they must be used with extreme caution. It’s truly frightening to think of these fiery particles landing on skin, hair or clothing during a staged exit, so I avoid them at all costs.

Tip #2 – Displaying and Discarding Sparklers:

One of the best ways to display sparklers is to fill a pretty painted pail or metal urn with white sand and insert the sparkler rods into the sand. This way, the sparklers will stand upright, and the sand base will provide the weight needed to prevent the display from tipping. Since the receptacle can get quite heavy once the sand and sparklers are added, it’s best to assemble this nearby to the area where the exit will take place, if at all possible.

On one or two occasions, I’ve seen sparklers placed on the guest tables or at each place setting (like a favor might be placed) but in those cases, they were also shorter than the recommended length, and in my opinion not a very attractive addition to the decor.

It’s important to remember that following the sparkler exit, the rods will be hot and need to be collected with care. The sand filled urn or pail is an ideal receptacle; guests can just place the burned end of the sparkler rods into the sand where they can properly cool down before being placed into the trash. Other things that work well are metal trays, a baker’s sheet cake pan, and heavy duty foil pans; ideally, receptacles should be placed nearby to both the left and right sides of the exit line up.

Tip #3 – How to Use Properly & Safely:

I always carefully consider the number of people to be involved, as well as the size and layout of the space. Naturally, we look for an outdoor location such as a wide walkway, a courtyard or driveway, for these options seem to work best. Before the Bride & Groom exit, we organize the line up of guests so that they are shoulder to shoulder and can hold their sparkler out and away from themselves. This is much safer than a staggered line where guests must reach around each other.

Secondly, we have our staff or a few designated helpers assist with the lighting. We start at the point where the Bride and Groom will begin walking and work our way towards the furthest point. We use butane lighters or sterno fuel (cans) to get the sparklers started – the constant flame is the key! We proceed at intervals – every 5 or 6 people – because a lit sparkler can also light other sparklers; this is an organized approach which speeds the process. A few strategically placed tiki torches also work nicely. Remind guests to take turns lighting their sparklers; it’s unsafe to light multiple sparklers simultaneously.

It’s important to maintain a safe distance from the newly wed couple as they make their way through the line up. Even though the sparklers are relatively harmless, it’s better not to take chances; I avoid creating an ‘arch’ to prevent sparks from falling onto the couple. Likewise, if children are involved, they must be closely supervised; a parent may even want to give their attention to the child’s safety and protection rather than holding a sparkler.

In my experience, if there are more than 100 or so guests participating in the send-off, it becomes more difficult to get the timing of the lighting and exit just right. Whenever this is the case, I suggest that the wedding party send off the Bride and Groom as the other guests watch – this cuts the number of participants down significantly! It’s also an excellent way to control costs.

Skylighter is an excellent online resource for sparklers and realted pyrotechnic products, and they have posted some wonderful pointers and valuable infomation on their website page for Wedding Sparklers .

Photo Credits: Art Faulkner, Elegant Imagery, Misty Miotto

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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