Swizzle Events Blog

Lifelong Love Story: A Golden 50th Anniversary Celebration

50 years ago, a young, love-struck couple couldn't wait to be together forever.  Head-over-heels in love, they decided to elope and begin a lifelong journey together.  Last month, I had the pleasure of helping John & Reba celebrate 50 years of marriage with their loving family and many friends.  And what a celebration it was!

The night began with a cocktail hour that was full of well wishes and good cheer.  It was a special time for old friends to reconnect and memories to be shared.  The guests were greeted by the family in the warm and inviting Beech Center.

 

At promptly eight o'clock, the grand celebration began in the Cianchette Hangar, which houses several vintage aircraft.  The guests entered the room through a beautifully draped hall with gold mirror accents.

The main event space was transformed into a sparkling gold and white vision.  The aircraft were beautifully lit and draped with white to create a magical space.  A breathtaking chandelier crowned the center of the room and sparkled with soft lighting.  Elegant orchids and soft hydrangea were used with accents of wheat grass and tropicals.  

 

 

 

  Thanks to Mrs. Frances at Party Time Catering, the food was glorious and just seemed to go on and on and on . . .

 

 

  And don't make any mistakes about this party!  When the dinner service was complete, the night was just getting started.  Thanks to my new favorite band, Burning Las Vegas, everyone danced the night away (literally!).  These guys put on an amazing 2-hour show of non-stop favorites.  (Yes, they even wore gold dresses to match our color palette!)

 

This is one family that loves to dance!  Of course, with parents like these, they have a wonderful example to follow!  I was truly honored to share this experience with them.  50 glorious years!  An amazing testament to true love and lifelong commitment. 

 

 

Of course, none of this would have been possible without a fabulous team of vendors.  From the lighting to the food and everything in between, it was truly a night to remember.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who made this evening possible!

Venue: Beechcraft Heritage Museum

Event Planning/Coordinating: Amy Thomas, Swizzle Events

Photography: Jonathon Campbell Photography

Lighting: Nashville Event Lighting

Draping Design: Blue Nova Designs

Floral Design: Jen Bryie of Anita's Garden Shop, Jacksonville, FL

Chandelier: Visual Elements

Linens: BBJ Linens

Rentals: Music City Tents

Entertainment: Burning Las Vegas

Invitation Design: Designs In Paper

Catering: Frances Pilkington, Party Time Catering

Valet Service: Parking Management Company

Thanksgiving: A Time for Homespun Goodness

Thanksgiving. The gateway of the holiday season in the U.S.  When it comes to holidays, I love tradition.  This means that I like to celebrate them in their own time and give each its due.  So, with that in mind, here's a salute to Thanksgiving.  A nod to the home-cooked goodness of a meal shared with family and friends, to the blessings in my life and to the little traditions that mean so much.

When you live in the world of weddings and events, it's easy to get carried away with beautiful design and coordinating details.  It's the  nature of our business to look for the ways we can make each experience magnificent, gorgeous, and yes, even amazing.  So, when I think of Thanksgiving, I see it as a time to relish the home-spun, feel-good traditions that won't make the cover of Martha Stewart Living.  But, they're heart-felt and encompass all that is familiar and comfortable.

I will start the day by watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with all the little people in our house. We'll critique the floats and pick our favorites.  The smell of the turkey cooking will float through the air and we will all pass in and out of the kitchen to sneak a taste of all that is yummy and tempting.  We'll compare recipes and enjoy the dishes that are brought by the aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. The paper handprint turkeys will have a place of honor on the refrigerator and the table will probably boast an arrangement of pumpkins and fall leaves.

And as the day ends, I'll be listening to the chatter of a full house as the football game plays in the background.  I'll be the one enjoying a big serving of whipped cream with a little pumpkin pie on the side!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy all the blessings, both large and small, that fill each day!

Girl Parties: Bachelorette Party, Bridesmaid Luncheon, Girlfriend Getaway

So you're up to your eyebrows in planning.  Dresses, color swatches, themes and venues.  Fonts, paper, wording and inserts.  Flowers, linens, favors and cakes.  And, budget, budget, budget.  

But don't forget to have a little fun!  Party with your girls!  Whether you call it a bachelorette party, girlfriend getaway, or bridesmaid luncheon (or cocktail party), remember to set aside some time to celebrate with your best girls.  They've been traipsing high and low with you to find the perfect shoe, listened to your ideas for hundreds of hours and even helped address and stamp all of those envelopes.  Don't they deserve a little R&R?  I know you do! 

So here are some fun ideas and inspiration I've found recently at my favorite web hangouts:

A Twighlight/Breaking Dawn Bachelorette Party - The gals over at Hostess with the Mostess have a fantastic post showing all the great details for an "Edward Infused" evening.  (You know you have a little crush!)

"It's Good to Be a Girl" Bachelorette Day - The spunky and creative Amy over at Stem posted this little gem.  Why limit yourself to an evening of fun? Make a day of it!  Pamper yourself and your gal pals with this pink and black inspiration.  (The best part about Amy's ideas is that you can actually do them yourself and they turn out fabulous!)

"Love Makes the World Go Round" Bachelorette Weekend - Another great idea from Amy at Stem.  Take a jaunt around the globe and never leave your home city!  Love the fun but practical ideas!  Crepes for breakfast, a Swedish massage . . . You could even do this one in a day if you are limited on time.

List could go on an on.  The beauty of having a wedding in this day and age is that you don't have to stick to the traditional (and sometimes boring) ritual of bridal showers and bridesmaid luncheons (or even that bridal tea that your grandmother would love).  Keep it fresh and keep it fun!  Take your friends to a mountain cabin for the weekend and spend your time trolling the antique shops and chatting around the fireplace.  Host cocktails at your house and then catch the latest musical at the theater.  Or better yet, dance the night away at your favorite concert!

Just remember, it's the thought that counts.  This is a time to celebrate your friendships as you stand on the brink of a new chapter in your life.