Who doesn't like new things?

It is always so exciting when new things happen. I love to post about things that are exciting not only to our clients, but to us as well! A little over a year ago I was at conference in Southern California. This conference is always great for seeing what is hot and new in the wedding industry. At the time, I saw a really cool chair. I know you are probably saying "big deal" a chair, what is so exciting about that?" Well this particular chair was very modern, and edgey, and just all around gorgeous. The best part is that it was completely customizable. The look could change entirely from event to event. These chairs were called Chameleon Chairs.. how fitting right? Just like the little lizard they are named after, they allow for flexibility and change. They even have covers that look like dresses.(see this picture of me that was taken with them covered)Aren't they so cute?


The ability to change appearance in this industry is so important! No bride or groom want the exact same thing as all of the others we have worked with. Well I did some research on these chairs, and sure enough Chicago was the only place close that offered them for rent. My hope of seeing these chairs in St Louis anytime soon was quickly fading. Then a couple of months ago, during an ISES (International Special Events Society) trolley touring new venues, when we stopped at Palladium Saint Louis. This amazing brand new venue is located on Park Place inLafeyette Square in St Louis. This place is owned and operated by Butler's Pantry, and it is HUGE and so gorgeous!

After the tour, we came back to the front entry where I ran into their Sales Director, Elizabeth Hawkey. She told me they were working on final details, place settings, chairs, etc before their opening in November. I could not resist telling her about the Chamelon Chairs that I was so in love with. She told me to send her the information, so I did. Then several weeks later I got an email from Elizabeth letting me know that Palladium had decided to purchase the Fanfare collection of the Chameleon chairs! Who hoo, I was so excited you would have thought it was my birthday. I am truly thrilled when new things that excite me come to St. Louis.

Palladium Saint Lous is a marvelous new venue, and a welcome addition to our industry! I cannot wait to do an event there. Thank you for humoring me with the chairs Butlers Pantry & Palladium staff, they are fab!!

Stella & Kevin 9-26-09

Stella & Kevin were married on Saturday 9/25/09 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Louis in Clayton, MO. It was an extremely rainy day, but the weather held off long enough for the couple to get some great outdoor shots.

This wedding overall was so much fun to be a part of. The Groom Kevin was friends with Lacy in High School. After losing touch for many many years, they had reconnected recently over Facebook. When Lacy realized that Kevin lived in St Louis now, and was engaged, she advised them to look into using our services. At that point, Kevin and Stella decided to continue their planning on their own. Approximately one month before their wedding, Lacy sat down with Kevin and Stella, and it was clear they wanted to enjoy their day and not have to worry about all of the details. So they asked Lacy to draw up a contract, and fortunately for all of us were available.

The couple was surrounded by many family and friends. The rehearsal was a huge success, as was the ceremony. Kim with Creative Visions Photography was on hand to capture all of the fun and the shots. We look forward to posting more pics once we get them.

The couple made a grand exit showered in rose petals to a waiting classic Bentley. The guests returned for a cocktail hour, and the couple dodged rain drops to get some shots outside. The dinner portion was delicious, and dancing and fun soon began. This wedding party was a lot of fun. The colors were lovely shades of orange and green. The groom and his men wore rich chocolate brown pin stripe tuxes.
Lacy with the groom Kevin, Best Man, and Groomsman.


Photography: Creative Visions Photography
Floral: FLEURISH - the rebel florist
Bakery: J.Noto
Ceremony & Recetion Venue: Crowne Plaza Clayton
Transportation: Best Transportation
Seat Covers: Take A Seat

Thank you Stella & Kevin for letting us be part of your day!

Guest Interview- Week 5 Floral Design

Photo Credit: Von Devore Photography
This week we go back to floral design. This topic is so very near and dear to us. Without a GREAT floral designer our overall room and table designs could fall flat. That is why we LOVE working with Sisters Flowers. Time and time again, Sisters has made me say “wow”. For those of you that read this blog regularly know that I am not easily wowed. I know that when a new client tells me they have already signed Sisters Flowers, that we are sure to produce a fabulous event!

The pictures shown throughout this interview show some gorgeous centerpieces Sisters Flowers has produced for us at Lacy Branch Events!!


Below is the interview LBE = Lacy Branch Events and SF= Sisters Flowers

LB: What exactly do floral designers do?

