Love Excelsior Style

By Lisa; St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Excelsior Springs, Missouri was the site and Saturday, July 15, 2017 was the date for the wedding ceremony of Courtney Adair Wilson and Victor Samuel Hurlbert.  At precisely half past four in the afternoon, the historic church was filled to the brim with love and tears of joy as Rev. Vernon Armitage announced for the first time to family and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Hurlbert.  



Millie’s Event Designs;  www.millieseventdesigns.com was honored by the bride and her family to be chosen to coordinate her beautiful day!

A cocktail hour and dinner reception immediately followed the ceremony across the street in the grand ballroom of Excelsior Spring’s historic “The Elms Hotel and Spa.” www.elmshotelandspa.com As the guests entered the ballroom, it was all decorated for a party, complete with beautiful one of a kind centerpieces by Maple Lane Designs www.maplelanedesigns.com.  Dee jay Mike Shortino introduced to the guests the members of the bridal party who were immediately followed by the new bride and groom. The couple then made their way to the dance floor to have their first dance together as newlyweds. Next, the bride’s father welcomed guests before handing the microphone over to his new son-in-law, Victor, to say the evening’s blessing.  

As the last table was being served their entree' it was time for the evening’s festivities to begin.  The maid of honor gave a very sentimental speech followed by the best man.  The speeches ended with the father of the bride taking everyone for a stroll down memory lane.  After everyone had dried their eyes, it was time to turn them to the dance floor where the bride and her father began dancing to the song; I Loved Her First.  The dance floor was then turned over to the groom and his mother to dance to their song; Simple Man.  The dee jay then opened the dance floor for all guests to enjoy.  

Once the guests had an opportunity to dance and mingle, it was time to gather around to see the newlyweds cut their cake and have their traditional champagne toast.  After everyone had a picture opportunity, the dee jay asked for all single ladies to participate in the throwing of the bouquet toss.  It was then time for the single men to gather for the garter toss.  

As the sun was beginning to set on this memorable day, the bride and groom along with the bridal party stepped outside to take some spectacular sparkler enhanced photos! 

Later, as the reception was coming to a close, the bride and groom were found stealing one more kiss in the elevator as their perfect day was ending and their new life together was just beginning!

When you find that perfect someone and “Love” is in the air, look to Millie’s Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com to coordinate your wedding day with all the style and elegance that you have imagined since you were a little girl.  The honor will be all ours!

Capturing the Love

By Lisa; On Saturday, July 8, 2017, the weather was spectacular in every way for the ceremony of Leah Dempster and Geoff Miles who said their vows before family and friends at the Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS; www.villagepres.org Reverend Tom Are presided over the blessed couple. Millie's Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com was on site as the "day of" coordinator overseeing every detail to make sure that Leah and Geoff’s wedding was the "best day ever"!

As the ceremony came to a close Reverend Are presented for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Miles.  It was then off to the reception at Indian Hills Country Club; www.ihcckc.com The bridal party arrived joining the cocktail reception, while the bride and groom made their way to a private room to cut their cake and have their pictorial champagne toast.

The guests were chimed into the ballroom at half past six.  Anticipation grew as the guests awaited for the band “Twice on Sunday”; www.toskc.com to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Goeff Miles to the stage. The bride's father joined the newlyweds as he welcomed family and friends to this beautiful night.

Guests enjoyed a pre-set signature salad of Bibb lettuce, honey-buttered pecans, goat cheese, strawberries, balsamic vinaigrette. It was then time to serve the entree' of chicken piccata with herb whipped potatoes, garlic and roasted asparagus.  Once the last table had been served, it was then time for the evening's festivities.

The bride's father made his way up to the stage where he gave a heartfelt speech.  Next for the guests was the maid of honor who began her speech.  To the guests great surprise, the maid of honor concluded with the bride joining her in a blast from their past as they sang “Africa” by Toto karaoke style. The best man then gave his speech which was followed by the traditional father and daughter dance. Geoff and his mother had their traditional mother and son dance to the song “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Next it was time for the bride and groom to have their first dance to the song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. It was then time to open the dance floor and let the party begin!

After the band had played a full set, the newlyweds asked for their guests to gather outside to form a sparkling canopy to celebrate the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Miles.  The newlyweds danced thru canopy and on into the night with family, friends and guests.

