My Punk Rock Ducky Baby - Jake - Turns One!

February 18, 2012

Venue: Virginia Beach Key, Miami, Florida

This birthday party tugged at my heart! and no wonder it was in the works for about 11 months! Jake is the darling, handsome, funny, sweet son of Marisel and Jay.

 Marisel is the friend of Alina who in November of 2010 called me because she had a baby shower to do for her friend and did not know how exactly she was going to pull it all together. With a lot of brainstorming between Alina and I, together we came up with an incredibly unique Punk Rock Ducky Baby Shower. Marisel liked her shower so much that immediately she told me she wanted me to plan Jake's 1st Birthday Party, and I think that when she first talked to me about this, Jake was not even born yet. Regardless, throughout the year and through Facebook, Marisel and I became FACEBOOK friends and I enjoyed watching Jake grow through the eye of Marisel's camera, by the time his birthday came up I felt as if I was part of the celebration and preparing this party was close to heart and sooooooooooooo much fun.

I sent Mari a bunch of ideas and themes and she ultimately chose the circus theme when I told her that there was a park in Key Biscayne that had a carousel and a train, this and the fact that it was at the beach and that there was a huge tent, it all just came together. 

Marisel was great, every little idea I would send her way she loved, and to tell you the truth the trust she endowed on me was a lot to live up to, but I appreciated and her confidence fulled my creativity. There is nothing as having full reigns on an event and to have a client who lets you create and bring your ideas alive. This party was a dream for Marisel but it was one for me also.

I would like to thank Michelle DelGuidice of  Bee U Photography for her beautiful pictures. Kary Lizano from Just 2 Party for her expectacular balloons, that in spite of having had an accident a week before the event and not having full use of her arm, she was still able to create those beautiful clown columns. She is truly one of her kind. She is also responsible for the Circus cutouts that truly brought the look of the party together. 

I have to give a great big thanks to Douglas of  Piñata Depot for the lovely piñata and to Joseph of Motita's Party Rental for the Popcorn, Snow Cone and Cotton Candy Machines, what's a circus party without these, right? 

Later, I will add the name of the catering company that made the delicious hamburgers and hot dogs, because they were great and should definitely be given the credit, and that goes for the cake too. 

I cannot forget Alison a Ally's cookies, for the beautiful cookies she made for Jake's party. 

And to Vladimir for the delicious cupcakes.

I also must thank my staff, my family and friends who are always there to give me a hand, get on a ladder, follow instructions, and help in every way to make each and everyone of my events a success. 

And last and not least I want to once again thank Marisel and Jay for letting me part of Jakey's birthday, for letting me create a beautiful party for you and for allowing me to be part of your day! on to Justin's 1st Birthday!?!

I must begin by saying that I have been away from my blog for way too long. In the past 8 or 9 months I have been very, very busy and I have not had too much time to come in here and converse with you, so today I have a lot of stories to update you on. I am happy to say that Lasting Impressions has been growing everyday, this baby of mine brings me much happiness as well as the events and the people who have become part of my life. I am forever grateful for those who have trusted me with your special day, I have tried to with every beat of my heart to make it tasteful, unique, classy and to your every liking, I hope that I have succeeded and that you are all pleased and happy.


Luciana and Eduardo's Wedding
October 22, 2011
Doral Country Club, Doral, Florida
Flowers and Decorations: Lasting Impressions Events by Luly
Photos: Laura Lopez of Laura's Studio, Santy Martinez of Photography by Santy
Video: Andrew Schear of AGS video

Luciana and Eduardo are such a happy couple who despite of being so very young they almost seem like an old couple. I simply loved them. I got to know Luciana pretty well in the 8 months we spent engineering her special day. I liked going to her house and sitting for quite a few hours deciding on flowers, candles, decorations, etc. Luciana is very, very organized so it was quite easy, she knew what she wanted and had it all at the tip of her fingertips. Her mother Sandra was also very much involved in her daughter's wedding day. It seemed that every time I'd go to her house it would rain torrentially and I would always end up leaving their house drenched in summertime rain....but you know what they say, the rain brings good luck and sunny days ahead so I contribute the beautiful day that greeted us on that October 22 morning on all of the rain that fell on me all of those times.
Like I said, October 22 was a beautiful, sunny, autumn morning, the kind you can only have in Miami. Bright and warm and simply lovely. This was the day designed for Luciana and Eduardo to take that walk down the aisle by God. The bride had decided on the colors of Lilac and Periwinkle as her color pallet and Roses and Carnations in assorted colors of pink, a dark shade of purple and a lighter lilac color. 

