Lacy Branch Events

Butterfly Inspired Wedding for Keri & Chris..

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:18:00 +0000

When we first met Keri & Chris we were instantly excited to be part of their day. They were one of those couples that just exude love. And not only for each other, but it was obvious to us that Keri LOVED butterflies and the color purple. We were tasked with bringing her love for butterflies to life in the design without it being overdone. We were totally up for the task and could not have been happier with how it turned out.

As you can see from the pictures, we weaved butterflies into the stationery, the cake, and the floral. We used them as accents, and not as the main focus. A beautiful butterfly necklace was worn by the bride on her wedding day so it was perfect. The floor of the Piper Palm House was no exception, it also was adorned with butterflies that were being projected. Where Chris Johnson from CJ's Disc Jockey Service kept the dancefloor packed all night, just the way we like it.

You can watch the highlight video of this adorable couple, from our friends at Sweet Tea Media

Keri & Chris {St.Louis MO} from sweetTea media on Vimeo.

Thank you Keri & Chris for letting us be part of your day!

Dream Team:
Event Stylist & Coordination: Lacy Branch Events
Ceremony: St. Cecila's
Reception: Piper Palm House
Photography: L Photographie
Floral Design: Belli Fiori
Stationery: M.Haley Design
Lighting: Millennium Productions
DJ: CJ's Disc Jockey Service
Hair & Makeup: Tami Scott Cosmetics Salon: Acadamie
Videography: Sweet Tea Media
Cake: Patty Cakes

We love our clients....

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:03:00 +0000

It's a new year and a great time to reflect. During the first part of the year those of us in the wedding industry take time to update our websites, material etc. This year I was doing this, and was looking at some of the images and came across so many of them with the LBE Team and the happy couples. I just had to share them.

In many situations we are with our clients for a year, and form such a close relationship. This type of relationship is key for us so that our clients feel comfortable with us so that they can relax and enjoy their day knowing that we care.
We had so much fun with Keri & Chris in June at the Piper Palm House! Keri was in love with butterflies, and has the sweetest most adorable personality imagineable! They don't get much sweeter then this couple.
Both of these images courtesy of L PhotographieOne of our all time favorite pictures of Joe & Lisa doing our signature pose! Priceless..Lisa is also a dear friend and owner of Belli Fiori one of our fav florists!

Lacy with Crystal & Drew at Mad Art Gallery
Both Photos courtesy of Bobbi Brinkman PhotographyLacy with Amina & Phillip at the Four Seasons St Louis.

Pictures of Dustin & Christi courtesy of CMAX PhotographyWe met Christi & Dustin when we planned/designed Dustin's cousins wedding. Instantly, we clicked, and had SO MUCH fun with them! Wedding & Reception at the Four Seasons St Louis.
The LBE Team with Nina & Chris at the Contemporary Art Museum
During their room reveal, we had a great laugh!

Lacy was in full costume during this room reveal with our couple Jen & Jon during their Halloween wedding the City Museum. Both couples weddings were captured by the adorable Von DeVore
Lacy with Katie & Todd at Ameristar! We spent so much time with Katie and her mother designing and planning it was sad when it was over. We stole a second for this picture during the couples room reveal and our friends at
Lace Image Photography captured it.

Lacy with our beautiful bride Jennifer at Christ Church Cathedral.

Jenn & Matt took a moment away from their reception at Kuh's Farm to snap a picture with the LBE Team. From the moment they signed with us we knew it was a great fit, this couple was so fun and in love it made our jobs easy!

Next images are courtesy of our friend Kelly Park from Kelly Park Photography.
This picture was snapped when I arrived at Sarah's hotel room the morning of the wedding. As you can see we were so happy to see each other, what a connection we had! Her mismatched pajamas were as quirky as she was!
At the reception with Sarah & Colin at the St Loius Science Center
Kelly snapped this picture of Lacy with Choendal & Geferl right after they first got to see their reception room at the Danforth Plant Science Center. They were another couple who we had so much fun with along the way. The day of the wedding the groom and groomsmen had us in stitches with jokes!

This picture makes me smile everytime I see it! Chrissy found us at a bridal show a few years ago and we became instantly connected. Her bubbly personality and eternal optimism made it such a pleasure to work with her.

