Event Recap: Highball Halloween

We were so lucky this year to be selected as the event planner for Highball Halloween.

For those of you who are wondering what that is, let me share. Highball Halloween is a mix of fashion, costume creativity, Short North street party and Halloween all rolled into one. This year we added a little Alice in Wonderland inspiration to the mix! Several blocks of High St are closed (this was the 3rd year) and a stage is built, bars are set up, beer trucks are parked and voila! We've got a fashion show, costume contests, food court, street party and Halloween party.

We had over 20,000 attendees this year and I think everyone had a great view of the 60' runway!



The Grimaldi Circus took the stage first. They were incredible to watch on their high stilts. Nina West was our emcee for the night. She even got a little help from Mayor Coleman as we started the fashion show! Revelers were treated to not 1 but 2 of Nina's amazing performances. They were definitely a hit with the crowd!





A few of the Couture Costume Contest entries:





Above: This was another one of my favorites from the Couture Costume Contest. It was even more beautiful in person.


Above: Our winning Couture Costume! Congratulations to Kevin Kerr who was our winning designer!


Below are a few of the fun costumes that made the final cut for the General Public Costume Contest. 35 were selected out of over 500 applicants!








Our winner of the General Public costume contest - Marty McFly!

Thank you to Diesha, Charly and Carmen and the rest of Short North Business Association board for allowing us to help make Highball Halloween a success!


Costume Photos by Studio B

Runway Photos by Kimberly Potterf

A Look Back at 2010

I can't believe I'm here writing another "last post of the year" post. Time is certainly flying by and when I look back through the calendar at all we did and a were a part of this year, I am beyond proud of my team. Here's a quick look back at our busy year!

January:
I was finishing up my maternity leave after having my little guy Asher.

February:
Preparations are in full swing for all of our 2010 weddings and events as well as Cakes For A Cause coming up in March.

March:
I attended The Academy for Wedding Planners & Designers in San Francisco. It was a great trip and I learned so much from the talented professionals that were our professors that week.

On March 23, we held our 1st Inaugural Cakes For A Cause event at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. We raised enough money to provide over 9000 meals to hungry families in Central Ohio as a part of Operation Feed.

April:
It was time again for the springtime Short North Wedding Walk. We had a great turnout and met so many lovely brides.

I attended Eventology in Indianapolis. It was great to see my friends from across the country and learn a few new things to better improve my business.

May:
Kristy and Matt tied the knot on May8th in a beautiful ceremony at Bexley United followed by a lovely pink reception at East Golf Club.

Lorie and Jarrod had a beautiful ceremony at the Park of Roses on May 15th.

I attended the Make A Wish Gala at Ohio Stadium with a few of my friends. We had a wonderful time that evening raising money for the children.

June:
We loved working at Sushi Rock for the night on June 4th where we produced a fantastic birthday celebration for Arielle!

July: This was one busy month for us!

Lauren and Maarten tied the knot at Trinity United Methodist in Grandview then had a stunning cocktail and reception at a private residence in New Albany. I've never seen more perfect weather for a wedding. Aunt Stephanie was definitely smiling down on them that day!

On July 23rd, Tegan and Erich were married in a beautiful ceremony in the Westin Grand Ballroom followed by a candlelit reception in the same ballroom.


On July 24th, Ashley and Andrew were married in an outdoor ceremony at the Bryn Du Mansion in Granville Ohio. After the ceremony guest mingled enjoyed cocktails on the terrace and attended the reception on the West Lawn in a beautiful sweeping tent. This was such an adventure because it was the hottest day of the year! We were melting right along side the bride and groom and their guests. What a memory for everyone!

August:
Lauren and Boris were married at the beautiful Franklin Park Conservatory on August 8th. There was lots of vodka on hand for the grooms family and a predominantly vegan menu for the bride.

September:
On September 3rd, Jenny and Joey tied the knot in a poolside ceremony at the Renaissance hotel. It was the windiest day of the year and proved to be yet another adventure for the bride, groom and their guests!

The following day our own Tracie Zody married Mark Dantzer at the Athletic Club of Columbus. It was a beautiful day that we had been waiting for for a very long time!

Emily and Mike were married on September 25th in a beautiful church ceremony in Grandview followed by a reception at the Venue at Smith Brothers. We had a little different planning experience because Mike and I planned a majority of the wedding without Emily while she was away on an internship.


October:
It was time for our Fall Short North Wedding Walk. We had another great turnout! Thank you to all of you who came out to see us!


We ended October with a bang! Highball Halloween! We were so excited to see Highball come to life. There were so many learning from last years event that I couldn't wait to see all of the new changes and additions we had been planning go into action. We loved the 60' runway (it is a fashion show after all!), the new VIP area and the food truck food court. I really hope we get to produce Highball 2011!


November:
On November 4th, Elizabeth and Jason were married in her father's church - 1st Community in Marble Cliff. This was such a beautiful ceremony (and quite the TV production too!). The reception was held at the prestigious Scioto Country Club.


