Friday, August 14, 2009

Wonderful Whitcomb Tower








I've been meaning to catch up on some of these weddings... well now is the time. We've got another wedding coming up at Whitcomb and I must share how much we enjoyed

our last experience there. David and his crew with CK Catering as the exclusive caterer to this hot spot, make a great team!

Although the night got chilly, Cindy and John didn't let that ruin their night. We actually decided to move the entire party indoors. With the help of her bridal party and the Merry Me staff, we swapped the outdoors for the indoors.

This is a great venue to consider when selecting a Harbor Country wedding.

Beautiful Bride (and groom...) cont.











here are some more images:

One Beautiful Bride = One Fabulous Wedding







Ok, so I'm a little bias on this one. OUR Ashley (can i say that?!) recently wed the lucky Brian Joines. The ceremony and reception will be one to remember.
The Challenge:
Trying to come up with a new concept that Ashley hasn't seen. She's worked with me for several years now and has helped create some pretty amazing events for Merry Me. How could we out-do and produce something beyond the 'been there, seen that' experience for this very special young lady?
The Plan:
We were determined as a team to do as much as we could without her knowing and to design some one-of-a-kind custom decor with never been used color combos, lots of textures and styles to make it uniquely her own. We put on our creative thinking caps and got to work.
The Result:
Fabulous!
I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of joy when Ashley and Brian entered the tent. Ashley began to giggle and smile and giggle some more as she was surprised and excited all in one. We were once again able to accomplish the wow factor kind of event we had aimed for.

Take a look at some of my favorite shots. Amanda Fales and her husband Andy outdid themselves with the photography they captured that day. Alexis Davis of CakeWalk designed irresistible and delicious cakes. Matterhorn catering prepared a flawless and fantastic meal. The Historical Oliver Gardens hosted the event with outstanding hospitality! A team of professionals who together, despite the rain surprise in the middle of the day, pulled off one fantastic soiree.

Check out one of our newest custom designs... we call these the "Ashley Chandeliers". Innovative decor made in-house with our team of designers thinking outside the box! We'd love to help create your fairytale...

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Rain Rain Go Away!








This year has been quite the year for rain... but why is it that rain falls only on those days that we have amazing events planned?! Ughhhh. Thank goodness for back up plans.

Yesterday, despite the weather, our couple had a great day celebrating their wedding. They traveled from afar- from New York to Florida and all the way from California. Their destination wedding took place at The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at The University of Notre Dame. We love planning and designing weddings held at the Basilica!

The sounds of Ireland were heard as our bagpiper piped away while guests began to arrive. Although we've done many weddings at Notre Dame over the past 13 years, the sounds of a piper continue to be a memorable favorite to these Irish weddings! Another favorite of ours is the sound of a trumpeter in the choir loft. The old wooden doors open to the sound of Trumpet Voluntary as we present the beautiful bride. This introduction still sends chills through me.

Brian and Kate invited all their guests for a celebration in one of South Bend's finest and oldest venues. The Studebaker Mansion, Tippecanoe Place hosted the evenings' festivities. Cocktails and hor' douevres were served on the third floor bar while Kennedy's Kitchen played Irish tunes in the background.

The main level was set for a fabulous dinner. Guests had their choice of Prime Rib, Herb-Crusted Chicken, Filet Mignon or Baked Tilapia. The intimate crowd was thrilled with the top-notch service and delicious meal.

Despite the change and re-organzing of plans to accomodate the rainly weather, we had to use our rain back-up plan. Dinner on the main then dancing in the lower level. The teamwork necessary to produce a successful event was crucial. Everyone pitched in to help and we appreciated such willingness to do so.

We added our part by designing and planning the affair perfect to the couples' style. A very clean organic and botanical look added to the beauty of Tippecanoe Place. Fresh bamboo, moss, grasses, snake grass and polished black river rock gave the couple a relaxed sense of what they had wished for. The unique bouquets are certainly one of our favorite looks this year! Fantastic texture and dimension gave the unique and personalized touch for our nuptials.

Following dinner, friends and family gathered to the lower level to be entertained by The Matt Young Band. This was our first encounter with this group. We really enjoyed their team approach as well. Matt and his group did a great job while guests enjoyed dancing all night. S & S Photobooth was also there allowing guests to have fun while posing with unique costumes at hand.

Thanks to all who worked hard to produce this event! But most of all, congratulations to Brian and Kate!

Benchmarks 2009


Once again, Merry Me had the opportunity for involvement with a great organization called Benchmarks. This organization supports the Women's Care Center of Elkhart County. We love being part of an event that allows creativity through the arts. Despite the state of the economy in this area, the event was packed with great people, willing and ready to give!

The Merry Me team designed and created "Tea for Two". We thought it was most appropriate since we love planning and designing parties. We are proud to report that our little tea party raised upwards of $375! We can't wait to be part of this again next year and appreciate this awesome opportunity!