Storied Events, A Vermont based Wedding Planner

The New Blog Launched!

2010-02-26T18:59:00.000-08:00

We launched the new blog ahead of schedule {for once!}. Check out the the postings at
www.storiedevents.com/blog!

See you there. Carrie

A timewarp... delay and back soon!

2010-01-18T20:30:00.000-08:00

With the launch of so many new things in our world - we decided it was time to cease our blog here at blogger... we've enjoyed our posts - and will not be able to say enough gratitude for our readership, but with the launch of Storied Locations, its blog and our soft re-design of Storied Events Website {if you have a chance to check it out, please do!!!}, we are going to suspend our posting and come back with a new look and feel the end of spring. We promise!! A new look, new vision on Vermont Weddings and fresh ideas to read! Stay tuned... and check out www.storiedlocations.com and http://blog.storiedlocations.com to keep track of us.

We look forward to seeing you in the Spring!
XO Carrie and the Staff at Storied Events

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

We wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and let you know about exciting new developments.

First, we apologize for the lack of blogging! We've been busy working on our new project Storied Locations, its blog and setting up our twitter accounts! Whew - a lot of work. And please do check out our new website and blog! If you are recently engaged, you are sure to love it. We are adding properties everyday - trying to get to the point where our database is comprehensive and truly useful.

We are also in the process of updating our Storied Events Website! This too will be launched shortly after the new year!

Our 2010 season is almost booked - there are only a few more spots left for fall weddings!

Stay tuned, stay warm and be safe!
Carrie

Martha Stewart Weddings Online Luxury Expo this Weekend

2009-11-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

If you are not booked solid this weekend with vendor appointments and tastings, Martha Stewart is making it easy to head over to her part of the world to gain expert advice and opinions from some of the nations top vendors!

From 11am to 4pm on Saturday, Nov. 14th and Sunday, Nov. 15 engaged couples can check out videos, chat with professionals and have a chance to win prizes every 30 {thirty} minutes.

You do need to register in advance and please note the technical requirements.

Cheers!

Boutique Invitation Lines are now here!

2009-10-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

We are absolutely delighted to let everyone know we are going to be working with a few select stationers to provide our clients with custom invitations. Paisley Quill is one of my favorite designers and we have the honor of displaying some of her creative works on our blog. Check out our new website "look" in the next few weeks to learn more about our new services!

An Adirondack Feast for the Eyes

2009-10-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

This is by far one of my favorite events to date. The couple, their families, the surroundings on their own are spectacular. Add a bit of the fabulous creations from Ariella Chezar, the amazing culinary delights from Dish Catering, a Amsale Gown, incredible tunes from a Jazz ensemble and you have, well an incredible feast for the eyes. The day was nothing but spectacular, and despite the cold weather in the Adirondacks, nothing could have been better! The attached photos are by yours truly, the talented Andy Duback was our photographer of the day and I, along with many others are eagerly (but patiently) waiting to see his documentary of the day.

A Romantic Vermont Wedding in Pink

2009-09-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

When we first learned of the big pink fluffy flowers in this wedding, we knew it was going to be gorgeous! Held at the Stowe Mountain Lodge, the luxe hotel was fitting for such a luxe bride. Here are just a few photos from this wedding to wet your appetite. Once we get a few more from the photographer - Micheal Greenberg of Phototerra in Montreal, we will post more!!

Emily and Joe

2009-09-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

This beautiful wedding was so creative! The bride and groom truly thought out every detail. Held at Boyden Barn in Cambridge, Vermont, the couple made use of the beautiful wood accents throughout the interior and highlighted the warm glow by using a peach (literally) color theme.

Cynthia and Ryan, July, 2009

2009-08-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

It is rare we meet a Bride just weeks before her wedding and take on the final planning and coordination of the weekend. When we met Cynthia we could hardly say no. Her vision and personality were all we needed to sign the dotted line.

Cynthia and Ryan decided to start their wedding celebration on Friday afternoon by holding a bridal shower, hosted by friends at The Green Mountain Inn while the groomsmen played a few innings of softball at a nearby field. The celebration continued with a Friday evening rehearsal dinner at the charming Edson Hill Inn.

