Vineyard Vintage at the South Florida Museum

Shannon and Fritz
April 2013
Pictures by Alex of Melissa Lauren Images

Few venues along the West Coast of Florida are as unique as the South Florida Museum in Bradenton. Its historical charm is what lured Shannon and fiance, Fritz, through its huge wrought iron gates into the magic of 16th century Spanish architecture.

Our journey with the couple began less than six months prior to their wedding via the amazing help of Shannon's mom, Kathy. Mom shared a huge amount of her daughter's tastes and "must-haves." Through emails, a design questionnaire, sample table viewings, mom and daughter collaborated with us to create beautifully-orchestrated wine-themed wedding and reception.

With a color scheme of black, platinum, eggplant and touch of bright pink, our design team headed by Bradley Dempsey, went to work to assemble many of our in-house components within Shannon's vision. These included lots of wrought iron, pillar candle stands, and clear square vases that revealed just a pop of bright color in sunken orchid heads.

As always, we love SHARING decor we already own at no charge so every client has a chance to spend more of their wedding budget on more personalized aspects.

            

Shannon and Fritz's day began at the nearby Courtyard by Marriott. It was their decision to do first look pictures both at the hotel with the entire wedding party in tow. As with many of our couples that choose to do this, it enables them to be a bit more relaxed prior to the duties of getting married.

Their photographer Alex of Melissa Lauren Images, had a bit of fun with this as well.

Although the museum is not waterfront, the Marriott has plenty of scenic settings for pictures along the Manatee River.

The ceremony itself was held under a covered area off the main courtyard of the South Florida Museum. Pre-set guest tables (minus chairs) were scattered on the main plaza facing the iconic fountain featuring at statue of explorer, Hernando De Soto.

Our in-house black wrought iron candlelabras lined the main aisle with scattered purple petals along the side. The bride and her mom chose to rent black wood garden chairs that were transferred to around the guest tables during social hour.

Guests were welcomed into the main gate area with a signable set of wine bottles - each with a number depicting anniversary dates on which Shannon and Fritz would open and share.

Mom, Kathy, also furnished many vintage pieces including a suitcase card box for the gift table.

Follow the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in an adjoining corridor as our staff re-positioned the chairs. Kathy and Shannon were mindful of this 45-minute time period and sought to keep guests' interests as formal family/bridal party pictures were being taken. A table introducing the bridal party members ("Meet the Maids / Meet the Men"), a wedding trivia game, and photo booth created the perfect diversions. 

The side corridor where the social hour was held, has retractable shades to keep out the sun.

A bridal party feasting table was lined with our glass cylinders to hold bridal bouquets. Our black damask runners created texture to tie all related tables together including the buffet, guest, and entry tables.

Guest table centerpieces alternated between our black cafe lamps with two black pillar candle stands with LEDs, and our hanging wrought iron candle holders set between two glass cubes of cut crystals with orchid heads. 

 

Additional stems of white hydrangea were interspersed among votive holders around the fountain area.

Our colleague, Chuck Armstrong from Solid Gold Entertainment, provided both dj and photo booth services for the reception.

 

The wedding and groom's cakes were fashioned by the groom's aunt. 

Details, details, details . . . . in small embellishments like the bride and groom  Pez toasting glasses and paper straws at the bar.

 

One of special features of the South Florida Museum is that it has built-in string lighting over the courtyard. 

The spaciousness of the courtyard area provides many options for seating and buffet-station locations. We found the area behind the fountain with his "old fortress" details, to be the perfect location to serve the 140 guests in attendance.

Thanks for allowing us to share in the excitement of your special celebration, Shannon and Fritz!

Catering By Robert / Event Concepts: Event Planning, Design, Coordinating and Catering

South Florida Museum, Bradenton: Venue

Melissa Lauren Images: Photography

Solid Gold Entertainment and Memory Makers: DJ and Photo Booth

Rental Chairs and Tables: U.S. Tent

Personal Wedding Flowers: Josie's Poseys, Bradenton

Cinderella Inspired Wedding

Our 18-month courtship with Nicki and Bill, began in the summer of 2010. They decided to book our all inclusive Treasure Chest package to relieve some of the stress they anticipated in planning their wedding.

Their first choice for their wedding was a private waterfront home in the Longboat Key/Sarasota area. But when vacation rental home owner started putting restrictions on their celebration, they decided to hold it at the South Florida Museum near their home in Bradenton.

From scheduling first meetings with our participating vendors to attending client only open houses, Bill and Nicki made certain they took advantage of all the networking and tasting options available to them. Bill became the "point person" on their end and kept frequently in touch mostly via email and in the last few months, via phone.

