Alli and Jon: Apple Green and Duet Dinner at Larkin's Caberet Room

Alli grew up in Easley.  Jon is from Virginia.  They met in Clemson.  They got married in Easley and had their reception in Greenville.

You got all that?  Good.

Alli contacted B&R Events with plenty of time in advance.  She was putting a lot of attention into the details of her reception, and wanted a team that could take care of the details and refer super star vendors.  After a great meeting with Alli and her mother Ann, they booked B&R Events for the big day.  We got to meet Jon and he was a bunch of fun!  We knew that we were going to have a great time with them.

Easley First Baptist requires that you use their director for a ceremony.  We went to the rehearsal and got to meet the entire bridal party and got to kick back.  Alli and Jon gave us all of the goodies for the reception and bid us adieu.

The next day was hot, but perfect to go with Alli and Jon's green, ivory, and peach color scheme.  Eastside Limo provided transportation for their crew to get from downtown to Easley. 

Kismet Photography promptly started photos and captured all the details.  Watching Emily and Curtis work is like watching a well oiled machine.  We love working with them, and they were even kind enough to bring personalized bottles filled with water for the bridal party. 

Debbie began set up at Larkin's Caberet Room while I went to the church to take check in on Alli and Jon.  I sprinkled petals, used fashion tape, made sure groomsmen were hydrated, and waited for the church director to get there.  I made sure Alli and Jon and their parents were ready and then I went back to Larkins to assist Debbie.

Everything was looking lovely at Larkins.  Alli's hardwork of creating chalboard table numbers and wine cork place card with Lotto ticket favors were all being displayed.  The favors were absolutely awesome- a scratch-off ticket from SC and a scratch-off ticket from VA with a 2011 penny in a little vellum envelope with a sticker that read, "Lucky in Love". 

A dear friend of Alli's family made their cake.  Twigs brought lovely centerpieces featuring ivory hydrangea, peach roses, and matching apple green greenery.  Alli and Jon hired a caracuteurist to draw portraits of their guests.  The bridal party arrived and we lined them up so Ric Larson with Life of the Party could announce them in.  Alli and Jon treated their guests to a duet plated dinner of filet mignon and rosemary chicken.  It was nice, because they actually seated us amongst their guests (this is unusual) and their guests were going on and on about how it was the best meal they have ever had at a wedding.

Ric did a great job of reading Alli and Jon's crowd and kept the dance floor full. 

At the end of the night, we lined up their guests for a sparkler send off and Alli and Jon got away in a horse drawn carriage.

Congratulations Alli and Jon! 

PS  Look at the professional photos by Kismet!  Just gorgeous! 



Caley and Jimmy: Homestyle with Orange and Caspian Blue



Photos courtesy of Jeff Hall Photo



Home Sweet Home for Caley and Jimmy's big day.  Caley and Jimmy decided that backyard nuptials at Caley's parent's home was the route to go for their June 25th summer celebration.  They followed the ceremony with an indoor-outdoor reception at the neighborhood clubhouse.

Caley chose "Caspian Blue" J Crew dressed for her crew to wear while the groomsmen looked sharp in grey suits and striped ties.  Jimmy and Caley are teachers, so there were also many little chalkboard elements.  Orange and green were also incorporated  in the decor with floral by Dahlia A Florist.

Guests arrived and parked at the clubhouse and were transported to the ceremony by Main Street Trolley.  They were then greeted by Caley's brothers and then offered water and lemonade by the awesome staff from Granata's Catering.  In each seat, there was a program that exclaimed "HUZZAH!" at the top and also functioned as a fan.  Caley's mother had landscaped the backyard to perfection, including having a custom arbor built.  The procession emerged from Caley's childhood bedroom.  We stayed on the walkie-talkies with DJ Eric Sewell so he was cued to play the correct instumental version of the correct Beatles song at the correct time. 

