wedding | Elite Elegance

Sierra Mountains and sunset florals-Love in the Fall

2022 ended with one of the prettiest Fall weddings we have ever done. Fall in the mountains of Reno is something to behold!

Mallory an incredibly talented surgeon, reached out to us to help plan her wedding as she was located in Seattle. Her fiance, Travis, an environmental scientist, was born in Winnemucca and the couple decided to get married here in Reno. They had seen a few pictures of the Tannenbaum and liked the look of the venue. Once we had the venue on lock, for a Sunday in October, we got to designing.

All Pictures from multiple sources. Source: Google

When discussing design, Mallory expressed the love of the colors terra cotta and rust for her main colors with white pumpkins as accents. She wanted a romantic feel, so we went with LOTS of hurricane vases and pillar candles scattered throughout the entire venue. She also loved the look of eucalyptus. So we came up with the design above and the couple was thrilled.

Mallory and Travis expressed their must haves for their day, which are so important to making sure you get exactly what you want fo your day! They wanted a party where everyone had a great time with music chosen by the couple, a pretty wedding that made everyone feel comfortable, the bride did not want to be cold, and the food had to be epic.

The party…that one was easy. We welcomed Justin from Justincredible entertainment to our team. He and Travis hit it off immediately. They composed a great list of music to play on the day.

Tannenbaum has the incredible food of Roundabout Catering, and they never disappoint.

The day had come…October 23rd. If you live in Reno, you know the weather here in October can be warm and sunny or chilly but fall like. Well as luck would have it, the bride who did NOT want to be cold on her wedding day, had a wedding day with a high of 46 degrees. It was Sunny but very very chilly and the wind was also a bit of an issue. We went to work to make their day everything that they had envisioned.

Photos by Harmony Hildebrand Photography

The front of The Tannenbaum was decorated with pumpkins cascading both sides of the stairwell. Two planters filled with terra cotta and rust florals, some pampas grass and white pumpkins completed the entryway.

A custom sign created by the Groom’s sister pointed the way to the ceremony site.

The ceremony site had another custom sign for the seating. It was draped in beautiful terracotta fabrics. Sheer organzas dripped from the wooden arch. The wind was not our friend on this very chilly day but we made it work. Florals from Ling’s Moment capped off the arch itself. At the base were the bride’s signature white pumpkins to complete the fall feel.

The inside aisle were draped in a terracotta tulle and rust satin floral ties and white pumpkins dotted the aisle. The beginning of the aisle had barrels capping each side with white pumpkins eucalyptus and pillar candles for that romantic fall touch.

The outside of the aisles were decorated with similar floral ties with pampas grass to tie in the front planters.

It was time for the wedding to begin. Mia, Mallory and Travis furbaby, tried to steal the show. She was adorable in that emerald dress!

Travis had a surprise for Mallory. He played a song for her-I’ve just seen a face by the Beatles along with the String Beings quartet. When Mallory heard it she was visibly moved.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful. The couples’ vows to one another were funny, touching, moving and full of true emotion. One moment you were laughing and the next you were tearing up from such sweet sentiments by the two.

The kiss and Mr. and Mrs Axe were announced! It was truly a special moment for all in attendance!

Cocktail hour commenced, Justin took over the tunes and Roundabout at Tannenbaum put the appetizers out and the bar was open. The couples guests mingled and both sides came together as if they were one big happy family! Making the guests comfortable was so important to the couple.

Cocktail hour was complete! Reception time!!

The reception was filled with tables embellished pillar candles, the bride’s signature white pumpkins, eucalyptus, and pops of burgundy florals. The sweetheart table was draped with a blush organza and a terracotta,burgundy, blush table spray with eucalyptus. The front of the table was adorned with white Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkins. Terra cotta napkins, custom made charger thank you’s atop gold chargers gave a rich feel, custom table numbers, escort cards and creative guestbook completed the personal touches. The venue felt romantic and cozy.

The formalities were over! Time to party! Grand Entrance, fantastic food, touching toasts, shoe game, epic first dance, and a great party completed this incredible wedding.

Custom cupcakes by C’s Mad Batter Cakery that were decorated to MATCH the florals of the wedding.

First dance on a cloud is truly a sight to be seen!

Justin from Justincredible DJ hamming it up but throwin’ down a killer party!

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Axe! IT was an incredible day and we are so blessed to be able to have helped you make your dream a reality!

