Blaisdell Manor Open House

It was my pleasure to be invited to the Blaisdell Manor 10 Year Anniversary Open House and tour this fantastic space! Blaisdell Manor is located in the heart of Minneapolis, and it boasts so many wonderful features. When entering the manor, you are greeted by a beautiful little garden with stone tables and benches for guests to lounge and the perfect backdrop for pictures.

Recently, Blaisdell Manor was remodeled and I must say that it was done very tastefully. The style stays true to the original architecture of the time period and everything has been wonderfully restored. The grand staircase is breathtaking, and I can imagine wonderful pictures of the bride gracefully descending.

Blaisdell Manor has a variety of rooms for every type of special event. They have "The Boardroom" which can accommodate 8 to 10 people for an executive meeting. During weddings, this room is used as the "gift room" to keep presents secure.

Across from The Boardroom is The Bovey room. It is generally used for small wedding ceremonies of up to 100 people, or for cocktail hour while the Grand Ballroom is being changed over from ceremony space to reception venue. The Bovey room can accommodate up to 85 for a cocktail hour and is often used in conjunction with the Windus room.It has lovely neutral green walls and a beautifully restored fireplace and a very regal feeling to it.

Upstairs, there is the Windus room. This room has also been recently remodeled and is a perfect place to host a smaller reception of 125 or less. Again, it is often used for cocktail hour for larger weddings whilst the Grand Ballroom is being changed over from the ceremony site to a reception space. The Windus room boasts rich taupe colors, another fantastic fireplace and a wet bar. It also has luxurious leather furniture for lounging.

The Lounge is located in the basement of Blaisdell Manor and is a delightful surprise because it breaks with the decidedly Victorian feel of the rest of the house. It Has seating for 150 guests, a dance floor, stage and another wet bar. This room is very versatile and could be transformed to fit with any event design using ceiling drapings, linens and floral centerpieces!

Of course, Blaisdell offers everything you would need for a wedding and reception including a bridal suite for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready in. The dusty rose decor is very romantic and this area is outfitted with a vanity and beautiful fireplace. There is plenty of room to lounge with ample seating. The romantic decor would contribute to beautiful "getting ready" photos.

Finally, the Grand Ballroom is the jewel of Blaisdell Manor. It has fantastic vaulted ceilings with a sky mural and can accommodate up to 300 people for a ceremony or reception. This space has wood floors perfect for dancing the night away, and three levels of recessed lighting to make any event design look outstanding! Another plus to this room is ceiling drapings are approved for use and they look absolutely fantastic in this space.

However, I think the most fantastic selling point of this space has to be the cuisine. Blaisdell Manor is operated by Three Sons Signature Cuisine and their menu is absolutely impressive! The caterers generally create custom menus for their clients and they are no stranger to mixing exciting palettes together such as Japanese with Italian.

For the open house event, they had wonderful Hors d'Oeuvres that included Mini Beef Wellingtons, Sweet Potato Fritters with Toasted Walnuts, Coriander Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Red Wine Poached Pear. They also served delectable Calamata Olive, Truffle White Bean and Artichoke Roasted Red Pepper dipping sauces with Artisan breads.

Another great option that was presented was the Build Your Own Potato Martini Station which is an increasingly popular heavy Hors d' Oeuvre. It included Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes or Roasted Baby Red Potatoes and a number of toppings such as Diced Bacon, Sliced Scallions, Horseradish Cream, Cheddar Cheese, Wild Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions and Whipped Garlic Butter.

The Baja Margarita Salad Station was another delight. It featured Romaine Lettuce, crumble Queso Fresco, Chorizo Sausage, Chili Pulled Chicken , Pico De Gallo, Black Bean Corn Salsa, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Sweet Peppers and Four Tortilla Strips. Everything you would need to make a perfect Mexican inspired salad.

Main Dishes that were presented at the open House included everything from Rustic Italian cuisine to Japanese seafood dishes. They presented guests with Pizza Napolitano, Beignet Calamari on Dill Aioli with Deep Fried Capers, Roasted Sweet Vegetable Terrine and Basil Ricotta Citrus Cream for dipping.

The Grand Ballroom had a Chef Performance Bar with chefs creating fantastic cuisine right in front of your eyes. Some of the dishes included Nega Maki, Pan Seared Chicken wrapped in Pancetta with White Wine Sauce, Seared Diver Scallops with Citrus Aioli, Crispy Flour Tortilla Stuffed with Cuban Pulled Pork, Corn Salsa and Salsa Verde, Pan Seared Button Mushrooms with Sweet Port Glaze and Grilled Flat Bread.

At last, we come to dessert. Yes, Three Sons also has signature desserts and designer wedding cakes that they offer. The wedding cakes are fabulous in taste as well as design. Whether you want something simple and elegant or intricate, they can do it. The desserts were also fantastic, they did yummy Tropical Kiwi and Mango Mousse Shooters and Chocolate Petite Fours with Raspberry Jam. The Lemon Cream Tartlets with Pistachios were heavenly. Any delicious dessert you have in mind, whether it is a cake or something a little different, Three Sons can make it happen!