Saturday's main event started with the bridal party being pampered at the Top Notch Spa. With twelve bridesmaids to be pampered, they were in no better place. When I arrived at the spa, all the ladies were happy, relaxed and ready to go! After a few professional photographs by the talented and creative, Barrie Fisher, the girls were shuttled to the reception, where the groomsmen were awaiting their arrival. The bride, Cynthia found a classic ride waiting for her - an 1920's Pierce arrow.

The catholic mass ceremony was held at Blessed Sacrament and the reception followed at Top Notch Resort and Spa's tented event space behind the Nordic Barn. With 140 guests, we set long tables of 24 and 32 guests. The entire tent was set with hydrangea, moss, lanterns, birch bark and rosemary. Truly a feast for the eyes. Midway through the event, the groom surprised his bride and the guests (I included!) and took the stage. Grabbing his guitar, and asking for his bride to come forth, he broke out into a song he wrote, performed and sang for her. There was not a clear eye in the room. The groom should seek a record deal. Absolutely amazing wedding, fabulous couple and I cannot wait to see the photos from Barrie Fisher. But as a teaser... a few photos by yours truly.

Real Life, Fun & Emotional Wedding Stories by Spencer Leonard Photography: Adrienne & John’s 4th of July Wet Wedding Weekend Wonderland – Middlebury, VT 2009

2009-07-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

Real Life, Fun & Emotional Wedding Stories by Spencer Leonard Photography: Adrienne & John’s 4th of July Wet Wedding Weekend Wonderland – Middlebury, VT 2009

Imaginative DIY velvet satin flowers

2009-06-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

I found this gorgeous, fun and funky diy project on Midori's website today and I just had to share.

Need a little inspiration on how to use these adorable velvet satin flowers? Create them as napkin holders to brighten your tabletop or hang them by mossy wire from a nearby tree and let them be a focal point for your wedding ceremony.

Instructions courtesy of Midori, Inc.

Velvet Satin Flower

Step 1: Cut eight - 2 3/4" lengths of Midori Velvet Satin ribbon.

Step 2: Seal ends of ribbon with household glue to prevent fraying.

Step 3: To make petals take a piece of ribbon and fold it in half lengthwise, choosing whether you'd like velvet or satin on the inside or outside of petal. Then, bend ribbon in half in the other direction (sideways) matching ends to make a 1 3/8" petal.

Step 4: With needle and doubled thread, stitch through end of petal approximately 1/8" from the end to secure. (Your needle will pass through all four thicknesses of the folded ribbon.)

Step 5: Continue folding petals and stitching them to secure, then threading onto the same thread as if you were stringing beads.

Step 6: When all 8 petals are completed, pull the thread taut, knot and clip the ends.

Step 7: Finish flower by adding artificial stamen, beads, buttons, etc to decorate the center.

Designed by Robyn Tarbet, MIDORI Inc.

Dream Invitations

2009-05-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful world it is! When you start to dream of your wedding, think of the first impression you give to your guests. Save the dates and your invitations set the tone for your event. This morning I was introduced to a wonderful company, Fleur Creations, owned by Maria Fuller. I was struck by her unusual, beautiful designs.
Her work is all custom designed and limited. Brides need to contact her at least six months in advance prior to your mailing date for all boxed invitations and give her at least four months for all others.
Check out her website at www.fleurcreations.com.

Wedding Locations and Our New Service

2009-04-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

Forgive me for not posting anything in the last month or so. As with everything during spring, we are sprouting.

In an over flowing market of generic, copycat wedding websites, I feel drowned with redundant visions of clip art wedding icons, useless information and most of all the same old stuff that everyone publishes. I too fell victim to these sites while planning my own wedding (the first one five years ago). Maybe even falling into category of standard while publishing my blog. No more!

My goal began two years ago. Stop driving the wedding couple crazy. It takes hours, even months to review more than a handful of websites to search for wedding locations. Magazines are great for eye candy when you are in a waiting room, on a plane or even having girls night with a bottle of wine. What I remember though is spending hour after hour on line googling my wedding locations trying to find that "to-die-for", non-wedding factory location.

