Well…I should have been! I had my outfit picked out and planned on sitting next to Madeleine Albright. It was thrilling to hear that someone was going to finally spend some money on a wedding and not be apologetic about it. And how refreshing to hear that a bride was going to work with a specific color story and not going matchy-matchy or crazy contrast. Working with blue-based colors such as lilac, blue and soft raspberry was pleasing to the eye and gave Chelsea’s wedding a rich look with depth. We notice that when the economy swings upward, we shift towards colors that are more subtle…colors that give events a richer feel. Fabrics become luxurious. When economic times are bad, we see cheaper looks and fabrics. After 25 years of event planning, I believe it is because people don’t want to look like they are spending money…and often they don’t even realize it.
By using tones of one color palette, events have more depth and tells the eye a more restful story. The eye is not darting back and forth from one extreme to another. Although shocking combos such as Orange and Hot Pink will always have their place, we see more of the same color saturation in our events for the next few years. Gray again is the new neutral and will act as the starting point for many brides in 2011. The last time we saw gray so strong was the 80′s…a time of spending and consumption. Remember television shows like Dynasty and Dallas! When you are planning your wedding, want to stretch the budget dollar and give your event a more expensive look, go for related colors and use richer fabrics. Have the best of what you can afford and you will appreciate your choices for years to come. And if you would like to discuss color theory or selection, give me a call!

Rob Schaefer
Inaugural St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

I love weddings, obviously. But what I love more is the relationships I form with my clients that last long after the wedding. With Crystal and Nick, their love and adoration was contagious; you couldn’t help but be in the same room and feel their chemistry and have a constant smile on your face. Not only because they’re hilarious, but because they have the love you think only exists in movies.

Crystal and Nick’s day was so them and they played perfectly into their favorite color of red with splashes in the tuxedos and a signature drink during their cocktail hour. Vibrant low centerpieces with red gerbera daisies alternating with tall centerpieces with branches and ivory orchids by Botanicals Design Studio offset the black and ivory linens. The ivory chair covers with long red sashes provided by Sitting Pretty/Party Arts were used for both the ceremony and reception, and mimicked the red stripes on the wedding cake by Steven Becker Fine Dining. Of course, the wedding party’s secret wardrobe change into red Converse high top sneakers for the reception literally tied it all together.

Downtime Band did an amazing job providing music for Crystal and Nick’s intimate ceremony in the South Ballroom and cocktail hour in the Grand Lobby. Downtime then kicked it up a notch and had all of the guests on the dance floor during the reception in the Coronado’s beautiful North Ballroom; that is, as long as guests weren’t off taking pictures in the traditional photobooth provided by PhotoboothStL. Of course, Lyle Whitworth Photography was there to capture every moment and detail. Congratulations Crystal and Nick, wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness!

To view pictures from Crystal and Nick’s wedding, click here to visit our Facebook page

Jaci Burgess, Catering Sales Manager for Steven Becker Fine Dining and the Coronado Ballroom

The Popvic – Schuh Wedding Wedding Reception

Sometimes the best place to find your Coronado Ballroom wedding inspiration is from your favorite things. It makes your event personal and magical. The theme of Natalie Popovic and Mike Schuh’s wedding focused on the French confection shop Laduree in Paris. It is one of their favorite places to visit. Known for its signature pistachio green box filled with pastel macaroons and toile ribbon bow, it provided the inspiration for their Marie Antoinette reception. Keeping the linens simple and elegant and matching the ballroom marble, the incredible flowers designed by Tony Montano were out of an haute couture magazine. Each table held a different style arrangement – each a work of art. Every imaginable color and style of flower was mixed with various fruits to create a very lavish French court look. Every table was pin spotted and the ceiling of the ballroom was shadow cast with branches and garden vines like the Louvre gardens.
Both Natalie and I love movie “Great Expectations” and we often laughed at how many things in common we shared. When I first saw her on the wedding day, I walked up and hugged her and said, “You had me at Great Expectations!” It was priceless! I also named their delicious signature drink “Natalie and Mike’s Great Expectation” and was rimmed in pistachio green sugar. I feel so blessed that I was able to design the wedding cake to look like the stacked boxes of Laduree confections with pistachio green fondant and medallions of French toile transposed on white chocolate…it was breathtaking! Their lavish meal was topped off by handmade French macaroons and other friandises accompanied by fine cordials and liquors. Coordinated by the always delightful and organized Sarah Grus, Sarah created a magnificent candy station at the end of the evening. Guests could create their own bag of candy to take home with beautiful European pastel candy. Candy was abundant in beautiful bell jars and glass containers. The place cards were on ribbons and hung from the branches of a tree filled with little feathered birds created by Tony Montano. This later adorned the candy station.
Although it rained earlier, there was a double rainbow in the sky that afternoon. The smell of the rain reminded me of being in Paris and the wedding photos look like a Parisian fashion shoot with the incredible work by photographer John Fedele.
If you are a St. Louis bride and groom in need of a little wedding inspiration, call me. I would love to talk to you.
En vous souhaitant une vie étonnante!