I wish we had more pictures with our clients, but unfortunately sometimes during the wedding day things are so fast moving we don't get the opportunity. As we reflect we know now more than ever we are truly blessed to do what we do. We get the honor of being part one of the biggest days in our clients lives!

Thank you to all of our past clients... We love you! Best Wishes for the New Year

Making the most of Bridal Shows..

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Its that time of year again, where all of the newly engaged brides begin to plan the day of their dreams. For many of them, their planning process begins by promptly calling a wedding coordinator. However, there are many that start out on their own first, and will hopefully at some point understand the value of a what a wedding coordinator can bring, but would first prefer to venture out alone. Well it is a good thing that in January of each year there is no shortage of bridal shows.

Here are some of my thoughts on how to get the most out of your bridal show experience.

Pre-work before you go

1) Identify what type of wedding you are dreaming of. I don't mean down to the color linens, and flowers. I mean are you envisioning a formal affair, a backyard vintage soiree, a destination wedding.

2) Start to put together a budget. As wedding coordinators we CANNOT stress this enough! I am not saying to the penny.. but there is a big difference between, $5000, $50,0000 or $5 million. It is key that to have a wonderful wedding planning experience, that you first have realistic understanding of what you are able to spend.

3) Create a list of items such as food, drink, venue, photography, videography, floral, linens, decor, dj or band, etc and start to rank them in order of importance. This visual exercise will allow you to see every element of the type of wedding you are planning. You can then allocate portion of your budget accordingly. (note: a wedding coordinator will also be able to help you further finesse the budget to what the local cost of products is for your type of wedding) You would hate to choose a vendor, that takes 50% of your budget, and before you know it you are over budget before you have barely begun.

3) Once you have established a budget, and your priorities, sit down and start to brainstorm with your fiance to find out what guest count you feel would fit in your budget and not stretch it too thin but yet still allow for all of the items you want from step 2.

A tip that I tell my client repeatedly, is guest count is the fastest way to affect the bottom line.. either positively or negatively.

4) Check out the website for the show and look at the vendors that are going to be in attendance. Then look further at their websites. This will allow you to make a special cheat sheet of booths you don't want to miss. All too often, the doors open and the brides come in, and it seems like a cattle round up. And that is because most don't have a plan, they just seem to wander around. Now don't get me wrong it is good to browse, but don't get overwhelmed and then realize it's all a blur and you can't remember who you spoke with. (more on this in the next section)

5) Discuss your strategy with anyone who is attending the show with you. It is key that they know your vision and your goals. After all this is YOUR day. I hate to say it but sometimes, bridesmaids, moms, grandmas, etc mean well but they are making statements etc without keeping your goal in mind. This then makes the experience overwhelming and unenjoyable.

6) Limit the amount of people you take with you to any one show. If you are planning on attending more then one show, split the people that go with you. This will allow people to help you feel like that are involved, but without have 4, 5, or 6 people wandering around with you that day.

7) Print labels with your first and last name, wedding date, email address, and mailing address. Trust me you will thank me profusely later!! Just about every vendor is providing a giveaway. The often request the same information and you will be writing it over and over and over again. These giveaways are a great bonus, but if you could save 20 mins overall and writers cramp...do it!! You can peel it off, plop it down, and that's all she wrote (no pun intended).

Day of things to remember:
1) Eat breakfast (you need energy and brain food)

2) Review your list again

3) Remember you labels

4) When you visit the booth you are interested in, strike up a conversation with the vendor. Wedding planning is much more enjoy ble when you feel connected to a vendor you select. Rather than just price shop.

5) Remember that vendors, WANT to talk to you or we wouldn't be there. A good vendor is as selective about the clients they sign, as you are about us. So please just relax, and ask questions.

6)Take it all in! Enjoy being a bride...enjoy the process of finding the right vendors. (which might or might not be selected from a show)

7) Have your guest keep track of who you visited, and who you want to follow up with after you leave.

8) Watch the fashion show.. always a great experience.

Well this post was A LOT longer then I originally intended. But hopefully for all of you bride's, mother of brides/grooms, friends, etc reading this post will find it helpful.

Good luck!