As each guest made the way into the foyer of the Grand Ballroom and the Doral Country Club, a Wishing Tree awaited them where they were invited to jot down a few words of advice, love and well wishes for the Newlyweds and hang it on the tree. From there they made their way to the beautiful terrace which was ready and waiting for a special wedding, the chairs were adorned with Kissing balls in pink and purple carnation, and atop of the gazebo an elegant arrangement of roses, carnations, forget-me-not greeted the bride and groom.

 The bridesmaids bouquet were also made of carnations and roses with matching ribbons, as well as all of boutoniers and corsages. Luciana's bouquet was a combination of ivory, very pale lilac and pink roses. 

The theme of the Kissing Balls or Pomanders was carried inside where they were placed atop of tall and lower cylinder vases filled with aqua beads and a little floralite lit up the inside of the vase. The tables were dressed in ivory color linens and the lilac napkins matched the cushions in the chivalry chairs. Tasteful and Elegant.

The couples table dressed in a beautiful white embroidered tablecloth was topped with rectangular vases filled with roses in the colors of Luciana's bouquet, and on each of the chairs a sign that stated Mr. and Mrs.

 No details was overlooked, the bride's mother made the seating chart, and delicious cupcakes which were stored in boxes that depicted pictures of the couple, a delicious and personal hand made treat to take home afterwards. 

 The couple opted for a video clip from family members from Argentina and Cuba that could not be there in person but wanted to express on this special day their good wishes for the new couples, very sentimental and beautiful. 

La Hora Loca finished the night off, the guests were given silly hats, and noise makers and the happy couple were joined by all to end this first evening of the rest of their lives.

I would like to thank Luciana and Eduardo for letting me be part of their day, I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter and happiness.

Falling In Love with the Floridian Fall

Today marks the first day of Fall or Autumn around the country, and while most of the states are experiencing the change of weather with the cooler temperature and the changing of the color of the leaves, here in Miami we are experiencing 85+degrees of humid heat. Nevertheless, there are certain changes and with those changes come new inspirations for the Autumn Bride. 

 

 It is difficult to plan a Fall theme wedding in Florida specially in Miami, but I must tell you that it is one of the best seasons to get married in our beautiful state. In a few more weeks the temperature does drop a few more significant degrees and the rainy season passes, making this the perfect time for weddings, specially those held outside in a garden or by the beach. 

Because we live on such a tropical paradise, when choosing an Autumn or Fall theme, we must be careful not too become too trendy, you must always keep in mind where you live and this will keep you in the right track for having an elegant wedding. 
 

 
One of the ways that I think you could stay on track is by choosing a color palette that reflects the colors of the sunset, the very last minutes before the day ends it's one of mother's nature most beautiful palette so whom better to turn to for inspiration than nature itself. When you look closely at those colors at the end of the day you can find an infusion of oranges and pinks, greys and browns with touches of deep purples and turquoise and blues. So if you chose any of these colors you can come up with a subtle and elegant combination for your fall wedding.
 

With the many beautiful venues we have here in Miami, from the Spanish Monastery, to the Deerfield Estate, to endless ocean front hotels and beautiful parks, there are plenty of places to hold your wedding.

 

 
An experience wedding engineer can help you find the perfect venue for your beautiful day and aid in putting together your ideas and interlacing them with their experience and inspirations to make your event an everlasting memory.

 
The wonderful ideas I have shared with you today are created by the many incredible event coordinators, photographers, and designers of the wedding industry. I am always humbled by their talent and feel inspired by their creations. I thank them for sharing their photos and ideas with us, which in turn have allowed me to share them with you.


This blog was created and written by Lourdes Alonso - Lasting Impressions-Events by Luly