COTE DE TEXAS: Southern Accents’ Loss: Caplan Miller Events

Southern Accents’ Loss: Caplan Miller Events

 

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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!

 

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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.

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

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The wedding canopy overlooked the lake  - so beautiful!

 

 

 

image A view of the ceremony.

 

 

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The programs continued the theme.

 

 

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

 

 

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And naturally there was lemonade.

 

 

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

 

 

 

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And sucker – notice the darling yellow dotted ribbons!

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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More yellow flowers were at each table.

 

 

 

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I loved how they had fireside S’mores!

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

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A close up of the corner of the wedding canopy.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

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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!

 

 

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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.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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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.

 

 

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

 

 

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   Blue hydrangeas were placed all around the outside altar.

 

 

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

 

 

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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!

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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The candelabras held white orchids.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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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.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

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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!  

 

 

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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!!!!!!

 

 

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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.  

69 comments :

  1. What an excellent post! I really love event planning and I think that designing for events is really an extension of interior design. And, WOW, I mean those girls really know their stuff. I'm loving the tablescapes!

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  2. What a talented team at Caplan Miller events! When SA closed, I did think of all the wonderful designers (and Caplan Miller are designers of parties - look at their unerring eye) whose work would not be featured because of the sudden closure of the magazine.

    There is truly no other place in the world like Texas, is there? Seeing this post makes me want to move to Austin!

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  3. CME definitely has a great future ahead! Love all the decorations and ingenuity. Especially love the longhorn cake!

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  4. Thanks for sharing! :) I definitely got some great ideas for our wedding!

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  5. Oh Joni, no one is more sorry that I am that we won't be able to publish their fabulous party. It just kills me to think of all the wonderful things we had photographed that won't see the light of day...in Southern Accents, anyway.

    This story is, I think, a great example of one way blogs and magazines work together. Bloggers often use magazine images to craft their stories and in return you and others are a terrific resource for spotlighting talent that we might not otherwise know about, especially in your local areas. Hopefully there will continue to be both beautiful magazines and blogs to showcase all the amazing talent out there.

    I am grateful to you for bringing Caplan Miller to our attention. Just so disappointed we couldn't follow through in the way we had hoped. I remain your biggest fan!

    Take care, Karen Carroll

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  6. I love weddings and these are so beautiful. As for my designer post of the month...you my friend are so welcome !

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  7. Your family generally seems to be pretty gosh darn amazing! Lucky you...

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  8. Joni,
    You are a very kind & loving blogger.

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  9. I must somehow be from Texas , I am so crazy about all those details, I find wedding the very nost fun to work on , with the budgets these girls work with , it would be such fun to just keep coming up with all of those great details, gorgeous .
    Thanks for bringing that to us Joni,
    Chris
    Just Beachy

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  10. those are all beautiful events! too bad I don't live in Texas, and am already married!

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  11. Beautiful!! I wish these girls the best!!

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  13. These are some very talented ladies! Best of luck to them in all the future endeavors.

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  14. ****** W*O*W!!! ******

    This makes me want to marry my Jim all over again!!! Problem, tho~~~ I'm not one of "those" women who can STILL fit into her wedding gown ...........Ahhhh, but at least my WEDDING VEIL still FITS!!!

    Truly a wonderful, fun, creative & most beautifully dreamy blog of FAB PHOTOS!!! (And what a "JOB" to have!!!)~

    Thanks, girlfriend... MUCHO FUN!
    Linda in AZ *

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  15. Wowwee! You Texas girls not only decorate so beautifully, you also throw super glamourous parties!

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  16. What a fantastic TEAM ! I admire their work . It is very inspiring. Thanks Joni for all the inspiration.

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  17. Incredible post, Joni! Thanks for introducing us to Courtney...so talented! Of course, I was drooling over the flowers in all of the pictures. Can't get enough of those lush, pave arrangements. Great start to the weekend...thanks!

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  18. Would they come to Belgium to take care for my anniversary party??(Haha,..)

    Inspiring post, Joni.

    Greet

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  19. What gorgeous images. Thanks so much for sharing them.

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  20. What a shame that SA folded before these talented girls could be featured. But you have certainly done them justice, Joni! Beautiful post!

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  21. Hi Joni... What talented women they are! I love, love, love that yellow wedding! How clever they were with the candy bar, the placemarkers and that beautiful wedding arch. It makes me wish I had done something a little more original at my wedding 20 years ago! Although, I still have my daughter's wedding to look forward to (she's only 12, but I can start dreaming, right?).

