Rhonda Patton Weddings & Events

If The Shoe Fits....

From beautiful bouquets to unique buttonholes... and now the Bridal Shoes....

So what's up with this bridal shoe fetish thing???  Having the hottest pump, stiletto, open-toe, sling back, etc..... is a bride's newest phenomenon!

I was inspired to blog about "If the shoe fits" because I've noticed a trend with brides and their "bridal shoe fetish".  Brides are very adamant about having the perfect shoe.  I must admit, I also have a shoe fetish and remember searching many stores to find the perfect bridal shoe.  I was willing to fore go "comfort" for "sexy"...

Brides are seeking the perfect shoe so their photographer can get a unique "shoe shot". 

{Tidbit}:  Hire a photographer who is skilled at capturing details and they will get the perfect shoe shot!

MY FAVE SHOE SHOTS...

             

This shoe shot is courtesy of Dove Wedding Photography and A Delightful Day Blog.  This picture is so funky...and to capture part of the Nashville sky line is ingenious!       

       

                 

       

World renowned photographer Ross Oscar Knight Photography captured these unique shoe shots.

                

This unique shot is courtesy of Gray Photography - visit my previous blog to see more amazing pics!  

       

Wedding photo journalist Jimmy Cheng captured this shoe shot of animal print pumps and garter. 

 

        This shoe shot was captured by Los Angeles photographer Araxi Photography 

If the Shoe Fits...Wear It!!!

 

 

 

Lori Ann + David: Sneak Peak

Lori Ann is an avid reader of Ashley's Bride Guide (ABG) and followed my blogs via ABG.  Her planner, Mary Auburn of One Fine Day Wedding & Event Planning contacted me and said, "I have a client who is very interested in meeting you, she loves your blogs!!!!  Meeting Lori Ann and David was a joy!  They are a match made in heaven!  I had the pleasure of orchestrating their floral design for their lovely wedding reception.

THE COLOR PALETTE

Lori Ann and David begin with a monochromatic color palette comprised of hot pinks accented with chocolate brown.  They created a winning color palette with this Neapolitan mix of colors.  Pink is the bride's favorite color and was the perfect choice for venue's neutral color palette.

       

Here is a sneak peak {a few shots with my camera}...although I'm very anxious to see the professional pictures from Krista Lee Photography.      

Pink up-lighting illuminated the beautiful walls at the World Outreach Center in Murfressboro, TN.  Cocktail tables were draped in chocolate brown poly satin linens from Southern Events and dressed with floating candles and rose petals.

ROUNDS AND SQUARES

The bride selected a mix of table sizes.  She thought outside of the 60"rounds and incorporated a variety of table sizes. She used cocktail tables for the mix and mingle, 32" rounds, 60" rounds and 4ft squares for the guest seating.  With a total of 38 guest tables, she took advantage of the large venue space by utilizing a variety of table sizes.

To create the tablescapes, I designed 3 different centerpieces (all low designs) proportionate to fit the varied size tables.  The bride and groom gave me the 5 most important adjectives to describe their tablescapes:  Romantic,  Elegant, Monochromatic Pinks, Textured and  Lots of Candles.

                 

Design I: was comprised of hot pink roses, orchids and coxcomb to achieve the monochromatic textured look.  Coffee beans filled the vase and cylinders to exude texture and to infuse the accent color of chocolate brown. Pillar and votive candles created the romantic ambiance.

                 

Design II: was a candlescape comprised of various size cylinders with a mixture of floating and votive candles with rose petals to accent.

                

Design III: was comprised of mini hot pink calla lilies and lily grass wrapped in an over-sized fish bowl accented with a pink floating candle and rose petals.

Best wishes to Lori Ann and David!!!  Stay tuned to Lori Ann and David Destination Wedding:  Part Two

Thinking outside the 60" round...

When I got married in 2003, I did not use 60" rounds.  I worked my magic by use of the venue's {free} 8-foot rectangle tables.  I kept the rental price down by use of what the venue had to offer for free.  In some areas, I put two 8-foot tables together, made a custom runner and created low centerpieces and lots of candles to create an elegant ambiance. 