Some of favorite dresses from NYC Bridal Market

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:53:00 +0000

Unfortunately due to a tight schedule, I was unable to attend what we in the wedding business know as NYC Bridal Market. Bridal Market is similar to main stream fasion week. All of the wedding gown designers show their new lines for the next season. Although I was unable to attend in person, my friends who were there kept me updated on twitter.

So I wanted to share some of my favorites over the next few blog posts. First up, Marchesa! One of my favorite dress designers in general, I was in LOVE with their Fall 2012 line.

I absolutely am obsessed with the necklines, and the shift from the same boring strapless gowns we have seen. So delicate and feminine, what isn't to love?

Here are my top pics from the line:

Images from Marchesa
Here is a look at the fun I had attending bridal market last year.

Lacy travels to Atlanta..

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:42:00 +0000

Hard to believe that my trip to Atlanta has been over a month ago. But I am finally coming up for air, and wanted to tell you all about this fabulous event. I was honored and humbled to be asked to be a presenter for an exclusive "Event Planners Private Event" hosted by the very talented stylist Kori Smith, owner of SKS (Stylist Kori Smith.) Kori partnered with a local event planner,Janice Blackmon and they co-hosted this event. Janice was so lovely and organized! From one planner to another planner she ROCKED!

Here I am with Kori & Janice This event was all about pampering event planners for the evening, and showcasing makeovers. Along, that line Kori asked if I would speak to the group about "making over my business, and becoming and event stylist." (here is a link to Kori's recap)The event was held at the gorgeous Villa Christina.
Kori is a very very talented makeup and hair stylist, and I am proud to call her a friend! Here she is working her magic on one of the ladies selected for a mini 15 minute makeover.
Here are some pictures of me presenting.. Speaking for 30 minutes can often seem scary, but the crowd was phenominal, and packed with talented event planners/designer, etc. I had so much fun sharing my experiences with them. Everyone in that room epitomized southern hospitality!
The crowd was having fun during a short exercise I asked them to do.My right hand and Lead Event Planner Sarah went with me. We had a great time, and I just had to share this adorable picture of us in which we are actually out of our black suit "uniform".
The decor was goregous, from the linens, to the floral, to the cake! It was such a wonderful event, and I had so much fun.These are actually cakes!
We were treated to schwag bags full of hair and body products! What girl doesn't love products?
The attendees also had the great pleasure of being entertained by the talented Soulphonics & Ruby Velle. (here is a snip from the internet of their sound) Holy cow are they great..soul at it's best. Ruby was so stunning in her sapphire blue dress.
Thank you Kori, Janice, and everyone else! Sarah and I had a wonderful time in Atlanta and met so many wonderful people.
All of these fantabulous images are courtesy of the very talented In The Moment Photographs

Lacy Branch Events is now WeddingWire Rated for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:48:00 +0000

St Louis, MO - 07/05/2011 - WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding technology company, is pleased to announce that Lacy Branch Events is WeddingWire Rated 2011 for Event Planning, Coordination, and Design. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program that distinguishes wedding vendors across the country for their excellence. Based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews, WeddingWire Rated is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to find the best local businesses for their wedding.

Lacy Branch Events has 5.0 out of 5.0 total reviews on WeddingWire. Reviews by our newlywed clients include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions about their experiences working with our business and staff. Our reviews provide transparency for potential clients, assisting them in making the most informed decisions for their big day.

"We are delighted to unveil the 5th annual WeddingWire Rated program," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire, Inc. "Lacy Branch Events has made a commitment to capturing their clients experiences on the nation's leading wedding review site."

As the largest site for wedding reviews, WeddingWire empowers engaged couples with the most comprehensive and trusted review system available. The WeddingWire Rated program provides Lacy Branch Events with a simple platform to capture customer feedback from their wedding planning experience. Newly engaged couples can easily access all of the reviews for Lacy Branch Events on WeddingWire.com. We would like to thank our newlyweds for our WeddingWire Rated 2011 recognition.

For more information, please visit Lacy Branch Events on WeddingWire. For more information on WeddingWire Rated 2011, please visit www.weddingwire.com
About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including ProjectWedding.com, MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Weddingbee.com, and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Classic Wedding Dresses, from the LBE bride to Kate Middleton and Reese Witherspoon

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:30:00 +0000

By: Jenni Schrader LBE Intern

The white wedding dress trend started with Queen Victoria in 1840, and in 1981 Princess Diana brought in the classic princess bodice with the bouffant skirt and 25 foot train. How will Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding dress be translated for the brides of today? Trends showing up in designers’ collections such as Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier are: the lace sleeves, sleeker silhouettes, second dresses, color, and Victorian influences.

