Vivienne Tiger Weddings & Events

Ogochukwu & Anthony's special day

2011-10-16T23:29:00.000+01:00

We at Vivienne Tiger have been so busy with weddings and acquiring new skills that our blog has not been as frequent as it should. I apologize and promise to start blogging more.

One of our spring weddings was a destination wedding in Africa for 700 guests. This was a challenge to co-ordinate and plan but then we do love a challenge at Vivienne Tiger.

The couple Ogochukwu and Tony were wonderful to work with. Ogochukwu is very creative and she knows exactly what she wants. Tony loves anything martial arts and was happy to go along with whatever his lovely bride wanted.

Ogochukwu had two wedding dresses made for her by Kehinde Ejiogu of Valerie David.

The church was amazing and I fell in love with the stained glass windows.

Ogochukwu and Tony had their aisle runner personalised with their monogram
Their cocktail hour was outside with the lovely view of the sea and underneath palm fronds....

The venue was in a large marquee. The flowers and decor were by Newton and David.
Ogochukwu and Tony had a 3 tier cake and mini cupcakes with their monogram on it.

Thank you Ogochukwu and Tony for bringing us into your world and allowing us to be part of your special day. We at Vivienne Tiger wish you a wonderful married life of love and happiness.

Marina and Shaun's proposal story

2011-02-17T22:25:00.003Z

We had booked and planned to have a short break in New York City for the week before Christmas 2010. This had been booked for 11 months and was to be our main holiday for the year so there was a lot riding on it. My now fiance had also been working away on business in South Korea since August and he only returned on the 11th December, a week before we were due to go, so we were both very much looking forward to spending the special time away together. Then the snow came! Our flight out from Heathrow was cancelled on the Saturday and it took us two days to finally rearrange it all and fly out again the following Thursday - the day we were actually due to come back to England. Luckily the tour operator and hotel were very understanding and were able to simply move our whole holiday from one week to the next. However, this now meant spending Christmas in New York, which wasn't the original plan, but we thought 'how magical' anyway and we were so happy to be going. I thought this was it, but little did I know Shaun was also frantically rearranging his proposal to me which had been planned for the Tuesday night...
So we had Christmas in New York City and I was still unawares as to Shaun's plans. On the last day of our trip we were in a famous toy store when Shaun got a call on his mobile "from the hotel, asking us to come back and change rooms because there was a problem". After lots of huffing and puffing from me about them ruining our last day, we went back and got an upgrade to one of their master suites, but I still didn't know why and was getting a bit agitated about all the secrecy. We went up to our old room though to begin packing when there was a knock at the door. A woman handed me an unmarked envelope and walked off - my immediate thought was it was a bill of some sort, but I opened it up to find a stunningly penned letter saying 'A special romantic evening out on the town has been arranged. Please be prepared in your finest attire to depart by 5:15pm' Then at the bottom it said 'PS I love you'. Shaun still wouldn't give anything away though, but I did think, 'this it it!!!!' So we moved rooms and got ready. Then as we were about to leave, there was another knock at the door and the same woman was there with another note - I took it and read it and it said 'Your chariot awaits! Please make your way downstairs to meet your driver for the evening. PS I love you'. So we followed the lady down to a privately hired car, got in, and the driver gave me another note - 'Experience the world of Clara and Fritz as they meet the Sugar Plum Fairies and other characters at the NYC Ballet. After the performance, meet your driver for your final stop. PS I love you'. I love the ballet so this was a wonderful surprise. It was at this point that I realised Shaun had had to rearrange all of this, including the seats for the ballet, because of the snow in England - it must have been very frantic for him! After the show, we went to find the driver again, and I received another note - 'The night is not yet complete! A trip across the Brooklyn Bridge, skyline view and tempting cuisine awaits! PS I love you'. The film PS I love you is one that we enjoyed together a few years ago and one that means a lot to us, so the fact that he had written this at the bottom of all these letters was so romantic in itself. It was a true touch of Shaun. We finally arrived at this stunning restaurant on the river, with the manhatten skyline as our view. We ate a delicious three course meal and enjoyed the live piano background music. As we were leaving to get our coats, Shaun ushered me into the side bar room which was empty but with a roaring fire. In the corner was a table covered in candles, and in the middle of the candles was one final letter...and a Tiffany box. He asked me to read the letter (which is too personal to share I'm afraid) then open the box. I was crying with joy at this point, and he took the ring box from me, knelt down on one knee and proposed. I of course said yes (through the sobs of happiness) and the waiter brought us some pink champagne - they were in on the whole thing! It was the perfect evening with a host personal sentiments, and that view and place will stay in our hearts and memories forever. Shaun even arranged for a photgrapher to be there to capture the sensational moments after the proposal, so we can truely chrerish it all.

