Lk Events And Design

introducing jaime!

Windy and I feel super lucky to do what we love everyday. We feel even more lucky when we find fantastic team members who are willing to work hard with a smile on their face! Our Fall intern is just this and we are thrilled to introduce Jaime to you! 20150519-_OP_5321-Edit

LOVES: I have a major sweet tooth! I love to bake and my passion for baking began at a young age. We didn’t normally have tons of sweets around my house and my mom didn’t bake, so I developed this passion on my own. I’ve made homemade croissants, chocolate souffle, and not to mention I make some of the BEST chocolate chip cookies ever! Aside from the sweets, I also really love to cook. Anytime I’m home visiting my family my dad and I make homemade pasta and pizzas. My mom likes to call us all wannabe Italians because we love Italian food so much! I also really love to travel and experience new cultures. Currently, I’m dying to go to Greece and Prague!

PASSIONS: I consider myself very creative. I am always making things. Everything from recipes, to jewelry, to tie-dying pillow cases, to short movies! I idolize Martha Stewart! I also really love volunteering. I have volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for five years. The student organization I’m involved with develops and coordinates service projects for the Richmond community.

DISLIKES: Bad manners. Eggs. Mashed Potatoes. [Most people can’t seem to get over this last one.]

FUN FACT: On Pinterest, Walt Disney World follows me! They have 132k followers and are only following 167, I think it’s the coolest thing ever! I REALLY love Disney and it’s my dream to work for the company one day.20150519-_OP_5240-Edit

Jaime dove right in with a killer wedding in Williamsburg with Windy. She’ll be frolicking around Richmond with us, so be sure to give her give her a great big hug!

20150519-_OP_4876-Edit[All of these incredible photos are by Mary Otanez Photography!]

We can’t wait for her to get her hands dirty and find a passion for this business! Welcome to the team, Jaime! We are thrilled!

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kelly and alex, an elegant richmond wedding

I had the absolute pleasure of helping Kelly and Alex plan and wrap up the final details of their big day back in September. Talk about the wedding of your dreams. Not to mention this couple is truly one of a kind–such a sweet, sweet pair! I’ll never forget walking into their home, the day of the wedding, and immediately being embraced by Kelly’s mom.

From the nod to Alex’s baseball past with the home plate guestbook or having Kelly’s aunts make hundreds of traditional Italian cookies for their dessert display, the whole evening was filled with personal details. This classic and elegant, white wedding is one for the books. Enjoy the incredible photos by the incomparable Laura Gordon!Croglio 9-13-14Lindsay Kennedy Favorites-0010 Croglio 9-13-141 Lindsay Kennedy Favorites-0005 View More: http://lauragordon.pass.us/wotringweddingView More: http://lauragordon.pass.us/wotringweddingLindsay Kennedy Favorites-0011 View More: http://lauragordon.pass.us/wotringweddingLindsay Kennedy Favorites-0007View More: http://lauragordon.pass.us/wotringweddingLindsay Kennedy Favorites-0016Lindsay Kennedy Favorites-0008Lindsay Kennedy Favorites-0009Croglio 9-13-144View More: http://lauragordon.pass.us/wotringweddingCroglio 9-13-143Croglio 9-13-142

Ceremony: The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart | Venue: The Jefferson Hotel | Coordinator: LK Events and Design | Flowers: Bloom’s by the Jefferson | Entertainment: Jukeboxx via East Coast Entertainment | Cake: Sweet Fix | Invitations: Paper on the Avenue | Bride’s Gown: Vera Wang | Groom’s Suit: Paul Stuart | Bridesmaids: BHLDN | Vintage Rolls Royce: Andrew Roane

Kelly and Alex’s wedding was also featured in PRINT! Engaged! magazine featured them in their Spring 2015 issue, so make sure you don’t miss all seven glorious pages!

20150519-_OP_5744-Edit(photo by Mary Otanez Photography)

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surviving the rain

When I first received the call that I was accepted as the Summer LK intern, I was so excited. Then when Lindsay asked if I would be able to help out at a wedding that same weekend I was even more excited! I was ready to jump right in and get my feet wet, unaware that meant literally.

