Viridian Design Blog

VALENTINES DAY 2011 - EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES!

2011-02-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is Monday, February 14th. It's time to place your order!!

We will have something for everyone with Mixed Arrangements starting at $35 and a Dozen Roses arranged in the signature Viridian style starting at $85.

This post contains just a few examples of what we will have available. As always, we would LOVE to create something perfect just for your Valentine. Let us know your budget and we will design a custom arrangement just for you.

The "Modern Mix" $65. The "Gracious Mix" $85

The "Luxe Mix" $125

"Eight Perfect Roses" $55. The "Cheerful Mix" $45. The "Bright Mix" $55

The "Stylish Dozen" $110. The "Classic Dozen" $85

New this Year!!

GOODIE BOXES

Flowers and a Delicious Treat from Jen the Cookie Chick combined beautifully with packaging from Delightful Designs.

The Base Price of the Goodie Box is $39 - This includes beautiful fresh flowers, custom gift box, and packaging.

You select the yummy treat you want to add to customize your box!!

Cupcakes

Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting add $6

Chocolate Fudge Cake with a Chocolate Ganache Filling and Vanilla Buttercream Frosting add $6

CakeBalls

Package of Six - Red Velvet, Chocolate Mint or Mixed add $11

Hand Decorated Sugar Cookies

Medium add $5

Large add $6

Fabulous Double Heart add $10

"Love Bug" $35

CALL OR E-MAIL TODAY TO PLACE YOUR ORDER!!

830.257.2067

tricia@viridiandesignstudio.com

Goodie Boxes will be available Friday, February 11th and Monday, February 14th. Pre-order to ensure availability.

We will be delivering throughout the Kerr County area.

VALENTINE'S HOURS

Friday, February 11 ~ 8:00am-6:00pm
Saturday, February 12 ~ 9:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, February 13 ~ 1:00pm-5:00pm
Monday, February 14 ~ 7:00am-6:00pm

Viridian Design Studio is located at
1617 Broadway
Kerrville, TX 78028

Preview!! - Valentine's Day 2011

2011-01-28T13:04:00.000-08:00

It's almost that time of year...time to start thinking about your Valentine!!

Valentine's Day is Monday - February 14th.

We have some beautiful preview pictures to share with you. Thanks so much to Sally Davidson Photography for the amazing photos!!

We have lots of options to choose from for Valentine's this year and we are SO excited about what we will have available. As always, we will have Viridian signature mixed arrangements starting at $50.00. Full of premium flowers, roses, garden roses, ranunculus, anemones, tulips and more...these are always a hit. We will also have dozen rose bouquets starting at $85.00. We would love to design something special, just for you! Call now so we can ensure that your Valentine's flowers are fabulous!!

Don't forget sweets for your sweetie. We have partnered again with the FAB Jen the Cookie Chick on our Valentine's Goodie Boxes. These were SUCH a hit at Christmas!! Jen's treats are to die for...combine them with our gorgeous flowers and couture packaging from My Delightful Designs and you have the perfect gift!!

Goodie Boxes start at $45.00 depending on the treats you choose.

Goodie choices are

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

Chocolate Ganache filled Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Cake Balls

Gorgeous Gourmet Iced Sugar Cookies

Goodie Boxes will be available Friday, February 11th and Monday, February 14th. The deadline for pre-orders is Monday February 7th. These will sell out fast .. Pre-Order Now!!

Finally, for your little love bug we introduce OUR little "Love-Bugs". Now tell me you can look at this guy and not smile??!! In addition we will have teddy bears, balloons, flowering plants and other fun stuff available. Stay tuned for more updates...

Love Bug - $35.00

Thanks again to Sally Davidson Photography for the beautiful images!!

Brittney and Tom - Riven Rock Ranch

2011-01-27T18:40:00.000-08:00

Brittney and Tom's wedding at Riven Rock Ranch in Comfort, Texas was full of storybook charm.

We loved Brittney's delicate color palette of peach, buff, ivory and citrus green...simply luscious!! Her exquisite flowers included loads of delicious cafe au lait dahlias (my all time fave!), peach finesse roses, sahara roses, petite spray roses, white scabiosa, white peonies, parrot tulips, hypericum, queen anne's lace and baby's breath (Yes...baby's breath. Look, it's gorgeous!). Luxury linens, vintage details and organic elements completed the beautiful effect.

