Cleveland Wedding Planner

Emily and Joe: Classic, Sophisticated Wedding at Old Stone Church and The Union Club

2012-01-31T15:33:00.018-05:00

pictures courtesy of Marisan photography!

As I write this post, I am listening to Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation. Click here if you don't know what I'm talking about, and keep reading to find out why.

Emily and I began working together in the winter of 2010, while she was living in DC, her mom in Minnesota, and her fiance Joe in LA. Through the 8 months that followed, she moved to LA, took the California bar exam and got married! I was overjoyed to help her with all of the plans. I was able to play a huge part in everything, as Emily and Joe wanted to create an intimate and inviting atmosphere for their guests. Emily's wedding style is best described as classic, simplistic and sophisticated.

A few of my favorites from this beautiful wedding include:

-the first time I met Joe (at the ceremony rehearsal), he said to me, "Thank you for making my life livable for the past 10 months!".
-all of our blue accents -- lighting, monogram, satin tied ribbons at Old Stone Church, our blue water glasses, stationery
-the personalized cake topper that looks like Emily and Joe!
-the "Moscow Mule" as our specialty drink at the Union Club -- this is their OWN signature drink, so E&J chose to embrace that. They drank it out of the signature stainless mugs at the reception!
-these two are HUGE Penn State fans, and so is their entire bridal party. "Hang on Sloopy" was listed on the "do not play" list, and this was no joking matter. Did you know that Kernkraft 400 by Zombie Nation is the popular song for PSU fans? I didn't either, but love that song nonetheless! There was lots of college football on that day, and the groom/groomsmen kept watching pieces of it, but so did the bride and the bridesmaids!
-using Lolly the Trolley for guests to ride around downtown on (fun for out of towners!)

Today I received the most beautiful thank you note from Emily. It is so nice to be able to help people with such a monumental day in their lives and see what an impact I can make just by doing my job.

Congratulations Emily and Joe! I wish you the best in your married life together!!!!

Rachel and Steve's Celestial Wedding at the Union Club

2012-01-20T08:18:00.017-05:00

Cute. Magical.
That about sums up this wedding!

Rachel and Steve are seriously one of the cutest couples. The vendors and I couldn't stop saying it all day. Their love for each other was so endearing. These two are not overly outgoing people and therefore I think were a little nervous about being the center of attention on August 27. However, I think they pulled it off perfectly. :)

I was so pleased to work with Rachel's family again. Last year, I helped Rachel's big sister Rosie plan her wedding! Rachel wanted to create a celestial feel to her decor, with cobalt blue, silver and white as our colors. Highlights to this wedding include her amazing bouquet by Heatherlily (check out those blue rhinestones!!!), our specialty drinks and table names after the words including Milky Way, Twilight, Constellation, etc. written in hand calligraphy, our silver hand calligraphy escort cards on black shimmer cardstock, our "fog shrouded" harpist providing mystical dinner music and our Love Story provided by Candy Apple Films! We showed it after dinner and it was one of the most heartwarming moments I've seen at a wedding. And of course who can forget the sparkle light up dance floor at the Union Club!!!

We had the oh so awesome wedding reception team of Marisan Photography and Mark Guthrie as our DJ! The 3 of us worked 3 weddings in a row together this year coincidentally and we had a lot of fun with it.

Our flowers were designed by Heatherlily....Cake provided by Phyllis Lester!

I had to include play by play snapshots of their announcements into the reception to "The Time (Dirty Bit)" by Black Eyed Peas. They went crazy and danced and it was totally a surprise but I LOVED it! Definitely one of those moments that remind me why I love my job, as I get to see the couple through the entire planning process and then see them enjoy it when the day finally arrives.

Thank you so much R&S....it was such a pleasure working with you and hope to see you around town!!! CONGRATULATIONS on everything!!!;)

Beautiful note from Rachel and Steve:

M&M's Wedding at the Ritz Carlton Cleveland!

2012-01-16T17:40:00.031-05:00

I was first contacted by Megan in December, about 10 months prior to her wedding. She lived in New York City, her fiance Mike in Detroit, her parents in Cleveland and his parents in Chicago. Needless to say, she felt her group needed help coordinating things right here in Cleveland!

This is a super cute couple who met in college and was such a joy to work with, always keeping a smile on my face. A few notables on this wedding were the mini replica wedding cake Mike's mom and I surprised M&M with that you can see on their head table, our very cute M&M favor display, a DOUBLE mezenka (a Jewish tradition done at the reception - guests dance around the parents when the youngest child gets married - both are youngest!), and last but not least -- meeting Robin Williams in the Ritz Lobby Lounge later in the evening!

A personal highlight/memory for me of this wedding was being included (long distance) in the wedding dress decision! Megan would look beautiful in any dress but it was so much fun to get updates from her in email and pictures of the possibilities, then weigh in with my opinion! LOVE the dress she chose! Also fun to mention that Mike and I coined Megan as the "Quintessential Bride" - just so happy and cheerful the entire time during the planning. I definitely think she looks it too! Congratulations M&M!!!! Miss talking to you two! :)

Vendors for this stunning and sophisticated wedding included:
Jess+Nate Studios: Photography
Prestige Floral: Flowers and Linens
Pat Hoose: Cakes
Shout: Band
Ritz Carlton: Venue and Accommodations

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I was also very pleased to help out with all of the rehearsal dinner plans as well as the wedding! See pictures below....taken by me!

Kirkbrides Announces Bride's Choice Award for 2012

2012-01-10T13:34:00.001-05:00

For the 3rd year in a row,

We won the WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards 2012!

This means we are in the top 5% of Wedding Pros nationwide!
The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are determined solely by the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds.

Frazzled over wedding plans? Let us help!

2011-12-29T10:08:00.008-05:00

(photography courtesy of Easywind Studio)

FRAZZLED over wedding plans?
Discover how hiring a professional
wedding planner can help you get your
life back and actually enjoy the process!
Kirkbrides can help at any point in your
planning process to save you time,
reduce your stress level, and help you fall
in love with your fiancé all over again!

JUST A FEW THINGS WE HELP WITH:
• Venue assistance
• Wedding design
• Budget management
• Vendor coordination
• Wedding day management
• Custom stationery
• Etiquette, personal advice,
ongoing consultation
• Itinerary creation for
vendors and bridal party

Call or e-mail us to set up your
complimentary consultation.
It’s never too late to save your sanity!
216-288-4325

info@kirkbrides.com

Mention this ad to receive $300 off any package, when booked by 2/28/12.

“The longer we worked with Kirkbrides, the more
we realized just how valuable their help was to us.
Without Valarie and the Kirkbrides team, I think it’s
safe to say the natural chaos of one’s wedding day
would have been doubled (or tripled, quadrupled, etc.)
In our case. Valarie brought calm, order, grace, and
a smiling face to everything she touched that day.”

october 2011 Bride

“Kirkbrides helped make the wedding planning
process a breeze and produced a spectacular event.
I do not hesitate to recommend Kirkbrides to all of
my newly engaged friends. It is the first thing that
comes out of my mouth after “congratulations.”

december 2011 bride

(photography courtesy of Easywind Studio)

Just Engaged?