I understood I was "in the business", but this was heart wrenching! I wanted great service, a place for everyone from out of town to stay and amazing food and wine. Could it be that difficult to find the place of my dreams? Of course if I had an unlimited budget, it would be a cinch! I would call a wedding planner (yes, even me!). I never found that perfect place. Of course, now I have knowledge, experience. I have left tread from my tires that extends on trails throughout the Northeast. Why not share?

Introducing Storied Locations.
I decided to share what I know and more.

Storied Locations is a service for the bride and groom, wedding venue and hospitality industry in New England and New York. Who else is better to recommend or tell you about a location than a wedding planner? We are! We let go of our traditional roles (we are still planning weddings) and are happy to act as a "matchmaker" for engaged couples and wedding venues. As planners we know the most exclusive, ultra-lux locations and private homes for the discerning bride. As a socially responsible company, we are more than happy to highlight locations for the bride on a do-it-your-self budget. Our new service will provide detailed information for every wedding, on every budget in the Northeast.

Our company is for every bride, on every budget. Life and love is too sweet to fret over where you should get married. You may marry your husband at a private estate, country inn or a Days Inn, but you'll find your location in the Northeast at http://www.storiedlocations.com/.

Lauchning May 2009

Visit us often and spread the word!

Exciting News!

2009-02-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

Before I post any additional weddings, I wanted to share some news I am thrilled to announce! Storied Events received an invitation to join the coveted Little Black Book on www.stylemepretty.com. With this invitation, we join celebrated professionals that create exceptional events. We are honored. We are so proud and thankful for the wonderful staff we have and the talented vendors we work with that help to bring our clients visions to life. I cannot say it enough, thank you.

California Meets Vermont in an All White Wedding

2009-02-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

A California Groom and a Vermont Bride tied the knot in the quaint village of Quechee, Vermont. The setting was magnificent, graced by a beautiful lake, farmhouse and custom sail cloths tents topped with flags blowing in the wind.

Storied Events and the staff at the Quechee Club created the magical display of Vermont Cheese and California wines. Five bars were installed throughout the cocktail and reception area. An ice sculpture was created to keep the white wine chilled at the wine bar, next to the cart.

The champagne bar was in a separate cocktail tent for guest to enjoy throughout the evening. Following the mother-son dance, a perfectly choreographed firework display surprised guests and the wedding party. The display was a gift from the mother of the groom.

This couple set the tone for their wedding by sending out engraved black and white invitations, embossed with laurel wreath and initial. A custom lily of the valley stamp was created to resemble the bouquet the bride would carry down the aisle. Escort cards, place cards and the wedding program were all embossed with the same laurel wreath.

So many details filled this weekend wedding; from the elegant Friday evening rehearsal dinner to the spectacular display of food, ice and fireworks - and even a surprise and unplanned hot air balloon lifting up behind the ceremony site just following the nuptials. This wedding was gorgeous and one to remember!

Vendors who did an amazing job:
All Photography and photos on this blog courtesy of: Andy Duback, www.andyduback.com
Location and catering: Murphy Farm at the Quechee Club, Quechee, Vermont
Save the Dates: Zoe Ink, www.zoeink.com
Wedding Dress: Judd Waddell
Bride's Hair and Make up: Elena Yarina
Mother of Groom Hair: Ria St. Pierre of Hair Creations
Mother of the Groom Make up: Vivian Infantino, Organic Beauty, www.vivianinfantino.com
Welcome bags & note: Storied Events, www.storiedevents.com
Programs, Escort Cards, Placecards: Scribbles
Calligraphy, Signs, banners: Jane Eakin
Flowers: Dana Barrow, Fresh. We are sorry to say, but Dana has moved on to tackle new projects! Her extraordinary talent is missed.
Wedding Cake: provided by Bride's sister
Vermont Cheese & Wine Display: Wine by Quechee Club, cheese and bread by Harvest Market,www.harvestatstowe.com, Display and props by Storied Events.
Table numbers, custom linens provided by Mother of the Groom
White lanterns: Ikea
Tent lighting and outside lighting: Darkstar, www.darkstarlighting.com
Tent rental: Sperry tents, www.sperrytents.com
All other rentals: Vermont Tent, www.vermonttent.com
Adirondacks and wagon: Vermont Wedding Props, www.vermontweddingprops.com
All transportation: Ethan Allen Coach Works, www.vermontlimo.com
Ice Sculptures: Don Chappelle, www.brillianticesculpture.com
Fireworks: NorthStar Fireworks, www.northstarfireworks.com
Band: High Rollers through Best Bands, www.bestbands.com
Ceremony Music: Vermont Symphony Orchestra, www.vso.org
Executive Restroom Trailer: MS Services
Get-a-way Antique Car: Jim Austin
Rehearsal Dinner location: Hanover Inn
Rehearsal Dinner linens: BBJ Linen
Rehearsal Dinner music: James Kinne, www.jameskinne.com

