Spreading the holiday cheer Captiva, Sanibel, Naples, Ft Myers Wedding Venues & Vendors

This week we did our annual holiday cheer deliveries to a few of our favorite venues and vendors we worked with this year.
{This year we made gifts of a baby Rosemary Christmas tree, baguettes from Panera, Olive Oil & Balsalmic Vinegar, and a dipping bowl with a super cheesy holiday card I designed. I don't think Hallmark will be hiring me anytime soon}
Here we are at our first stop: Floral Artistry. Beth was gone for the day and Yanna was tied up on the phone. From there we headed out to South Seas. Kind of a drive- so we played a game of iphone Name that Tune. That Shazam app is so cool!
I thought, "You know what, maybe our clients and readers might like to see some of the people we're always talking about!" So here's the ones we were able to catch on camera:The Sales and Catering Team from South Seas Island Resort
Kathi & Sarah from Talent! The Agency of Choice

Lynn Alexander from LaPlaya Beach ResortThe Sales & Catering Team from Casa Ybel Resort
Rob & AnnMarie Epple of AMC Video

We also made deliveries at Grandezza (Sean Hynes), Miromar Beach Club (Lesley O'Quinn), Sanibel Harbour Resort (Kristin Lawrence)and the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach (Nicola Long)...but they were all tied up getting ready for weddings. Hope you're having fabulous ones!
A huge thank you to all of you for being part of another year of so many great weddings!

A Beautiful Rainy Wedding Day at the Ritz Naples

Last month we had a stunning formal wedding weekend at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples Beach. I'm not going to say, "Unfortunately, it rained" because while the rain did come, it was still an amazing evening. There was nothing unfortunate about it! We had back up plans in place and had called for all the events to take place indoors several hours in advance (this is crucial!) so that everything would seem as it had been planned that way all along. The key is to make certain it does not appear to be a last minute move.
All photos on this post were taken by me, so yeah, they aren't so good because I am not a photographer who knows everything about lighting, angles, speed and all that stuff I find unfathomable to remember all at one time. But you get the point. To see better photos- always check out the photographers websites & blogs!
Location: Ritz Carlton Naples Beach
Photographer: Michelle Reed
Flowers: Ritz Carlton
Cake: Ritz Carlton
Band: Vox Blu
The band was unreal. We had Vox Blu at a wedding last year and I was immediately a fan. I was so excited when Kim picked them out for her wedding. They have the best Michael Jackson compilation of any band I have ever heard. There was not a single soul in a seat. Honestly, the dance floor was packed the entire night. Well, until the fire alarm went off. But that's another story. Anyway, the Hora was off the charts! Kim and Steve were up in the chairs many times until Steve was ultimately dropped. Oops. No worries though, he landed on both feet.

"It's your boy Kelly, Rabbi Sol!"

Not kidding, this is how Andrea announces that Rabbi Solomen is calling us. How hilarious! I was cracking up. You see, I'd just had a wonderful discussion with Rabbi Sol, and we really hit it off. We talked a bit about the wedding and a bit about our websites, which lead to blogging. Within minutes of ending our conversation, he called back about blogging- very excited. And now I must admit that I am even more excited for next weekends wedding ceremony and to finally get to meet this charming rabbi.
The beach ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach is sure to be a unique one with both Rabbi Solomon and Father Riccardi officiating.
Check back in a couple weeks and I'll update on how this amazing wedding turns out!

Rice Krispy Wedding Cakes

My husband told me that I couldn't screw up Rice Krispy treats. I proved him wrong in 3 minutes flat. I burned the first bowl of marshmallows. Leave it to me.
Yesterday Dominique and I spent the day making Rice Krispy wedding cakes for all the local venues we worked at this spring wedding season. Today all of us will go deliver them to say thank you for such an awesome start to the 2008 wedding year.
Thank you to the sales and catering teams at:
The Ritz Carlton Resort Naples Beach
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
South Seas Island Resort
Casa Ybel Beach Resort
Sanibel Harbour Beach Resort
Miromar Beach Club
Be on the lookout for the big gray box with the bow!