After the ceremony, Jeff Hall took some post-ceremony photos while guests enjoyed different stations of food, wrote wishes to the bride and groom, and enjoyed the mild June weather.

The reception was a hit- full of dancing, photo boothing (so not a word, but B&R just might submit it to Websters), and general shenanigans.  At the end of the night, everyone left with a muffin (or 3), a bubble send off (old-school full-sized), and the bride and groom took off in Caley's dad's Mustang Cobra convertible.

Congratulations Caley and Jimmy!  And HUZZAH!

Katie and Jeff: Country Music and Harlequin Diamonds at the Wyche Pavilion

Katie and Jeff chose Holy Trinity Anglican Church and Larkin's on the River's Wyche Pavilion for their guest list of 100.  They had also chosen Dahlia A Florist to incorporate Katie's favorite flowers (bird of paradise and peonies) and their photographer.  They came to B&R Events for the Audrey Package. 

Katie had her bridesmaids wear black, but loves yellow.  She mentioned that she also loved diamond patterns.  Jeff really wanted to incorporate a turquoise blue. 

We were able to design an invitation for them using blue harlequin diamonds and damask with a black script. 

We made sure that Couture Cakes could incorporate their diamonds, peonies made of sugar, and a touch of turquoise. 

B&R added in touches of gold to compliment all the yellow and because it matched the adorable jars of honey that Katie and her family made as favors. 

 The linens were ivory with turquoise satin overlays and gold chivari chairs with ivory cushions.  

B&R Events brought gold chargers and gold candle sticks and even arranged the jars of honey a large gold mirror . 

Jeff and Katie chose Larkin's barbecue buffet while Benny Whitten with Life of the Party played their favorite country music. 

Benny, being the super star DJ that he is, even gave Jeff and Katie a signed Kenny Chesney disc as a wedding gift.

Jeff and Katie exited their reception through sparklers to the Hampton Inn. 

Congratulations!

Wedding Festivals!

B&R Events is truly excited to be participating in Wedding Festivals on January 7th, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville!
Oh, and since it is the week of the holidays, we are feeling generous:
The first 100 brides to visit our booth get our newsletter!
And you can enter to win a FREE 2 hour consultation!
And just for attending the show, you get a special rate on our services...(because you know how we like a good coupon!)

We will of course have a fabulous booth set up, but be sure to check out our table top display as well!
And we have two themes; Vintage Vineyard for our table top and Bright Berries for our booth.

Curious about what we've done in the past?  Check it out!

Hope you can make it to the show!

Will and Kate: Blue Jay and Faith at the Wyche Pavilion

South Carolina had their very own Will and Kate on June 12th.  They may not have had the huge royal wedding, but they had a huge amount the faith and friends. 

Kate's mother,Lori, contacted B&R for our Marilyn Package, day-of coordination.  Kate chose blue jay, white, and a mossy green for her color palette.  With 280 guests and 21 people in the bridal party, the Dowe Amphitheater was an excellent spot for their early summer nuptials.  When B&R met with Kate two days before the wedding and asked what the rain plan was, Kate assured us that she would still get married in the amphitheater.  And she did!

The sun was shining when we showed up to the Wyche Pavilion to help Kate's friends and family decorate.  Lori has many talented friends from their church in North Carolina that were willing to come down and help make the space exactly to Kate and Will's expectations.  Will and Kate were able to take portraits outside separately with Michael Costa prior to the ceremony.  It wasn't until about an hour before the ceremony that the sky turned dark and the rain started to pour.  All the flowers had arrived with Bella Blooms and were meticulously placed and the Bakery Off Augusta had delivered the cake with words of Will and Kate's favorite places and things written in butter cream. 

Vic Thomas with G Vegas! DJ had set up and guests were starting to arrive.  The rain was still going strong, so Kate and her parents decided to put the social hour before the ceremony.  A quick call to Vic and Larkins to let them know, and no guest was the wiser!  Kate, now in medical school, told me that she liked facts and logic.  While we were watching the radar and there was still a shadow of green over the ceremony site, the facts were not on our side. 