What I realized, however, is that rain on your wedding day doesn’t have to be a reason to fret–especially when you have a prepared planner. Stuart & Joey’s April wedding was the ultimate example of how to handle a rainy affair! Windy knew exactly how to prepare when the forecast was looking gloomy in the days prior and then directed the back up plan when storms hit throughout the day. I’ve decided to put together some rainy wedding day tips so that you can stay calm and enjoy your day–rain or shine!Stuart and Joey Wedding-192

1 – This one’s obvious, but always have a backup plan! Whether a tent or an indoor option, have a plan and be okay with it. Even if your ceremony and reception are indoors, have some great back up options for photos as well!

2 – Make the call early enough for your vendors to be prepared. Take a look at the weather early in the week and prepare yourself mentally. Then glance at it about 2-3 days out from your wedding and speak with your planner about moving on to plan B. That morning, take action! It’s better to be safe than sorry if the rain decides to pour during your ceremony.

3 – Repurpose your flowers. Having your ceremony in your reception tent may not be ideal but there are ways to make it looks amazing! Create your alter space and reuse flowers around it to make pictures look stunning. And make sure to have your VIP’s seated near you just like the original plan!

4- Embrace the rain! Talk to your photographer about taking some beautiful pictures of you two holding umbrellas. A well prepared planner will have cute umbrellas in his or her emergency kit’s!

5 – Be open to change. This may not be your ideal situation but hey, isn’t rain on your wedding day good luck? [Eye roll, we know!] Try to be flexible when the time comes to switch things up. After all, you’re still going to marry the love of your life, so rain or shine just keep enjoying your day and dance the night away!

We hope you’ve found this tips helpful! What is your back up plan? How will you be prepared for gloomy weather?

Katie

 

introducing hasslehoff!

A few weeks ago, we introduced our intern Katie. Today, I’d like for you to meet another integral part of our team–Hasslehoff! Now I know what you’re thinking: “You mean THE David Hasslehoff? The star of the 1980’s hit soap opera featuring scantily clad lifeguard’s and slow motion running?” Well yes, sort of.

We officially named our life-saving, wedding emergency kit, Hasslehoff. It saves lives.

In this industry you must be organized and prepared for anything that may happen. Whether it’s a lipstick stain on a white wedding dress, mother nature, or a guest that needs her shoe repaired, a well-stocked emergency kit is a staple for us event pro’s! Our kit is literally filled with everything you can think of–toothbrushes, floss, stain sticks, baby wipes, sewing kit, floral clippers, floral tape, pins, bridal garters, monofilament, bobby pins–you name it and it’s probably inside. After all, Hasslehoff saves lives. He’s certainly saved our lives a time or two. Here is just a glimpse of what we keep stocked:hasslehoff

Some are more obvious than others, but let me give you a run down: black socks for the unlucky groomsmen who forgot them, diapers pins for a wedding bustle as regular ones just won’t do, baby powder to mask stains on wedding dresses, s-hooks for hanging signage in or around tent poles, and floral tape, cutters and pins for the broken boutonnieres.

While this is only a small portion of what we bring in preparation for a wedding day, we hope this gives you some insight and tips into packing your own wedding day emergency kit! What are some things you include?

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introducing katie!

While we’re rounding out the Spring wedding season, what better chance to announce our perky, happy and hardworking Summer intern? Back in April we welcomed Katie to the LK Events and Design team. She now she’s officially official to all of you!

20150519-_OP_4972-EditWithin the first week, she was helping Windy coordinate weddings in the pouring rain and the following week she was moving 200 chairs with me. Talk about an introduction to the labors of this industry! But proving her bubbly personality, she was smiling the whole time. Here’s a bit about Katie in her own words:

Hi! I’m Katie! It’s nice to “meet” you! Currently a senior at VCU studying public relations, I am so psyched to be an LK intern this Summer and see the in’s and out’s of event planning. So far I’ve made it through the rain, heat, bumps and bruises and I’m loving it. Some of my favorite free time activities are hanging by the river with friends or being with my cat, Toby. Two of my favorite things in the world are coffee and sour patch kids, not together of course! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the Summer hold for me!20150519-_OP_5288-Edit

We can’t wait either, Katie! She’ll be hopping around from wedding to wedding and attending marketing events with Windy and I as well. Y’all give her a big ol’ hug when you see her!

