Monday, September 23, 2013

Baby Shower Cake Design Process - Adobe Illustrator to Reality

Although the majority of my business is in weddings, every once in a while I take on non-wedding events.  When my former bride, Arti, asked that I plan her baby shower at the Hyatt Boston Harbor, I knew that it was going to have to be the prettiest shower that I could possibly design!  Her wedding last year was a stunner (here & here).  This momma-to-be really knows what she likes, and amazingly, she gave me free rein in almost everything design and decor related.

Since the baby's gender is a surprise, she wanted to go with pink and blues.  I customized some ideas that she had for an invitation, and created the following out of two layers of luxe cotton cardstock and light blue tulle.


Having this as my guide for the rest of the event, I needed to come up with some cute ideas for all of the other little elements of the shower, including designing the baby shower cake! Being able to design the cake is not something that I typically am able to do with weddings. My clients always have their own ideas in mind, and never say, "Emilie, surprise me!" - so when I heard that this time around, I really wanted to make this a true surprise and just went with what I thought looked good.

It started with my beloved Adobe Illustrator. I began with the pink and blue colors, with a four tiered cake, a little hand-drawn bird, a possible banner, simplifying the design down to two tiers, adding ribbon, adding a little pearl border, and trying out different color combinations to see what would actually look good vs. what I think would look good in my head.



In the end, I wanted to have a cake closest to the second design page, bottom left cake.  I wasn't sure if the bird would be made out of fondant or possibly chocolate, or if I would have to make it out of paper, or if I would just print it as part of the banner that I wanted to make. I made an appointment with Konditor Meister for the cake design, specifically because they had a lot of the mini pastries that I also wanted to order for the event, and here is proof of my visit...


Just me and 10 pieces of CAKE! It's not all about the design, but I had to pick out flavors too! Yummm...  I had a great appointment with Deanna there, going over lots of specifics on what they were able to create and what was not as feasible.  They were not able to create the three dimensional bird easily and could only really pipe on a two dimensional bird, so I decided to print it on the banner instead, which I then cut out and tied with fuchsia string on to two pink striped straws. I used a needle to thread the string through the cardstock. The top layer (carrot cake) had rounded edges and was covered in a light blue rolled chocolate, and accented with a rolled chocolate white gardenia. There was also a small eyelet pink ribbon around the middle of the tier and pearls made of buttercream connecting tiers. The bottom tier (oreo cake) was covered in ombre style pink ruffle petals that cascaded down in layers. There was also a side sheet cake (needed for their 128 guests!) that was white cake with lemon and raspberry filling.

The cake turned out almost exactly as I had hoped it would. In my head, the petals were supposed to be a bit smaller so there would be more of them overall, but I was still very happy with the end result.  If I were to do it again, I should have specified exactly how wide and tall in inches I would have liked those petals to be instead of just saying that I wanted the petals to be "small" and having them just go off of my drawing.  Here is a quick photo from the baby shower that shows the details of the cake, which is in the middle of a large dessert bar.


I was going for a really "cute" cake and I think I was able to achieve it.  Most importantly, Arti loved it!  I really think that for me, going through the brainstorming process on paper or in Illustrator helped make for a better end product.  More to come later once the professional photos are in from Shannon Grant Photography!

~Emilie

Monday, September 9, 2013

Wendy and Matt's Engagement Photos by Briana Moore Photography

It has been a crazy summer, and I'm definitely behind on blogging some amazing weddings.  They'll be coming soon!  For now, I have to share a little preview of Wendy and Matt who are getting married this upcoming weekend at The Stevens Estate!  These gorgeous engagement photos were taken by Briana Moore of Briana Moore Photography.  I'm so excited to be working with her on the wedding day, along with vendors like Lotus Floral Events, and A Day to Remember.


Thanks, Briana, for sharing these photos with me!

