Monday, September 26, 2011

Oh My, and Now It Is Time For The Reception...



There was a lot of behind the scenes action going on while I goofed off getting ready for the wedding. 


Thanks to my two very good friends (hey, they were very good friends before I used and abused their talents too!) Suebee and Chic, her business partner.


There they are!  And they are in the right order because their business name is  Chic and Shabby. You can see what they are all about by their sign that hangs above their space.



To know what they are really about and how they find the things they find and gussy them up, visit SueBee's blog! You will be amazed.  Better yet, visit their booth at Art Angels, in Orlando on South Orange Ave.  It's worth the trip!

Although Sammy had an amazing wedding planner, some extra hands were needed to place all the "stuff" we have been collecting over the last few months and I knew exactly who to call on.


Wedding Planner, Alexis, starts the setting up process...

These two ladies graciously stepped up to the plate, literally, and put their vintagey staging tricks to work.
And boy did they pull it off beautifully.

Burlap overlays that CG helped me cut and iron  are in place and some of the items we've been collecting have started to appear...





Succulents! Whatever for?  For place markers and to take home as a favor.  You'll understand in a bit.



The cake arrives..


Hmmm, remember those vintage dessert plates that were spread all over my dining room table a few months ago?  They come into play very soon. And the cake will get a little facelift...


Back to staging those guest tables...

Each one was named after a significant event or individual who had some importance in the bridal couple's relationship.

For instance...

Their beloved Greyhound (he's over on my side bar sleeping in "his" bed).

And


The very things Sammy made to thank The Writer for letting him borrow his camera.  He always was a sucker for a good chocolate chip cookie...

You get the idea.  Outside on the "cocktail patio" was the mirror I refurbished a while back (click to refresh your memory) and it listed the various table names and who should be seated at each.

This is a strange picture because in all the excitement I forgot to take a picture of the mirror against the brick wall at the reception.  So... I hung it back up in my dining room and rotated the picture just so you could get an idea of the seating chart.  Kept the writing on until Sammy gets back from honeymoon just so she can enjoy her idea one more time.

Now, back to the tables.  I'm just going to let the pictures talk for themselves for the most part.  Of course I probably won't be able to restrain myself and may throw in a comment or two.

Here goes (pictures are compliments of Suebee because she was there working and I wasn't):




See? I couldn't not say something.  Iceland? Because that's where they are on their honeymoon.


The "Sweetheart" table




Napkins were made especially for the reception and you can see the succulent favors well here.  Significance of the date?  Why it's when they had their first date!


Even the bathroom looked pretty!


Alexis, the WP brought these awesome branches she's collected and painted to hang over the dance floor.


Each table had a custom-labeled bottle of wine to correspond with the table name and to make the first toast from.  Tarzan?  Well our last name is the same as "Uncle Johnny's"...

A "Photo Booth" was constructed in the back corner where guests could stand behind the "shabbied" frames, take a polaroid picture and then place it along with a note in the album sitting on the table.





Some sketchy characters showed up in those frames.  Just take a look at this motley crew, "Team Orlando".  My good friends who helped search and collect all the pretties.


Suebee, me, Country Mouse, CG and Chic

The couple themselves

Two pretty bridesmaids

Remember the cake?  Well look at the transformation it underwent as well as how those vintage plates we gathered looked after Suebee and Chic put their staging magic to work.


Bridal bouquet completes the look.


The plates were perfect!



Suebee scored this vintage bridal picture and it is the perfect adornment to the cake table.  Cake knife  was my mother's...

Are you still with me?!  I will forgive you if you need to stop scrolling, but I just wanted to give you a peek at the wonderful food that was served buffet-style.  Lebanese food to honor the Father of the Bride's heritage.  And yes, it was as tasty to eat as it was pretty to look at.







Well, that just about does it except for the dancing. And yes, there was dancing.  Some were astonished to see the moves that Mr. Tennis busted out that night.

Here he is on the left dancing with his daughter, The Maven. As you can see the little flower girls got into the action too - kid-style.


The Bride shook her "thang" too.

And yes, while I am reluctant to admit it, I was out there too.  In the green to the left of Mr. T.  Shoes off no less!

