Monday, May 24, 2010

Happy birthday to you!

Although I love coordinating weddings, benefits, and other major events, sometimes smaller parties are the most fun. Luckily for me, springtime seems to also be birthdaytime in these parts, and I've had several clients who wanted to celebrate in hilarious style.

Amber wanted to throw a surprise 40th birthday party for her fiancé, Stefan, and her best friend Kari (who is not quite 40). Amber figured there was no better way to ring in Stefan's new decade than by bringing out his inner kid, so she brought me in to create a carnival-style ruckus in her sunny backyard. We had old school games (what is that one called where you throw beanbags at stuffed cats and knock them down?), awesome new electronic games like Rock Band, county fair food like mini corn dogs and caramel apples ... and a bouncy castle. You heard me. I've never seen so many doctors, lawyers, accountants, and mothers jump till they quite literally dropped.

Mica (Kari's boyfriend), Kari, Stefan, Amber

After the bouncy castle extravaganza, it was time to get physical à la Olivia Newton-John for Susan's 40-something birthday. Everyone came dressed in their '80s best, ready to play Twister and sing along to Belinda Carlisle. We set up a projector and played some favorites like "Dirty Dancing," "Bill and Ted's 
Excellent Adventure," and that Olivia Newton-John classic, "Xanadu," on Susan's 20' walls. Susan's guests brought some seriously amazing dance moves and some even more amazing costumes, reminding me how very very happy I am that there are so few pictures of me from that fashion-disaster decade. 

So, I guess the lesson here is that you're never too old to have a fun, fantastic, bouncy, or totally tubular birthday. Happy birthday, Stefan, Kari, and Susan!

Susan (center) with her sister Janet and brother Jeff

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Congratulations, Tami & Greg!

 
Photos Courtesy of David Lynn Photography

You remember reading here about Hitched in the Highlands don't you? The event organized by Happy Cakes in which some fantastic local vendors donated products and services worth over $25,000 for one lucky winning couple? Well, although the winners ran off with the prize a short 8 weeks ago, we just had the wedding last weekend ... and if I do say so myself (and on behalf of the other vendors), it was AWESOME.

The wedding was at my new favorite venue, Mile High Station, which boasts an incredible mix of industrial chic and contemporary elegance. The giant (I mean seriously GIANT) chandeliers make for great ambiance and fantastic pictures, such as those that the incredible photographers, Dave and Lynn of David Lynn Photography, captured again and again. Tami had rich flowers designed by Erin at Plum Sage, and looked old-Hollywood stunning in a Monique Lhullier gown generously donated by the glamorous ladies at Anna Bé and fit to perfection by DeeDee at The Wedding Seamstress. Greg is one seriously lucky dude.


Biscuits & Berries provided a bountiful buffet of some of Tami and Greg's favorite dishes, and they even helped Tami surprise Greg with a pre-wedding gift of his favorite meal: a Philly cheesesteak and a Stella Artois (so cute!) And what wedding would be complete without ending on a sweet note: Happy Cakes cupcakes, of course! 
Although all the vendors were fantastic and the wedding was perfect and went off without a hitch (no pun intended), the most important part, of course, is that Tami and Greg are now married!! They were so happy and in love all day, and we all send them our best wishes that those feelings continue every day of their new lives together. Congratulations, you two!