Golden Chic Events

Fuchsia & Baby Pink

August 31, 2010 | Colors 2010

Why not be a little girly – your wedding is, after all, a girl’s big dream, the day where you’re a princess and all your girlish, childhood fantasies can come true. This color combo is exactly that – a harkening back to those days of bubblegum dreams and yet a little grown up spice thrown in the mix. Done right, it doesn’t have to look like Valentine’s Day, and can be dreamily beautiful, traditionally stunning or modern and edgy. It all depends on how you use both the pale pink and the fuchsia.

First, you have to opt for a baby pink that borders on the super soft, barely there pink. A dash of neutral beige or champagne to the tone, and suddenly you’ve got a much more sophisticated shade to work with. It’s best as a backwash to your entire event – soft, perhaps vintage-minded, and definitely adult, this pale pink is a great color on bridesmaids, in flowers, and with invitations. It’s pearly softness is feminine and natural, and can be used in multiple shades throughout the day to keep things from feeling too cookie cutter.

Fuchsia should be used as an accent only – it overpowers easily and can be offensive if used often in your decor. Use it instead as pops in the centerpieces, a bit here and there in the bouquet or at the church, and with the little accessories and paper products at the reception. Perhaps for late-night dancing, you can create a hot vibe with fuchsia uplighting, or offer divine candy in fuchsia shades as a favor, but definitely choose only a few places to use this dramatic shade.

What is best about this combo is that it can be used year-round and can be distinctly adult without being boring…while at the same time remind you and your family of the little girl you used to be. And if you love pink – why not? This is, after all, your day to do what you want!

Adore the gorgeous bouquet and Martha Stewart’s fuchsia centerpieces. You can’t go wrong with chocolates or heels in fuchsia either. I also have to say the dress has just the right hemline…you wouldn’t need the flower to finish it off if you don’t like it. And again, Martha has it right with pale pink linens and invites in different shades of pale.

Tagged fuchsia flowers, fuchsia weddings, pink flowers, pink weddings | Leave a comment

Live Band or DJ?

August 30, 2010 | Golden Tips

by Sarah Kikkert

From the color of the linens to the flavor of the cake, every wedding detail is significant when planning your special day. The music you provide for your guests on the dance floor is one of the most important of these details, so choose wisely! While it is memorable to have a family member or close friend provide musical entertainment, brides tend to host either a live band or a DJ at the reception. There are plenty of differences between these two, but here are a few logistical pointers of your wedding to help you choose the best option for you.

Venue: Often the size of the reception hall helps determine whether a live band or DJ will work better. Smaller spaced are usually more difficult to house an entire band, which can vary from four to twelve pieces. Halls which showcase a stage or other focal points other than the head table are great workable spaces for live bands, as well as those with the space to bring in a rented stage. DJ’s can work great in these locations as well, but may be a more suitable option in smaller settings and can set up virtually anywhere in the space.

Formality/Guest Profile: Live bands are usually considered more traditional (though still contemporary!). What is the average age of guests attending your wedding? A live band easily characterizes the voices of Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson, but if you are catering to a more hip-ho conscious crowd, or want the best of Brittany Spears, a DJ would be more able to find appropriate options for the personality of those guests. If you’re dealing with lots of foreign music, too, it’s best to have a DJ who can play the CDs of the cultural sounds than get a traditional band, who will not be able/familiar to replicate those sounds.

Budget: While it is always possible to work within your budget to fit each bride’s desires, on average, hiring a DJ is more cost effective than hiring a live band. With more members equipment, and physical effort, live bands usually come with a heftier price tag for a reason.

Personality: The most important factor in choosing your type of music is your personality and what you see as best fitting your wedding and its guests. Both live bands and individual DJs create great music and memorable vibes, so it is crucial that whichever you choose, that the option fits you and your tastes!

Tagged big band, DJ, live wedding band, wedding band, wedding disc jockey, wedding DJ | Leave a comment

Wedding FAVORites

August 25, 2010 | Golden Tips

by Sarah Kikkert

Your wedding will likely be one of a handful of days you will remember for the rest of your life, but how will your guests remember it? If you don’t have a budget for an over-the-top wedding design to make it memorable aesthetically, turn to the favors to express your personality. Handing out party favors at wedding receptions is not a new tradition – not by far. In fact, the custom has been around for literally hundreds of years.

