I wish celebrations as warm and special as this to all.

Love,

Lisa

Tea Party Splendour

This inspirational shoot was created by the passionate team of Paras Mehta, Krista Fox and Lisa Allain, all highly experienced prestige wedding professionals as an extension of the classic afternoon tea experience.  With all the regal focus in recent months for the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, we began to dream of a beautiful tea party in an elegant garden of a country manor.  With our thoughts to incorporating elements of the past and present our photo shoot began to come to life.  Our garden party was surely appropriate and fitting for a young Dutchess with all its fine tea elements amidst a sunny yellow palette.

Krista, Paras and Lisa truly worked tirelessly to bring this project to life with many late nights or early mornings creating all our loved custom elements.  When we collaborate, the ideas flow with such excitement and ease.  We are truly passionate about the creative process and we feel that this inspirational shoot exemplifies our best talents.

Our fictional couple are Diana and Ryan who celebrate their Engagement Party with much loved family and friends at the historic and beautiful Lakewinds Victorian Manor in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario.  Lakewinds is an exceptionally grand property and our gathering was set in an elegant and wonderful  lattice covered courtyard.  It was the perfect ambiance.

The fine details of this inspirational look were sourced meticulously.  Lisa searched widely to find the perfect fabrics to create custom, hand sewn feather quill napkins, yellow polka dot fabric chair backs and a stunning table runner in an elegant modern swirl under Paras’ masterful eye, guidance and direction.  Garden bistro tables in combination, wooden chairs and a gardener’s bench located by Paras made the perfect casual seating and whimsical effect beneath such a rich display of glassware and display pieces to showcase the artful and delicious treats as well as all the custom stationary.

Tea items combined by the team included a vintage well travelled antique tea chest, vintage and worn metal tea cans, modern stylishly designed tea containers and a gorgeous cream square tea pot which we cleverly nestled cake pops in a base of pure sugar as added decadence. Iced tea and lemonade were generously displayed in beautiful dispensers on top of inverted galvanized containers while individual lemonades were presented in vintage pop top bottles with Drink Me tags with the intention to make guests smile.  Truly beautiful invitations with tea motif combined with personalized menus and thank you notes added the perfect customized touch created by Krista.  Complimentary tags hung softly on grosgrain ribbons from the displays of each item to introduce them.

Paras’ breathtaking florals presented crisp white peonies and yellow craspidia happily sitting in mason jars down the length of the table.  This was a touch of perfection.

Sarah, our extraordinary chef created the most delicious and stunning signature cake in cupcake tea cups, lemon cookies, filigree cake pops, lemon shortbread, French macaroons, coconut cakes and mouse served in crystal glasses.  Our sweet table was both elegant and fun.  Popcorn mini treats were placed at each setting and lemon drops awaited as take away favors.

A dreamy, bright, fun and very stylish afternoon was in store for loved and cherished guests.  We respectfully and proudly present our Tea Party Splendour to you.

Produced by Lisa Allain, Visions of Platinum & Garnet (www.visionsofplatinum.com)

Shoot Co-ordinator – Ginny Chau, Visions of Platinum & Garnet (www.visionsofplatinum.com)

Concept, Decor Design and Floral – Paras Mehta, Design 2 Décor (www.design2decor.com)

Photography and Stationary – Krista Fox, Verve Photo Co. (www.vervephotoco.com)

Dessert items / fine cuisine – Sarah Locke, Yorkshire Pudding (www.ypcatering.com)

Candies – Indigo

Teas – Mother Parkers and Indigo

Charger Plates, Refreshment Dispensers, Galvanized Pails, Ice Cold Drink Buckets and Glass Pitcher  – Pottery Barn

Side Plates and Tea Mugs – Crate and Barrel

Wine glasses – Anthropologie

Cake Stands and Tea Pot - Putti Fine Furnishings, Toronto

Stacked tea set – Indigo

Table and Chairs – Hofland

Fabrics – Designer Fabrics

Wardrobe – Winners, Toronto

Setting / Venue – Lakewinds (www.lakewinds.ca)

Model – Courtney Lodder, Bride to Be

Make up – Sarah Smith

Our Fabulous Style Me Pretty Feature…

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2011/07/22/tea-party-photo-shoot-by-design2decor-inc-visions-of-platinum-garnet/

When producers of the Steven and Chris show asked us to be a part of their Wedding Show this Spring we were thrilled to provide a wedding planning package to a lucky studio audience winning member and we created custom guest gifts for all in attendance at the taping.  I was also very pleased to contribute a feature article for them on wedding planning tips which has just been published…

http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/2011/07/planning-your-wedding-where-to-start.html

http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/

I personally have loved this show since its creation and for great information and entertainment you should watch, PVR or attend a taping – you’ll be impressed just how fabulous this show truly is.

