Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Fluttering About and Braving the Storm!

Photos Top to Bottom:
The Butterflies and L&Jay Productions at our Open House, The bar at the Germantown Bridal Show, The "Ice" table design before the storm in the polar bear exhibit at the Zoo

The Butterflies have been very busy over the past few weeks! In addition to transforming the events of our existing clients (LOVE!) we have been having fun doing extra event design and promotion for the company. Lately we have designed tables at the Zoo to be featured in Southern Bride Magazine, hosted an open house to celebrate our new showroom design, and participated in a bridal show in Germantown. Not to mention we have had a blast going to other open houses and social gatherings, including the NACE Gala at the Peabody! We love our fellow event industry people here in the Mid-South and have had a wonderful Fall so far.

Not only have our flutters about town been fun, but they continue to provide us with interesting and unique scenarios that we gain experience from. By this time, you should know from reading this blog that no matter how prepared you are, no matter how hard you plan and plot to execute a perfect look... there are certain things that can go wrong that you have no control over. For instance, the weather. With the years of event planning under the SB belt, we are obviously aware of this. We have come to realize that as long as there is a "Plan B" thought out, you will not need it. However, for the Southern Bride shoot there was not really an available "Plan B" as the tables were shot outside at Teton Trek and in the Polar Bear Exhibit at the Zoo (and there were no guests to consider for tent purposes). After hours of meticulous table design, set up, tweaking, moving wine bucket birds nests "a little to the left" and making sure every votive was lit- BOOM. Thunder pealed across the sky and the downpour hit faster than we could get the camera equipment under cover. This is when we have to put mind over matter and be troopers. We got soaked to the bone shielding the soup shots with our torsos and hands and realizing that barefoot was the only way to stomp through the puddles. Donny the photographer pushed through the storm, put his equipment at risk, and still managed to get the perfect shots. We were able to shoot the rest of the Ice Table looks inside the frigid Polar Bear underwater viewing area and shivered as we arranged white orchids around blue ice martinis. When it was all said and done, the shoot was a success. Just another day at the office, sacrificing whatever necessary to pull off a fab look!

So, when push comes to shove, we are your gals to brave the storm and make sure, that whatever the circumstances, your event is one to remember!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Social Butterflies Promotional Video

Thank you Donny Granger with Creation Stuidos (http://www.creationstudios.com/) for producing this great video of some of 2009 recent weddings. You can view the video at www.vimeo.com/6403595

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Punch it up with color!

We have always been all about color. We also know all the tricks of the trade to get the most impact from your color scheme. We help punch up your palette with lighting, linens, florals, candles, light boxes, lounge furniture, throw pillows, chair covers, sashes... the possibilities are endless. The results are FAB.

But now that you know what we can do with the colors you choose, how will you go about choosing your colors? The colors for your event should express your personality and mood. They are a fun and creative way to communicate your own personal sense of style to your guests.

There are a few different ways to consider how to choose your color scheme. You can stick with your tried and true favorite color as the main statement, and then add complimentary accent colors and neutrals to tie it all together. You can go with more traditional subdued colors such as ivorys and creams, or the always classic black and white. However, for today's trendier, stylish brides, we would like to discuss Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 color trends.

The trend of the moment for weddings is bold bold bold. Think jewel tones, deep and bright. Orange is a stylish color for Fall 09, in vibrant hues from burnt to bright. Mixing in softer peaches with florals and accents is a great way to make this statement color more practical without sacrificing impact. Blue is also fabulous for fall, in cobalt, navy, and royal. Blues with hints of green were bigger in the spring and summer, so the trendy fall blues lean away from green undertones. Blues blending towards purple with accents of deep plums and bright pops of fuchsia are also on trend. For the princess bride in all of us, let's not ignore pinks. Have no fear ladies, this ultimate girly shade is still stylish for of-the-moment nuptials, but steer away from pastels and bubble-gum shades. Hot pinks erring either towards corals and tangerines or towards fuchsias and magentas will grab the attention and admiration of your guests. Bright lemon yellow shades are also a wonderful accent and compliment blues, oranges, and pinks, or are wonderful on their own.

Once you choose a bold on-trend color, we suggest you also choose a "base color." Many brides traditionally choose black, but chocolate brown has become quite popular in the past few years. Rich, deep shades of browns and espressos are a modern way to add style to your color scheme. Browns work well with pretty much any color scheme, and especially with greens, blues, pinks, purples, and oranges. A fresh new base color popping up in stylish weddings is slate grey or gunmetal. This color is an unexpected alternative to black and really works well when paired with deep purples and lilacs, hot pinks and magentas, cobalt blues, vibrant oranges, and my favorite, lemon yellow.

As you can see, color is the number one way to add umph to your wedding. Your guests will associate your colors with your event for years to come, and you will use it as the ultimate form of expression and decor. Get playful by using varying complimentary shades in the same color to mix and match in your linens, florals, and even bridesmaids' dresses! (No need to have all your friends in the same exact hue!) Choose wisely, and most importantly, have fun!