Kate Middleton’s stunning carrickmacross lace dress was done by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. This dress worn for the royal wedding this spring has impacted the designs and trends for 2012 wedding dresses, and will likely carry inspiration into designer’s lines until the next royal wedding. Speculator’s anticipated a modest dress for Kate previous to the wedding, and their predictions were absolutely correct. I believe the modest dress has brought long sleeve's back into style to stay for many seasons to come. The carrickmacross lace used for these sleeves originated from Ireland and it created a very whimsical and Victorian feel to the dress, which is sure to be mimicked in other designers lines.

Not only will Kate’s awe inspiring first dress impact their lines, but the trend of the second dress she embraced will continue to flourish in the wedding dress market. Although much simpler in nature, the sleek silhouette of her 2nd dress was very similar to that of the ceremony dress. This sleek style was very different from the bouffant sleeves and large tulle skirt of Princess Diana’s dress that coined the “princess style” description of a wedding dress in 1981. Kate's dress is bringing the classic sleek wedding dress back into style, however the bouffant “princess style” dress is still very common in bridal boutiques today.

Although Kate Middleton’s dress has had a significant impact on wedding dress trends, Hollywood surely still has a large impact on the market trends as well. Color has slowly been sneaking into magazines in the past few seasons, but in a way has still had a scandalous reputation. Prior to 1840 when Queen Victoria made the white dress a wedding staple, color wedding dresses were more expected rather than being the exception as they are now. Although Kate Middleton did not choose to bring this trend back, Reese Witherspoon wearing a blush Monique Lhuillier wedding dress gave color dresses a more traditional reputation because of her well known classic taste. The underlying corset bodice of Reeses’ dress also reflects the Victorian era when color dresses were worn.

Long sleeves, second dresses, sleek silhouettes, color dresses, and Victorian influences are sure to make for a simple and elegant array of dresses in wedding magazines for 2012. Check out some of these gorgeous dresses on Lacy Branch Events past brides'.

A Look Back on Some Elegant Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:46:00 +0000

By Jenni Schrader: LBE Intern
We love eclectic centerpieces! As you will see in these pictures of our weddings, our centerpieces are far from your traditional monotonous bouquets. Today we are mixing things up with varying flowers and vases, and throwing in props to create unique designs for every couple.

Our room decor is far from your grandma's monotonous look alike tables. At LBE, Lacy works with our florists to design a variety of floral arrangements with varying heights and colors to create depth and drama in our fabulous reception venues. With the varying centerpieces, adding scattered candles, and unique props such as picture frame’s transforms the table from simply functional to simply fabulous. With all of these different elements on each table it makes for a lot of work to coordinate the centerpieces alone. That’s where Lacy Branch Events comes in! We ensure that your tables get the chic eclectic look you’re trying to achieve instead of looking cluttered and messy. Check out the collages of some of Lacy Branch Events past weddings that I've put together for you!

Selecting the right number of Bridesmaids for your Wedding Party

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:45:00 +0000

How big is too big for a wedding party? We discuss it in today's video blog.

We hope to help shed some light on the topic of large wedding parties from a wedding planners perspective.

Selecting Your Reception Venue

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Today we give you some tips in selecting the perfect reception venue.

Thanks to everyone who is tuning in, and keep your questions coming!

On the video blog... the "B" word... Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:38:00 +0000

Today we are discussing how to establish your wedding budget.

If you have any topics you would like to hear about be sure to let us know. Stay tuned for the next installment on Wednesday!

Planetarium...Hot Pink, and Green Wedding but funky?

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 04:45:00 +0000

Hard to believe that it has been almost SIX months, since Sarah & Colin's wedding. We truly enjoy all of our clients, and their weddings. But we had an extra dose of enjoyment while designing this one!

The couple was a riot, the bride in particular. She kept us laughing, and was truly a girl after our own heart. From start to finish, she wanted larger than life, and bold and blingy! She had one requirement.. a strolling table had to be serving appetizers at her reception. We told her, NO problem. The rest is history.

