Fountainview Mansion

Kacey Orred and William Grand July 30, 2011

September 28, 2011

It was a “grand” day for Kacey and William as they were united in marriage on Saturday, July 30th.  The sweet couple began the wedding festivities on Friday when the wedding party and their family and friends joined for the rehearsal followed by a wonderful dinner hosted by the groom’s parents.   It was a perfect evening.

On Saturday morning, the bride and her maids and immediate family who had spent the night at the mansion gathered for breakfast in the elegant dining room.  The Orred’s were of Irish heritage and the groom was taking Kacey to Ireland for their honeymoon.  We had a lighting designer doing some work for us at Fountainview, and he also just happened to play the bagpipes.  I couldn’t resist the opportunity to help make a magical memory for Kacey.  The bagpiper entered the room and serenaded Kacey.  It was an amazing moment that started off a perfect day of memories for Kacey.  I’ll never forget the look on her face as she was moved to tears.  Ah, this is the stuff of which dreams are made….

Kacey’s gown was absolutely gorgeous featuring considerable lacework and a dramatic bow treatment in the back like I had never seen before.  The deep ivory color looked perfect with her skin tone and deep auburn hair color.  What a beautiful bride she was.   Kacey’s bridal bouquet featured her favorite flower, yellow sunflowers accompanied by miniature green hydrangeas and majolica spray roses which blended perfectly with her ivory gown.

The bride awaits her memorable entrance.

Kacey loved yellow and she loved sunflowers and both were in abundance the day of her wedding.  She selected lovely butter yellow gowns for her eight maids.  Each one looked so beautiful in the color and style of gown.  The groom and groomsmen wore brown tuxes with ivory shirts and butter yellow accessories.  It was a great look!

The bridesmaids watch the ceremony pensively dressed in their lovely butter yellow gowns.

A close-up of the cheerful and unique bridesmaid's bouquet custom created by the Fountainview Mansion design team.

 

The ceremony music was provided by the Auburn String Quartet lending a graceful elegance to the ceremony in the exquisite Fountainview garden.

For the reception, the yellow color palette was introduced with the linens in a butter yellow lamour.  This is a great fabric which looks so elegant without breaking a bride’s budget.  Catering by TerraCotta was a huge hit with the guests. 

The whimsical cake  by Sonshine Cakes featured a custom made cake top which re-created the bride and groom complete with a replica of the bride’s gown and a sunflower bouquet.  It was such a fun look and a perfect touch of whimsy for this sweet couple.  The cake featured an elegant cascade of sunflowers which tied the look together from top to bottom. 

The unique and creative groom's cake by Robyn Fowler of Sonshine Cakes portrayed the groom's love of camping and the outdoors complete with tent and campfire complete with a faux flickering flame. It was outstanding!

One of the most memorable highlights of the evening was the toast given by the bride’s father.  What an amazing gift of humor he has.  The families were so delightful to work with.

A great shot of Kacey and her dad just prior to going down the aisle.

Another wonderful touch for the reception was a true labor of love done by the bride as she painstakingly created individual tarts; blueberry, cherry, and apple.  They were fabulous.

Kacey and William, we truly wish you all the best.  Thanks so much for allowing us the privilege of helping make your dream wedding a reality.  God bless!

Berinda Hollis and Chike Nwakamma Unite in Marriage July 23, 2011

Berinda Hollis and Chike Nwakamma’s long awaited dream came true when they were wed at Fountainview on Saturday, July 23, 2011.  The couple had planned and waited for this special day for nearly a year and a half.  (Good things come to those who wait.)

The bride and groom exchange their vows in the Grand Salon of Fountainview Mansion.

The bride and groom had carefully controlled their guest count to ensure that they would have their ceremony inside which worked out perfectly for them as they exchanged their vows in the Grand Salon at 4:00 PM.  Following the ceremony, the Fountainview Staff worked their magic and re-set the room in record time (under five minutes)  We are so blessed by the excellent teamwork of our staff.