Recently, I've noticed the emergence of banquet-style seating.  Banquet-style seating is nothing new but is being redefined by brides.  It reeks with royalty and exudes a very glam look!  Not only is it cozy but creates conversation.

                               

The very elegant and monochromatic tablescape that appeared on the front of Martha Stewart Weddings Collection's Edition back in the summer was admired by many brides and wedding planners across the country.  It's something about this square table design and strategic placing of the low florals that is simply stunning!

Banquet-style seating is higly preferred by the uber talented Preston Bailey.  He is one of the world's most talented designers and my guess is that the pros outweight the cons when it comes to banquest-style seating. 

Recently, I did a wedding where the bride and groom selected a 4'-serpetine table as their sweetheart table.  How sweet!! Not only was was it intimate but it's a versatile and decorative addition to any set-up.  Many caters prefer use serpentine tables to stage a unique buffet. 

As a designer, square/rectangle tables are one of my faves!  A square-shaped table not only facilitates conversation better than a round table, but it also gives a room a clean modern look. They are great canvases for printed table runners, interesting floral arrangements, and rows of elegant pillar candles.

Consult with your planner or event designer to get feedback about the use of square tables.  Each venue is different and may not accomodate square/rectangle tables.

     

    Photo credit:  Arising Images

I love the layout in the picture!  A mixture of both square and round tables were incorporated with a tall centerpiece for the rounds and a low design for the squares.

                             

 Photo credit:  Westchester Magazine

                  

Photo credit:  Beginning to Wed

Work your venue space...don't let it work you!  Think outside of the 60" round and incorporate serpentines, rectanges, squares or mix and match.  If your venue space is "blah" then consider a mixture of tables to break up the monotony of the room.

Thanks for reading!

R. Patton

 

   

Sneak Peak} Lee + Elisabeth

....trying not to blog about this wedding before it happened was tough - now that it's over, I can finally release the chains and give you a sneak peak about this lovely couple.

Lee {the handsome "Will Smith" look-a-like} and Elisabeth {a beautiful and classy diva} were married last Saturday at St. Luke's with a warm reception at Marriot-Vanderbilt.  I had the pleasure of working as their event and floral designer and had a blast because they were sooooo sweet and such an adorable couple!  They could easily pass as siblings and they had this majestic connection to one another.  Lee was very involved in the planning process and even helped me with the design of their tablescapes. 

I was absolutely ecstatic they hired Gray Photography as their photographic artist.  Gray Photography, a hubby and wife duo are one of the most sought after wedding photographers.  Their work is regal redefined - over and over again!

Here is a sneak peak with pics courtesy of Gray Photography's Blog

    

 

  

 

Elisabeth carried a bespoke bouquet of calla lilies accented with crystals.  The entire stem was wrapped in black midori ribbon and accented with a beautiful butterfly brooch {the bride loves butterflies}...

 

 

Gray does a fabulous job capturing details!  Ingenious skill - they really crossed the line with this one....

 

...more details - the bride and groom's ring in the candy scoop of jelly bellies

 

...the beautiful and delectable cake by Signature Cakes by Vicki 

   

... fun photos of the bride and groom from Photo Booth of Nashville

   

...Best Wishes to Mr & Mrs Cunningham!!! 

Wedding Decor...right out of your kitchen pantry

On a super tight budget... look in your pantry for wedding decor.

I am all about creativity and being that unique texture is in style then your pantry may be the next place to find your wedding / event decor.

From dried beans and noodles to lentils, rice or even coffee beans....  your centerpiece can be one of a kind by creatively using these non perishable items.

                

                                    Photo courtesy of  Rachael Ray Magazine

• Pinto Beans :  Less than $2 for a small bag of dried beans
• Glass Cylinders:  $1 each at your local Dollar Tree
• Silk Gerber Daisy: Less than a $1 per stem at your local craft store

Total Design Cost:  Less than 10 bucks for a PRICELESS centerpiece.  This centerpiece would be ideal for a bridal shower, luncheon or even an escort card table.

