FEATURED ON THE SOUTHERN WEDDINGS BLOG

We are super excited to have the ladies at Southern Weddings (SW) feature one of our weddings on their blog. If you haven't visited SW you should go there now. Melissa + Dan were married in Clarksdale, Mississippi at the Shack Up Inn. We talked about their wedding here, on The Planner Pages. Read the two-part feature on SW here and here .


Thanks to Lara, Rachel, Laura, Leah and Kirsten! I can't wait to see you all in January at the magazine launch party!

WEDDING FLOWERS :: PEONIES

Guest Blog by Katasha Butler of K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier

Peonies are the ultimate wedding flowers. Full, lush, deeply scented and heavily petaled, peonies look good in almost any arrangement: bride's bouquet, centerpieces or ceremony decor.

A bloom so luxurious and expensive had to have regal beginnings. It is said that the peony is named after Paeon, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his student and Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

The peony is a spring and early summer flower with the average cost per bloom ranging from $10-20. The color scale for peonies range from white and yellow, to blush pinks, to deep pinks and reds (burgundy). They are generally available and in season from late-April to June. They are also available in the late winter months of November, December and January, but they will be coming from outside the United States. If you must have them for your wedding during those months, please plan accordingly for the additional time for transport and expense.

I particularly like tight bouquets or arrangements with some partially closed and fully opened peonies, interspered with lush roses or other equally-luxe flowers. Depending on the look you are going for with your peony arrangements will determine when you should get your flowers. Fresh from the market, peonies are a tightly-closed little ball. Over the next few days, they open up wide to show their deeply lobed and voluminous petals.

What are your favorite peony arrangements? Do you plan to use peonies anywhere in your wedding?

Photo Credit(s): Classic Bride blog, Easy Weddings Au, Flower Bud, Penelope Illustrations, Bridgewater Gardens

JULIA PITTMAN LEWIS :: 1918 - 2008

August 3, 1918 - December 26, 2008 :: Repost

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, we at Andria Lewis Events wish you the happiest of holidays!

WEDDING FLOWERS :: CARNATIONS

Photo Credit: Top left, top right and bottom middle images Martha Stewart Weddings; Top middle image Value Flora; Bottom right image Calla Mag ; Bottom right Do It Yourself 

Yes, you read right. Today, we will look at some ways carnations can add to your wedding day decor. I have been told that carnations are considered a flower for funerals. I had never heard that. So, to dispel that rumor (and it is a rumor), let us delve into carnations as a wedding flower.

I have had brides who could not see themselves using carnations as their primary wedding flower. For one of my October brides we made it the primary reception decor flower by arranging moon (purple) carnations into tight bunches inside a four-inch square vase for her centerpieces. These, along with over 300 wine glasses filled with floating candles, created a simple, but incredibly elegant display for her wedding guests. More to come on that wedding later.

There are many ways to use carnations outside of the bridesmaid's bouquets. I chose the above images to bring that point home. The first image demonstrates how you can utilize carnations as a beautiful, fluffy base for your escort cards. Now, this can be a simple project for your florist or it can be a major undertaking for you and your loved ones. Sidenote: When planning your wedding, be a bride or a groom or a mom and let your vendors be vendors. Stay tuned for a series on not over-DIYing yourself.

Carnations are available in almost any color you can imagine. If your wedding colors are turquoise and red or black and pink, there are carnations that will compliment your color scheme. If you don't have an eye for color (and it's okay if you don't), then ask a florist or wedding designer their thoughts on bringing in flowers in colors that add to your wedding color scheme. Read more here and here about not getting yourself stuck on two wedding colors.

The third image clearly shows that carnations are not for the budget-friendly bride, a term that I wish would be replaced with simply saying, Hey, I want to buy a house after my wedding so I don't want to spend all my money on this one day. Moving along...this beautiful wedding bouquet is simply arranged, but what makes it kick is the wide, double-faced satin ribbon that has been added to it.

The fourth image would make a perfect accent decor for a buffet table or registry table. When planning your wedding decor, don't forget the perimeters. It would be a lovely touch for your guests to see a display like this in the restrooms of your venue. Even the men will appreciate seeing this in their loo.

Take these images, or any images you find, and let them be the catalyst, not the ending, of your wedding flower planning.

Let me know what you think of today's flower and how you can incorporate them into wedding decor. If you're not following us already, be sure to start following The Planner Pages so you don't miss out on any planning advice and ideas.

{in the plans :: DIY Overkill}

WEDDING FLOWERS :: RANUNCULUS

Photo Credits: 

Top Row The Bride's Cafe , Hawaiian Weddings ; Bottom Row: Fiori Belli ,Brides.com

I hope you enjoyed the first in the Flower of the Week series we have started at The Planner Pages . If you missed it, you can read it here. Say hello to this week's Flower of the Week, Mr. Ranunculus. I'm not sure why I deem this flower male, but I do.


Ranunculus, as you can see, are very pretty and full of petals. Flowers that have more petals can be a great way to cut flower costs because fewer blooms may be needed. These blooms are tinier, though, so you can still have a full bouquet, it just won't be as large. The blossom in July and August.

White, yellow, pink, gold, orange and red are the colors these beauties come in. If you are not of the faint of heart color-wise, I say grab these in all colors and create the most eye catching arrangements for your wedding. I have a friend who definitely turn her nose up at that statement. And it's okay if you did, too. If you don't like them grouped, you must admit they are vibrant enough to stand alone in blocks of color.



Pricing in the Memphis wedding market is quite reasonable. You may be able to have a bouquet of about 12 white blooms made for around $50. The colored blooms will cost a bit more. Keep in mind, this cost is without any fillers (coordinating flowers and/or greenery). Also, pricing varies from florist to florist due to labor and other overhead costs. So, please don't go into the florist with a printout of this blog and say, "Andria said...". But, you can use this a starting point for your own wedding budget.


As always, tell me what you think of this week's Flower of the Week. Also, leave any suggestions for coordinating flowers for a ranunculus wedding bouquet.


I do want to mention the similarity of the look of the edges of the ranunculus petals to the Preston Bailey Rose Bowl. If you haven't seen him create this masterpiece, you can do so here. Do you see what I see?

WEDDING FLOWERS :: FIDDLEHEAD FERNS

Welcome to the first in The Planner Pages series Flower of the Week. I love, love, love flowers. I have to be careful while working with my brides not to oversell them on the benefits and the glory and the wonderfulness of flowers for their big day. Flowers are not all brides' must-have. Shocking, right?! I recently had a bride that wanted no flowers at her reception. There will be a post later on that real wedding and on what her centerpieces consisted of. Now, on to the series.


This wedding season I began to see a lot of a certain type of flower, if that's what it is, in wedding bouquets. It is called a Fiddlehead Fern. Full disclosure, I don't like the look of this flower. However, it intrigued me, so I did some research on it that I will pass along to you.

To start, the fiddlehead fern is a vegetable. It can be eaten raw or can be cooked. And you will notice the texture of the vegetable and the look of the wedding flower vary greatly. Another disclosure: this vegetable can look quite okra-ey in texture and not very appetizing. I chose a photo you wouldn't mind looking at. But, in the veggies' defense, I hear they are tasty.

Top Photo: Raw Fiddlehead Fern; Bottom Photo: Fiddlehead Fern Boutonnieres (Southern Weddings Blog)

Before my research I thought perhaps the bouquet/boutonniere version of this flower was manufactured to look like the vegetable. So, I called up Janie with The Bride's Cafe and she let me know that they come straight from the grower with this very different look. Thanks, Janie! Next up, I contacted my guy at the local flower wholesale shop to check on the cost (I'm very thorough). I discovered that 1.) they call them monkey tails and 2.) they can cost you $6-$8 per stem. So, they're not really expensive at all, which is surprising given the exotic look of them.


This flower can be obtained year-round and, of course, the cost will vary depending on the season. Lots of weddings used it from summer to fall this year. I think it has more of a fall look to it. But, I encourage my brides to not stick themselves in a box when planning their weddings. So, if it fits your fancy, no matter the time of year, go for it.


So, there you have it. Our first Flower of the Week. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about this week's flower. And don't forget to subscribe to our feed so that you can get the 411 on everything weddings from The Planner Pages .


{in the plans :: What Goes With Blue?}

MELISSA & DAN :: MARRIED IN MEMPHIS

Photo Credit: Benjamin Chan

Well, okay, Melissa and Dan were technically married in Clarksdale, MS. We had a great time at this wedding weekend. I talked about it a little here. We had shrimp boils and a night at a blues club and breakfasts (plural) and a stunning reception. My Event Coordinators, Cherie and Whitney and I drove down to Clarksdale for this awesome weekend. We worked HARD, but ate good! I'm telling you, if you want an awesome homemade pie, you must look up The Dutch Oven in Clarksdale, MS. She has no website or email but you can Google it. We feasted on the most scrumptous key lime pies, chocolate pies, lemon pies, strawberry pies. And that was after we had stuffed ourselves on Melissa's uncle's crawfish, shrimp, potatoes and corn. 

I really loved Melissa and Dan's sense of style for their wedding. They were married under a carport that we turned into an open-air chapel by bringing in wooden pews, white chairs and a red carpet for the bride to walk down. There was a small threat of rain the day before the wedding. But, that did not hinder my bride from going forward with what turned out to be one of the most touching, sunset weddings I have attended. They had no wedding party attendants. Instead, they had close family members and friends come up one at a time and build the altar they were married in front of. The altar consisted of a delicate, antique lace tablecloth that belongs to the groom's family. We placed this cloth on a wonderfully aged table that we found on the property. Atop the cloth was a water basin, which they used to wash each other's feet during the ceremony. Also on the altar were flowers, a vase and mason-jarred candles, which were brought up individually but put together by the family members and friends. Whitney commented that she had just met the couple but couldn't help but cry at their wedding. It was that spiritual and emotional. With all the uncommon and beautiful touches Melissa and Dan added to their day you would think tradition was far away. Not so. Melissa walked down the aisle in a Chantilly lace gown sporting four inch heels. The perfect touch.