Make sure your wedding day captures your love by bringing in Millie’s Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com to be your “day of” coordinator.  We will always do our best to ensure that your big day is truly your “best day ever!”

Absolutely Picture Perfect in Every Way!

By Lisa;

On the picture perfect Saturday afternoon of June 24, 2017, Katherine Mary Rossiter and Ryan Alan Hahne became man and wife at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (Redemptorist Church) in Kansas City, MO. The bride’s uncle, Father Gregg Frankman presided over the ceremonial mass. Millie's Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com was on site as the "day of" coordinator to ensure all of the day’s events went according to plan. 

This absolutely beautiful day began early in the bridal suite of the InterContinental Hotel with bridesmaids, mothers and the bride enjoying a lovely breakfast with mimosas. It was then time for everyone to begin getting ready for the big day! The bride looked perfectly radiant for her first look with her father.  This was followed by pictures with her mother and immediate family.  At half past noon, the groom and the bridal party left the hotel and were transported to the church. The bride and her parents followed in a separate car to stay hidden from the groom. 

The church bells rang promptly at 1:30 PM to begin the ceremony.  The bride was glowing as she was escorted by her father down the aisle. Ryan stepped forwarded to take his bride’s hand as the two walked up together to the altar to say their vows.  As the ceremony concluded, Fr. Frankman presented them for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Hahne.  The couple along with their bridal party then processed out to a send off by family and friends each one having white satin ribbon wands to wave over the newlyweds.  The bride and groom along with their bridal party stepped onto a bus that would escort them around Kansas City to take pictures before arriving at the InterContinental Hotel to join the cocktail reception. 

At 6:00pm the guests were chimed into the ballroom to begin the evening’s festivities.  Once everyone was seated, the band, KC Flo, introduced the newly married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Hahne to the crowd. The couple made their way onto the dance floor to cut their three tier beautifully designed wedding cake from Dolce Bakery; www.dolcebakes.com. The newlyweds then enjoyed the traditional champagne toast.  The bride’s father then welcomed everyone, followed by Fr. Frankman saying the blessing before the salads were served.  

Each table was tastefully and perfectly decorated with bright colorful flowers that were enclosed by a glass terrarium that were designed by the InterContinental Hotel's florist, Larry Wheeler www.kansascityic.com The guests were treated to a specially prepared entree' of seared chilean sea bass with saffron cream and micro greens, chanterelle and chive risotto, asparagus, spaghetti squash and red pepper wedge.

Once the last table had been served it was then time to bring up the bride’s mother and father who gave a very heartfelt speech that left everyone looking for a tissue. The maid of honor’s speech followed then the best man.  The newlyweds then came back onto the dance floor to have their first dance to the song, “Wave on Wave” by Pat Green.  This was followed by the bride dancing with her father and the groom dancing with his mother.  The band announced it was time to get this perfect party started as the guests made their way to the floor to dance the night away.

When it is time for your big day to be absolutely picture perfect in every way, you can count on Millie’s Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com and our “day of” coordination services to ensure that it goes according to all your dreams and plans.

Kissing a Cousins into the Barnthouse Family!

By Lisa;

On Saturday, the 10th of June, Kansas City’s “Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception” served as the site for the sacrament of marriage for Miss Jill Cousins and Mr. Jeff Barnthouse.  The couple was united in holy matrimony before family and friends as Father Rick Story presided over the ceremonial wedding mass. Millie's Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com was honored to be chosen as the couple’s “day of” wedding coordinator overseeing the details of the day’s big events.

Once the bride and groom had completed their vows, Fr. Story brought the ceremony to a close with his announcement, "I now present you as husband and wife, you may kiss the bride!" The newlyweds and their bridal party the proceeded in the recessional out of the church and onto a bus to take a few pictures around Kansas City.  Meanwhile, the couple’s guests were treated to a lovely cocktail reception just two blocks away on the mezzanine level of the Marriott Hotel;   At precisely 8:00pm, the guests were chimed into the beautifully decorated ballroom for the reception dinner. There they found tables with exquisite flower centerpieces arranged by; Ashley Hotka of Good Earth Florist; www.goodearthfloral.com