Five weeks to a Fabulous Affair

2009-01-26T13:37:00.000-08:00

I decided not to post anything from my wedding, but a few people have changed my mind. So here are the details. To start, you must know originally I was to be married in January 2006. We planned a large black tie affair in heart of Stowe, only to postpone the wedding five months prior to the date. My dress was no longer going to fit, as I was pregnant. Though walking down the aisle with the ever so in-the-moment belly bump was an option, it was not me.
Fast forward to three years later and we have the family, a home and live in a beautiful spot. Of course, not to disappoint family and friends, we were planning to tie the know sometime in 2010. Plans changed again. Suddenly, I found myself with five weeks to plan my wedding. In the end, this was a very romantic, unbelievable affair with our closest friends and family and we loved every minute of our wedding.

Location hunting was not a problem, it was more of a negotiation. I convinced my fiance to have the ceremony and reception at home. The second floor of our house was unfinished and was a large open space with huge windows and an expansive view. To me, this space was a blank canvas with room for thirty people, a lounge and bar. Perfect! On our lower lawn, we had a great little nook that could be charming, and a perfect place to wed.

Invitations were done immediately. We used a square, 100% cotton Italian paper, matching envelopes and had a calligrapher hand write each invitation using her home made walnut ink. Our guests were greeted in hotel rooms with personalized bags filled with local treats welcoming and thanking them for attending our celebration on such short notice.

On the day of our wedding, amidst vendors arriving and taking control of my home, my favorite stylist arrived for a bit of pampering and to do my hair and make up. As guests arrived, they were treated to hot cider and a bon fire. Snow graced the mountain days before the wedding and we wanted to make our guests feel as comfortable as possible. Before proceeding to our ceremony "chuppa", made of tree branches and suspended crystals, guests were encouraged to take a mini glass of wine to partcipate in the wine ceremony.

I found a dress off the rack, a Maggie Sottero, brought it to a great seamstress and we made it a floor length gown that I loved. I was realistic as well. A custom dress cannot be, in most cases, found in five weeks. I did find a vintage mink stole from Bergdorf Goodman at a local antique store - and a steal at $69.00! I also found vintage toe clips to adorn the plum shoes I insisted on wearing. However, I did wear suede boots down the aisle! I made the programs from silk ribbon, a vow book (we wrote our own vows) and we asked our beloved family members to offer words of wisdom. Following the ceremony, we led our friends and family up the white lantern lined driveway and into the reception space I created.

The once basic plywood stairs were painted a chocolate/plum color, with an alternating cream step and caramel walls. The entire space was draped with a heavy satin fabric to create the illusion of a tent. Without electricity we relied on candles for lighting and used a combination of battery operated pillars, along with tapers and votives to create a very romantic glow throughout the room. I wanted very warm fall colors and to accentuate the "stick season" of November. The floors and surrounding beams were painted the same chocolate/plum color as the stairs and we rented mahogany ballroom chairs to compliment the decor. White square plates, white floor length linens with silk taupe overlays completed the look. My friend and floral designer extraordinaire, Danika Johnson, created gorgeous arrangements for the tables.

