What’s the one thing more stressful than planning a wedding?  Planning a wedding from out of state – while working the nightshift!  But that didn’t stop Brigitte and Anthony from putting on an outstanding rooftop event at Armani’s (Grand Hyatt – Tampa Bay).   Brigitte’s love of all things pink and her appreciation for refinement and simple beauty all contributed to a simply elegant affair!

Held atop the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Brigitte and Tony’s rooftop wedding ceremony boasted 180 degree views of Tampa Bay (just before sundown… in October… in 80 degree weather.  AMAZING.)  Armani’s, well known for its great food and semi-swanky atmosphere, transformed flawlessly from Restaurant to Reception for 80+ guests.  The venue already lent incredible decor, nature provided the atmosphere, and this couple’s friends and family made it “home”.

Brigitte and Anthony, we wish you the very best – you were SO fun to work with!  We’d do it again in a heartbeat!

Chairs, Centerpieces, Draping, Lighting: Us!
Event Coordination: Us!
Venue: Armani’s at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Photography: K & K Photography
Videography: Voila Cinematic
DJ: Corey Barron with Grant Hemond and Associates
Floral: The Potting Shed
Cake: A Piece of Cake
Hair/Makeup: Rachel Reumann

Did you know the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum?  Well it’s true!  (Don’t ask me why – I’m a Designer, not a doctor.)  We thought it fitting to take some time during March (the month we’re ALL from the Emerald Isle!) and talk a little about this year’s “Color of the Year”.

With all the buzz about this year’s “color of the year” (Emerald) you may be wondering: “Who is the authority on such a thing?” or perhaps, as I was, wondering whether there was some all-knowing entity who determines what the “color of the year” will be.  Well… sort of.

Pantone, Inc., based in Carlstadt, New Jersey, is the company best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS) which is a proprietary color matching used in print work.  The PMS system is widely heralded by print-makers and dressmakers alike as it offers a specific and calibrated numbering system whereby designers of all types can specify a color which can be universally achieved through a color formula.  The PMS, for instance, specifically assigns a Pantone Number to an RGB (red, green, blue) or a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) combination.  So, a designer can say: “Pantone color 12345” rather than “Color = R12, G34, B56” Or worse: “C12, M34, Y56, K78″… consider it color turned science!

As you can imagine, this actually QUITE makes Pantone the authority in color!

But want to know what’s even cooler?  A secret committee of 10 people meet in Europe, at the invitation of Pantone, to determine what the year’s color will be and in 2013, Emerald go the vote.

Selected for its classic radiance, Pantone shares that Emerald Green “brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation”.

Well, let’s face it, folks, this color isn’t for everyone.  In fact, when Pantone released the news that Emerald was the color of the year, it was met with very mixed reviews by designers across disciplines.  As designers, we love words like “bold”, “pop”, “surprise” and “unexpected”, so we look for ways to incorporate such colors in a way that is visually appealing, charming or creative!

So how can you incorporate emerald green into your affair with elegance and wow?  Think about this:

1. Ignore Pantone’s color selection and go more with the concepts as to why Emerald Green was selected.  “clarity, renewal, rejuvenation…” find a shade of emerald green that speaks to you and don’t feel held back because “the color authority” made a different shade selection!
2. Determine whether you want this tone to be a big statement, a bold accent or a happy dash of color.  Bridesmaid dresses? Centerpieces? Chair Sashes? Table Linens? Shoes?  Jewelry?  How much Emerald Green are you hoping for?
3. Choose colors to either highlight or tone down based on your preferences.  Selecting monochromatic accent colors may help to break it up and change the color from regal to sassy in the blink of an eye!  Want something that really pops?  Golds/Bronzes, Purples and certain shades of orange can really set the color scheme.  Want to cool things down?  Select an Emerald Green that leans more toward the blues, then use blues and varying shades to make the affair!
4. Remember that what’s most important is that you love it! Sometimes when you are looking for something, you find something else – and that’s ok! If you find yourself gravitating more to the “cooler” versions of Green (Think mint green, sea foam green, celedon green), don’t apologize! Own it!  Some may gravitate to the true, DEEP emerald… you own it TOO!

