Sweet Home Lakeland!

Kristen and Will
December 2012
Selected Photos By Melissa Lauren Images**

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Kristen has been a mutual acquaintance for the past 8 years. Creative director, Kent who went to high school with Kristen, and I looked forward to  planning her wedding long before she got seriously involved with fiancé Will.

 

A successful young woman with a determination to be a registered nurse, Kristen took a full time job in a major Orlando hospital leaving some her ties to hometown Lakeland behind. While the two cities were not far apart, Kristen loved the progressive, forward-thinking of her new home. So when it came time for her to consider her wedding, Lakeland was not in the initial picture.

 

Kristen went around and around with ideas on potential destination wedding sites on the West Coast of Florida . . . even as far south as Sarasota. Each time we thought she had settled on a location, some small flaw would manifest and the location was TOTALLY OUT.

 

Then finally Kristen decided to go back to her roots in Lakeland and book the Mirror Lake complex for her ceremony and reception.

It suddenly all made sense.

What she sought was a comfortable reflection of where she had grown up.

 

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We realized along the planning trail, that Kristen had a very focused vision of her wedding day that included an emphasis on fresh flowers. When we first featured her sample guest table at an open house in September of 2011, her idea for guest table centerpieces was featured by florist Carmen Gonzales.

 

 

Kristen set out to purchase large round mirror pieces, and plan her Spring 2012 wedding around a palette of apple green, purple and vibrant yellow.

 

Then came the news: Kristen was pregnant with baby Eli.

The wedding was rescheduled nine months later. Kent and I held our breaths.

Would Kristen keep her amazing original ideas or just go through the motions of a wedding for formality sake?

 

Thankfully all of  Kristen's original ideas stayed in place, modified a bit, but still there. To our knowledge no one had ever done hanging fresh floral chandeliers in the Magnolia Building. So we were estatic Carmen's creations could still come to life.

 

The day of the wedding in early December, the weather was beautiful and warm. Despite it being a winter month, the Mirror Lake grounds were well manicured and "summer perfect"

 

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We loved that Kristen and Will kept a lot of personalization alive. Apple green still was the dominant color with accents of eggplant, yellow, and chocolate brown. It was quite apparent that more family could be involved in the special touches of the wedding . . . because of it being in hometown Lakeland.

 

 It was quite a fete installing the florals from the rafters . . . making certain they were evenly spaced. These were alternated with a low tabletop flower wreath. All tables featured her round glass mirrors with our three varying height glass cylinders with floating candles. 

 

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The outdoors were kept simple. An attended gift table and directional signs led arriving guests to the ceremony lakefront at the amplitheater. Kristen rented mahogany chiavalri chairs from Premiere Party Rental which were eventually transported back into the Magnolia Building for the main reception. 

In side, we placed some important details. On the entry mantle were family wedding pictures along with a seating chart. The sign in table featured a thumbprint tree where guests could write in their remarks.

 

 

 

Outdoors Kristen and Will enjoyed a relaxing photo session with photographer Melissa Lauren. These included some with baby Eli and others with just the two of them.

 

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An hour later, guests made their way indoors after a pre-reception on the back lawn with a limited bar. 

 

 

Guests anxiously awaited their access to the main ballroom where they knew Kristen's vision for fresh florals would be amazing. And it was.

 

 

 

Coupled with lighted ficus trees and abundant ferns and low potted greens from A1 Foliage, the room had a definite garden look.

 

 

 

 

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A simple small layered cake adorned a cupcake stand surrounded by assorted pies and sweets for variety. 

 

The sweetheart table was located in the center of the stage surrounded by twinkling foliage.

 

 

Kristen and Will had several special requests for food and beverage including their favorite Roasted Root Vegetables. Because the Magnolia Building has a convection oven, we were able to accommodate this with fresh product on the buffet line. Also, the couple came up with their own signature drink, The Wilsten, a blackberry flavored Sangria that was the hit of the event. 

 

All in all, Kristen was able to relax and enjoy her day because it was close to her childhood home and close to her heart. We loved being a part of her and Will's special day.

 

 

Venue: Mirror Lake Complex - Amplitheatre and Magnolia Building.

Planning, design, coordination, catering: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL
Kent A. Billiter, designer

Flowers: Carmen's Flowers

Photography and Photo Backdrop/Props by Melissa Lauren Images

DJ Services: Eladio of DeLite Entertainment

Foliage: A1 Foliage