Much of the event’s design direction was lifted directly from the custom invitation’s colors and patterns.  We used the design motif from the patterned paper throughout the event, see if you can spot the various elements we used it on!

Molly and Mark chose to see each other before the ceremony, and where else would they meet, other than the Grotto, where they paused to light a candle together.

Spring flowers perfumed the aisle! These pew markers were later transferred to the Palais Royale and used on the back of the bridal party’s chairs – see a photo of this application below!

Guest tables were named for places that were significant landmarks around the Notre Dame campus – where it all began for them!!

In lieu of a favor, a charitable donation was made to the Center of Social Concerns, at the University of Notre Dame. We love the presentation! The guest napkin was fashioned into a rosette, with the  message printed on ‘leaves’.

This shelving unit served multiple purposes! It helped divide the cocktail space from the dining area, and held images of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents on their wedding days! On each side are the gowns that Molly and Marks mothers wore when they wed – I love this image of the bride and groom – Molly in her wedding gown, standing next to her mother’s wedding gown.

Re-purposed pew markers! Can’t you just smell the hyacinth? Nothing says spring like the scent of hyacinths!

At the end of the First Dance, the centerpieces exploded with fireworks, a surprise and tribute to the brides father, who, every fourth of July wonders why he isn’t arrested for the excessive fireworks display he puts on!

Guests were treated to a dessert buffet that tasted as delicious as it looked!!

Can you believe the amazing work on this cake? Taken directly from the paper used in the custom wedding invitation! Gorgeous!

Happily ever after starts now!!

Cyndi – XO

Our Vendors:

Ceremony – Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame

Reception – Palais Royale

Rehearsal Dinner – Club Namoli, University of Notre Dame

Wedding Planning & Design – Cynthia Basker, Celebrated Events

Floral & Decor - MichaelAngelos

Photography – Peter Thurin, Peter Thurin Photography

Cake & Dessert Buffet – Cakewalk

Papery – Cloud Nine Invitation Design, Emily Dionne Events and Nuptials

Ceremony music – Notre Dame Folk Choir

Reception music – Dennis Keith Band

Hair – Emerald Salon and Spa

Makeup – GabGlam

Photo Booth - Fun Zone Photo Booths

Transportation – Cardinal Buses

Farewell brunch – Hilton Garden Inn

Host hotels – Inn at Saint Mary’s, Hilton Garden Inn

Our Vendors:

Ceremony: Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame

Reception: Great Hall, Century Center

Photography: Peter Thurin, Peter Thurin Photography

Band: Lynn Jordan and the Shivers

Floral/ Decor :MichaelAngelos

Cupcakes :Sweet Mandy B’s

Hair: Emerald Cut Salon & Spa

Makeup:  Camelia’s Cosmetics

Photo Booth: Fun Zone Photo Booths

Papery :Christina Duthie, Cloud Nine Invitation Design

Transportation: Cardinal Motor Coach, !st Class Limousine

Tina’s clutch was embroidered with her new married name, and wedding date – what an amazing keepsake! I absolutely adored it!

This bench on campus was where Tina and James shared their first kiss! They spent a few quiet moments there before the ceremony.

Just before it was time to go to the Basilica to await the ceremony – the skies opened up!! James, with an assist from a couple of his groomsmen, made sure Tina got to the church safe and dry!

Tina, in her cotillion mask and…..

more cotillion shenanigans!!

Our vendors:

Ceremony site: Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame

Reception site: Palais Royale Ballroom, South Bend, IN

Floral/Decor: MichaelAngelos

Photography: Adam Novak Photography

Videography: Blink of an Eye Productions

Event Design & Coordination, Specialty Rentals: Celebrated Events

Paperie: Cloud Nine Invitation Design

Wedding Cake: Rascia’s Creative Cakes

Hair: Emerald Cut Salon and Spa/ Bridal Hair Stylist: Eric Woolridge

Makeup: Gabrielle Thompson/ GabGlam

Reception Entertainment:Rica Obsesion

Favor: La Praline Chocolatier, Caracas, Venezuela

The next detail that inspired the ‘rustic glam’ feel of the wedding was the owl!  Whoooooo made appearances throughout the event! See if you can spot him!

The place card table was covered in a bed of moss, as was the bride and groom’s last initial, which hung above it.