2011-12-27T12:22:00.007-05:00

Did you know?

An estimated 30% of brides get engaged between October and the holidays, which means come New Year's they are looking to book their wedding planner, reception site, caterer, photographer and more.
Source: The Knot User Study

Did you know?

Believe it or not, you actually receive a return on your wedding coordination investment.
This can be financial, in selecting the right vendors, picking the right packages, coming up with the best creative direction for the budget and receiving Kirkbrides discounts from vendors.

Non-financial return would include what your time and stress level is worth to you.

Another return on investment is the enjoyment you have on your wedding day and memories for years to come when you have an experienced wedding coordinator managing it for you.

Many people who do utilize the services of a wedding planner say that it was the best investment they made in the entire planning process.

When you have direction in planning the creative aspects, this is the best way hands down to create a personalized wedding as well as staying within budget.
Call Valarie at 216-288-4325 if you are curious about how a wedding planner can help you get started with planning your wedding. We can meet to talk about your wedding, our packages and possibly customize one for you!

Happy Planning!

Glamorous Garden Tent Wedding at the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club: Katie & Jeff

2011-12-19T18:23:00.020-05:00

Pictures courtesy of Jess+Nate Studios

They will be talking about this one for a while.

I was referred to Katie and her mom, Mary Adelle, through a few different people we both knew/worked with so when meeting up for the first time in January we knew it was a perfect match! It was truly a family effort planning this wedding of any girl's dream.

The July 16, 2011 ceremony was held at Katie's parents' house which was within walking distance to the reception. The steps that you see in the picture of Katie and her Dad were put in for this wedding specifically and are called "the Katie steps". We successfully coordinated the traffic flow of guests arriving the ceremony through hotel shuttles and trollies from the valet area.

After a heartfelt and truly beautiful ceremony in front of their English Garden (which is a stop on the Gates Mills garden tour each year), Katie and Jeff were piped out by a bagpiper and drummer, and made a surprise exit in her dad's MG red convertible (complete with a "Just Married" sign made my yours truly! Kudos to my cheerleading days...). Guests could choose to walk over to the reception at the Hunt Club or take a ride on the trolley. Many chose to take the 10 minute walk on a wonderfully hot Ohio July day, past horse stables and over the mill stream bridge. The father of the bride even had a temporary bar set up outside of their barn if anyone needed a refreshment on the way over!

Once guests arrived the Hunt Club, they were in for a whole new set of surprises. Our tent provided by Everything Tented and lit by Rock the House was wonderfully decorated with a gorgeous ceiling liner and sparkling chandeliers, with draping displayed behind the 26 person head table! One of Katie's most desired aspects of the wedding was a spectacular bar atmosphere. After much discussion and review of many ideas, we ended on the pink sparkle bookcase backdrop decor, the out of this world phalaenopsis orchid arrangements from Grande Designs reused from the ceremony, and the Mastiff dog ice sculptures (the bride's family breeds these dogs and I quickly learned why they told me not to dress up when visiting their house upon my first meeting held there, LOL).

Our stunning cake was from White Flower Cake Shoppe. Katie made the ceremony programs and dinner menus herself (see note about her company below!) and Kirkbrides created the placecards and table numbers.

As if that wasn't enough to impress our guests, at the tail end of dinner we played a custom "Love Story" created by Candy Apple Films projected onto large screens on either side of the tent. The ambiance felt like going to a drive-in movie outside on a warm summer night. The production interviewed Katie, Jeff and their families and talked about how they met, got engaged and plans for the future.

I could go on and on (as usual) but this wedding with all of its pieces and parts for nearly 300 people was truly one of the biggest productions Kirkbrides has coordinated to date. It was nothing short of a magical day for Katie and Jeff. I know I will remain friends with this family for years to come, as they seem to treat everyone who enters their doors like family.

Katie submitted this wedding to Town and Country magazine and I am proud to announce that it will appear in their April 2012 issue. Keep an eye out for that!

Lastly, in her married life Katie has started a company named Clagett Designs, specializing in jewelry, stationery and other fabulous handcrafted items. Katie is extremely creative and I know she has found her passion in this new endeavor!

Best wishes, Katie and Jeff! I'm so pleased to have met you and have played such a large part in your most memorable day. :)

Note from Katie:

Valarie, I am in awe. My wedding day was all I could have ever dreamed of and so so so much more. I feel like the luckiest girl alive - everything was exquisite. From day one you were there to help Jeff and I and my family make all of the most important decisions for the big day. We would have never been able to have done it without you. Everyone I have talked to has told me they have never seen a more beautiful wedding. Thank you for making my dreams come true! I love you!!

Thank you to Jessica and Nate from Jess+Nate Studios for these beautiful pictures!

Sneak Peek at New Promo

2011-12-19T13:54:00.005-05:00

With all the holiday engagements going on, I decided to gather some friends (Easywind Studio Photography and Jessa) for a photoshoot to advertise our New Year pricing specials. I'll be posting more soon but wanted to post a sneak peek of one of our fun shots of the day.
(Think "frazzled bride" with wedding plans!)

White Hot Summer Wedding at the Hyatt Arcade: Mylinh and Patrick

2011-12-15T15:41:00.010-05:00

(pictures courtesy of Edyta Szyszlo)

Mylinh and Patrick were one of my first clients for 2011! I was so excited to plan a wedding at the beautiful Hyatt Arcade in downtown Cleveland. Our city has many beautiful historic buildings and it's fun to share these treasures with guests from all over!

Mylinh and Patrick are the perfect couple. Having met in high school, they had found a wonderful way after so many years of supporting one another and caring for one another. Always together at our vendor appointments, they were there for each other all along. Mylinh had a special vision of her wedding which included this amazing butterfly backdrop. They had a fabulous team of family and friends who helped suspend this beautiful backdrop in the short window of time before the ceremony. It later became a lovely setting for dancing later in the evening when the room was transformed.

Mylinh wanted a lot of white with hints of pale pink...the paler the better for her colors!! The wedding was a mix of modern and glitz. The couple provided me with rhinestone table runners and they also used the same rhinestone accent on their beautiful white and pale pink wedding cake!

I was so excited to work with their amazing California photographer, Edyta Szyszlo. As you can tell, their pictures are absolutely fantastic...Edyta also had a beautiful bridal party to work with!!

I have to compliment the couple on their outstanding stationary and candy bar - Their menu cards and place cards were so lovely. Also, their candy bar was intricately created with white and black candies. I had never heard of half of the varieties they served their guests that night!

Overall, it was obvious that love was behind every decision and detail of this wedding. I will always cherish the friendship I have with these two amazing people!