Brittney and Tom were a joy to work with! The planning process was a breeze. The Viridian team, the always awesome Riven Rock staff, and Brittney and Tom's super talented vendors worked together to produce a flawless event.

It was a lovely evening... full of laughter, family and fun. Perfect!!

VENDOR TEAM

Venue - Riven Rock Ranch

Design, Planning and Coordination - Viridian Design Studio

Catering - Spice of Life Catering

Cake - Spice of Life Catering

Tent - Marquee Tents

Linens - La Tavola Fine Linens

Floral Design - Viridian Design Studio

Band - The Legendary Tribute Band

Photography - Hyde Park Photography

Christmas Goodies

2010-12-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year and if you are like we are, you are frantically trying to fill in the gaps in your Christmas list. That task may have just gotten a bit easier! We are so excited to partner with Jen the Cookie Chick to offer these fun Christmas gift boxes. We think they will be perfect for teachers, bosses, co-workers, business colleagues or just that friend who has everything. The boxes are a cute combo of either flowers and a jumbo cupcake or flowers and a bag of two of Jen's MASSIVE cookies. You can even add more cookies or cupcakes if you are feeling extra Holiday Spirit!!

To make it even easier we can deliver the boxes for you! Since these are fresh and perishable products, we will have two pick up and delivery dates and they are coming up soon!

Pick Up/Delivery Dates

Friday, December 17th (the last day of school!)

Order Deadline Monday, December 13th 5:00pm

Tuesday, December 21st

Order Deadline Thursday, December 16th 5:00pm

To place an order

call

Viridian Design Studio (830) 257-2067

e-mail

triciahamil@yahoo.com

Supplies are limited!!

Mod Red and White Snowflake Gift Box
Seasonal Flowers in a Cute Ruby Glass Bottle
Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing - $35
plus tax and delivery

Mod Red and White Snowflake Gift Box
Seasonal Flowers in a Cute Ruby Glass Bottle
Two Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies - $35.00
plus tax and delivery

Jen's FABULOUS Red Velvet Cupcake!!
YUMMO!! - $6.00

Balsa Wood Gift Box
Cute Frosty Flowers in a Fitch Vintage Aqua Blue Vase
Chocolate Cupcake with Coconut Cream Filling and Cream Cheese Icing - $35.00
plus tax and delivery

Chocolate Cupcake with Coconut Cream Cheese Filling and Cream Cheese Icing
Oh My Goodness!! - $6.00

Rustic Wood Crate
Seasonal Flowers in a Pint Jar (a Hill Country Classic!!)
Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing
Finished with vintage ribbon from Fitch - $35.00
plus tax and delivery

More Red Velvet!!

COOKIES
Pecan Chocolate Chip (to die for) and Molasses Spice (my personal fav!!)
Two for $6.00
Four for $11.00

Katie and Derek - Horseshoe Bay Resort

2010-07-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Katie and Derek had a GORGEOUS spring wedding at Horseshoe Bay Resort. The weather was perfect for lakeside cocktails followed by dinner and dancing at the Yacht Club. We are looking forward to writing a full post with all the details and the photos from this event. In the meantime, we couldn't help but share this video teaser from the amazing folks at graymask videography. This was such a fun event and the video captures the spirit of the evening perfectly...Enjoy!!

Katie and Derek from Graymask on Vimeo.

Sarah and Dustin - NOW Riviera Cancun

2010-03-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

What a week-end! Sarah and Dustin were married last Saturday at the gorgeous NOW Riviera Cancun. They were joined by several of their closest friends and family for the wedding and a few days of fun in the sun.

The resort is located near the quaint village of Puerto Morelos and is absolutely breathtaking! The guests enjoyed shopping, lounging at the gorgeous pools and beaches and fabulous meals. After a stunningly simple and romatic beachfront ceremony the guests enjoyed a fabulous "al fresco" reception overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

The couple chose a fun, modern color scheme for their reception that complimented the design of the hotel perfectly. The guests were seated at two long feasting tables and treated to an amazing four course candlelight dinner. It is a little cool this time of year in Mexico, so the couple provided each female guest a pashmina in case they got a little chilly. After dinner, guests lingered long into the evening visiting and dancing under the stars. It was a beautiful night and we were blessed to be a part!