Nicole’s Dad cut this tree slice, which served as the perfect cake stand! Love the touch of fiddle head fern on top of the cake, and in Nicole’s bouquet!

As guests left the reception, they were greeted on the street by a hot dog vendor, Franks for the Memories, who dished up  hot dogs, made to order!

Our Vendors:

Ceremony: Greene Road Church

Reception venue:  Spohn Ballroom

Caterer: Pumpernickles Catering

Floral: Poppies, Inc.

Photography: Amber Raeder Photography

Photo Booth: Fun Zone Photo Booths

Bakery: Adams Bake Shop

DJ: DJ Mayor Mike

Outdoor hot dog vendor: Franks for the Memories

Let Me Clarify – You Can Always Get It Cheaper…

There’s one thing that I definitely know in life and that is you can always buy something cheaper – telephone service, flights, cars, office supplies, SEO optimization, wedding gowns, pharmaceuticals, wedding flowers, catering….wedding & event planners.  You name it and I’ll betcha there’s somebody out there that can give it to you cheaper…  I think that the question that people miss is:  But Will It Be What I Want?

Let me give you a scenario that happened to me last year.  I sent out a floral & decor proposal for an event that wasn’t huge and over the top.  It was for a nice party and right in line with the type of events we do.  Prior to sending it out, I had gone through and made a few things optional for the client so that they could add in some of the “nice to haves”.  Exactly what I told them I would do when they hired me.

Then, the phone rings….it’s the Mother of the Bride.  We’ll call her Carol.

Carol:  “Sasha…in this economy how can you, in good conscience, send me a floral proposal THIS high?”

Please know that I had been through the proposal backwards & forwards and it met all of the required components that the bride simply HAD to have.

ME:  “Thanks for your call, Carol, I sent it because I believe it fits the desires of Melanie (name of bride has been changed) and I did shave a lot off to try to meet your budget”

Carol:  “But Sasha, how in the world do you expect us to pay for this?  We have decided we don’t want to spend more than X”  {this would have been nice to know at the beginning, by the way}

ME:  “Please let me know what you would like to cut and we are happy to  make any changes you like.  We can switch from long tables to rounds & squares, change the design of the flowers…”{basically, I gave her 15 options to make changes}

Carol:  “But Sasha, Melanie wants all that and we expect that in this economy people are hungry for business and would be willing to make a little less profit for the job”

{quizzical look which garners the side note that in this economy, business owners are more likely going to want a higher profit from each job, not lower to compensate for fewer jobs overall – thereby providing the contracted & paid for services ONLY and not over and above the contracted services}

ME: “Carol, I’m not sure that’s the case, but let me just say that I’ve found out something in life and in business…you can always get something cheaper but it will not be the wedding your daughter wants, it will only be the price you like.” {if you use this in your business, feel free to say “well, Sasha Souza says…”}

Why have I told you this story? Because it’s true and the statement that I made at the end is an important one when educating couples and ourselves on weddings and what we get for our money. It’s easy to say you want a centerpiece to be smaller or “not over the top” or “simple”.  Let me give you a visual example.  We have seen this image from the legendary Preston Bailey in our office many, many times.  It’s gorgeous with hundreds of flowers in it and I’m sure the image does not do it justice to how grand it is in person:

Can every bride afford it?  No.  But those that value it will seek it & Preston out to design for them and will be thrilled with the results.  Here is how we used his inspiration for a bride who loved the look but couldn’t pay the price tag for the flowers:

Could the bride have gotten even this arrangement cheaper?  Yes!  Absolutely but the structure of the piece, the height, the design would have been vastly different.  More like this:

While still pretty, it doesn’t emanate the same feeling – BUT it IS CHEAPER!  So, if it’s cheaper that they are looking for then this would work out perfectly but the expectation can’t be for the gorgeous images above.

Another example…Is the peony any cheaper because of the economy?  No.  So, we offer alternatives and often we substitute with garden roses.  Is it the same?  No.  It’s just cheaper and different.  Some brides are OK with that and others REALLY want the peony and are not going to compromise for anything less.  The decision is only theirs to make.

Carol did go on to pay the bill for the flowers when she  understood that what she would get by going elsewhere wasn’t what Melanie would have wanted.  We were very willing to make changes to the event to get them closer to their described estimated expenditure but they were unwilling to make any changes whatsoever and simply wanted it to be cheaper.  period.  just. cheaper.