While weddings are traditionally sacred, special ceremonies celebrating the union of two people, at the core of this celebration is one big, fabulous party, in which you and your fiance are the hosts. Thus, the party favors show your guests the importantce of having them there. Wedding favors can be almost anything, which makes them perfect for personalization, creativity, and a wedding on any budget.

Don’t let the freedom of your wedding favors’ versatility to go to waste: be creative and follow your taste. While any bride can be traditional and offer almonds as her party favor, go the extra step and make the gifts something that represents you. Perhaps it’s an ode to your heritages, or something edible. Seasonal goodies are fabulous. Destination weddings, or if the majority of your guests are in the hotel, have the hotel staff drop off morning bags filled with bottles of orange juice, croissants, and donuts at each room instead of giving away a favor the night before.

Use hobbies, favorite places, colors, music, special trinkets, or other personal “favorites” to start brainstorming your perfect favors. From chocolates to tea bags, and absolutely anything in between, wedding favors are your ways of saying “thank you” to all your guests for supporting you on your beautiful day, and they’ll remember the uniqueness just as long as you will.

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You can’t go wrong with boxes of candy, or something ultimately Wisconsin like maple syrup or honey spoons. Preserves are always a good bet too. Your heritage can be played out with something more substantial, like Welsh love spoons or German beer steins. If you’re chocolate lovers, stay true with truffles, or for travel lovers – even using old maps to wrap local artisan soaps can be enough.

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Royal Blue & Indigo

August 20, 2010 | Colors 2010

by Sarah Kikkert

As the worst of the summer’s heat and humidity hit, it’s hard not to wish for the cooler months. With the wind down to the tail end months of the year creeping up, a whole new batch of color schemes emerge that are ideal for any of the chillier fall and winter seasons. One of the boldest is the royal combination of royal blue and indigo.

While there are many interpretations of the shade classified as “indigo,” for all intents and purposes, we are referring to a deep, plush purple to be paired in this majestic duo. These dark colors are great for the upcoming seasons because of their boldness and versatility. Fall, a season screaming with reds, oranges and golds, calls for an equally striking combination on the opposite end, one that is greatly juxtaposed with these cool tones. Winter, on teh other hand, boasts soft and quiet hues like white, ice blue and silver – so make a splash upon this palette with these dark and daring shades.

As these colors are both quite loud and a bit similar, it can be easy to overdo the elegance this pair offers. Opt for punchy linens, bridesmaiddresses or chair covers…but not all three at once! Accessories are a great way to showcase your colors, too: in shoes, party favors, or flower arrangements. If you are looking for a “safe” color palette, royal blue and indigo are probably not for you, but for the boisterous and adventurous bride, there is not need to look any further for the wedding colors of your dreams!

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The blue bridesmaid dress reminds me of what Miranda wore for Carrie Bradshaw’s wedding to Big in SITC #1 and the tie is a good match. Can’t go wrong with organza bags or chocolate candy at the candy bar. The letterpress is gorgeous on the invite, and the luxurious Christian Louboutins are always in fashion. Am definitely digging the headpiece too, for a proper spot of color.

Tagged blue and indigo, blue weddings, indigo, indigo weddings, royal blue weddings | Leave a comment

A Wedding in Kohler

August 18, 2010 | Chic Finds

I’ve had the absolutely pleasure and luck to work with all the girls who work within Destination Kohler, which is the umbrella over such fabulous wedding locations as The American Club, Inn on Woodlake, Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run. All weekend, the PGA tour has been happening at Whistling Straits, so of course I’ve been up visiting family in Sheboygan and generally enjoying the hubbub of activity.

But while I was there, I continually thought of all the amazing things that could be done within the Kohler system – from gorgeous ceremonies and receptions to intimate family dinners the night before nuptials, unique experiences for guests and a hot spa for the bride and her girls to use the morning of the wedding.