Hannah and Dave's proposal story

2011-02-11T11:41:00.008Z

Congratulations to Hannah and Dave and Marina and Shaun who are the winners of our Free on the day management competition.

Due to the overwhelming response, the judges decided to split the entries into weddings happening this year and weddings happening next year. The judges loved the element of surprise in Hannah's story.

Marina and Shaun's story will be blogged next week.

Hannah and Dave's story

Myself and my partner Dave had been together for 7 years before we got engaged. From when we had been together for about 2 years, I had been hassling him. Every time I got drunk I would ask when he was going to propose, every time a couple who had been together less time than us got engaged I would say 'they've only been together X years, why are they before us?'. Dave would always reply that we would get engaged 'soon', 'in time', or 'sooner than you think', which I always pointed out was clearly not true as otherwise we'd be engaged already!

For a while we lived with his parents. We would often go out for walks in the evenings, and one of the places we would regularly go was Chesterton Windmill. I always loved it there, we were usually the only ones there on an evening and it gave us some important alone time.

At midnight going into New Year's Day of 2009, Dave told me that it would be in that year that we got engaged. I fully expected it to be at every major occasion - Valentine's Day, my birthday, his birthday, but no proposal was forthcoming. A drunken conversation resulted in him promising that we would be engaged by the end of August.

On our 7 year anniversary at the start of August we went to a friend's birthday party, where he announced his engagement to his girlfriend. Another couple engaged before us! I knew that I wouldn't be being proposed to any time soon, as he wouldn't have wanted to steal our friend's thunder.

In mid-August we went on holiday to Bournemouth. Not overly exciting admittedly, but we have been there more times as a couple than anywhere else. I used to go as a child and have always loved it there. Every day, every time we were alone, I thought this is it. But nothing. On the last day we were walking down the beach, no-one was around, and nothing. I gave up. It obviously wasn't going to happen.

When we got back from Bournemouth we were supposed to be going camping for a friend's birthday, but Dave said he wasn't feeling too well so we didn't go. So instead I cleaned the house, and did the ironing, and other such boring jobs. At the end of a busy day of jobs Dave suggested we go for a walk. I suggested somewhere but he said he fancied going to the windmill as we hadn't been for a while.

We got to the windmill and had a slow walk. There were a couple of people there taking photos. It was very rare that anyone else was up there. We stayed for about half an hour then started the walk back to the car. Half way back, Dave stopped me, and started a bit of a speech. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, and I promptly burst into floods of tears. He's not a man of many words, but he said exactly the right ones. It hadn't even crossed my mind for a second that he would propose on that day, and it was at the perfect place, the place we would go to get a bit of time to ourselves several years before, and still visited if feeling nostalgic.

It turned out that when our friends announced their engagement at the start of August, Dave already had the ring at home (which he picked himself). And he insisted on taking his backpack everywhere we went on holiday (which at the time I didn't think anything of) as he had the ring in the bottom of the bag the whole time, but couldn't find somewhere meaningful enough to propose.

I always thought that I would know exactly when Dave was going to propose. It had felt so inevitable for so long that I thought as soon as he does something a little unusual I would know that was it. But he managed to surprise me, and it was the most romantic thing he's ever done.

Vivienne Tiger at the UK Wedding Show Ricoh Arena

2011-01-28T00:05:00.036Z

We at Vivienne Tiger exhibited at the UK Wedding Show Ricoh Arena on the 15th and 16th of January. We enjoyed meeting all the lovely brides that visited our stall (63) and once again wish you all success as you plan your wedding. We have great promise and faith for the year 2011 and are seeing a lot of positive predictions for how the new year will turn regarding extraordinary weddings and events.

The theme was for the bride that loves her bling. The amazing floral arrangement was done by Michael Montecillo of MONTECILLO FLORAL DESIGNS. Thank you to Maureen Matharu for making the cake.

The UK Wedding Show

2011-01-13T14:03:00.003Z

We at Vivienne Tiger have been very busy this week getting ready to exhibit at the UK Wedding Show at the Ricoh Arena Coventry.