 Finally, Kate and Will agreed that we would encourage guests that had umbrellas to stand in the ceremony area and if they did not have umbrellas they could stand under the adjacent tent.  B&R always has 7 white umbrellas on hand (they live in our vehicle) and then with the help of Larkins we issued enough black umbrellas for everyone to make it down the aisle safe and dry. 

Kate's uncle officiated the ceremony, and by the time it was over the rain was down to a sprinkle.  The sun was starting to shine as guests made their way to the pavilion.  J-Rob Productions caught Will and Kate's wonderful first dance on film.  Members of their bridal party sang part of the father-bride dance.  Guests enjoyed a stationed appetizer style reception and fellowship. 

 At the end of the evening, guests lined up and for a sparkler send off and Will and Kate drove off in Kate's blue FJ Cruiser.

Congratulations Will and Kate!

Here are some photos courtesy of Michael Costa:

Positively gorgeous!  Thank you Michael for sharing!

Johnsie and Nick: Lapis and Mason Jars at Clemson University's Carillon Gardens and Amphitheater

Johnsie and Nick chose Memorial Day weekend to get married.  Both bride and groom are graduates of Clemson, so it was only appropriate that they exchange vows on campus. The Carillon Gardens were the backdrop for their ceremony while the Clemson Amphitheater was the scene for the reception.
Johnsie and her mother, Karen, incorporated so many personal touches that were important to their family.  The flower girl wore one of Johnsie's smocked dresses, they created signs using chalkboard paint and chalk, each table had a little bit of Johnsie and Nick's story, and a large glass barrel held the floral arrangement next to Johnsie's portrait by Gruen Photography.  Renee Burroughs Design created centerpieces of wild flowers and anything she could get her hands on that was purple in Mason jars.  Johnsie added the promise ring Nick gave her in high school to her bouquet.
Holly's Cakes created Johnsie and Nick's four tier cake with white butter cream and lapis and silver ribbon accents and their monogram in the middle.  After dinner and cake cutting, Formal Affair DJ got everyone on the dance floor.  Even the groomsmen were joining in on the fun with a soulful rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody".  As guests gathered their custom pint glass (what a great favor!), they were handed tiger-rags and bubbles for Johnsie and Nick's send off.
Congratulations Johnsie and Nick!

Pia and Wyatt: Preppy-Vintage Fun at the Westin Poinsett

Photos courtesy of Josh Rigsby Photography unless otherwise watermarked

I first met Pia in April of 2010.  She was a senior at Furman University and had just gotten engaged to Wyatt.  She had been accepted into a masters program at Vanderbilt, Wyatt was getting his second masters at Wake Forest, and her dad lives in Texas.  Needless to say, they wouldn't be around much to plan their Greenville wedding. 
Pia told me that she wanted a fun wedding.  With spring-y colors.  And that she didn't know anything about flowers.  And that she would love a band that could play oldies, but popular music on breaks.  And that she wanted to get married at half past two because she liked the way it sounded.  And that she loved the Westin and it reminded her of holidays with Wyatt's family.  Oh, and that she would have the coolest last name ever - Chocklett.  (Get it?  Like chocolate, just spelled differently?  Just me?  Fine then.)
After Pia's graduation, we booked the Westin's Poinsett Ballroom.  We then took Pia to the Poinsett Bride during their sample sale and got her the deal of the century on her wedding gown.  (75% off!  Amazing!) 
B&R Events also designed their save-the-dates and invitations and was able to make them match the feel of their wedding.
Pia and Wyatt chose Wyatt's family church, Messiah Lutheran of Mauldin, to exchange their vows.

Pia told me that Wyatt had a childhood friend, Josh Rigsby, that was now a photographer.  We love working with new vendors, so we helped her pick out a package that suited them.

