Monday, March 31, 2008

Escort cards vs. Place card

Same thing? Some brides tend to think they are an insignificant detail; but from a design standpoint, I beg to differ. An elegant table placed in the entrance to your reception will be the first glimpse of what other good things are waiting for your wedding guests.

At the Outdoor Country Club in York we placed a beautiful linen on a round table under the brass chandelier with a huge arrangement of white Hydrangea, green Tea Roses and Stock in a fruit-filled vase for this all green & white wedding.


The 'Escort cards' were leaf -shapes attached to pear candles which then added decor to the guest tables as well as take- home gifts from the couple.


This Asian/American wedding reception at Liberty Place had their 'Escort card' table in the outer Reception Room. The centerpiece was a tall vase of Jumbo Equisetum and Papyrus. Surrounding were scores of little 'good- luck' elephants holding names and seating numbers. These also were gifts to the guests from the couple. So classy.




A fall wedding at the Eden Resort's Grand Ballroom. The credenza in the hallway was used to welcome guests with beautifully calligraphed card with colored leaves. We placed them on fresh green moss, with gilded jack- be- little pumpkins and acorns. The large urn was filled with Hydrangeas, Cockscomb, Tall Ornamental Grasses, Curly Willow branches and fuzzy Cattails.



A fall wedding and reception held at Stumptown Mennonite Church used browns, greens, terracotta and oranges with pears as the decorating element. The bride placed their picture in a wire shaped leaf on the pears for the table decor and favors. The Escort card table was the teeny-tiniest table I've ever had to try to fit cards on, but we did it! I just happened to have a pear candelabra that my best friend had given me for Christmas one year that I couldn't resist using for the center. It was the perfect piece for her decor.






Why not consider a beautiful blown vase that serves as a card holder, table decoration, and a favor? All you need is a beautiful candle for a centerpiece. For a dramatic entrance line these up with a centerpiece of the same flowers on a round table, and you have a huge Wow factor.


Some other ideas: single serving sizes of sparkling cider, or champagne. ( Raspberry Sparkeltini-yum!) Make hanging cards for the bottles, line them up and there again...it's an



Escort Card, table decoration and favor all in one! What about saving your wine corks and inserting your cards into a slit, for a wine- themed reception.


One Groom folded dozens of Origami cranes for their guest's names. Very impressive!


-For a beach-theme wedding- add a pearl to a seashell and write names inside with a Sharpie.

-For an outdoor reception use a Sharpie to write names on large sand pebbles. Those won't blow away on a windy day!

My definition of Escort Cards is when a Place Card gets to be displayed in an exceptional way!
There are hundreds of useful name card/favor ideas, so be creative and use them to make a beautiful entrance to your marriage celebration.

Next blog: (hopefully soon!) my little grandson's first pictures. He's expected to make his entrance very, very soon!!
And remember: Marriage is meant to be for life!






Monday, March 17, 2008

Rebecca and Kevin's wedding

This weekend we were at the Lancaster Theological Seminary for Rebecca and Kevin's wedding.

Once again I only have Bride and bridesmaids photos because the Groom and groomsmen weren't there yet when we had to get the reception started at the Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place. The colors of the day were red, white and black. Me, the terrible photographer that I am, forgot to get reception shots before we left, but you can view them at the Hamilton Ballroom's blog whenever Lindsey posts them.

Rebecca's bouquet was bi-color Latin Lady and Freedom roses. Two bridesmaids carried 3 Standard Calla lilies, and the other two bridesmaids carried bouquets of white roses and tulips. Rebecca was so beautiful in her lacey dress, and also very happy. She was one bride that showed no signs of stress! Blessings to Rebecca and Kevin!

No weddings for the next 2 weeks as we await the arrival of our first little grandson.

Those pictures will definitely be posted promptly!!

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Spring wedding season begins with Cindy and Matt

-They say that a rainy wedding day will bring the couple good luck. Well, if that's really true, then Cindy and Matt should have a wonderful marriage. Amy and I got started early in the morning and were drenched as we unloaded our van to set up the reception at the old/new Historic Strasburg Inn, which was previously the Netherlands Inn. ( Perhaps the new owners would consider a portico to keep these 'lucky couples' dry as they enter their venue for their receptions:). -Cindy's bouquet consisted of white Tulips, Muscari (aka: Grape Hyacinths) and Stephanotis. Bridesmaids carried bunches of purple Tulips. Such wonderfully fragrant spring bouquets.
Get this... her sister, in the picture with the bride, delivered a healthy baby boy just 12 days prior. They were sweating that one out a wee bit. Welcome to the world little Patrick.


- Madison gave us her serious flower-girl smile with her pail of mini-carnations and Muscari.

-Would you believe that the bride and her mom designed and made her dress?! Cindy looked beautiful, and was so very happy. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of Cindy &Matt together but these were all pre-ceremony shots.




-The centerpieces featured a dainty tropical Smilax garland dotted with Larkspur and Asters surrounding a bowl of floating Stock blossoms, purple wire spirals and a floating candle.


After the ceremony the sun was shining brightly and a beautiful, perfectly- clear rainbow appeared. I'm told their photographer was able to capture it with them in the picture.
Like a kiss from heaven on the foreheads of this great couple!

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-Just had to include a picture of Cindy's mom (also named Cindy) with her tiny bouquet. She's the one who gets the credit for the beautiful wedding dress, and the flower girl's dress too. This family was a delight to work with. We wish them all the very best for a wonderful, life-long happy marriage.
...Next week's wedding takes place at Santee Chapel at Lancaster Theological Seminary with the reception at our favorite venue...
Hamilton Ballroom at Wheatland Place.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Northeast Floral Expo weekend











It was a great weekend for Lynne and I as well as our friend Carmen as we drove 6hrs. north to Hartford for terrific wedding and party workshops with famous European designers and other Master Floral designers. Took lots of pictures but here are just a few of my favorites.
- For your next party why not use jello for your colorful flower vases?! Green may be a bit St. Patty's, but it's a great idea for something different, and look how many colors of jello there are!
One terrific place to eat in downtown Hartford is 'Black-eyed Sally's '- It's the best BBQ ever, and what a fun atmosphere. Lynne got a kick out of the artwork!
Now we are excited and ready for the new wedding season, which begins this week for us. Look for pictures of Cindy and Matt's wedding next week.