Vendors:

Planner/ Designer: Elite Elegance
Venue and Catering: Tannenbaum Events Center & Roundabout
Photography: Harmony Hilderbrand Photography
DJ and Photobooth: Justincredible DJ Entertainment
Videography: Ridpath Productions
Bridal Party Florals: Twist Flowers
Cake: Cs Mad Batter Cakery
Quartet: String Beings
Transportation: Amador

04/01/2017 Some things are worth Saying Twice

This wedding was 2 years in the planning process….and 20 years in the making. The couple, Gaby & David had been married for 20 years and never got to have that wedding of their dreams. We decided to focus on the growth and longevity of their marriage and use the symbol of a swirl. The colors, every so elegant were black, white and silver. The flower choice, White roses. Centerpieces were in the vane of Beauty and the Beast with floating long stem roses topped with a floating candle, surrounded by tea lights. All the tables were decorated with swirl confetti and pillar candles. The theme, some things are worth saying twice. The event was a beautiful one hosted at Grand Sierra Resort & Casino. The DJ, Reno Mobile DJs brought the fun and energy for the reception. The photographer, Joann Kots from Kots Photography captured the day, while Ever After Creations got it all on film. All the florals were created by Elite Elegance. All design elements were made by Elite Elegance. This wedding and reception was so special, as the couple are a testament to what love truly is…and that true love, from 22 years old to 42 years old is still just as incredible and heartwarming and truly something to strive for.

Starbucks and love…it was brewing!

I had the pleasure of meeting a very sweet couple, Rachel and Tom. Their wedding was in May, and together we created a very sweet, simple, classy wedding with a touch that made it all their own. I was contracted for day of, but Rachel and I combined our ideas; I helped create a lot of the extra decor, to give her wedding a complete feel. Not only were the decorations beautiful, but also, because they were on a budget, very cost effective. Some of the things that I created were:

The couple were provided simple folding chairs, but were not happy with the way it looked. So I came up with a chair cover consisting of tulle in their colors (green and white) and made coffee filter flowers. Because of the coffee theme, it fit very well.

chair cover with white coffee filter flower

The card box…an essential part to your guestbook or gift decor.

the card box, made with tulle, coffee filter flowers leaves, and coffee beans

Vases for the head table, guestbook and gift table.

Coffee filter flowers in vases with green ribbon and wrap.

Custom signs, made from frames, chalkboard paint and markers.

Custom signs for direction and a little instagram fun!

As the week approached, Rachel and I were worried about the crazy Reno weather. We watched and noted the change in weather. It was May, but it is Reno after all. We opted for no tent, and were hoping the weather was on our side. On the day of the rehearsal, we had wind and heavy rain. Later that night the I-80 pass was closed due to winter weather! We both said, it’s ok. As long as the guests don’t get drenched…we will be ok.

On the morning of, we had clear skies. As I headed over to the venue, the wind was gusting quite a bit. Gray clouds loomed. I just kept saying as long as it doesn’t rain….we will be fine. We set up the ceremony site, inside the rose garden at Idlewild park. The wind picked up even more…and was definitely not on our side.

The aisle consisted of organza wraps with white coffee filter flowers. It was a nice touch. Very simple, yet elegant.

The couple was to be married under the large tree with the rose garden as their backdrop. Because of the crazy weather, the flowers had not yet bloomed but it was still beautiful. I created a black organza arch, and two large white coffee filter pomander balls. Completed the front with beautiful mock orange plants.

Inside the hall, tables were decorated with black tablecloths, and green accents with white flowers and coffee filter flowers. The leaves, being one of the main decor aspects, was the inspiration for my leaf napkin folds. Other than the tablecloths, all the extra linens, the runners, the wrap for the head table, were all sewn and created by me. The food and cake, made by the bride’s father, was beautifully displayed. The favors, a nod to the couple working at Starbucks, were a complimentary bag of beans with the saying “Love is in the air, and it smells like coffee!” Boy did it.

I even made the cake stands, I care about every detail of a wedding, and strive to make it perfect!

This was such a beautiful and fun wedding to create and make a reality. All of the simple and sweet touches created were and beautiful and didn’t break the bank! The families and friends had a really great time, and the bride and groom were beyond happy and in love.

When it was time to say goodnight, the couple left in a fun fashion, with “Hey Ho” by the Lumineers as their swan song. What a great way to end the night!

I loved doing this wedding so much, it touched my heart and made me feel so good that the bride loved all my designs and her happiness for her day meant everything to me.

By the way…though it was windy, we lucked out. It never rained. 🙂

Pomander Candlestick centerpiece–Tutorial Time!