SF: We meet with the client and their coordinator, gather information from them, and put together a design that is unique to their event.


LB: How would you describe your design style?

SF: We have four designers and we all have our own personal preferences (wildflower, contemporary, traditional, etc.), but each event is designed on the client's style, not ours.


LB: What is a common misconception Brides & Grooms have regarding flowers?

SF: One common misconception is that their flowers will be the exact color, shape, size, etc. as the picture in the magazine that they bring in to us. Emily's favorite saying is "Flowers aren't widgets."-meaning that flowers are an individual living thing, and one is never the exact same as another. Pictures should really be used as inspiration and not just to copy.


LB: Are there any hot, right now trends in bouquets such as color or flowers?

SF: It seems like yellow will be popular next year. The natural garden look is also coming back, where as contemporary modern has been popular for the past couple of wedding seasons.


LB: What about centerpieces?

SF: Bigger is better. Brides are really looking to make an impression on their guests when they walk into their reception room. Big centerpieces will do that.


LB: Do seasons really matter anymore? Or are flowers available at anytime regardless of season?

SF: Most flowers are available all year round. A few exceptions would be peonies, tulips, ranunculus, dahlias.


LB: If a Bride asked you whether they should use silk flowers or not to save money, what might you tell them?

SF: We would say good quality silks are not cheaper and that we really stress using fresh flowers. We feel they should always be fresh.


LB: Do you think flowers inspire wedding trends or vice versa?

SF: Garden flowers could definitely inspire a bride to be a little more casual or less structured, while callas and orchids could be considered more contemporary and inspire that trend/look.


LB: What do you love most about your job?

SF: Sweeping the floors, taking out the trash, and scrubbing buckets. :) No really, we do love our jobs, even the less glamorous parts. It's especially satisfying to have a bride and her family tell us that their flowers were even prettier than they imagined.


LB: If you had one piece of advice to give couples what would it be?

SF: We have two pieces of advice:

First, hire a wedding coordinator. This will keep you on budget and save you lots of time and frustration.

Second, no matter what, don't be afraid to tell your florist what your flower budget is- which should be 8-10% of your entire wedding budget. This will help your florist to give you the best options and designs for your budget instead of just pricing random things.


LB: What is your favorite flower combination and why?

SF: Our favorites depend on the occasion and the person it is designed for. Our favorite color combos include orange and hot pink, orange and bright green, orange and purple, green and yellow, classic white and ivory mix.

Thanks to our dear friends Emily & Shelly over at Sisters Flowers for taking time to answer our questions.

Guest Interview- Week 4 Photography

We took a couple of weeks off from Guest Interviews while we did The Knot party. We are back in the swing of things, and this week we feature Kelly Park, a photographer, and owner of Kelly Park Photography. I recently met Kelly at an industry networking event. It wasn't long before I realized how talented and how adorable Kelly is. She is not only a very gifted photographer but just a sweet person. I asked Kelly to help me with the Knot Industry Party and she agreed without hesitation. You can see how much Kelly loves what she does in all of her work. I find her style to be so fresh, modern,chic,and stylish. Now I know what makes her one of the most sought after photographers in the St.Louis Area and beyond.


Below is the interview LBE = Lacy Branch Events and KP= Kelly Park

LBE: Tell us a little bit about your style of photography?

KP: My approach to photography is to capture real emotion. Throughout our session I talk with my clients and in the process it enables them to relax, laugh and be themselves.

LBE: What do you feel are some important questions couples should ask when they meet with potential Photographers for their Wedding Day?

KP: I think it is important for the photographer and couple to share the same vision. Couples should verify that the photographer they are meeting with is the same photographer who will be shooting their wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask about the photographer’s equipment. I use a Canon Mark ii and prime lens and continue to upgrade. I love to chat about the technical side.


LBE: Have you seen any shift or trend changes in Wedding Photography as of late?

KP: It depends of the type of style of photography you are interested in. I love looking through fashion magazines and seeing what the latest trends are. I am inspired with people, for me, each wedding is unique and I love to see each couple create their own trend.


LBE: What are three points you would like people to know when shopping around for a Photographer? Are all Photographers created equal?

KP: No, I do not think all photographers are the same.

