Monthly Mock: Eco-Friendly Urban Chic

Each month, we will have a mock table in our Cincinnati office. We have partnered up with All Occasions and Fassler Florist, who loan us the supplies needed to create the tables. They let us keep the items for the month in exchange for promoting their products. Also contributing to the tables are Paolo and Pink Ink. This month, since we had our open house, we had two mock tables. These mock tables were at the "A Dress to Remember" charity event and tabletop competition at the Contemporary Arts Center this past February. The themes were Eco-Friendly, Urban Chic. (Thanks to Brenda at Pottinger Photography for the pixs!)

Destiny (from Fassler) and I won "Best Table" for this one. Features of the table are: Forget me knots; A box with a tree you can plant inside it; recycled paper for the table number and placecard setting; live plants; and the colors of green and brown. The silverware has a bamboo-like handle to it. Had we been allowed to have chairs at the competition we would have had bamboo chairs (see the current one in our office).

The second one is "Copper Elements." The table incorporates black, silver and copper colors. The napkins are wrapped with copper wiring, and the favors are pure copper balls. Table numbers and placecards are again on recycled paper.

We'll be switching this month's table out on Monday, so stay tuned for more new photos!

Catholic Wedding at St. Susanna's and Manor House Reception in Mason, Ohio

Bobby and Tiffany were one of the best couples ever! Tiffany became more than just a client, but a friend. I saw so much of myself in her. We are both Xavier grads (go muskies!), both have type A personalities, and just had a ball planning this wedding with her mom.

The couple incorporated some really neat things into their wedding to truly make it their own. For example, Tiffany works at the Cincinnati Zoo, so greeting guests at the wedding reception at Manor House were real live animals from the Zoo! Tiffany also made custom table numbers which had photos of the two of them at each age (example, table 5 had photos of them at age 5). Tiffany's mom also made custom antique door knob table holders for the table numbers. Her florist also incorporated jeweled butterflies into each of the centerpieces, serving as a memory to those who couldn't be there to celebrate the day. Their guests were entertained by a photo booth -- one copy of the photo went to the guests and one went into a guest book for the bride and groom. During the ceremony, Tiffany's son, Conner, was presented with a Unity Pendant to symbolize that he too was becoming part of the new marriage union.

To view a trailer video from the wedding here, click here

My funniest story of the day? When Tiffany and Bobby celebrated their first moment outside at her mother's estate, her son and the flower girl decided to wrestle with a 100 pound dog. The dog didn't like that too much and the little girl's flower dress ripped at the waist and the ring bearer got a cut that was bleeding (and mixing with his tears) all down his face! Needless to say, we got everything fixed before the bride got back and she didn't know until later that day.

Making the day possible were Images by Daniel Michael Photography, Forever Wedding Video, Manor House, Savannah Nite, Patricias Weddings and Custom Cakes, Say Cheese Photo Booths, Party Pleasers (DJ and Lighting), Fassler Florist, The Scarlet Envelope and Jags for the rehearsal dinner.

And the future for this adorable couple? A baby girl, expected this fall. Congrats!

Fluffy Flops

Aren't these adorable? I went to Finch Rental yesterday and the daughter of the lady who owns A Chocolate Celebration is making these for brides and their bridal party. You always want comfortable feet on your wedding day!

To order Fluffy Flops, visit http://www.fluffyflops.vpweb.com/. They are $10 each.

Kim and Tony at Great Wolf Lodge

Kim and Tony's rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony and reception took place in October at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio. (Great is for sure...huge is another word to describe this place!) Great Wolf offered her out of town guests plenty to do, such as an indoor water park, game room, restaurants and entertainment. All rooms at Great Wolf are themed suites, so many family members doubled up.

Kim really wanted to focus on the colors of her wedding -- chocolate brown and sage -- in the design. She also wanted to keep her budget in check. Great ways to keep your budget in check are to serve a buffet dinner to your guests and to keep your flowers centerpieces simple. We floated one green spidermum in water. Great Wolf provided the glass and the beads for us to use. We also purchased her flowers from The Flowerman and arranged them for her on site at Great Wolf and at the shop the week of the wedding. Also providing services for the wedding were Karen Addie (strings for ceremony and cocktails), Michelle's Custom Cakes, M&M Limo, and DJ Brian Helton. All did a great job!

Kim and Tony had a "special moment" where they saw each other for the first time. Before seeing each other, the best man and the maid of honor delivered a personalized note from the other to read before seeing each other.

Kim isn't into the whole "trash the dress" concept, but, for a bride who might be, I think doing a trash the dress at Great Wolf Lodge one year after your wedding would be really neat. Can you imagine doing that in the lazy river -- how cool would that be!