Lunch at BLT Steak!

I had the privilege today of meeting some awesome women and networking over lunch at BLT Steak at The Ritz Carlton. Kim, their catering sales manager organized this amazing lunch and it was a perfect opportunity for all of us to meet and share stories! I was able to chat with Sarah Bradley from Blue Feather Media, Rebecca Stoddard from Shade of Green Events, Erica Stawick from Green Shoes Weddings and Events, Sabrina Delio and Kim Bachelder from The Ritz Carlton, CarrieAnn Drinnen from Serendipity Events, Tonya Braddock From BLUSH Wedding and Events, and Christine. It was so nice to finally meet and catch up with everyone and hopefully we can do it again soon!
xoxo,
Kate

Waxing Poetic

On my vacation I went into the cutest little shop on Second Street in Lewes called Coral Cove! I noticed beautiful big shells full of these amazing charms. When chatting with the owner I found out that they were charms from a company called Waxing Poetic Jewelry. When searching through all of the various charms I began to think of the millions of ways that you could use them. One of them especially caught my eye, which said “The. Mrs” I thought how cute that would be tied to a bridal bouquet or the various initial charms that could also be tied to bouquets as well. With the various styles of letters and sayings, you could use these for bridesmaid gifts or a gift for a new mom with there child’s initials…the opportunities are endless. Checkout their website or if you would like to order straight from Coral Cove call 302-270-9420. Happy Shopping!

Xoxo,
Kate

Blair and Adam!

When I first met Blair and Adam, I could just tell how in love they were! Throughout the meeting they listened to one another bounced ideas off each other, and you can tell they are very excited about their upcoming Charlottesville wedding!

When meeting with clients, I love hearing their story. So here is their story about how they met and how he proposed!
Adam and I met during the fall of our first year at UVA. He lived in a dorm far away from "grounds" but as fate would have it, so did one of my best friends from high school. The moment she met Adam she said "You have to meet my friend Blair, she's YOU but a GIRL!" We finally met and hit it off right from the start and become fast friends! After attending many Greek "date functions" together and other social events, we made it official the spring of our second year :) In our 4 (almost 5!) years of dating we've made a great group of friends, settled in the DC-metro area, have been lucky enough to take on vacations with both of our families, and much, much more!
Adam got down on 1 knee and asked for my hand in marriage while we were on a winter getaway in Puerto Rico in March 2010. I was COMPLETELY surprised (although I had hoped it was coming soon), and I said YES! We spent the remainder of our vacation soaking it all in and calling family, friends, and loved ones! Planning got started for our May 2011 wedding in Charlottesville, VA almost immediately thereafter! We're so lucky to have Kate helping us along the way! She's drawn up inspiration boards, sent us ideas for invites/flowers/colors/rehearsal dinner agendas, helped with ALL of our questions, and more! I know that our wedding will be smooth & flawless because we've got her on our side!
I am so excited to work with them, and their wedding at King Family Vineyards is going to be AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to be a part of their big day. Cheers Blair and Adam!
xoxo,
Kate

I'm Back!!!

I am so sorry that it has been so long since my last post. I have been on vacation, but now I am back and ready to blog!
Before I get back on track, I wanted to list my top ten favorite things from vacation:
1. Watching one of my favorite couples get married!
2. Swimming in the bay on a hot day.
3. Eating Grotto's Pizza!!
4. Spending time with family and reliving many beach traditions.
5. Date night with the hubby!
6. Relaxing on the beach.
7. Reading a good book.
8. Realizing the importance of friends, and spending time with friends from long ago.
9. Getting lots of good news!
10. Singing in the car!
Check back this week for new ideas and exciting news!
xoxo,
Kate

Meet Anna!

Anna and I were introduced through a mutual friend, Erin McDermott. I first saw Anna’s work on her Etsy website when looking for a save the date for a client. After going back and forth with Anna and my client, she came up with a save the date that was perfect for them! She responded right away and her proofs came super fast, and she presented various ideas in sticking with the theme. I was so excited to have met such an awesome vendor so after this project was over we met for lunch to discuss our future endeavors.

Anna brought with her samples of her work and they are GEORGEOUS!!! She meets with a client, listens to what they want and then goes from there. Pictures don’t do her work justice, she uses various paper types and fonts that are beautiful and her work is truly one of a kind! She has just now launched her website so be sure to check out Nuage Mulberry.
I look forward to working more with Anna in the future!
xoxo,
Kate

I DO Details was featured!