I think it is important to find the right fit for a bride and groom.
1. Style: Traditional or Photojournalism? What type of photographer is the bride and groom looking for?
2. Photo Image Consistency: Ask to see an entire wedding gallery from a wedding day, are the photos consistent?
3. Personality: Enjoy your photographer!

LBE: What is your favorite part of shooting the Wedding Day?

KP: I have several favorites, I’ll share three:

1. When the bride puts her wedding dress on. I love the excitement that lights up her eyes and I love to see the mother of the bride’s expression!
2. When the bride and groom walk down the aisle as a married couple and exit the ceremony site. I love to see their excitement as the groom gushes over his new bride.
3. When the father of the bride shares a speech at the reception. Tears always fill my eyes when I hear a dad talk about his daughter.

LBE: What would you say if someone told you that they were trying to save overall costs by letting "a family friend" shoot their Wedding?

KP: I would say save in another area. People always tell me, “I wish we had gotten a better photographer”. Photographs are priceless, capture it well!



Thanks for the great tips Kelly!!
www.kellyparkphotography.com

The Knot Industry Party Post 2 of 2

Here are some additional pictures showing more of the beautiful linens. (compliments of BBJ Linen) I was inspired by the metallic shag when I first saw it in their showroom. I could not think of a more fun and hip fabric for the ultra lounge area. We used cobalt blue, and fuschia pink metallic table linen. We then complimented the Chavari Barstool pads with lime green covers. Thanks to The Aries Company for providing the stools.

Photos of these tables by Von Devore Photography

On the cake table we used BBJ's Purple Dahlia sheer over a teal bengaline. It really popped!



Our friends at Two Blue Doors tied in the peacock theme all the way to the table top thank you signs. They were fab! Photo courtesy of 683 Photography



This is a picture of the very talented Tami Scott of Tami Scott Studios applying my makeup.

Last but certainly not least, had the spool wall. Compliments of The Aries Company. I loved this unique way to serve appetizers.

Thanks again to all of the very very generous companies who donated their time and their services to make this event a huge success!

The Knot STL Industry Event.. 8/12/09 Post 1 of 2

The Lacy Branch Events Team


We are back in the office today after a very busy but exciting week. We were preparing for The Knot STL Industry Event. Since most of you would not know what this means, it is simply a networking event hosted by The Knot for the best of the best in the Wedding industry to come out and network. We as industry professionals see each other in passing at your weddings or events but don't often get to hang out and enjoy the company. It felt a little like the All Star Game that was recently here in St Louis, because all of the top vendors came together to play together in one event.

The event was held at Mad Art Gallery in St. Louis. This venue was perfect for our party. It is restored 1930 police station that is now a art gallery and event venue.

The best of the best vendors worked with me to bring my vision of peacocks to life. All of the images provided on this blog are courtesy of the very talented Von Devore and Kelly Park. Tracy Lee from Six Eighty Three Photography was also there, and I will have her pics in the next post.



Kelly Park captured all of our design elements here (above)!


This cake was my inspiration for the entire event design. I saw this cake when I was at an event in California, and I took a picture. When I came back I sent the picture to Stephanie Welty from Stephanie's Bakery. She thought I was a little crazy, but she was up for the challenge. She changed the overall color and modified the design to her style and produced this amazing cake!




The flowers were over the top perfect! Lisa Gallagher of Belli Fiori





BBJ Linen just came out with this new Lime Twist linen and I had to use it for this event. It looked great. The bar stools were provided by The Aires Company



Some images of the gorgeous ultra lounge that Exclusive Events, Inc created on the patio.






Makeup and Hair Stylist extraordinare Tami Scott from Tami Scott Studio. She made all of my team ultra peacock glam.





Parties & Props, Ltd. went all out and created the peacock entrance way to die for. They also did all the crystal curtains on the stage and behind the cake.


Stay tuned to our next blog post for BBJ Linen, more Parties & Props, as well as The Aires Company, and more candid fun shots! Thanks again to all who made this possible.

Guest Interview- Week 2- Floral Design

This week we feature Lisa Gallager, a floral designer, and owner of Belli Fiori Florist in St. Louis.

Lisa is always a pleasure to work with. Her imagination and flare for creating unique and modern designs makes her one of our top floral picks. Belli Fiori also has a store front in The Hill area where you can "cash and carry" flower arrangements.