DATE: Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th January 2011

Opening Times: 10am - 5pm

Fashion Show Times: Saturday & Sunday 12pm, 2pm, 4pm

The Show: Ricoh Arena is an exciting purpose built exhibition space and a new venue for The UK Wedding Shows in January 2011. Showcasing exhibitors from Coventry and throughout the Midlands with over 90 companies, this show provides a wide range of opportunities for couples to engage with the professionals in the wedding industry. The venue also has excellent facilities for visitors to the exhibition including a state of the art casino, restaurants and bars.

Ticket Prices:
Tickets are £8 in advance and £9 on the door.

Drop in to see us at stand 63 if you are at the show, to take advantage of our special offer.

See you there.

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T02:53:00.000Z

We at Vivienne Tiger want to wish all our current and future clients a Happy New Year.

Congratulations to our newly engaged couples.

To all our clients getting married this year, we look forward to taking the stress out of your planning and making sure you thoroughly enjoy planning your big day.

Win a Free on the Day Management

2010-12-20T08:52:00.003Z

To celebrate the New Year (2011), Vivienne Tiger Weddings and Events is offering a Free On The Day Management to the couple with the most romantic proposal story.

Valued at £500, this prize includes:

One meeting up to 6 weeks prior to your wedding to understand your design and layout - Contact all vendors prior to your wedding to confirm timelines - Coordination of wedding rehearsal if required – Manage set up of wedding sites according to layouts and design elements - Act as single point of contact on the day of your wedding - Direct your guests – Ensure wedding venue is left as stipulated in the venue contract.

How do you enter?

Email us your story to: vivienne@viviennetiger.com or via our contact us page on our website http://www.viviennetiger.com/. Include the date and venue for your wedding.

How many times can you enter?

Only one entry per couple.

Terms and Conditions

This offer is valid to couples planning their wedding in the West Midlands area between March 2011 – September 2012.

Entries must be submitted by no later than 23:59 on January 31st 2011.

By submitting an entry for the competition, the couple are deemed to have given consent for the entry to be published free of charge by Vivienne Tiger and for Vivienne Tiger to use their photographs in all portfolio and advertising material.

Vivienne Tiger will only ever use personal details for the purposes of administering this competition, and will not publish them or provide them to anyone without permission.

The best entry will be announced and published on 1st of February 2011. Vivienne Tiger’s decision will be final. No correspondence relating to the competition will be entered into.

The winners will be notified within 14 days of the close of the competition by email or as per the contact details provided in their entry.

Ogo and Ikenna

2010-12-06T11:00:00.007Z

We had the pleasure of doing a bit of long distance planning and day of co-ordination for Ogo and Ikenna’s wedding in Maryland USA. They are such a delightful couple and we enjoyed every bit of planning and directing their wedding. The weather was lovely, it was a day before the 4th of July (Independence Day), and their guests who had come from all over the world felt the holiday spirit. A big thank you to Dotuns Photo Lounge for taking such lovely pictures.

The church was amazing, it had a lot of character.

This lovely black and white shot looks like something out of an old movie.

The bridesmaids dresses suited them perfectly and the colour blended so well with this background.

This picture of Ogo admiring her cake just before the reception started is endearing. The cake was stunning and each tier was a different flavour. Guests were treated to a choice of red velvet, tiramisu, chocolate raspberry and lemon. Debi's cake studio did a good job.

The ice sculpture was inspired by Ogo's dress.

The guests added colour to the day with their different colourful traditional outfits.

By the end of the evening, Ogo and Ikenna changed into something traditional too.

Thank you Ogo and Ikenna for letting us into your world and we wish you a very blessed and blissful married life.

Kate Middleton To Marry her Prince

2010-11-18T01:49:00.002Z

The whole world is definitely buzzing with the news that Prince William and Kate Middleton plan to get married either in Spring or Summer of 2011. We love romance and this romance story definitely warms the heart.

Kate as a teenager had a crush on her prince and a poster of him on her wall. Dreams do come true. At Vivienne Tiger, we have been dreaming of winning the bid to plan their wedding. If our dream came true, we will design their wedding to reflect their love for the outdoors and Art History. We will transform the ceremony space (Westminster Abbey) into an enchanted garden. We wonder what type of dress she will go for and who the designer will be. For the reception space we will create an inviting Hub in the lounge area where guests can converge. The dining space will have long rectangular tables for an intimate feel. The tables will be dressed in beautiful table cloths with chargers on them, floral arrangements of varying heights and lots of candles. Lighting will be used to set the mood and to create transitions from cocktails, to reception to dancing. An eight course menu will be served....... Ok our dream hasn’t come true yet but you never know.

