Wedding Dreams DO Come True

Dru and JR

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In her response to our Design Questionnaire, our November 3rd bride, Dru, was very specific when it came to her response to one of our major questions:

"What did you envision your wedding day to be like when growing up?"

PERFECT

Simply stated, for this Central Florida bride. She had high expectations for her wedding and reception. So much so, she enlisted the talents of her own mom, Donna, early in her planning to help create a vintage backdrop that was "uniquely Dru."
 

 

The significance of the event site (Hollis Gardens and adjoining Magnolia Building) for Dru was JR's proposal to her at that location one year prior.

 Dru had her heart set on holding her ceremony and reception here.

Alas, the popular wedding venue was booked!

 

 Alternate plans were made to hold an all outdoor celebration near the family's primary residence in Winter Haven. Dru's mom, Donna, had everything planned from the venue to the rented tent, tables, and chairs.

 

That was until I posted a Craigslist ad with a Nov. 3, 2012, available location at the Mirror Lake complex due to the postponement of a wedding from one of our current clients. The bride's dad happened to be perusing CL late one night when he noted his daughter's original wedding date was NOW AVAILBLE one year later.

 

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*A giddy, very excited mom, Donna, contacted us wishing to book the date. She shared her daughter's dream of holding her wedding with a vintage chic feel. As you will see below, the reception was filled with special touches happily provided by the bride and her mom. This ranged from gilded white bird cages to stacks of worn hard-backed books.

 

They had already enlisted the expertise of A Heavenly Scent to add fresh floral accents to each of the guest tables. Our creative direction, Kent, was assigned to feature Dru's concept table for one of our open houses. As with all of our open house featured tables, we ask that clients to supply sample centerpieces and components that we are not providing from our resources.

 

 

Kent made recommendations that simplified the original design. This included alternating some fresh floral elements. The results, shared with their chosen florist, were on target with Dru's expectations. This involved a high to low placement of  tall round cylinder flower stems, medium square vases with the original lusters of purple and blush pink flowers, and finally the book stack with lace and small white orchid stems.

 

 

 

A second table look featured a gilded birdcage with fresh flowers. Kent and fellow designer, Ashley, worked with the florist on site to adapt the arrangements also to two major feasting tables for both families. These included our in-house glass cylinder trios with the client's amazing floating water pearls connected together with fresh rose petals. Donna decided to purchase all of the guest table runners for the tables.

 

 

 

 

 

These wide tables demanded a great deal of texture. The sweetheart table reflected the guest table looks with our in-house platinum and eggplan fabrics, pearl strands and bird cage with florist embellishments. We loved the etched champagne stemware for the bride and groom!

We continued the theming of the event with embellishments reflecting Dru and Donna's vision of pearl, fresh greenery elements, and of course the bird cages (which we had in-house for buffet).

Donna and her devoted husband, made good on their promise to deliver and set up some awesome turn-of-century furnishing vignettes showcasing couches, chairs and attire that were distinctly VINTAGE.  

 

Sweets were also a part of Dru's vision for a fun-filled celebration. She provided us with pre-filled containers and signage with a local candy store's custom red lips and black moustaches. It was a big hit with everyone.

 

 

The couple settled on a specialty Sangria as part of their open bar. We provide dispensers for these signature drinks.

  

The Cake. Simple yet Significant. We utilized our in-house satins to accentuate the round cake table right in front of the main room fire place. Above were "Mr. and Mrs." block letters that personalized more of Dru's vintage vision.

 

* Photos by Benjamin Romeo Peacock Photography

Planning, Design, Coordination, and Catering: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL

Kent A. Billiter, designer (and Mom Donna Nixon)

Flowers: A Heavenly Scent

Venue: Magnolia Building / Hollis Gardens in Lakeland

Chiavalri Chairs: First Class Rentals 

DJ: Clark Del Costillo

Video: Alvin Renz

Wedding Cake:

Favor Bakery, Winter Haven