Another Year Fabulous-er!

Now that the ribbons, bows, and paper have finally settled after the frenzy of Christmas, we have a little time to reflect on all the glorious things that make life so sweet.  You, my love, are one of them... 

How is it possible that another year has almost passed us by?  Our kids are another year older, making our houses seem just that much cozier.  Sweetest Thing part deux celebrated its one year anniversary in September.  Our friendship is just that much stronger.  Our love for weddings and design is given a boost, as is our skill, with every beautiful couple and event that crosses our collective path.  The best part of our job is that there is always time and opportunity to smell the roses. 

We look forward to the new and wonderful possibilities that await us all in 2012.  Thank you for keeping your eye on Sweetest Thing.  Hopefully we'll continue to surprise you all.  In the meantime, here's a few for the highlight reel.

Amber & Kathryn

sweet things

A & K at the Bangor Bridal Show, January 2011 Photo Credit: Mel Brooks

Looking and feeling glamorous with the fabulous Audra at the L Factor charity hair show in February 2011. 

Bustin' a move at Harriet's Bat Mitzvah in the spring.  Photo credit: Mark McCall

A Farewell Event in Bangor. We are bookended by the always sophisticated Anne Schmidt on the left and the lovely Deb Neuman on the right.

Amber's husband, Peter, did us a solid Folk Festival weekend and took 5 out of 6 of our kids to the festival grounds. Here they are posing with Deb. L to R: Parker, Paige, Gwyneth, Izze, Thomas.

Emma broke her arm in October.  Paige went to the hospital as moral support. Looks like it's working.

Trick or treating.  Yeah, you wish we were YOUR cool moms.

Winter wedding with a 1920's feel...

A year ago we had our first event inside our studio.  The bride, Lanie who wanted a glamorous winter wedding, black and white with pops of pink.  The result were stunning!  Lanie and Rick just celebrated their first anniversary.... So to help celebrate here is the post again..... We love you two... so thrilled you are living happily ever after....xo

I LOVE when bride's trust me.  Lanie, was a Dream to work with.  She wanted an intimate wedding for 50 that was glamorous and fun.  When corresponding with her I found a quote on her facebook page.  It said this....

I believe in pink. . . .I believe in kissing, kissing a lot . . . and I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. -Audrey Hepburn This quote was the entire basis of my design.  I went for a 1950s vibe using black and white damask print accent with bright pink...  Lanie wanted the reception in our studio and we were THRILLED to do it here.  The front end of the studio was were we set up for dinner.  Round tables were set up with black linens and white chiavari chairs and white napkins.  The dishware was white with silver pattern along the edge.  Pink stalk was set on the place settings for a pop of color.  Tall centerpieces to make a big statement, the square vessels with submerged orchids, with large arrangements of pink dutch hydrangeas, pink ranunculus, pink David Austin roses, spider mums.   Bar and lounge were in the back of the studio.  The bar served beer and wine and of course a Pink signature drink, a pomegranate martini.  The centerpieces on the cocktail tables and lounge area as well as the bar were where smaller square vessels with either orchids, and pink stalk.   Mike Dow rocked the evening away by playing great music and everyone danced the night away.  Rick was a SHOW stopper on the dance floor!!! I will NEVER hear "Footloose" again without thinking of him.  Guests besides dancing had a ball in a photo booth from Maine Photo Booth Company.   It was a fabulous night.....I believe that Lanie was a happy girl and happy girls are the prettiest girls... Photo Credit Anne Schmidt

shoes.... we know you love them....

Working on the blog tonight and watching Sex and The City seasons.... I mean what can inspire a girl to write more then Carrie Bradshaw.... Well. It's funny how things happen... While checking the stats on our blog (this can become obsessive...just so you know) I discovered a fun fact...

Our inspiration board on Sarah Jessica Parker's dress at the 2010 Oscars.  Take a peek... that blog post got 2,926 page views.

When one thinks of Carrie Bradshaw or Sarah Jessica Parker.... what do you think of... SHOES!!!

Well, that got me thinking... what's a better blog to write about then SHOES!!
I mean think about it....  woman, weddings, and shoes....  A perfect trifecta!

The great thing I have seen trending more and more is the commitment to have shoes be a big part of the the appareal.  Anything goes for shoes... flats, heels, colors, sparkles, pattern.... Well you know us... We wear stilettos in the snow.  SO here are some of our Favorite Shoes in the past years....

Sparkly Aldo Shoes in the Mountains of Maine... Photo Credit- Russell Caron

Heather's adorable Kate Spade shoes.... Such great pattern and color!! Photo Credit- Alexandra Roberts

Photo Credit Audra Photography.... Lisa wore stunning Cole Hann heels 

Lanie wore cowboy boots to honor her Texan roots... Photo credit.. Anne Schmidt photography

Gardenia shoe clips added to make this shoes amazing!! Photo Credit-Sammantha Warren

 Check out all of Leslie & David's Rangely Maine Wedding

Lovely Louboutins at the Asticou Inn... Photo Credit Mark McCall

Riding boots....  perfect for fall weddings... Photo Credit- Rebecca Hansen

LOVE when shoes add a POP of color!  Photo Credit- Sierra Kristen Photography

love these shoes with a short vintage inspired dress!  Photo Credit... My iPhone =)

Inspiration board New Year's Eve Wedding

Jeanna & Bryon are ringing in the New Year with a new marriage.  Now that is starting the year with a bang.  They want a classic black and white wedding.  We are putting touches of silver....

During cocktail hour we are doing a winter wooded feel.... birch trees on silver linens...

Dining with be on tables covered with black linens with beaded overlays.... the centerpieces will be cylinders with pillar candles and submerged tulips orchids, callas....