The bride’s colors were a fabulous shade of cornflower blue and horizon blue for her maids which looked fabulous on each and every one of the girls.   The maids of honor wore the horizon blue with the other maids in cornflower blue.  Shades of blue have been making a grand entrance on the wedding scene this year and the trend seems to be continuing into the fall and Spring of next year.

The Grand Salon - a perfect intimate set-up for smaller weddings.

Catering by John Hamme made for an absolutely delectable dining experience for the guests.   The couple is residing and working in the Atlanta area.  We wish you both all the best in your new life together.  Blessings to you both!

Rebecca Rodger and Charlie Everett Wed on Saturday, July 9, 2011

The sun was shining brightly upon Rebecca Rodger and Charlie Everett as they exchanged their vows on July 9th.  Since our move to Auburn in 2001, we have been instant friends with the Rodger family who were former residents of Australia.  What a joy it is to work with dear friends on such a joyous occasion. 

Rebecca has always possessed a joyful personality and a radiant smile.  She is literally aglow like a ray of sunshine.  This made her color choices a perfect reflection of her. 

For her maids, Rebecca chose a beautiful  gown in a vivid maroon brick color.  It was stunning for a July wedding.  Bringing in the burst of color were vivid florals incorporating a myriad of flowers in sunshine yellow,   Focal flowers were yellow callas, multi-colored croton foliage, yellow roses, and for a touch of Australia, eucalyptus.  Oncidium orchids, golden vanda orchids, and to tie in the reddish tones, baccarat roses and deep red spray roses.  The artistic cascading shapes moved beautifully with the girls’ every move.   The color palette was so vivid and joyful.

A closeup shot of the dramatic bridemaids florals being held by the bride's beautiful sister, Katrina Rodger Paxton.

The bride’s elegant gown was perfect for her tall and slim build.  It featured elegant rouching at the bodice and waistline which then proceeded to an elegantly flowing full skirt.  She looked stunning.  Rebeccas’ freeform cascade featured white calla lilies and creamy white vendella roses, yellow roses and oncidium orchids for a touch of yellow highlighting and flowing creamy white dendrobium orchids.  White her tall silhouette, the cascading style was so perfect for her.  In keeping with the subtle hint of the family’s Australian heritage, Rebecca’s bouquet also incorporated a touch of eucalyptus which also added an intoxicating fragrance to the dramatic bouquet.  It was such a pleasure for me to design her flowers.  Rebecca and her sister Katrina have friends with our daughters since their days in middle school together.

The bride’s and groom’s cakes were both designed by Robyn Fowler, truly the best in the business in the Southeastern United States.  Truly, it is the best cake you will ever put in your mouth and her creativity and Christian witness shine in everything she does.  The bride’s cake was a classic white three-tier design with the color and drama brought in with the florals in shades of creamy white and yellow.  Again, the whole cake reflected Rebecca’s joyful spirit.  The groom’s cake was a work of art, a phone booth from Dr. Who, one of the groom’s favorite movies.  It was perfect for Charlie who is such a delightful person.  He is one of the most jovial easy going grooms I’ve ever met. 

The two are a match made in heaven.  They both look like they swallowed sunshine!

The whimsical groom's cake.

One of the highlights of the early afternoon reception was the ice cream sundae station.  What a hit it was with the guests.  It was a perfect treat for a hot July afternoon and the guests loved it! 

Catering was done by Maestro 2300 and included a multi-cultural menu beautifully presented by the Maestro staff. 

Following the reception, the happy couple whisked away in the groom’s yellow Cooper. 

Even the car looked happy!  What a great day for a very special couple.  We wish you God’s richest blessings as you begin your new life together in Tempe, Arizona.   Best wishes and thanks Rodger family for the blessing of your friendship.

Kudos to Melissa Hume of Melissa Hume Photography in Birmingham for some fabulous work.  Thanks for sharing these images with us.

Ashley Winkler and Ryan Chism Reception Saturday, June 25, 2011

Beautiful Ashley Winkler and Ryan Chism were united in marriage on Saturday, June 25th at Auburn UMC where the Winkler family have been longtime members.  The reception was immediately following at Fountainview and what a glorious evening it was. 