Hello Wedding Lovelies!!! It has been quite a few months since I’ve blogged….I’ve been so busy with the holidays and then I just did the Wedding Expo here in Reno. Now that I have a few moments I wanted to say hello! The holidays were full of family, fun and shopping, getting ready for the expo. It was my first expo and I wanted to knock it out of the park. I came up with the theme “Vintage, simplistic, romance.” When I thought of those three words, I thought of clean, pearls, vintage paper, romantic colors (plumb and blush) Antique. Romantic lighting. And this is what I came up with…….

To be honest…I was quite pleased. It is my favorite part of wedding and event planning to create something so beautiful and personal to each couples liking. DIYing is also a passion of mine. i always say, pretty not pricey. If I can make something for half the cost of buying it…or if I envision something similar to what I’ve seen I’m all about making things. So, for today’s tutorial…I wanted to show you how I made the centerpiece for my table.

I made two of these, staggered heights. I love these pieces. I also love the prices of these peices! I made 2 of these for about 8.00 total!

Here is what I used…

1 4 inch styrofoam ball
floral wire
floral tape
1-2 bunches of fake flowers (I used plum hydrangeas).
String pearls (I found mine on amazon)
Ornament hooks (I found those at the dollar store)
Wire cutters
An old book (preferably one with a vintage look-where the pages have yellowed a bit)
scissors
A glue Gun
Not pictured- wooden candlestick holders (they sell these at Michaels, but I found 3 on etsy for about 12.00 total.)
Silver or chrome spray paint
a dowel (cut to height, about 2 to 3 inches in length)

So the first thing we did, is grabbed the styrofoam ball and marked the bottom.

Then I stuck the dowel in as far in as where the ball felt sturdy at the marking on the bottom.

I pulled the dowel out and turned the bottom of the ball to face me. I took the strands of pearls and measured 4 loops in my hand. The length is entirely up to you. I measured the length up against the candlestick holder so the droop would be about half.

I then took the ornament hooks and wrapped them around the pearls and stuck them around the hole at the bottom of the ball. I used a square shape to get the pearls to droop correctly.

Then I began to create the pomander. I snipped off the bunched leaves of the hydrangeas.

I wrapped them with the floral tape to make them tighter.

I took my book paper roses (I learned to make these on one of the many youtube tutorials) and glued them to the center of the bunch. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just wherever you think it looks best.

Then you just press the stems of the flower bunches into the ball until it’s tight.

Fill in all around the ball, leaving the hole at the bottom exposed.

Take your candlestick holder and the dowel (which has been glued in already) and spray painted. Stick the dowel into the hole at the bottom of your ball….and VOILA

It took me about 3 hours to complete both of these. Very simple, easy and cost effective! They were absolutely beautiful on the expo table and many people took notice of the intricacy of the work done!

You can make these with any color flowers or type of flowers you could imagine! Even real ones (though the paper roses should be glued onto a fake flower insert as to not kill the real flower). There is so much play with this centerpiece and can be done in several different ways to fit the look your trying to achieve.

Creating the feel and look of your wedding is the most fun part. Don’t get discouraged if you find something you love and think you can’t afford it or can’t make it. You’d be surprised at what you can do!

Where does my money go???

This is a very valid question lots of brides ask. Brides and grooms can end up spending more money than they want to or that they should because they don’t have a budget in place. It may not be the fun part about planning a wedding, but it is definitely the most integral part. Budget creation is our third process to making sure your wedding is perfect. Whether you are incredibly well off and can afford that extremely extravagant, over the top wedding or you are the frugal bride that wants to save every dime where she can, a budget must be created. Budgets help to outline where your money goes. It helps to establish what is important to you in your wedding and what can be cut if need be (i.e.: real vs. fake flowers or band vs. DJ.) At Elite Elegance, we are experienced in budget creation, maintenance and money management. We don’t want you to spend any more than you have to and we make it our highest priority to keep you within your limits.

How do we do that you ask? In our first round of meetings to discuss your event, the question we lead with is what you think you will be able to spend on your event. If you’re not sure, then we can help you by establishing what you can comfortably and realistically save weekly, biweekly or monthly. After determining that, we then figure out what is a must, what you are flexible about, and what you don’t want on your day. By answering these questions, we can then begin to compile your specific budget. We can tailor it to make sure it is exactly what you’ll need to have your perfect day. We are aware of what vendor costs run, so we will make sure that the budget is accurate to what you would need to spend. We also know how to save you money in EVERY aspect of your special day and will make every effort that you reap those benefits. This budget begins to help us find your vendors (which we will talk about in detail in our next blog).

