images courtesy of atlas wedding photography

From Kendall ….. at Eclatante Event Design …

Kelly & Josh were two of the most wonderful people we have ever met. Very urban, very chic and very unusual, they had definite ideas about certain things they wanted at their wedding.

First, Josh is a true connoisseur of cocktails – an expert, of sorts, on the prohibition era. Which we loved, because it created an extremely interesting backdrop for the design and details for their wedding. We brought in a stunning solid wood bar that was created for a speakeasy. Josh carefully chose the drinks that would be available at the bars – there were only four of them. We arranged to have the specially chosen bartenders attend a dress rehearsal where they learned, not only how to make these very special drinks, but how to move, how to speak to the guests and how to dress. We provided them with the authentic details that dressed them up that day. There were “House Rules” as there were in the Chicago Speakeasies and recipe cards for the guests for each of the four drinks. The guests were totally charmed by all the details. It was truly amazing.

The tables, too, were designed to reflect this very specific era. Rather than have typical centerpieces, we created, instead, a look that incorporated lamps and ashtrays and other elements that you might find on the table at a Speakeasy. Inside the ashtrays and other vessels, Beautiful Blooms placed absolutely amazing freeze-dried and hand-painted green roses. We also used pheasant feathers because it just seemed to work! And, if you look closely, you’ll notice that some of the tables are parsons tables covered with faux ostrich leather.

One more little tidbit – Kelly & Josh met on Craig’s List. We thought it would be charming to print their initial emails to each other on cocktail napkins.

So, so, so charming!

See the whole gallery here …

Thanks to all for sharing!!

Event Design and Planning: Eclatante Event Design
Photography: Tiffany Atlas, Atlas Wedding Photography
Flowers: Beautiful Blooms
Paper Goods: Creative Montage
Venue: TRUST
Catering: Max Hansen Caterer
Cake: Whipped Bakeshop
Hair & Makeup: Kelley Hughs

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Atlas Wedding Photography, Beautiful Blooms, Creative Montage, Eclatante, Feathers, Kelley Hughs, Max Hansen Caterer, Philadelphia, Signature Cocktail, TRUST, Vintage Chic, Whipped Bakeshop
Post categories: Centerpieces, Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Vintage Chic, Wedding Planners & Designers

However, before we get to that, I have to share a little more holiday eye candy! From Eclatante’s Boutique, some super-stylish inspiration for your holiday table …

Take a pair of dove salt/pepper shakers and add these to some gorgeous red felt placemats and some individual hand-blown vases filled with berries …

… some stylish bay leaf napkin rings and for fun, these snowflake place cards and voilá!

A stunning table to start the celebration!

All of these items are available at Eclatante’s Boutique and can be see on A Designer’s Diary … really makes me want to get my table in order today!!

* * *

Kendall Brown, creator of Eclatante has an extraordinary reputation for designing and assisting couples orchestrate the most fabulous weddings imaginable. Her website is filled to the brim with lovely examples of many of these affairs. Eclatante’s blog, A Designer’s Diary is also packed with all kinds of helpful information and SO much eye candy! One of their regular features are monthly ‘color stories’. Long before we began featuring photo shoots and Inspiration to Reality features, we were sharing Kendall’s Color Stories.  Marie Labbancz is the fabulous photographer of the images.  LBB member, Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms is almost always involved in the fantastic floral designs.  We’ve missed a few months, so here’s a quick peek at the last three months!

October Color Story

Designed with a sapphire blue, orange and gold color palette. Ideal for a chic cocktail party. Click here:  OCTOBER COLOR STORY … for the link to the entire feature on Eclatante’s blog.

The NOVEMBER COLOR STORY was all about shades of lavender and gray. Gorgeous!

…and December’s Color Story… oh WOW !

It hasn’t been posted on the blog yet … but here’s a sneak peak!  It’s all about ushering in the New Year in high style!

photography by Marie Labbancz, floral design by Beautiful Blooms

In addition to ALL this loveliness, Kendall has lots of gorgeous weddings that show what an amazing designer she is! So if you’re in the need for more color palette inspiration or you just need more info about some of the items featured above, head on over to her website and blog!

