Kristine Miller and Jason Linster were married at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Their reception was held in downtown South Bend, at the Palais Royale Ballroom. Kristy and Jason wanted to evoke a fall feeling, and I feel they accomplished that beautifully through the use of rich jewel tones of burgundy and eggplant, accented with champagne and gold. Many of the reception details were done by Kristy, who spent countless hours, painstakingly creating each, among them, menu cards, table numbers, the hanging seating assignments and the ceremony programs. She did an awesome job!! Below are some candid images of the reception.]


Inside the pocket folded napkin we tucked the menu card and placed a traditional fall bloom, a mum, below the menu card.


I loved this idea!! Beside each table number, were photos of Kristy and Jason, when they were the age of the table number. For instance, at 5, there were images of the bride and groom, when they were both 5 years old. My favorite was table number 13!!


An overall view of the reception. Kristy chose garnet crushed linens, gold chivari chairs and a champagne-taupe linen color for her napkins. She also decided to feature an elevated centerpiece look, as well as a centerpiece that was closer to the table. This image shows the elevated piece which again, I feel reflects the season, with branches.


Kristy's Dad created these gold 'trees' from which were hung with each guests seating assignment. These did double duty as the color of the card corresponded to the entree the guest had chosen - clever! I especially loved the crystals that dropped from the bottom of each - illuminated by votive candles, they glittered on the trees.


This image shows the second centerpiece design - submerging floral and branches in water for a dramatic, yet simple effect.


Isn't this shot cool? My friend from Allure Films, Brian Peterson, took this overhead image of the cake. What a cool perspective, one that you rarely get of the cake!


The cake, taken from a more traditional perspective. Don't you just love the way the cake looks like it is dripping with chocolate?!


Our reception vendors were:
Palais Royale
MichaelAngelos
Rascia's Creative Cakes
Life On Prints
In Tune DJ
Wayne Harvey Wedding Productions

Labels: Palais Royale, Reception, Wedding

You've read the article in Wedding Essentials, seen the story on Michiana Weddings, I'm here to give you the inside scoop on what really happened the night an F3 tornado ripped through my client's event site, in mid-production - and how we pulled off putting it all back together in little over 48 hours.

My rental company, Burns Rentals, and I began production on our August 18, 2007 wedding on the Monday (Aug. 13) before the event. It was to take place in a 90 x 150' tent, on the shore of Lake Maxinkuckee, on the campus of Culver Military Academy, in Culver, IN. Every day leading up to the wedding had been carefully mapped out in pre-production meetings. It would take us every bit of time we had that week to put together what promised, to be an absolutely amazing event. By Wednesday evening, we were just a little ahead of our production for that day. The tents (cocktail, dining and catering) were up, liners installed, tables and chivari chairs were almost set and the 8' hand strung crystal chandeliers were being finished up. We felt happy and optimistic that we might even have a little bit of extra time to make final adustments and tweak details before the event was to begin.

We left the site around 7 pm that evening, leaving two gentlemen from the rental company to finish hand stringing the chandeliers. Later, at home that evening, while watching television, the local newschannel came on with news of high winds, and severe thunderstorms that were sweeping through our area. It started to get really scary when they were asking the viewers to take shelter due to tornado sightings.....and according to the doppler screen on TV, it was right where the event site was. I watched obsessively until around 11 pm, then made myself go to bed, trying to assure myself that surely, nothing would happen. Oh man how wrong I was.

Around 11:35 pm, an F3 tornado ripped across Lake Maxinkuckee, and you guessed it, right through the event site. Unbelievable! The rental guys left to finish the chandeliers were still there when the storm approached - they quickly got down off of the lift and ran for their vehicles. They called the rental company to let them know what was happening, and took off for some type of shelter. By 2:00 am, Burns had assembled a crew and were heading down to the site, with four box trucks and a bobcat, which had to be unloaded twice to move trees out of the roadway so they could continue to try and get to Culver. Once at the event site, using the headlights from their vehicles, we got our first look of what Mother Nature had left us. The site was in a complete shambles - the main dining tent (which is made to withstand 70 mph winds) had been lifted and moved 40-50' to the shore of the lake. The cocktail tent was upsidedown, on top of the dining tent, the metal structure of the chandeliers were sticking through the tent, the tent poles twisted like pipecleaners. The beautiful tent liners were ripped, muddy and twisted amongst bits of chivari chairs and broken tables. The crystal pieces from the chandeliers were strewn across the entire site, some pieces broken and now dangerously sharp. And the debris!! Trees, branches, leaves, mud, it looked like a war zone. I'm telling you it was a surreal moment, we all just stood there trying to take in what had happened.
We then looked at each other and said, now what???!!! A plan was devised, that I now like to call 'event disaster triage'. We began to pull the tents from the lake to access if they were destroyed, usable but in need of repair, or fine w/little damage. And so it went, with everything, chairs, tables, lighting, etc. Once everything was accessed, we then made lists of what inventory we needed to supplement what was destroyed and what needed to be repaired. The hitch here is that this is a wedding, in August, and by this point, rental items are going to be out from other rental companies, on other events.

More to come.....

Michiana Weddings also has the story of recreating everything after the tornado here.

Labels: disaster, tent wedding, tornado

Bella - An Exceptional Event for Brides will be held on November 18, 2007, at the Palais Royale. The Bella Bridal Brunch will be held from 10:30 am - 12 noon, in The Morris Bistro. The brunch features a delicious champagne brunch and a preview of wedding must-have looks and trends for the season. Presented by Wedding Day Magazine, tickets are $30.00, in advance only. The Bridal Event and Style Show will begin at 12 noon, and offers everything you need for your special day, including style shows at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. Tickets are $5.00 in advance, $10.00 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the Morris Box Office/ 574-235-9190.

Celebrated Events will be featured in the Girly Girl Gifts and Accessories booth, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about how a wedding producer can help make your wedding day a fabulous dream! Don't be shy.....come by and say hi!!

Cynthia Basker
Celebrated Events
Let us produce your fabulous event!!

Labels: bella bridal event, wedding producer

I'm excited to announce that I will be speaking at The Special Event Conference, in Atlanta, GA this coming January, 2008. I am honored to be speaking with my colleague, Frank Andonoplas of Frank Event Design, who is located in Chicago, Il. Our seminar will be featured in the Wedding Trends educational track. I look forward to this conference all year, every year! This is where I learn what the cutting edge trends in weddings and events are. The very best of the best are chosen to speak at this conference, and I come away inspired by the creativity and new ideas presented. I translate these new ideas into amazing events for my clients!

Labels: speaker for, TSE

My boutique, Girly Girl, is having our annual Holiday Open House, on November 9 & 10! We will be debuting several new lines, Big Buddha handbags, By Boe jewelry, [bump] babies among others!

Meg Lammers (pictured) of Meg Wedding Jewelry will also be here with her classic, contemporary designs. She will be showcasing her holiday collection, along with a special sneek preview of her 2008 spring/summer exclusive bridal collection! Check out her amazing creations at www.megweddingjewelry.com.

hugs and kisses -
Cyndi Basker

Labels: GirlyGirl Gifts, Holiday Open House, Meg Wedding Jewelry, new merchandise lines