We had a total of thirty guests, which enabled us to stock a full bar and to have our favorite wines and champagne. Our caterer was given carte blanche on creating a fabulous meal using product from local farms, with the exception of seafood. We enjoyed a cocktail hour filled with passed appeziters, a Vermont cheese display and a sushi board. Dinner consisted of a series of small plates including; a trio of baked oysters, greens with roasted pears and cumin vinaigrette, seared scallops, crispy bacon and a duet of sweet pea/sweet potato puree and a teriyaki marinated tenderloin with a shitake mango sauce. All the courses were plated on either white square or white rectagular plates for presentation. A friend and talented guitarist arrived during dinner and played quitely while we ate and conversed. We decided to waive the wedding cake option and go for my favorite dessert - truffles. Small crystal pedestals, filled with truffles and other bite size treats, were placed on each dining table and around the house in various locations. I may still do the big black tie affair one day, but for now, this wedding was perfect and more than anyone, including myself, expected.

Fawn and Mark, August 23, 2008

2009-01-22T14:04:00.000-08:00

Private home weddings are my favorite. There is nothing that can truly dictate what you can and cannot design...or is there? Fawn and Mark are your typical couple. When they were engaged, they came to me with binders, pictures and a checkbook that had a budget. Not a small budget, but fairly modest for a bride that works in the hospitality industry and has tons of style. They handed me the task of creating an event that reflected them as a couple with lots of details, an enchanted forest theme and a vivid color palate consisting of blush pink, raspberry pink, chartreuse green and deep midnight blue.

We had a few obstacles to overcome, like not staking the tennis court where the tent would be, getting power, water and restrooms close to the tent, without creating eye sores.

As with most of our full planning and design clients, I created an initial sketch to give my clients a glimpse of the final appearance of the tent, based on their parameters.

We make modifications, then put the plan to work. The day of the event, here is how everything starts:

Then the hard work begins. Every vendor hired is part of a team that works together to create an event that runs seamless. For this specific wedding, all the vendors worked long hours to make this happen, including my staff to create custom center pole covers for the tent and a bar made out of faux boxwood.

A Horse drawn carriage picked up the bride and the bridal party, then drove them through the town to the catholic church. A full mass ceremony, including a soloist and musical ensemble were part of the day.

The bride and groom arrived at the reception site in the carriage, greeted their guests and joined the festivities. As guests made their way into the tent they crossed a candle lit bridge, "picked" their escort cards from a table draped with custom linens and covered in wheat grass. The tent was filled with raspberry, blush pink and watermelon crush custom linens. The tent was lit with hundreds of candles and soft chandeliers hanging from above. The dessert bar was draped with custom linens, moss tablecloths and other earthy elements to hold the scrumptious treats. At the end of the evening, guests departed the tent to find the entire property lit with candles on the ground and hanging from every tree branch available. The next morning everyone recovered with a traditional pig roast and plenty of mimosas!

Thank you to my staff and all the professionals who made this event possible. It was truly an enchanted evening!

Save the dates, programs, escort cards, welcome bags and place cards by Storied Events
Outside lighting and props by Storied Events.
Horse and Carriage: Deb Ravenell, Sterling Mountain Farm
Ceremony Location: Blessed Sacrament Church, Stowe, Vermont
Ceremony Musicians
Vocals: Victoria Drew, Soprano
Piano: Lilly Ramsey
Flute: Barbara Boutsikaris
Violin: Allison Pike
Hair and Make up: Holly Morgan, Hair Creations
Reception Location: Private residence, Stowe, Vermont
Photography: Stuart Thurlkill, Eyes 2 See Photography, Arizona www.eyes2see.com
Caterer: Let's Pretend, Burlington, VT www.letspretendcatering.com
Rentals: Rain or Shine www.rainorshinevt.com
Cake: Michelle Hines at The Cakery, www.thecakeryvt.com
Specialty Linens: Mosaic Linens, www.partymosaic.com
DJ: Top Hat Entertainment, www.tophatdj.com
Valet: Mountain Valet, www.mountainvalet.com
Traffic Control: Stowe Police Department
Portable restrooms: MS Services, Montpelier, T
Wedding Insurance: Hickock & Boardman, Burlington VT

And thank you to Dana Barrow of Fresh for doing all the florals. We are sorry to say she has closed shop and moved on to bigger adventures. She will be missed!