Italian Romance at the Renaissance Hotel: Dina & Jason

2011-12-10T12:14:00.000-05:00

To say that Dina and I hit it off from the second we met would be an understatement....I believe we were just destined to work together and become friends because boy did we have fun working on this wedding! Dina is a super glamour girl and she really wanted a luxurious and romantic wedding day for her and Jason. These two are so in love and it shows whenever you are around them. Not only do they love each other, but they love everyone around them as well! It was just such a pleasure and honor to help Dina find her perfect wedding venue, the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel, and work with her on all of the vendor and design details for over a year up until August 13, 2011.

She and Jason are both Italian so we used some romantic Italian influences throughout the design of the wedding. They are parents to Roxy, a yellow labrador retriever, so she made a special appearance at the wedding....as an ice sculpture positioned on our long wedding bar!

Don't miss our specialty drink chalkboards, with each a drink for the "Sposa" and "Sposo", and our gorgeous wedding cake from Flour Girl designed after the details on Dina's wedding dress (that we had to keep both a secret from Jason during the planning).

I could go on and on but I will let these beautiful pictures speak for themselves. Congratulations you two! I know you will continue to have a very happy and romantic life together!!!

Notes from Dina on Kirkbrides Facebook page:
Dina: I mean these pictures are more than words can describe! When I closed my eyes before the wedding day this is what I dreamed of, then when kirkbrides showed me the room before the reception my dream came true! Thank you all! such an amazing night!!!!!!

Dina:
valarie kirkbride falvey, thank you for making our dreams come true yesterday! When I would close my eyes and dream of the big day I only hoped it would be perfect. Yesterday you made that a reality! Im serious my dream came true, everything was more than PERFECT! Jason and I will never ever forget everything you did for us and how you truley made our wedding day look like a fairytale in South Beach and Italy! As jason would say, " you were on Point!" LOL! Thank you! drinks in one week after honeymoon! XOXOXOXO! D

Our pictures are courtesy of Julie and Chris at Z Media.

Jenni and Gene: A Wedding of Stately Elegance

2011-12-05T18:55:00.019-05:00

Judging by the spectacular ring on Jenni's finger (picture below!), I knew right away that Gene wanted to give his beautiful bride the world! From the very beginning, Jenni and Gene never strayed from their vision of their wedding day. The only issue was where and when it would happen... two minor details! Jenni was concerned about her church hall transforming into the ballroom setting she had hoped for and her wedding date was up in the air. Luckily, they chose a gorgeous October day. It was 80 degrees and sunny! They also settled on the church hall that rivaled any hotel ballroom in New York City once it was transformed with lighting and drapery courtesy of Rock the House. The linens and chair covers finished the tables that held varying centerpieces all in muted cream and pink tones. Z Media captured the details beautifully.

One of the reasons that I love this job is because I get to know such amazing couples and Jenni and Gene were no exception. Jenni was always calm and collected and Gene compliments her perfectly. I had the pleasure of getting to know Vicki, Jenni's mom as well. It made wedding day that much more special because Heather, my assistant and I felt like part of the family. I received this beautiful note from Jenni and Gene that I wanted to share. I wish them a lifetime of beautiful days ahead!

Dear Allison,

Thank you so much for all of your help in preparing, planning and executing our wedding! I had a vision in mind but everything about our wedding far surpassed our expectations. Your day of coordination was invaluable to both my mom and I- we keep saying "Thank God Allison and her staff were there to take care of that!" You handled so many details we never even considered and you were always there when I or my guests needed anything. There is no doubt a wedding planner is a must and I will recommend all my friends to you and Kirkbrides with confidence! Please use me as a reference if you need. Thanks again for everything.

With Love,
Gene and Jenni Kent

photos courtesy of Z Media

Outdoor Wedding with Character: Annie & Charles

2011-11-27T22:31:00.002-05:00

Photography courtesy of Mary Wyar

Luck was on our side when Annie and Charles married at the beautiful Hines Hill Conference Center in Peninsula, Ohio on September 24th. It was a rainy, gloomy week...even the day before we trudged around in our rubber boots to do set up but it was absolutely gorgeous on wedding day and this sweet couple deserved it! I met Annie and her dear mom, Barb when they were searching for the perfect outdoor venue. It just so happened that I had done a lovely ceremony at this venue in 2010 and I thought it would be perfect for them. Charles is an avid fisherman and as you can tell, the details certainly reflected this.

There were so many amazing details at this wedding. The family hand dyed the vintage napkins and table runners. One of the most interesting trends they opted for is the bride and groom meet and greet before the ceremony. I absolutely love this because it gives guests an opportunity to enjoy time with the couple and everyone is very relaxed before the start of the festivities. Annie dressed in a casual dress with cowboy boots before changing into her beautiful gown. After cocktails, guests enjoyed dinner under the tent which was catered by the wonderful people at Spice of Life Catering. There was a fire going with s'more ingredients and pashminas available. Dancing took place in the barn with desserts and late nite pizza.

Mary Wyar provided these beautiful pictures!

Here is a lovely note from Annie's parents:

Dear Allison,

Thank you for helping to make Annie and Charles' wedding perfect. Your quiet guiding expertise calmed all our nerves. From leading us to the Stone Cottage and the photographer, through the last week of phone calls to vendors and even to the quick last minute fix to the lighting in the barn (note: courtesy of Rock the House!), you made sure our vision was carried out. Thank you and Heather for loading the cars and the clean up! We truly appreciate everything you did. We will definitely recommend you and Kirkbrides to future brides. Hope we can work together again. We have two more daughters!

Fondly,
Barbara and John Derethik

Vintage Elegance at the Hyatt: Emily & Jeff, July 30, 2011

2011-11-21T10:33:00.014-05:00

I started working with Emily and her lovely mom Paula pretty early on for the July 30, 2011 wedding they were planning at the Hyatt at the Arcade. If you are an avid blog reader you know that we do quite a bit of weddings here as we absolutely love the architecture of the venue, the staff there as well as the number of options you have when creating your event layout.

With Emily in school full-time out of town, Paula and I enjoyed working on many of the plans together. Working with the Kleckas was a very happy, energetic and friendly experience which I wish I could duplicate all over again for 2012! They do have another daughter (who gave one of the classiest MOH speeches actually) so I have my fingers crossed. :)

Anyway, we designed this wedding from start to finish with a soft pink, plum purple, ivory and gold colors in mind. They loved the vintage feel to things but didn't want to go too overboard. There were so many lovely touches to this wedding that many guests appreciated, which you will see in the notes below. Our vendors on this wedding included photography and video by Chris, Julie and Jared at Z Media, flowers and string lights by Grande Designs, cake by Flour Girl/Luna Bakery and of course our wonderful wedding venue of Hyatt at the Arcade in downtown Cleveland. This was one of the three weddings I had this year at St. Raphael Parish in Bay Village. What a wonderful church for a wedding!

Emily and Jeff are a younger couple and I have no doubt have found lifelong partners in each other. You will enjoy these stunning pictures from Z Media as well as seeing how beautiful and perfect Emily looked in her wedding dress, which looked like it was custom designed especially for her! Congratulations you two, I wish you nothing but the best in all the years to come.