Candy Buffets, with black white & silver  candies......

Tall arrangements with silver sticks and crystals for drama.....

cocktail hour  is to look like a winter wonderland....

The dining tables will have black linens with a beaded overlay to look like snow

candy buffet for the late night munchies...

centerpieces will be pillars and submerged flowers

the ADORABLE flower girl will be throwing snowflakes instead of petals

there will be lots of candles 

the bride will carry white david austins and black and white anemones.

tall arrangements will be at the escort card table and candy buffet

Maine Senator Susan Collins is in December's Vogue!!

Maine Girls sometimes get a bad rap.... Kathryn & I, we are obsessed with fashion and design. So, when we heard a Maine woman was representing Maine in Vogue we were thrilled! 


Susan Collins has been a senator for our state since 1996.  She works on the homeland security, National Defense, and Education.  I was honored to meet Ms. Collins at Brooke and Andrew's Sebasco Resort wedding.  Brooke worked for Ms. Collins in Washington DC. where she met Andrew.  Sharyn Peavey was the photographer at this nautical themed wedding. (Man, I love doing weddings with her, she is so talented and a spitfire! Sharyn Peavey not Senator Collins) 


OK, back to Senator Collin's...she was an incredibly gracious guest and when recognized by some kids staying at the resort, she spoke with them and took a picture.... I will also say, she did rock it out on the dance floor... 


Well, Ms. Collin's I don't know about your bucket list, but you accomplished something on mine.  Being in Vogue and having my picture taken by the AMAZING Annie Leibovitz along side amazing woman like Joan Wages, Madeleine Albright, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Barbara Bush (seated on ground), Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Patricia Nixon Cox, Maya Angelou, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Meryl Streep.


Read all about Senator Collins' experience in this article by Portland Press Herald

photo credit Sharyn Peavey!

Oceanside Pink Wedding in Castine Maine.... John Peter's Estate

Denise's father is the owner of Wallace Party & Tent Rental.... He is one of my favorite vendors, his staff is top notch, he does whatever he can for me and my clients, and he values his partnerships.... He is an honorable man.  So when he asked us to do Denise's wedding Kathryn and I were touched.  Denise has been working with her dad for as long as she could remember.  She knows how to run an event.  She was incredibly organized and efficient.  A complete breeze to work with.... She wanted pink wedding with purple and gold accents.  There would be three table shapes and table designs.  On the square tables there would be large tall arrangements, on the rounds would be square low arrangements and on the rectangular tables low and long arrangements.  She wanted simple flowers in abundance.... we used pink and purple stalk, pink and purple lithianthus, white hydrangeas, and pink & white callas.  The event was held at the Gorgeous John Peter's Estate.  The cocktail hour was held on the lawn with cotton candy, ice cream sundae & popcorn bar.  Denise & Brian's wedding was touching.... Brian's mom's speech was precious and Brian (Denise's dad) was so incredibly gracious to all of us vendors.... We danced the night away and then moved to a sail tent with all pink lighting for an after party....

Cast of Characters....

Tents & Rentals- Wallace Tent & Party Rental

Lighting & draping- Ambience Lighting

Catering- Moveable Feasts

Floral Design & Day of Coordination- sweetest thing weddings*floral design*events

Photo Booth- Maine Photo Booth Co.

Cake- Montes Catering 

Photographer- Dustin Turin

Band- Time Pilots!!

In front of the barn on property.... photo credit Dustin Turin

cotton candy & sundae bar during cocktails.... delicious photo credit~ Dustin Turin

sprawling estate lawn with dinner tent, cocktail tent, and after party tent... Photo Credit~Dustin Turin

amazing day at John Peter's Estate in Castine, Maine photo credit~ Dustin Turin

stunning grounds... with amazing views photo credit~Dustin Turin

oceanside ceremony under a simple handcrafted chuppah photo credit~Dustin Turin

rustic lanterns full of hydrangeas & lemon leaf photo credit~ Dustin Turin

FABULOUS tall arrangement with ivy filled pilsner glass and gold votives photo credit~ Dustin Turin

gold accents in the overlays, beaded chargers, and votives photo credit~ Dustin Turin

amazing tent with liner, pink draping and chandeliers, three table designs and table shapes to break up the space... Photo credit~ Dustin Turin

tall pink and white arrangements, chandeliers hung in the tent by ambience lighting.... photo credit~ Dustin Turin 

amazing shot by Dustin Turin.... you can see Denise's tear fall down her cheeks...

Wedding Trends of 2011~ Yellow

This past season we did a ton of yellow weddings.  Not complaining, it is an amazing color so cheerful. Yellow screams summer, sunshine, and happiness! Also, summer is full of yellow flowers: Dahlias, billy balls, solidago, sunflowers, spider mums, black eyed susans, roses,  Isn't that what a wedding is, a cheerful event? Yellow adds that pop of color when mixed with any neutral and make a great statement. It works for any style wedding...classic, vintage, modern, nautical, or spring, summer or fall weddings... Here are some sneak peeks of this season's yellow weddings. 

vintage wedding at a private residence... photo credit Rachael Anderson  

yellow fall boutonniere... photo credit- Rebecca Hansen Weddings

vintage ceremony chair accents... billy balls and vintage ribbon... photo credit Audra Photography

yellow polka dot dress with billy ball, cockscomb bouquets photo credit- Audra photography

vintage table designs using vintage milk glass with yellow flowers... photo credit-Audra photography

vintage cut glass with votives and vintage bottles with billy balls... photo credit- Audra Photography

modern wedding cake with yellow ribbon... photo credit- my iPhone =) 

yellow accents in a fall wedding.... Photo credit- Audra photography