~Emilie

Friday, July 19, 2013

Frank and Hanh's Engagement Photos by Joyelle West Photography

In a little over a week, Frank and Hanh will be having their wedding at one of my favorite venues in the city, The State Room.  They have so many fun little details planned for their big day, and are working with some amazing vendors like The Tangled Web for flowers, and Boston Common Band.  For now, I wanted to share some photos from their engagement session with Joyelle West of Joyelle West Photography.  To see more from their engagement session, check out Joyelle's blog here.


Thanks, Joyelle, for sharing these photos with me - I can't wait to work with you again!
~Emilie

Monday, June 24, 2013

Long Haul Films: Jessica and William's Harvard Faculty Club Wedding Trailer

In early June, Jessica and William were married at Harvard Memorial Church and the Harvard Faculty Club. The bride and groom recently emailed me a link to their wedding trailer created by their cinematographer, Long Haul Films, and I was floored by how beautifully they documented the day, and their ability to tell a story.

Tom and Melissa from Long Haul Films are incredibly talented, and I would highly recommend them if you're looking for someone to capture your wedding day on film. If you watch Jess and William's trailer below, you'll see that their work is truly priceless.

William & Jessica | A Harvard wedding film by Long Haul Films from Long Haul Films on Vimeo.

{the vendor team}

• Cinematography:  Long Haul Films
• Wedding Coordination:  Pink Orchid Weddings
• Ceremony Venue:  Harvard Memorial Church
• Reception Venue:  Harvard Faculty Club
• Florals:  The Tangled Web
• Photography:  Kelly Dillon Photography
• Wedding Cake:  Cakes to Remember
• Hair & Makeup:  Special Day by Carolina
• DJ:  C-Zone Entertainment
• Photo booth:  Red Eye Photo Booths
• Favors:  L.A. Burdick

~Emilie

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Paula and Matt's Engagement Photos by Kate McElwee Photography

It's a gorgeous morning, and today is Paula and Matt's wedding day!!  They are getting married at St. Cecilia Parish and having their reception at the Hilton Back Bay Hotel.  Hair and makeup is already underway at the hotel, and I thought that I would take a moment to share some photos from their stunning engagement session with Kate McElwee Photography.  For more from their session, check out Kate's blog here.


Thanks, Kate, for sharing these photos with me!
~Emilie

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Boston Wedding Coordination: Jessica and William's Harvard Faculty Club Wedding

On Saturday, June 1st, I coordinated Jessica and William's wedding day at the Harvard Memorial Church and the Harvard Faculty Club.  They both are Harvard alums and it was so special having their wedding on campus.  The bride and bridesmaids had their hair and makeup done by Special Day by Carolina, and they all got ready at the Harvard Faculty Club.  The bridesmaids all wore short purple dresses, and the bride wore a stunning Vera Wang gown with a delicate skirt covered in petals.

The bride and groom opted to do a first look in the afternoon, and they were able to do a lot of their portraits together and with their immediate families prior to the ceremony at Harvard Memorial Church. Their ceremony was short and sweet, and included floral arrangements from The Tangled Web.

Cocktail hour was held on the patio and in the lobby of the Harvard Faculty Club, and guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres such as lobster arancini, crab cakes, roasted spring lamb, and fresh apple & gorgonzola tarts.  There was a guestbook tree where guests signed their names on leaves, and there was also a mailbox where notes could be written on post cards.

The dining room tables were topped with gorgeous florals from The Tangled Web, along with chocolate favors from L.A. Burdick.  The evening included many toasts, and even some songs, one of which was a surprise re-make of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" that was completely personalized with lyrics related to the bride and groom.  It was so sweet and thoughtful!  Guests enjoyed a dinner of a baby mixed greens salad, and a choice of grilled filet mignon, wild sea bass, or strata.  For dessert, there was a beautiful strawberry chiffon wedding cake from Cakes to Remember, as well as petit fours.

A photobooth from Red Eye Photo Booths got everyone to pose with fun props, and DJ Mike Paganelli from C-Zone Entertainment provided music for the evening.  The photography and cinematography were a dream team of Kelly Dillon Photography and Long Haul Films.  Their work will be coming later, but for now, here are a few photos that I took of some of their details.


