#TBT A New Year's Eve Backyard Wedding

I have designed weddings and events at chic hotels, luxury ranches, elegant estates, raw and industrial warehouses, large studios and Old Hollywood locales.  Sometimes I am asked to plan a party in someone's home in their backyard and this was quite the backyard transformation.  
We added a clear tent, plexiglass pool covering which became the dance floor, brought in sofas, additional furniture and draping by Revelry Event Designers, lighting by the fabulous The Lighter Side and of course, candles and roses everywhere.  
New Year's Eve at this house has never been so festive and full of love!

Setting a table starts with the Linen

I love linens.  I have books upon books upon books of linens samples from some of my favorite linen companies: La Tavola Linens, Resource One Linens, Wildflower Linens, and Designer Specialty Linens.  When sitting down with my brides and grooms to talk about the look and atmosphere they want to create for their wedding, I include linens as a large contributor to the design and texture of the room.  

Plain whites and creams can be lovely when showcasing an intricate and detailed centerpiece but why not pop a bit of color with your napkin if the budget is tight and a specialty linen is not an option.  Adding the right texture and accent with linens can change the entire look of a room.  Linens range in all kinds of colors, fabrics, shapes, sparkles, sheens, sequins, ruffles, roses, patterns, florals, meshes, and polkadots.

When looking into your linen choices, think boldly and be open and you can stretch how far your reception space can reach in elegance, class and fabulousness.
Happy Linen Looking!

#TBT Throwback to a James Bond Birthday Party

I love to work with couples on planning the most important day of their lives, but I also love to design other events and soirees as well.  People come to me with ideas of themes for their big birthdays, baby and bridal showers, kids birthdays, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and more.  Getting to stretch my creativity into other venues and types of parties is incredibly exciting.

My #TBT is from a 50th birthday party I planned at a private estate in Orange County that had a James Bond theme.  I knew it had to have sexy lighting (by The Lighter Side) red, black and gold accents, exotic glamour and an element of time travel fun.  This client had a empty 10 car garage that I turned into a Moroccan Bedouin Tent created by Bam and Rrivre Works.  And of course I couldn't forget the casino pieces!  Now, for the next James Bond themed party, I think Daniel Craig should be the surprise guest, don't you?

Flowers by Marks Garden

Great Bridemaids Gift!

I am very excited to introduce to you this stunning make up line available here and soon through my website.  Just click here to go straight to the lip gloss 

It's Cattiva Cosmetics and they have this fantastic personalized lip gloss adorned with a crystal top and it comes in a gorgeous velvet bag with your monogram in crystals.

THE perfect gift for your bridesmaids and the bride of course !! as well as perfect christmas gifts!! xo

England Calling!

In September, 2010 Bluebell Events went International and created a 60th Birthday Party for Rod Bransgrove, the Chairman of Hampshire Cricket Club.  The theme of the party was "Friends, Family and Hero's" celebrating all the people that had influenced, guided and celebrated Rod's life.  The party was held at the famous Rose Bowl, a beautiful cricket stadium and home to the Hampshire Cricket Club.  We went in and turned the place upside down!

Cocktails took place in the custom made white lounge wine bar, where they had delicious appertizers served on clear trays personalized with an enlarged version of the invitation and an ecletic cheese bar.

After the Ultimate Beatles had performed, the birthday boy, as a surprise, took to the stage with his band, which included his daughter Charlie on vocals and his son Jack on guitar and bought the house down with a song he had written especially for the evening. A slide show went along with the song showing memories of family and friends past and present. There wasn't a dry eye in the house from laughter and tears.

Dinner took place upstairs overlooking the cricket pitch.  Stations from around the world featured Rod's favorite foods with American, Mexican, Asian and Indian influences.  Stations featured custom designed 3D backdrops and the Rose Bowl staff joined in the fun by being dressed in matching themed costumes. 

A stunning seafood raw bar amazed everyone with it's large selection and the fact that it was served from a custom, cricket themed ice bar.

 

As dinner concluded, the sounds of Pink Floyd rang out from the stadium pitch where everyone congregated to the balcony to view the most spectaclar fireworks extravaganza.  Choreographed in sync to Pink Floyd, we literally rocked the county of Hampshire!

  

The birthday boy loves Jelly Baby candies so we designed a Jelly Baby cupcake tower with sparklers which we rolled on to the dance floor to his complete suprise.  It's certainly the biggest cupcake tower we've ever seen.

Followed by late night nibbles such as Bangers & Mash with Baked Beans, Grilled Cheese sandwiches and mini Hot Dogs which fueled the guests for all the dancing to come. 

Continuing the rock theme, Britian's #1 event band, the Rick Parfitt Jr. Band, took the roof off the house and had the sparkling LED dance floor crammed until the wee hours of the morning. At 7am, party goers finally went home, and along with Rod, had the time of their lives.

 

Special thanks to Rod, his beautiful wife Mandy, along with Charlie, Lucy and Jack for trusting me to pull off this stellar event from across the pond.  I couldn't have done it without the incredible Mark Jordan from Blitz Communications. All the local vendors that worked so hard to help me make it all happen and OK! Magazine for covering the event.  Thank you!

credits:
Blitz Communications (Mark Jordan)
Jeff Faraday (photography)
Cloth Connection
Northfield Linen
Cordelia Weston
Rick Parfitt Jr. Band
The Ultimate Beatles Band
Mike Osman (comedian/M.C.)
DJ Mike Christie
The Rose Bowl, Hampshire, UK
Chef Alan & Team (Rose Bowl)
Tiger Lilly Flowers
Painsfireworks
Brooke Harwood (invitation)
Collette Timson
Rachel Hargreaves
Brian Shaw
Vinny Fruelon