Wine and Dine: Bloom!

     

This post is a bit overdue, not just because it happened on April 29th, but also because we have been so excited to work with these expert wedding vendors and couldn’t believe it actually happened under our little roof at 909!      

Once again, our concept for the Wine&Dine events is very simple.  We search out brilliant, dedicated, seasoned professional wedding vendors who have taken the word “celebration” and made it an art form and share their talents with clients and peers, both old and new.  Casey and I believe that Charlotte is a world-class city, brimming with talent and experience and we want to make sure that we are part of shaping the market here instead of letting trends in LA or NY dictate what we do.      

When planning our second Wine&Dine event, the word that kept coming to mind was “bloom”.  Obviously for spring but also for the idea that as one matures to new horizons and becomes accepting of a diversity of experiences, one begins to truly bloom as a human being.  The unfolding of someone’s spirit has a rippling effect on those around them and goodness knows after the last year our country has been through we need to amplify the positive ripples any way we can.  It is with these thoughts in mind that we sat down with one of Charlotte’s very best wedding and event designers, Dina Berg Blazek, and asked Dina to imagine a party for us with those reflections.     

She brought forward swatches of fabric and suggested a palette of lavenders, deep purples and lilacs. Amy Craparo of The Wow Factor Cakes, our partner in Wine&Dine, really felt like Dina was on the right track and Casey and I have worked with Dina often enough to witness her genius in action so we knew this was going to be a fun and visually gorgeous party!  Dina is known for her little personal touches, tiny details that have a big impact on your guests memory of the event long after it is over.     

 

On Dina’s suggestions, we started to dream up a letterpress invitation with none other than Charlotte’s locally owned and operated Crayton-Heritage Letterpress.  First off, I was embarrassed to say that I didn’t realize that Charlotte had our very own in house Letterpress company, who is also doing some very eco-friendly practices I might add.  Thrilled to support a small business in our city, we forged on with Crayton-Heritage, whose staff couldn’t be nicer or more skilled at their craft.  Dina and Duane of CHL, also came up with the idea of personalized bev naps to extend the thanks to more vendor support as well as adorable conversation starter beverage coasters.  The photos speak for themselves!     

     

     

I know that all of our guests felt very special for having received such thought out pieces!  But really, what is a party without amazing food and flowers? For those special skills, Dina looked to Chef Charles Catering to provide the unforgettable and totally unfussy edibles.  Amy Craparo of The Wow Factor Cakes outdid herself with her bloom inspired creations, both big and small!  And Todd Crawford, a floral and installation master, made us giddy with his luxe spin on whimsy.  Let’s disect the pieces so you can really see the magic!     

First up, Todd Crawford of Crawford&Company Florists!  Todd and his team has a way of making every event feel like it is dripping with luxury yet completely fun and exciting!  Todd’s vivid imagination and eye for beauty make his creations three dimensional art that you get to play in for an evening.  My family background is heavy in floral so I have seen it all from the “chinsy” (as my grandmother would have said) to the extravagant.  I know the long hours it take to not only come up with the vision for the florals of a wedding or party but then to actually source them, store them, put them together when ready, install them when it’s time…all very labor intensive and only for those to attempt who have real skill and knowledge.  We were all so grateful for Todd and his team to make our party so very beautiful!     

     

     

The swings were such a wonderful idea and if you’d like to swing by and see them they are still up in our front window!  What a creative display and SO much fun!     

     

     

Loved the above purple reflecting pond.  It added the right touch of tranquility to our front space.  Todd’s team also added a white arbor, crystal chandeliers, planter boxes and cabaret tables to the front drive way area to bring earthy spring garden to our little urban oasis.     

     

 Next up, THE FOOD!!  Chef Charlesis on my very very short list of catering professionals that I not only think is quite a fascinating character but also whose food redefines party cuisine.  Chef Charles gives you american dishes with distinctly european flavor and punch.  For our menu he served all butler passed mini foods that not only hit you in the tastebuds but also satisfied your hunger without having to hang out at the buffet table.  Chef Charles created Sesame Oil Salmon Tartar in a savory cone, Rice Paper Minted Shrimp Wrap, Purple Potato Cakes topped with Prosciutto Shavings, Spicy Vodka and Tomato Gazpacho Shooter with infused basil olive oil, Petite Ceasar Salad Bread Cups, Dried Cherry and BBQ Spring Rolls with Spicy BBQ sauce, Rosemary Mini Muffins with Beef Tenderloin, and Egg and Bacon Puffs.  YUM YUM YUM!!!  Simply print out a copy of this blog post and call Chef Charles immeditately to repeat this menu for your next party, wedding, anniversary dinner, etc.  Absolutely off the chain!     

     

     

Delicious, moist, expertly and artistically designed cake=Amy Craparo of The Wow Factor Cakes.  We have become positively spoiled on it every since we got Amy to become our gallery neighbor.  Casey and I were always curious to try the wedding cake at our events, most of the time we are served a piece, and mostly because I want to know who is making what out there.  I know that brides and grooms put a lot of time tasting cake and deciding on the look of it as it is a focal point of any party.  Having tasted most of the cake being served in Charlotte today, I can wholeheartedly say that Amy’s is my favorite.  Amy’s cakes are are tasty on the inside as they look on the outside.  The cake is never dry but moist and delicate and actually has flavor instead of biting into pure sugar. There are many talented cake bakers in the Queen City but I really believe that if you haven’t had Amy’s cake you have seriously missed the boat!     

 

Talk about new respect for a craft, the art of wedding cakes is exactly like sculpture. Next time you think that you can crank out a quick bust of Venus and make it edible for 100 people please give me a call.  I can’t even make  box cake very well and I get to witness many of Amy’s creations from the ground up.  Amy made a display cake for the event that pulled in all themes and colors, made four other large cakes for service on lollipop sticks and slices for dessert and then 50 miniture lilac cakes for guests to take home with them.  All of Amy’s cakes were filled with either raspberry and white chocolate mousse or mocha and hazelnut mousse or genache. Y-U-UH-UM!!     

     

 

 

Now of course, no party feels like a party if you don’t spruce up your surroundings, with decor and lighting to keep your guests in the right frame of mind.  We wanted everything to flow beautifully and look stunning and Dina has such a wonderful eye and a list of pros that she calls on regularly.  Lighting is big on Dina’s list and Eric from Wink Lighting always sets the right mood.  Dina pulled in Todd to assist with the bar and floral details inside and out, Party Reflections to provide cabaret tables and chairs, Shay Vitale from Party Tables to dress everything in her gorgeous fabrics and pillows.  The rooms were kissed with shades of purple from the drapes to the linens and even a huge dramatic purple curtain to pull the elements together.      

 

     

     

    

And lastly, there is no way you could forget our signature cocktail bar…unless you enjoyed too much of our cocktail bar.  The signature drink for this event was Casey’s “Lavender Cosmo”, more dessert than cocktail.  A sugar rimmed martini glass filled with a unique mix of vodkas, liquors and all finished with a splash of grape soda!     

    

We were so very thrilled with the Wine&Dine event and cannot thank the star vendors enough for all of their marvelous work!  Our guest were entertained, enlightened and absolutely had a fantastic time.  Cheers to your next event! 

To see Melissa Lamkin’s fashionable take on our soiree, read further on Charlotte Bride+Groom!