Preston Residential College Reunion

In less then a week it will be Homecoming for The University of South Carolina. It is also the weekend for USC's Preston Residential College 5(ish) year reunion. I lived in Preston throughout my college career and was thrilled when they asked me to plan it.

I'm fairly certain, with only 3 sentences, I've managed to confuse you a bit. How can a college be in a university? Well, Preston is a living learning community modeled after the Oxford/Cambridge model of residential colleges. Think Hogwarts without the magic...sadly. The students live together, eat together 5 times a week, there are classes offered within the building, and there is even a faculty member who lives in house that is called the Principal. Sounds a little funny, but it is a truly great community. 90% of the friends I have to this day are people I met during my time in Preston. 

So, It's reunion time! There will be 55 people coming from 4 states. Some Alumni will be bringing spouses and kids and the festivities will begin right after the Homecoming Parade. The event is being catered by Carolina Catering. They will be serving up some good mingling appetizers and then  a throwback favorite of chicken fingers and curly fries. (We had them every Wednesday and, surprisingly, they never got old.) There will also be a few words spoken about some Prestonites that we have lost. And if the weather permits, there are some old scores in frisbee golf that needs to be settled. Some alumni sent in old pictures that will be used as table centerpieces or on a memory wall by the food tables. After the reunion, I will write a follow up piece and post some pictures! 

Making it work

Scenario: You walk into a potential event space and the first thought that crosses your mind is.... Man, that carpet is ugly. And instead of seeing any promise in the space you just keep thinking.... Why would someone do that?
If this has happened to you, you aren't alone. There is almost always something that might deter you from choosing an event space. It could be harsh lighting, irremovable decor, or a ridiculously placed column or two. Perfection is hard to find and typically isn't in the average bride's budget. But, luckily there are ways to hide some of the more unsightly features of a room.
Do you love the local Country Club but HATE the wall paper? Pipe and Drape will be your new best friend! Cover the walls in you favorite color fabric or sheer.

It brings sense of uniformity to the space and can tie in to your event's color scheme. For spaces that are really large (maybe a little too large), draping the room can bring the room in and visibly make it smaller.

Did you find a great event space but the 'high school cafeteria lights' are making you cringe? Uplight the room and turn the

fluorescents off! Uplighting can be used to accent architectural features  such as columns, fireplaces, or walls, as well as under objects and spaces to create a “glowing” effect. Uplighting can  customize any space to create the mood or atmosphere you desire. I am a huge fan of lighting a room regardless of the on site lighting situation. It makes the room  look so much more dynamic and interesting.

And what about that not-so-lovely carpet?? Removable event flooring is the best way to take care of that. Most venues allow you to bring in a dance floor. Just think of it as an extra large dance floor. It can even match the style or theme of your event.

When I went to hear David Turera speak at Disney's Fairytale Wedding's Bridal Showcase back in February he was asked a question by a bride regarding his experience with working with undesirable aspects of  reception spaces. His reply was, "If you notice the carpet, I'm not doing my job!" So finding your dream event space is not very likely..... but CREATING it is!

Magnolia Plantation Venue Visit

Amanda and Morgan decided that they wanted an outdoor reception. After reviewing some possibilities with both of them they decided that they wanted to visit Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, SC. So last week Amanda, Morgan, myself, and Morgan's sister (and Maid of Honor) Karri went down for a site visit.

Magnolia Plantation has 3 main venue options: The Veranda, The Carriage House, and The Conservatory. I was immediately drawn to The Carriage House for them. It has both indoor and outdoor areas, a lovely view of the Ashley River, and it has a small fire pit that would be a great way to tie in the fact that they met at a summer camp by having a Smore bar!

Carriage House is the original carriage house for the plantation and dates back to 1840.  It is surrounded by ancient Live Oaks, sweeping lawns, torches that line the river. Both outdoor and indoor areas were set up for a wedding that was taking place that evening so we got to see a bit of what it's potential could be.