Oh, we should mention her favorite dessert is cheesecake! Lucky for her she got that on her first wedding with me!

katie collage[All of these incredible photos are by Mary Otanez Photography!]

Welcome to the LK team, Katie! We’re stoked to have you!

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oooh’s and ahhh’s: valentine’s gifts for guys

That’s right. Valentine’s Day. It’s coming up in 10 short days, ya’ll. Love it or hate it, we all participate in it in some way or another, so we’ve decided to do another edition of our:ooohsandahhhs2The male edition.

Boyfriend, Fiance, Partner, Husband or just a friend. Sometimes they are hard to buy for aren’t they? Well, I’m here to help. I’ve been married for 15 years, so my list of gifts for my husband, Andy, that have gone over like tickets to the superbowl, is well, short.

My list of gifts that have never seen the light of day–something comparable to the Nile, but I’m willing to share my success!

Personalized Collar Stays

collar staysAs simple as it sounds, these things were a hit. Andy was constantly losing the collar stays that came with all of his dress shirts. Whether it was the dry cleaner or they just fell out, he could never find them. These babies are silver plated, so a bit heavier than the plastic ones that come with dress shirts, and then you can add personal messages onto each! Notes of encouragement, love or even flirty, these are thoughtful and practical. They arrive in a black velvet box for safe keeping too!

Dollar Shave Club

razorI have to admit, I really just fell in love with the genius marketing and advertising behind this company, so using Andy as an excuse, I jumped on board. Pick a razor and blades, pick the frequency of shipment, plug in your payment information and finito, done! Depending on your shipment frequency, your guy will receive a nice, manly branded box of brand new razors to last him until the next shipment. Plus, they throw in samples of their cool products. Pre-shave treatment, shave cream, post shave healer–you name it. If he likes something and wants the actual product next time, it’s just a simple click away. The marketing pieces included are always laugh worthy too.

The Fathead

patriotsI can’t talk about gifts for men without mentioning Fathead. Even if your guy doesn’t have an official “man cave” this is a great gift. If you don’t know, Fatheads are giant wall decals of just about anything your guy would want. The majority of the products are sports related of course, but there are superheros and other characters too! You can even create a custom one! Bonus–they are removable and transferable!

Love Book Online

love bookYes, newly married or newly engaged folks, we are still squishy romantic after 15 years of marriage. This is a paperback book that is completely personalized for whatever story or thoughts you want to tell to each other. Cute stick people represent the two of you and you can then tell your guy all the things you love about him. They have messages and sample drawings already created or you can create your own. The end product is always preciously cute! [Insert cheesy love sounds.]

There you go folks! The list is short but sweet and hopefully helpful in your last minute hunt for a gift!

Enjoy your shopping!

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richmond wedding expo: behind the scenes

For those of you not intimately involved in the wedding industry, wedding and bridal shows are events that happen usually twice a year and are a strong marketing component of a lot of vendors in the wedding world.

Hundreds of brides, grooms, mothers of the bride and maids of honor gather together to get just a sampling (literally) of the vendors in the RVA area and a glimpse into the hot trends in the wedding industry – all under one roof.

LK was lucky enough to snag a booth this year at the Richmond Wedding Expo at the Richmond Marriott Downtown this past Sunday, the 11th. Hours of planning, prepping and actual labor went into our time at the show, and it’s all worth it at the end of the day. Thank goodness for supportive husbands! They were up and out of bed, helping us unload downtown by 7:30am on a Sunday. Good men, these two! [We absolutely loved the extra height and brightness from our white pipe and drape from Rent- E-quip!]

