Saturday, August 30, 2014

Anchors Away!

Brittany and Jake
May 2013
Photos by Celebrations of Tampa Bay

The unique journeys I take with brides and grooms have challenged me in ways I never expected. Such was the case for  Brittany and Jake's late spring celebration that we also planned, coordinated, and catered Jake's sister's (Amanda's) wedding only two months prior.

While each bride's family took the initiative to individualize their celebration, there was always that desire to make both couples feel like their weddings were connected, but still different. Locations, color schemes, and some vendors created two very unique events. But the love and appreciation of family and friends was still very much a part of each special day.

I began working with Brittany's mom, Kathy, just months after booking "the other family wedding." This affair was to be held at the Belleaire Beach Community Center located on the intercoastal waterway just across the Belleaire Causeway in mid-Pinellas County.

The location had great possibilities, but Kathy knew many cosmetic additions were needed to turn the event space from a "city hall auditorium" into a vibrant reception space for this navy blue and hot pink event-scape.

Fortunately, Kathy's cousin Blanca and her husband, Joseph, were seasoned floral decorators over on the East Coast. They offered their professional, award-winning talents to create a magical  landscape through wall draping, uplighting, and gorgeous fresh floral arrangements.

The transformation was amazing!




Our staff took care of the chair covers, ties, and basic table decor. Kathy and I worked together to configure the set up and event timing, deliveries, and additional items not provided by the facility. The city of Belleair did not set up up any in-house furnishings, so this responsibility lay with the client.

I was totally amazed at what this family was able to accomplish in such a short period of time. With Jake being active military, there was always an uncertainty reflected in Kathy's efforts on her daughter, Brittany's behalf. Still, the plans went forward in a positive manner.

It was a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend and the weather cooperated fully. "Kathy and Company" placed as many of the guest tables and chairs as they could the night prior during the scheduled wedding rehearsal outdoors. It was a tight squeeze with the dance floor "not quite positioned" the way they had instructed the installers, but everything fit except for the cake table which interfered with the dj set up.

We decided to elevate the cupcake stand and small "cuttable" cake up behind the sweetheart table to save space. It worked perfectly.


Even with limited set up time the day of the wedding, Brittany's talented relatives put together amazing florals and special effects that fully transformed the entire venue.The outdoor ceremony area overlooking the intercoastal waterway, was decorated in swaying fabrics. We took advantage of the extra space in the city building's wide main hallway for the sign-in and gift tables, bar and buffet tables.  









Here are more wonderful images of 
Brittany and Jake's special day.

We hope you enjoy this as much as we did . . . .



Reading special notes to each other prior to the wedding.


A proud dad waits to escort Brittany.


Mom, Kathy, appears unruffled as she walks down the aisle after a full day of attending to final details of the wedding.




Recently new son-in-law, Jim, escorts Karen Anair to her seat, 
mother of the groom. 
We worked with Karen for her daughter's wedding in March.



The wedding party could not resist making impressionable "intros.


Sister-in-law, Amanda and husband, Jim were also part of the wedding party.










Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL - Event Planning, Decor, Coordination and Catering

Celebrations of  Tampa Bay - Photography, Video, DJ

Sweet Tweets - Cake and Cupcakes

Bianca and Joseph - Cousins of the Bride - Florals, Draping, and Lighting - Ft. Lauderdale area





Sunday, August 3, 2014

True Vintage

Audrey and Joseph
June 2013
110 Guests
The Sorosis Building, Lakeland
Selected Photos by Tina Sargeant Photography*


*
Audrey and Joseph are one of our many "destination" wedding couples with growing up ties to Florida. Audrey is a native of Lakeland, who attended FSU and then moved on to graduate school in Long Island at Stony Brook University where she met fellow music student, Joe. Both were working on their masters degree in music performance. 

Everything clicked because of their mutual interests in music socially.

When her mom, Cynthia, met with us to plan the wedding, she shared that the family had recently undertaken Audrey's sister's wedding, I felt a sense of individuality that needed to set both celebrations apart.

The Sorosis Building in Lakeland was the setting for the reception with a traditional church ceremony preceding it. I was only able to meet with Audrey once during the planning process and was thankful her mom knew her second daughter's tastes. 

A pale pink with a darker rose shade was part of Audrey's color palette. She also favored a hint of green. Since the venue already had a vintage look, it was easy to incorporate Audrey's vision. In her design questionnaire, she shared her wishes for a natural look through fresh flowers and a sleek table design.

We hope you enjoy Audrey and her mom's interpretation of true vintage!

 

Audrey took the traditional route when it came to having her formal bridal 
portrait displayed during the reception.


We used a combination of rose and light pink fabrics to decorate
 display tables in the main entry. Our ivory urns of in-house silk florals accented the 
sign-in/place card table.


The entry room also featured photos of the couple's family 
wedding pictures and an array of our pink cherry blossom stems atop the fire place.


Since the Sorosis Building location was directly across from Lake Morton, 
we incorporated the famed swan look into the displayed cheese, fruit and 
vegetable display for social hour. 


 Inside the main room, the sweetheart table was placed 
directly across the room as the main focus.


Audrey and her mom decided that the stage should feature the cake table. 
Our optional "sail" structures provided the perfect backdrop along with lighted ficus trees furnished by the family.


Guest tables were graced with beautiful fresh garden florals provided by their 
florist atop our mirror squares. Tri-folded pink napkins were placed on top of 
our silver chargers and wrapped favors added some sparkle.



A very traditional look, Audrey's reception, 
reflected our use of white skirting
 with colored top cloths.


  

Cakes by Marie supplied the three-tiered wedding cake 

*
Audrey enjoys a special moment dancing with her dad.


We love the opportunity to be creative with 
antique chairs we own for the buffet. Designer, Rita, 
added some extra flower heads to our mind green napkins on each chafing dish.


Congratulations to Audrey and Joe 
on their truely vintage wedding.

Event Planning, design, coordination, and catering

Cakes by Marie - Wedding Cake

Tina Sargeant Photography