At the end of the day, remember that these photos will stay with you forever.  Don’t pick Emerald Green because it’s hot this year – pick it because you LOVE it and you can’t imagine your wedding day without it.

The incorporation of traditions which herald your heritage can transform a ceremony into an intimate gathering of friends and family brought together by the true meaning of your wedding day – the union of two people.  In the Persian wedding tradition, the creation of a Sofre (or Sofre-ye-Aghd) by the female family members of the bride and groom brings family together by way of holy union.

We were fortunate enough to be asked by Nicolette and Ashby to coordinate their Persian-inspired wedding and to witness the love and labor that goes into the preparation of their Sofre.

But don’t let this formal tradition fool you!  This group knew how to party!!  Their elegant reception hall was decorated in bright blues and golds with fun peacock feathers as the focal point of each table.

The group danced…and danced – and did I mention they danced?  By the end of the night I was exhausted just watching them!!

A tremendous congratulations to Nicolette and Ashby.  We are honored to have been a part of your incredible day!

Venue: Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
Chairs, Draping, Lighting: Us!
Coordination Services: Us!
Photography: David Kratzenberg of Basia Mille
Hair and Makeup: Destiny and Light
Linens: Connie Duglin
Floral: Events In Bloom
Videography: Celebrations of Tampa Bay
Cake: Let them Eat Cake
Ceremony Musicians: Rebecca Zapen

It finally happened.  It is heartbreaking to watch.  And we (the coordinators) are powerless to help.

One of our recent brides contracted the services of a vendor who boasted outstanding (below market-value) prices in Photography, Videography and DJ services.  The provider was engaged and responsive until she wrote a check and then proceeded to have a very difficult time getting the provider to return calls.  While I was preparing for her day-of coordination, I experienced similar problems in connecting with the provider and was unable to confirm most details of the event in advance of the client’s wedding day but proceeded with optimism and baited breath.  The provider (and his subcontractors) showed up on time and we were off to the races.  Whew!

A few weeks after their event, I approached my client requesting photos of the event for our blog.  It was a beautiful event and we were looking forward to posting it for all to see! … but everything fell apart.

The provider had declared bankruptcy – and to make matters worse, he hadn’t completed payments to the subcontractors.  What did this mean for the newly married couple?  It meant that their photos and video were, for all intents and purposes, being held by the subcontractors while they waited for payment from the initial provider.

Imagine, for a moment, how you would feel – after weeks of waiting for your images and video, finding out that you will get neither product.  You have already paid your provider in full, and there is nothing you can do to get your product.

The economic depression has put added pressure on couples to find cost-effective vendors to service their wedding.  Chief among their “cost-effective” options are the notorious “all in one” houses.  These are professionals in the wedding and event industry who offer, most commonly, DJ, Photography and Video services in house.  The appeal to most couples is two fold: 1) Simplicity.  These companies offer you the ability to contract three services on one contract with one deposit/balance owed and one person to deal with for three services. 2) Packaged Pricing.  By grouping all three services together, the house (which usually boasts less-expensive packages to begin with) offers additional booking incentives to close the deal. (e.x. “Since you are booking all three services, we will provide 10 uplights free of charge, a free disc of all your photos and … and… and…)  It would be easy for a bride to think that she found the bargain of a lifetime.

Generally speaking, how these operations works that there is a business owner who acts as a general contractor.  Much like you would hire a general contractor to build you a house or redo your condo, this contractor sub-contracts specialists to complete specific work.  In construction, you would hire the General Contractor to execute the work on time, provide you with a budget, and you would pay the general contractor (or in some cases the sub-contractor directly) at agreed-upon intervals.  It is very similar in the wedding industry model.  A contractor will provide you with subcontractors in photography, video and dj services.  In many cases, the person doing the contracting specializes in one of these fields and subcontracts the other two parts.