We wish the lovely couple a beautiful life together.

Didi and Chinedu

2010-11-08T11:00:00.003Z

We at Vivienne Tiger are always up for a challenge but we got a lot more than we bargained for when we met Didi and Chinedu. They were a lovely couple so in love with each other getting married in six weeks time on a strict budget. All they had booked was the reception venue, the church and their outfits. Our initial instinct was to decline it but like I said we are always up for a challenge and they were such a lovely couple, it was difficult to say no to them. I am very glad we did, the look on their faces when they saw the venue, was well worth six weeks of hard work.

They wanted an intimate and romantic wedding where their guests will share the love they felt for each other.

Even though it was September and had rained the night before, the sun came out for Didi and Chinedu. It was a beautiful day.

We had to create a romantic evening feel to their noon time reception with lots of candles and mood lighting.

Thank you Didi and Chinedu for allowing us to be part of your day and we wish you a blessed and blissful life together.

Getting Married in a Recession

2010-09-13T02:16:00.001+01:00

Some social analysts believe that marriage is recession proof and that engaged couples will get married economic recession or not. Marriage itself might be recession proof, but the cost of getting married is not. With the current economic crisis, a lot of my clients want to know how they can cut down their wedding budget and still have the wedding of their dream. I have written below 10 ways to save on your wedding budget:
1) Get married during the week. Venues such as hotels tend to offer a cheaper rate during the week (Monday – Thursday) than the weekend (Friday – Sunday). Note that most hotels offer a cheaper rate for a Sunday event compared to a Friday evening or Saturday event.
2) Choose decor that are easily available with the season of your event.
3) Reduce your floral decor by using lots of candles of varying heights.
4) Serve nibbles like nuts, crisps, sweets rather than canapés during cocktail hour.
5) Limit the options of drinks. For example you can serve only 2 alcoholic drinks or a choice of sparkling wine and sparkling juice etc.
6) You can choose to have fruit punches in drink dispensers or jugs on the table where your guests can help themselves therefore saving money on waiting staff.
7) Ask your suppliers for discounts. With the current economic environment, florists, caterers, photographers and venues, for example may be willing to charge less to get the job.
8) Serve your wedding cake as dessert
9) Rather than a sit down meal, offer a buffet style service. You will be saving money on waiting staff.
10) If you prefer a sit down meal, serve one type of dish to all your guests, make sure you ask what the vegetarian option is.

Choosing your Photographer

2010-08-09T15:09:00.003+01:00

You have worked so hard planning your event, and paying attention to details. The mood/ambience is perfect, the décor is just as you envisioned it should be, your guests are having a fantastic time and the day is everything you wanted it to be. Once your event is over and your pictures are ready to be proofed, you realise that your photographer has not captured the ambience, mood or decor of your event as well as you would have liked/expected.

One of the most important people you will hire for your event is the photographer. A good photographer will capture the story of your day and provide everlasting memories. With so many photographers to choose from, making the right choice can feel overwhelming. When deciding on the right photographer for you, your budget, personality and style should be key factors when making your decision. It is very important that you interview a number of photographers (at least a minimum of 3) before deciding on the right photographer for you.

A good place to start your search is through personal recommendations from friends and family (as their views and opinions will be more closely aligned with yours). Ask your friends/family if you can take a look at pictures taken by the photographer to get a sense of the photographer’s style. It is also important to find out from your friends/family what the photographer’s personality was like, and if they were able to have a good rapport with the photographer. Friends/family would also provide you with a guide of the photographer’s price range, enabling you to assess whether their costs are within your budget.

If you have an event planner, ask them to recommend a number of photographers. Event planners have trusted people that they work very well with. Your planner will need to understand your budget and style to be able to recommend suitable photographers. If you are not using the services of an event planner, you can ask your event co-ordinator for a list of photographers they have worked with in the past. The photographer may have recent pictures of an event that took place at your chosen venue, providing you with the opportunity to see how your event may look.

Another great place to search for photographer is the internet. You can look through different photo galleries on their website to get a feel of the photographer’s style and personality.