The Event Manager Jessica was fantastic. She gave us all the information we needed and even let us slip into the adorable bridal suite before that evening's bride arrived. It was a quick visit but we got all we needed. Amanda was practically sold on the place. Not that I blame her. It is pretty spectacular!

I have a feeling this is the one they are going to go for BUT we will still do a little shopping around first. 

Afterwards, we took a walk through the gardens and up to the plantation. It was really a treat to see all Magnolia Plantation had to offer. If we don't have Amanda and Morgan's reception here I will definitely look here as a venue location in the future!

Cheers! pt.2

After my original "Cheers!" post I got some great suggestions and feed back! Michelle from upstate New York supmitted this article and I thought it would be perfect as a follow up story. She also has been kind enough to share the recipe for an exclusive signature drink that you can try at home!

What a Signature Cocktail can do for Your Event

Brides and grooms-to-be alike have pondered the idea of how having a signature cocktail could benefit their gathering. Sure it could bring some added flare to the party, but could this option really have more to offer than what we think? Take a look at some of the benefits and decide for yourself.

• First, this option can save your wallet from the horrid wedding planning debt that everyone has a tendency to fall into. When caught up in how to make sure everyone has their usual on hand, you can spend anywhere from double or more than what you would pay for signature cocktail ingredients to serve the same amount of guests. Buying in bulk is a must when choosing to add alcohol to the beverage list. This will help keep you on budget and avoid excessive debt.

• Second, you can use the cocktail to represent your wedding color(s). Try mixing up a little batch of "Something Blue" for any shade of blue or create a "Wedding March" cocktail and add some decorative white flowers around the bowl. You can add anything to mix it up and show off your personal touches. And you don't have to stick to a single color either. You can have "Shades of Personality" with the same signature cocktail mixed with different colors of sherbet to really show off your style.

• Third, for those who aren't interested in the alcoholic versions, their virgin cousins work well also. Try a mix of sodas with sherbet of different colors to make the color you're really going for here. Don't forget to add some decorations to the bowl to use it as an awe-inspiring and practical centerpiece. You can also use several punch bowls and have them set up at each table so guests don't have to go back for refills.

• Fourth, this option is entirely customizable. You don't have to worry about falling in line with the rest of the crowd because you can really make this your own. With the variety of liquors available, you can mix those, any drink mixers you favor, add one or more of many types of sodas and/or sherbet and come up with some unique ideas. It will also help both the bride and groom to feel more in control and a part of the planning process.

The benefits of having a custom cocktail are nearly endless. From the value in the purchase to the options a couple is presented, you can't get much more bang for your buck!  The following is a signature drink recipe from the renowned Turning Stone luxury resort in Upstate New York.  The resort holds several weddings and major events throughout the year.  Signature drinks have become an exceptionally popular trend for 2013 weddings.  You can experiment at home with different recipes to find the perfect signature drink to match your wedding!

Thanks again Michelle! If anyone else has any recipes that they would like to share feel free to email them to me at 4somethingblue@gmail.com. 

**Announcement!!!**

I am very happy to announce that my event planning company is moving! Our new location will be in Charleston, SC! It's not a very far move from Hilton Head Island but a exciting one. It has been my goal for a while now to move to Charleston and I am very grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me. Charleston has always been one of my favorite cities. It is full of amazing history, architecture and true Southern charm. And since Charleston was rated the #1 tourist destination in America this past year from readers of the Conde Nast Traveler, I felt it was a clear choice for a wonderful new beginning. I'm looking forward to new the adventures and opportunities that Charleston has to offer. I want to thank everyone for their interest and continued support.

Regular blog entries will resume....NOW! Thanks for your patience during this transitional period. I look forward to sharing with you some great new projects coming up!!

~Rachael

*Updated Contact Info*
Email: 4somethingblue@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/somethingbluesignatureevents

Cheers!

