Pink Pickin's

Renee and Jonathan

Nov. 17, 2012

Karnes Stables

Photos by Richard Harris, DeLite Entertainment and Photography

 

 

 

 

 

Renee and Jonathan's whimsical fall wedding at Karnes Stables filled the outdoor setting with vibrance and intimate detailing. We were delighted to be able to mimic Renee's fushia damask theming with our recent purchases of runners and accent fabrics. Daisies were her favorite flower and made their way from bouquets to table décor. All of her fresh flower décor was from Carmen's Flowers.

 

 
 

Even though Renee had the option for more rustic wood farm tables, she chose to retain a bit of formality with round guest tables covered in white with fushia and silver runners dotted with varying pink colors of daisy heads in small vessels.

 

 

The centers were anchored by our in-house white carriage lanterns, silver charger plates, linen white napkins, and a mason jar keepsake favor.

 

The ceremony was held on the Stable Lawn with the farm's stationary pergola as the backdrop. The rented folding chairs with Catering By Robert's in-house chair covers, were transferred to pre-set guest tables during the social hour inside the nearby barn.

Our event designer, Bradley Dempsey, decorated the pergola with hot pink organza fabrics and two of our white Chinese lanterns at different heights.

 

A simple sign-in table greeted the guests as they arrived for the ceremony. We assigned one of our servers as greeter and they transported gifts and cards to an awaiting gift table inside the barn.

 



 

 



 

 DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS

 

 

From Sweet Tweet's white fondant cake with floral accents by Carmen, to personalized pink flasks for all of the bridesmaids, Renee hand-picked all of the special elements that made her wedding memorable.

 

 

 

We premiered many new comfort food items from our new Al Fresco Florida menus. This included a mini slider trio of barbecue pork, buffalo chicken, and fried green tomatoes. gingham cones were filled with spicy Cajun pecans and a big hit was our deep fried mac 'n cheese lollipops.

 

Everything was made fresh and served to the 150+ guests throughout three entertainment spaces during social hour.

 

 

There were many ideal locations for formal pictures including one of the farm's unique oak trees.

 

 
Renee and Jonathan chose a feasting table for their bridal party members. It was tucked away in the corner of the Stable Courtyard with the barn as a backdrop. 

 

Opposite the feasting table, across the dance floor, was the big oak tree shading the cake table. We fashioned mosquito netting above the cake to protect it from falling leaves

 

Guest tables surrounded the dance floor on both sides and seated up to 10 guests. We furnished mason jars instead of water goblets for poured water and iced tea. Only of handful of tables were reserved for close family and friends. The rest were for open seating.

 

 

 

DJ Eladio of DeLite Entertainment provided dual sound systems for both ceremony and the main reception.

 

We utilized the concrete area in the back of the barn for food stations. This included a mini corn cake bar, flamed Chicken Jack Daniels, carved Roast Baron of Beef, Collard Greens and Country Style Green Beans.

 

   

 
The bar featured Renee's and Jonathan's signature "Whiskey SmiGavock."



 

 

 

The inside barn area provided high top cocktail tables for cocktail hour and later evening socializing.

 

 

The party pumped up after dinner with everyone on the dance floor under sparkling string lights.

 

 

 

 

 

Timeless in Teal

Lee & Ari
December 2012
Sorosis Building, Lakeland
Photos By Sarah & Ben Photography **

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As a wedding planner, I have a special respect for husband and wife photo teams. Such was the case for Lee and Ari's love story that unfolded through the eyes of Sarah and Ben on a winter Saturday in December.

 

From the smallest details to enormous groups shots, this team created a lifetime of photo memories I am certain the couple will cherish for years to come.

 

 

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I started working with Ari and Lee nine months prior to their December wedding. With Lee's busy work schedule, my initial conversations and emails were mostly with Ari. He did an excellent job of communicating all of Lee's ideas and questions.

 

After attending several open houses and securing the attendant gowns, they were ready to meet with Event Designer, Kent Billiter, to create their palette of teal, cream, Rosewood (light pink)), and platinum. Three months prior to their wedding, Lee and Ari got to view their guest table options at one of our client-only open houses.