Once you have short-listed the photographers you would like to meet with, give them a call in the first instant (if possible). The phone conversation will give you a clearer view of what their price range is and if they are available on the day of your event. This process will help whittle down the photographers further, limiting it to those that meet your needs. Below are some of the key questions you should ask when you meet with a photographer:

Will the person you are meeting with and whose work you have seen, be the person who will cover your event?
Is there an X number of hours for which they contract or are they available until the cake cutting or first dance if for a wedding or for the whole day? A typical day can range from 8 – 10 hours of work.
What is included in your photo session?
What style of photography do they offer e.g. Traditional, Artistic, Reportage, a mix of styles etc?
Do they offer an online proofing or proof album
What are their travel fees, if applicable?
What is their backup plan in case they fall ill or cannot do the work for any other reason?
What is their cancellation policy in the unlikely event you need to postpone or cancel your event?
What is the cost for exceeding the contracted time?

At the end of the respective interviews, you should be able to decide which photographer meets your requirements. Budget, and style are all important considerations, but personality should be top of the list. It is important that you feel comfortable with your photographer, as you will be in direct contact with him/her during and after your event. Pick an experienced, seasoned photographer who instils you with confidence, and whose quality of work and portfolio is detailed and is in line with your personal style.

Finally before you sign the contract, make sure everything you have discussed and agreed upon has been included in the contract.

No more Cookie Cutter Events Please

2010-08-02T13:49:00.010+01:00

We strive very hard at Vivienne Tiger to do things differently. We do not claim to be better; we just want to be able to offer a different type of creative service. It is always a bit depressing to me when I attend an event (corporate, wedding, party etc), and come out feeling as if I have attended this event before but hosted by a different host/hostess or organisation.

Your event should reflect your style and individuality and should be different from any other events your guests have or will attend. Include personal touches that are unique to you. For a wedding, your love story can be incorporated into your theme. Table names can be places you have been together; or create a nice cosy area with pictures of the different places you have been together (this is a good conversation starter). For a party, the theme can incorporate elements of your hobby etc. When planning your event, think of where it is taking place, the mood/experience you want your guests to have, and what your guests are going to eat and drink. You can have personalised cocktails to go with your event.

You should also dictate the ambience of your venue. Do not feel obligated to use the chairs and tables that come with your venue. Chairs and tables can be rented from party rental companies. If you want to use chair covers, trendy chair covers can be used instead of white covers with sashes. Your tables can be a mix of round, square and rectangle tables to add an eclectic feel to your event. A mix of bistro tables and lounge sofas can be used to create a cosy atmosphere during cocktails. Put a lot of thought on how you want to dress your tables, the linen you want to use, chinaware and flatware, napkins and chargers. These all add elegance to a table.

Depending on how your food is going to be served, presenting the food in a creative way can also add style to your event. If a buffet, the food stations can be decorated with a lovely flower arrangement and candles to draw attention to it. If a plated service, a good caterer/chef will always present the food in an artistic way.

Your cake table or desert table should also make a statement of its own. The cake table should be decorated nicely and placed in a strategic position where your guests can see it. If you are having a desert table, the deserts should be arranged in such a way that it draws attention. Personalised boxes can be arranged next to it for your guests to fill up and take home as favours.

You do not have to break the bank to achieve a unique and unforgettable event. A little creativity is all you need to make your event different and ‘Wow’ your guests.

Destination Hen Weekend

2010-07-26T01:04:00.000+01:00

Aside from my passion for designing and planning extraordinary events (I guess that is why I am in the events industry), my second passion is travelling. I love travelling to exotic countries, learning about different cultures and of course trying out exotic food. Over the past few weeks, I have had a busy travel schedule. I flew off to Dubai for a 3-day business trip and I have recently come back from the US East Coast where I co-ordinated a wedding (more of that to follow soon).

I loved everything about Dubai. The weather was very hot – which may not be ideal for some people- but I have always loved the heat so I had no complaints. The architecture was amazing. There are lots of different architectural styles to see. Some of the finest and most luxurious hotels in the world are located in Dubai and quite a lot of them are located right on the beachfront.

I get a lot of inspirations and ideas from my travels, and I was greatly inspired in Dubai. It is no surprise that there has been a rise in the trend of Dubai destination weddings. From dress designers, to tuxedo rentals, breath taking venues and lovely beach hotels, couples are spoilt for choice in this modern city.

I personally think it is a fantastic city for a weekend Hen getaway. There are loads to do to make it a fun filled weekend for the bride and her friends. The shopping malls offer some of the best retail outlets in the world, with a combination of British and American stores, I felt like a kid let loose in a candy store. Imagine an afternoon of shopping with your friends and a day of pampering and indulgence at one of the luxurious spas. If I had to plan a hen weekend in Dubai, this is what my timetable will look like:

Weekend Hen Party:
Fly out Thursday night (Emirates have late flights from Heathrow and Birmingham) to get in Friday morning.