A note from Emily and Jeff:

our beautiful letterpress invitation we worked on last winter!

A note from the Mother of the Bride:

Valarie,

Emily called me first thing Sunday morning upset that she didn't get a chance to thank you. You will be hearing from her after the honeymoon but in the meantime -THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

The entire day was unbelievable. From the prelude music at the ceremony to the last dance, Emily and Jeff's day was magical!

The Old Arcade looked spectacular and the guests had never seen it look so grand! The out-of-towners, including Jeff's mom, could not say enough about the venue and how beautiful it looked! I wish I could tell you all the compliments I received but they are too numerous. We were all so happy and the joy was contagious!!! The band kept everyone on the dance floor all night and when they finished the crowd started chanting , "One more set! One more set!" It was so fun!

Bernie outdid himself with the floral and the light strands. Jeff's mom loves flowers and was so pleased with the centerpieces and arrangements. They were perfect! In addition, I never saw the altar at our church look so beautiful! The way Bernie incorporated our family prayer book into Emily's bouquet was flawless and the bouquet was perfect for the vintage style Emily loves.

I could go on and on! Your staff was so helpful, courteous, professional and unobtrusive. This was such a large wedding yet it didn't feel that way because everything went so smoothly. We are so grateful for your help in making this the most memorable day of Jeff and Emily's lives! Thank you!

Sincerely,

Paula Klecka

A note the Mother of the Bride received from one of their guests (that she shared with me):

Paula:

Just want you to know that you and Marc put on the best wedding we have ever attended! You outdid yourself. Every detail was perfect. What a beautiful ceremony, music, flowers, family wedding pictures (great touch), food, band, dancing slippers…but the place card note from Emily (with Calligraphy by Paula?) was the nicest tough I have ever seen. Also, Emily’s dress was spectacular, as was yours!

We had a blast! I hope you can relax a bit this week. Hope to talk to you soon. Thanks so much for including us.

Another note the Mother of the Bride received from a guest:
Hi Paula!

Jim and I left for a little vacation on Sunday so I haven't had a chance to touch base with you about the wonderful wedding. As a 2-time mommy of the bride, I'm always captivated by weddings and watching the magical moments unfold. There were many magical moments to witness last Saturday!

Just for fun, I'm sending you a list of the "little things" that perhaps you thought may have gone unnoticed and some that were completely obvious but well worth the mention:

Emily and Jeff: What a darling couple!!
Emily's dress was stunning and fit her like a glove. Elegant in every way!
You!!!! You looked absolutely beautiful! So did Marc:)
The flower girls....so sweet!

Each bridesmaid's dress was unique, as were their bouquets

Speaking of bouquets....the flowers were absolutely fabulous at the church and at the reception
Jeff walking his mom down the aisle. Nice touch!
Mary's smile....she was so happy
The readers:) Jujy was so honored!

The programs ~ the jewel on top was repeated at the reception as the table assignments were placed in the frame filled with similar jewels.
The golden branches on the alter repeated throughout the reception. They matched the golden wood on the chairs.
The personal touch of having Emily and Jeff write a note to the guests on the table assignment cards must have been very time consuming but was a lovely touch! Hope you didn't have to re-assign anyone once those notes were written!
The music . . . . everywhere!!! The music at the church was the best I've ever heard and I've been to lots and lots of weddings. The band at the reception was fun and really great!
The candy bar....yummy!
The dancing shoes. Such a good idea. It allowed everyone to dance the night away without the worry of sore feet.
The venue......super cool. Love the pic that Juge took of Emily and Jeff's first dance. Really cool birds eye view.
The new in-laws! What a fabulous family!
Just watching all of you enjoy every minute of this beautiful start to a brand new family.... the Jeff Joines family:)

I'm sure this week has been a little quiet for you. Sometimes it's a bit of a letdown after all the swirl of events that lead up to the wedding. We've been thinking about you and Marc and just want to thank you for including us in this most special event!

Summery Outdoor Affair at The Club at Hillbrook

2011-11-03T12:02:00.001-04:00

It's hard to believe a warm July day is possible when I woke up to frost this morning but Sherron and Margeaux had a beautiful wedding day! Sherron and Margeaux knew exactly what they wanted for their outdoor Hillbrook Club wedding and I was so excited to execute their wishes! Margeaux had an amazing color palette of orange, chocolate and green selected. It was a gorgeous combination, especially with the natural settting that surrounded us on wedding day! I can honestly say that Margeaux looked like a model that day and Sherron should have been on the cover of GQ. I fell in love with their beautiful pictures by Catherine McKinley. Their adorable flower girl and ring bearer stole the show as well. One of my favorite details was the pizza and soda as their late night snack....the soda was Orange Crush of course! It was such a pleasure working with such a laid back, and fun couple. Here is a very kind note from the couple:

Dear Allison,

Thank you so much for everything you did to make our wedding a dream come true. It was all so beautiful and we really appreciate all of your hard work throughout this process. It truly was the best day of both of our lives and we could not have done with without you. The beautiful touches that you added to everything made our day amazingly beautifull!!

Thanks,
Sherron and Margeaux

Orange and Yellow Happiness Wedding at Cleveland Botanical Gardens

2011-10-24T11:34:00.014-04:00

Claire was one of my first clients to book her 2011 wedding with Kirkbrides, and I couldn't have been happier to work with such a joyful, happy and all around fun person. Claire was engaged to the brother of one of my past brides, Emily! She and I started working on her happy, bright, yellow and orange wedding together and planned the ceremony and reception at one of our favorite venues, Cleveland Botanical Gardens. It is always a joy working with Paula at CBG and Peggy from Bon Appetit catering.

We worked with an all-star team of vendors, including Tom Forrest Photography (with pictures to follow), Grande Designs Floral, A Cookie and a Cupcake and Kris from Num Num World Music. We even had an accordian player walk around during dinner music to further enchant our guests on the beautiful June summer day.

One of my favorite things about this wedding was the personal and heartfelt ceremony, which included songs from the Beatles played by the string trio, and readings from "The Velveteen Rabbit" and "Mark Twain". Another highlight was the creative menu that we worked with Peggy on, including spicy gazpacho and pineapple sorbet as the first course, and guests' choice of local salmon, chicken breast or vegetable pad thai! Also as you can see in the pictures below, the passed alcoholic snow cones during cocktail hour were a huge hit! The flavors included mojito, margarita and orange creamsicle.

Congratulations Claire and Don, and cheers to a lifetime of happiness!!!

Note from Mother of the Bride (did I mention how much more I totally understand the mother's point of view now that I have my own daughter?!):

Dear Valarie,

Thank you so much for making Claire’s wedding day such a lovely occasion in every respect. Your calm, direct manner was a great reassurance to me, and Claire was delighted with all aspects of the event, as were we. Though I was nervous at various points, it was never because of any detail you overlooked, and in fact I calmed myself by remembering that we were in your very capable hands. From stopping the neighboring band without letting me know we had an issue, to retrieving Claire’s dress near the end of the reception, you went well above and beyond our expectations. We’re truly grateful for your lovely demeanor and invaluable guidance throughout this exciting year. What a pleasure to work with such a consummate professional!