I have to say thanks to a few other vendors for the weekend. I really appreciate them working with our time schedule and helping make it all come together. The Flower Bouquet (also from Clarksdale and with no website, but can be Googled) was so awesome to work with. I definitely look forward to seeing Craig and his team again. I found the best and most dedicated stylist/makeup artist in Mary of Secret Services Salon in Memphis. I was able to track her down and get her booked for Melissa within about 12 days of the wedding. Thanks a ton to Mary for making that drive! You were awesome! I must also say a special thanks to Kathie and her husband Jim, the owners of The Shack Up Inn. With this being a truly non-traditional venue, there were last minute needs that they never failed to pull off for us. Also, a huge thank you to the team at Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale. We don't generally have a sip of champagne until after the wedding is almost over. And, then, to toast a job well done. But, hey, we were in a blues club. 

Below are a few shots from the most laid-back photographer I have ever met in my life, Mr. Benjamin Chan. Benjamin is a friend of the couple's from California. He has the most awesome eye for photography, which is so important in telling the story of a wedding. You can see more of his work here.

This was such a fun, family-oriented wedding. It was our pleasure to be a part of it. You can see a few more images from the wedding at my site here.

Stay tuned for more real weddings from us!

I AM ONE LUCKY PLANNER

Our wedding season ended November 15. And since that time, I've been in detox. While I can't allow too much down time, I must take a minute to let my brides know how great they have been this year. Weddings are never perfect. But, as planners, we also recognize there are no do-overs. We've got one time to get it as close to perfect as we can.

Let's see...this year we've had wedding cakes to not show up, a garter to take missing (the bride still doesn't know about this thanks to a quick run to Walmart), a band's mixer that failed to make a timely appearance (that means it sounds like the band is playing inside a tin cup) and a few other baubles along the way. But, we have left each wedding with brides smiling from ear to ear while standing next to the man of their dreams. I've browsed photos from all of your weddings and I so love seeing the look of joy on all your faces. Knowing that you know that it was not the little things that didn't go right, but the one thing that did.

My brides have sent me the sweetest, sweetest notes of thanks after their weddings. They've taken me to lunch and to dinner and have even gifted me with gift certificates to spas. It is great to have a relationship with you beyond your wedding day.


I want to take this opportunity to thank my brides for giving me the honor of being their wedding planner. It was truly a pleasure.


All the best to you and your new families!


Andria

FABULOUSNESS ABOUNDS

This week, I was honored to participate in the Cocktails & Details Virtual Soiree . I, along with a few other planners, had the honor of speaking with Aeleise, Danielle and MeQuel about their big days. We had lots of laughs and hopefully, actually got some planning advice over to these wonderful brides between those laughs. For brides who would still like to be a part, the second soiree will be held Thursday, December 11, 2008. Email Terrica at blog {at} fabuluxeinc {dot} com for an invitation.


To my surprise, in my mailbox today (okay, it was sitting on the porch just under the mailbox) I found this...

This is the gift from Terrica of Fabuluxe, Inc. and the Cocktails & Details blog, who developed the soiree. Yes, what you have here is a mini martini making set, vodka included, from the martini diva herself! Let me tell you, those Ferrero Rochers made it about three minutes after this photo was snapped. YUMMY!

Have you ever met someone who just never did anything half way? If you were to look up that phrase in the dictionary, I'm quite sure Terrica's photo would be there. Thanks, doll! You are truly one in a million!

A CHANGE SHALL COME...

I must say, my team and I have had a pretty good year. We've learned a lot, grown a lot and enjoyed some wonderful weddings. With growth some change must come. 

Beginning January 1, 2009 Andria Lewis Events will undergo a rate increase. For all you awesome potential brides who currently have proposals, we encourage you to keep this date in mind. Also, remember the Fall Special that is currently in place. What is the Fall Special, you ask? Well, you only learn about that during your complimentary, one-hour consultation. If you would like to book your consultation, call us today at 901-210-1458 or email us at consult {at} andrialewisevents {dot} com.

Don't dilly-dally (we are so Southern). As you know, we only accept a limited number of wedding clients per year. That includes full-planning, partial-planning and month-of-coordination clients. We'd love for you to be one of our 2009 brides! Our office will close Friday, December 19, 2008 at Noon. We will reopen Monday, January 5, 2009. Any outstanding proposals will be void after our closing date and time.

I'd like to send a special, special thanks to all my 2008 brides for helping us have a spectacular year!