COTE DE TEXAS: Sep 11, 2009

Southern Accents’ Loss: Caplan Miller Events

69 comments

 

image

A 50th birthday party planned by Caplan Miller Events – The Appletini table had it’s own cabana.

 

Last year,  I wrote a story about my good friend’s daughter – Courtney Caplan, a young entrepreneur in Austin, Texas who along Sarah Miller started a party planning business, Caplan Miller Events.  CME has been a huge success – their parties are out of this world and every one who knows Courtney is so  proud of her.     One 50th birthday party CME planned was so divine that pictures of it were splashed all over the wedding/entertaining blogs.  After the Cote de Texas story went online, Courtney was stunned to get a phone call the very next day from Southern Accents magazine.  Karen Carroll, then editor-in-chief of SA,  wanted to showcase the party planners in her magazine.  To say everyone was thrilled would be an understatement. 

 

 

image  CME is known for using furniture vignettes at their parties.  At the 50th birthday party – lime green and zebra were used as theme colors.

 

A few months after that initial phone call and much preparation later, Southern Accents did come, photographers in tow to capture the lavish “faux” party  Caplan  Miller Events put on for the magazine.  The story of that party was scheduled to run this spring - except what no one anticipated happening happened and now of course, Southern Accents is no more.  What a shame for CME that all those party pictures will never be seen.   But, graciously enough, in the last issue of SA, there is a storyline on Austin and a small blurb of the girls along with their picture was included on their web site HERE.   Although extremely grateful to be included in the “Insiders Guide To Austin,” it is still small potatoes next to actually being featured in the magazine.  Courtney, the ultimate optimist and a the-glass-is-always-half-full kind of girl is just happy knowing what would have been.  And so, since I feel somewhat responsible for the whole episode, I asked Courtney to share a few recent events she has planned so we could all enjoy them.     As always, CME didn’t disappoint and my jaw was hanging open while I gazed over the pictures Courtney sent.  I’m sure you’ll be impressed too!

 

 

image  Caplan Miller Events:  Sarah Miller, Courtney Caplan, and Elisabeth Elias who heads up their new Destination Management and Corporate Events Division.  Looking good girls!

 

0258

The first wedding Courtney shares was an outdoor event held in the bride’s parents backyard overlooking  Lake Travis.  The theme was yellow as you will see,  for the Yellow Rose of Texas – a popular rose AND song!  The flower girls wore adorable yellow tutus.

 

 

 

0121

CME had to construct a large wooden floor over the lawn which was used for the ceremony.   Yellow flowers by Petal Pushers of Austin were everywhere.

 

 

 

image

The wedding canopy overlooked the lake  - so beautiful!

 

 

 

image A view of the ceremony.

 

 

0396

The programs continued the theme.

 

 

0096

Of course the bridesmaids wore yellow and carried a mixture of gold and yellow flowers.

 

 

  0120

And naturally there was lemonade.

 

 

0240

The bride wanted a candy bar – stocked with every kind of yellow candy...

 

 

 

0022

And sucker – notice the darling yellow dotted ribbons!

 

 

 

0395

The place cards were cleverly affixed to yellow ribbon with clothespins.

 

 

 

0013

More yellow flowers were at each table.

 

 

 

 0020

I loved how they had fireside S’mores!

 

 

 

 0415

Even the beer Koozees were color coordinated.   It’s hard to imagine how much work goes into planning an event like this!   All photos were taken by Diana M Lott Photography.

 

 

 

JLW_011

The next wedding Courtney shared was a beautiful indoor event, this time with an orange theme.  In Austin, there are a lot of orange party themes since the local University of Texas’ color is burnt orange.   Here, reflected in a mirror is the flower-laden wedding canopy.    The photographer is Jenn Lindberg Weddings and the floral designer is David Kurio Designs.

 

 

JLW_001

A close up of the corner of the wedding canopy.

 

 

JLW_012

After the ceremony, the canopy is placed over the favors. 

 

 

  JLW_016     

During the cocktail hour, the lighting changed from orange to lilac.  What a wedding!