The stunning bride and her handsome groom.

The bride was stunning in her classic off-the-shoulder gown.  It’s always so fun to see how each bride’s gown is such a unique reflection of her individual personality, style, and taste.  This was especially true for Ashley who is such a classic beauty.

Following the church ceremony, the bride and all her maids kicked off their heels and changed into cowboy boots for the Fountainview reception which started at 7:30 PM. 

The bride, the groom, and the bridesmaids strike a playful pose as the show their cowboy boots ready to kick up their heels for the reception.

Everything about the reception reflected classic elegance.  All the tables were dressed in classic ivory damask linen and graced with floral arrangements by Fountainview Mansion which had been individually designed incorporating silver candelabras that had been a part of the Winkler family and their friends for many years making them extra special.  The florals featured the bride’s personal favorite, pink peonies, combined with Cawsablanca lilies, esperanza and vendella roses, and Bells of Ireland.  Each arrangement was slightly different to fit the individual silver candelabra. 

One of the elegant centerpieces incorporating special silver pieces of family and friends evoking a feel of classic Southern elegance.

The catering and the cakes by TerraCotta were top notch.   Chef, Billy Lee, always does such an awesome job.  The rave reviews of the guests continue to show his commitment to quality in food as well as presentation.

The delectable groom's cake.

A wonderful treat for the night was the amazing sunset, one of the prettiest of the entire season at Fountainview.  It couldn’t have happened for a nicer family.

One of the most fabulous sunsets of the entire summer was an added gift from heaven for this special bride and groom. It was breathtaking.

Thanks to the Winkler family for the honor of working with you to help make this day possible for your sweet daughter and her groom!   

Blessings to you both, Ashley and Ryan.

A Radiant Blair Stansell Becomes Mrs. Clay Yarbrough on Friday, June 24, 2011

Blair Stansell and Clay Yarbrough were united in marriage at Fountainview Mansion on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 6:15 in the evening.   There were so many special touches.  Blair’s love for baby’s breath inspired here bouquet which featured nothing but a her favorite flower.  It was such a dreamy and unique look for her.  As beautiful as she was, she didn’t need anything else to make her look like a princess.

Blair and some of her maids await her memorable walk down the Fountainview aisle.

Her maids wore simple but elegant gowns in deep purple.  Florals designed by Fountainview were in a freeform hand-tied design and included beautiful green hydrangeas, anemones and baby’s breath with variegated hosta foliage for contrast and a touch of the exotic.  The look against the purple gowns was stunning.

Pictured above, a close-up shot of the exquisite bridesmaid's bouquets created by the staff of Fountainview Mansion.

The men’s boutonnieres were stylish yet masculine feature feathers the groom had collected, hosta foliage, variagated pittosporum, and baby’s breath.  It was a great look for the wedding and really was a neat reflection of the couples love for the outdoors.

The radiant bride makes her magical walk down the aisle. Another dream comes true at Fountainview Mansion!

The reception also featured many special touches reflecting the personalities of this delightful couple.  The groom had cut a beautiful hickory tree with the limbs being custom cut by him for to become the base of the cake creating a custom plateau as well as the bases for the centerpieces.  Floral foam was attached to the tops of the wood pieces creating a unique an whimsical outdoorsy centerpiece.  The look was perfect for the couple.

The custom centerpieces featured wood that had been cut by the groom, feathers collected by the groom, and unique foliages including hosta and pittosporum along with clouds of baby's breath. What a neat look!

The whimsical bride's cake was placed on a massive trunk of hickory wood which had been cut specially by the groom. It was one of the most unique and creative cakes of the season.

As favors, the couple had custom t-shirts printed commemorating their special day. The guests loved them! What a neat idea that guests will enjoy for many years to come.

Clay and Blair, we wish you a lifetime of happiness and and blissful memories together.  God bless.