The ceremony was held at the Jewel Box in Forest Park. The reception at the Planetarium. Our largest challenge for this wedding was the guest count, and how it kept creeping up. The fact was, that both venue's could handle the original guest list but was about to burst at the seams. Sarah and her mom Jane (one of the sweetest mothers we have ever had the pleasure of working with) got it under control, so crisis averted.

Ok, let's talk details! Sarah had dreamed about her wedding being pink and green since she was a little child. So we began designing around those colors, quickly I learned that the groom Colin was part of a band and was planning to wear Converse with his tux. Immediately, it was clear, pink and green, for this couple was far to preppy. I took a deep breath and suggested bringing black into the equation to offset and make it seem a bit more modern. The couple LOVED the idea and so began the design.

Next, it was discovered that Sarah totally was into chandeliers. PERFECT! The chandelier (black at that) was used in lieu of a monogram, it became the symbol of their wedding. On the stationery, from save the dates to invites, on the aisle arrangements, on the wedding canopy, and at the reception.

Three heights of centerpieces were used to create interest. Our friends at Parties & Props, Ltd. created the strolling table that entertained the guests during the cocktail hour. They also created a lounge fit for a princess and a rocker! The lounge was green and black and full of crystal.

One of our favorite parts was the one of a kind cake we helped design. The stripes on the cake mimic the stripes on the save the date cards! The cake sat atop a pink metallic shag linen, with a completely blinged out pink swarovski "A" cake topper, perfect for the bride.

The guests danced the night away to the music of Groove Thang!

Thank you Sarah and Colin, and Jane for reminding us how much fun we get to have doing this job. You will forever be in our hearts!

Here is a picture of our team and of Lacy goofing around

The Dream Team that made it possible:Event Stylist: Lacy Branch Events
Cake: The Cakery
Catering: Patty Long
Ceremony: Jewel Box
Ceremony Music: Rosewood Ensemble
Floral Design: Sisters Flowers
Makeup & Hair: Tami Scott Studio
Lounge Decor & Ceremony Canopy: Parties & Props, Ltd.
Photography: Kelly Park Photography
Rentals & Lighting: The Aries Co
Reception: James S McDonnell Planetarium
Stationery: Two Blue Doors, Inc.
Transportation: JED Limousine
Videography: I Do Films

Video Blog 4 - more questions about what you can and can't do on your wedding day

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Thanks to viewers feedback and questions, today we address the following:

Do I have to have a receiving line?
What about a ring bearer or flower girl? Do I need them?
I feel awkward making my friends catch the bouquet, do we have to do it?

Find out in this installment of our video blog!

Keep the questions coming! Next on the blog, establishing the "B" word..BUDGET

Till next time...

xoxo
Lacy

Video Blog .. What can I wear on my wedding day?

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:43:00 +0000

We definitely felt the love after our first two installments of our video blog!
Thank you to everyone who sent us your questions. We are going to just scratch the surface in this video surrounding what is acceptable and not acceptable for today's weddings. The questions we got were surrounding attire and traditions. So that our video blog doesn't become a movie, we will just discuss attire today.

So once again... THANK YOU all for your support.

Video Blog Installment 2

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:55:00 +0000

We hope you enjoyed our first installment of our video blog, but that was just an introduction. Here is the first tip! Hope you enjoy

PS...remember if there is anything you want us to discuss comment and let us know

Our first shot at Video Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:47:00 +0000

... so after many months of people asking if we would do a video blog we have decided to jump in! We are not videographers,or cinematographers so bare with us. We hope you enjoy our tips and insight.

Couple's Room Reveal Captured...

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:54:00 +0000

We love to see our clients reactions to the finished product for their weddings. Yesterday we were pleasantly surprised with our friends at Millennium Productions sent us this video from our clients Katie & Todd's wedding. This video is a great representation of what we see with our clients each weekend. We get to see the bride's eyes light up when the room is all put together. We got to relive Katie, Todd, and her mom Rhonda's excitement.

We like our clients to get this special time together to appreciate all of the hard work and months of planning that was done to make the room come to life. We also strongly encourage our clients to hire a professional videographer for their day. We love our photographers, but the videographers just add an additional element to the day that can be heard and watched over and over.