                        

                                                            Pic courtesy of Flickr

This picture of split peas and a spider mum is quite interesting!  I love dried split peas {not to eat}, but as a vase filler they work magic!  They are a lovely chartreuse green color with unique texture and look amazing in glass vases.  Pour some split peas in a $1 cylinder vase with a small votive candle and you've just created a piece of art.

          

I created this design for a bride who was having a 4th of July Bar-B-Que themed dinner rehearsal.  Right out of my pantry, I dyed red and blue rice and poured the layers of red, white and blue accented with a candle for a festive centerpiece.  This would also be an unique vase filler idea for a baby shower perhaps... pink rice or blue rice it's all just as nice!

                         

                               Pic courtesy:  Project Wedding

 Wow!  It's rice and dendrobium orchids for a very elegant and Oriental ambiance. 

             

                                                Pic courtesy:  Rachael Ray Magazine

Who would of ever thought asparagus and pistachios would make an interesting centerpiece???

Need a cute, quick but inexpensive centerpiece... look no further - it's in your PANTRY!

Thanks for reading! 

                         

2009 wedding trends enticing...

Wedding planning for 2009 is underway! Brides are flocking to the coolest venues and consulting with the most fashionable style team {"wedding vendors"}. Learning about the season's hottest trends can make your wedding even more unforgettable. 

2009 will call for an enticing mix of modern and classic designs. Brides want anything but ordinary. DRAMA…OPULENCE… ELEGANCE and CHIC will be the bridal buzz words for 2009.

COUTURE WEDDING FLOWERS

"Couture" {koo-toor} typically referring to high fashion design and dressmaking has now shifted into the wedding industry from couture gowns to couture flowers, the term "couture" is being widely used.  Couture in the floral industry encompasses monochromatic palettes (or jarring), unexpected color combinations , unusual textures and unique shapes. 

                                

                               

                                        Photo credits: Rae Leytham for  Southern Weddings

From couture flowers to bespoke bouquets, contemporary-modern will pre-empt traditional floral designs. Posh nosegays, beautiful biedermeiers and cascading will be the most requested bouquet styles in 2009.

Embellished Bouquets...

Bouquet wraps add glamour at hand while sparkling adornments such as rhinestones {BLING}, jewels, pearls, brooches, floral or bullion wire can take an average bouquet from lackluster to luxe. More and more brides are requesting unique bouquet wraps.  {Note the unique wraps in the pictures above}

WEDDING TABLESCAPING

Out with contrived centerpieces and in with “tablescaping” - another bridal buzz word for 2009.  Low centerpieces will be the top contender for 2009 weddings.   Grouping of low, multi-leveled vases featuring multi-color and multi-textured flowers will dominate wedding table decor. 

                        

Traditional brides may prefer low designs for a more cozy and intimate ambiance while modern brides may prefer more dramatic designs with taller arrangements.  Nevertheless, brides are requesting an overabundance of candles (floating, pillars and votives) to be incorporated creating a romantic ambiance.

  

Masquerade Ball } Private Affair

I loved themed events and was excited to work as the event designer for this private affair.  I love weddings but also love to design for private events and corporate affairs. 

The event planner specifically requested something unusual, dramatic {with height} for the table decor. She requested a centerpiece that would relate to their theme and serve as a WOW FACTOR to their guest.  "It must be comprised of lots of feathers and we want a gold and ivory color palette" she stated.  I sent the planner a few sketches and supportive pictures for the design.

I designed a centerpiece comprised of ivory ostrich plumes {their much fuller then feathers} accented with gold mask dripping with crystals and gold garland strands.  I was able to get a few shots with my camera and the final result totally WOW'd their guest!

               

               

Each centerpiece was accented with gold masquerade mask.  The mask were placed on both sides of the design.  The gold mask and garland strands were perfect accessories for this design.