PHOTO CREDITS: WONDERFUL DAY WEDDINGS

Vendor Spotlight - Emily Lawin Invitations

Emily Lawin Invitations is one of my favorite stationers in Minnesota. She has a very simple and sophisticated style, a great personality and wonderful designs. She typically meets clients by appointment and brings tons of ideas to the table for the couple. Her attention to detail is exquisite and you can tell that she is passionate about her work. Emily is also a graphic designer, so her artistic skills definitely help her achieve the great dynamic she has a stationer.

Emily can custom design your invitations, reply cards, programs, maps, envelopes, escort cards and thank you cards. She also has a variety of sample designs that you can choose and then tweak to fit your event design. Whatever shape, color, font, design, or monogram you have in mind, Emily can make it happen.

The quality of her work is fabulous, the clients that I've referred to her have been extremely happy with the finished product and with the price! Not only does she specialize in wedding invitations, she also does party invitations as well. Check out her designs at www.emilylawin.com.

ISES STAR Awards 2010

As a wedding planner, I'm always striving to do a great job for my clients and grow my business so that I can continue to do what I love. One of the many ways to gain recognition in the wedding industry is to show off your work. This year, I had the opportunity to enter one of my weddings for an award through the International Special Events Society. Although Wonderful Day Weddings was not selected as a nominee this year it was still a very fantastic experience. My lovely husband accompanied me and it was so wonderful to attend an event with the best this industry has to offer.

The 2010 STAR Awards were the most competitive yet, and after peeking at the other submissions I have a better idea of what I want to include in my next entry. It was very cool to page through each of the binders and admire top notch event planning. There were some amazing events held last year, not only in weddings but in non-profit and corporate sectors as well.

My goal is to win a STAR Award in the future and I will keep working towards that goal whether it be for a wedding or a special event.

This was one of the most fabulous industry events that I've had the pleasure of going to. The evening started off with a cocktail hour and heavy hors d'eourves. The event theme for the evening was "Ritmo Caliente" and had a hot Latin vibe. All of the decor was red, oranges and yellows to give you that spicy flavor. What I really enjoyed was that the cocktail reception was made to look like a shipping dock in Havana with boxes of "cargo" and tropical plants. They even had old crates double as mini tables to lounge at while enjoying cocktails.

The food was really cool, they had a "Jerk chicken" sandwich, mini-veggie burgers, and tropical shrimp kabob. They even served the food on plates made from dried tropical leaves which was really cool because it was "green" and totally fit the theme for the evening.

The award ceremony was breathtaking! They had the ballroom completely redesigned by hanging white draping so that the uplighting could display the dramatic red and
orange hues throughout the space. Prop palm trees framed the stage and the hosts for the evening actually did an opening number. During the awards, the event staff even planned for a toast to the award winners and had Sangria's brought out.

Finally, the evening went out with a bang at the after party. A great Latin band played salsa music and they also had professional salsa dancers perform and get people on the floor for some one on one instruction. The other attractions were a fire dancer and Latin carnival
performers. It was a great time and I look forward to next year. Kudos to the International Special Event Society for putting on such a great Award Ceremony!

PHOTO CREDITS: WONDERFUL DAY WEDDINGS

Rustic Barn Wedding - Burgundy & Pink

I have an old friend that has asked me to do day of coordination for her June wedding and I am so pleased to be able to help! She has great fashion sense and she is doing the coolest color scheme for a rustic farm wedding and reception. Burgundy and pink are so delightful and summery when used together! Generally, we see burgundy used during fall weddings, but this sophisticated color pairs very nicely with pastel pink which gives it a decidedly summery flavor. Another option is to pair burgundy with peach.

My friend has planned her entire wedding so I can't take any credit for her design scheme but I can certainly draw inspiration from it! Using some of the ideas from this upcoming wedding I created an inspiration board. The down home decor, a sophisticated and summery color palette and country flowers were what I wanted to focus on. So here you go brides, proof that a barn wedding can be just as fantastic done in the summer as weddings done on the farm in fall.

PHOTO CREDITS: SASHASFLOWERS.CO.UK, ARTOFDESSERT.COM,AVABRIDAL.COM,SEASTAR RESTUARANT, WEDDINGLOCO.COM,BUTTERFLIES&DAISIES.COM, BRIDEZILLA TIMES,SQUIDOO.COM,THEKNOT.COM,COCO&FIG.COM, PROJECTWEDDING.COM BOSTONBRIDE.BLOGSPOT.COM,THEBUDGET SAVVY BRIDE, THE EVERYDAY BRIDE, LEISURE GREY PHOTOGRAPHS & MEMORIES, MYOLDFASHIONEDWEDDING.COM

Luck and Love - A St. Patrick's Day Wedding

St. Patrick's Day is such a fun holiday because people around the world celebrate it, even if they aren't Irish! Really, I think what this holiday is all about is celebrating heritage, appreciating family ties, and thanking our lucky stars. Of course, we all know what really makes this day special is the food and drink!