Lets talk drinks! I think having a signature drink available can be a creative and memorable touch to any event. A signature cocktail bar features one or two mixed drinks. Be sure to include an appropriate amount of wine and beer. And always have plenty of water (make it special by serving sparkling water with lemon or berries) and at least one other nonalcoholic option, such as Tarragon-Spiked Lady Grey Iced Tea or Ginger Pineapple Sparkling Punch. Signature drinks can be a unique aspect for any celebration and a far more economical option than a free bar. My favorite part of a signature drink is that you can customize the name anytime you want because most people won't know what it is anyway.  If you're looking to have your own "couture" drink for your event, get together with a bartender who's well versed in what ingredients mix well together for the yummiest concoction.

When selecting signature drinks here are some things to consider. Think about the season of your event. At an alfresco summer party, guests will love refreshing Mojitos or Margaritas. In colder weather, they'll cozy up to Mulled Red Wine or Spiced Cider. Or you can go a more personal route.  Do you have a definitive favourite drink? Something that you will always order and that your friends and family will know as “your” drink. It doesn’t have to be super unusual or elaborate, just your own personal tipple. Love drinking Cosmos – then serve them up. Your man is more a brandy kinda guy, then why not set up a brandy bar? Your party or wedding day styling and colours can also help to shape your signature cocktail suggestion. For a soft and delicate pastel coloured day, Spiked Pink Lemonade would be perfect. Or perhaps you’re getting married by the sea, in which case only the Blue Lagoon will do!

Lastly, think about what you serve your drinks in. The key is to ensure that you carry your event design through in a way that is consistent. If you are planning a glamorous Vintage inspired affair, serve up your drinks in champagne saucers, distributed by black tie adorned waiters. Alternatively if Rustic or English Country is more your style, then consider serving up your drinks in jam jars, displayed in wooden crates or an old dresser.

So, your imagination is the limit on this one. Be creative and have fun with it!  Cheers!

Disney Fairytale Wedding's Bridal Showcase 2013

Well, there is so much to tell that I'm having a hard to find a place to start. This past weekend I took a trip down to Orlando, FL for Disney's Fairytale Wedding annual bridal showcase. And it was spectacular! It was held at the Convention Center at Disney's Contemporary Resort. After checking in at the registration desk I was directed to this entryway.

This completely set the tone for the kind of day I was about to have. After entering, the first thing you see is this rather impressive cake table flanked by gorgeous Alfred Angelo dresses.

 

As I got closer I saw that the beautifully designed cake was surrounded by about 2 dozen whimsical themed cupcakes. They had a treasure chest, sand castle, cup of coffee, Sorcerer Mickey hat, and even an R2-D2 for all those Star Wars fans out there.

After oogling at the amazingly detailed dresses and cupcakes I headed for the vendors that were lined up around the perimeter of the room. First stop, cake designers! There were 3 different cast members working at that station. The first was creating chocolate roses by rolling out small ovals of colored chocolate and layering them. The second was airbrushing sugar flowers with basic food coloring. And the third was painting white chocolate figurines with melted colored chocolate.

Then... the best part.... Cake Samples! They had 5 different types. Yellow Cake with Strawberry Mousse, Yellow Cake with Watermelon Mousse, Yellow Cake with White Chocolate Orange Mousse with Diced Candied Orange Peel, Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Mousse, and last but not least Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Mint Mousse with Dark Chocolate Shavings.

All of them looked tasty but I went for the chocolate mint. It was delicious!

Now, of course, there is more to dessert than just cake. They also had offerings of chocolate and strawberries, Chocolate and mint layered dessert shots with an Oreo, White chocolate and Dark chocolate push up pops layered with raspberry filling, and  chocolate rounds with fillings of banana, coconut, and hazelnut.

Am I making you hungry yet??

Now, in-between each station there were some really creative cakes. Here are a few of my favorites:

At the end of this row of vendors they also had a booth for Alfred Angelo and an area for consultations from the Disney Fairytale Wedding's team. But at the very end they had this....

Cinderella's Royal Carriage...Love it!

They also had some lovely tablescapes:

Along the back wall they had the Sephora team hard at work doing make-up and nails while promoting their new "Jasmine Collection."