That isn’t how this works, people.  If you go to the gas station to fill up your car, you make a decision on the name brand station that you go to, how much you want to pay per gallon & the octane level of the gas you want. 

OR!

You can go down the street to the gas station without all the special additives.  Will your car run the same?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  My car happens to like Chevron Techron 89 Octane or better.  I put anything less in it and I’m bummed by the lack of power and performance that I get in my car.  I can’t go into the clerk and ask them if instead of $2.99 per gallon I can pay $1.49 per gallon and expect the exact same quality & product.  If you want me to shave $100 off an arrangement, you’re going to lose $100 worth of flowers & design time.

So, when you’re visiting with your vendors and you ask them to reduce their price please be sure that you are getting the same exact thing – because if you’re trying to compare apples to apples and one person says they can do that Preston arrangement for hundreds less than the other person – chances are  you’ll be left with arrangement #3 on your 72″ round seating 12

http://sparkliatti.com/

The Trend Report issue of Wedding Day Magazine (www.weddingday-online.com) is now available and features 45 pages of ideas! As contributing editor, one of the topics I covered was the use of lighting, and the transformative effect it can have on your wedding reception.  It is one of the most cost effective ways to add atmosphere and mood to your event! Through the use of LED technology, your event can take on any hue you can dream up, and can continue to change throughout your event.  For more on this topic, refer to my article on page 44!

wedding

1.) First and foremost, have five to ten, dates and times chosen that would be acceptable choices. Discuss this in advance with all involved parties until you can all agree on a list of acceptable dates/times.
2.) Have multiple folks calling in on your behalf.
3.) If you are having multiple folks calling in, make SURE they have your list of acceptable dates and times, and that they are authorized to make a decision on your behalf.
4.) This may seem like it goes without saying, but remember that the calls are being taken on Eastern Standard Time – if you are on the west coast, that means calls will begin being taken at 5:00 am and end at 1:30 pm your time.
5.) Be patient, just keep dialing.

Good Luck Everybody!! Once you secure your 2011 date, give Celebrated Events a call! We will take all of your hopes and dreams for your Basilica wedding, and make them come true. If you can dream it, we can do it!

There are two outside balcony areas, situated on either end of the space, that overlook the campus, providing views to the east, south and west. The space hosts hard wood floors, with gorgeous wood accents on the walls and around the bar area that give the room a warm feel. Another feature, on the wall/area opposite the windows, is the option to open up part of the wall, which then allows views into the arena – very cool!

If you are interested in this space, call Amber M. Pena, Sales Manager at Catering by Design – 574-631-7859. While the Club is not ‘officially’ open, Amber informed me that they have already booked two weddings! I’m so excited to have this new venue on campus! I see so many possibilities with regard to how the space might be used – Rehearsal Dinners, Wedding Receptions, Sunday After Brunches, Welcome Partys – to just name a few!! Isn’t it exciting?!!

My colleague, Frank Andonoplas, of Frank Event Design, Chicago was challenged to create his gallery from an everyday material, and use it as inspiration for his design. The element assigned to him was metal, and from there his vision took flight. Working in tones of silver, from deep gunmetal to icy mercury, Frank designed a table that was characterized as ‘boho chic’.  He used an eclectic mix of silver vases, some curvy with high shine, others more linear, with a matte finish.  Silver charger plates held charcoal satin napkins, on top of which, were menu cards, printed on thin sheets of metal. The flatware consisted of a mix of hammered silver and matte copper pieces, while gorgeous, silvery blue linens graced the table and served as backdrop for the tablescape.   Bejeweled, silvery blue votive cups added candlelight on the table, while whimsical, wired candlebra’s brought additional ambiance.  Glassware  consisted of a mix of clear and colored glass, that was spread across the table in no particular order.  More color was expressed through the floral pieces, that utilized dusty miller and silvery blue hydrangea against which jewel toned tulips, orchids, roses and delphinium were placed for maxium visual ‘pops’ of color.

The tables were configured in a large X design, which I feel could be used for any number of gatherings, a small wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid luncheon or dinner party, just to name a few.  Frank used silver Chameleon Chairs with a medium grey suede seat cushion to complete his design.  I enjoyed working with Frank on his design and loved being in such a creative and collaborative environment! Enjoy!!