I DO Details was featured on Michelle John's blog, All The Delightful Things! Thanks so much Michelle!
xoxo,
Kate

Best Impressions Caterers

Today I met with Donald from Best Impressions Caterers and he could not have been nicer! We toured the space at Bryon’s South End and then sat down to chat about food!! The space is beautiful and offers a cozy feel with the modern chandeliers and the option for an outside cocktail hour or to keep everything inside the space. It is perfect for a reception, rehearsal dinner, dinner party, or a corporate lunch or brunch.

Best Impressions Caterers offers s lot of different choices when choosing a menu. Whether it be for stations or a seated dinner they can caterer their menu to fit the couple or group! Donald said some of their specialties are their crab cakes as well as their shrimp and grits! I just had to ask him about the adorable and delicious looking mini sliders with the sweet potato fries, and he said those are quite popular for a passed hors d'oeuvres or a late night snack for your guests! He thinks that the level of service as well as the quality of their food, is what sets them apart from the rest. It was a pleasure meeting Donald today and I look forward to working with Best Impressions Caterers in the future!
Cheers!
Kate

The Mint Museum

Today my journey took me to The Mint Museum’s Randolph location where I was able to speak to David and tour their beautiful space! The space is amazing and there are so many different ways that you can have your event there. Whether it is a small ceremony in one of their beautiful gardens, a larger event on the patio, or a seated dinner inside, the opportunities are endless. David has a ton of experience and is familiar with many different layouts to make your event spectacular! The Mint Museum Uptown location is relocating and will be open on October 1, 2010 and I can’t wait to check it out!
Make sure to check out the Mint Museum's beautiful space for your next event!

Thanks David for all of your insight and I look forward to working with you in the future!

xoxo,
Kate

Michelle John

Michelle and I were able to catch up and discuss our new business adventures the other night and it was a blast! Michelle still works in the corporate world, but her love for fashion and accessorizing sparked her interest to begin her own business. Michelle began Delightful Fashion where she can wardrobe edit, personal shop, or assist you with your fashion styling! While doing this she also enjoys being a Stella & Dot consultant and pairing these adorable accessories into her clients wardrobes! Check out her website as well as her Stella & Dot website to purchase jewelry or if you are interested in hosting a trunk show! Best wishes Michelle as you embark on this exciting new adventure!
xoxo,
Kate

Melissa Lamkin

Have you ever looked in your closet and said “I have nothing to wear” or you have been in a wedding where you are running around steaming or ironing your dresses? Well I have had the privilege of meeting a wonderful stylist named Melissa Lamkin who can help you with these needs! Melissa has always been into fashion! She worked for Lucky magazine right out of college and then worked for Destination Weddings and Honeymoons among others, traveling and styling various photo shoots! As her friends quickly noticed, she had the fashion eye and could piece things together so she began helping them out!

Melissa offers a lot of styling options whether it is closet editing, personal shopping, or creating look books. One of her specialties is bridal styling! She enjoys listening to a couple and finding creative ways to bring out a couples personality and wedding style. She can help you style your engagement photo session, rehearsal dinner, wedding week, and your big day! Melissa always has a smile on her face, and I have really enjoyed getting to know her! She is super talented so make sure to check out her website!


Xoxo,
Kate

Meet Lee and Julie!

I am so excited to announce the most recent couple to I Do Details, Lee and Julie! Lee and Julie met on January 25th, 2008 at a Charlotte Checkers Hockey game! Anne, a mutual friend of ours, was playing matchmaker and thought they would be great together. She had planned for them to meet that night although they had both heard about each other beforehand. Anne and Julie were there with their school for an event, and Lee was there with some friends to watch the game. They met up before the game and then hit Uptown afterwards. Julie remembers telling Anne while they were watching the game that she thought Lee was cute. Afterwards, while they were Uptown, they just hit it off. He was easy to talk to, loved to dance, and made her laugh!

Lee and Julie will be getting married in Greenville, South Carolina on June 25th, 2011. There ceremony will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and their beautiful reception will be at The Cliffs Valley.
Julie and I have already started brainstorming and planning their big day and it is going to be amazing! I am so excited to work with Lee and Julie and for I Do Details to be a part of their big day!
They are dear friends of mine and I couldn't be happier for the two of them. They are a perfect match who compliment each other very well! Cheers to the two of you!
xoxo,
Kate