Best,

Ann

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Tom Forrest Photography

"You are the Frosting on the Wedding Cake!"

2011-10-11T09:00:00.010-04:00

It's been a while since Allison or I blogged any of our recent weddings. We have had quite the busy wedding season! Which is good for us and our newlyweds, but not so good for our blog readers.

I believe we have quite the array of weddings from 2011 to post as things settle down and our ever so familiar Northeastern Ohio cooler weather moves in. As we're trying to find a time to visit Cedar Point one more time before it closes, and Allison starts her yearly batch of "Snazzy Apples", we will be catching up on posting all of our AMAZING weddings from this year (even one that will be featured in the January edition of Town & Country!). We do also have a few more up our sleeves before it's 2012, so keep checking back as we post our beautiful brides and wonderful wedding day stories!

Here are some more thank you notes we have received recently, to serve as a sort of "preview" of what's to come....

Happy Fall everyone!

Subject:	RE: Congratulations!
From:	Brian Patrick (xxxxx@hotmail.com)
To:	valarie@kirkbrides.com;
Date:	Monday, September 26, 2011 9:20 PM

Thanks Valarie! I am struggling to find an area that Allison and the team could improve on. Everything far exceeded our expectations (which were quite high to begin with!).

A testament to the quality: Many of our quests told me they were impressed with how seamlessly the whole day went. It naturally flowed from event to event the day of. From our point of view, we only had to interact with our vendors a small amount, and generally only in a social way. Everything flowed through Allison which took all the stress off us.

I think the biggest compliment I can give to you and Allison is that we'd recommend Kirkbrides in a heartbeat to any couple we know that gets engaged.

Thank you for the follow-up,
Brian

Subject:	Re: Kirkbrides Follow-up
From:	Annie Derethik (xxxx@gmail.com)
To:	valarie@kirkbrides.com;
Date:	Monday, October 10, 2011 2:51 PM

Hey Valarie,

Hope all is well!

I apologize for not getting back to you until now...trying to settle back in and get caught up at work.

I have a note ready to go in the mail about what a fabulous job Allison and Heather did on the day of the wedding - everything was seamless! We truly could not have been happier with the way everything turned out!

Thanks again,

Annie

Thank you Notes!

2011-08-14T11:26:00.008-04:00

I recently received a few unbelievably kind thank you notes from recent clients and even one couple who got married a year ago! I was so happy about their kind words that I decided to post on our blog. I am so lucky to be able to do what I do and meet such wonderful people.

I love creating these relationships through the wedding planning and keeping them after couples are married. It truly is a wonderful feeling to play such a large part in the most memorable day of people's lives. My team and I try so hard to make people happy and keep improving with every wedding and I think it shows. I'm so proud of our weddings and accomplishments and look forward to touching many more people's lives with our services!

Sparkle, Glitz and Glam at the Ritz!: May 29, 2011

2011-08-10T13:52:00.017-04:00

Typical of most years, Memorial day weekend was the first weekend booked for a wedding for 2011. I was absolutely over the moon excited about working with Shannon and Bryan on their 5/29/11 nuptials, as I knew this was going to be quite the wedding event! They wanted everything at the Ritz Carlton's beautiful Silver Grille room (which, if you're a regular Kirkbrides blog reader, you know we love doing weddings in that room!). As our planning relationship evolved, I learned a few things:

they wanted a very contemporary blue and white "South Beach" feel for the cocktail hour with trendy food stations including thai, sushi and a few big long bars
all white for the ceremony and all white with lots of sparkle for the reception as well, with just a touch of Shannon's favorite color purple for the lighting
a big grand entrance to wow guests as they arrived for the ceremony
they LOVE their Yorkie dogs and we used them on the save the dates dressed as a bride and groom, as well as an ice sculpture at the ice cream bar at the reception!

they have wonderful families who were so very fun and kind to work with along the way of planning for 16 months

Our day was made perfect by the following vendors showcased in the pictures:
Floral and Decor: Arne at Blooms by Plantscaping
Cake: White Flower Cake Shoppe
Photography: New Image
Videography and Video Booth: Moonstruck Productions
Band: Jerry Bruno Orchestra
Lighting and Draping: Rock the House

These two are a picture perfect couple who I'm certain will share a lifetime of joy, love and fun together!
Congratulations Shannon and Bryan!

Some pictures taken by Zack at Rock the House:

Glorified Cleveland Inspiration Board: St. Patrick's Day/Irish Wedding

2011-08-09T12:15:00.002-04:00

Best Season for this theme: Spring or Fall

Cleveland Venues that would work well for this wedding style:
Legend Lake Golf Club
Hoyt Block Atrium at Blue Point
Club Hillbrook

Music:

Use an Irish guitarist/singer during your cocktail hour or reception, such as Mossy
Use a fiddle player to send the bride down the aisle or to provide dinner music during the reception
There are plenty of Celtic bands in the Cleveland area, look into hiring one for entertainment during cocktail hour

Other Ideas:

Irish brides often carry a horseshoe for good luck, incorporate a porcelain one in a bouquet or a fabric one in a bracelet but make sure to have it turned up so its luck doesn't run out
Use different shades of green in your decor- emerald green, forest green, and mint green can be a beautiful combination
Use a custom seating board and place tables in the shape of Ireland
The chime of bells is thought to keep evil spirits away, restore harmony if the couple is fighting, and remind the couple of their wedding vows so instead of rice pass out a tiny bell to ring after the ceremony to celebrate with the couple
Specialty drinks: Guinness, Irish coffee served after dinner, or a cocktail that contains Bailey's Irish Cream, for example an Irish Ghost (Bailey's, Kahlua, Irish Mist herbal liquer, and cream) or an Irish Paddy (Bailey's, creme de cacao, and green creme de menthe)
Include English Lavender in the brides bouquet it symbolizes her love and devotion
Consider using shades of gold and brown as your accent color, using it in chargers, table easel's or reception stationary
Brainstorm with your caterer and serve traditional Irish style hor's d'oueveres
Placing decorative herbs in the brides hair stands for her fidelity to her new husband
Favors could include tiny chocolates in the shapes of shamrocks or claddaughs, personalized Guinness mugs or tiny loaves of Irish soda bread!
Use a custom made guest book where guests can write their "luck" to you
Incorporate the idea of lucky in love, possibly including the phrase "We are so lucky to be in love" in invitations or save the dates!

St. Patrick's Day is considered the luckiest wedding anniversary date in Ireland!

Check out photos of this real Irish wedding on Style Me Pretty

Inspiration Board created on Style me Pretty

July 9 Ballroom Transformation: Contemporary Nightclub

2011-08-03T09:52:00.013-04:00

Nanelle and Chris are the couple our team has worked with the longest out of anyone! We worked for 2 years with them, creating an unbelievably gorgeous wedding in a ballroom transformed so much from its original look that the employees who showed up for work that day asked if they were in the right room! Here are a few BEFORE pictures:

These two lovebirds wanted a contemporary nightclub feel. Their friends and family had attended many events at the Holiday Inn in Westlake, so they wanted to surprise everyone that night with a completely different look. All of the guests were blown away and we heard countless comments on how amazed they were at the transformation!