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  22. As disappointed as I'm sure they are (and aren't we all sad and disappointed!), they are so talented that many more great opportunities will surely come their way.

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  23. Love the wedding design photos...pure, coordinated, color saturated theater. Thanks Joni.

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  24. This is great! I know Courtney, and have been to some of the parties she has done. She should definitely be proud. I will share this with some of her friends.

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  25. OMG -those events are amazing -the beautiful photography doesn't hurt though I'm sure!
    HOWEVER -i'm a little wary about having the theme of your wedding be the colors of your alma mater....just seems a bit strange to me LOL.

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  26. Great post, loved all the flowers...wishing for smell a blog...lol

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  27. Wow- thanks for sharing this with us Joni. I can't even imagine all of the work that goes into those events. Stunning images!
    Happy weekend to you.

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  28. Wow! What great talents! I was going to try to choose a favorite event but I don't think I can... though two favorite elements are the printed items from the yellow weddng and the blue tables at the Luckenbach wedding. Thanks for sharing so much pretty with us, Joni!

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  29. I was excited to see David Kurio mentioned as the florist for one of the weddings. He did the (Austin) wedding for our son and our new daughter and what that man did with cala lillies was out of this world! It was a simple white theme and he made it almost decadently elegant! He's fantastic; just fantastic!

    Your Courtney has quite the eye for staging the most elegant occasions. I loved looking at all the photos (what woman doesn't like looking at wedding photos??) and it's a downright dirty shame the mag folded before her design mast was unfurled. Thank you for showcasing her talent.

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  30. Extremely talented! I loved those clear bowls hanging from ribbon with the flowers, a look I had not seen...and the yellow candies! actually the total looks pulled together worked in each wedding beautifully.

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  31. Wow...they are really talented and everything looks amazing and beautiful!!!

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  32. What beautiful designs and how much fun to be a guest at such a wedding/party? I think they will be very successful even if not published in SA and how kind of you to share CME with the rest of us! I loved the peach roses with the orchids...stunning!

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  33. I remember your post about this talented creature well! What a gifted lady she is. Her events look amazing and oh so beautiful!! I wish her much success!

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  34. Joni - what absolutely gorgeous events! The mini burgers made me smile. Love the outdoor wedding and the bagpipe player. Candy bars are so in now a days. They really do add "eye candy" lol.

    Cheers,
    Karen O.

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  35. Joni - what absolutely gorgeous events! The mini burgers made me smile. Love the outdoor wedding and the bagpipe player. Candy bars are so in now a days. They really do add "eye candy" lol.

    Cheers,
    Karen O.

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  36. Joni, What a wonderful blog today. Caplan Miller should be so pleased that you represented them in the way that you did. The designs are fabulous.

    This points out to us what a true loss Southern Accents is to our world. I also had a photograph session at my store in Birmingham with SA.

    Imagine my shock when Julie, the Senior Editor, took the time to call me and explain that the shoot would not make SA before it closed, how much fun we had had doing the shoot, and how sorry she was. Imagine my shock, that this extremely talented lady, who had just lost her position would take the time to call me. Just another example of the class that SA exuded.

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  37. Might turn me into a wedding crasher if I lived down there. Wow.

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  38. Creative, inspiring and beautiful.
    Wishing CME continued success.
    -Brenda-

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  39. Wonderful talent will continue even as sadly SA does not. At the back of my gut I wonder if it has a chance at being resurrected at healthier economic time. I look to the fact that Time Warner is continuing the website. All other now defunct publications are gone completely. This tidbit gives me hope.

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  40. They are amazing! So sad SA won't be there to publish the article, but at least we saw their work through Cote de Texas!
    marcie

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  41. Joni- Thanks for sharing these fabulous pics with us. They're definitely talented and I got a million of ideas for my wedding one day. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend. I would like to invite you to participate in my giveaway.

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  42. Wow what a talented team! I'm not sure which bash I liked the best- great uses of colors to express the couple's or host's personalities.

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  43. Joni,
    I have had the pleasure of working with an "over the top" event planner like Courtney and I now can appreciate the magnitude of energy that this can take and the months of planning, but to see it all realized
    is truly incredible.
    I could see a "blog party" pve style, lots of fresh greens and all my blog buddies having a great time, of course there would be art everywhere....
    I bet Courtney could make it a huge hit!
    pve

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  44. hi guys, the quality of your pics on your blog is phenomenal! wow - love the wedding pics...

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  45. The yellow wedding! To die for, my favourite colour everywhere, thank you for such a fabulous recap!

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  46. ps
    Joni,
    my email address is:
    llynn3@verizon.net
    -Linda, NY
    (re: french style awnings on my stone, brick and stucco house)
    thanks!

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  47. Wow. So beautiful down to the tiniest detail! I have always wanted to do event planning and party styling but have no idea how to break into that world-- I am currently an art teacher.

    I have read your blog for many, many months but I think this is the first time I have commented. I love it! Thanks for such wonderful posts.

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  48. Truly gifted talent!
    Takes the event design business to a new level.
    xo xo

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  49. Truly gifted talent!
    Takes the event design business to a new level.
    xo xo

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  50. I am on the island of Ischia in a beautiful Hotel...with Wi-Fi...YEAH! I can read my favorite blogs!.
    Joni, this post makes me wish I can use the service of this superb event planner.
    Ciao from Italy!

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  51. This blog is one of the best I've ever seen by far. I'm just blown away everytime I stop by!! Amazing!!

    ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ !!!

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  52. Wow!!!!! I mean, wow!!! What a talent she has, thank you so much for sharing it with us all. On a personal note, I just started blogging again after recovering from a very nasty shoulder surgery, (and the death of my dog!) and your blog was definitely a bright spot for me, so thanks for that. Hope all is well!

    xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)

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  53. Wow! Those pretty, young women are really making a splash with parties and weddings! I really enjoyed seeing all of their fabulous event photos. Thanks Joni. laurie

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  54. yellow....blue.....red....o goodness...I can't decide! I simply adore your blog and what you do!

    blessings...lylah

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  55. Amazing blog, how stunningly beautiful these images are, where were these talented women on my wedding days?? well, probably in nursery school! i have been out of the blogging world for a few weeks working on the Met Home Showhouse (now open and spectacular...if I may say so) and I click straight into your blog. Thank you for these beautiful moments. BTW, i love the skirted table conversations.

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  56. those girls breathe fresh air into event planning.... absolutely wonderful... love the fredericksburg location.

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  57. Even though I have no event planning needs in the near future- that I am aware of - I loved the cork place card holder idea!!! For a dinner party it would be adorable!!! Love your posts!!! I can always incorporate some nugget of info for my house and my life- Thanks Joni!!!

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  58. Beautiful work done by the gals at CME!!! I would LOVE to have them do an event for me!!! WOW!! absolutely gorgeous...maybe one of the bloggers who have an online magazine can feature this wonderful spread!!! love the orhids in the glass bowl centerpieces, the lime green and zebra color combo..and the peach roses and lime green orchids... SWOON! so many beautiful images! Thanks Joni!!!

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  59. Wow, Caplan Miller Events is one talented group. And yet they are so young! Good for them. I think we'll be seeing lots more of this darling trio!
    Lovely post Joni!

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  60. Joni,
    You know if they had been published in Southern Accents you may not have done this piece! Wow I just thought I WAS reading Southern Accents!!!!!But.....Maybe things work out for the best. I don't think SA would have shown such variety, so many gorgeous pictures.....Those girls are going to be so flippin busy.....I just love happy endings, don't you???:)

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  61. What amazing talent and stunning work. They sure do it right. Period. Wow. Hats off.

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  62. Hi Joni!

    Have been enjoying your blog for so long now. It's my first time leaving a comment, but I just had to. These pictures are gorgeous! Oh, how I would haved loved to have a wedding like this! Thanks for sharing.

    BTW, my husband and I took a trip to the Urban Market and checked out West University and even ate at Edloe's. The chicken enchiladas were out of this world! I would have never known about any of it if it weren't for your blog, so thanks!

    Adrienne

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  63. Joni, would you please e-mail me! Thanks vickydar@charter.net

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  64. That "Kick of your Shoes basket of flip flops is such a great idea!!!

    Beautiful...so inspiring...I want to get married agin...to the same man of course :)

    Best,
    Michelle

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  65. Joni, thank you for the amazing post! I so appreciate all of the wonderful comments! I need to plan a Cote de Texas blog party for you and all of your fans! You are truly the star.

    xoxo, Courtney

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  66. This post truly shows what Caplan Miller can do. They recently helped to plan my wedding and it was not only filled with elegance but it was also the most stress free wedding I have been a part of!

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