A special client’s note of thanks…

June 21, 2011

At Fountainview, we truly try not to just meet a client’s expectations.  We desire to exceed them.  Hearing from clients following their event means so much to us.  We just received this note from our June 18th bride’s mother, Kim. 

Gary,

I am back in Indiana and while I am exhausted, it is an extremely happy
exhaustion after the wonderful wedding weekend Fountainview Mansion provided
for us.  You, your wife Julie, and the entire staff of FVM were exquisite
with the professionalism offered and the courteous treatment of my family,
the wedding party and all of our guests at all times.  *You and Julie’s
smiles and hugs kept me going and told me ‘all was under control’.*  I can’t
begin to thank you enough and will spread the word to the Auburn and
surrounding community to use FVM for everything.  But most of all, Kelley
and Ryan were so happy they chose FVM as the venue to hold their wedding.
It was storybook for them and couldn’t have been more perfect, heat and
all!  Everyone expressed their delight in the beauty of the flowers, loved
the floating flowers/candles on the tables, the food displays, the food
itself, the cakes, etc, etc, etc.  I could go on and on! 

Thank you again . . . and may God Bless you and yours each and every day!

With much appreciation,
Kim Brown

 
Thanks so much for sharing your kind thoughts with us Kim.  Thanks for the joy of working with you on your precious daughter’s wedding. 
 

Another Perfect Wedding Day for Kelley Vincent and Ryan Noll

June 20, 2011

It was another flawless day with a pristine blue sky as Kelley Vincent and Ryan Noll exchanged vows at Fountainview Mansion on Saturday, June 18th.  The 6:00 PM ceremony was held poolside decorated with urns billowing with flowers in cream, white and shades of pink utilizing a plethora of roses, eremerus, Casablanca and Sorbonne lillies, peonies, larkspur, glads, Bells of Ireland, and snapdragons.

The ceremony set-up for the elegant Vincent wedding.

Given in marriage by her mother, the bride wore and exquisite designer gown by Allure Couture.  It was stunning and definitely one of the most spectacular gowns of the entire season.  Her mother had shared with me that all her life, her daughter Kelley had loved the “ballgown” look and this look was perfect on her.  Kelley carried a classic hand-tied nosegay of all roses; shocking versilia and topaz to obtain just the right mix of color.  The stems of the flowers were wrapped in the cuffs from her mother’s wedding gown.  Pinned to the bouquet were a golden locked containing her grandparents photos as well as her grandfather’s wedding band.  It was so sentimental and so exquisite.  What a great way to honor your loved ones.

Kelley awaits her magical walk down the Fountainview aisle.

 

Kelley's mother joins her beautiful daughter, Kelley and the groom for the giving of the bride. Note the magnificent pomander balls each covered in over three dozen roses. It was truly stunning.

The bridesmaids wore designer gowns by Bill Levkoff in a gorgeous shade of pink called watermelon.  It was gorgeous.  The gossamer, flowing fabric looked so beautiful on each of the girls.  Each of the ten maids carried hand-tied bouquets of all creamy vendela roses.  All told, the bridesmaids bouquets contained more than twenty dozen roses. 

The beautiful maids attired in their designer gowns await their walk down the aisle.

A close-up shot of the bridesmaids bouquets. What could be more romantic and luxurious than hundreds upon hundreds of roses?

Never before has a wedding incorporated so many roses at Fountainview since our own daughter’s wedding in 2008.  It was so luxurious and yet so classically elegant.

Music for the ceremony was provided by harpist, Melaney Jones.  Another special musical highlight was trumpeter, David Chapman, playing the bridal fanfare and processional and also the recessional from the second floor terrace of the mansion.  It was a perfect touch of drama and classic style.

A panoramic view of the ceremony setting with harpist, Melaney Jones in the foreground.

Following the elegant ceremony performed by Dr. George Mathison the reception immediately followed with a marvelous menu created by chef, Billy Lee, of TerraCotta.  Guests dined on a wide variety of items including marinated grilled chicken, beef tenderloin, crab cakes, and many other items.

One of the artistic food stations set up in the front parlor of the mansion.

Guests were also treated to fabulous cakes created by Robbyn Fowler of Sonshine Cakes.  For the groom, the study turned orange and blue as Robbyn created a magnicent red velvet cake with a custom crafted recreation of the oak trees at Toomer Corner rolled for a celebration.  It was amazing.

The creative and whimsical groom's cake.

A radiant bride and a jubilant groom immediately following their ceremony. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Noll.

Kelly and Ryan pose in the reception foyer of Fountainview.

Following a honeymoon to Jamaica to enjoy fun, sun and surf, the bride and groom will be back home in Auburn to continue their new life together.  We wish you all the best.  God bless you both.

Sara Hand and Greg Custer United in Marriage on June 11, 2011

It was a joyous celebration as Sara Hand and Greg Custer married on June 11, 2011 at Fountainview Mansion. 

Sara and Greg excahgne vows in the gardens of Fountainview Mansion in front of the antique garden arbor. What a lovely setting for a memorable wedding.

 

The weather held out beautifully except for a very light and short shower before the ceremony.  Everything still came off without a hitch.

The theme for the lovely wedding was vintage inspired by soft muted colors of cream and dusty pinks inspired by the lovely bridesmaid’s gowns.  The color worked so beautifully in the mansion.  The vintage look was a perfect match for the bride’s exquisite gown and the elegant backdrop of the mansion.

Sara and her maids pose for photos in the elegant Buckingham suite just prior to the start of the ceremony.

Sara and her father await her memorable walk down the aisle.

Florals designed by Fountainview carried out the vintage theme using a plethora of roses, peonies, and lily of the valley. 

The exquisite bridal bouquet featured creamy vendela roses, Lilly of the valley, hydrangeas, white peonies, and soft muted pink roses providing an elegant look which blended beautifully with Sara's vintage gown.

Colors for the bridesmaids bouquets featured more pink highlighting utilizing Sarah Bernhardt peonies, lavender stock for contrast and fragrance, lisianthus for a romantic English garden look, and Esperance roses, hydrangeas, and freesia.

Sar and Greg strike a candid pose following their ceremony. Congratulations!

A sampling of the fabulous dinner buffet provided by Maestro 2300.

Following the ceremony, the 150 guests enjoyed a fabulous and unique menu created by chef John Hamme of Maestro 2300.   Maestro’s is always a great choice for clients who want unique presentation and creative menus.  Great job John!

Sara and Greg, thanks so much for the privilege of working with you to create your special day.  Following the wedding, we received this very special thanks from Sara.  Notes like this mean the world to us.

“Dear Gary,

Our wedding at Fountainview was beyond amazing.  Greg and I had the time of our lives!  Fountainview is the perfect wedding venue!  You and your staff did an absolutely phenomenal job.  May I just note that my family and I LOVE YOU! 

Thank you for making their stay so memorable.  They could not believe the elaborate breakfast provided for them each morning.  I can only express to your clients, even if local, stay the weekend at the mansion.  My niece
and nephew loved the pool and your family.  Please thank your beautiful wife Julie and sweet, sweet daughter Jacquie.  You and your additional staff really went out of their way to impress everyone.  Now that we are winding
down, we are appreciating the amazing feedback from our guests that our wedding was the best they have ever attended and how great Fountainview truly is.  This venue is Auburn’s best kept secret.  Thank you for guiding
us through the most important and memorable time in our lives.  You are so kind and helpful and your knowledge and expertise made it so easy for us.  Thank you for being professional, knowledgeable, understanding and compassionate! We really appreciate everything you did for us on our special day.  Thank you again for being you.  Your professionalism and work ethic are out of this world.  We love you for that!”

Sara Hand Custer

Sara, thanks so much for your kind words.  We wish you both a lifetime of happiness together.

A Glorious Day for Jeanine Cipullo and Josh Moore June 4, 2011

June 8, 2011

What an absolutely glorious and perfect day it was on Saturday June 4th, 2011 as Jeanine Cipullo and Josh Moore were united in Holy Matrimony.   The day was a long time in the making as the couple first reserved the date in March of 2010.  Actually, this is a good word to the wise.  Plan early and get your dream venue on hold first.  That gives you so much more time to enjoy the journey and not feel so pressured about all the fun details.  It should be a joyous and exhilarating journey, and for Josh and Jeanine, it truly was. 

A strikingly beautiful portrait of the lovely bride, Jeanine Cipullo.

This wedding featured some of the most glorious colors of the season with all eleven maids wearing sophisticated gowns in an exquisite color called sangria.  It had unique overtones of burgundy and purple.,  The striking one shoulder gowns looked stunning on every single girl. 

The bride and her maids peek out the windows of the Buckingham suite as the guests gather for the ceremony as the anticipation builds.

The beautiful bride and her eleven maids strike a playful pose just before going down the aisle.

The 6:00 Ceremony was held poolside with right at 240 guests in attendance.  While it was a warm day, by the time of the ceremony the heat was already subsiding and it was a marvelous and comfortable evening as is usually the case.  With our unique setting at the top of the hill, there is generally a very light breeze in the evening creating a very comfortable setting.  Besides, when the the bride has a sky that is crystal blue, a little warmth is the last thing anyone would ever be the least bit concerned about.

Jeanine and her dad await her magical walk down the aisle.

Florals designed by Fountainview featured electrifying shades of chartreuse green, hot pink and orange.  Yes, those colors do work together and against that magnificent merlot color, it was absolutely glorious.  Focal flowers including magnificent fuchsia peonies, shocking versilia roses, orange unique roses, green hypericum berries, and gypsy dianthus. 

The electrifying mix of color of the bridesmaids flowers created a marvelous crescendo of color against the merlot colored gowns.

The bridal bouquet didn’t shirk away from color and also included dramatic  use of the orange and hot pink along with natural green and white florals including mini callas and jade (green) roses to tie in with her magnificent gown.  A special touch of the bridal bouquet was the use of lace from her mother’s wedding gown wrapped around the stems as well as the christening bonnet Jeanine wore the day of her christening.  It was such a sweet and sentimental touch. 

The stunning bridal bouquet designed by Fountainview Mansion.

Jeanine’s gown featured extensive use of exquisite lace.  She looked positively regal.  With her naturally radiant personality, she was literally aglow.

Nearly every wedding has a couple of very special touches and the Cipullo wedding had many.  One of the most creative things was that the family desired to have reserved seating for every single guest even though this was a buffet type of menu.  This creates extra challenges for the bride and her mother, but these two with their marvelous organizational skills were up to the task.  Friends of the bride’s family made beautiful cookies in the shape of wedding cakes and individually wrapped them in clear packages.  On the outside of the package was the guest’s name and table number.  It was ingenious and the guests loved it.

The custom made cookes, each package marked with the guests name and table number were a huge hit. They were laid out in alphabetical order in front of the 12' pier mirror of the reception foyer.

 

The guest tables were covered in magnificent crinkle sheer shimmer linens in a blackberry color which matched the girl’s dress colors perfectly.  On each table was a framed photo of the bride and groom, each photo different with the couple striking whimsical poses holding the numbers representing the number of each guest table.  It was sheer ingenuity.  Again, the bride’s mom, Karen as a third grade teacher and Jeanine as a High School Spanish teach played a huge role in this working.  It represented a ton of work on their part but it was fabulous.

A close-up of one of the table placecards.

One of the dramatic table arrangements inside the grand salon of the mansion.

Two styles of arrangements were designed for the wedding.  The style above featured tall glass cylinder vases filled with lemons and limes with dramatic but simple arrangements of chartreuse green and hot pink glads, orange and hot pink roses, and gypsy dianthus for additional pops of color.  The other half of the arrangements were in low crystal bowls with floating peonies, roses and hydrangeas and floating candles.

The striking simplicity of the bride's cake created by Robbyn Fowler of Sonshine Cakes.

The bridal cake was designed by Robbyn Fowler with Sonshine Cakes.  As is always the case, it was thoroughly enjoyed by all with guests raving that it was the best cake they had ever tasted.  They are right!  The bride desired simple elegance utilizing an “M” monogram on the side without the use of a topper.  Instead, colorful flowers were added just around the base to create a cohesive pop of color in the room.

The beautiful bride and her handsome prince share their first toast and a loving kiss.

All in all, this wedding planning process was another delight from start to finish.  I hate that it’s over.  When you work with a client for over a year to help create the most important day of your child’s life, very warm bonds of friendship develop.  Josh and Jeanine, we truly wish you all the best.  Steve and Karen, (mom and dad of the bride), thanks for being such delightful parents to work with.  We love you!  God bless you all.

Morgan Pierce and Eric Darvin Wed on May 21st

June 7, 2011

How can a wedding planner be so blessed?  I truly have the joy of working with some of the most delightful brides in the world and Morgan was definitely one of them as were the bride’s and groom’s families.  It was an absolutely delightful weekend together. 

Eric and Morgan Darvin - What a beautiful couple, inside and out!

During the planning process, the bride shared with me that she desired the look of the wedding to be joyful, vibrant and sophisticated.  I believe that was readily achieved!  What great taste the bride and her family had.  It was a great collaborative effort.

The families all began checking into the mansion on Friday afternoon in preparation for the evenings rehearsal and dinner that evening.  The rehearsal dinner featured a very relaxed tone with a delicioius Southern barbecue menu provided by TerraCotta.  (YUM!)   We had arranged for a group of 15 to play golf at Moore’s Mill’s beautiful course in the morning.  They had a great time.  We love to help plan these outings for our grooms and their attendants.

Table linens selected were sapphire blue crinkle sheer with bright yellow lamour napkins.  It was spectacular.  The groom’s mother provided favors at each place setting including custom bottled BBQ sauce with the couples label on the bottles and custom printed M&M’s for the perfect “something sweet” at the end of a delicious meal.  

The colorful and dramatic table set-ups for the rehearsal dinner once again proved that color is king and makes such a dramatic impact.

One of the highlights of the whole evening were the groom’s cakes custome designed by Robbyn Fowler of Sonshine Cakes.  Yes, Robbyn did it again with wonderful creations of popcorn and a hamburger depicting the groom’s work with the stadium of Auburn University as well as their passion for watching movies together.  They were amazing!

The magnificent groom's cakes were served for the rehearsal dinner.

The amazing cheeseburger groom's cake. If you want the finest and most original cake ever, contact Sonshine Cakes! They are amazing.

 

A joyful Mr. and Mrs. Darvin recess following their ceremony at Fountainview.

The 6:00 PM ceremony was held poolside.  The bride chose a beautiful and unique color palette of royal/sapphire blue, pewter, and yellow.  The colors worked so well together.  The tent on the left side of the garden featured a large black and white dance floor and space for the DJ.  A tent on the right side of the garden featured a place for marvelous food service and guest seating.  A marvelous feature in each tent was the addition of a beautiful tent liner on the ceiling as well as dramatic uplighting on the ceiling in a rich shade of royal blue.  It was absolutely gorgeous as sunset came to see the entire yard transformed into a delightful outdoor ballroom setting.  It’s amazing what lighting can do.  Adding to the drama was the fabulous custom lighting treatment on the front columns of the mansion lending even more dram to an already perfectly tasteful and classy affair.  Linens selected were pewter pintuck for the guest tables with yellow lamour linens with sapphire blue ties on the highboy tables providing a pop of dramatic color around the pool.  The overall effect was wonderful.  Never be afraid of color.  It doesn’t cost any more and the end results are stunning!

The bride's radiant mother, Cindy, awaits her memorable trip down the aisle just before her daughter's wedding.

The incredibly unique bride's cake by Sonshine Cakes.

On behalf of the entire Fountainview staff, thanks to the Pierce and Darvin families and Morgan and Eric for the absolute joy of serving your families.  I hate it that it’s over.  But, the precious memories will always linger.  God bless you all.  Please keep in touch!