 

Together, they chose a color scheme on the vibrant side with contrasting teal runners, sashes, napkins, and silver chargers, against the ivory tablecloths and neutral chair covers. Instead of mimicking the blush colors of the wedding flowers, they opted for bright purple-pink orchid stems inside of our clear glass cylinders. These were further illuminated with submersible bright white LED lights hidden in clear crystals at the bottoms of each cylinder.

 

 

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This is just an example of how original colors morph into more varied shades. Sometimes a light hue just can't compete with the dark wood accents of the event venue.

 

The results were stunning once the sun set and overhead lights were shut off.

 

The day played out as a cat and mouse game of whether it would rain. As it turned out, the skies cleared an hour before the ceremony in front of the Sorosis Building. Being detailed-oriented, Lee and Ari discussed a rain plan during our final meeting two weeks prior. It would have been held inside the main ballroom.

 

Details were so much a part of Lee and Ari's celebration. Their entry table featured a fun caricature of the couple along with beautifully framed place cards. Guests were further involved in making well-wishes on teal-trimmed cards.

 

 

Every feature of the celebration included thoughtful signage accented in the wedding colors. It was great to have so much communication with both of them during the final month of preparations. Our final meeting lasted almost two hours, but it was worth every minute to make certain we captured every placement element from programs to special bride and groom wine glasses.

 

 

 

 

The foyer's lovely fireplace was accented with a "G" monogram, a framed picture of the couple along with two of our chrome vases filled with extra orchid stems.

 

 

Kent's custom room décor pieces, The Sails, served as a backdrop on the stage for the sweetheart table and cake display.

 

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A simple square layered cake came to life with orchid stems and a simple block-lettered LOVE topper. Kent personally arranged the floral accents for the couple.

 

 

 

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Lee went through last minute preparations in the small dressing room of the building. Ari and his guys had arrived earlier to get dressed in the same room.

 

 

 

With the sun peeping through the clouds, we dressed out the high top tables along the Sorosis Building side terrace for the social hour.

 

 

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The couple chose to decorate their own Chuppah on the front porch of the Sorosis Building A Jewish ceremony with many traditions, it was visible for all to see from the ground level vantage point.

 



 

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Back indoors, the bar and gift tables were stationed right inside the foyer. We covered the glass doors into the main ballroom with solid white fabrics and teal accents. Hand-passed hors d'oeuvres made their way to guests no matter whether they were inside or out.

 

 

 

 

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Outside the couple joined Sarah and Ben for a whirlwind picture-taking hour around Lake Morton, just across the street. Because the couple chose to get many family pictures taken prior to the wedding, they had more time for very special moments as a couple right afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As guests were personally invited into the ballroom to find their seats, we completed our buffet  set up that included a French Onion Soup Station with torched Swiss Cheese. Menu items included a Baby Greens Salad with Walnuts, Cran-Raisins and Raspberry Viniagrette, Honey Glazed Carrots, Green Bean Almandine, Parma Rosa Pasta, Chicken Marsala, Lemon Caper Salmon, and Carved Roast Baron of Beef. 

 

 

 

 

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Traditions continued with a special ceremony with Chullah Bread and Wine.

 

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The fun and formality continued after dinner with lots of dancing, cake cutting, garter, and bouquet toss.

 

 

 

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As darkness set in, the front porch became an illuminated departure area that culminated in a glow stick/necklace send-off.

 

 

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Kudos to Lee and Ari for interjecting so much personalized detail into their celebration. Their selection of a photography team that understood their love story was a even more of a bonus.

 

Planning, Décor, Coordination & Catering: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL,

Kent Billiter, Designer

 

Photography: Sarah & Ben Photography

 

DJ: Eric of Grant Hemond & Associates

 

Wedding Flowers and Orchid Stems: Lasater Flowers

 

Wedding Cake: Publix

 

Outdoor Ceremony Chairs and High Top Table Rentals: Premier Party Rentals