Checkerboard Fusion Album: Inspired by Invitations, Part 3

This next design for the Fusion shoot was just plain fun... instead of putting together a traditional wedding dinner setting, we designed a rustic dessert table inspired by the "Entwine" collection from the Checkerboard Fusion Album. 

I wanted to incorporate as much texture as possible so we used bushels of hay for the benches (covered with pashminas), burlap ribbon and fabric on the table and wrought iron trays and lanterns. 

 We featured more tote bags accented with the Love logo and personalized tags along with monogram favor boxes from the Fusion album. 

 When creating a great dessert table or any type of food station, I think it is important to use varied containers and trays on various levels, but to maintain some symmetry in the design so that it doesn't feel busy and haphazard. Treading the fine line between interesting and chaotic is sometimes a challenge!

 

 I loved these "canoe" bowls from Mikasa!

Checkerboard introduced these adorable cookie cutter favors - and what better place to display them than amongst the desserts!

 

 Throw pillows can have a place at a wedding or special event and then you can continue to use them at home. If your venue has existing furniture - even if it doesn't match your color scheme - you can accessorize it with your own pillows and throws (pashminas are always easy and inexpensive) to give a personalized touch.

 Also available in the Fusion album is event signage and gorgeous framed wall art so you can have a piece of your wedding beauty at home.

After the shoot, we got to stock the Checkerboard breakroom with all of these amazing goodies, so have no fear - not a morsel went to waste!

A Spectacular Summer Spiderman Soiree

I almost said no when my wonderful former clients Ines and Augusto asked if I would design a Spiderman-themed birthday celebration for their 4 year old son Diego. The truth is, that beside planning relatively low-key parties for my own kids, I really don't generally work on children's parties. But, when Ines told me that she wanted something as fabulous as their wedding was 5 years ago (one of my very favorites!), I couldn't turn it down. Needless to say, I am so thrilled that I was able to reunite with this family for a beautiful, warm and absolutely adorable party. Bring on the birthdays!

Diego is a major Spiderman fan, but as you probably already know, I am not much for over-theming any sort of party (even for a 4 year old - sorry folks), so I used Spiderman as my inspiration for this laid-back, red and blue bash. I found a gem of a location in the Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island. We used the lawn of a beautiful mansion and erected a dining tent and two small activity tents. Since it was a gorgeous August Day, guests didn't even use the mansion except for the restrooms! My favorite part of the whole design was the styled dessert and favor table, but it wouldn't be a great kids' party without the requisite bounce house, face painting, build-a-bear station, and of course, the web-slinger himself... Spidey!


Guests were welcomed to the party by a pair of skywalkers.


The sweets and favor table featured all red and blue candies and treats along with thematic toys like Spiderman bouncy balls, bubbles and custom-made pinwheels.


I used lucite trays flipped upside down as well as styrofoam boxes wrapped in white paper to give some dimension to the surface.


What could be more perfect than red velvet cupcakes?


Kids could take these gable boxes to store all of the loot they collected throughout the party.


The birthday boy undergoes his transformation with the real Spidey looking on!


Imperfections in the tent ceiling were disguised with inexpensive paper lanterns in the theme colors.


Simple summery centerpieces were perfect for a kids' party with a lot of adult guests.


All great parties have great cakes - and this one was done by Cakes by Mona.

All photos by Sharon Schuster.

This party was nothing but fun and I look forward to my next kidtastic celebration! Wonder Woman, perhaps?