Once the guests were seated, it was time for the bridal party to be introduced to family and friends by Chris Baker of the band Musivo Live; www.musivolive.com As the newlyweds were introduced, they made their way to dance floor to cut their six-tier wedding cake and have their first champagne toast as man and wife. The guests were then welcomed to the festivities by the mother of the bride, Mary Jo Cousins, and the father of the groom Mike Barnthouse.  The evening’s dinner cuisine began with an artistically prepared bistro salad, consisting of petit greens, toasted apple barley, honey goat cheese, candied dates, watermelon radish completed with a citrus vinaigrette dressing.  This was followed by an entree' of breaded chicken breast stuffed with wild rice, ricotta, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes complemented with Yukon gold potatoes and haricot verts.

As the guests were finishing dinner, it was time for the other traditional reception events to begin. Once again, Chris Baker with Musivo Live; www.musivolive.com requested the mother of the bride and the father of the groom to come forward and give their heartfelt blessings. These were followed by the maid of honor and best man speeches.  Once everyone had dried their tears, the guests were asked to join the bride and groom along with their bridal party in celebrating the newlyweds with a wedding march around the ballroom. Upon the conclusion of the wedding march, the bride and groom remained on the dance floor to have their first dance. The bride's brother then stepped onto the dance floor to have the dance with his sister. The groom and his mother followed to complete the special dances. It was then time for general dancing to begin as the wedding cake was served. Guests than danced and celebrated the union of Miss Cousins and Mr.

Barnthouse late into the night.

When it is time for your wedding day to go from plans on paper to full scale execution, call on Millie’s Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com and we will oversee all the details so you truly enjoy one of the most memorable days of your life!

May Showers Can’t Dampen Love in Liberty!

By Lisa;

Liberty Missouri’s historic Belvoir Winery; www.belvoirwinery.com was the site for Haley Voutour and Kevin Clayton to say “I do" before family and friends on Friday, May 19, 2017. A close friend to the groom, Danny Duran, was the chosen officiate and he was proud to present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Clayton. Millie's Event Designs was the official "day of" wedding coordinator on site providing guidance to the bridal party and vendors as the scheduled outdoor wedding was moved indoors due to spring thunderstorms.

At precisely 6:00 in the evening, the beautiful bride was escorted by her father down the aisle to the accompaniment of a string quartet to meet her beaming groom.  Beneath a floral arch, the couple exchanged their wedding vows and made their solemn promises to each other. The simple but elegant ceremony was followed by a lovely cocktail hour in the foyer where the string quartet softly played the songs of today while the guests were enjoying themselves. 

Then, at 7:30pm, the guests were belled into the beautiful ballroom for the reception dinner. The room was decorated with gorgeous flower arrangements from Flowers by Emily; www.flowersbyemily.com

The wedding cake from the bride's chosen cake designer; Kay Benjamin of Take the Cake; www.takethecakekc.com 

was also on display. Once the guests had taken their seats, the bride and groom were introduced by the band, Funk Syndicate, and took their place at their "sweet heart" table as they dined on their entree of choice.  

As the guests were finishing their meal, it was now time to begin the reception events. The band brought Haley and Kevin to front of the room where they cut their wedding cake and performed a traditional champagne toast.  Next, bride's father to give a heartfelt speech. By the time he was finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. His speech was followed by speeches from the bride's sister and best man. Both shared with the audience their memorable moments with the bride and groom and left all searching for a tissue. 

Next, the newly christened couple found their way into each other’s arms for their first dance to the song; Have a Little Faith in Me, by John Hiatt (piano version).  The dances then continued with the father and the bride and the mother with the groom.  The dance floor was then opened to family and friends to dance the night away.  

As the reception was coming to a close, the guests were asked to line up outside to provide Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Clayton a "sparkling" sendoff.  As the couple walked down the steps and drove off into the night to begin their life together, the spring rains began to fall again.  However, no showers could dampen the spirit of matrimony in Liberty this evening.

At Millie’s Event Designs; www.millieseventdesigns.com we don’t let spring showers or any other inclement weather stand in the way of our efforts to deliver to you a perfect and seamless wedding event.  Call on us to guide your wedding day and give you the peace of mind that all is well, no matter what the weather!