Archive for the ‘rave receptions’ Category

Since we are in Atlanta…..getting educated….we will be featuring real weddings we coordinated or planned from 2007 to keep you entertained.

First one is the beautiful and classy, country-club wedding of Bethany Blackstone and Jesse Hamner in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Yummy chocolate, but with cream as an accent. Best part of the reception: the hand-made cannons that shot out rose petals as the couple was introduced and the action food stations.

Plan on! -saundra

On today’s Fox 7 TV Segment with anchor person Sarah Brownlee we talked about my most recent brides. Well more specifically her fabulousicious centerpieces.

Now just for the record, I am not a fan of silk flowers. Sorry. I find that often, if not done by a professional or if really niiiice silk flowers are NOT used, they can end up looking cheap.

There. I said it. Martha Stewart can hate me (if she even knew who the heck I was).

WITH THAT SAID….I am here to sing the praises of my bride, Kristin Fielder Buehn (who married Andy by the way, that lucky devil).

First the background. During our planning process she calls me up.

Kristin: “Um, Saundra, yeeeah….I’m going to make my centerpieces and flowers. I’ve got this idea with candlesticks and make floral balls to go on top.”
Saundra: “What?”
Kristin: “I promise - they look great. I am channeling my inner Martha as we speak.”
Saundra: “Look Kristin, I’ve got a really great floral designer that owes me a few favors….can’t we go visit her shop?”
Kristin: “I really want to do this. I have an idea….you’ll love it. I hope.”
Saundra: <secretly rolling my eyes> “Okay, Kristin….it’s your day. We’ll do whatever you want.”

Well I was shocked. They were beautiful. She went shopping, looked for bargains and came up with a very clever idea. She made tight balls of cream roses with a little bling added into the bouquet. They sat on silver candlesticks which she got for a STEAL after Christmas at Kirklands.

We need a closeup. She actually turned the candlesticks UPSIDE down to hold the balls of roses! How clever.

She also got funky with some Pier One vases in front of the stage

Check out the finished product at the reception! Beeyoootiful!

Great job Kristin! Your wedding and reception was almost as beautiful as you are.

Now bring me something pretty from Cabo.

Plan on! -saundra

What type of reception do you plan with a groovy groom and a former Miss Ohio winner? Not your standard one, I assure you. John Gannon and Cynthia Madden were looking for their wedding to be unique and different. They love good food, friends, clubbing and drinking martinis. That’s when it hit us (Cynthia and I during a wine lunch)! Let’s nightclub their reception!!!

With a themed wedding like this it is crucial that you go ALL the way with it. No chickening out! So Club Gannon was transformed at the beautiful executive center at Casino Aztar. No details were missed.

When guests arrived to the reception they were greeted with red carpet, paparazzi and had to line up to get into the “club”. When they entered through the draped entrance, they were greeted with a colorful ambiance. We chose all white furniture and minimal flowers and spent our money on smart lighting which transformed the room from blue, pink to finally red.

No traditional sit-down dinner for these folks, we were going with action, food stations. We offered four different seating areas. Traditional round tables, with crushed white velvet that would sit 10 people (these were the VIP sections for family). Small cocktail tables adorned with ice chivari chairs and fuzzy tablecloths.

[warm and fuzzy!]

Tall gathering tables in white spandex linen. Four bars were strategically placed around the plus sign dance floor, with four high bar stools behind it. (The bride and groom planted themselves there to watch their photo montage later in the evening. Too cute.) And finally, four couches with ottomans covered in glass for drinks. There wasn’t a moment that I didn’t see someone or many people sitting on those couches!

We brought in a high caliber DJ with a huge screen that played MTV videos with the songs. It’s a club right? And for thirsty dancers we offered two open bars; a martini bar with a ice-sculpture, luge in the shape of a G and a beer/wine/mixed drink bar.

[sweet little arrangements]

The only non traditional item in the whole room was the cake. A four tier, soft pink fondant cake which set upon a pink, pin-tuck satin tablecloth. The only color besides the lighting in the whole place.

Hands down the most unique event I’ve ever planned and conceptualized. Like what you’ve seen? Give me a call!!! I’m looking for my next über cool project.

To see more of Cynthia and John Gannon’s wedding, click here.

Plan on! -saundra

Just wanted to give a shout out to a very dear couple, Lindsay and Steven Charles! Celebrating their 3rd anniversary today, I remember having so much fun with them planning their wedding. One of the things that stood out was that even though they were high school sweethearts, they saved their pennies and nickels to host their own fabulous and rather large wedding. The benefit of that? They did it their way.

They wrote a great thank you letter to me, which I appreciated so much. And have told all their friends about my wedding planning skills! Lindsay will be my attorney once she finishes her law school and gets back to Evansville!

Cheers to you two! Have a great one!

r, saundra

Well they did it!! Jacques White and Brooke Waninger tied the knot!!! It was a wonderful wedding with a superb family….I cannot help but send lots of love to them. Especially to her mom, Lisa Waninger. I think I helped her the most! She’s like me…a bit of a control person…so to see her let go and let me take care of the details for her daughter’s wedding, was….priceless.

Here’s a few pics from the wedding. I loved the colors! Bright and beautiful, just like Brooke.

Plan on! - saundra

Have you seen the Bride and Bloom magazine? It is tres chic!  Last month they had a trendy party to celebrate their magazine and Preston Bailey did his magic with decorations and was the guest of honor. The neatest thing that came out of it?

Milk and cookies at the end of the evening for the guests. It’s all in the presentation folks…..could you do this at your next wedding?

Photo Courtesy of Drew B Photography

Plan on! -saundra