I have attached the photos we were able to catch during the week-end. We will update the web-site with the professional pictures when they arrive. Enjoy!

Venue and Catering - Now Riviera Cancun

Event Design, Production and Floral Design - Viridian Design Studio

Photography - Claudia Rodriguez Wedding Photography

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

I Love You - Day and Night

It's that time of year and romance is in the air! We are so excited for Valentine's 2010!! We have designed two distinctly different looks for you to choose from this year.

The Day Collection (click on the link for the full collection) is all about romance. Gorgeous roses, lush peonies, sweetpea, dahlias, tulips, hydrangea and queen anne's lace are some of the flowers featured in this collection. With color palettes ranging from soft to vibrant, and designs to suit both traditional and modern girls there is surely something to please your romantic sweetheart!

The Night Collection (click on the link for the full collection) is sultry and sophisticated. Rich red and vibrant pink roses, hot pink hydrangea, stunning burgundy anemones, velvety black callas and folded ti leaves bring elegance to this modern, stylish collection.

As always, if you would prefer, we will design a custom arrangement for your valentine. Come in and browse our selection of unique and vintage containers or just let us know what you would like and we will create something beautiful just for you!

We will also be offering cute plush gifts, delicious house-made sweets by Cartewheels Catering and more!!

For the ultimate in Valentine's Day pampering, Viridian is partnering with Cartewheels in their "Got Candlelight?" promotion. Debby and her talented team have crafted a wide selection of menu option for Valentine's Day. With starter's ranging from $4.5 to $6, entrees from $15 to $18 and desserts from $2 to $4 you are sure to find something to please your palate. Pair your gourmet meal with a gorgeous bouquet from Viridian and both will be delivered to your door with a smile. What could be more romantic than a candlelit dinner in the comfort of you own home? (...and if you forgot the candles don't worry, we've got those too!") Call Viridian at (830) 257-2067 or Cartewheels at (830) 257-7171 for more information.

Emily and Jonathan - Camp Mystic

2010-01-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Emily and Jonathan's wedding...where do I begin? We LOVED every aspect of this event!

Emily and her family are wonderful, so the planning process was a breeze.  We had so much fun planning, we were a little sad for that part to end. But it was worth it, you'll see!

We could not have asked for a more beautiful crisp, clear, fall day for this event.  The ceremony took place by the river at gorgeous Camp Mystic.  The setting was truly breathtaking. After the ceremony, the guests were treated to a sunset cocktail hour on the lawn with gourmet passed hors d'ouevres.

The fabulous reception was held in the dining hall which was warmed with beautiful custom lighting from Ilios lighting.  Mystic's own chef, Richard Eastland, prepared an incredible meal that people could not stop talking about!! The Grooves kept the party going strong, long into the evening. It was just a perfect night... and we were blessed to be a part!

Thanks to Kim Maguire for these incredible images. Kim, you are amazing!!

Thanks so much to all those who worked together to make this event so FABULOUS!!

Venue - Camp Mystic

Officiant - Judge Stephen Ables

Event Design, Production and Flowers - Viridian Design Studio

Catering - Richard Eastland

Photography - Kim Maguire

Lighting - Ilios Lighting

Band - The Grooves

Strings - Musical Ethos

Cake - Sophies Choice Bakery

Photobooth - BoothBooth

Rentals - Marquee Rents

Golf Carts - Golf Cars and Care

Meghan and RJ - Riven Rock Ranch Wedding

2009-12-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

Meghan and RJ were married this fall at Riven Rock Ranch. It was such a gorgeous night!

Meghan chose a perfect color palette and design for this event. Soft, earthy and organic with just enough color to make it pop! Her bridal bouquet was one of my favorites...loads of creme de la creme roses, majolica spray roses, tulips, scabiosa pods, and gorgeous white anemones, just dreamy!

The evening started with a ceremony held under the pavilion at Riven Rock. The guests then moved to the fabulous new Terrace Grill for the reception.  The food was delicious, the entertainment was varied and outstanding (guitar, flamenco dancers, and an incredible band!) and everyone had a fabulous time!

