Who's Who July 2012

The Great Gatsby is a novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald.  The book takes place from spring to autumn 1922, during a prosperous time in the United States known as the Roaring Twenties which lasted from 1920 until the Wall Street Wall Crash 1929.   As the July Bridal Extravaganza was winding down, the details for the Who's Who celebration was warming up with the idea of creating an experience with this novel in mind.  As we dreamed about what it would be like to have an elaborate party on the great lawn of Gatsby mansion, the colors of orange, turquoise, and white were selected. With a signature sidecar cocktail, flapper dresses, ballroom dance lessons, and tree GOBO patterns, the atmosphere welcomed the guests to enjoy a night of mixing and mingling.

Wedding Design

Wedding design for us starts with a few questions to understand a clients style. It has to do with where they eat, where they shop, and what their home (or future home) looks like.  It has to do with textures, flavors, touch, sound, and sight. The five senses, if you will. These, in our opinion, are the basis of a good wedding design.  

When putting together a conceptual table design, these items resonate during the process. It is creating something interesting which appeals to the senses and makes you feel something wonderful when you see it.  It makes you dream. It makes you imagine what life would be like if you were sitting at the table experiencing the aromas and embracing the atmosphere. 

During the remarkable July Bridal Extravaganza Show held at the George R Brown Convention Center, we had the opportunity to transform our space into something magical.  With a ribbon wall, a custom shelf, a zinc table, one-of-a-kind green chiavari chairs, and a breathless tabelscape, we did what we set out to achieve.  Hope it makes you have a little dream as well for your next event.

Thanks to our good friend and colleague Steve Lee for capturing a few highlights.

Cristina + David

Elegance and personalization are probably two of my favorite things when planning and designing an event for a client.  Throw in a little purple and modern touches and it ranks up there with my love for chocolate.  From the joy of creating the event stationary to coordinate with the invitation, which included lots of embossing (a favorite therapeutic past time) to understanding a boys love for star trek (the boys surprise processional song) and from customized wedding mad libs to childhood memories of Minnie, there was a little piece of Cristina and David throughout their wedding day.  One of my favorite touches was seen in the childhood photos aligning with the table number.  Oh, those chubby checks!  

Soft ivory and purple highlights was the basis of this modern design.  When we found out callas were out and family-style tables were in for this client, my toes tingled.  The blank canvas just got a little more exciting.  With the introduction of the Allium flower as the pop of color, an amazing space was transformed into something extraordinary.  Tall cylinders busting with alliums used as a backdrop for the ceremony later created the 24' table-scape design. It was elegance, simple stated and perfect.

We are thrilled to know Cristina and David and wish them a lifetime of happiness.  Congrats to both of you, your friends, and family.  

The ingredients in making this celebration of love spectacular:

Enjoy Events:  event planning and design

Steve Lee Photography:  photography

Alden Hotel:  venue

Dream Bouquet:  floral and lounge 

Elegant Beginnings:  linen

Acoustic Productions:  ceremony music

LG Entertainers:  MC/DJ, lighting, and photo booth

Swift & Co:  dance floor and rental 

Who Made The Cake:  cake

Your Beautiful Face:  hair and makeup

Do Extraordinary - Part II

For the second year in a row I was able to stand along side some of my favorite peers and represent the Houston Chapter at the Annual Conference for the National Association of Catering and Events.  The Enjoy Events team took home the 2011 Best Guest Table Presentation for Kaleigh + Jared's remarkable wedding.  The team we worked alongside to complete the masterpiece of art was the perfect combination of passon and I will personally hold this event in my memory for a lifetime.   I am thrilled to represent all of them through this award and am more than happy that this celebration of love was recognized with a national award.

I spoke of doing extraordinary things the last time I wrote about taking home a national award and there are a few people who represent this well. I had the pleasure of working along side Shelly Kent and Jill Vidal, two amazing extraordinary guru's as their Entertainment Chair for 2011 NACE Wedding Trends event.  They represented the Houston chapter be taking home a long-time-coming-award for Best Chapter Program of the Year.  There was not a dry eye in the Houston chapter.  That journey was remarkable and no small feat.

Lisa Carruth, Braeburn Country Club did extraordinary and took home the 2011 Best Wedding Event of the Year.  

And for two years in a row, the NACE Student Chapter gurus represented by being honored with the Student Member of Year award.

I am thrilled my path has crossed Stephaine Truett, who kicked some guru extraordinary butt and was awarded the 2012 Foundation of NACE Vince DeFinis Scholarship.

And, if this was not enough, Lisa Hopkins, Director of Catering at the Houstonian and mentor to many is our new NACE National President, while Adam Reiner, Director of Catering at the Westin Galleria is in control of finances as the NACE National Treasure, and Gary Baumann, Director of Royal Sonesta Hotel is the NACE Foundation President.   To top of it, the nation and everyone in the New Orleans Marriott knew Houston was in the house.