Tuesday, July 27, 2010

We love birch.


It's plain and simple. We are swooning over these beautiful birch creations (all natural, handmade pieces of beauty by Etsy-shop New Hampshire Wood Creations).

While the creative wedding gift card box (and keepsake) was the original piece that caught our eye, we just fell in love with this whole collection of ethereal goodies--mostly because they work in any setting, and all seasons (ski-themed wedding in Aspen? tented summer wedding at the farmhouse? autumnal feast in the barn? spring bridal shower in the conservatory?).

Sweet, naturally.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Finding your Solemate

                                                                                                                                                             Photo: Amy Shey Jacobs/Chandelier Events



Now here's a DIY idea that can work at almost any summer party or beachside soiree (ahem, destination weddings coming up this winter...):

A recent "Chandelier Event" we planned had all the makings of a perfect summer setting: an expansive, meticulously landscaped lawn; a gorgeous pool with room for an illuminated bar; and, well, perfect summer weather.


But our client confessed that the grassy knoll (as beautiful as it was) was cause of concern when it came to the safety of her friends' party shoes. So, we created a flip flop station featuring Havaianas in shades of gold, silver, bronze and summer white -- each tied with a trim of raffia. And for those attendees who preferred to keep their heels on, we supplied these nifty little inventions ("protective high heel caps") called Solemates. To dress it up, we took them out of their packaging and placed them in a hurricane vase (a touch that did not go un-noticed). 

Of course, not everyone can afford to gift their guests Havaianas--but these days, flip flops are on clearance at Old Navy, J. Crew, and lots of places online.

Here's to pampered feet... 





Thursday, July 22, 2010

Hot on Houndstooth!




There's been tons of talk about black and white event motifs this week. In fact, three of our most recent clients at Chandelier have chosen black invitations for their soirees--including weddings! We've seen damask on the scene for some time, and polka dots too.

This week, we're feeling something a bit more "haberdashery": houndstooth!  A tad preppy, a tad masculine-meets-feminine--we're all over this pattern. Would make for a great table runner, wouldn't it?

We tried to find a houndstooth wedding cake to no avail (need to put that on the list of to-do's)...but we did discover these divine cookies.

Hmm....all this talk about houndstooth has got me thinking about herringbone.



Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Baby, Baby, Babyfaces!

 
                                                                                              Photo: Amy Shey Jacobs/Chandelier Events

I mean, really, does it get cuter than these kids? Well, maybe, but only if they're donning faces painted by Sharon Enlow (www.brooklynfacepainter.com). I credit my dear friend and chic urbanite bestie Selene with introducing me to Sharon. In fact, I anxiously await Sharon's presence at Selene's summer birthday parties so that I have some great shots for my own kiddie birthday bashes and holiday cards. 

This past weekend, Selene hosted the ultimate pirates-and-princesses bash for her children (complete with a ship-shaped juice box station, eye patches, and bubble-wrap dance freeze orchestrated by none other than Princess Arielle herself!). And while most of the mates and maids opted for make-up to match their nautical attire--my little guy opted for his own idea of mighty captain--Spiderman. 

Just had to share these photos I snapped! Don't you just want to jump into the shots and kiss their little faces. I melt!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

And the ISES Big Apple Best Invitation of 2009 Award goes to....

We were so excited when we received news from our friend Lisa Ceci Hoffman of Manhattan's most exclusive couture invitation design house Ceci New York that the invitation and stationary suite we dreamed up together for Lori & David's wedding WON The 9th Annual ISES Big Apple Award for "Best Invitation of the Year".

                                                                    Photos by Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studio

It was just about this time last year that I took my client Lori to visit Ceci New York.  She tasked me with finding just the right vendor do something luxe, yet totally out-of-the-box for her five-star farm wedding--without it being a "Hoe Down!". I knew that Ceci would be just the right partner to design Lori's wedding invitation.

Lori is famous for her annually-televised holiday cards often featuring her friend Regis Philbin and co-workers at LIVE! With Regis & Kelly and her dog Molly. We all shared a laugh as we quickly put a nix on sending a carton of eggs (not quite right, would ya say?). But a simple flat card -- not matter how beautifully letterpressed -- simply wouldn't be up for the job of inviting Lori and David's friends and families to their Blue Hill at Stone Barns nuptials, home of the James Beard-winning chef Dan Barber. The invitation had to be as special as the venue.

Was it a trifold card tied together with a golden pitch fork? Nah. Was it a bottle of wine? Not quite right (although Lisa has designed some amazing oenophile suites). 

And then it hit me--I said, half jokingly to Lisa, "can we brand -- as in burn -- the text of a formal invitation on a slab of wood?!" And, of course, Ceci said, "Absolutely!". And so a star was born. Lisa pulled out a number of wood samples, a box it could be packaged in, and a bound of raffia that would appear as hay. The companion cards were letterpressed with a map leading up to the famous farm at Stone Barns, and invitations to the satellite parties of the weekend. And just like that, we had a winner!


Lori and I felt like we hit invitation gold. Lori suggested a Farmer's Almanac would be a great theme for the Save the Date. Done. Lisa even found a way to get a silhouette of Lori's beloved Molly into the design. The designs were used for Lori's beautiful Ketubah:


Then came the escort cards. Lori and I tasked Lisa to create seed packet labels (tables were named after farm fresh produce, of course!) and the beautiful result was an escort table created by my team at Chandelier Events (who filled every last seed packet) and carefully placed them into individual pins into an antique trough filled with lentils created by the ever-fabulous Matthew Robbins!


Instead of table numbers or traditional name cards--I thought of belly bands on the menus--and Ceci designed the most beautiful belly bands I've seen featuring the same colorful etchings on the seedling escort cards. 



And, finally, the ceremony pieces (even the ketubah!) -- Lisa created the most beautiful programs that opened like the gates to the farm that mimicked the aisle that Lori walked down as she entered the courtyard for the twilight ceremony.


Needless to say, we are SO excited to see that Ceci New York was recognized for this stunning work....and thrilled that our creative vision was a thrill at the ISES Big Apple Awards. Here's the whole suite in a single shot!


See more of Ceci's work and sign up for her new online style publication, CECISTYLE, that's launching later this fall!

And we cannot wait to show you some amazing location-based details we're dreaming up for some events we've got in the cue at Chandelier. Stay tuned!