Tuesday, October 26, 2010

What shall we do today?


Since we are a special event design firm we tend to be seasonal... So as my season winds down (we will only be down 3 weeks in December this year then right back into weddings in January), I really enjoy spending this "down" time with my kiddos. The holidays of endless amount of cookies, squirrel bitten pumpkins, my kids begging me to not give their beds to the incoming guests to the black smears of eyeliner from me trying to draw the perfect whiskers and running out of attic space to hide Christmas presents, I dread the constant nagging question that always seems to tear through my ears when I am juggling a gallon of milk, bagels and some Clorox wipes at the grocery store trying to get it all in the cart.... What shall we do today Mommy? This book was an impulse buy at Home Depot at the check out lane. Since my 7 year old's teacher knows I do "party's" she ever so gently gave ME the duty of planning Friday's Halloween Party (of course we have a wedding Saturday). So while I was getting my ingredients together for my crafts to do with the class, I thought I would pass this onto you other Mommies (or Aunties, Daddies or Grammies)... No one should be without this, this Holiday Season.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Paul & Melody October 16th 2010 - Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit


Ok... We are still recuperating from this past weekend's wedding. Wow, what a dozy. We had 10,000 roses, 1,200 hydrangea, 300 stems of orchids and various other flowers come through our mits this past week. It took six people four sixteen hour days to process, construct and execute this event.

Lia Moore of Full Circle Eventi brought us Paul & Melody's event and of course designed it all. It was the most beautiful event I've seen to date. They got married in the Guardian Building in downtown Detroit and the reception was held at the DIA.











The ceremony flowers were Orange Moccara Orchids, High Magic and Star 2000 Roses, Pittosporum, Orange Pin Cushion Proteas built in 6 - 4 ft sections to line the traditional Persian marriage "table" where the ceremony took place. The bouquets were red and hot pink roses and black magic calla lilies adorned with rhinestones. The brides bouquet was cream roses, gardenias and stephanotis of course filled with rhinestones. It smelled amazing and weighed almost 8 pounds!

Dave, The Lighting Guy did an amazing job on the lighting (of course) Lori of the Detroit Institute of Arts seriously worked hard to oversee the setup and did an amazing job doing so. The staff at the DIA never cease to amaze me with their eye for detail. We literally filled a 27ft truck wall to wall with the first "trip" of flowers.





There were 64 buckets of 100 roses each in pink and red in our cooler room.





Once we did the base of the topiary arrangements, we placed them on buckets for staging.



Here you can get an "idea" of how many boxes of flowers we received! You can also see our little Pug "Oscar" who looks a little possessed here standing guard!

After we made a 6ft section, we staged them in the gallery upstairs to make room!



The room was set up in an "X" formation where black chiavari chairs lined each side sweetly adorned with these adorable organza sequined chair slip covers with a black satin skirt finished off with a rhinestone buckle. Lia picked out these mirrored tiled glass mosaic charger plates with an adorable hot pink cocktail plate, black glass champagne and wine glasses paired with a damask white china place setting. She did an amazing job with the details and theme. She had linens custom made in California and shipped in.



The head table had 2 - 6 ft sections of over 1000 roses!!




Down the center of the tables were black organza ruffled runners with 136 ft of hot pink Hydrangea, red and hot pink Roses and hot pink Cymbidium Orchids. We built 24 - 6 ft sections and placed them on the tables and placed our 24" trumpet vases with the topiary of 300 red and hot pink roses on top every 10 ft. Each one of these 6 ft pieces weighed 100 pounds (2,400 pounds total) and the rose topiary arrangement weighed 60 pounds each (960 pounds total)! We finished them off with crystal garlands and used our rhinestone encrusted crystal candles holders in varying heights and pillar candles. It was beautiful.... Simply breath taking.

Lia arranged real person "strolling tables" and a fabulous cocktail "lounge" area for after dinner! The cake was covered in french macaroons and hand painted! There was no details left unturned!











I want to thank my staff for working so hard on this event and making it a perfect success. I am forever grateful for you guys xoxo...

Please enjoy the photographs of the event from Photography by Suman






ABC Meeting October 13th 2010 - Lafayette Grande, Pontiac


Petit Fleur was a proud sponsor of the American Bridal Consultants October meeting held at the Lafayette Grande in Pontiac. We dressed black iron dress forms with organza fabric, rich red roses, classic greenery and then gave each "Lady" her own rhinestone necklace... We covered the tables with our burgundy satin with black damask velvet on them and our burgundy bustle chair covers. Sprinkled some red rose petals on the tables and finished them off with some crystal & rhinestone candle stands and floating candles. We received a lot of compliments and it was a lot of fun!





Dream Destination Wedding Weekend October 8-10 2010 - Mackinac Island


In the words of one of my favorite photographers and who I can actually call a friend of mine Andrejka of Andrejka Photography...It's that time of year again... time for my favorite wedding event... one can't even call it an expo... its a time for anyone even slightly interested in getting married on Mackinac to come explore everything the island has to offer... from one on one tours of the different venues ... to meeting all of us fun event professionals... to pub crawls... live music... champagne toasts... and DJ's mashin' in up ... there are a variety of events everyday ... so its impossible to be bored!! I'm telling you there is not one bit of annoying pushy people.. loud overhead speakers announcing horrible raffle items... anywhere to be found!

We attend this "expo" every year and learn so much as well as network with some amazing "upper" Michiganders. Enjoy the photos of what we saw and did...
























Amanda & Kevin October 2nd 2010 - River Birch Lodge, Hartland


River Birch Lodge in Hartland Michigan is my all time favorite venue in the Metro Detroit area. Jim & Laura Palmer are phenominal people! Here are the professional shots from Millennium Entertainment in Holt, Michigan. Enjoy!!