December:
Meagan and Rob were married at the Ohio Statehouse on December 4th in the Rotunda. It was a beautiful formal wedding and a great way for me to end my year. "Royal Bash Gone Awry" them came together beautifully!


Today, December 31st, Tracie and her team are finishing up their year with the Murphy family for the final wedding of the year.


Thank you to all of our clients for trusting us to plan your wedding & events for you. We are so grateful for you support. To our colleagues and friends, thank you for all you do for us. We are so happy to have you as a partner in this industry!


We wish you all a happy new year! Look out 2011! Here we come!

Merry Christmas!

xo
Kasey

Red Velvet for Breakfast

I saw this recipe earlier this week as I was looking for something new to make on Christmas morning for the boys. I thought these looked so good that I had to share for a fun Christmas Eve post! No time for a test run before the big day but I am a huge fan of red velvet cake so these have to be just as good right?! Truth be told, there were several recipes I looked at but this one caught my eye with the whipped cream cheese topping! Oh my!



Red Velvet Pancake Recipe
Yield: about (14) 4″ pancakes

Dry Ingredients
Flour about 1 ½ cups
Cocoa Powder, unsweetened 2 tbsp
Sugar 3 tbsp
Baking Powder 1 ½ tsp
Baking Soda ½ tsp
Cinnamon, ground 1 tsp
Kosher Salt 1 tsp

Wet Ingredients
Buttermilk 1 ¼ cup
Eggs, large 2 each
Vanilla Extract 1 tsp
Red Food Coloring 1 tbsp
Butter, melted 2 oz about ½ stick

Preparation and Cooking:
Pre-heat griddle or pan over medium heat. For non-non-stick surfaces which aren’t grease the pan with a little oil or clarified butter on a paper towel before proceeding to cook.

Melt butter. (quick tip - place the butter in a bowl and putting it in the microwave on high for 1 minute). Let sit for a minute before mixing into mixture.

Measure all of the dry ingredients and place in a large bowl. Make sure bowl is large enough to hold all of the batter. Then stir to thoroughly combine. I find that a fork or whisk works best.

In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and food coloring. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk mixture; stir until mostly combined. Add the melted butter to the batter; folding gently.

For each pancake, pour ¼ cup of batter on to the hot griddle. Cook the pancakes on the first side until they look puffy and are full of bubbles and the edges begin to look dry; about 4 minutes.

Flip the pancakes over and cook on the second side until they are cooked through; roughly another 3 minutes.

Pay attention to your heat, if on the first side the pancakes are getting really dark before bubbles start to form and the edges begin to dry, turn the heat down. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve hot with the usual toppings of butter and syrup. Or for the more adventurous and motivated crowd try them with whipped cream cheese. (Recipe below)


Whipped Cream Cheese

Ingredients:
Cream Cheese 4 oz
Heavy Cream 1/4 cup
Sugar 2 tbsp
Vanilla 1 tsp
Orange zest 1 tbsp


Preparation:
Place all of the ingredients in the bowl of your mixer.

Using the paddle/beater attachment and the lowest setting, combine the ingredients until well incorporated. Carefully increase the speed and whip the ingredients together until smooth. Serve on top of warm pancakes.

Done!

Enjoy & Merry Christmas!



Photo and original recipe source

Event Recap: Arielle's Birthday

Check out this fabulous birthday bash we had for the beautiful Arielle in Cleveland, Ohio! We transformed this local Sushi Rock into a chic night club fit for our special VIP guests. Such a fun night!


Before:



After:

















Photos by C Studios

Pantone Color of the Year 2011

Annnnd the winner is...




Pantone released this statement about the winning shade.

..."Honeysuckle can be described as a Color for All Seasons. It's courageous, confident and vital. It's a brave new color for a brave new year. The idea is to let the spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It's designed to be a color for everyday with nothing "everyday" about it"...

I am seeing this "encouraging and uplifting" color quite a bit in our designs for 2011. We're pairing it with many of shades of blues, grassy greens and white. I can't wait to see how everything comes to life to exemplify this powerful color.

A is for Apple

I love chocolate covered apples! ...well chocolate covered anything for that matter. It's tradition that we get a chocolate covered apple for Christmas. I think it's safe to say it's a staple at our dinner table around the holidays. So this past week, you could image my excitement when I received an email from Shane at Aly's Apples in Texas. It got me thinking about the many dessert displays we helped create this year and how fun it would have been to include something like these yummy treats. The mini chocolate covered apples are perfect! I also thought the bride & groom apples are adorable. What a fun cute idea for the dessert table or something to serve at the farewell brunch on Sunday!

Cost ranges from $6.95 - $44.95 depending on the apple selected. In addition to apples, there are chocolate covered strawberries, pretzels, Oreos, and rice krispie treats.





Happy Shopping!


Images courtesy of Aly's Apples

Local Host with the Most: Brio Tuscan Grille

Brio caters to the needs of each private party by providing individualized service, an amazing atmosphere, and of course, fantastic food!





