I had been planning weddings for 6 years when I got engaged to Jimmy. I pretty much already knew all of the vendors I would choose for my own wedding day, due to my existing relationships and friendships with them. Jimmy gave me free reign for planning the wedding, so I was off and running with the details.

We selected Kirtland Country Club because it is an old mansion built in the 1920’s that was renovated into a country club a few decades later. We felt it was the most beautiful location in the area that had ample space for an indoor and outdoor feel. Jimmy’s idea was to have guests in the gorgeous West Porch Room for the cocktail hour, then to the ballroom for dinner, then back to the transformed West Porch Room for dancing and cocktails. I was leery about that idea at first, and guests moving so much, but it worked out really well and guests told us how much fun they had roaming about all of the different rooms and activities!

Inspiration

My favorite place to go in the summer is Cedar Point, the best amusement park in the world! I’ve gone every summer since I can remember. Every time I go, I feel like I’m transformed into a kid again, and Jimmy loves going too! So I wanted that carnival/summer/love feel for our wedding. With the colors, it soon morphed into a Moulin Rouge feel as well. The details included colors of red, magenta and gold, which I had never seen before for a wedding.

Food and Drinks

Our cocktail hour was serenaded by a lively and vintage recorded playlist including songs from Cirque de Soleil’s “O” soundtrack, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Edith Piaff and Pink Martini. We offered guests our signature drink, “Yellow Cake Martinis”! All of the food was summer themed, with a tortilla chip station and homemade chips and salsas, chicken quesdillas and crabcakes.

Guests found their seating arrangements on mini envelopes addressed in hand calligraphy with their names, sealed with a gold heart sticker and displayed in mini-rhinestones. Inside was a card that indicated their table name. Tables were named after emotion verbs: love, dream, hope, believe, laugh, imagine, dance, etc., and were displayed on homemade caramel apples.  The guests found their assigned seat by finding their name written on a paper-made piece of candy. The color of the candy coordinated to each guest’s dinner choice. The double matted red menus complete with a red heart rhinestone, read at the bottom: “All you Need is Love”!

After dinner, the Carnival Dessert Stand opened with a decadent display of caramel apples, chocolate covered pretzels, a popcorn machine, caramel popcorn, rock candy, salt water taffy, etc. Guests could fill up their bag (monogrammed with “All you Need is Love”) and take all the sweets home!

Guests also enjoyed a second favor. Gold painted baskets with assorted color dancing slippers were available for all of the women to take. Most women ended up taking off their uncomfortable heels at this point anyway, so why not let them enjoy some pretty slippers too? They all raved about it!!

The video booth from Moonstruck Productions was also running all night, where guests could go in and leave a message for us that will show up on our wedding video in its own section later! The wedding cake (from LBB member, Flour Girl) was absolutely breathtaking and of course it included red velvet cake, what else??! The party went until 12:30am with the band and DJ switching on and off every 30 minutes, sure to please everyone’s musical tastes.

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Wow, Valarie! I think you covered all the bases! Every little detail … all the little extras! We, at SMP, wish you and Jimmy all the best! Thanks so much for sharing your day!

* * *

Credits ~ Coordination: Rachel at Kirkbrides, Cake: Flour Girl, Music: Tony Quarles & The Discovery Band and (DJ) Scott Jones, Floral Décor: Grande Designs, Hair: Barb Banko, Lighting: Vincent Lighting, Linens: L’Nique, Makeup: Ramona Dauksiene, Photography: Easywind Studio, Videographer: Moonstruck Productions, Brides Gown: Paloma Blanca, Bridesmaids: Badgley Mischka, Men’s Attire: Calvin Klein, Men’s Wearhouse.

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Post tags: Badgley Mischka, Calvin Klein, Easywind Studio, Flour Girl, Grande Designs, Kirkbrides, Kirtland Country Club, Moonstruck Productions, Ohio, Paloma Blanca, Willoughby
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers

From Valerie,” When I first spoke with Natasha, she knew that she wanted an all white and cream wedding, with the only colors being the green of the flowers. I soon discovered that both of the bride and groom’s parents had moved to the US from Russia, so we started planning a loose “Ice” theme…

“The chuppah was designed with white fabric and hanging crystals strung with orchids.”

“The ballroom was up-lit in pale blue with leaf silhouettes to showcase the venue, the Botanical Gardens. Guests found their names on elegant rhinestone escort cards hung on white trees. The white satin linens and embroidered leaf organza overlays, chargers and specific silver flatware completed the settings. When guests found their tables, they were greeted with hand-made, personally calligraphied menus.”

“Natasha was born in Zhdanov, Ukraine.  She and her parents immigrated to the United States when she was five years old. Through mutual friends and family, Ronald’s and Natasha’s paths crossed many times during the ensuing years, but it wasn’t until December 2003 that they fell in love.  And as the saying goes, the rest is history!”

A huge thanks to Valarie Kirkbride, one of our great Little Black Book Wedding Planners in Cleveland and the surrounding areas. She’s provided us with an extensive list of wedding vendors involved in Natasha & Ronald’s beautiful wedding … Photography by Easywind Studio, Ice Sculpture by Elegant Ice Creations, Music by Grand Avenue Band, Cake by Flour Girl, Catering by Bon Appetit, Floral décor by Grande Designs, Lighting by Vincent Lighting, Videography by Moonstruck Productions.

For more of Valarie’s dazzling weddings, please visit her website and blog!

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Post tags: Bon appetit, Cleaveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland, Color Palette White, Easywind Studio, Elegant Ice Creations, Flour Girl, Grand Avenue Band, Grande Designs, Ice Sculpture, Kirkbride's Wedding Planning and Design, Moonstruck Productions, Ohio, Russian Inspired, Vincent Lighting
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers