Congratulations Tara & Eric!

I'm sad to see this wedding end because I have been working with Tara & Eric since last November. I think this is becoming a trend with my partial and full planning clients. When you spend so much time together over the course of the wedding planning process, you really feel like you've developed a friendship out of all this, which is why I *really* do love my job. Couples hire me as a stranger and let me into some very private segments of their lives, not to mention entrusting me totally with the biggest day of their lives.

Back to Tara & Eric. As do many couples these days, they met on-line. It's really amazing how well this on-line dating thing works. Several of my clients and some of my friends have met and married someone they met on-line. What I enjoyed most about working with Tara & Eric is that this was a true collaboration from beginning to end. They came to the table with their wishes and I brought my own ideas, and somewhere in the middle, we came up with brilliant ideas for the wedding. We were opened to each other's ideas.

Tara really loves the plum color and Asian-inspired design, which were both evident in their home decor. So we chose those design elements as well as the addition of the gingko leaf as our motif. We were clear that we wanted Asian-inspired but not completely Asian (there is a difference). So we used orchids, bamboos, river rocks for a zen feel, keeping the design simple, uncluttered but visually interesting without being stark.

eaTips: if you are looking for inspiration for your wedding style, look no further than your closet or your home. They are both good indicators of what colors you like; of whether you are more classic, modern, bohemian, or a mix. My philosophy on designs for a wedding for most people is that it should reflect who you are. I should be able to walk into your wedding and say that it feels like your wedding. So what's better than looking into your closet and home to find what is really 'you'! Contact us and we can help you hone in on the style for your event!!

Another key to a successful wedding is a good vendor team. One that gets along, low maintenance, flexible, and fun! We had an A+ team which included:

• Venue: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens - Early September is beautiful at Meadowlark with all the foliage still lush and green. The only thing is that it was high 80s and sunny making it super hot for our guests during the outdoor ceremony. I was here last year in mid September and it was just as hot. So have plenty of water ready, maybe some fans and/or parasols, and keep the ceremony short, short, short!
  
• Photography: Jason and Tammy Keefer of Jason Keefer Photography. I love Jason - I mean his work (or Tammy will kill me .. haa ha). I first met Jason when he was shooting for Artists & Associates but now he is on his own. I love his 'raw' photojournalistic style with a fine arts edge. He's not afraid to get into the middle of the action without being obtrusive - the mark of a good photojournalist (believe me, I've seen photographers who take every photo 10 feet away.) Jason and Tammy photographed the rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding. I think it's a great idea to capture the whole weekend. The former two events tend to be more relaxed but not any less fun. His photos from the wedding are here.
  
• DJ: Kirk Rubley of Kirkabees. Everybody knows Kirk. We love Kirk.
  
• String Trio: Barbara Heitz Trio (booked through Kirkabees)
• Caterer: Fusions Cuisine. What a find! I consider myself a foodie and Fusions make my tummy happy! I met Jim & Blaise Thompson through a client last year. Fusions is a boutique style catering company and you work directly with Jim, the executive chef for all your needs and their flexibility is unmatched. In my experience, what really sets apart a catering company is its level of service. First, customer service during planning - you work directly with Blaise, who manages the events. She knows her stuff - what works, what doesn't. She is responsive, straight-forward and fun. Yes. I like fun people. :) Second, service during the event. You HAVE TO have enough servers and Blaise always put the right amount of staff at the event without going way overboard. Result: everything is done on time and just right.
  
• Florist: Barbara von Elm of Growing Wild Floral Company. I just love Barbara. The flowers speak for themselves. She is always one of my go-to florists.
• Baker: Connie's Cake Creations. First time working with Connie. She even put ginkgo leaves on the middle layer of the cake! Awesome and reasonable.
  

My photos: Asian-inspired theme plum and silver/gray color and a ginkgo leaf design.

Charcoal gray pintuck provided by Perfect Settings. Note the Beet colored table names using Chinese characters on the left, the menu cards using the Beet backing with a ginkgo leave motif stamp, the Beet escort cards, the candles wrapped in beet colored Abaca. All this flanking the beautiful clusters of floral arrangements in cream, purples and natural green with river rocks by Barbara von Elm of Growing Wild Floral Company (what you can't see is a small square vase with a purple cymbidium orchid floating in it on the other side).

In the foreground: charcoal gray twill linen with a plum runner that had gold ginkgo leaves on it that Tara found and a tall arrangement of bamboo by Barbara. We sprinkled actual ginkgo leaves on the table. In the background, a bamboo runner anchors the gift table along with a polaroid guestbook.

Connie's Cake Creations with ginkgo leaves on the middle layer surrounded by sprinkled ginkgo leaves. Plum ribbon at the bottom of each layer.

Barbara Heitz Trio

What a beautiful arch! Natural and filled with greenery and real grapes. Barbara was a rock star!!