But much like the construction industry, there is high turn over and crooks abound.  The good general contractors (usually licensed for a myriad of reasons) work hard to create a great reputation by completing work on time, on budget and with an excellent product as the end result.  They rarely discount their services and align themselves with reputable specialists in rough carpentry, flooring, air conditioning, etc.

How much homework would you do on a general contractor before you engaged them to rebuild your home?  Would you spend countless hours researching them? Obtaining references? Checking their history?

Unfortunately, few couples do the same due diligence before hiring a vendor to perform services for their wedding.  There is so much incentive to save money wherever possible that couples become blinded by the potentially saved dollars and proceed with a vendor based on very little information.

So what can you do to avoid this nightmare?

1. Research the provider.  Wedding Wire, the Knot and other online aggregates can be a great resource.  Just be sure to tweak the engine so that you are viewing “most recent” reviews FIRST as most of these aggregates show you “highest ratings” on top.  Not helpful if you are trying to establish the vendors most current reputation.
2. Ask for references – for each service you are contracting.  The best way to do this is to be proactive and identify clients you would like to speak with.  Facebook enables you to go on to the providers site and client previous clients to obtain feedback about their experience.  By gathering a good cross-section of clients (5 more more) you can get a pretty good sense of whether the provider gave them what they were looking for on the timeline they expected it and if they were satisfied with the products they were given.  Yes, this takes some time – but confidence is worth everything in the long run.
3. Ask for the full names and contact information of each subcontractor.  Some houses will not be willing to share this with you – and that MAY be the way they do business.  They do this to protect themselves and minimize the possibility you will contract their subs directly.  There is nothing wrong with this – but it doesn’t hurt to ask.  This way, if the main provider doesn’t come through on their obligations, you will at least know WHO has your products.
4. Ask if you can pay the subcontractors directly.  This is extremely unlikely as the main provider usually keeps a percentage of the ticket, but at least you are guaranteed that the subcontractors has received their payment and you “spread around” the risk a little bit.  Again, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
5. Pay by Credit Card.  If you do not receive the product, some credit card companies refund at least some part of your payment.
6. Acknowledge that “saving money” is not the end all be all.  Determine how much your time is worth and work to identify vendors who fit within your budget with whom you can work directly.
7. Remember that you get what you pay for.  The adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is” applies to the wedding industry in spades.  The reality is: you are paying for products and services – you know that there is a tipping point at which something goes from “profitable” to “unprofitable”.  The laws of economics are not suspended simply because the word “wedding” is attached to the event.  Do you feel that the price you are being quoted “makes sense” in comparison to other professionals in the industry?  If the great photographers usually cost $4,000+ and you are being offered photography services for $900, do you believe in your heart you will get a $4,000 product?

At Event Design, we have criteria which must be met in order for a vendor to be considered “recommended”.  Firstly, we must have worked with them no fewer than three times on separate events.  Secondly, we must believe that the vendor provides an outstanding product.  Thirdly, the vendor must have a track record of meeting the obligations of their contracts with our clients and fourth, we must believe that they would “do us proud” as  a recommended vendor.  After all, referring you to a vendor is a reflection of us, by proxy.  Generally, we do not recommend vendors who do not specialize in one thing – and we take great care to recommend a vendor who will fit your needs, your taste and your budget.

We feel its important to note that not all houses which are set-up in this fashion are bad news – it is our hope that there are exceptions out there conducting business and rockin’ socks!

So what happened to our clients, their photos and their video?  They had paid for the services on their credit card and, fortunately, were able to receive a partial refund.  They took this refund and contacted their subcontractors directly, paid them the balances the provider owed and received their products.  A happy ending to a very stressful situation.

By educating yourself as a consumer, you CAN find vendors who are budget friendly and with whom  you can trust one of the most magical days of your life! Take care. Take time. And trust your instincts.

Wouldn’t it be great if you and your girlfriends were invited to a huge Bridal Show with more than 50 vendors, great music, insight AND a “Girls Night Out” vibe?

Well you are SO in luck! Funny you should mention it!

Event Design is proud to be a part of the Bridal Bash to be held this upcoming Wednesday, February 27th from 6-9pm at The Regent in Brandon.  You do NOT want to miss us – and we want to see you!

Sounds great, right?  Think it’ll cost a fortune to attend? FEAR NOT!  The event is free to those who register in advance of the event!

Yes, really!

To register, click here and let the good times roll!

See you there!

I’ll let you in on a little secret about Event Design: We are suckers for symbolism.  It’s true.  Don’t tell anyone (Ok. Tell everyone you know!!)

Many couples choose to include a Unity Ceremonies to symbolize the coming together of two people or the unification of two families.

Common among the Unity Ceremony choices are the sand ceremony and the unity candle.

There are many variations of the sand ceremony you can choose from.  Couples can select two colors of sand (usually in the palette of their wedding colors) and pour them together into a single vessel to symbolize their union. If they choose to do so, an additional color can be added and poured by the parents to symbolize the role of parents in bringing up each member of the couple or family as a whole.  Another variation I have seen (commonly at beach weddings) the officiant collects sand from the earth to represent the foundation of the relationship or to include something specific to the locale of the event (this is great for destination weddings).

Another great symbolic gesture is the unity candle ceremony.  The couple (or parents) will take pre-lit taper candles and join the flames together on one unity candle to indicate the coming together of two or that “two become one”.

While we are HUGE fans of this special moment, I am a bigger fan of ceremonies which can be kept forever.  Sand is difficult to transport and often, over time the sand ribbons become mixed.  Candles need to be blown out.  Boo! (I know, but let’s consider the logistical requirements of keeping a flame burning forever!!)

But there are some VERY cool ideas out there you may not have considered which offer you symbolism AND permanence.  Win win!

Check out some creative and traditional ways we found below!

Unity Painting Ceremony – Two colors are poured onto a canvas to signify the couples coming together as the paints do, unable to be separated.  Similar to the sand ceremony, colors can be selected for each family and you can invite your parents to pour their paint colors to create a one of a kind piece that can be hung in your home together!

Unity Wine Ceremony – The bride and groom each take a carafe of wine and pour the wine into a single glass. They both drink from the glass of the mixed wine to symbolise their willingness to share in both the joys and the disappointments of life.  Love!

Unity Rose Ceremony – during the rose ceremony the couple exchange their first gift as husband and wife, a single rose.  The roses can be preserved and hung decoratively in your home.e bride and groom from two separate family candles, representing the union of both families.

Tree Unity Ceremony – couples pour soil together, giving foundation and life to a tree which can be kept, nourished and enjoyed by the couple over the span of their life together.

Still love the Sand Ceremony?  Pick a vessel which allows you to fill the sand to the very top and has a way to “lock it in”.  There are many vessels which enable you to putt a stopper or top in the vessel to lock the sand in place and reduce the possibility that it will be knocked around and mix.  Happy shopping!

As little girls, we grow up believing in the “Wesleys” (It’s always a good time for a “Princess Bride” reference!) – someone who will swoop into our life and love us intensely; passionately and openly. Sean was a “Wesley”. When he looked at Katie, his heart was full and the connection was palpable. Look at their photos as you’ll see what we saw: A couple who loved each other completely.

This lovely event was held on Katie’s parent’s property in North Tampa which spread over 5 acres. Guests arrived and enjoyed a rustic outdoor ceremony beneath towering pine trees in front of freshly chopped logs. Want to make nature work for you? How about a pine needle aisle? LOVE! Once the “I Do’s” concluded, guests enjoyed pool-side cocktails at the residence moving to the reception tent for dinner and dancing. A fully-draped ceiling with dramatic up-lighting complimented the dinner’s elegant, simple centerpieces.