What I really admire about Destination Kohler is how self contained the property is – and just how many different experiences there are waiting to be had. Beyond the great Waters Spa, there’s excellent golfing to be had between the Straits (and Irish course) and Blackwolf Run – the boys will never be bored. Of course, there’s the “Great Wall of China” that my grandfather loves to take people to see – the Kohler Design Center hosts a whole wall of brand new toilets. I never get sick of going in and seeing the new displays, dreaming that I’d have the luxurious bathrooms and kitchens that are set up inside.

You can go on a walk through the gorgeous gardens of the Club during spring and summer, or shop at Woodlake – I especially like the Craverie chocolate shop…which has so much more than chocolate.

A flashback to my childhood is at River Wildlife – a little cabin half hidden away near Blackwolf Run – that serves great food and is the perfect cozy setting for a fall event or small supper. Not only is the food excellent, but the woodsy, warm atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve ever found in Wisconsin.

Check it out – just for the experience sometime! :)

All photos from Destination Kohler website.

Tagged destination kohler, Kohler WI, PGA Whistling Straits, The American Club | Leave a comment

Teal & Silvery Blue

August 15, 2010 | Colors 2010

You may think combining two rather difficult colors to match would be annoying and probably end up clashing. This is where tone becomes so incredibly important. By pairing a hot color, like teal, with something soft and vintage – a blue tinged with silver – you achieve a unique and surprising color palette that can work to cool off summer weddings, usher in fall, or be surprisingly perfect for winter weddings.

The dynamic teal offsets the quiet blue – and this color combo will definitely be one to match more exactly than most – but it’s great for draping, linens, and dresses. These two colors would not best replicated in faux floral – keep to ivory and white for your blooms – but use these colors to the max with favors, ceremony elements, and in the trim of your bouquet.

While the vintage soft blue is in itself a bit timeless, the teal too can be done to feel a little old-fashioned instead of modern. Use crushed velvets, or brocade, and you’ll have a traditional wedding from start to finish.

Recognize that this color palette is different, and surprising, and go from there…you won’t be disappointed with the final effects!

Find the sexy bridesmaid dress here, and I love the vintage ring with the pale blue stone. Gotta love the vintage bag too, though if you want to go modern, use the pattern on the teal pillow for inspiration. Check out here for the invitation, and the pale blue tux is a cool find. Crushed velvet takes this color combo back to winter…but best of all are the amazing shoes – I want them!!

Tagged teal and blue weddings, teal and silver weddings, teal weddings | Leave a comment

BED 2010

August 10, 2010 | What's Happening

It’s a little belated in coming out, but I do have to brag a little about our gigantically fabulous and wildly successful BED event weekend in July, which benefited Pathfinders. The weather was opposite of last year: hot, spicy and perfect for the beach. We started off the weekend with a big bonfire on the beach on Friday night, complete with great acts from the small to the large, and ending with Eddie Butts. Divine! S’mores could be made, dancing in the sand was a must, and we had a whole Dinghy Brigade show up and storm the beach at 8PM, fresh from the yachts in the marina.

Saturday brought more amazing weather and a great turnout for the beach volleyball tournament. While that was happening, we had different radio stations and news channels stopping by for snippets of coverage as loads of young, strong and amazingly helpful volunteers helped drag oodles of pallets, mattresses and sheets to the 30 cabanas for the evening’s bash. Chandeliers were hung from the ceiling, thanks to Exciting Events, and Steve White of UW-M fame hooked up the rest of the LEDS everywhere. Party Floor came in from Chicago and put together a gleaming white dance floor, as a DJ spun music the entire time.

Thanks to Bartenders on the Go, we had great staff setting up the numerous lit bars, a martini bar from Great Lakes Distillery and a mojito bar, care of Ward’s House of Prime were also available. By the time the big Mr. Lucky band came, we had Elegant Touch’s linens on, luminaria candles lit, and hordes of volunteers dressed in their outfits.

As cabanas filled, champagne was poured, and people strolled the beach, dropping off their shoes at the Shoe Check, getting a massage, or lounging in the swank furniture provided by CORT, the music was happening, and the guests were enjoying taking a plop on the Princess and the Pea bed, or relaxing in their cabanas.