IMG_3233Even my daugher, Edie, was up and in to help!IMG_3234Voila! The finished product! [Fabulous sparkle linen from Classic Party Rentals of Virginia and couch from Ampa Events. The photos featured in our booth came from these incredible photographers: Laura Gordon, Kristin Moore, Joyeuse, Carly Arwine.]
LK Expo Booth 2015IMG_3242And our favorite addition was the Instagram Photobooth Prop! This was a hit with attendees and vendors alike, and in someone’s hands the entire show. So much fun! IMG_3240IMG_3282 IMG_3280 IMG_3278

It was incredibly important to us that our booth spoke to who we are as a business and was an open and comfortable area for couples to come and chat with us.  We had a great time designing the booth and then meeting so many fantastic couples.

A successful day for sure! Thanks to Richmond Weddings for a great show, the vendors who helped us with our booth, and the lovely folks who came by to chat! We met a ton of prospective clients and are super pumped to bring you all on as official members of the LK family!

All the best,

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so long, 2014!

We’re throwing confetti, doing back flips and fist pumping after an incredible 2014! So many monumental things have happened for us this year, so why not recap in a few short words: we launched, we celebrated, we met a famous tv star, we were featured, and we worked, hard.

While we’re missing a few here, we want to thank all of our amazing clients of 2014. We love what we do because of you. You make us look good–oh, you photographers definitely do too!

2014 Wedding Collage[Photography credit, in no particular order because that would be crazy: Seth Roberts, Laura Gordon, PhotoLadyLove, Audra Wrisley, Kristin Partin, Annamarie Akins, Allison Kuhn Creative, Worthington, Enigma, Blue Shutter, PW, Whitebox, James Linkowitz, Katie Wilson, Carly Arnwine]

Our 2015 is shaping up to be better than ever. We are so blessed and lucky to continue to have beautiful clients, rockstar vendors and incredible family that support LK. We are going to ring in the New Year with glitter, boxing gloves and champagne. Lots of champagne.

THANK YOU.

Windy + Lindsay

the ooohs and ahhhs: quick gift guide

We’ve all been there–running around frantically trying to find a last minute hostess gift for a cocktail party that evening or realizing you forgot a gift for your work gift exchange the next day. I’ve put together some full-proof, always appreciated, fantastic gifts for the last minute Lucy’s out there, all while supporting things local in RVA!

ooohsandahhhs2giftguide collage

{804ork cookbook, dish towels, virginia cutting board, coffee mugs from anthropologie,rva blanchards coffee,west 30 candles}

Need some wrapping or packaging ideas? Take your dish or tea towel, lay it flat on a surface, place a bottle of wine in the center, wrap upwards on the bottle and tie with a ribbon. Ta da! Pop a cellophane bag with hot cocoa and marshmallows inside a coffee mug!

There are many local Richmond gift shops that source cute, last minute gift ideas. My favorites are Tweed in Short Pump, Mongrel in Carytown and Southern Season in the near West End. Kroger even carries the Blanchard’s coffee!

What are your go-to gift ideas? Any particular places you like to shop for gift items? We want to hear from you!

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the ooohs and aaahs: holiday entertaining

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the decorating and entertaining. I love a house full of people, good food, good wine and noise. Lots and lots of noise. I host Christmas Day with my husband’s family in the morning and then my own family in the evening. There are people in and out all day, and I absolutely love it. It gives me the chance to find new pops of decor to use for every meal and cocktail!

Since Sophia and Aboudi’s wedding this past Fall, I’ve been obsessed with all things GOLD. Naturally, this got me thinking about Holiday decor, of course! It’s so easy to stick with the traditional red, green, silver or white. They are beautiful in their own way, but this year I wanted to spice things up! And give you the same idea! Pairing a warm, sparkly gold with a rich, jewel tone brings a whole new dimension to Holiday decor. Plus you can push this versatile design all the way to New Year’s!

So without further adieu – I give you my favorite colors and things for this season’s entertaining!

 

ooohsandahhhs2entertaining blog{Gold Stemless Wine Glass from World Market, Flag Bunting from Etsy, Cake from Styles Sweet, Mirrored Serving Tray from World Market, Mercury Glass Balls from World Market, Place Setting, Reindeer Pillow from Pier 1}

Trying anything new for your decor or when entertaining your guests this year? Changing out some old holiday decorations for a new and fresh look? We want to see!

Enjoy!

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