Rob Schaefer
Inaugural St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

It hardly seems possible that a year has gone by since I was asked to style the St. Louis Bride Magazine gown spread. When they asked me what my concept would be to inspire St. Louis brides, nothing seemed more appropriate than classic fairy-tales. Since I work in the fairy-tale ballroom of St. Louis, I knew that I wanted to incorporate the amazing Coronado Ballroom into the mix as well. I believe that fairy-tales were written about real people and handed down for generations to inspire and act as life’s lessons to children. I often wonder what would Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood and Belle of Beauty and Beast be like today. Were they woman ahead of their time? So drawing upon their stories, I was inspired to recreate their persona as modern women of today. And it became a really beautiful thing.
I hope I did Cinderella proud when I staged the photo shoot at the Coronado Ballroom. Walking through the beautiful gowns at Saks Fifth Avenue, one dress in particular called out to me and I felt was Cinderella worthy. It was called ‘Braccio” by Kenneth Pool and featured pleated net across the bodice and around the train. Crystals and rhinestones were set in an almost antique silver setting on the french lace appliques. A stunning crystal tiara and diamonds from Curt Parker Jewelers completed the look. And of course satin and crystal Manolo Blahnik heels served as the modern day glass slippers.
I know that no one believes me but our model for the shoot was Lily Cella and she was 14 years old! Lily embodied all the things her Cinderella counterpart did…elegance, purity, beauty and the glow of youth. When she came out of the dressing room, everyone inhaled! Carrying a bouquet by Master Florist Randy Shamel from Artistry, the all white flowers, white PUMPKINS, and little gold mice brought the elements of the fairy-tale to life. Photographer Jon Koch captured the moment in story book fashion with his extraordinary style. The photos are magnificent!
When Kathy Becker mentioned that we should use the stunning photo of Lily in our ad, I was honored. Beth Barr did an amazing job with the layout of the ad, copy, color and fonts. We love and respect Beth so very much! It is truly a beautiful ad and we have already received so many wonderful comments on it.
I know that not every St. Louis bride wants to be Cinderella on her wedding day and that many receptions don’t have an element of fairy-tale glamour. But as a very old soul, I have to believe that everyone wants to feel just a bit of enchantment on their wedding day. I know I do…and I am counting down the moments until Prince Charming makes his appearance.

Rob Schaefer
Inaugural St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

We love Wedding Planners at the Coronado Ballroom! I am fortunate to work with so many talented and creative people here in the St. Louis wedding market. In St. Louis, we are a united family of vendors and our vendors are a part of our extended family. We love feeding our vendors a delicious meal and seeing them rest a bit during a busy wedding day. The lovely Sarah Grus, Brit Tucker, Tiffany Bentley-Halkitis, Dame Ellen Gutierrez, Shelli Alred, Ashley Rath, Kristin Weis, Lisa Zweifel, Yara Holt, Lacy Branch, Jeanetta Hill and the Cosmo girls – to name a few – provide St. Louis with a wealth of talent and skills to make your preparations go smoothly and wedding day perfect. Having a St. Louis Wedding Planner to assist you at your wedding is a wise investment. With such a beautiful and neutral decor, it is such a pleasure to share new ideas and insights with these many wonderful individuals and make Coronado receptions vary from ultra modern chic to classic, old world Cinderella. If you are considering investing in a Wedding Planner for your Coronado Ballroom reception, it is worth it. Although Jaci and I are here to assist you in every way, the valuable services that extend long before the actual reception…not to mention getting down the aisle, are priceless. Ignore those horrid wedding shows and amateur articles written by reporters (who know nothing about weddings) that tell you to “Home Depot” your wedding! Doing everything yourself is stressful and most of the time, looks inexpensive…the last thing you would want.

Rob Schaefer
Inaugural St. Louis Wedding Professional Hall of Fame Inductee

Amanda and Kyle are a beautiful couple who chose very strong colors for their wedding. Raspberry pink paired with black made a crisp, summer statement and gave their event a fun, whimsical feel. Remember that anything you put on a black surface magnifies the look…similar to when a jeweler puts a diamond against a black velvet pad. It intensifies the effect. Such was the case when Amanda put hot red roses, raspberry peonies and lime hydrangea on a black overlay. Crisp, raspberry taffeta sashes tied each chair and matching raspberry napkins sat on each black charger. The wedding cake was unbelievable with multiple tiers of various patterns…black and white damask, black and white strip, all raspberry pink and then black cascading dots on white with a black and white damask top tier. Beautiful handmade papers were used to create the wedding stationary and black and white damask paper tied the entire look together. This strong color palate truly set the tone for an evening of fun and enchantment.