Showing posts with label Parties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parties. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

TIFF has come and gone ....

Once again TIFF has come and gone and we know it to be one of the exciting events in Toronto in the Fall. This year I was invited to one of the parties and it was my first time. The city is so alive with people and stars mulling around.  A fellow decorator and I attended the party at The Windsor Arms Hotel last Thursday and met up with some other colleagues. The evening started with a panel discussion by Tommy Oliver, Stephen Bruno, Nicholas Taborak, and Nicole Quenqua from the movie industry discussing the different aspects of the industry.  It was very interesting to hear the Q and A's surrounding the Film Industry and this great Film Festival.  We can be proud of our city and country in general as we received such positive comments and I was so proud to be a Canadian taking part of an event is such a great city.  Over and over I hear the same phrase "Canadians are so nice".  I was at a seminar earlier that day and the speaker from the US said exactly the same thing.  

Of course the party that followed was a lot of fun.  Must go to more of them next year and see more of the movies as well.










Sunday, July 22, 2012

A Magical Wedding

This is the summer of weddings, at least for me!  I love weddings and all the magic.  I recently attended a "Magical Summer Wedding" of a niece and it was so dreamlike.  The bride and her sister pulled off the most incredible event at Knollwood Golf Club, situated in the Ancaster countryside.  It is something out of a fairytale or a magazine that anyone might dream of,  but this was very real!  Situated among the trees with gorgeous views of the surrounding area,  under the twinkling stars it had a lovely and relaxed authentic country charm.

The day started with everyone in a large marquis tent set up to represent the chapel with the most unique 'alter' I have seen.  The groom's parents constructed a latticework structure and as per bride's vision, there were rustic wine barrels on either side with mason jars filled with coloured water and white flowers.  So simple, yet so lovely.  There was also an endearing sign above the structure with the phrase - "This is where our story begins". 

 

 Following the service, guests were shown to the bar area just beyond and scattered amongst the trees where cruiser tables, chairs and wine barrels which were decorated with the same mason jars  filled with flowers as well as some other interesting memorabilia as old washboards leaning against trees, wooden boxes and various other rustic antique pieces which added to the warm and relaxed atmosphere the bride and her sister the event planner were striving for.  She had large tissue paper flower balls hanging from the trees along with solar candles and lanterns.  The bar, under the trees  was offering any type of liquid beverage you could wish for along with the signature wedding cocktail - the 'Marry Me Mojito', and very tasty it was!!  Scrumptious and elegant Hors D'Oeuvres were also served. 
 When the wedding party returned from their photo business, we were led into another extremely large marquis tent where the tables were set up in the same fashion.  Surrounding this space was what was left of an old stone wall, most likely a building as there is a extremely large stone fireplace at one end.  Along the wall which had broken away over the years to be a little zig zaggy, which gave it real character, sat more mason jars with candles inside. 

Upon entering this lovely space we were greeted with a gift from the Bride & Groom set up on a table which had yet more objects of the rustic nature including photos of their parents and grandparents on their own wedding days,  old wooden storage boxes, a blackboard within an old frame with the menu posted and an old window frame on an easel with photos of the Bride & Groom as children.  Really quite a nice way to welcome their guests.  Once inside we could see the millions, ok, hundreds?? thousands?? of mini lights strung everywhere to create a magical experience when the sun went down.


Our tables (below) had old memorabilia including mason jars with the white flowers, old classic books stacked and white lanterns - such character.




  
 
We enjoyed incredible food and then danced the night away under twinkling lights, candles and stars.  What could be better than that on a July night!!  Cait & Cara you did a magnificent job of creating a magical event!!

All the best to Cait and Jay for a wonderful life together and thanks for inviting me to be part of your special day.







Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Winter Romance - Holiday Wedding



Well I really got into the Holiday spirit this year. I was honoured to attend the most incredible wedding I have ever been to - A Holiday Wedding for a niece the week before Christmas. It was spectacular!!

The reception was held at the Eglinton Grand in Toronto and WOW!! Very hollywood glam... Formerly The Eglinton Theatre, this historic landmark has been restored to its original 1937 grandeur! Holding true to its art deco décor, The Eglinton Grand is adorned with rich woods including mahogany and ebony, elegant marble, beautiful wainscoting and period furniture.
This venue recaptures the elegant design and sophistication of a majestic facility .
The balcony level has been recreated into a swank cocktail lounge. One level down, a spectacular ballroom - dining and dancing - evokes the romance of the old movies of days gone by.

They had the most elegant decor in the colors of their wedding - white, black and red. You really felt that you were back in the 30's hollywood glamour from the moment you entered the venue. Very classy event with fab food, great entertainment and of course the most beautiful bride and handsome groom. The did their first dance together all alone on the dance floor amid millions (ok not millions) but lots of twinkling lights and candles. All of the guests were up on the balcony level enjoying cocktails when the curtains were drawn and pouf! there they were below us looking magnificent. During their dance a video of their day was playing on the large movie screens which made it all the more like a fantasy. Well done Cara and Evangelos! So glad I could be part of your special day.

For a decorator this was like being in a candy store - so much to see and admire. The tables were decorated with black velvet burn out fabric, white with a 2' tall slender square vase filled with red berries, black branches with tiny white flowers and palm branches. The head table had black velvet skirting along the front and the attendants assembled their red rose ball bouquets along the edge - quite incredible.
I wanted to take it all in. I didn't want to leave!!