Krista and Danny
Oct. 19, 2012
I now dedicate my blog postings to real life event clients like Krista and Danny who take a "less traveled" road where they must make their expectations fit their determined budget. While in this couples' case, it was a cause, not a necessity.
We all realize that weddings today aren't just frivolous celebrations only centered on brides and grooms. It is HOW you spend your allotted or budgeted dollars that makes the difference.
I started working with Krista and Danny almost 18 months ago when they were considering a vacation rental home for their wedding weekend. At that point in time, they were targeting Februray or March of 2013. Krista found out her grandmother was seriously ill and they decided to move up the date to Oct. 19, 2012. More than anything, Krista wanted her grandmother to share in the planning with her.
The couple exhausted a wide range of locations for their ceremony and reception. At one time they even considered holding it at a new home they just purchased in Clearwater. But the ocean was their first and foremost backdrop for their ceremony. Sand was not an option. And there had to be a sensible back-up plan for an indoor space in case of rain (and it wasn't holding it in the same space as the reception.)
Krista and Danny decided on the rooftop of the Clearwater Beach Hyatt for the nuptials. They booked rooms at the hotel for getting ready and got a great deal on hotel amenities. Since they still wanted to use outside catering and their own alcohol, they chose the Clearwater Community Center just north of the hotel on the intercoastal waterway.
The reasonable cost of the center afforded them the opportunity to do a number of upgraded decor options including wall draping and uplights. They were considerate of vendors by paying for extended set-up and breakdown time.
Krista and Danny loved the idea of having a super chic cocktail hour outdoors with lounge furnishings and high top tables along the grassy area facing the water. Then as dusk set in, they wanted the guests to be ushered into a completely different club-style environment complete with silver chiavari chairs, shimmering silver organza overlays, and dots of hot pink, purple, and apple green.
A nurse, by profession, it was apparent that Krista had a definite knack for knowing how to put decor together. She texted, emailed, and called me whenever she had immediate questions. She took my advice in hiring Xydex Event Services for the lighting and draping. While I made other recommendations for services, she did her own research to come up with bundled "deals" for renting ceremony and reception chairs/tables. She also purchased the overlays and had her florist provide the orchid stems for our in-house trio of glass cylinders.
Krista and Danny's wedding was full of small and practical details in the form of signage, sunglasses at the cerermony, special favors of bath salts, napkin rings, and even a signature gobo dance floor monogram.
We were happy to embellish with in-house platinum and hot pink fabrics plus our new collection of white table top lanterns.
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Krista kicked around the idea of renting lounge furnishings for her outdoor cocktail area. She decided to purchase faux leather futons and cocktail tables from Walmart that she planned to re-sell on Ebay later. Danny's family put it all together early in the afternoon. High top cocktail tables were provided by Signature Events who also did all chivari chairs.
We furnished our popular white cube pieces for the draped front hallway and around the dance floor later in the evening. We are certain their investment of draping the entire entry area of the Clearwater Community Center was a novel one . . . .hiding some less than attractive brochure rack, windows looking into a fitness center, etc.
An example of how ceremony items can be re-used at the reception. The silk pomodors Krista purchased for the ceremony aisle were placed by event coordinator, Bradley to decorate the buffet and cake tables.
The couple decided to only cover three wall sections of the reception room, leaving the natural light to filter in on the north entry side. This was a great move as guests could still view the water and the tall palm tree foliage that was part of the Clearwater landscape.
Our in-house trio of glass cylinders were filled with sparkling crystals, LED lights and orchid stems. Krista even constructed a clever table number holder in her colors of white, hot pink, and green.
We loved the option to embellish other important tables with our satin fabrics and unique table top decor that include chrome vases with tropical silk flowers.
The ceremony back drop that included two potted branched plants from Delma's Florals was placed behind the sweetheart table for the reception. Krista purchased two crystal lamps for this table as well.
Sparkle was a big part of their reception, so we added some elements on the buffet along the front of the buffet.
After the formalities, Krista and Danny were able to enjoy party time on the dance floor.
Event Planning, Design Implementation, Coordination, and Catering:
Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL
Signature Event Rentals
Delma's Florist
A Better Cheesecake
Draping and Uplighting: Xydex Event Services