Below is the interview LBE = Lacy Branch Events and BF=Belli Fiori

LBE: What exactly do floral designers do?

BF: Floral designers create arrangements using flowers. They apply the elements and principles of design such as scale,line, color, balance, harmony, etc to design a gorgeous bouquet.


LBE: How would you describe your design style?

BF: I like to think my style is clean lines, modern and contemporary.


LBE: What is a common misconception Brides & Grooms have regarding flowers?

BF: I think brides really do not realize how much flowers can cost. They see a lot of pictures in magazines and want certain flowers or certain centerpieces but it doesn't really fit into their budget. It then becomes my job to help create something similar but more budget friendly when needed.


LBE: Are there any hot, right now trends in bouquets such as color or flowers?

BF: I'm seeing a lot of requests from brides for yellow bouquets or mixes of yellows and other colors for next spring.


LBE: Do seasons really matter anymore? Or are flowers available at anytime regardless of season?

BF: Seasons matter for some flowers such as tulips or peonies. But for other popular wedding flowers, such as hydrangeas, callas, or roses, these are available year round.


LBE: If a Bride asked you whether they should use silk flowers or not to save money, what might you tell them?

BF:Unless they want to use spend the money on really good silks, I would suggest spending the money on real flowers. Sometimes "bad" silks cannot compete with the look of real flowers. I tell brides to think about how those pictures of the wedding day are going to look especially if the flowers don't complement anyone.


LBE: Do you think flowers inspire wedding trends or vice versa?BF:I think trends really affect the flower choices and colors. Trends such as round, compact bouquets really lend themselves to the type of flowers used, such as hydrangeas that really conform to that shape. Also, whatever the popular color wedding colors are at the moment will have an affect on floral choices. I was seeing a lot of blue mixes and purple mixes but now that seems to be shifting a little.


LBE: What do you love most about your job?

BF: I love having the chance to get creative with bouquets and centerpieces that I know will really excite the couple. There is nothing better than presenting a bride with her bouquet and knowing that you had a part
of bringing joy to someone on their big day.


LBE: If you had one piece of advice to give couples what would it be?

BF: Try and be as prepared as possible for the meeting with the floral designer. Things to bring to a floral appointment or consultaion include color swatches, either fabric or even paint chips (this will help give the designer a clear idea of the colors you would like to use). And unless the bridesmaids are wearing a neutral color, please make sure that the color of the dresses has been chosen. You want to make sure that the designer comes up with some ideas that will complement, not clash with the color of the dresses. Also bring pictures of bouquets and/or centerpieces that you really like.

A floral designer will ask questions to get an idea of your style but sometimes it may be hard to describe something. So, if you have a picture of what appeals to you, then it will help to clarify the look that you are trying to achieve. Doing some homework beforehand will really help the appointment go smooth and you will get what you want in the end.


LBE: What is your favorite flower combination and why?

BF: My favorites change constantly. With every new season, the color palette changes so I get to work with new color stories. I love going to market and finding the truly unique flowers and incorporating them into arrangements with your every day flowers.

Thanks again Lisa for taking time out of your very busy schedule to help us better understand floral design.

Andrea & Joe's 7-11-09 Pictures Round 2

Photos courtesy of CMAX Photography. We just received all of the images they took. They did an amazing job and we couldn't wait to share them with you!!

One of the things we love to do is encourage guests to look around the room. We often achieve this by doing different tablescapes, as we did with this wedding. You will see that we had 3 different linens a pale pink, an ivory, and lace overlay. We alternated pale pink and ivory napkins.



There were also 3 different centerpieces, but still complimentary.



Exclusive Events, Inc. washed the room in soft Pink and swagged fabric on the wall and ceiling to further create a romantic ambiance. Here you will see the lights in the room and the monogram (gobo) projected on the dance floor. This part of the event was a surprise to Andrea from her mom Beth! It was so much fun being part of a surprise like that and seeing her reaction.

Dream Team:
Floral: Belli Fiori
Linens: BBJ Linen
Lighting & Fabric: Exclusive Events, Inc.

First round of pictures from Andrea & Joe's Wedding 7-11-09

Photos courtesy of CMAX Photography. They did an amazing job!! More to come.







Event Dream Team:
Floral: Belli Fiori
Linens: BBJ Linen
Lighting & Fabric: Exclusive Events, Inc.