The most important thing to remember about your budget, though it is essential to have, is that it is just an outline. If you end up realizing you have more money than you thought, you can choose to add it to your budget. If things are tighter than you expected, we can trim your budget. Though some clients are intimidated by this step, we will help you feel at ease about your financial status and making sure that you are not pushed out of your budget comfort zone. And most importantly, so you know…where the money goes!

Dream the Perfect dream!

A sample inspiration board of a beauiful fall wedding

The second step in our company’s process to your perfect day is “Dance with Elegance into your Dreams”. In my opinion this is the most enjoyable step for us! This is where we get to begin to picture what your moment will look like. We encourage our clients to look through bridal magazines, websites online and pinterest, and really get a feel for what they love; colors and themes that stand out to them. After all, we are here to make your day happen! We can help you find the right flowers that fit you and your personality, centerpieces, colors…anything you need or want for your day. Some clients are simply too busy to handle any or all the details themselves, or have no clue what they want or really see anything that they love. We can help design your perfect day. Our company follows all the latest wedding trends and while we are getting to know you, we can figure out what would make your day the most elegant and special.

Design is one of the company’s specialties. We have an eye for detail, and we ensure that you, our client, will have what you envision as your perfect day, come to life. By using “inspiration” boards we can put together a mock- up of what your wedding could and would look like. Any idea you may have can be on the board and it helps our clients really visualize what their day will be. From save the date designs to aisle runners, centerpiece and tablescapes, we put it all out there and it helps the client decide what they like or dislike when they see things together. Having the “inspiration” boards can also help to jog some creativity as well in our clients. A lot of clients don’t know where to start and having a rough outline even of what their wedding could be helps to inspire those special personal touches that they would like to see at their event.

We also love the clients that have had their day planned from childhood! We enjoy bringing your dreams to life and really love that you want to make your wedding your own. We can give you advice with design, if needed…and if not, we will make sure your vision is brought to life!

We want your experience to be effortless and stress free and are excited to help you “Dance through your dreams!”

The right date for you is important!

The first step in our five-step process to create and pull off your amazing and perfect day is Save The Date. The date can set the mood, tone, color, and even style of a wedding. Most people tend to get married during “Wedding Season” — June through September, with June and September being the peak months. Generally, this time has the best weather and people are usually more available in the summer. If you are getting married during this time, venues and vendors will charge peak rates as it is their busiest time.

How do you know what date works for you? The advice I give my brides is to really think about how they envision their wedding. If you see lots of bright colors and knee-length or tea-length dresses, summer will probably be the best time. Do you want a certain scenic background for pictures that not everyone else has? Maybe an autumn wedding would best suit your needs. Do you want a large or intimate wedding at dusk with a cozy feel? Maybe an indoor winter ceremony/reception is what you’re looking for. Are there any dates that are significant or special to you and you partner? Often, weddings and events correlate with special dates and make it easier for you to choose.

Regardless, whatever date you choose will be meaningful and special to you and your partner. Keep in mind that having flexibility with your date is definitely best, especially during the summer. Venues and vendors get booked far in advance so the actual date you want may not be possible! One benefit if you want a fall or winter wedding: you’re almost certainly guaranteed your date.

Are you on a tight budget? If so, getting married in off-peak times will save you a substantial amount of money! Venues and vendors are looking to fill their slots as business slows during the off-season. There are also other money saving days and dates. Booking on a weekday or a Sunday will also save you money!

Once you pick your date – whatever it may be – the planning process can fully begin. We can create a timeline and stick to it to ensure that the months leading up to your event run smoothly. We can also begin to really dive into what you are interested in having your event look like.

My final advice to you: don’t stress! Your date is very important, but things can always be worked out if your specific date doesn’t work. Saving the date is just the beginning to creating the moment of your dreams!

Tanya & Matt

This tropical peacock wedding was chic with a touch of simplicity. Simple vased Feather centerpieces lined the rectangular tables while purple and white poms lined the aisle to the beautiful outdoor gazebo. The bridesmaids donned dresses in the colors of peacock feathers, just the right amount of color incorporated to pull off the theme, not too over the top! The love the bride and groom was abundant, much like this beautiful theme!

Jennifer & Cody

A beautiful Summer yellow rustic country Wedding and Reception complete with stunning wildflowers and classic wheat. Burlap and acorns accented the beautiful floral centerpieces that trimmed the warm and inviting cabin space!

Danita & Dean

An simple and elegant Christmas themed wedding for a fun laid back crowd! Utilizing Christmas decorations, this couple enjoyed a beautiful wedding on a budget! Simple floating candles with poinsettias and snow adorned the table while the already provided Christmas Tree was a focal point!