Special thanks goes to Alina at Party Decor for the fabulous linens and draping, Bernie and Andy at Grande Designs for the centerpieces and flowers, Rock the House for the lighting, dance in the clouds and star maze and John and Ben from the DJ Crew for their high energy DJ skills! Beautiful pictures of the AFTER results by Scott and Julie at Easywind Studio!

Congratulations to Nanelle and Chris! It was wonderful working with you and your families!

Check out this fun video of their bridal party announcements:

Spring Love Wedding at the Wyndham Hotel

2011-07-22T07:30:00.001-04:00

Manju and Angel are two of the sweetest people that I have ever met! We had a special connection from the start so I was thrilled to help plan their April 30th wedding at the Wyndham. They wanted an elegant hotel venue and the Wyndham fit perfectly. The ceremony took place at the beautiful Old Stone Church and now the couple are members and continue to worship there. I was so excited for the bright color statement they would be making at the reception. Manju saw a beautiful orange and fuschia linen and this was the inspiration for our wedding colors. She also wanted something more non-traditional for her centerpieces so we chose submerged fuschia orchids with candles to give the room a lovely glow by Prestige Floral. Dancing was a very important part of the wedding and Rock The House provided a night of music with washed walls of color that transformed for each important event of the evening. To honor Manju's Indian heritage, she changed in to a beautiful sari after dinner. She looked so beautiful. I really felt like I was planning a wedding for two dear friends and I am so happy for them! Here is a small part of the very kind letter Manju wrote to me after their wedding:

Dearest Allison,

How sad it is that I was crying at the store as I was picking out your thank you card. You touched us in a way that we did not know was possible. I don't know if I am sadder that the wedding is over or if I am going to miss going to the vendor meetings with you. Everyone speaks about how planning a wedding is one of the most stressful times, we completely disagree! Every moment of planning our wedding was fun and exciting!

Thank you just doesnt seem to be enough for all you have done for us! Kirkbrides is the BEST!!! We will surely recommend you to anyone!

Love,

Manju and Angel

Glorified Cleveland Inspiration Board: Beach/Nautical Wedding

2011-07-14T15:48:00.001-04:00

Best season for this theme: Summer

Cleveland venues that would work well for this wedding style:
Shoreby Club
Lodge at Geneva
Kelley's Island or Put in Bay

Music:

Using a steel drum band can really give your event a tropical feel!
Walk down the isle to a Ukulele playing a song of your choice
Some fun song choices for your event: Island in the sun by Weezer, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, One Love by Bob Marley, Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters (consider having this song sung live or played acoustically on guitar!), Wipeout by The Surfaris, Your Love by Wyclef Jean, Somewhere over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Other ideas:

Focus on the MENU for this theme - think empanadas, crabcakes, a special chips, fresh salsa and guacamole station, surf and turf for dinner
Dress groomsmen in khaki pants, flip flops, navy blazers and matching ties!
Bridesmaids can wear bright color dresses or sundresses and flip flops!
Passing out brightly colored flip-flops at your reception as favors can save your guests feet on the dance floor
Include orchids in centerpieces or bouquets
Use real leis instead of corsages, boutonnieres or bouquets
To give more of a nautical feel make sure to include white and different shades of blue in your reception
Using sand dollars, seashells, sand, or birchwood in centerpieces can tie in a beach theme when combined with flowers
Name tables after famous beaches or the favorite tropical destinations of the couple
Serve specialty tropical drinks during cocktail hour, for example a Mai Tai, Mojito, Miami Vice ( pina colada and strawberry daiquiri mixed), or have a specialty margarita bar with different flavors and ingredients!
Leave a large glass bottle on the gift table and leave a sign encouraging guests to leave the Bride and Groom messages in the bottle instead of using the more traditional guest book

Even though Cleveland, Ohio may not be located near crystal blue waters Lake Erie still provides a wonderful location for beach weddings especially in the summer! Your guests have the opportunity to enjoy a changing backdrop for your ceremony or reception, blue skies during the day and a beautiful sunset at night!

Make sure to take a look at these weddings inspired by Nautical and Beach ideas on Style Me Pretty!

Inspiration Board created on Style Me Pretty

Vintage Summer Garden Wedding

2011-07-12T08:15:00.002-04:00

Where do I begin with this vivacious young couple?! Celia and Keith are such an energetic and adventurous couple. Celia "rode in" on Keith's back for their entrance and our friends at The DJ Crew commented it was the best dancing they had witnessed. The dance floor was packed at dinner! The floors were actually shaking from the crowd of dancers that filled the room. It was a blast! When I look at these wonderful pictures from Keels Photography I just have to smile every time. There was such happiness surrounding this day!

With lots of life planning going on during their wedding planning, they had a lot to contend with but the planning process went very smoothly and we had a lot of fun! Celia and Keith are two very easy going people who went with the flow and always had a smile on their faces. We chose the gorgeous Ritz Carlton ballroom for their wedding reception with a ceremony in the Grand Foyer of Severance Hall. Everything about this wedding was opulent! Celia and her mom, Jane had a beautiful color palatte in mind from the start: tiffany blue, fuschia and yellow. I was so happy to see yet another couple not afraid of color! Their candy bar was also fuschia and yellow. I thought it was just breathtaking. Keith's grandmother also made dozens and dozens of delectable cookies for the guests. It was quite a sight. One of my most favorite moments is when Celia and her A Capella group sang to Keith upon my urging at a meeting months before. It was such a sweet expresssion of her love for him.

I had a wonderful time with this lovely couple. Celia gave me the sweetest gift that I have ever gotten. She handmade me a beautiful quilt. It was so touching! I will treasure it always. Here is a wonderful note she wrote me:

Dear Allison,

You have been a phenomenal wedding planner for us! We could have never planned anything as close to how wonderful this wedding is going to be. You always had a thoughtful answer to our questions, and you gave us fabulous suggestions and ideas about the things we were clueless about. Thank you so much for putting so much time in to making our wedding perfect! I know you've been busy every week with weddings and planning for the past few months but you always made me feel like a priority and gave me your time and patience. We appreciate everything you've done for us and we will definitely recommend you to our friends in the future!