Jess and William, thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your incredible day.   I hope you had an amazing honeymoon in Greece!!

~Emilie

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Boston Wedding Coordination: Coreen and Steve's Boston Harbor Hotel Wedding

On Saturday, May 25th, I coordinated Coreen and Steve's gorgeous wedding at the Old North Church and the Boston Harbor Hotel.  Coreen and her seven bridesmaids got ready at the hotel, with the wedding party getting their hair and makeup done by Special Day by Carolina.  The bride had one of my favorites, Caitlin Murphy, do her hair and makeup, and she looked absolutely stunning!

The ceremony was held at the historic Old North Church in the North End, and guests took a fun trolley ride from Old Town Trolley Tours and ate Florentine cannolis from Mike's Pastry on the way to the church.  It doesn't get any better than that!  Wooden fans and programs designed in the form of a scroll with a red wax seal were given out to guests from antique looking trunks.  The bride and her parents arrived in a vintage white Rolls Royce, and the bride and groom saw each other for the first time as Coreen walked down the aisle with her father.

Following the ceremony, guests took the trolley back to the Boston Harbor Hotel, and went directly to cocktail hour.  There were lots of hors d'oeuvres to enjoy such as jumbo shrimp, wild mushroom risotto cakes, crepe wrapped braised short ribs, mini sliders, pancetta wrapped sea scallops, and chilled crab, avocado, and grapefruit salad.  Guests found their seats in the reception via escort cards that were placed on red velvet cake pops from Cake Pops Boston.

The reception was held in the Atlantic Wharf Room in the Boston Harbor Hotel, with views of the Boston Harbor.  Guest tables were surrounded by gold chiavari chairs, and topped with floral centerpieces from Tangerine Creations.  For dinner, guests enjoyed New England clam chowder, a mozzarella tomato salad with beet greens and parsley oil, and entree choices of filet mignon, roasted breast of chicken, or homemade risotto.  For dessert, there was a lemon chiffon wedding cake with classic tiramisu and Italian buttercream.

If any of their guests had a sweet tooth, they not only had wedding cake, but a huge candy bar to dig in to!  I've never set up a candy bar with so much variety before:  twizzlers, ring pops, reese's pieces eggs, snickers, peanut butter snickers, smarties, swedish fish, gummy bears, york peppermint patties, kit kats, twix, swizzle sticks, hershey kisses, krackel, reese's peanut butter cups, m&ms, peanut m&ms, starburst jelly beans, blow pops, and skittles.  Needless to say, it was quite a hit with everyone :)

The DJ and photobooth were from Curtis Knight Entertainment, and the videography was done by Precious Moments Wedding Films.  Professional photos from Coburn Photography and DePrisco Photo will be coming later, but for now, here are a few detail shots that I took!


Coreen and Steve, it was so nice working with you both, and I wish you the very best!!

~Emilie

Monday, May 27, 2013

Jessica and William's Engagement Photos by Kelly Dillon Photography

This upcoming Saturday, Jessica and William are getting married at the Harvard Memorial Church, with a reception at the Harvard Faculty Club.  These two venues are quite fitting as they are both Harvard alums!  As a preview of the couple, I wanted to share some photos from their sweet engagement session from Kelly Dillon Photography, who is one of my favorite photographers in the city.  Check out her blog here for more photos of the couple!


Thanks so much, Kelly, for sharing your beautiful photos!
~Emilie

Friday, May 24, 2013

Coreen and Steve's Engagement Photos by Coburn Photography

Coreen and Steve are getting married this Saturday at the Boston Harbor Hotel and Old North Church!  They are such a loving couple from New York City, and I wanted to share some engagement photos from their Dallas based photographer, Kyle Coburn of Coburn Photography.  This session was done in New York City, and if you'd like to see more, check out Kyle's blog post here.