Their guest table was featured during our February 2011 open house:

Photo by Lester Molina Photography

The couple's initial concept was based on Nicki's infatuation with the Cinderella princess theme. I cannot explain the look on Event Designer Kent Billiter's face when they presented him with a small glass slipper during their inital design meeting. Even though the slipper (proposed favor idea) was never really used in the table concept, it represented the enchanting feel the couple wanted overall for their reception.
Bling and crystals became a focal point along with THREE different shades of pink, chocolate brown and touch of gold. Instead of opting for standard chairs with covers, the couple decided to spend extra money on Kent's recommendation for mahogany brown folding chairs. These started out in the ceremony area on the promenade and were placed around the guest tables during social hour.

Their simple criss cross runners featured at the open house evolved into a multi-layered table  starting with a white floor length cloth, followed by a pinned up chocolate brown satin overlay, topped with the pink champagne or rose lamour runner configuration - the ends delicately gathered with pink-wired crystals.
At first Bill and Nicki were set on a cocktail style format for the food, but then decided to formalize the tables with alternating rose and pink champagne napkins.Gold chargers were always considered because of their contrast.

Many clients are under the impression that event designers work with only one linen vendor. Not the case with Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL. Our event designers' knowledge of linen company inventories is a big plus for our clients. In the case of  Bill and Nicki, their pink shades were so specialized we found only one source for the two colors of pink: BBJ Linens.

Although we like to "bundle" rental items whenever possible, we ended up renting from both BBJ and Panache Party Rentals. Panache (Classic Party Rental), is the only vendor on the West Coast of Florida that carries the mahogany brown wood folding chairs.
After the open house featuring their table look, Bill and Nicki sought some alternatives to having wedding florist Carmen, arrange their tall fresh floral guest table centerpieces. They loved her bouquet and personal flower options, but they needed to find some ways to cut back on extra decor costs.

We made a suggestion: have Carmen provide "processed" stems of hot pink hydrangea and pink roses in our in-house tall 20" glass cylinder vases. Our design team would just drop these in provided containers in order to save pre-arranging fees. This savings created more of a budget for the upgraded folding chairs.

Bill and Nicki went a step further and added tall brown sticks they found on the internet along with hot pink submersible LED lights in OUR crystal rocks, and 4" dark pink floating candles for our four shorter cylinders surrounding the tall one. Kent and Event Coordinator Bradley Dempsey, added some of the client-provided crystal strands to the inside for more BLING.

Each table was named after some aspect of "princess-dom" and small glass crystals were scattered around the perimeter. All in all it took our staff three solid hours to complete the table decor.

Thanks to our event colleagues, we were able to meet strict set-up deadlines. These included Christy Monaco of Southern Occasions who coordinated the ceremony; Eladio of DeLite Entertainment for ceremony and reception music; and of course, Elizabeth of Elle Creative Photography who skillfully captured so many of personalized images in this blog.

 Christy did a well-rehearsed run-through the afternoon prior. This included escorting the younger wedding party members through their cues.

Eladio of DeLite Entertainment arrive early to make certain proper sound was set in place for ceremony, social hour, and main reception.

The museum staff is extremely helpful when it comes to making certain the "back of the house" is a well-oiled machine. Because events are subject to strict rental time period acquisition, rental vendors have to charge higher rates to deliver and pick up (that night). Still the facility is awesome and does have options for "under cover" celebration areas in case of bad weather. All tables and chairs must be rented.

The ceremony was held along the Promenade, a covered elevated corridor to one side of the Museum plaza. As part of their Treasure Chest package, we provided a wrought iron Chuppah with a table for their candlelighting ceremony.

After the ceremony, guests mingled in the bar area with some high top cocktail tables. This gave our staff time to place ceremony chairs around guest tables.

The couple and their bridal party spent over an hour with Elizabeth

taking formal and casual pictures.

Our buffet-style dinner included a French Onion Soup station along

with Paella and whipped potatoes with different toppings.

 

As darkness set in, the overhead string lights on the plaza

helped created a starry effect for Bill and Nicki's party time.

Many thanks to Bill, Nicki, and all of the vendors who work in harmony to make this celebration possible!

Vendors:

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

Kent Billiter, Designer

Venue: South Florida Museum

Photography: Elizabeth wtih Elle Creative Photography

Fresh Florals: Carmen's Flowers

Entertainment: DeLite Entertainment

Ceremony Coordinating: Christy Monaco, Southern Occasions

Cake: Sweetopia Bakery