Day-Of Coordination: US!
Draping, Uplighting, Centerpieces, Chiavari Chairs: US!
Caterer: Good Food Catering
Band: Solid Core
Photography: Kerri McConnell

Make no mistake – planning your wedding is one of the most riveting times in your life. In an ideal world, this time is an opportunity to enjoy the love of your fiancée, feel closer to your family and dream of your future.

For some, the prospect of planning a wedding comes easily. You may be a bride that knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. You may be a bride who has a strong idea of what she wants and isn’t sure where to find it. Or, as is the case sometimes, you may be a bride with very little insight into what it takes to plan an event and have no idea where to start. Whatever the case may be, the profession of Event Design exists to help you specify your wedding style and design a plan of execution so that you can enjoy every wonderful moment without taking on a second job.

And it is a second job.

With the advent of the Internet, Brides are now more connected than ever before. At their fingertips, they have millions of photos, inspirations and ideas. They are able to join forums, share vendor reviews and can even shop boutique shops from half a world away.

To the benefit of all our brides out there, women (and men!) can make informed decisions about the vendors they would like to use, bargain hunt the perfect bridesmaid gift, and conceptualize new ideas. It’s a wonderful tool!

…Until “paralysis by analysis” sets in.

“Paralysis by Analysis” is the syndrome that creeps up when you are so determined to make sure that you are getting the best price or that you are making the right decision that you do nothing to advance your vision. You will determine a course of action and then shop it at every angle you can conceive of. Ultimately, you become so fixated on “getting it right” that you actually withhold from making a decision and in an area where the better vendors book quickly, you can actually wind up with a rather unfavorable outcome quit easily. Personally, I encounter this pretty frequently when I am shopping for travel deals – I find a phenomenal price on Hotwire for a 4-star Hotel in a great city and just before I click the “Book It!” button, I am overcome with concern that I haven’t done enough research. I may, after all, be able to identify a hotel that is $20 cheaper!! The result? I hesitate to book the 4-star hotel at $60 a night, spend another 30 minutes researching to find a better rate on a similar hotel, fail, and try re-running my search on hotwire only to discover someone snagged my great price and the room is no longer available.

“Oh well”, I sigh, “guess I will just stay home”.

While I could have been enjoying a weekend on the beach at a great hotel with great beds and a pillow menu, I instead stay home with a Lifetime movie and a bucket of ice cream because of my insatiable need to research.

The Internet, when it comes to wedding planning, is like the world’s largest mall. Within its walls are millions of stores catering to needs and whims of every bride on the planet. Pretend, for a moment, that this mall existed in real life – for the sake of argument, it is 40 stories high and takes up 15 city blocks.

Now pretend that you (and any family members who may be helping you to plan your affair) enter the mall with the intent of planning your wedding. What would be your plan of attack? Would you feel compelled to look in every store to find the perfect item at a rock-bottom price? How many stores (or floors!) do you think you could cover before the day ended?

For the sake of this exercise, pretend that someone told you that you have 2 hours to shop the entire mall. That’s it. Two hours. Two hours to shop 40 floors and 15 city blocks.

You strategize. You plan. You look for a directory. You make lists in your head in consideration of the things you need to cover.

Oh – and while you are at it – you have those family members with you! Don’t forget! You will need their input and, moreover, you need to navigate this mall with them in tow!

And then, that same person who told you have two hours to shop says: “This is your Event Designer. She has worked in this building for 15 years, has an intimate knowledge of the building’s layout, knows all the hidden passages between stores and floors and has a high-speed golf cart to transport you, your family and friends wherever you may need to go. She will meet with you for 15 of your 120 minutes and will help you achieve your goal quickly and painlessly.”

Feel relieved?