The images posted here are just a few from the blog post by their amazing photographer Anahi Navarro. For the entire post click here anahiphotoartblog.  Check it out. The pictures are incredible!!

Thank so much to all the fabulous vendors who worked together to create this beautiful event.

You are amazing!!

Venue - Riven Rock Ranch

Coordination, Design and Flowers - Viridian Design Studio

Catering - Fresh Horizons

Photography - Anahi Navarro

Transportation - Elegant Limo and Shuttle

Cake - Sophie's Choice Bakery

Band - Jabarvy

Holiday 2009

2009-12-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

It's time to order your Holiday flowers! Nothing says Christmas like fresh flowers and greens. Whether you need a centerpiece for your holiday table, fresh accents for around your home or a gift for a loved one...we are here to help! I am posting just a few examples of designs we have created this season. Call us and and let us create something beautiful, just for you!

Call or stop by now to place your order.

(830) 257-2067

1617 Broadway

Kerrville, Texas

We deliver to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, Center Point, Comfort, Fredericksburg and surrounding areas.

We accept Mastercard, Visa and Discover

Angela and Jeremy - Horseshoe Bay

2009-12-11T15:08:00.000-08:00

Angela and Jeremy were married last summer at gorgeous St. Paul the Apostle Chuch in Horseshoe Bay. Their reception was held at the Yacht Club at Horseshoe Bay Resort. It was such an outstanding event!

We spent almost a year planning this wedding with Angela, Jeremy and their families and we loved every minute of it! Angela spent a great deal of her childhood in different parts of Asia.  It was important to her to incoporate this part of her history into the design of the wedding.  An Asian inspired custom logo, hundreds of stems of brightly colored mokara and dendrobium orchids flown in from Thailand, a gorgeous cherry blossom cake from Simon Lee Bakery, and Asian elements from the family's personal collection all came together to create an event that was stylish and unique.

These families were incredibly gracious and a pleasure to work with. The comfort and enjoyment of their guests was their top priority! I love that!! The wine and food were amazing and served in abundance, every guest was treated with the upmost care and hospitality and a fabulous time was had by all. It was a beautiful evening and we were delighted to be a part!

Thanks so much to Tyler Schmitt for these fabulous images!!

Thanks so much to all the amazing vendors who worked on this event! Everyone did an outstanding job!!

Event Design and Flowers - Viridian

Lighting - Ilios Lighting

Draping - Strong Productions

Linens - BBJ

Cake - Simon Lee

Photography - Tyler Schmitt

Music - Monte Vista String

Kevin McCormick

Drywater Band

Transportation - Tom Daniels Rolls Royce

Celebrations Limousine

Kappa Kappa Gamma Tablescape Event

2009-12-09T05:09:00.000-08:00

We recently had the opportunity to design a table for the 2009 San Antonio Kappa Kappa Gamma Tablescapes event. Over 40 designer tables were featured at a wine reception and luncheon held at the San Antonio Country Club. The proceeds from the event benefited the Sunshine Cottage-School for the Deaf “HEAR” for the future capital campaign for a new school campus.

This was our first year to participate in this annual fund-raising event. We have heard about it, seen pictures from past events and wanted to participate last year but missed the deadline. We are so glad we made it this year. We had so much fun and we are already brainstorming ideas for next year! This event is so cool. It is heaven for creative types! Designers, Businesses, and People of all different backgrounds come together to express the essence of their business, service, art or idea in "tablescape" format. If you haven't been to "Tablescapes" you need to go, it is a feast for the eyes!

Sara and Tyler - Riven Rock Ranch Wedding

2009-12-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Sara and Tyler were married in November at Riven Rock Ranch. They are such a neat couple and we had a wonderful time working with them. Sara had so many wonderful ideas for her wedding! We loved being able to help her make those ideas reality!

It was such a beautiful day; full of family, friends food and fun ~ and lots of really cool flowers :)! It could not have been any better in my book!

I am posting a few pictures we snapped during set-up but for the full scoop check out their photographer's awesome coverage on the The Nichols Blog.

Wonder what we did with these guys? Check out the The Nichols Blog.