By the end of the night, the charity had made great money during the raffle and live auctions, which featured a ridiculously awesome line-up of great trips and Milwaukee treats. Couldn’t have done it without my husband, my staff, the amazing board members of Pathfinders, and the charity itself. It’s always a ton of work, but the end result is worth it! Come on down next year!

Tagged BED Milwaukee, Pathfinders | Leave a comment

Photobooths!

August 3, 2010 | Chic Finds

It’s still a growing trend in Wisconsin…and still a way fun, interactive way to get your guests goofing off and having a great time at the wedding reception. Photobooths are developing into a fabulous vendor option to add to your wedding. I have to admit, I’ve been having amazing experience with Shutterbox Entertainment. I’ve worked with several other photobooth companies, and I love that Shutterbox has an actual, physical booth that you climb into. Other options are a cloth background, or pipe and drape (and I did have one that had a fabulous damask fabric backdrop and cool props with the photographer Hanle Productions).

But for the official, old fashioned box, you have to go with Shutterbox. I don’t mean to make this a full fledged advert for these guys, it’s just I happen to think it’s pretty amazing that couples can get an official booth at their wedding. Props and such are part of it, and I also like the guestbook scrapbook option, as well as being able to customize the photostrips with your wedding monogram and the like.

Anyway, just the find of the week!! Enjoy!

Tagged photobooths, Shutterbox Photobooth, wedding photobooths | Leave a comment

Gray & Green

July 22, 2010 | Colors 2010

There’s nothing quite as chic as grey these days, when it comes to choosing a wedding color. It’s a great neutral base, without using peachy warm tones, and it’s definitely sophisticated. I even love the grey bridal gowns even – they’re sultry and unique without being too trendy.

In order to make grey feel less drab, though, you have to use some sort of color pop, whether it’s as simple as white or something a bit more fresh – like green. Both apple green, or deeper emerald and hunter shades work well with grey – and can reflect the season in which you wed. Consider lighter shades during spring and summer, and deeper emeralds in fall, and finish it off with velvety dark evergreens in winter.

The beauty of gray and green is that you can mix and match shades of each, and they still look fabulous together – creating texture, as well as a classic and clean look (or vintage, if you add enough flair of old world elegance, especially in floral and invitations). So you’re not stuck trying to match an exact palette, but are able to be free and a bit whimsical in choosing items for your day.

Even better, men and bridesmaids all look great in grey (green…another story), so you can be sure your bridal party will be happy with how they look for your photography. And flowers themselves, since there is so much greenery to start with, can end up being less expensive if you go with more foliage instead of blooms. It’s unique and tasteful all at once.

Tagged green and grey wedding, green weddings, grey and green wedding, grey bridesmaid dress, grey wedding dress | Leave a comment

Card Box Crazy

July 15, 2010 | Chic Finds

by Sarah Kikkert

While the practice of gift giving is nothing if not commonplace at weddings, it is becoming more and more common for the bride and groom to recieve financial gifts in place of a hand picked, monogrammed towel set or vintage china collection. In an era of 60-hour-weeks and last minute shopping, this is understandable, but that doesn’t mean your gift table needs to suffer because of it! So brides, look to dress up that borderline empty gift table with a card box that steals the show!

Of course, you can never go wrong with elegance. Classic and chic, a stain-covered card box decorated to match your wedding colors will always be in style. Use ribbons, feathers, crystals, jewels, pearls, seashells, and other baubles to add some pizzazz and flair to your box. However, if you are looking for something a little more “out of the box,” here are some more ideas.

Kitschy card box substitutes include vintage themed containers like mailboxes, birdcages, or decorative baskets (think picnic or garden). These are great for the bride who wants something a bit more creative, and can really draw in the attention, plus add texture to a table that’s nearly bare when guests arrive. Also, these boxes can generally be re-used after the wedding to display mementos or photos at your home.

Another really great idea is to create a card box that directly relates to the theme of your wedding, or shows a personal element. Photo boxes are a great idea; placing a large photograph of you two on each side and make sure it has revolving capabilities! One of our recent brides did this and it was a huge hit!! Design a music box, a large soccert ball or other sports piece that represents you and your favorite team, or a box that looks like a wedding cake. Whatever your passion, use it to make your card box something original and totally you – this is a place where you can really go a little wild – just the size of the table is the limit!