Thanks Millennium for putting this together, and helping both us and our clients relive the day.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

You can also see the recap of event, and the allstar team that made it happen on our blog .
Part 1
Part 2

Bridesmaid dresses..

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 04:43:00 +0000

I love when from time to time personal and professional lives come together. I absolutely love The Limited for clothing. Recently The Limited tossed their hat in the bridal attire ring. I have browsed through their bridesmaids selections, and have to say "wow". The dresses are so cute, modern, and fresh. I would highly recommend checking the site out if you are looking for dresses.
Bow One Shoulder Dress ITEM #3219676

Mia Strapless Dress ITEM #3216717

Click here to check it out Heck I would recommend looking at their site, if you are in the market for a stylish special occasion dress that is easy on the wallet. Happy Shopping!

Jacelyn & Colin's Vintage Vineyard Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:22:00 +0000

It was such a thrill to work with Jacelyn and Colin on their wedding. They had a large portion of the planning done when they came to us. However, Jacelyn had hoped we could further assist her with putting it all together. As soon, as we found out that both the ceremony and reception would be at Chaumette, we were sold.

Chaumette is a beautiful winery a little over a 1 hour drive from St. Louis in Ste Genevieve, MO. The drive alone is breathtaking, but the winery is every more gorgeous. The couple and their 150+ guests would have to travel, in essence making this a destination wedding, and we were up to the task! The couple knew relatively quickly in their planning that they would want to entertain all of their guests, and not be figuring out logisitics of vendor deliveries.

The ceremony was held in the most adorable chapel that is on the grounds at Chaumette. It is in pristine condition, and was actually moved from the St Louis area! Following the ceremony, the couple was whisked away by an antique car, complete with cans trailing behind, and all.

For the design elements, our beautiful bride wanted to encorporate vintage items like pearls and old picture frames. She wanted a romantic reception, and wanted to down play the wall to wall french doors that allowed dramatic views of the wine country. Normally these views would be priceless, but because it would not be dark until late in the evening, the decision was made to pipe and drape the entire room and use uplighting to ensure drama and romance.

We utilized high, medium, and low centerpieces on different table linens, to further the intrigue. In these centerpieces, we used antique picture frames, pearls, and other eclectic items the bride had on hand. This decor really complimented the already eclectic and vintage decor of Chaumette.

The bride and groom and all of their guests were smiling ear to ear that day. The weather was PHENOMENAL, and everyone was able to take advantage of all that Chaumette had to offer.

Congrats Jacelyn & Colin, and thank you for letting us be part of your big day!

Dream Team:
Event Stylist & Coordination: Lacy Branch Events
Ceremony: Chaumette Vineyards & Winery Chapel
Reception:Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
Photography: Vaeth Photography
Floral Design: Belli Fiori
Stationery: Two Blue Doors, Inc.
Entertainment: Spectrum Band
Rentals & Lighting: The Aries Company
Linens: BBJ Linen

Designer Spotlight.. Jenny Lee

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:19:00 +0000

Every so often I come across a dress or a designer that really inspires me. Although in St Louis not all designers can be found, I still enjoy researching designers globally. This has been helpful a few times where our clients asked if we had an opinion on a designer that they are in love with.

Jenny Lee first came on my radar a couple of years ago on a trip to LA. Jenny Lee has not disappointed me yet, and the design this season are no exception.
Love this dress is from Jenny Lee’s Spring 2011 collection, which is fabulous by the way. The style number is 1101

Here are some excerpts from their site, that speak to why I love them and how unique it is.

Design Aesthetic
"The fit and construction of Jenny Lee's gowns have always been comparable to Parisian haute couture. Each gown is handcrafted by a single person, from the very first stitch to the last. These elements coupled with the highest quality fabrics and superb pattern cutting skills come together to create the most sought after effect. A luxury brand carrying beautiful, sophisticated wedding gowns that always ensure a flattering and feminine silhouette; Jenny Lee has always made sure that each gown brings out the beauty of who is wearing it."
Quality Fit
"Here at Jenny Lee, we do not produce wedding dresses to standard set size specifications. We appreciate that the perfect fit of a gown is one of the most important elements, and we strive for perfection when we make all of our dresses.