Venue- Riven Rock Ranch
Coordination and Floral Design- Viridian Studio Design
Cake- Bumdoodler’s
Musicians- Divisi Strings Amp’d Contemporary Quartet
Catering- Page Barteau
Hair and Make-Up- Veilvet

Shannon and Blake - Video Highlights

2009-08-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

Shannon and Blake were married this June at the beautiful Stablewood Springs Resort .

I am currently sorting through hundreds of gorgeous images from the amazing Marcus Revilla, and I will post a complete blog entry sharing all the details of their day very soon.

Until then, I couldn't resist posting this teaser from our talented friends at Elite Video Productions. Enjoy!!

Blake & Shannon - Hillcountry Wedding from elitevp.com on Vimeo.

Brandi and Mike - Riven Rock Ranch

2009-07-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

We recently had the pleasure of working with Brandi and Mike on their gorgeous wedding at Riven Rock Ranch. Brandi was a blast to work with! She had tons of wonderful ideas and I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with her to make her vision a reality.

The day of the wedding could not have gone more smoothly. Everyone was relaxed and had a wonderful time. The evening was beautiful, the food was incredible and the dance floor was packed...All signs of a great party in my book!

Thanks so much to our awesome team of vendors. It was an outstanding event!

Venue - Riven Rock Ranch
Rentals - Class A Rentals
Catering - Page Barteau
Photography - Kim Maguire
Cake - Sophie's Choice Bakery
Guitar- Kevin McCormick
Band - The Grateful Geezers
Event and Floral Design/Event Coordination - Viridian Design Studio

Erica's Bridal Portraits

2009-05-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

Check out these amazing portraits!!

Erica's wedding was the last week-end in April and it was gorgeous. We had such a great time with her sweet family. I cannot wait to share the pictures. In the meantime, here is a little teaser.

Jona with Forever Photography Studio in Austin shot these incredible bridal portraits. (Jona rocks, we love her!!)

The setting...the dress..the bride... Soooo beautiful.

Enjoy ~

Mother's Day Collection 2009

2009-05-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about Mother's Day 2009. We have lots of gorgeous flowers coming in this week and we would love to share them with you. Vibrant Mokara orchids from Singapore, gorgeous Antique Hydrangea, some of our favorite Rose Varieties and lots of beautiful seasonal flowers. Here are a few examples of what we will have in the Studio.

As always we will have our

"Signature Viridian Mixes"

Sleek, Modern, Stylish, Fun and Packed with Vivid Color

From $35 -$65

(flower varieties and colors may vary)

In addition we have

"Savannah"

For the classic mom, this elegant blue and white oriental vase filled with a profusion of gorgeous raspberry mokara orchids is bound to make an impression.

$65

"Chelsea"

For the fashionista mom, this stylish arrangement of stunning melon orange mokara orchids is sure to make her day.

$75

"Georgia"

For the romantic Mom, what could be better than this gorgeous gathering of Antique Hydrangea and Roses ~ perfection.

$70

"Carolina"

For the fun mom, this cheerful grouping of Yellow Roses, Gerber Daisies, Viburnum and seasonal flowers is sure to make her smile!

$75

"Madison"

For your nature girl ~ this beautiful mix of seasonal color is artfully arranged and showcased in an "eco-chic" bark container. The eggplant ribbon and beaded accent add just the right amount of luxe.

$85

"Charlotte"

For the pampered mom, this spectacular display of Antique Hydrangea, Viburnum, Roses, Parrot Tulips and Snapdragons in a footed clear vase is sure to impress.

$95

This is just a small example of what will be available. We would love to design an arrangement just for you!

Viridian Design Studio

1617 Broadway

Kerrville, Texas 78028

(830) 257-2067

We deliver to the Kerr Country Area

MasterCard.Visa.Discover

Viridian Design Studio - Retail Location Open!!

2009-05-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

In October of last year Viridian moved into a wonderful and spacious studio. After only a few months working in this location, we decided a retail flower shop would be the perfect compliment to our existing event design business.

Creative floral design is a cornerstone of our business. We do almost all of our floral design work in house. We had fresh flowers in the studio three or four days out of most weeks anyway, so it just seemed like the right move for us.

