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

 

 

"Reflections" of Two Mirror Lake Weddings

Late last summer, we had the opportunity to host two distinctly different weddings at the Mirror Lake Lyceum in Downtown St. Petersburg. Both were within a month of each other. The profile of each below shows the dramatic differences in the set-up and color schemes reflecting the personal style of each client.

The Lyceum is a lovely, historic, rennovated church. Ceremonies and receptions share the same basic space with a dramatic transformation during the social hour orchestrated by the hall manager, Brian, and his staff. The well-maintained venue with lots of stained glass and dark wood elements definitely holds an appeal to the bride and groom who wants a traditional feel for their wedding.

Stephanie's 9-10-11 celebration was planned with us 18 months in advance, while Euwana had a shorter timeline that originated just six months prior to her mid-August 2011 date.

Many thanks to Brad Hall Studios for many of Stephanie's wedding pictures he shared. Also, kudos to Black Onyx Photography for Euwana's beautiful images.

Small details were very important to Stephanie. She and her mom spent a great deal of time sharing many ideas with us on styling and exact color matches for linens and flowers.

The Lyceum features many lighting options in-house and through suggestions for dj/lighting pros. This look perfectly reflected Stephanie and Greg's purple-pink focus for private photos between ceremony and main reception.

Yum, had to plug the food early in this blog. Consistently, one of our clients' favorite selections: our carved Roast Baron of Beef served with our tangy horseradish sauce.

The buffet was set in the side room off the main hall.

Stephanie chose dark pink fresh floral elements for her guest table centerpieces in alternating fish bowls and glass cylinders. These orchid features actually complimented the lavender/dark purple table accents well. Her wedding florist provided all of the pieces.

Stephanie's guest table look was featured nine months prior at one of our open houses. In the last few months, Stephanie made a few changes to original floral piece.

Here's the original design as pulled together by event designer Bradley:

A fabulous outdoor view of the Lyceum after dark - indoors and out.

Stephanie and Greg make their way down the aisle after a simple unity candle celebration. They were joined by 140 family and friends.

Mom, Sandy, and daughter share some getting ready time before the wedding. Stephanie's mom was a consistent part of all of her daughter's planning. I am glad that the photographer caught this precious moment that reflected everything that went into this celebration.

The bride chose to set her cake table in the side room dance floor area. With white, purple, and lavender decor, we accented  this traditional four-tieerd cake in a pool of platinum.

Euwana's mid-August wedding surprised us with a combination of navy blue and coral. Event Designer, Kent Billiter found Euwana's soft spot in her feasting table which included her entire bridal party. Here she was able to adorn the center of this wide table with clear vases holding hers and her attendant bouquets intermingled with candle elements.

Bridesmaid bouquets included coral and mid-green and blush pink rose buds

provided by Carmen of Carmen's Flowers. Above is her sample feasting head table at one of our open houses. Below is her actual table at the reception. This is an example of how ceremony elements can enhance reception tables.

  Ewana's concepts were warmly embraced her photographer, Black Onyx Photography, who took the opportunity to capture some amazing architectual images involving both permanent building features along with our temporary decor infusions.

 The bridal room on the second level provided a private, secluded gathering space for Euwana and her female bridal party members.

 Euwana shared a bookmark sentiment with guests at their placesettings. Sometimes a napkin fold has everything to do with presentation.

 The original ceremony area of the Lyceum became a romantic reception space with the dance floor right in front of the ceremony stage where the cake was placed. The Lyceum has a variety of options for specialty lighting along with client dj offerings Above, hearts were part of Euwana's theme as they floated across the dance floor just prior to the main reception.

The couple decided to display their wedding cake on the main stage surrounded b ytall candlelabras originally used for the ceremony down the main aisle. Centerpieces for each table included our 14" tall glass cylinders with submerged in-house orchid stems anchored with client orange flat marbles.

The bride was concerned about the step up to the dance floor area where the buffet is usually placed. So she has us place the tables on wheels and they were positioned right at the edge.

Congratulations to both couples for sharing their personality and style on their special day!