Starting at the beginning, pulling together a vision. My first photoshoot - LOVED IT!

When the lovely ladies of New Orleans Weddings Magazine asked me if I wanted to design a tablescape for one of the issues coming up, I was over the moon excited. Of course I want to do a tablescape! A tablescape is an artistic arrangement of articles on a table (according to Wikipedia). So often as a planner I get to pull together your vision of your wedding. With my own tablescape I get to be creative and pull together my vision.

Like many events, there were central colors and a venue. That's where you start. I was given the colors coral, cream and gold and the Champagne Palace as my location. That's it....an open canvas, if you will, to pull together my vision in this awesome location with some gorgeous colors.

Who knew coral, cream and gold had so many options???!!! To narrow it down I went to my favorite color palette creating website to create my palette. I love playing with colors but narrowing it down was kind of hard. So I kept at it and below is the finished product. It doesn't have to be perfect, because just giving your florist and other vendors actual colors is a great help!

After getting my color palette together I then went straight to Pinterest to start my inspiration board! I looked up coral, cream and gold weddings, tables, decorations, etc. There was so much to see and use! But I fell in love with one in particular from Style Unveiled. Not the same exact colors or an even close on the setting, but I loved the inspiration!

So far I loved what I was seeing online and on my board. You can see more of the Inspiration board on my Pinterest board. I was beginning to see my vision....my tablescape. I then went on to see my venue - Champagne Palace. It is gorgeous and has a gorgeous courtyard.

 

After seeing the courtyard, we knew exactly where to do the shoot! But we also knew we wanted to bring in current trends like vintage style. And while vintage is in right now and the inspiration comes from a vintage style, I couldn't very well do a true vintage style in this setting. Champagne Palace is grand, gorgeous and lavish, and if I wanted vintage at all, it had to be subtle and in smaller ways. So I used bits and pieces. The multi-shaped and mercury vases and vessels added touches of vintage while the gold overlay, brooches, and gold lanterns provided the opulence to match the environment.

We loved the way things were coming together and we could see the coral, cream and gold as well as touches of vintage and opulence working together.





(LESSON ALERT: ALWAYS HAVE ALTERNATIVES AND PLAN Bs) When working an outside space, you have to be ready to adapt to what you have and what you can do. The day of our photoshoot it was raining....and rained for at least an hour.

We scouted Champagne Palace and knew we could move inside if we needed to. But luckily it stopped and we set up outside in the courtyard. When working with Event Rentals, it's important to know your "punch list." This is a list of items they will pull to deliver to your event and this is what will be on your contract. For this "event" or photoshoot we needed the following: drapery, poles to hang drapes, bases, chandelier, dinner settings, chairs, etc.

(LESSON ALERT: ALWAYS DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR CONTRACTS EVEN IF YOU ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE VENDOR AND KNOW THEM. THE CONTRACT IS THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY DELIVERED.) 



We created a Sweetheart table for our lovely hypothetical couple. And it was sweet! The table was set off and intimate by framing it in front of the fountain. Overhead, we used a crystal ball chandelier to enhance the intimacy by lowering the ‘ceiling' and creating its own space in the courtyard.

Keep an eye out in the future New Orleans Weddings Magazines for the finished tablescape as well as all the detailed shots of our tablescape by Oscar Rajo. I can't wait to see them! Thank you to the following vendors for working with me on this:

• Firefly Ambiance Candles & Decor
• Stationery Studio
• Grow With Us
• Event Rentals
• Sweet Life

This tablescape was planned and designed by It's Your Time Events. If you are interested in working with It's Your Time Events to plan and design your event, please contact Erin@It'sYourTimeEvents.com or call 985-234-9757.

New Orleans Wedding: Lorey and Joel

I've known my very first bride since we were in middle school. We were both over achievers and participated in a lot of school and personal activities together. This is why Lorey says she hired me...because she knew how I was in school. We both went to school here in Louisiana and then both moved away. She went to New York and I went to DC. Then, as Lorey says, "Joel put a ring on it" in April 2012, I started It's Your Time Events in December 2012, and they were married March 23, 2013.

Lorey hired It's Your Time Events for a Day Of coordination. She and her friend Amanda came up with a lovely elegant vintage garden style wedding that came together wonderfully! Lorey's wedding was absolutely beautiful and she was stunning! 

Lorey and Joel were married at the New Orleans Opera Guild on Prytania. Sam Gregory captured the Guild perfectly in this photo! It is truly a gorgeous old time New Orleans home and provided the perfect area for Lorey's garden wedding!

We watched the weather all week leading up to the Lorey and Joel's big day. While Lorey had a tent on hold she really did not want to use it...turns out we needed it. It showered off and on from the beginning of the day, but the showers stopped for the brides big entrance and the tent was gorgeous with the garden lights. 

Event Rentals provided and set up the clear tent with garden lights. They also provided the linens, tables, and chairs. It's Your Time Events set the chairs up in a semi-circle which turned out great and looked very intimate as Lorey stood at the front surrounded by her closest family and friends. 

I have to say, that as Lorey finally reached the "altar" area, I did tear up. She is my old friend and she is my first bride. She was the picture of grace and beauty in her long lace gown. I was extremely happy for her and happy I could make this day happen the way it did!

 Kim Starr Wise did the flowers which turned out so pretty.

The day may have started with showers and clouds but there was no stopping this wedding or the fun to be had. The showers stopped for the bride and groom and they were happily married!

I absolutely loved this sitting area set up in front of the Guild. Lucky for us the rain stopped and LSU tent was removed :) So glad we could do that for our bride!

After the ceremony, the area was cleared and "flipped" to a dinner setting. Lorey and Joel took family and wedding party photos out front while inside the guests were treated to jazz music by the Joe Simons band and a cocktail hour. At this time guests were also invited to pick up their table cards. After cocktail hour and a bit of mingling with the bride and groom, La Maison Creole provided a sit down dinner and stellar services!

Even though the rain stopped, there were still remnants left over. The dance was wet, but that did not stop this couple from having their first dance. The groom rallied his groomsmen and I rallied my people to find as many napkins as we could and we dried the floor. There will be dancing!

I'd say the elegant garden themed wedding came together beautifully!

The bride threw her bouquet from the balcony and I have to say it was an awesome catch by her sister!

While this may have been It's Your Time Events' first real event as a business, it would not have happened without some awesome support from a dear friend and some great vendors! Thank you Lorey and Joel for taking a chance on an old friend and her new business. Thank you to her very awesome wedding party (both bridesmaids and groomsmen) for being flexible and helping when needed. And thank you Sam, Kim and company for being great vendors to work with!

If you are interested in having It's Your Time Events plan your big day (or any other event), please email erin@itsyourtimeevents.com or call us at 985-234-9757. 

Thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who helped pull Lorey and Joel's wedding together:

Wedding Coordination: It's Your Time Events

Flowers: Kim Starr Wise

Photography: Sam Gregory Photography

Rentals: Event Rentals