We have been "open" for a couple of months now and the fabulous and uber-talented, Christin Armstrong, has joined the Viridian team as full time designer for the retail location.

We are located at

1617 Broadway
Kerrville, Texas 78028
(830) 257-2067

We have had a busy Spring. We will be posting all the fun event photos soon. We are planning some FABULOUS events for this summer and we are looking forward to our first Mother's Day at the shop. Stop by the shop and say hi.

We would love to see you!!

Wedding Fair

2009-02-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

I had a blast this week-end helping set up and work the Riven Rock Ranch booth at the San Antonio wedding fair. It was so much fun meeting and visiting with all the sweet brides! It's was also really neat to get to chat with all our vendor friends in a non-event setting.

I collaborated with Riven Rock on the design of the booth and it turned out so nicely. The objective was to really convey the "feel" of the Ranch through the design of the booth ~ I think we succeeded!

Intimate Wedding at Riven Rock Ranch

2009-02-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

This beautiful wedding took place under the pavilion at the gorgeous Riven Rock Ranch. The couple and twenty of their friends and family gathered for an intimate wedding celebration.

After the ceremony, the guests were seated at an extra wide "king's table" dressed in burgundy velvet. Wrought iron hurricane lanterns and abundant votive candles provided intimate lighting while low, lush arrangements of flowers and fruit provided color. The guests enjoyed an amazing five course meal paired with excellent wines. The dinner began at sunset and ended with candles and moonlight. It was pure magic!

Cinderella Pumpkins

2008-11-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

I have just spent an amazing week at Disney World celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. As I sat in the hotel room relaxing and going over some of our fall events, this wedding jumped out at me. The white "Cinderella" pumpkins just seemed right for a Thanksgiving Day post from Disney.

We are so thankful for the year we have had at Viridian. We have had the privilege of working with so many wonderful families. Thanks to all of our clients for letting us be a part of your celebrations. We have loved them all!

Fall Weddings

2008-10-27T19:37:00.001-07:00

Wow ~ what a crazy fall we have had at Viridian, filled with wonderful couples and beautiful events ~ but not much time for blogging!

We will be updating over the next few weeks as we go through all of our snapshots. We will try to post the November events as they happen!

Keep checking in!!

Friday Find - Cupcake Cups

2008-08-21T22:16:00.000-07:00

I love these adorable cupcake wrappers from Fancy Flours .

These sweet wraps would make a great addition to a cupcake or sweets display at a casual wedding.

The web-site features several other options, great for baby showers, kid's birthdays or holiday entertaining. But my personal favorites are the spider web wrappers.
~ So fun!

If you like to bake or if you are looking for something to make the presentation of your store bought goodies unique and fun check out this site. They have lots of neat packaging products, pretty cake stands, unusual baking pans and tons more. It's definitely worth a look.

Tuesday Tip - Affordable Adornments

2008-08-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

I can think of no better addition to a carefully selected wedding day ensemble than authentic jewelry.

Unfortunately, a gorgeous diamond necklace and earrings is not in the wedding budget for most of us... until now!

Check out Adorn Brides. They offer authentic necklaces, bracelets and earrings ranging in value from a few thousand dollars to over $60,000.00. What makes the pieces even more special? They are available to rent! What a concept!!

Tuesday Tip - Bathroom Baskets

2008-08-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

Even though the scale of entertaining guests at a wedding is different than entertaining at home, you should take every opportunity to extend the same hospitality and concern for your guests' comfort as you do at home. But how do you do that when you have not a couple of dinner guests but a couple of hundred??

One way is to anticipate your guests' needs. Consider placing a basket of essentials your guests may need in the bathrooms of your reception venue.

Here are some examples of what to include.

WOMEN'S BASKET

Single Dose Pain Reliever Packets

Antacids

Emery Boards

Feminine Hygiene Products

Small First Aid Kit with Bandages

Sewing Kit

Hair Spray

Hand Lotion

Bobby Pins

Safety Pins

Clear Nail Polish

Lint Roller

Contact Lens Solution

Dental Floss

Mouthwash with Small Cups

Breath Mints or Gum

MEN'S BASKET

Single Dose Pain Reliever Packets

Antacids

First Aid Kit With Bandages

Hair Gel

Lint Roller

Safety Pins

Contact Lens Solution

Dental Floss

Mouthwash with Small Cups

Breath Mints or Gum

Entertaining at Home - Serving Pieces

2008-08-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I posted about the importance of having a stock of basic items at your disposal to make entertaining at home easy and fun. A great place to start in building your stash of "entertaining essentials" is with serving pieces. It is so frustrating to not have the "right" bowl or platter, to have nothing that matches, or worse yet, to have to go out and buy something just so you can have company over for dinner.

Take a lesson from the pros. All of the caterers I work with have a huge selection of well designed, basic white, platters, bowls and stands. Working with a basic white palette unifies all styles and blends as well with your grandmother's china as it does with those ultra modern square black appetizer plates you got as a wedding
gift.

The internet is full of sources for good basic serving pieces. Here are some great examples.

All from Williams Sonoma.

From Ballard Designs.

From Horchow.

Friday Find - Raj Tents

2008-08-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

I discovered Raj Tents several months ago and have dreamed ever since of an event where I could use one. They are soo gorgeous!! These are just a couple of examples. Their website is full of photos of beautiful designs. Take a minute and check out the exotic eye candy!

Viridian Event - Sentimental Gathering

2008-08-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

My friend Rachel Fitch of Fitch Estate Sales and her family live in this precious 1920's storybook cottage. It is filled with beautiful antiques and all the wonderful and unique pieces that a gifted collector with a trained eye and a flair for design comes across in her line of work.

So... It was no surprise when Rachel called to say that she would be hosting a friend's intimate, casual wedding for about 30 guests in her back yard. What better place?

We quickly decided on a laid back design scheme incorporating tons of vintage elements. Rather than seating guests at one long table or tables, we decided to create informal conversation areas with a few family style tables spread out over the lawn. We called on Chefs at Large to design a creative and casual summer hors d'oeuvres menu and Sophie's Choice Bakery for the perfect dessert.

Rachel and I had a blast combining vintage and unusual containers, textiles, architectural elements, furnishings and other what nots from our respective collections to create a design that was unique, eclectic, and fun. Estate sale pieces are so perfect for entertaining. They're plentiful, often inexpensive and a "green" alternative ~ What a combo!

It was a wonderful event with guests lingering well into the evening ~ a sure sign of a great party!

What a joy to be a part!

Tuesday Tip - Linen Sizes

2008-08-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

Knowing what size linens to order for your event can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be. Many rental companies have great on-line charts that tell you exactly what size linens you need to order. You just have to have the right information.

Start by measuring your tables. If you are working with a venue, they should be able to tell you the measurements of their tables. You need to know the diameter of round tables and the length and width of rectangular tables. Then use an online chart (click to see a great one from bbjlinen) to determine what size linens you need to order.

See. That isn't so hard!

Friday Find - Swanky Sorbet

2008-08-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

I love these adorable treats from St. Claire Ice Cream. The mini fruits come in a variety of flavors of either sorbet or ice cream. I think they would be precious for a shower or bridal lunch.

Because they have a "stem" they would also make a really fun passed dessert or refresher during a reception.

Because I have two kids who would love them, and because, of course, I am already thinking about holiday entertaining, I couldn't resist adding the ice cream pumpkin and turkey to the post just for fun!

Peterson Regional Medical Center Gala

2008-07-30T12:39:00.001-07:00

One of the highlights of our Spring was being asked to design the florals and decor for the Peterson Regional Medical Center's "Dawning of a New Era" donor appreciation gala. The gala planning committee did a fabulous job putting this event together and we were thrilled to be involved.

The event was held on the grounds of Peterson's gorgeous newly constructed hospital. A cocktail reception was held inside the new facility. The crowd of over 400 then moved to a wonderfully finished 10,000 square foot Losberger tent from Marquee Rents for dinner and dancing. Fabulous custom triple tuck taffeta linens in shades of copper and cream, mahogany chivari chairs, beautifully set tables, tons of candles, wonderful lighting, and abundant flowers combined to create a beautiful atmosphere. Amazing cuisine from the rkgroup and sweet stylings from the Nash Hernandez Orchestra made this an evening no one will soon forget.