Pia wanted a classic, almost vintage, style for the bridesmaids.  We helped her choose a strapless, cotton sateen, navy dress that her girls loved.  The flower girls wore a kelly green.  The groomsmen wore gray suits with navy micro polka dot ties and the ushers wore the same suit but with kelly green micro dot ties.  Wyatt sported a white bow tie.

B&R Events worked very closely with Dahlia to design Pia's flowers.  Pia carried a bouquet of white peonies, the flower girls carried yellow and white pomanders made of mums, and the bridesmaids carried bouquets of yellow and white mums and lisianthus.  Two large floral arrangements flanked the entrance of the church as well as the altar with draped white fabric and yellow ribbon.  Two wreaths hung on the doors that Pia and Wyatt could hang on their door of their home one day.  And the pew markers were yellow, white, and green flowers with flowing white and yellow ribbon.  Perfect for a day time wedding.

Wyatt and Pia's guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the Westin's mezzanine while the bridal party was transported by the blue vintage trolley of Main Street Trolley.  Guests were given their beer in kelly green koozies and enjoyed antipasto and fresh fruit. 

Since Pia wanted the ultimate in springy weddings, we used a lot of color!  Navy floor length linens with white runners.  White chairs with kelly green sashes.  Yellow linen on the cocktail tables with white ties.  White lounge furniture with navy and yellow tone on tone polka dot pillows. 

Even the floral arrangements had a thick yellow ribbon wrapped around the square vases.  Dahlia incorporated Pia and Wyatt's colors in so many ways- lemons, floralytes, gel.  As well as a gorgeous assortment of yellow, green, and white flowers.

Holly's Cakes made the gorgeous wedding cake.  Holly used a brushed embroidery technique that mimicked the lace on Pia's gown.   

After cocktail hour, their guests enjoyed heavy hors d'oeuvrves with stations.  The stations- sliders and macaroni and cheese with pulled pork and other fixings were followed by amazing dance music by Black Tie Affair.  Cake was enjoyed by all and then followed by milkshake shooters with kelly green straws.

Aside from the awesome green koozies, Mr. and Mrs. Chocklett gave out- you guessed it- chocolate bars!  We designed the wrappers to match the overall theme for the day and used the same font that we had used for all the stationary.

A bubble send off with elevator good byes!

Now here is where it gets interesting...

so.

Pia and Wyatt met Debbie, Josh (the photographer), and I on the second floor.  Josh and Debbie were going to go up with Pia and Wyatt to the roof of the Westin to take sunset pictures in front of their iconic sign.  I was going to clean up the ballroom and get everything gathered and do one last inventory.  I was then going to meet them on the 11th floor, and we were going to ride down together and then take more photos in their room.

Well, as some may know, May 21st was during the BMW Charity Pro-Am.  The tournament has many celebrity guests that visit and participate and stay downtown Greenville.  Wayne Gretzky, Terry O'Quinn, Patrick Warburton, and Cheech Marin, just to name a few, participated in 2011.

I met everyone on the 11th floor and we loaded into the elevator.  As the door was closing, a hand reached in and reopened the door.  A tall and attractive man then entered the elevator and said hello to the five of us.  I exchanged glances with Pia and her eyes got big.

"What's your name?" I asked the man.

He smiled and said, "Oliver."

I completely acted like a geek and said, "ARE YOU OLIVER HUDSON?"

"Yes," he replied, still smiling. 

And this, my friends, is when Pia got to ask OLIVER HUDSON to congratulate her on her wedding day.

Then OLIVER HUDSON got off the elevator with us on the 2nd floor and took a picture with the new Mr. and Mrs. Chocklett.

And then Oliver (we are on a first name basis) KISSED Pia on the forehead and headed down the stairs to the lobby.

And then the five of us geeked out for another minute.

Then Mr. and Mrs. Chocklett took this photo in their honeymoon suite.

Congratulations Pia and Wyatt! B&R Events LOVED working with you!