When a bride selects a dress we work with the salon to get all of the bride's exact measurements, which we then incorporate into our specialized sizing specifications to create a one-of-a-kind fit. This is the closest to a "couture" experience a bride can get and ultimately shows in the finished product.

Our gowns are renowned for their fit and support. They are fully constructed both inside and out. Additionally, the gowns are fully lined with silk, so the bride will look and feel exceptional in a Jenny Lee dress."

This is especially exciting for people like many of us that are not blessed to be born 5'10 and a size 4. If you are looking for a great looking and perfect fitting dress, you should definitely check out Jenny Lee!

Real Wedding #2 Featured in Saint Louis Bride

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:57:00 +0000

We are over the moon excited, that Saint Louis Bride Magazine featured not 1 but 2 of our weddings in the Spring/Summer 2011 issue on sale now.

This wedding of Amina and Phillip was fun and delightful from the very beginning. We planned it mostly over the phone, with very very few in person meetings. Both the couple and Amina's mother lived out of state. From the first conversation we had, I knew they were a great fit for our company. Amina was sweet, funny, and loved all things blingy. Phillip was quiet but quite the funny man. We had such fun with them whenever they came in town.

The design was created around the color orange in the bridesmaid dresses. After we took a trip to the BBJ Linen Showroom, we ironed out which orange the groom was thinking and which shade of orange the bride was thinking they were. Mission accomplished and the design was born.

We designed three distinct tablescapes, that we achieved with different linens and floral centerpieces. On each table, we used custom made menu's and table numbers by Two Blue Doors, Inc. The table numbers are pictures of family members with the number of years they had been married listed. The menu's which were made to fit perfectly in the gold charger plates. Each entree selection was signified by the color of the menu.

For the table floral, we had three centerpieces to correspond with the linens. There was a lower, medium, and tall centerpiece. The tallest centerpiece consisted of branches, orchids, and lots of crystals to continue the glam factor.

In the main ballroom, we had a very warm and inviting lounge setup in the corner. This allowed guests who didn't want to dance, to escape from their dinner table and relax and have a conversation. Both the bride and her mom wanted to be surprised and entrusted us to come up with something "fabulous". I believe we succeeded, as during the room reveal Amina and Phillip loved it. We added a crystal beaded curtain to continue on the bling. thanks to Parties & Props, Ltd. We also placed lounge furniture and a firepit out on the terrace overlooking the St Louis arch and the Mississippi Riverfront. Guests were able to enjoy the outside while still being warm.

Thanks to our friends at Sisters Flowers, the bouquets were vivid and beautiful calla lilies. The bouquets contrasted perfectly to the bridesmaids orange dresses. The grooms party wore clean and crisp white tuxes, which also offered a beautiful contrast to the floral.

Thank you to Amina & Phillip for letting us be part of your big day!

Dream Team:
Event Stylist & Coordination: Lacy Branch Events
Ceremony: Christ Church Cathedral
Reception: Four Seasons Hotel St Louis
Cake: Four Seasons
Photography: Bobbi Brinkman Photography
Floral Design: Sisters Flowers
Stationery: Two Blue Doors, Inc.
Linens: BBJ Linen
Misc Decor Rental: Parties & Props, Ltd.

Real Wedding #1 Featured in Saint Louis Bride ..

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:19:00 +0000

It is always an honor when our clients love what we do. It is equally an honor when others in the industry like what we do. We just received word that in the Spring/Summer issue of Saint Louis Bride Magazine, they are featuring not 1 but 2 of our weddings from this past fall!

We want to post both of them, and will do them independently since there are so many talented vendors, and we don't want to confuse them. This wedding turned out amazing on so many levels!

I knew before we started that day, that this wedding was print worthy. Our team, and Katie and her mom Rhonda, had worked tirelessly on the details. The team of vendors from stationery, lighting,floral,linens, rentals, and the crew of Ameristar were ALL STAR all the way. Not to mention, Katie & Todd are a beautiful couple, and they had the amazingly talented Gina Kelly from Lace Photography behind the lense. We were destined to get great shots.

Feel free to check out our blog post from September that shows more details of Katie & Todd's wedding.

Thank you Katie & Todd for choosing us to be your designers, and thank you Saint Louis Bride Magazine for running this wedding!