The Ritz Carlton

Today I went to the Ritz Carlton in uptown Charlotte and I had the privilege of meeting with Kimberly. The Ritz Carlton opened on October 1, 2009 and it is absolutely beautiful inside! From the moment you arrive, the staff is pleasant and extremely helpful. Kimberly gave me a tour of the hotel and showed me the space that they have for their events. There are a lot of different space options at the Ritz , that are so unique. The Urban Garden is their newest space and it is a glass-enclosed atrium that is breathtaking with fabulous views of the city! The Ritz Carlton offers a lot of amenities with fabulous restaurants, a spa, wellness center, and an aqua lounge swimming pool that is amazing! They specialize is finding a menu and event space that will work perfectly for you! If you haven’t been there yet, be sure to check out the Ritz Carlton!
Thanks again Kimberly!
xoxo,
Kate

Classic Party Rentals

Today I had the privilege of meeting with Lisa from Classic Party Rentals. I first met Lisa at Ivy Robinson's  License to Wed class in January, and I couldn't wait to see their showroom. Lisa showed me their showroom as well as sat down with me to discuss all that Classic Party Rentals had to offer, and let me tell you it is a lot! You can pretty much get it all there, and if they don’t have it they will do their best to find it for you! One of the newest things that Classic Party Rentals has to offer is the Chameleon Chair. This chair is AWESOME!!!! There is so much that you can do to it to make it just the right fit for your event. Here are some photos, but be sure to check out the website because the opportunities are endless!

Here is one of the styles of the Chameleon Chair before it is dressed.

Here is just one of the ways that the Chameleon Chair can be dressed.

Photo by: Yitzhak Dalal

Here they are all together in an event, WOW!!! You can even add embelishments to the back!!!

Thanks so much Lisa and I look forward to working with you!

xoxo,

Kate

BLUSH!

I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Tonya and Irene from BLUSH Wedding & Events. It was so nice to chat with these talented women and share stories and advice! Thanks so much for everything girls and I can’t wait to chat again! Check out their website http://blushweddingandevents.com/
xoxo,
Kate

Congrats to Anne and Peter Ellington!

                                                          Photo Credit: Brad Smith
Anne and I first met in college and became fast friends! I was so excited when she moved here from Chicago after college and was even more excited when she started dating Peter! It wasn’t long before he proposed, and the wedding plans were quickly underway! Anne got married in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 22nd at the beautiful St. Rose Church and her reception was held at The Taft Museum of Art. Anne had a vision and some elements that she knew that she wanted incorporated into her big day, so our meetings were filled with ideas, discussions about details, and making everything perfect! I so enjoyed working with her and it was amazing to see it all come to life on her beautiful day! Here are just a couple of our favorites!

This was their place card table, that was later turned into their fantastic candy bar!!

Their beautiful outdoor reception.

Photo Credit:Brad  Smith

This is what they had to say:
Kate,
Where do I begin to thank you for everything you did for our wedding?! Every time we met I would greet you feeling overwhelmed and frazzled but I would leave feeling relieved and ready to finalize decisions. You have unbelievable ideas, you're a good listener and always willing to research any new detail that I came up with! I truly appreciate everything you did to make our wedding day special! Thanks again for all your hard work!
Love, Anne and Peter Ellington

Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day, best wishes!!!
xoxo,
Kate

American Flag Cake!

My brother Will’s birthday is today so this post is in honor of him, Happy Birthday! Growing up, my family would go to our beach house in Lewes, DE for the Fourth of July. Every year my Nana would make this amazing flag cake for Will’s birthday, and it quickly became a family tradition. I have tried to duplicate this cake many times, but for some reason it never tastes as good as Nana’s! So I am passing along the recipe in honor of the Fourth of July and family traditions! Do you have any family tradition recipes that you would like to share? If so, share with us!

Ingredients:
- 1 box of your favorite cake mix and cake ingredients
- 9 x 12 baking dish
- 1 package of fresh strawberries
- 1 package of fresh blueberries
- 1 container of vanilla icing


Directions:
1. Bake the cake according to the directions on the box.
2. Let cake cool.
3. While cake is cooling, wash and slice the strawberries lengthwise and wash the blueberries.
4. When cake is cool, use the vanilla icing and cover the cake.
5. Then proceed to make the flag by following the pattern in the picture!
6. Enjoy!

Fourth of July Signature Drink!

Whether you are having a backyard bbq, a family dinner party, or a big event, a signature drink is always a fun addition! I thought that I would pass along a fun Fourth of July martini recipe to shake things up for your holiday weekend! If you try it, let us know your thoughts!

Firecracker Martini
Ingredients
• 1 1/2 ounces vodka 
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 1/2 ounce blue curacao
• 1/2 ounce prepared sweet-and-sour mix
• 1 dash grenadine (use the liqueur not the syrup)
Directions
1. Mix all ingredients except grenadine in shaker and chill.
2. Pour into martini glass.
3. Add grenadine and it will sink to bottom.


Recipe found on recipezarr.com