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.
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!
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.
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.
The wedding canopy overlooked the lake - so beautiful!
A view of the ceremony.
The programs continued the theme.
Of course the bridesmaids wore yellow and carried a mixture of gold and yellow flowers.
And naturally there was lemonade.
The bride wanted a candy bar – stocked with every kind of yellow candy...
And sucker – notice the darling yellow dotted ribbons!
The place cards were cleverly affixed to yellow ribbon with clothespins.
More yellow flowers were at each table.
I loved how they had fireside S’mores!
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.
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.
A close up of the corner of the wedding canopy.
After the ceremony, the canopy is placed over the favors.
During the cocktail hour, the lighting changed from orange to lilac. What a wedding!
The tablecloths were silk taffeta and Caplan Miller Events had mirrors made by Townsley Designs for all the table tops.
A close up of the table settings with their mirrored tops and glass chargers.
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!
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.
The photographer for this weekend was Juxtapose. I love the wedding couple’s initials spelled in flowers against all the rough woods!
The couple had a BBQ at the old Luckenbach Feed Lot for the Rehearsal Dinner.
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.
The wedding ceremony was held in Fredericksburg at the Grape Creek Vineyard complete with a bagpiper.
Blue hydrangeas were placed all around the outside altar.
The reception was held at Hoffman Haus – a charming B&B in Fredericksburg.
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!
Another view of the tables – so pretty!! Gorgeous flowers by David Kurio Designs and Draping by Townsley Designs.
Since the couple were married at a vineyard, wine corks held the place cards.
The tent from the outside looking in – so romantic looking.
Flip-flops in hydrangea blue were provided for dancing – the details are just amazing.
All the women wore hats to the wedding, so of course there was a Hat Check!
The candelabras held white orchids.
There was even a late night buffet complete with donut holes and funnel cakes – yum!
Mini burgers at the Late Night Buffet.
And finally, just this past August, CME had another 50th Birthday bash – this time on 6th Street in Austin, photographed by Jerry Hayes.
Each guest’s menu became their own place card. And yes – burnt orange was again used in honor of the UT Longhorns.
I adore this flower combination – green orchids and peach roses! So beautiful! The amazing flowers were by David Kurio Designs
Everyone was seated in one long table overlooking downtown Austin. Even the chair cushions matched the linens.
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!
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!!!!!!
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.