Posh Family Styled Reception at The Orlo

Becca + Wes

Photos by Lion Lady Photography

Becca and her mom, Vicki booked with us just less than three months before the February wedding at The Orlo. Food for the reception was one of the most important aspects of Becca and Wes's celebration and they were looking for a caterer who could satisfy their specific requests.

A family-styled meal for up to 70 guests was their plan. Hand-passed appetizers which ranged from Mini Sliders to Fish Tacos, were on their list. A late night snack offering of Mini Pressed Cuban Sandwiches, Fried Plantains and Sweet Potato Fries completed their request. 

There were gluten free options, vegetarian options, and some other special dietary needs. Although a challenge in the Orlo sprawling spaces, we managed to pull everything together with a larger than normal staff size. 

For Becca, everything was in the DETAILS. She and her mom had been working for the many months prior in creating a décor plan that matched the vintage feel of the mansion. These details ranged from pillar candle clusters on the stairs and inside the fireplaces to lace curtains hung on either side of the ceremony backdrop. 

Becca chose The Garden Shed as her florist. They were able to accommodate some of her special requests including a decadent floral headpiece. Everything from the fireplaces to the staircase and guest tables were adorned with fresh greenery and minimal buds. The results were stunning. 

Becca's vision for her wedding day included an early arrival for all bridal party and family members. Some special moments with Wes were tastefully captured by Seattle-based Lion Lady Photography.

 

Becca kept herself relaxed with needlepoint prior to the wedding as the photographer collected more pre-ceremony pictures inside and outside of the venue. 

 

  

The parlor served as the social hour area along with the front porch. Later it became the dance floor. 

The bar was initially set on the front porch for social hour and then moved to the main ballroom during the reception.

The main reception dinner was held in the Orlo's Ballroom. Focal point was a large feasting table for family and bridal party. The natural wood table was surrounded by six to eight person round tables covered in champagne linen.

Some of the family style items we served were platters of Rack of Lamb, Citrus Zested Broiled Salmon, Roasted Red Potatoes, and Asparagus Spears with Hollandaise.

Here are some of the late night snacks.

Planning, Day of Coordination, and Catering: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL

Photography: Lion Lady Photography

Fresh Florals: The Garden Shed

Wedding Cake: A Piece of Cake 

Rentals: West Coast Events and Rentals

DJ: Tony Lange of Grant Hemond and Associates

Officiant: Dan Talbot, family friend

Wedding Gown: Ivory and Lace Bridal

Lacey Vintage at the Lyceum

Dyana and Chris

Selected Photos by Ashley Hamilton Photography*

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This savvy couple had an equal amount of input into the look, feel, and format of their wedding day. Dyana and Chris embraced the vintage aspects of their ceremony/reception site: Mirror Lake Lyceum in St. Petersburg. For Dyana, there was never any doubt this historic building (a former church), complimented their expectations.

Because of Dyana's intense schedule as a nurse, Chris was her amazing "clone" in taking care of details leading up the their wedding day. He was my first contact from the very start.

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 Both spent several hours there prior to ceremony for getting ready and picture-taking with bridal party and family members. Dyana and Chris enlisted Flowers by Jenny in Trinity to provide the fresh floral elements of their celebration. This included alternating guest table centerpieces, bouquets, and lots of loose stems of white garden roses and baby's breath used in white vases (a combination of ours and the bride's) for the entry, buffet, and other accent tables. 

                                           

Ivory and lace was generously used throughout the wedding. As trends go, we had accumulated quite a bit of lace cloth pieces from past weddings in the 80s and 90s. It was great to give them a new try for a nostalgic revival.

Dyana also provided many "lacey" votive candle holders and cylinders she had acquired from a friend. Gold leaves also added sparkle to tabletops. 

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After the ceremony, the reception kicked off on the bottom floor of the Lyceum where guests picked up place cards, ate hand-passed hors d'oeuvres, and enjoyed some specialty drinks chosen by the bride and groom. 

 

  Caprese Salad Skewers


 Spicy Deep Fried Crabcakes

Meatballs with Pretzel Handles and Mini Beef Empanadas

 Salad Skewers with Gazpacho Soup Shooters

Meanwhile, upstairs, our staff along with the Lyceum crew, were busy placing pre-set guest tables in the main ballroom where the ceremony had just been held. 

Dyana and Chris provided lace overlays for each of the guest tables. Centerpieces alternated between the florist's wood trays and bell-shaped clear glass "shades" both accented with an assortment of white hydrangea, roses, and other garden-style flowers. Even though bridal party members donned chocolate brown, latte, and rose in their attire, Dyana chose to only use the darker brown in the chair ties. The guest tables were mostly ivory with a touch of gold in the charger plates and rose inside favor candy bags at each place setting. Dazzling table number holders added a vintage element.

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Two spectacular cakes graced the reception stage: a two-tiered quilted vintage wedding cake along with a special chocolate cake for Chris featuring his Alma Mater, USF. Cakes by Nomedia provided both.

                     

   

                                           

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Our tall black lantern piece towered above the main buffet table which was draped with our lace skirting (Circa 1989).

                                      

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The couple chose our Gold Medallion package which featured a marinated Mediterranean Salad, Seasonal Fresh Fruit, and our "crowdpleaser," traditional Spanish Paella.

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The end of Dyana and Chris's wedding day ended in a big way with a sparkler send-off, well captured by photographer, Ashley Hamilton. 

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Congratulations, Dyana and Chris!

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

DJ: Danny DeLeon

Photo Booth: Bliss Booths

Officiant: Katherine DeMarco