Life is a special occasion

Real Weddings : Kate + Paul : Palm Beach


About 1 week ago, I shared a little glimpse into the world of Kate + Paul. First of all, I want to let it be known that I love their little world. It's a world where everything has meaning, where everything is well thought out and attention to detail is an understatement. Just to give you a little insight as to what I'm describing ... during their recent engagement session with Jessica Lorren Organic Photography, Jess discovered the champagne saucers they sipped champagne from belonged to Kate's grandmother; the food they munched during their picnic was homemade; and the fabric which the blanket they dined on came straight from Kate's family's fabric shop. This thoughtfulness, detail and history was of course abundant at their wedding. I am eagerly awaiting Jess' photographs from this most special wedding celebration but for now, please enjoy a single sneak peak from Kate + Paul's breathtaking wedding.

LDE In The Press


Wedding announcement in the New York Times for our 10.23.10 bridge + groom, Melissa + Anton! Congrats to you, the wedding was beautiful!

Love,
L

Ask Lauren


Since I opened my company, my inbox gets frequent visits from people from all over the place asking me all sorts of different questions. Whether it's one of my own brides or grooms, a potential bride or groom, a mother of a bride or groom, or just a random person - they've all got questions or need some sort of guidance. And the flattering part is they want me to help! Fortunately, it's in my nature to want to help, which is a pretty good thing - after all, I am a wedding planner and it's my job to fix problems and guide my clients along on their planning journey. And from this, fresh off the press, I proudly present to all of you: ASK LAUREN.

Q.
"Is it okay to put 12 people at a 60" table?"

A.
For me, it's an easy answer: NO. Under no circumstance should you cram too many guests at a table incapable of accommodating them. Even if you Google it and you find a seating chart that says 60" can seat up to 12 people, it's still not okay. Even if you are strapped for space, it's still not okay. Even if you have last minute guests who decided to come, it's still not okay. Even if the on-site coordinator is trying to tell you it's okay and your guests will be comfortable, it's still not okay. Plan for the comfort of your guests who traveled to witness the start of your new life and seat the appropriate amount of people at the appropriate size table. You might be able to convince me 9 guests can fit at a 5 foot table, but absolutely not 10, 11 or 12 because a 60" will comfortable accommodate 8 adult guests.

This is a common question and touches upon a large aspect of planning any event, which is logistics. Unless you have experience in this area and understanding how to layout an event space, it is unlikely a non-event person can answer them correctly. Working with a wedding planner will ensure that any of the scenarios listed above, or a myriad of other scenarios, do not play out during your planning process. They are costly headaches you will not want to deal with during the last few weeks leading up to you special day.


Have a question? Need some good advice? Don't know who to turn to? You're in luck! Email asklauren@laurendaversa.com and let us help.

Photo of Lauren Daversa answering all sorts of wedding and special event related questions is courtesy of one of my favs Jessica Lorren Organic Photography.

What LDE Friends Are Up To : Jessica Lorren


I love checking my Facebook page. I get to see what all my friends are up to, and what other people are going to try and copy and pass off as their own!

So this morning while I was scrolling through all the posts on my news feed, it came as no surprise when this awesomeness from Jessica Lorren popped up. Meet Kate + Paul. Don't they look like such a dreamy couple! And when you put dreamyness in front of Jessica Lorren - well - then you and I get to look at pictures like the one above...and sigh!

In a less than two weeks, Kate + Paul will be married and Jessica will there documenting what's most definitely going to be an amazing day. And then Jessica will give us all even more heavenly pictures to oogle over - again, and again, and again! Thanks, Jessica. Wedding world is a better with you in it! And Lauren Daversa Events is looking forward to working together on a beautiful wedding celebration for Kate + Paul.

L + O + V + E





L + O + V + E

L + O + V + E

L + O + V + E ... Mr. Preston Bailey

What LDE Friends Are Up To : Cabana Pictures

Lauren and Chris


Just this evening as I was checking in with Facebook, and a trailer popped up on my news feed that caught my eye. When I realized it was from my friends over at Cabana Pictures I knew I had to watch it, and of course it's amazing. They truly have a unique way of capturing moments.

In a few weeks, I will be working with an extremely talented team that I've assembled to produce a dream wedding celebration for my clients Libby + Jon, which includes Cabana Pictures. I've been planning this wedding for over 6 months and the big day is getting closer and closer. After watching their trailer, I am somehow even more excited for Libby + Jon's wedding. And might it even be possible that I am more excited than the bride + groom? Yes, I think it is safe to say yet - but that's because they have absolutely no idea what we have in store for them...stay tuned and in the mean time, check in with Cabana Pictures for your wedding!

TOTW : Beyond Personal Flowers


Don't forget your floral budget needs to account for all of your event, not just the boutonnieres, rose petals and centerpieces. Flowers are utilized so many other areas of an event that are often put on the back burner. For instance, does your venue have light sconces on the wall that don't fit your scheme? How about unsightly vents, occupancy signs or outlet boxes you'd prefer to have covered? Think a further outside the box...could the bathrooms use a little flower power? Are the doorways in need of a garland? Is the driveway leading up to the venue dark and uninviting? Would uplights or pillar candles covered by hurricanes do the trick? And how about cocktail hour? Are the servers passing goat cheese tarts on silver trays? Wouldn't placing the delicate bites on top of banana leaves be a nice touch? And dinner - how will the food be presented on the buffet?

Many couples plan an elaborate event yet they don't budget funds to cover this portion of the decor. Unfortunately, they realize the need in the eleventh hour and have to increase the funds to maintain the look throughout the room/event or be left with incomplete look to their event.

Quality linen, flowers, leaves, branches, wheat grass, moss, rocks, acrylic pedestals, custom tables, fruit, silver or gold serving sets, personal pictures, books, mirrors, frames - I could go on for a long time - can be incorporated into the design of your event to add depth, fill in the space and accent the surroundings. But before adding on, check with the caterer to see what type of decor they will include in their pricing.

Don't be discouraged if you are working with a tight budget. Compromising on your budget does not mean you have to compromise on your style and decor! There are a lot of creative avenues to take to add nice touches, which can also cover the venue's sore spots. Working with a wedding planner is a fool proof way to maximize your budget while ensuring that you dot your i's and cross your t's - and don't get left with a bare buffet!


Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Current Music : Melody Gardot


As I sit in my office, preparing for not one but two weddings this weekend, I am being softly serenaded by the sultry, jazzy, soulful blues of Miss. Melody Gardot. The song Worrisome Heart is so up my alley on the eve of my amazing weddings! Perfect for a stylish event, dinner party or working late on Thursday evening.