The wedding season: Spectacular Spring Party

Monday, February 13, 2012

Wedding & Event Design: elleDesigns

This gorgeous wedding was a wedding held at a plantation on the water at Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace, Maryland. The theme was Southern Plantation meets Vintage Paris, …some serious Ooh la la . Spring sure played a role on the day of this wedding. Flowers and lillies were in bloom everywhere you looked, the wedding palette was based off of the tans, pinks and peaches of Spring, and bundles and bundles of baby's breath and peonies filled each bouquet and vase. There was even a Spring shower spinkled over the wedding seconds after the outdoor I do's. Thank goodness for the sprinkles, it made for beautiful rainbows and amazing photos.

This wedding had all the bells and whistles. The Signature Drink Bar opened a half an hour before the ceremony to give more a laid back affair, yet still elegant ambiance. Five cocktails named after the Bride & Groom as guests walked in were served as the strumming of an acoustic guitar played in the background. Programs complete with a F.A.Q. section hung in trees, fans to "stay breezy", parasols to "stay shady", bug spray, and pink lemonade named "main squeeze" waited for guests at the welcome table.

The bride walked down the baby's breath lined aisle to "I can't help falling in love with you" by Elvis. The in love Bride and Groom had guests laughing and crying as they spoke their own handwritten vows and listened to the Groom's Aunt perform a very personal ceremony. He kissed the bride complete with one leg up and a dip. The Groom said, "like in the old time movies!" Shortly after, the 20 minute shower began.

During cocktail hour, after the rain, pictures were taken of the couple and the bridal party on the Father of the Bride's 1926 Mercedes Benz and in front of the barn.

After the cocktail hour, guests entered the open white tent to find white chandeliers, lace & pink and white striped tablecloths, baby's breath centerpieces, the twinkling lights of hundreds of candles, and sounds of smooth rhythm & blues. The unique candelabra seating chart led guests to their tables, where each setting had a rhyming dinner menu, a drink bar menu held together with a clothespin and baby's breath, and a vintage lace napkin. At the bottom of each menu read, "Please visit the Dessery & Candy buffet for you local sugar rush".

While the guests were enjoying dinner, the bride and groom surprised the guests with some live entertainment. The bride changed into a short white dress and they performed a choreographer dance to Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" complete with a twists, twirls, and even a big flip. The guests were in love.

The extended reception lasted for hours and none of the guests wanted to leave. The DJ rocked the house, the candy and dessert bar kept guests nibbling, the signature drinks were never ending, the flip flop basket kept tootsies comfy, and the photo 'op station kept everyone laughing. The personal touches and feelings from this wedding were abundant. Their likes and little tid-bits about them were spread throughout the evening because the Couple wanted everyone to feel like they knew the Bride & Groom when they left. Everything from the invitations & programs to the decor & painted signs were handmade and designed by the bride.

This was one of the best weddings elleDesigns will have ever planned. Of course I am biased, because it was my own…