Thank you,

Celia, Keith and Jane

Glorified Cleveland Inspiration Board: Italian Romance

2011-07-08T19:17:00.007-04:00

Best season for this theme: Summer or Fall

Cleveland Venues that would work well for this wedding style:
Park Lane Villa
Old Courthouse
New Tudor Arms Ballroom at the Doubletree Hotel

Music:

Use a local opera singer to perform an Italian love song with a string quartet while the bride makes her way down the aisle
Use an acoustic guitarist during cocktail hour to entertain guests
Have a live accordion player walk around during dinner to add a fun touch!
Consider using some of these songs to add to the romantic Italian feel of your event: The way you look tonight or Fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra, That's Amore or On an Evening in Roma by Dean Martin, Hold on or Sway by Michael Buble, Can't help falling in love or Ave Maria by Andrea Bocelli, Mambo Italiano by Orietta Berti

Other ideas:

Name tables after different regions or cities in Italy, or after different types of wine
Use wine corks to hold and display place cards for guests
Include grapes in centerpieces to contribute to the Italian feel and add an extra pop of color
Adding small votives or even large candelabras as centerpieces can give a soft and romantic glow to any reception
Beautiful colors for an Italian Romance wedding include deep reds and purples with golds, greens, oranges, and pinks for accent colors
Instead of having a traditional cocktail hour turn it into a wine tasting for guests!
For dessert feature a decadent Italian dessert station, dessert ideas include mini cassata cakes, vanilla pizzelles, biscotti (goes great with a coffee station at the end of the evening!), tiramisu, cannoli, sesame cookies, amariette cookies, wanda cookies, and Italian almond biscuits
A gelato station would also be a fun way for guests to satisfy their sweet tooth
Pass out wine stoppers, small bags of Italian coffee with biscotti, or tiny bottles of Italian wine with the bride and grooms name on them as favors
Food is a huge part of any Italian style wedding, consider passing antipasto h'ors d'oeuvres like prosciutto wrapped melon, olives, salami, pickled peppers, calamari, and prosciutto during cocktail hour
An Italian wedding meal can consist of 5 to 14 courses, obviously 14 may be a bit much but make sure to include different combinations of soups, meats, salads, and pastas during the dinner course
Specialty drinks: Bellini (white peach puree, prosecco, maraschino cherry juice), Sgroppino (vodka, lemon sorbet, prosecco, and mint), Americano (vermouth, bitter campari, soda water), also consider using Sofia Minis for your specialty drink, tiny pink cans of sparkling wine!

Check out photos and video on Style Me Pretty of an amazing Italian wedding in Florence Italy!

Inspiration Board created on Style Me Pretty

Peacock Glorified Inspiration Board

2011-07-06T16:07:00.014-04:00

This theme is Elegant and Unique!

This theme would go well any time of year -- winter, spring, summer or fall.

Cleveland Venues that would work well for this wedding style:

Color Scheme: Purple, Greens, Teals

Peacock inspired save the dates, invitations, and programs
Orchids, lily grass, hydrangeas, green kale, dusty miller, silver brunia berries, purple trachillium, begonia leaves, green hanging amaranthus, seeded eucalyptus, fern curl for accent with crystal pins and peacock feathers would all create great decor.
Aqua colored linens makes a pretty foundation for a table with jewel-toned dishes and chargers.
A simple napkins folded into "pockets" with a peacock feather tucked into each pocket adds a great touch.
Serve a blue or green-hued signature drink that will matches your theme.
Idea: Ginger-Pear Martini
A peacock ice sculpture, lit with white or blue lighting, displayed near the hor's d'ouevres or dessert area would be an elegant finish!

Stay tuned because this wedding style is currently in the works for Kirkbrides for a September wedding at the Silver Grille at the Ritz Carlton!

Glorified Inspiration Board: Winter

2011-07-05T21:21:00.017-04:00

Season best suited for this theme is the Winter

Venues in Cleveland that would work well with the theme:

Music

A Big Band that plays Christmas music would work well for this theme like the Jerry Bruno Orchestra, Art Company Orchestra
Have a snow machine on the dance floor for the couple's first dance.

Miscellaneous

Favors

Cocoa to go: Custom travel mug fulled with a warm beverage
Box of Fresh Chestnuts
Personalized packs of Hot Chocolate

Drink

A Blizzard Cocktail
Hot Cocoa bar with assorted alcohol and trimmings,
complete with assorted pastries and desserts

Centerpiece

Candelabras
Lush arrangements of white flowers
Dusty miller

Place Card

Place cards: Silver ball place card holder on the table
It will add a little extra bling.
As well as tie in well with the crystals in the decor.

Decor

All white and cream flowers would work well
(Garden roses, hydrangeas, gardenias, dendorbrium, orchids)
Lots of Rhinestones and Sparkle
Silver and white branches with hanging candles, crystals, and mirrors
added into the decor.

Photo booth

Have Christmas or winter themed attire for guest to wear as props

Transportation

Vintage silver Rolls- Royce

Check out a real Winter Inspired Wedding

Pictures from: dianescakesandmore.com, Brides.com

Summer Tented Wedding at Shoreby Club

2011-07-05T13:30:00.023-04:00

Something I enjoy but often do not get a chance to do is plan a wedding in a very short amount of time. I enjoy the challenge and also the results of a wonderful wedding! Jenn and Scott's June 24th wedding was planned in just ten weeks! They were such a great couple to work with because they understood that time was of the essence and they had to make quick decisions. They walked in to Shoreby Club and knew instantly that this would be their wedding venue. Jenn is from California so being on the water was a great bonus for her. Everything for their wedding looked beautiful with this location as the back drop! We were able to utilize their centerpeices by the boys at Grande Designs since our ceremony space was also our reception space. We used feathers and crystals to create Jenn's Old Hollywood wedding and named the tables after Hollywood stars and starlets. Their beautiful lace fondant cake with crimson flowers was a real showstopper by Flour Girl. The kid's table was named "Shirley Temple" and we provided them with bags of goodies to entertain them. Jenn was such a doll to work with. She kept the focus of her day on their marriage and made important decisions without blinking! I was sad to see the planning go so quickly but I am excited for them to start their lives together! I wish them the very best.

pictures by Chris Smanto Photography

Glorified Inspiration Board: Carnival Wedding Theme

2011-07-05T12:25:00.000-04:00

SEASON: Spring, Summer or early Fall

VENUES in Cleveland that would work well with the theme

MUSIC

Play list of Elvis or oldies 50's music for cocktail hour
Edith Piaff french tunes might work well for dinner
a Cirque de Soleil soundtrack as dinner music

MISCELLANEOUS

Placecards

o Mock prize ribbons to make everyone feel like a winner

o Lollipops with guest name and table name tied around the stick displayed in a bed of candy

o Balloons!

Favors - a photobooth would be perfect for this theme!
Save the Dates - check out these awesome red balloon save the dates to mail out to your guests!
Invitations

o You’re invited to the greatest show on earth – one admittance ticket

o Vintage style tickets

Dress up your DJ in a ringmaster outfit (tails, top hat, red vest, and cane) - you can actually rent this from Men's Wearhouse (we checked!)

Hire a mime, clown, or even a simple magician with card tricks to walk around during dinner performing tricks for guests at their tables

Carnival style dessert stand serving all kinds of carnival favorites

Rent a cotton candy machine and/or a popcorn machine to inspire the nostalgic feel!

Drink: Candy Apple Martinis

Check out this real wedding on Green Wedding Shoes blog for more carnival wedding inspiration!

Glorified Cleveland Inspiration Board: Enchanted Forest

2011-06-29T22:56:00.002-04:00

Cleveland venues that would work well for this wedding style:
Kirtland Country Club
Happy Days Lodge
Conrad Botzum Farmstead
Hale Farm and Village
Brookside Farms
Ceremony at Manakiki Ceremonial Grove

Music:

Walking down the aisle to a piccolo or a harp could create a very romantic and enchanting feel during any ceremony
Having a Blue Grass Band play during a cocktail hour or reception can definitely provide a rustic feel to your event
Other reception and cocktail hour options include a solo banjo player or a CD with classic Americana music

Other Ideas:

Using wildflowers in centerpieces or bouquets
Including wood and moss in reception decor
Adding candlelight can create a natural and whimsical feeling
Offer guest seed packets to plant a tree in their neighborhood as a favor
Different shades of purple can compliment the green scenery of your venue
Specialty drink idea: The Bee's Knees, a combination of gin, honey syrup and lemon juice
Naming tables after the couples favorite hiking trails
Instead of throwing rice at the bride and groom guests can enjoy a live butterfly release outside
Decorate trees at your venue with twinkle lights to provide a romantic feel
An enchanted forest wedding often brings about ideas of fairies and the medieval era, add elements of either one of these ideas to create your ideal event

Inspiration board created on Style Me Pretty

Pink and Purple Glam Christmas Wedding at the Union Club: December 18

2011-06-29T10:48:00.004-04:00

Where do I begin with this wonderful winter and Christmas themed wedding? As soon as I met Holly in December of 2009 I knew she and I were absolutely meant to meet, work together on her wedding and be friends. She is one of the classiest girls you will ever meet! Right away she knew what she wanted - a winter wedding to her long time sweetheart Dave, on December 18 (because these two are busy social butterflies!), in December because of her birthday and name, and Christmas themed because it is their family's favorite holiday!

Due to the vast number of creative details and ideas we included in her day, I find it easiest to just list them out:

hot cocoa bar complete with assorted liqueurs and candy toppings
photobooth for guest favors with Christmas style attire for them to be silly in the pictures in
"All I Want for Christmas is You"by Mariah Carey was used for the over the top bride and groom reception announcement by none other than DJ Scott E Jones (it was so cool and exciting it brought tears to my eyes, not kidding!)
"Love is a Gift" was a quote we used throughout the wedding, and used tiny giftboxes as the escort cards
Table names after yuletide themed words
ornaments in the centerpieces from Grande Designs!
Great Lakes Christmas Ale and Hollyberry martinis for the specialty cocktails!
We had a separate lounge area set up with wedding cake, full bar, hot cocoa bar, playing 40's style cocktail Christmas big band music
Their wedding was featured on the weTV show Amazing Wedding Cakes with White Flower Cake Shoppe's amazing glitzy glam cake, replicating Holly's beautiful wedding dress!

A note from the bride and groom!

Valarie- The wedding was absolutely amazing, and numerous friends and relatives continue to tell us that they felt like they were part of a fairy tale. Dave and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything that you and your team did to make it magical - because that is exactly what it was - completely magical! You helped make our fairy tale a reality! I feel like I not only received outstanding service, professionalism, creativity, and a beautiful end result that encompassed our vision, but I also feel I gained a friend. It truly was an honor for me and Dave to work with you. Kirkbrides helped make the wedding planning process a breeze and produced a spectacular event. I do not hesitate to recommend Kirkbrides to all of my newly engaged friends. It is the first thing that comes out of my mouth after "congratulations."

Many thanks,

Holly & Dave Little

This wedding was truly a wedding planner's dream to work on! Congratulations Holly and Dave!!! We are so excited to be working on one of your friends' weddings for 2012!

Here is their video trailer shot and created by Jared and Josh at Z Media!

Pictures provided courtesy of Easywind Studio

Pictures that the Kirkbrides team took that day!

Glorified Cleveland Inspiration Board: Yellow Weddings

2011-04-19T09:00:00.002-04:00

We are starting a new series on our blog titled "Glorified Inspiration Boards". There are tons of wedding themes and styles for brides to choose from. We'd like to highlight some of our favorites and then go a step farther to let local brides know how to go about executing these plans right here in Cleveland!

Our first post features a yellow wedding theme, which we are seeing more and more of on the wedding blogs and magazines.

Yellow is the color of happiness and sunshine!

Best season for this theme: Summer or late Spring

Cleveland Venues that would work well for this wedding style:

Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Hanna Garden at WRHS

Marriott at Key Center

Kirtland Country Club

A tent set up in any beautiful outdoor area

A Real Cleveland yellow wedding:

photography by Genevieve Nisly

Music:

Vibrant live music for dinner: how about an accordion player for a fun, expected feel?
An 80’s band would be an energetic and unexpected touch, check out The Breakfast Club!
Some fun song choices for your big events: Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles, Bright as Yellow by the Innocence Mission, Yellow by Coldplay, Holiday by Madonna, Firework by Katy Perry, Hello by Martin Solveig

Other ideas:

Passed snowcones at cocktail hour instead of specialty drinks – containing delicious recipes with alcohol
Fruit infused vodka – pineapple, oranges, lemons
Serve a very “summer-y” menu, maybe with spicy gazpacho served with a pineapple sorbet as a first course!
Spring flowers such as billy buttons, ranunculus, yellow anemones, daffodils, roses, sunflowers and Gerber daisies work well!
Accents of gold or amber with the yellow would be beautiful
Offer guests margarita mix drink packets as favors
Floral silhouettes in lighting at the reception in a toned down amber hue would be amazing!

Stay tuned because this yellow wedding style is currently in the works for Kirkbrides for a June wedding. We can't wait to post pictures!

Did I leave anything out? Do you have an idea that would work well with this yellow Cleveland wedding? Please comment and let me know!

Outdoor September Wedding at the Country Club

2011-04-15T15:35:00.001-04:00

This was such a special and classy wedding! Taking place at Gesu Church in University Heights and The Country Club in Pepper Pike, our September 18 wedding weather could not have been more perfect. I had the pleasure of working alongside Lindsey Beckwith for the beautiful photography you see here, Heather with Heatherlily on the decor and one of the most amazing event and weddings bands in the country, Cityscape! You can't beat a clear span tent set up on the veranda for a perfect outdoor feel.

Thoughtful note from father of the bride:

Valarie, wanted to drop you a note thanking you and yourstaff for the great job you have done over the last 9 or so months. From ourperspective everything went off without a hitch and if it didn’t you madesure we didn’t know. You, Country, Heather all made for a great team andthe results were fantastic! Thanks for everything.

Frank

Note from the bride:

Hi Valarie! I hope you and your family had a great holiday and happynew year! Thank you again for putting on an amazing wedding for us! Weare beyond happy with how everything went! Please let us know if we canhelp out in anyway and we'd be happy to be references if needed.

Our team has already begun working on other fabulous weddings this gracious family has referred us to and we can't thank you enough. Congratulations to the gorgeous bride and groom!