Wednesday, May 14, 2008

My Destination Wedding with the Knot

What excitement! It all started in August of last year, when we were approached to be part of this wedding exclusive that The Knot and Style Network were to be filming 'My Destination Wedding with The Knot'. Little Cayman had been chosen as the destination, and they wanted an extraordinary design team to collaberate with them to pull off a destination wedding to remember.

What an opportunity! Produce a double-ceremony wedding, in two completely different cultures, in a five day time frame on our smallest paradise, Little Cayman! The ideas were unending, and as I discussed the couple with Carley Roney and her team at the Knot, and what the couple were like, and their preferences and backgrounds, all the design elements began to fall into place. With this information on hand, my inspiration came from hearing that the Bride loved pink, especially fuschia pink; was conservative, but wanting very much to embrace her husband to be's culture. For the Hindu Ceremony we draped the ceiling of the clear top tent with fuschia pink silk organza, with crystal curtains for accents, and also a large crystal chandelier complete with pink lights. The mandap, designed using bamboo for the main structure was draped gold beaded red voille, with accents of white satin. The thick lush garland of flowers that encrusted to the top of the mandap where cherry lady roses,dark pink hydrangea, ranunculus in pink and white, gloriosa lillies,viburnum, red calla lillies,orange passion roses and the moroco orchids that were hand strug with beading in between each cluster of orchids, to create the hanging flowers on all three sides of the mandap.

We discussed and designed the Hindu Ceremony, as well as the traditional Christian ceremony. The Hindu Ceremony, is showcased in the show, however, due to the medical emergency, we were unable to film the Christian ceremony we had designed and prepared. Everything was already in place in Little Cayman for both ceremonies and thankfully, we have the photos to be able to share with you. Pictures of what was to be the Christian ceremony held on Owen Island are what you will see on the video at the beginning, where we used the soft colors of pinks in a very traditional setting with silver chivari chairs, and tie backs made with orchids and starfish, an aisleway of conch shells and delicate miniature roses, orchids, complete with starfish accents.


Every element and every day of the celebration of the wedding week for this couple was planned and every detail thought through. The Mendhi party, was great fun to create. Our original design of having the entire event on the floating dock of the Southern Cross had to be changed last minute, and instead we created what everyone fell in love with, the Mendhi Lounge on the inside of the Resort, complete with low tables, large cushions, and exotic tropical centrepieces of vibrant yellow cymbidium orchids, heleconia, and mango callas, designed with natural driftwood to create the Mendhi Rehearsal Dinner setting.


The wedding reception, a culmination of the the two cultures, where we mixed together the rich vibrant colors of the Hindu culture, using hot pink floor length raw silk tablecloths, with red organza overlays. Centrepieces were 40" tall candleabras, with cascading flowers of gloriosa lilies,roses, hydrangeo, hanging amaranthus. The place settings of gold rimmed glass charger plates, complete with rich gold satin napkins, and gold tassels, finished with a glorisa lily at each place setting, as well as a double dendrobium orchid lei for each person, brought together the fusion of the cultures. Place card holders of small gold elephants, complete with coordinated place cards finished the tables.


I was delighted to be able to work with such a celebrity as Carley Roney. My many conference calls and close liaison with the team from the Knot and Style Network, the planning of all the vendors from Grand Cayman to travel to Little Cayman and the entire co-ordination of all services, lead us to the incredible wedding ceremony you will see on the show, and in the photos and video below.

The Cayman Islands have certainly shown the world, that we are of world class standards, and we can create whatever you are looking for. Topping all of these were the incredible feedback from Carley Roney herself, who kept saying, I have never seen a more beautiful wedding. This is what we do, and more importantly what we love and have such a passion for.

Congrats to all involved in this fabulous show on Little Cayman. Celebrations, I am very proud of our part, our team was so focused and flexible, and so talented in creating this dream wedding.

Our very best wishes to a wonderful couple, Brooke and Neil and their families!








Photography by: Rebecca Davidson of Picture This!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Celebrations' Stars Still Shining!

Kaliq & Mikeline take a well deserved break from their Mother's Day Shopping at Celebrations!