Thanks Steven and Chris, you’ve made my day.

Very best,

Lisa

This lovely concept was the result of the inspired collaborative work of:

~ Krista Fox and Melanie Galbrand of Verve Photo Co. (www.vervephotoco.com)

~ Paras Mehta of Design2Decor (www.design2decor.com)

~ Nicole North of Petals, Stems and Leaves (www.petalsstemsandleaves.com)

~ Deb Lau Yu of Palettera Custom Correspondence (www.palettera.ca)

~ Konstadin of Cakes by Konstandin (www.konstandin.com)

~ Tao Drayton of Cabaret Vintage (www.cabaretvintage.com)

~ David Dunkley of KCs Hats  (www.kcshats.com)

~ Madelaine Griffin [Make-up] (www.clover-bridal.com)

~ Sarah Smith [Hair] (sarah-smith@live.ca)

~ Our friends at Crate and Barrel for the lovely Provence dinnerware (www.crateandbarrel.com)

~ A special note to the terrific real life couple of Elisa Hope and Felix Gelt who truly shone as our models.

~ Behind the scenes our very own Amanda Calver and Ginny Chau.

Thanks so much for all your tireless work and dedication.

This project was a true joy to create and produce and I sincerely hope you love it as much as we do!

Lisa

Today I attended a charity polo match at the Gormley Polo field benefiting the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  This has been a summer highlight for me for nearly two decades.  The exciting action had star power today like never before.  Top ranked and celebrity Argentinean polo player Nacho Figueras  (you will recognize him as the face of Polo Ralph Lauren)played for the Cadillac Fairview team and was extremely gracious with those in attendance.  He was welcoming and generous with his time and certainly the star of the match.  I hope he returns to Toronto next year – it was honour to meet him and enjoy his awe inspiring play!

Merci Ignacio!

Stationary, invitations, programs, menus, place cards and social cards deliver very important impressions.

One of my favorite printing and design companies is the exceptionally talented Sweet Peony Press & Shelley Weir.  Always impressive and unique.  Always truly gorgeous work.  A true joy to present and receive.  Here are some truly beautiful examples…

Shelley Weir
Sweet Peony Press
647-292-3017
sweetpeonypress.com

So, from fun to seriously luxurious, Putti has many treasures for your home or a lucky gift recipient. 

On this particular visit, I left the store loaded down with bags and I can’t wait to return!

Love,

Lisa

When it comes to choosing colours there are some shades that are more current and modern than others.  Some of the tips for having a beautiful colour scheme are:

 ~ Choose a colour group or scheme that reflects your taste.  If you have always preferred bright and bold then there is a way to translate that within colours you prefer.  If you tend to always choose softer looks then go in a similar direction with your wedding.  When you review enough portfolio images you will know the elements that work well for you specifically and those that just are not you as a couple.

 ~ Take nods from fashion style to know which colours are most modern and will impress.  If there are shades in current fashion magazines that seem more prominent and you like them there will be appropriate florals, linens, etc that are also in line with these for you to choose from.

 ~ Try to create a fresh and interesting look that may not have been seen often.  Your guests will recognize this creativity and remember your wedding for it.

 ~ Listen to your designer / florist / decorator – they have a wealth of knowledge to assist in bringing wonderful style to your wedding.  These experts and your planner can bring numerous suggestions to help you make your scheme decisions.

Have fun with colour – it can be wonderfully remarkable.

Love,

Lisa

I am an event planner because of Mrs. Carroll completely.  She loved to entertain and she instilled a love of events with me.  Gatherings were to be cherished and I do every single time one happens.

I am very fortunate that Mrs. Carroll saw a warm young child who was eager to have her own flare.  She had the patience it took to mentor me with fun, humour and love.  To this day, she is one of the most loving people who blessed my life.

As I continue to learn and expand professional horizons I also put thought to mentoring others….as I truly know how wonderfully impactful that sharing time, experience and wisdom can be to someone who truly yearns for that knowledge.  If I can assist someone in even a fraction of the amount Mrs. Carroll did for all those years it will be incredibly satisfying to see that being paid forward.

I urge all who read this to make time to mentor others when the opportunity presents itself – it could very well mean the world to that person someday!