Friday
Go to the hotel and drop off bags: When making your reservations try to negotiate an early check in with no extra charge if possible.
Freshen up then hit the malls to start your day of shopping. (To make it even more fun, put a time limit on shopping time i.e. say 11am – 5pm, and anyone that isn’t back by the designated time will have to pay for drinks :o)…
Head back to your hotel for a nice afternoon snooze.
Enjoy a lovely dinner in one of the numerous restaurants or in the hotel where you are staying. Be sure to tell them when making your dinner reservations that it is for a hen night. Many hotels are happy to work with your theme.
If you and your party are still rearing to go, you can end the day at one of the multitude of bars and nightclubs.

Saturday
Wake up late and have a late breakfast.
Head out to the spa for a morning of pampering and indulgence
Meet at the reception lobby for an evening desert safari. This is a 6-hour long duration and it includes dinner.
A truly rare experience waits while you watch the sunset over the horizon; depart in the afternoon in four-wheel drive vehicles for a thrilling desert drive through huge golden sand dunes, deep into the heart of the desert. A photo halt at a camel farm and the fabulous view of the sun setting over the desert dunes are some of the memories you will cherish from the desert drive.
Arrive at the desert camp, where a traditional Arabian welcome awaits each of you. Enjoy the true Arabian ambiance, with traditional Arabian carpets, low tables and cushions for comfortable seating.
At the desert camp, experience the camel ride, henna painting, try Arabic costumes or simply enjoy the aromatic Sheesha. Enjoy the splendid buffet dinner with a wide variety of barbecue meats, salads, main-course and deserts. The climax of the evening is the stunning performance under the star-lit sky by the exotic belly dancer.
A dessert safari can be arranged through Dessert Safari Dubai (http://www.desertsafaridubai.com/) or any other dessert tour company.

Sunday
Fly back home exhausted but well worth it :o)…

Note: The price of a short weekend in Dubai will depend on how early you book your tickets and the time of travel. If going during the off peak season, you will be looking to spend for the entire weekend in the region of £500 - £800. Off peak will be a lot more.
Peak Season: October – April
Off Peak Season: May – September (the weather is hot and humid during these months)

Also when planning your trip, you should consider Ramadan.

Orton Garden Open House

2010-07-22T21:52:00.000+01:00

Here at Vivienne Tiger, we strongly believe in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and are always looking for ways of doing things differently, to keep up with new trends, to maintain, improve and broaden our knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in our professional lives.

In February 2010, I had the pleasure to attend a 5 day Event Design Workshop in Wilmington North Carolina with another Event planner Ify Oti from Hannah Michael. The wonderful Jennifer Sandy Rose of Salt Harbor Design ran the workshop.

The experience was mind blowing. We met a lot of amazing people all willing to help and show us new ways of doing things. We were given an opportunity to fully participate in the design and brainstorming for the Orton Garden Open House and see the design implemented.

Orton Gardens is a historic landscape designed around the 1735 mansion and colonial rice fields overlooking the Cape Fear River. It contains 20 acres of lawns and formal gardens, as well as 60 acres of fountains, statues, forests, lagoons, old rice fields, and a family cemetery. The garden features tree-lined brick paths and rows of camellias, dogwoods, magnolias, crape-myrtles, annuals, and perennials. The front gates of the property are topped with cement eagles which lead to a dirt path driveway lined with large oak trees draped in Spanish moss that were planted in the 1700s.

Before the actual workshop in Wilmington, we worked together via emails and the internet to develop a design for the Orton Garden Open House. We worked and agreed on a storyboard and created a computerized layout of the ceremony and reception spaces.

When we arrived in Wilmington for the actual workshop, we helped to choose the paper design, colours, flowers and lighting that worked best with our chosen design. I thoroughly enjoyed preparing the flowers and flower arrangements, working on menu cards and escort cards used in the final design.

It was delightful seeing another Event planner at work and I picked up a lot of new management and planning skills. The setting up of the Orton site was very exciting. The weather was lovely and definitely not as cold as England. As always, it was a joy to see all the months of design and planning coming together. We had the opportunity to talk to many other Event professionals from other Event Planners, caterers, photographers, to bakers and bartenders. Millie Holloman of Millie Holloman Photography and her staff took loads of lovely photographs.

5 days went so fast and I came back armed with a lot of knowledge and my creative juices flowing with different ways of providing a design and planning service that is distinct, for my existing and future clients.