You and your Event Designer discuss your style, your budget, your hopes and your interests before whisking you and your posse off to the a series of stores where you find, with ease, the items you were hoping to find at the prices you were hoping to find with a smile on her face, a few laughs and no stress.

Score!

But now, rather, imagine that after you meet with your Event Designer, load up the golf-cart caravan of people, and set on your way and that every person in your golf cart asked your Event Designer to “STOP!! Let’s look at that!!” Obediently, your Designer will pull over and allow you to look – after all … she is your Designer. You unload, look around, see nothing you like, and get back in the golf cart. Woo hoo! You enter a store, find exactly what you need at the price you were hoping and put it back on the shelf – determined to find it for a better price. You ask the designer: “Does this come at a better price?” She thinks for a moment, offers you some comparable solutions – none are to your liking… so, in the interest of time, you steal her golf cart and set out into the vastness of the mall on your own.

Do you think you are likely to be successful?

When you hire an Event Designer, you are hiring them for their experience and expertise in designing and executing a flawless occasion reminiscent of you and your fiancé’s style and personality. He/She has a commitment (and a responsibility) to giving that to you at a price you are comfortable with and to provide creative solutions for a great new idea. They are your partner, your advocate, your consultant and your confidant when it comes to bringing the affair together – but you will get far more value from the relationship if you give them the freedom and flexibility to do their jobs. To allow them to make recommendations, follow-through on their suggestions, and complete the research they commit to conduct.

It is our greatest wish to provide you with a beautiful wedding with absolutely zero stress! We work tirelessly to stay current with the latest trends in weddings and events; we cultivate relationships with the most reputable vendors across a variety of price ranges; we optimize venues by tapping our creative problem-solving and we do it all with the intent of beating your budget.

So build a relationship with your Event Designer based on trust – and trust him/her! Without this commitment, you are essentially stealing their golf cart and navigating the world’s largest mall alone or, worse yet, stuck at home after a failed Hotwire.com experience joining me for my Lifetime movie and bucket of ice cream.

…and while I would love the company, it’s not wedding-dress friendly!

The skies turned gloomy just minutes before Kaya and Steve’s ceremony at The Powel Crosley Estate on October 8th. As the rain trickled down from the clouds the anticipation grew in the bride, groom and arriving wedding guests! Miraculously, like a scene from a romance movie, the rain vanished and the stunning architecture of the estate was highlighted by a beaming sun. It was time!

The beautiful bride processed down a spiraling staircase with her groom attentively admiring her from below. Even after the ceremony the sun stayed on the couples side for a gorgeous outdoor cocktail hour and reception. The couple choose a gorgeous neutral palette of ivory and gold,accented by the perfect shade of blush pink. Their wedding style mixed elegant garden roses and lace with rustic touches with mason jars and chalkboard details that truly accentuated the beauty of the venue. Need proof of this fairytale wedding? Check out our favorites photos from the fabulously talented duo of Weber Photography below!

Venue: Powel Crosley Estate
Coordination: Us!
Event Decor: Us!
Centerpieces: Us!
Cinematographer: Voila Cinematic
Photographer: Wes Weber Photography
Linens: Linens by the Sea
Cake Designer: Cakes by Tiffany
DJ: Inspire Entertainment
Ceremony Musicians: Strings Attached
Hair & Make Up Services: Kyle Lynn Cosmetics
Caterer: Simply Gourmet
Officiant: Brandon Wheeler
Bouquets/Bouts/Ceremony Florals: Northside Florist

Personally, I find myself constantly anticipating the fall. I long for the cooler nights, the option to layer my clothing and will not miss the extra hair volume (frizz!) associated with the summers humidity. Although, above all, I yearn for the rich warm color schemes that are inspired by the seasons fashion lines.

Therefore, it does not come as a shock to me that the fall is one of the most popular times to plan a wedding…and clearly for good reason! Check out the fall inspired favors below, perfect for any wedding during this spectacular season!