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Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Color Palettes, Eclatante, Holiday Gifts, Marie Labbancz, Philadelphia
Post categories: Color Palettes, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Planners & Designers

These are the final words of James Joyce’s character, Molly Bloom, in the novel Ulysses. These simple words served as fascinating and romantic inspiration for Barbara and Steven’s sweetly-sophisticated wedding celebration in Philadelphia last March.

Kendall Brown of Eclatante Event Design and Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms once again teamed up and helped the bride put the finishing touches on this elegant wedding filled with intimate and heartfelt details. We’re positive you’ll agree that this is a truly special wedding.

For a little bit of Steven and Barbara’s story, from Eclatante’s blog, A Designer’s Diary …

Steven was a visiting English professor at the University of Buffalo at the time that Barbara was finishing her Ph.D in Poetry/Poetics. Her dissertation was based on the “yes” and “no” in the works of James Joyce and Gertrude Stein. When Steven placed a first edition of Joyce’s Ulysses in her hands, their future together was sealed. Steven’s late father had given him the first edition novel before his death, and upon receiving it, Barbara felt his blessing on the two of them deep in her heart.

Barbara and Steven’s wedding was exquisitely planned. They designed letterpressed invitations that were hand-sewn ‘books’, sent in small boxes to their guests. Other paper pieces used throughout the wedding were also letterpressed and carried through the theme of the inspired “yes”.

More from Kendall …

The classically modern F.U.E.L. House was exactly the right setting for this elegant, vintage modern wedding.  The place settings were absolutely elegant with silver beaded chargers on stunning black matte satin linens, carefully folded napkins with Barbara & Steven’s lovingly crafted menu cards. The cake by Cake Art Studio was absolutely perfect — the lace detailing was a perfect match for the delicate lace in Barbara’s gown. Barbara and Steven also arranged to have a wishing tree — where guests could compose and hang their well-wishes to the couple on the beautiful cherry blossom branches.

From Beautiful Bloom’s blog …

Barbara’s mini calla lily bouquet was accented by a brooch given to her by her mother. Loose arrangements of white and ivory French tulips were placed on beautifully draped pedestal tables and amber lighting filled the space. White cherry blossom branches, white quince and white manzanita branches were all used … with lots and lots of candles! Donna described it as a “wintery March look”!

Every element of Barbara and Steven’s wedding was centrally focused on the oh-so-simple but very poignant words … yes I said yes I will Yes. Sooooo romantic.

Barbara wore a classic Jenny Packham gown …

Our thanks to their wonderful photographer, Maggie Wallace-Cullen for sending us all of these lovely photos from Barbara & Steven’s beautiful wedding! She was kind enough to also send us the link to their slideshow. Tons more images from their stunning affair.

Congratulations Barbara and Steven on a perfectly beautiful wedding celebration from all of us here at Style Me Pretty.

And ~ as always, a huge round of applause to Beautiful Blooms & Eclatante Event Design! For more of their gorgeous events, be sure to visit both of their websites and blogs!

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Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Cake Art Studio, Calla Lilies, Chandelier, Cherry Blossoms, Eclatante, F.U.E.L., Maggie Wallace-Cullen, Philadelphia, Wedding Cake, wishing tree
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Planners & Designers

Isn’t that bouquet to-die-for! Beautiful Blooms is one of Philadelphia’s premiere floral design firms.  And now, they have a brand new retail location that is just fantastic! Janie has a great write-up about Beautiful Blooms’ new boutique over on The Bride’s Cafe.

To see more pics of the beautiful bouquet and the luscious florals (above), take a look at the complete  April Color Story.

Kendall and her team at Eclatante are responsible for some of THE most extraordinary events in and around Philadelphia. Their website is full of gorgeous photos (thanks to the awesome Marie Labbancz) as well as some truly great advice from Kendall on creating the wedding of your dreams. And just a heads up … Eclatante will be moving into their own new space (across the street from Beautiful Blooms) in the next few weeks. We can’t wait to tell you more about that!

We’ve just given you a quick peek at the photos from the April Color Story … but you really, really, really need to see the real deal {click here} for the whole story … the bridesmaids dress, the City Garden backdrop,  the fabulous linens from The Total Table, and so much more!

Remember those china plates that everyone fell in love with on the  Pennsylvania Appleford Estate wedding (Amanda Kraft) last month … the mismatched antique china? They were provided by Party Rental Ltd., and you’ll see them again in this month’s Color Story.