 

 

JLW_009

The tablecloths were silk taffeta and Caplan Miller Events had mirrors made by Townsley Designs for all the table tops. 

 

 

 JLW_008

A close up of the table settings with their mirrored tops and glass chargers. 

 

 

 

  JLW_013

The cake was topped with orchids and in the background – I wonder if that is the groom’s cake in the shape of a UT Longhorn?????  Only in Texas!

 

 

  0273

This next wedding was a true Texas experience weekend.  The rehearsal dinner was held in Luckenbach, Texas – a town of just a few residents which was made famous by a Waylon Jennings song.

 

 

image

The photographer for this weekend was Juxtapose.   I love the wedding couple’s initials spelled in flowers against all the rough woods!

 

 

image

The couple had a BBQ at the old Luckenbach Feed Lot for the Rehearsal Dinner.

 

 

0232

Hook’em!   Of course there had to be a Texas Longhorn.   The couple actually met on 6th Street in Austin and the groom is fresh off his second deployment to Iraq.

 

 

0137

  The wedding ceremony was held in Fredericksburg at the Grape Creek Vineyard complete with a bagpiper.

 

 

0146

   Blue hydrangeas were placed all around the outside altar.

 

 

1849

The reception was held at Hoffman Haus – a charming B&B in Fredericksburg.

 

 

  1640

The reception was held in a tent complete with chandeliers from Mexico and toile table cloths in blue and white to match the hydrangeas.    Courtney made sure to tell me that these glasses weren’t the ones she ordered!  They were supposed to be cobalt blue cut crystal – but CME made do with what was sent.  Courtney – it looks pretty nice to me!

 

 

0785

Another view of the tables – so pretty!!    Gorgeous flowers by David Kurio Designs and Draping by Townsley Designs. 

 

 

 

   0179 

Since the couple were married at a vineyard, wine corks held the place cards.

 

 

 

1859

The tent from the outside looking in – so romantic looking.

 

 

 

0701

Flip-flops in hydrangea blue were provided for dancing – the details are just amazing.

 

 

1755

All the women wore hats to the wedding, so of course there was a Hat Check!

 

 

1901

The candelabras held white orchids.

 

 

   0189What a beautiful tent – I love the draping and the Mexican styled chandeliers.

 

 

2537

There was even a late night buffet complete with donut holes and funnel cakes – yum!

 

 

2536

Mini burgers at the Late Night Buffet.

 

 

 

 

image And finally, just this past August, CME had another 50th Birthday bash – this time on 6th Street in Austin, photographed by Jerry Hayes.

 

 

 CaplinMillerAug22-08--6_2

Each guest’s menu became their own place card.   And yes – burnt orange was again used in honor of the UT Longhorns.

 

 

image

I adore this flower combination – green orchids and peach roses!   So beautiful!     The amazing flowers were by David Kurio Designs

 

 

 

image

Everyone was seated in one long table overlooking downtown Austin.   Even the chair cushions matched the linens.

 

 

image

Outside, CME had all the furniture, provided by Townsley Designs, brought in for the event. 

 

To see even more pictures of their events – be sure to visit Caplan Miller Events web site HERE.      I tell Courtney and her mom I can’t wait until Elisabeth gets married, I am going to hire CME to plan it – if they won’t be all booked up that is!  

 

 

image

I mean – if  Courtney had been an event planner when Elisabeth had her Bat Mitzvah, I’m sure we would have ended up with this:  a circus!  Isn’t this the cutest thing ever??   The Bat Mitzvah girl had her own Circus!  Love it!    Courtney, you are the BEST!!!!!!

 

 

image

 

In a bit of blogging news – The Skirted Table this week welcomed my blogging mentor, Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic.   Be sure to listen as Jennifer discusses how she started her blog - it’s an amazing story, and she also talks all about her new job at House Beautiful.   To listen go HERE.     As always, Linda, Megan and I so appreciate your listening and commenting.  Be sure to leave us any ideas for upcoming shows you might have.