Dream Team:
Event Stylist & Coordination: Lacy Branch Events
Ceremony: Event Lawn - Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St Charles
Reception: Discovery Ballroom-Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St Charles
Photography: Lace Photography
Floral Design: Sisters Flowers
Stationery: Two Blue Doors, Inc.
Lighting & Videography: Millennium Productions
DJ: CJ's Disc Jockey Service
Officiant: Lamira Martin
Rentals: The Aries Company
Linens: BBJ Linen
Hair & Makeup: Tami Scott Cosmetics Salon: Acadamie
Transportation: JED Limousine
Misc Decor Rental: Parties & Props, Ltd.

Happy Holidays ...

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 01:59:00 +0000

From our families to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday season! May the magic of love twinkle in your lives throughout the holidays and the upcoming new year.

Love,
Courtney, Lacy, & Sarah

Photo Credit: Kelly Park Photography
Card created: Two Blue Doors, Inc.

I am engaged now what?

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:09:00 +0000

We often get this question from clients and potential clients.. I am engaged, so now what do we do? This question epitomizes “pandora’s box”. What I mean is, is that no matter who you ask this question to you will undoubtedly get a different answer, and often more information then you ever wanted in the first place. Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but I do know what my years of experience have taught me. I will share with you, our readers the answers I give.

These answers are in no way intended to replace or even usurp advice you have received from your wedding planner. This is just my opinion.

1) FIRST AND FOREMOST.. discuss the time of year you would like to be married, and then come up with a couple of dates you would like. More importantly come up with a couple of dates, that you would also be happy with as alternative dates. Too many times our clients have their mind set on one date and no other date will do, which also happens to be the busiest wedding day of the year, and then they are upset that they can’t have their dream venue or vendors. Flexibility is key!

2) Establish a working budget! Equally as important as #1 this needs to be done before you proceed any further. Sit down with every person who is planning to contribute to the overall budget or who will have a decision in vendors. It is imperative this is done before even getting out of the gate

3) BOOK A WEDDING PLANNER!! I am not just saying this because we happen to offer this service. I am saying this because I whole heartedly believe this should be the first thing, and not an after thought. Again I cannot speak for anyone else, but in our experience, the clients that sign us first before, venue, church, photographer, dj, etc benefit the most. We sit down and help review the budget, discuss pro’s and con’s of vendors and their price points, and make recommendations that often time the bride’s and groom’s haven’t even thought of.

4) After the Wedding Planner, comes the two venues. The ceremony venue and the reception venue, in many cases they could be one in the same. A full service wedding planner will make recommendations of venue’s that would be a good fit, and also are available on your date, in your budget. They have done the research for you, so as to eliminate you falling in love with something that A) you can’t afford or B) isn’t even an option for your day. See how steps 1 and 3 fold in nicely with step 4?

5) Next come all of the other vendors, ie..photographer, videographer, dj’s etc. Again step 3 will help you with this as well. A full service wedding planner will be able to call the vendors and find the perfect one for you.

I know this is not a full blown wedding plan, but it was intended more for our readers who might have just gotten engaged and aren’t exactly sure how to start. I find too many couples chose venues first before establishing a budget which leaves them no money for anything else. Or choosing a date that they are unwilling to budge on and therefore will not get the crème de la crème of vendors. But most importantly I find we get calls from people who have already done many of these steps but didn’t hire a wedding planner, and now things seem overwhelming.

Here’s to hoping that this will help at least a few brides from making the same mistake.

Happy Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Lacy Branch) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 22:39:00 +0000

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! When else is it ok to get dressed up as someone/something else? This year we didn't have a Halloween wedding, but last year we did. We wanted to reflect on that wedding. It was so much fun! The couple had a traditional wedding ceremony at Graham Chapel at Washington University St Louis. But the reception was anything but traditional!

The reception was held at the City Museum and was pure Halloween Fun, complete with costumes and the Bride of Frankenstein movie! This couple was celebrating their love for each other, and the love of Halloween which also was their first date!

This couple proved that having a wedding on Halloween can be amazing!

Happy Halloween to all!

Floral Design: Sisters Flowers
Photography: Von DeVore Photography
Cake: The Cakery
Lighting/Set Design: Exclusive Events, Inc.