I think a St. Patrick's Day wedding would be grand because of all the whimsical details that could be incorporated. Not to mention the yummy, traditional Irish food and drink that could be served.Great beer, such as Guinness, and great Whiskey, such as Jameson would be perfect to serve to guests. You could have a whiskey cocktail such as the Irish Apple.

1 part Jameson Irish Whiskey
1½ parts Hiram Walker Sour Apple Schnapps
5 parts Ginger Ale



Traditional dishes such as ham, Cornish game hens, potato soup, and col-cannon (cabbage) are wonderful dishes that could be served as a buffet or as a sit down dinner. I also really love the idea of serving cupcakes with little whimsical shamrocks on them.

Of course, you could do a St. Patrick's Day wedding in a very understated way using a monochromatic color scheme of sage and Kelly green. However, for this inspiration board I chose to celebrate the fun details a St. Patrick's Day wedding could have. I'm a believer that if you are going to have a "theme" wedding, make it grand! You would be surprised at how much guests enjoy having an event design that is obvious. Just remember, a few whimsical details goes a long way. You don't have to include shamrocks on everything, just a few touches here and there will be more than enough!

PHOTO CREDITS: BRENDASWEDDINGBLOG.COM,BLUSHEVENTS.BLOGSPOT.COM,WEDDINGBLOGDIG.COM,ALLWOMENSTALK.COM,BLOG2MODERN.COM,FLIKR.COM, IRISH APPLE COCKTAIL FROM STEPHANIE JERZY - COCKTAILCULTURE.WORDPRESS.COM.

Vendor Spotlight - Wayzata Country Club

Wayzata Country Club is one of the most prestigious country clubs in Minnesota. It is absolutely beautiful, both inside and out. I have had the pleasure of planning a wedding reception at this space and I can't speak highly enough about this venue and its' staff.

Wayzata Country Club is a Tudor style building with elegant gardens, a breathtaking ballroom and fantastic cuisine. Their event staff is top notch and their Catering Director, Katherine Tucker is great to work with. She is a skilled communicator and always very professional and organized! She and her staff provide impeccable service!

The fantastic gardens and the ballroom overlook the outdoor pool which is an amazing view to say the least. The ballroom itself is lavishly decorated with high ceilings, ornate chandeliers,neutral soft green walls and elegant carpeting. Although the ceilings are just beautiful by themselves, the WCC does allow ceiling drapings. In fact, it easy to separate the cocktail space from the dining room by hanging sheer fabric to identify each space.

Their menu is absolutely fabulous and they have a divine selection of both hot and cold hors d'ouerves. The country club only offers sit down dinners, therefore everything runs very smoothly. Staff will make sure that everything is presented quickly, quietly and on schedule to ensure the the flow of the evening is not interrupted.

To host a wedding and reception at the Wayzata Country Club you must be a member or be sponsored by a member. For more information visit the Wayzata Country Club website at www.wayzatacc.com.


PHOTO CREDITS: MCGOUGH CONSTRUCTION, WONDERFUL DAY WEDDINGS, NOEMI HEDRICK PHOTOGRAPHY

The Hottest Color Combo for 2010 - Cobalt Blue and Yellow

I have a client that is a very fashionable, forward thinking, radiant young woman and she has impeccable taste. This blog post is for her! Right now, the hottest wedding colors are cobalt blue and sunny yellow! They pair so nicely together and are perfect colors for a sophisticated summer wedding. There are so many options with these colors. Flowers can be as simple as canary yellow roses and blue irises or something a little bolder like yellow calla lilies and and dark blue hydrangeas.

I also love the idea of blue bridesmaid dresses with the pop of yellow from flowers. Shoes and jewelry could also be used as colorful accessories. I think that dark blue table linens, and napkins with navy tiole china and yellow flower and fruit centerpieces would be divine! Something sophisticated like lemons in a tall hurricane vase with trailing yellow and blue flowers would be so lovely!

The gentleman would look so dapper in navy suits with yellow ties and boutonnieres, and maybe something a little unexpected, like navy and yellow striped socks! Invitations could incorporate yellow and navy toile or something more updated like retro flowers or polka dots. Finally, favors could be blue candies or chocolates in little yellow boxes wrapped with navy ribbon. The possibilities are really endless.

I made this inspiration board because these are the "it" colors for 2010 and I wanted to show that this new and fresh palette is very pleasing to the eye. It is extraordinarily cheerful and elegant at the same time. Cheers to the best color combination of 2010!

PHOTO CREDITS:BRIDAL BUDS, FRIENDS KNIT TOGETHER, THE KNOW, PRETTY CHICKY, STYLE ME PRETTY, PROJECT WEDDING, SHEANDHEPLANWEDDINGS, CAKE THAT! BELLA FIGURA, BOBTHEOILMAN,ONCEWED