Then.....wait for it......more food!!! This time from some of Disney Catering Company's culinary artists. The options included: Pork chops served with Gratin, Shrimp appetizer, Char grilled sea scallops, and Poached pear and smoked Gouda salad. And to drink they had 2 signature drinks: "Something Blue" (with coconut rum) and "Something Almost Blue" (coconut drink non-alcoholic)

 

 

Believe it or not the booths continued down the row with representatives from Disney's Vero Beach and Hilton Head Resorts, Disney Golf vacations, The Disney Photography Studio, and Disney Fairytale Honeymoon's. The room was PACKED! But the best part had yet to come. At 1:00pm David Tutara was set to be the guest speaker!  We made sure to claim our seats early on and it was a good thing too because by 12:00pm just about every seat in the place had been saved by a convention bag, purse, or jacket.
David spoke and answered questions for about an hour. He was fantastic! He only spoke a short time about himself and his background and really focused on interacting with the people who had come to see him. He listened to all the women (and the one guy) who asked him questions or who were having problems and answered them honestly and really tried to help. Even though I don't currently have event planning challenges to speak of, I really enjoyed listening to his advice and insights. And some of his candid responses were very entertaining. I was a bit disappointed when he didn't stick around to sign autographs or take pictures but he is a very busy man so I understand.

Overall, it was an amazing experience and would absolutely recommend going to anyone who is even considering a Disney wedding. I would also recommend going to any wedding planner so they can become familiar with the Disney product. I am definitely going to try to go again next year!

For the full album of all the pictures I took at the Bridal Showcase please visit my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/somethingbluesignatureevents

Bridal Fashion Spring 2013

Great news! Andrea has found her wedding dress! She was on a trip down to Florida to visit her maid of honor Jessica and they found "THE ONE." I can't give out any details just in case Jason decides to take a peek around the blog. So it will have to be a surprise for everyone. But, in the spirit of finding the perfect dress, I thought this would be a great opportunity to check out some of the wedding dress trends for the Spring!

1. Color. Color is looking like it will remain in the forefront of wedding fashion trends this year. White is losing its grip on bridal dresses. Vera Wang has been experimenting with colorful wedding dresses for years, and this spring her red wedding gowns, first launched last fall, are still on top. Soft pinks and blues are also captivating brides-to-be, who are choosing their favorite color, or a color that best suits their skin tone. Not everyone looks fantastic in white so this trend is working to the advantage of many brides. It also adds a sense of uniqueness and memorability to the wedding in general.

2. Lace. The comeback of lace in wedding gowns can be attributed to one major fashion icon. When the Duchess of Cambridge married Prince William, she reminded brides worldwide of the beautiful elegance of lace. Almost two years later, her gown continues to influence wedding gown styles, as lace remains one of the top choices for bridal gowns. Designers have been incorporating a “nouveau lace” in which the art is in the patterns of lace, from delicate, small lace patterning to larger, more graphic florals. The result gives their gown creations a classic, vintage touch with a modern design.

3. Peplums. The basic definition of a peplum is a short flared ruffle that is typically attached to the waist of a jacket or blouse. Wedding dress designers have incorporated this classic feature into their fashion for this season. Peplum are a look from another era, ultra feminine and perfect for the most feminine bridal gowns. The peplum skirt extends from the waist over the hips to create a classic couture effect. The peplum can also be manipulated to create a draped effect or a softer; more structured look straight out of glamorous 1930s Hollywood.

4. Portrait Backs   A portrait back wedding dress can offer a little extra surprise, particularly when the bride is walking down the aisle and her wedding guests get their first glimpse. This season, the back of the wedding dress is just as important as the front. Designers have softened the focus on bare skin with sheer panels of tulle, re-worked lace, and keyhole closings. While the emphasis is still on the bride from reverse, it's with more romance than seduction that she holds our attention.

Looks like we have another great bridal fashion season on our hands. I'm looking forward to the bridal showcases I'm going to in Orlando, FL and Charleston, SC in February! So, Now that Andrea has found her perfect dress, that is one more thing we can cross off our to-do list. Stay up to date with the planning of Andrea and Jason's wedding under the "Current Projects" tab!