Enjoy these snapshots from our crew. I will post a portfolio on the web-site when the professional pictures arrive. Special thanks to Emily, Gena, Allison and the team from Fitch Estates for all your help with this event!!

Tuesday Tip - Inspiration

2008-07-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

What's a Tuesday tip? - A tip to make your event, easier, more efficient, more sophisticated or more spectacular.

What better place to start than with advice from the one and only Preston Bailey. Earlier this summer I attended engage08 in Celebration, Florida, a "high impact business symposium" for the wedding industry. The seminar was intimate by design (fewer than 100 in attendance) and there were some absolutely amazing people there, magazine editors, high end designers, consultants, resort managers, photographers, and other wedding professionals. Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts, a highly talented, experienced and in demand consultant to the wedding industry, orchestrated the event and it was amazing!!

One of the highlights of the event was a two hour session with world renown event planner and entertaining expert Marcy Blum and event designer extraordinaire Preston Bailey. Their humility, insight, humor, experience and willingness to share was absolutely amazing.

Preston gave each person at the conference a copy of his book "Inspirations". In it are pages and pages of exquisite events. In the introduction he talks about the sources of inspiration for his beautiful designs. Here is a quote I found very insightful "More often than not, my fabulous clients... have been the inspiration for the ideas that bloom into the flowers of my design. In planning any event, a salient part of my process is to sit with the clients and get to know them. And, to put it bluntly, get into their heads. I strive to unlock their storehouse of fantasies. I want to get a glimpse of their dreams."

This same principal applies to any event, from the simple to the extravagant. A celebration should reflect those being celebrated. Do you love travel and exotic locals, use that as your inspiration. Have you always loved roses, use them in abundance! Are candles your thing? There's no better, less expensive way to bring up the romance of your event. Sources of inspiration are everywhere, magazines, television, the Internet, other people's parties.... they're all great . But if you want your celebration to be memorable and unique, the most important source of inspiration is YOU.

Entertaining at Home - "The Chairs"

2008-07-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

From now on, Mondays will be all about Entertaining at Home.

Recipes, party themes and ideas, holiday decorating, table top inspiration, you get the picture!

Entertaining at home is so much easier and less overwhelming if you have the right supplies on hand. These wooden folding chairs from world market are a staple. They have carried the same design for years and at $16.99 you can afford to build up a collection. They are such a polished solution to the need for extra seating. Pair them with a nicely clothed folding table ... instant extra dining space that can all neatly store away in the corner of your garage till next time.

On Top of the World

2008-07-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

Lara and Josh were married at gorgeous Riven Rock Ranch. It was a wonderful evening filled with friends, family and lots of fun! Lara's beautiful color palette really popped and reflected her vibrant personality. It was a perfect evening with the sun dropping below the hills just as Lara and Josh enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife.

Lara and her mom were so much fun to work with and we think the event turned out beautifully!!

Thanks to TeamExclusiveHD for the video below.

Lara and Josh Wedding from john McCarthy on Vimeo.

"Sweet" Silhouettes

2008-07-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

I love these gowns from the new "Reverie" collection by Melissa Sweet . The collection is "...designed for the confident bride with a sophisticated sense of style". I think they are beautiful and sooo unusual. Click on the link to check out the entire collection.

Good Morning Sunshine

2008-07-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I promised that future posts would be more compelling...so here we go. We have been very busy at Viridian this season and I will be posting several events over the next few weeks, but I wanted to start with one that was very close to my heart, the wedding of my sweet friend Laura. What a perfect day!

Eric and Laura exchanged vows in a sweet Sunday morning service focused on faith and family. The gorgeous Marquardt Ranch was the idyllic setting for their event. It was almost too much when hummingbirds arrived, as if on cue. (Laura and I had the event fairly well scripted, but we are certainly not that good!!)

After a wonderful brunch reception, Laura and Eric were ready for their big get-away. So they hit... THE RIVER... in a canoe... in full wedding finery! It was classic. Enjoy.

Images courtesy of StudioG.

Hello!

2008-07-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Well it looks like we're up and running. Lots of work this week on the web-site and much more to come.

Check the web-site for more updates and I will be posting our Viridian snap-shots from recent events here first. Future posts will be much more compelling ~ I promise!

Thanks for checking us out!!

Till next time - Tricia