Havilah and Scott, more photos

2009-01-22T13:00:00.003-08:00

Just a few more photos for you to check out from this wonderful wedding.

Havilah and Scott, August 2, 2008

2009-01-22T08:26:00.001-08:00

Two quick things happened after I was hired by the proud Groom's mother. She sent me a photo of the newly engaged and I had a delightful phone conversation with the sweetest bride to be. I recall the details well. Havilah, the bride, wanted to create a "feeling", not an ever lasting or recurring design, theme or detail for her wedding. We talked about what she loved about her favorite restaurants, parks, places to visit, colors and her desire to be "green" to the greatest extent possible. To save on their carbon footprint and to make it easier for family and friends around the country, two weddings would take place. One in Colorado and one, here in Vermont. I knew right away this event would be one of my favorites.

We created an amazing team consisting of vendors who understood Havilah and Scott's wishes and connected with them on a personal level. And knowing the weather patterns in August, we created a solid rain plan and actually put it to use! The ceremony was quickly moved to a local church down the street. Though not surrounded by garden flowers, the ceremony was spectacular. The couple choose to have their guest truly participate in the ceremony by having guests sign a Quaker marriage certificate and add a fresh picked flower to a vase at the alter. During the ceremony the bridal party was asked to add water to the vase using smaller pitchers of water to symbolize the unity of family and friends. The bride's dress was her mothers, and she encouraged her bridesmaids to wear any dress they were comfortable in as long as it was in a specified range of colors. Promptly following photos after the ceremony, the bride changed into a shorter gown for the reception.

To create the reception "feeling" Havilah was looking for, we erected a clear top tent with an elevated wood floor. With gardens surrounding the reception site, various lighting techniques were used to highlight areas, twinkle, or offer a subtle glow. The idea was to create the ambiance of the most romantic sidewalk cafe you would vision in a dream. Natural fiber table linens paired with stunning floral arrangements were breathtaking. Candles flickered on the tables and above in suspended lanterns. All flowers were local, the caterer created a local, 100 mile radius menu, the cake was a work of art and made from local, organic ingredients and all printed materials were made by Storied Events from a renewable resource.

The couple, who also have a whimsical and musical side, wanted to share a bit of fun for the evening. A separate tent was rented just for "dress-up." Inside the small tent were photos of their family and of the happy wedding couple as children. The centerpiece was a classic photobooth and large treasure chest of dress up clothes. A scrapbook acted as the couple's guest book. Then not too far into the night, one of the couples friends, an accomplished musical artist took the stage and performed for the couple while guests smiled in amazement. What a great night! Cheers and a long, happy life to this magical couple.

Officiant: Justice of the Peace, Mitzi Speer.
Ceremony location: United Church of Craftsbury
Ceremony Musicians: Harp and flute, Mary Fran Stafford
Make up artist: Vivian Infantino, Organic Beauty, www.vivianinfantino.com
Hairstylist: Holly Morgan, www.haircreations.vpweb.com
Invitations/Save the dates: Done via email and websites
Flowers: Blomma Ficka, www.bloomaflicka.com
Catering: Dish Catering, www.dishcateringvt.com
Lighting: DarkStar, www.darkstarlighting.com
Programs, escort cards, place cards: Storied Events, www.storiedevents.com
Band: Soul Kitchen, www.bestbands.com
Musical Artist: Lucy Woodward, www.lucywoodward.com
Portable restrooms: MS Services
Guest Transportation: Ethan Allen Coachworks, www.vermontlimo.com
Rentals: Vermont Tent, www.vermonttent.com
Photobooth: Vermont Photobooth, www.vermontphotobooth.com
Location and bar service: Inn on the Common, www.innonthecommon.com
Photography: Brian Post, www.brianpostweddings.com