La Dolce Vita - Hilary's Milestone Birthday

We love an excuse for a party, and my Mom's 60th birthday was certainly reason enough to pop the bubbly! My sisters and I schemed together to plan a party that would celebrate all things Hilary--the queen of hosting, so no easy task. Our cousin Joanna volunteered her house and family as hosts, and we settled on an Italian theme. Lunch was thin-crust pizzas, mini chicken parmesan sandwiches, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, antipasto skewers, shrimp, lamb kabobs and charcuterie. We toasted with Prosecco and indulged in lemon/buttercream cake, horns and mini rhubarb tarts. It was a fun afternoon celebrating a woman who is normally behind the hosting-lense, and who deserves to start her milestone year with all of the love she gives all of us!

A HUGE thank you to her incredible, generous family and friends who all brought food, drinks, gifts, and laughs. We appreciate all of your kindness greatly! 

List of sources:

• Cake - Cordon Sue Sweets 
• Pizza - Corrado's Restaurant & Bar  
• Dish rental - Perfect Party Place 

The 2017 Town of Whitby Mayor's Gala

I should correct the title of this post to The 2017 Town of Whitby Mayor's Non-Gala Gala! The Night Out On The Town fundraiser aimed once again to be a non-traditional gala. Meaning no formal seating or plated dinner, no long speeches and black ties. The evening was set as a casual, cocktail party, where friends and new friends can mingle, try different food (mini tomato soup and grilled cheese, seafood bar, risotto balls!), grab a pint of Brock Street beer, listen to some great music, and even get their fortunes told.

I was once again tasked with the decor for the event. This year, I decided to turn Trafalgar Castle's main hallway into an outdoor streetscape, with a starry night, real trees, and of course tons of twinkle lights. The Great Hall was filled with harvest tables, wine barrels, and cruiser tables for casual socializing and seating. Garland, and white roses added life to the tables, and the ceiling treatment softened the vastness of the room. 

Other busker entertainers included a man on stilts, caricature artists, magician, a blues band and even a silver Elvis. Guests shut down the party on the dance floor with the Professor's of Funk--the perfect way to end a night celebrating all things Whitby.

Vendors

• Flowers, garland, living social wall: Mint Floral Co. 
• Accessories including vases, candles, votives, trees, ceiling treatment: Annie Lane Events & Decor
• Harvest tables, chairs, cruiser tables and wine barrels: Gervais 
• Metal bench and pillows: Penney & Co. 
• Starry night spotlights: Apex Sound and Light 
• Venue and catering: Trafalgar Castle 

Proceeds go to local non-profits, including this year's lead causes Grandview Children and Lakeridge Health. 

The Doctor's House - Shipp Wedding

On Sept. 17, I was lucky enough to mix work with pleasure--definitely the best kind of business. I acted as event decorator/day-of planner for my lovely friends Brian and Meghan. Brian and I go way back, alllll the way back to high school in fact. Yikes, it feels like a lifetime ago when we were sitting in the cafeteria lamenting the past weekend's shenanigans. I then gained a friend, when Brian introduced me to his wonderful finance, Meghan. So their wedding was certainly a labour of love for me. 

Meghan envisioned feminine simplicity, requesting classic Baby's Breath for the bouquets and centre pieces. Lace and soft pink ribbon on vintage mason jars, carried her colour scheme into the decor; and rustic wood blocks filled out the table's vignettes. The venue itself was beautiful in it's own right, so we knew it wouldn't take much in the way of decorations to make the reception stand out. It was really a fun night of celebrating two great people, and I was more than happy to call myself a vendor/guest! 

Venue: The Doctor's House 

Event decor (including rentals): Chloe Rose 

Bridal bouquets: Chloe Rose 

Signage (including wedding logo): Meghan's brother! 

The 2016 Town of Whitby Mayor's Gala

This past Spring, I had the pleasure of sitting on The Mayor of Whitby's Annual Fundraising Committee. I was selected to do the event's decor, with the ever-lovely backdrop of Whitby's Trafalgar Castle. The theme of the evening was "A Night Out on the Town"--we wanted guests to feel like they were walking the streets of a lively, downtown festival. Busker-style entertainment, including a flash mob by Luna Dance Company, live art, acrobats and fun photo stations, added to the night's interactive feel.

The night was a wonderful success, with funds raised going to Durham Hospice, as well as towards the revitalization of downtown Whitby. A special thank you to our local vendors Mint Floral Co. and Annie Lane Events & Decor--it's amazing to work with such talented people within our own community!