Here's to another great wedding! -Kelly

Vanessa & Greg's Directors Cut

Last April I had the pleasure of coordinating one of the grandest destination wedding weekends ever. It was grand on many levels; it was the combination of top notch wedding professionals, incredible locations, and families and friends that were beyond amazing.
Vanessa & Greg had a church ceremony in Naples followed by an unbelievable reception at the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach.
This morning, the gang at AMC Video sent me the directors cut. Yep, I started my day sobbing like a baby. Have a look at this video. Warning though- turn up the volume and take out a tissue.
Rob- thank you so much for sharing this cut!

Really now, how can you not like Martha Stewart Wedding Stuff?

I stopped at the PO Box today and found the Fall 07 Martha Stewart Weddings! YEA! I know, I'm a bit of a dork, but I really get excited when it comes. I read 1/2 of it in the lobby at the Ritz (arrived a bit early for our meeting) and I was bending down pages left and right. First of all on page 66 there is an article about Tiecrafters. You can send them fabric and they will make you a tie! This is great for those who want the boys to match the girls exactly. Just purchase additional yardage from your bridemaid dress manufacturer. A little out of budget? No fear, I still swear by SolidColorNeckTies.com (hello, $7 per tie, 52 shades of fabulous).

Then on page 70, there's an article called stir things up. This is one of those little details that costs next to nothing, takes a small amount of effort and makes a big impact. Great use of color. Sorry about the crease in the picture...I really do fold down pages I want to go back to!

I have the BEST clients.

Yes, I understand that there are many a wedding planners who will read this and swear that their clients are the best, but I have to argue- mine are just amazing. The absolute hardest part of wedding planning, besides keeping budgets under control and seating lists is menu planning. When you're planning an average of 4 eating opportunities for the same 50-75 people in one weekend, it is not a simple task. But today, I am in menu planning heaven. Last week we finished planning 3 wedding weekend menus, 2 of which aren't even until late next spring! This afternoon at the Ritz Carlton Naples we had a tasting that blew me and the bride & groom away. Then I get back here to my office and find a wedding menu in my inbox for J's wedding weekend next March. Considering I just asked them to start looking at the menus like 4 days ago, I was floored by this. So to my clients- really- you're all awesome! Now we can move on to the fun stuff, making the dinner look even better with the details; woohoo!

Wondering what's on that plate?
Grilled filet of beef with a Parsley & Horseradish crust
Maine Lobster "3 ways", Tempura Claw, Butter Poached Tail & Lobster Basil Mashed Potatoes
Grilled Asparagus
Roasted red tomato topped with frise


And this one is warm chocolate cake with a liquid Grand Marnier center and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The photo isn't from the best angle, but that stick across the center is actaully a baked chocolate spoon!

Silly wedding planner drives bride WILD

Just kidding! This is me and Julie on Halloween. I had stopped by to drop off her spare invitations and she was dressed to hand out candy. She insisted that I have a costume too, at least for the photo. She also had made cute little bags of candy for my kids, which was so sweet! Thank you Julie :)

Last night I had what I think will be my last consultation for the spring 2007 wedding season! The fact that we actually got through the consultation is amazing. We spoke a couple weeks back about her wedding at the new Ritz Beach house, and totally hit it off. Well, between that initial call and last night, just about every attempt to connect backfired. It was awful! Our 1st phone scheduled consultation never happened because of email tag, a follow up email got stuck in the draft file (big oops, and I'll never use it again if I can help it). For the second scheduled consult, I read the time wrong and called 6 hours late. Totally thinking by the way that I was on time. And when we finally did connect...my phone died mid-conversation. Anyway, we laughed something fierce about it all, and in the end- there's a new Weddings bride. Welcome Donna!

Side note, I said earlier that I think Donna took the last spring wedding date. Please call to inquire, because dates do change!