Most important dance of the night....


The new Mr. and Mrs. W!

Thanks for sharing this journey with me.

And thanks to all my wonderful friends and family members who helped make it all possible.
















18 comments:

Mr. Tennis said...

The reception was a lot fun and everything looked fabulous!

Unknown said...

I have been checking every 15 minutes for this!!(only kidding) Great job...I have not posted because I wanted you to post first. I can't believe it's been a whole week since the wedding. What a wonderful day!

Unknown said...

How beautiful it looks as well! Everyone did a great job. I hope that the Bride and Groom take some awesome pictures in iceland and enjoy themselves for every little bit of their trip.

ps. If Cousin Chad came to Ontario and wanted to check out the capital city, we wouldn't say no to showing him around. LOL

Angela said...

Wow! Such a lovely reception too! Loved the tables! And that beautiful food!

Decor To Adore said...

Wahhhhhh!!!! Sob sob. It's too beautiful. I can't take it. Sniff.

Orlando Grandma said...

Next best thing to being there. The buffet table was a work of art and good too.
Hard work, love and artistic ability showed thruout the place.
Thanks so much to all those hard working and talented elves from Grandma.

Chatty Crone said...

Well I was wondering how you thought of all those wonderful things - you have wonderful friends too! That is so cool to have that many friends to help.

It was LOVELY - the MOST UNIQUE wedding I have ever seen. I wish I could have seen it in person - but it looked gorgeous.

Loved the branches too -
The cake with flowers-
And all the plates-
All the bottles -
The mirror with the guest list-

EVERYTHING!

Love, sandie

Mullin Avenue Workshop said...

Ann,
This looks so terribly lovely, romantic, and FUN!
I'm thinking that your son and new daughter-in-law will keep the memory of this day close, and that it is such a wonderful way to begin married life.
Brenda

Mr. Connor said...

WOW ! What a lot of work and planning . This is wonderful. I am going ot have to look at this a few more times. I was there and there are still things to see. Thank you to all.

The Country Mouse said...

Beautiful pictures, Ann (and SueBee). Everything really did look fabulous, and everybody had a terrific time. And the food...yum! We are so lucky to have been a part of it all!

centerofgravity said...

what a fun and lovely wedding and reception. Chic and Shabby with some hwlp from Country Mouse did a great job of decorating the reception area. It was beautiful. And, it's obvious that the guests enjoyed themsselves and the food. I hope hope it turned out the way Sammy had envisioned it. I'm glad that I got to be a part of it. It was also fun finally geting to meet Jane from Toronto.

Now, Good Friend, what are we going to do in our free time now that we are no lonoger collecting vases, mason jars, picture frames, etc.?

Unknown said...

Mom is able to do the country thing quite well. See we live in the honest to goodness middle of nowhere(walmart is an hour drive)!
Hiking isn't really her thing unless it is a well-maintained trail but she does have a pair of hiking shoes. She has also done some extreme camping and loved it.
(Canoeing into an island) When she owned horses she loved taking them onto lots of trails. Is Chad up to all the petting and treat feeding I need? Also I think Mom has the potential to be a hoarder so he needs to be able to say no to lots of pets. It sounds like he enjoys travelling, Mom really likes that. Infact we have a date for her next florida trip! May 2013, be ready!

Janie Fox said...

It was so beautiful You did good kid. Really good :)

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

This is such a charming reception...so perfect and personal...it must have been the most special night for you all! Iy was fun to see all the ideas come together! Thank you for sharing the fun with us, Ann!

The Thuglets said...

What an absolutely fabulous event. Pawsome!!

So many wonderful memories.

Extra Big Nose Pokes
The Thugletsx

Kit said...

Oh wow, this was incredible. Pat yourselves on the back, it looked lovely and some of your ideas I will have to keep in case my daughters get married some day. Congrats!Kit

GardenOfDaisies said...

WOW! This looks so beautiful! And everyone looks like are having a wonderful time!

Sammy said...

Meant to comment on this much sooner! Love the post and all the "behind the scene pics" of set-up. All the wedding posts were awesome and really fun to look back on. We miss you guys!!!