This quote by artist Aaron Rose is absolutely brilliant and so very true when it comes to events. The right lighting can turn your celebration from plain to extraordinary! First and foremost, proper lighting is needed for the safety of your guests, especially when you are hosting an outdoor event at night. It is worth the money for good area lighting to help avoid any mishaps. You can have fun with it and add a wash of color or even throw in a pattern to be projected on the ground.

Second, lighting offers you an endless supply of cosmetic enhancements for your celebration. As mentioned before, you can add colored washes and patterns to the ground or walls but lighting can actually change how big or small your venue space feels too. As you can see here, the venue is grand with vaulted pillars but with simple uplighting in purple/blue hues the space still feels intimate.

So, for your next event, consider accent lighting and all the magic that comes with it!

Shine on!

I often get asked how to incorporate that tricky color called blue into an event. After all, there are endless shades and each one evokes a different emotional reaction. First thing's first...what mood ARE you trying to set? Fun? Drama? Romance? Pick a shade that will set the right tone for your celebration. Brighter blues are more playful and fun while those with more purple and red hues in them add more drama and romance to your event setting.

Next, look at how you can incorporate that color with these three elements: flowers, linens and lighting. By focusing on these basics you can create an ambiance that is just right for your celebration.

As you see, this event featured large blue hydrangea centerpieces which pop off a clean black linen while dramatic uplighting of area furniture modernize the room. The three elements merge to create a sophisticated, upscale atmosphere fit for a socialite's wedding or even a large corporate function.

Now, if you're having trouble picking a shade of blue to work with, ask your event coordinator or florist to see samples of available blue linens or flowers. This ensures that you'll be choosing from shades that are actually available to use for your event.

Happy Planning!

-Jeff

To all my fellow wine enthusiasts in the world, here's a fun theme for your next celebration.

Wine bottles from your favorite Cabernet, Merlot and Pinot Noir; come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Why not use them to create fun, eclectic centerpieces? The varying heights and shapes give volume to your table and the classic green bottle doesn’t vary too much in shade so they work well as a grouping.

Another perk is that the look works with a wide color scheme so you can ask your floral designer to incorporate different colored calla lilies to fit your color scheme. You can also ask them to accent the table with moss, burlap or whatever your heart fancies to complete the look you are going for. Keep in mind that your floral designer will need the bottles in advance to select the perfect grouping for each table.

The best part? It’s a fun way to share your love of all things wine with your guests! So the next time you have a gathering of friends and family over, think twice before tossing those wine bottles. You just might get another use out of them.

Cheers!

I absolutely love it when brides get creative with their wedding centerpieces. The right table decor seamlessly ties together the sincerity of the ceremony with the celebration atmosphere of the reception. My advice is to steer away from the standard decor options (mirrors, floating candles, crystals, etc.) and use your reception venue's atmosphere to help develop your theme ensuring your whole wedding has a consistent energy and feel.

It's also important to remember that some wedding centerpieces compliment a wedding theme while others are specifically meant to be a main, bold focal point of the day. Knowing the difference is key to setting the right atmosphere for your celebration.

This head table decor was definitely meant to be the main focus of the party. It was the first thing guest's saw as they walked into the reception. It really set the tone for a magical evening. It played off the stunning backdrop of the Bayer Estate which has a natural garden, vintage feel. Complimenting centerpieces were created for the remaining dining tables to carry the theme throughout the celebration.