City Girl Meets Country Boy!

Jaclyne and Jason
March 2013
Selected Photos by Richard Harris,
DeLite Entertainment*

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We are always inspired by our wedding clients. Jaclyne and Jason were no exception. They not only spent countless hours on seamless DIY projects, they followed through on a well planned balance of country chic and southern charm. Set in early March at Karnes Stables, the weather was picture perfect for their all outdoor wedding.

Jaclyne admits she is a city girl turned country, due to Jason. "But I consider myself more of a Southern Belle, rather than a country girl," she said. The couple met when Jaclyn was working at a local restaurant. Jason was a regular. "He was so shy when trying to ask me out, he had his brother text me! I thought that was so sweet," recalled Jaclyne.

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The couple's extended engagement included lots of mutually shared things like the outdoors, country music and family and friends. It was no wonder their wedding day was filled with special details the bride and groom held dear to their hearts.

 

Jaclyn and Jason started their celebration journey with an "free spirited" engagement session with photographer Richard Harris of DeLite Entertainment. The spontaneity of their shoot resulted in finding abandoned farms in Northwest Hillsborough County for picture backdrops. "It was crazy jumping fences and feeling like we had found the perfect location in an out-of-the-way location," noted Jaclyne.

 

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Sunflowers were Jaclyne's favorite. Carmen Gonzalez of Carmen's Flowers took special care to provide the right balance in the colorful florals she furnished.

 

 

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When guests first entered the Karnes Stables lawn area, they were greeted by an antique sign-in dresser with tidbits of Jaclyn and Jason's country motif. This included adorable signage and a burlap-wrapped sign in book with real wood branch pen.

 

 

The outdoor ceremony area was simply decorated with Catering By Robert's/Event Concept . FL's in-house chair covers with alternating navy blue and yellow sashes. These were later moved to the reception area. Carmen added brilliant sunflower and dark blue flowers to the farm arbor that had been earlier draped in white chiffon by event coordinator, Bradley Dempsey of Catering By Robert. 

 

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Our in-house shepherd hooks and lanterns lined the aisle. We placed the client's tall mason jars with personalized streamer wands and guests were asked to wave as the couple exited the ceremony.

 

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Jaclyn had made her grand entrance in a horse-drawn carriage but took most of the picture opps after the ceremony in enjoying rides around the farm with her new husband and young daughter.

 

On the other side of the stables, our staff had been hard at work in setting reception tables with burlap bottom runners, our alternating navy blue and yellow gingham top runners, matching napkins, our in-house black lanterns, scattered sunflower heads and decorated mason jar favors filled with Jaclyn's favorite candy - salt water taffey. Jaclyne and Jason also fashioned a number of special signs along with table numbers on antique china plates.

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of spending money on a large wedding cake, this practical couple offered guests their favorite dessert: Village Inn pies. A small two-tiered cake from Publix was included for the formal cake cutting ceremony. To protect the desserts from the outdoor elements, we installed a mesh canopy overhead. The tree wood cake elevation, wrought iron pie stands and shaggy burlap fabric were just some of the Catering By Robert elements we added to the event.

 

 

 

 

While pictures were being taken after the ceremony, 120+ guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres inside the stable barn. Our drink dispenser featured the couple's own Honky Tonk Tea.

 

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Fully decorated guest tables awaited wedding attendees once the social hour was over. Eladio of Delite Entertainment, provided two sound systems: one for the ceremony and social hour, and another more elaborate one near the dance floor in the reception area.

 

 

 

The main buffet was located between the stable bar area and the guest tables in the courtyard. It featured a variety of Jason and Jaclyn's favorite foods.

 

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Of course the couple personalized "mason jar" toasting glasses complete with striped straws at their sweetheart table.

 

 

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At the end of the day, Jaclyne and Jason got to enjoy ALL of the things they shared the most: the outdoors, country music, and family and friends.

 

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

 

Fresh Flowers: Carmen's Flowers

 

Photography by Richard Harris of DeLite Entertainment

 

DJ and Emcee Services: Eladio of DeLite Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Eight Shades of a Wedding: How to Make It Work

AnnMarie and Gavin
February 2013
St. Pete Beach Community Center
Photography By Alexander (Sasha) Evdakov*

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When AnnMarie and Gavin completed their Design Questionnaire several months prior to their wedding, we were astounded to see how many colors they wanted to use to create a "vintage wine" pallet. Many couples have a hard time balancing three colors, much less eight!

We were up for the challenge.

 

Early on, AnnMarie shared color swatches from her bridesmaid gowns that included copper/carrot, dark brown, and ivory. Additionally, she brought paint cards with additional colors she wanted to include with the basic three. These included burgundy, black, orange, tan/kaki, and a touch of black.

Event Designer, Ashley Allred Davis of Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL, worked with the couple to create a balance of all eight of these colors and a sample table was viewed and approved the month prior to the wedding at one of our client-only open houses.

 

Below is the sample table and next is the table at the actual event . . .

 

 

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The table included a carrot overlay, gold charger plates with alternating tan and burgundy napkins, tan chair ties, and black centerpiece features. Two of our in-house centerpieces, the wrought iron handing candle holders and black pillar candle holders were combined with a taller wine bottle furnished by the couple for the table number. This created some depth for the centers of each table.

 

Ashley further suggested expanding some of the color elements to displayed features such as the cake, entry table, buffet where there was a combination of items both the couple and our inventory provided.

 

The couple's save-the-date cards depicted the fun and format of what their guests could expect the day of the wedding.

 

 

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 When it came to the ceremony décor, AnnMaire and Gavin chose to rent our white pergola arbor for the plaza of the St. Pete Beach Center. Event Coordinator, Bradley Dempsey, framed it in the carrot brown with a touch of dark brown hydrangea. As you can see below, photographer, Sasha, professionally edited the backgrounds to create impact with gowns, attire, and flowers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The first and second levels of the community center provided an indoor and outdoor setting for the social hour and indoor reception.

 

 

 

 

Inside the main ballroom, the color palette expanded to include more wine elements, tabletop props, and of course the guest tables. All table centerpieces and accents are part of our in-house inventory. These include the wrought iron hanging lanterns, black pillar candle stands, copper vases, dark red vases, faux grapes, all black lanterns. The client provided wine boxes and wine bottles for table numbers.

 

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The collection of colors blended well with the neutral hues of the Boca Ciega Ballroom for the reception.

 

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Many thanks to AnnMarie and Gavin for allowing us to be a creative part of their celebration.  

 

 

 

 

Planning, Design, Catering, and Coordinating; Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL, Ashley Allred Davis and Bradley Dempsey designers.

 

Host Hotel: The Beachcomber, St. Pete Beach

Wedding Cake: Publix Bakery

Entertainment: DJ Krammer

Flowers: Lou's Florist