So definitely check it out! April Color Story from Eclatante

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Color Palette Pink Aqua, Eclatante, Marie Labbancz Photography, Party Rental Ltd., Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Table Settings, The Bride's Cafe, The Total Table
Post categories: Color Palettes, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Resources

So, when any of our Little Black Book members is doing something that we think will help you in your searches, we just have to share! Kendall Brown, the creative genius at Eclatante, is an incredibly talented event designer.  She has started publishing monthly Color Stories on her website that we think you really will LOVE. Last month, we featured Kendall’s “hot and cold running (perfect) pinks” on out Little Black Book Blog:  “Girls Only Wedding Party” .

Today, though, it’s March! You just have to think spring!! And as we turn the corner into spring … we’re bringing you a sneak peek of  Eclatante’s March Color Story: All About Blue.

FABULOUS floral designs by Bill and Donna of Beautiful Blooms (Little Black Book vendor). Stunning photos provided by Marie Labbancz. 

Just a quick blip from the March Color Story on Kendall’s blog:  “Bill and Donna of Beautiful Blooms were the ultimate perfectionists creating their gorgeous florals that adorned this fantasy perfectly. The centerpiece consisted of three vases wrapped in white lace paper filled with a mixed arrangement of purple hydrangea, deep plum tulips, blue curiosa roses, purple double lisianthus and muscari. At the base of the vases were smaller vases with lace accents filled with muscari. The whole table was accented with navy blue skinny taper candles.”

You really must see this whole Color Story. It’s that good and more!  To see the inspiration behind Eclatante’s March Color Story, the tablescapes, the carousel, the awesome Monique Lhuillier wedding gown … click {here}.

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Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Blue, Color Palette, Color Story, Eclatante, Wedding Colors
Post categories: Bouquets, Centerpieces, Color Palettes, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Resources

Eclatante’s Kendall Brown and Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Bloom collaborated with today’s stunning bride, Roseann and her mother, Rosemary to create a super-chic, super-warm, super-fabulous wedding and reception … and they sent it to us … to share!  The day was documented, forever, by the amazing photography team at Marie LaBanncz Photography.

And now … Plan B! It rained buckets on Roseann & Paal’s wedding day. Thanks to the quick-thinking Kendall Brown … their post-wedding shoot turned into something that we will never forget!!

from Marie Labbancz … at Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia … Roseann & Paal.

A huge thanks to Becky at The Fawcett Group!

Kendall & Donna … unbelievably chic!

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Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Chic, Eclatante, F.U.E.L., Fawcett Group PR and Marketing, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Signature Cocktails
Post categories: Contemporary, Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Resources

For those of you who are MTV Real World fans, you might recognize the F.U.E.L. House in Philadelphia. It’s now a cool urban gallery and event space … a totally blank canvas that Roseann, Rosemary, Kendall and Donna put their unique stamp on. Roseann wanted the space to glow in fall hues of bronze and copper.

Wow! Glowing it was! I have never seen anything so beautiful! Look inside each of the cylinders … truly amazing.

These beautiful images are by Marie Labbancz. Catering by Feastivities. The gorgeous cake was created by Lotus Cake Studio.

AWESOME floral design by Beautiful Blooms!!

*** Roseann & Paal’s photo-shoot at the Eastern State Penitentiary are next!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Eclatante, F.U.E.L., Marie Labbancz Photography
Post categories: Contemporary, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Roseann searched far and wide for the perfect locket to be attached to her bouquet that would contain photos of herself and her late father, so that, in this small way, he would truly be with her as she walked down the aisle.

This entire day was filled with so much love and so many exquisite touches! But as you all know, for each and every Plan A, there should always be a Plan B … and that is when the blissful newlyweds must roll with the punches, and allow the experts to step forward! On this particular day, it was simply rain. The planned post-wedding shoot was out, and Plan B implemented. You won’t believe where Kendall arranged for Roseann and Paal’s photo shoot.

Roseann & Paal’s luscious letterpress invitations were by the fabulous Elum. {If you’ve never actually felt one of Elum’s invitations, you should. To die for.)

We’ll be filling in more of the details and lots more photos from this amazing wedding in a bit …

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beautiful Blooms, Eclatante, Elum, Monique Lhuillier, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, St. Augustine's Catholic Church
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers