I am SO excited to share these photos with you all!! Last weekend, Ilario and I hosted an engagement party for our best friends, Jess and Glenn, who are getting married at the beginning of August. Ilario and I are the ones who introduced Jess and Glenn so this was a very special occasion for us!
Glenn and Ilario went to high school together and have been best friends ever since. Once I met Glenn we became fast friends as well. Ilario always recounts a time a few months into our relationship when I introduced Glenn as "my friend" and not his.
Jess and I met at Bank of America in Charlotte - she was transferred into our group and it just so happened the only cubicle available at the time was right beside me! We bonded over our Midwestern roots (me from Ohio, her from Indiana) and the fact that we both knew there was "more than corn in Indiana". (If you're not from the Midwest - this was the theme song for
Indiana Beach Amusement Park when we were growing up.) We also quickly found confidants in one another, talking straight through an hour lunch without even so much as a breath.
In the beginning of summer in 2007, Glenn and his younger brother, Sam, came to visit us in Charlotte. Like good hosts, we took them out for a drink - there was a new bar in uptown so we decided to go there. Since Jess lived close I gave her a call and she met us out. I promise that I wasn't even thinking about setting them up and I think this is why everything worked out so very well! After a few drinks and some drinking of glass by Ilario (loooong story - needless to say this bar didn't stay open very long) the four of us came back home and Jess went on her way as well. The next day, Jess mentioned Glenn to me and it turns out that Glenn was doing the same to Ilario. So we arranged for everyone to have dinner at our home the next night. Jess and Glenn have been a couple ever since, traveling to see each other any chance they get. They're quite a testament to the survival of a long distance relationship and now they're living their happily ever after - we are so thrilled for the two of them!!
The dinner group from that night in 2007 - please forgive us, we were a little intoxicated. . .
Jess and Glenn are having a small wedding in the park and they've asked Ilario and I to be their witnesses - just the four of us! It's such a privilege, so Ilario and I wanted to throw them a fabulous engagement party in their honor. This was the first party we've thrown in our new home so it was extra special. I designed/created/cooked every last detail continuing the black, ivory and deep red color theme throughout.
I knew I wanted everything to be very simple, yet elegant so when I found the chandelier stamp and the thick lined ivory card stock at
Pat Catan's I had my inspiration! I designed everything myself, printed them on our home computer and hand-stamped the gorgeous detail. My lovely husband printed addresses on the deep red envelopes and I put on what I thought was the perfect finishing touch -
Bob Hope stamps! They are my new obsession - so regal. Why would you ever use boring flag stamps again?
Our back deck was the perfect setting for the party, but the weather didn't want to cooperate. However, we waited until the last minute to set up and ended having the most perfect weather-friendly evening! I wrapped a mixture of linen and cotton napkins, finishing them with the most adorable ivory and black ribbon I found at
Michaels. I printed out a detailed menu on matching deep red paper with the same fonts used on the invite and sat one at each place setting. I borrowed two long tables from a friend and rented 18 matching chairs from Tallmadge Tents (330.414.5331). My sister-in-law knew a woman with a white hydrangea bush that needed trimming and she said I could take as many as I wanted! Jess and Glenn had a cherry themed invitation so I continued that into the party with the most adorable cherry place cards. Jess loved them so much that I'll be making them again for their reception! I set up an appetizer table with Arugula-Cannellini Dip, Homemade Hummus, Kalamata Olives with pitas and assorted crackers. My mother-in-law sent over Garden Zucchini Fritters later in the evening as well. Since our back deck is attached to our sunroom, I made coordinating signs welcoming our guests.
Jess was kind enough to take a photo of the yummy food piled on her plate. The menu consisted of Tomato-Black Bean Quinoa, a variety of Oven Roasted Vegetables and Slow Cooked Cajun Roast. I followed dinner with Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies made with Homemade Buttercream Frosting for dessert.
All photos were taken either by me, the bride or her future sister-in-law (and a future baci bride!), Lexy. Here are a few candid shots we captured throughout the evening. From Left to Right: Glenn's brother, Sam, grabbing a beverage off the deck; The bride and groom-to-be; Ilario giving a touching speech before dinner; My helpful hubby setting up the table; The whole crew enjoying dinner and drinks; Jess and I in the kitchen; Jess and Glenn with his parents who stopped by for dessert.
Everyone had such a fabulous time and I didn't want it to end! It was such a joy to do this for our dear friends and we can't wait to celebrate with them on their big day!