Their private event packages are hand selected by Brio Chefs, which showcase a variety of their Italian favorites. With dinner and brunch packages, they are the perfect spot to host both a rehearsal dinner and a wedding brunch.





Bio's staff is educated and prepared to help you plan your private dining event. Contact the location most convenient for you and your guests or the one that best suits the size of your party.

Easton: 614.416.4745 (parties of up to 50 people)
Polaris: 614.410.0310 (parties of up to 120 people)

Buon Appetito!

Wish Upon a Wedding Recap

Congratulations to Ohio's first Wish Upon a Wedding couple, Bill and Dolores, on their beautiful wedding! We were so honored and touched by helping to grant their wish!


















Photos by Andrew Jordan Photography

Wish Upon a Wedding Ohio's 1st Wish - Bill & Dolores

Bill and Dolores had a small wedding 40 years ago with a few friends. They promised to renew their vows with a better celebration someday. The celebration was never planned because the realities of life got in the way. Bill almost died in a car accident. Dolores was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasis breast cancer in 2008.

Dolores learned about Wish Upon A Wedding by volunteering for Making Memories. Wish Upon A Wedding is a nonprofit wish granting organization providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation. Wish Upon A Wedding Ohio is granting the dream celebration for Bill and Dolores on Thursday, December 2, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. December 2nd is a special day for Bill and Dolores as it is their 40th wedding anniversary. The couple will have photography, cake and everything to make their day a dream come true. Wish Upon A Wedding would not be able to provide Bill and Dolores with their dream wedding if it was not for the generous wedding vendors in the Cleveland area.

Meet Bill & Delores

Mystic Image Video on Vimeo

Vendors that will be helping out with the event:

Cake - Sarah’s Stylish Sweets

DJ – Chagrin Valley Entertainment

Favors – Favored Occasions

Florist - Roses for Weddings

Hotel -Marriott Cleveland

Lighting - Rock the House Entertainment

Linens - Event Source

Officiant - Jeremy “Jay R” Rich of Selective Sound Entertainment

Photobooth - Shutterbooth

Photographer - Andrew Jordan

Printer – Phil Vedda & Sons

Stationer - Pastore Studio

Transportation – All Occasions Limo

Venue - Club at Key Center

Videographer - Mystic Image

Wedding Planner -Heidzillas

Stylists:
Tuxes - American Commodore Tuxedo
Veil - La Jeune Mariee
Dresses – Galleria Gowns
Jewelry – Bespoke Jewelry
Hair – Studio Chic
Handkerchiefs - Li’l Inspirations
Make Up - Beautivity

Local Host with the Most: Hyde Park

"Specializing in fine, aged steaks & chops, lobsters, & fresh fish since 1988"



Hyde Park has been recognized for their unparalleled service, exquisite private and group dining, sophisticated atmosphere, extensive wine list, and of course, their award winning menu. Having been voted best steakhouse since 1988, Hyde Park is known for their fresh, quality ingredience, and is the perfect host for your rehearsal dinner!



They have a very simple philosophy, "create an experience for the dining guest, based on the highest quality of food, the same personalized service and fine-dining room ambiance and atmosphere, expected at a restaurant of our caliber." With special menus for private dining guests that can be tailored to the needs of your specific party, Hyde Park is the right fit. A rehearsal dinner at one of the finest restuarants in Ohio is sure to put the bride, groom, bridal party, and family in the perfect mood for the wonderful wedding day!


Photos from Hyde Park website

For more information and to book your rehearsal dinner, contact your local Hyde Park location.

Akron 216.514.2244 ext 214

Cleveland:
Beachwood 216.464.0688 ext 510
Downtown 216.514.2244 ext 214
Westlake 216.464.0688 ext 510

Columbus:
Worthington 614.487.0539 ext 13
Dublin 614.487.0539 ext 11
Downtown 614.487.0539 ext 11
Upper Arlington 614.487.0539 ext 13

A Little Pretty

This past week I spend an afternoon with my good friend and super talented photographer Amy, who owns C Studios. It was time for some new head shots for moi & I was so thrilled when Amy agreed to photograph me.

Here's a peek at one of our favorites!

Local Host with the Most: Latitude 41

"Latitude 41 is the arrival of a new cuisine - a cuisine based on the best, freshest ingredients; crafted from seasonal local fare."





Latitude 41 is committed to making your rehearsal dinner or wedding brunch as special as possible! They offer different packages to choose from, featuring canapes, passed appetizers, three, four, and five course menu options as well as brunch. Focused on relieving you of any stress around your big day, they are more than willing to accommodate any special requests, from custom menus, to custom cocktails.





For a more intimate rehearsal dinner, consider Latitude 41's newest dining element, "The Chefs Table" with Chef Matt Linebrink. Featuring a five course Chef's selection menu comprised of the finest, hand picked produce and meats, local and organic, with the opportunity to include wine pairings as well.

For reservations and more information about their amazing rehearsal dinner or brunch options contact Roger.


Photos from Latitude 41 website and the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel website