Events And Parties | Done Brilliantly

Events and Parties: Back to the Future Bar Mitzvah

7 May Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Features, Sophia

Done Brilliantly is excited to welcome our first Bar Mitzvah photo shoot, captured by LunahZon Photography! Bar Mitzvahs are a time when Jewish boys celebrate becoming a man and becoming responsible for their actions. Ethan, the star of this Bar Mitzvah, took this time of stepping into the future to take a look back at his past with his favorite film, Back to the Future. LunahZon Photography made sure this Back to the Future-themed party was everything Ethan asked for, complete with a pre-shoot of Ethan as Marty McFly on his signing board and place-cards.

Since Bar Mitzvahs are a time when a boy steps into manhood, Ethan had the great idea to enjoy his childhood one more time with this sci-fi themed party. The event designer, Creative Events by Beth filled the Renaissance Charlotte Southpark Hotel to the brim with colorful candy, hover-board centerpieces and a bar bathed in green, futuristic glowing light. All these small touches helped recreate the Back to the Future setting with that vintage soda shop/diner vibe. Cue to DJ from East Coast Entertainment, and you’ve got a Bar Mitzvah that’s out of this world!

Thanks to LunahZon Photography for submitting our first featured Bar Mitzvah photo shoot on Done Brilliantly. And of course, mazeltov to Ethan!

Event Designer: Creative Events by Beth
Reception Venue: Renaissance Charlotte Southpark Hotel
DJ: East Coast Entertainment

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Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Features, Sophia

Events and Parties: Annabelle’s Strawberry Birthday

3 May Filed Under: Design Elements, Events and Parties, Featured, Inspiration, Natalia

Birthdays are always a great opportunity to get creative with different themes and ideas, and this party is no exception! From the mom who is also the event designer, Sara at The Homespun Hostess told us about the inspiration behind her daughter’s strawberry themed birthday party! “Way back in early February my sweet little Annabelle got a new Strawberry tutu from Gymboree. As soon as she got it she told me she wanted to have a strawberry party so she could wear it for the party, and so the planning for her May birthday began! I knew in my head I wanted the style to be vintage strawberry, homespun and farm chic all wrapped into one! I used red gingham, fun polka dots and accented with a bit of retro aqua.” Maggie Russo Photo captured every charming detail, including the birthday girl herself, at this adorable affair!

Sara also shared more about the delicious details included in this sweet birthday party! “The dessert table was filled with goodies that my very talented sister {little miss sweet tooth} made: gorgeous strawberry ruffle cake, strawberry cake pops, strawberry cookies, truffles and strawberry french macarons! The food table had more of a “farm chic” rustic look with vintage popcorn bags, wrapped sandwiches tied with yarn and custom tags, mini homemade strawberry pies, individual strawberry spinach and dill potato salads and red lunch bags of chips. I love the pop of aqua against the red; it adds that little bit of retro charm that I love.” With all that yummy food, we can tell that even the adults would enjoy this kid’s birthday party. From the red ribbons to the polka dot straws, we just love all the creative yet simple touches that were incorporated into every aspect of this event! Thank you to Maggie Russo Photo for sharing this fun and festive birthday party with us!

Event Designer: The Homespun Hostess

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Filed Under: Design Elements, Events and Parties, Featured, Inspiration, Natalia

First Birthday Party: Alice in Wonderland

27 Apr Filed Under: Design Elements, Events and Parties, Featured, Features, Inspiration, Natalia

Tampa wedding and portrait photographer, Andi Diamond Photography, was thrilled and inspired to photograph Kenady’s vintage Alice in Wonderland themed first birthday party. Andi photographed Kenady’s parents’ engagement session, their wedding, and Kenady’s first year, so this party was a special milestone for not only the family, but also the photographer! Having planned the party for months, the decor and details were extremely well thought out. Kenady’s grandmother, owner of D’s Darling Designs, a couture children’s clothing company, created all of the DIY elements from table tops, teacup centerpieces, and custom invitations.

The party was complete with a DJ, bounce house, face painting, hula hoops, and Alice in Wonderland dress ups. Of course, no 1 year old birthday is complete without couture cupcakes and a tea-cup shaped designer cake, and matching smash cake by Gia’s Cakes and Goodies! While Kenady was not too fond of her smash cake, everyone else enjoyed the sweets and dessert bar at this backyard celebration.

Thank you to Andi Diamond Photography for sharing this fun and colorful birthday party!

Event Designer: D’s Darling Designs

Bakery: Alessi Bakery

DJ: Classic Entertainment

Cake Designer: Gia’s Cakes and Goodies

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Filed Under: Design Elements, Events and Parties, Featured, Features, Inspiration, Natalia

Baby Shower Inspiration: Lemon and Aqua

26 Apr Filed Under: Events and Parties, Lauren

This week we can’t get enough cheerful baby shower inspiration, and this shoot from Verve Studio (featured in Giggle Magazine) is just perfect for a spring shower! Cool aqua and lemon yellow, eyelet lace, fresh tulips, and sugary treats make for a simple and sweet table setting that would be perfect for any spring party. I especially love the personalized paper details and hand-painted onesie cookies– plus the diaper tower cake is such a clever gift idea for a new mom! Thanks to Verve Studio and event designer Adore Events of Gainesville, Florida for sharing this shoot with us!

Event Planner: ADORE Events

Reception Venue: Sweetwater Branch Inn

Invitation Designer: The LV Studio

Bakery: Ms Debbie’s Sugar Art

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Filed Under: Events and Parties, Lauren

Styled Shoot: Spring Tea Party

3 Apr Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Food, Lauren

What better time than spring to have a tea party?? This adorable shoot from Erin Johnson Photography, styled by Carly from Girl Friday, is full of fun patterns and tasty treats that would be perfect for Easter or a spring garden party. “Carly set-up the party by the pond in her back yard. She hung streamers from the trees, set a little table with a mix of vintage Spode china (her grandmother’s) and modern Fiestaware. She decorated the table with handmade, yarn-strung flag bunting pinned on layered vintage lace tablecloths, fabric and button balls, floral arrangements and cake plates and stands with all sorts of goodies from Sweets Bakeshop. She even had handmade flags for the cupcakes, signs for the desserts, and little name signs on each chair. She served her grandmother’s famous lemonade in tea cups and we practiced clinking teacups and giving toasts–when we we’re stuffing our mouths with macaroons two at a time.” We don’t blame them for indulging on these tasty treats– and the chance to get dressed up for the camera!

Thanks to the talented team for sharing these fun springtime party ideas with us!

Event Planner: Bella Dia

Bakery: Sweets Bakeshop

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Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Food, Lauren

Inspiration: Cute as a Button Baby Shower

15 Mar Filed Under: Design Elements, Events and Parties, Featured, Inspiration, Natalia

If you know a new baby who is as cute as a button, then you’ll love these ideas for an adorable button-themed baby shower! Kristie Bradley Photograhy captured all the pink and grey details of this adorable DIY event. The mason jars, tied with a pink ribbon and filled with ingredients for making delicious sugar cookies, make an easy DIY shower gift for all your guests. The soft color palette and touches of pink buttons everywhere, from the invitations to the dessert table, together make the perfect combination for a charming yet elegant shower for the newest addition to your family!

Thank you to Kristie Bradley Photography for submitting this Cute as a Button shower!

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Filed Under: Design Elements, Events and Parties, Featured, Inspiration, Natalia

Baby Shower: Guess whooo’s having twins?

21 Feb Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Inspiration, Lauren, Lifestyle

If we learned anything from this baby shoot last October, it’s that owls and babies are a perfect pair! Verve Studio makes that extra clear in this twin-sized baby shower, styled by ADORE Events at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Rustic wood branch and green moss touches, along with crafted baby owls and nests, custom owl-themed stationery, and adorable decor elements, blend together perfectly for an affair that is equally sophisticated, charming, and– best of all– gender neutral! Yellow and brown, with just a hint of pink and blue, make this decor perfect for fraternal twins, or any gender-neutral shower. And the lovely wraparound porch, complete with lemonade and rocking chairs, complete this adorable Floridian fete.

Thanks to Verve Studio for sharing this showstopping shower with us!

Event Planner: ADORE Events

Reception Venue: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Invitation Designer: Footstone Ink

Bakery: Posh Pastry

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Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Inspiration, Lauren, Lifestyle

Done Brilliantly “It’s a Blog!” Party

23 Dec Filed Under: Events and Parties, Features, Lauren

With the holiday season in full swing, chances are you’re knee-deep in preparations for holiday parties and festivities. This season, we’re excited to share a party of our own! Done Brilliantly recently celebrated the launch of our newly-redesigned blog, with the help of the fabulous Verite Photography Boutique and Sugar Rush Events. Fun striped invitations designed by Molly Covert of Rabbit Foot Fern spread the news about the festive affair, and bottles of champagne were popping for guests that came from around the Bay Area!

Kristen of Sugar Rush events completed the styling of the gorgeous Verite Studio with lanterns she decorated herself and Jinger fromThe Flower House floral arrangements added an extra sparkle. Robyn and Maria captured the event and the entire crew out front. One of the guests captured the spirit perfectly. She said, “Being in this studio with the gorgeous images and positive energy makes me believe in love and happily ever after”. We certainly agree!

Sweet Lauren Cakes designed cake pops complete with the logo elements ofTwo Bright Lights. We couldn’t’ get enough of them–and neither could our guests! The Red Velvet pops disappeared in minutes. Siri added some DIY elements with the customized straws.

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Ron Grandia set the tone with fabulous tunes, and the bites from A Tasteful Affair were delicious! Just looking at the gorgeous images of the appetizer spread is making our mouths water. Carla David of Say Cheese! Paper Props crafted the cutest photo props ever specifically for the party.

Thanks again to Robyn and Maria for offering their gorgeous studio to create the perfect ambiance for a memorable evening and to Kristen for orchestrating an incredible evening showcasing the extraordinary talents of the Bay Area entertainment industry.

Caterer: A Tasteful Affair

Event Planner: Sugar Rush Events

Floral Designer: The Flower House

Cake Designer: Sweet Lauren Cakes

DJ: A Different Kind of DJ

Studio Venue: Verite Photography Studio

Paper Props: Say Cheese! Paper Props

Invitation Design: Rabbit Foot Fern

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Filed Under: Events and Parties, Features, Lauren

Food: Festive Treats from Jelly Modern Doughnuts

14 Dec Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Features, Food, Lifestyle

You’ve heard of Christmas cookies, but what about Christmas donuts?? Start a new tradition, inspired by these amazing holiday creations from Jelly Modern Doughnuts. Inspired by the memory of small town bakeries, Jelly Modern Doughnuts in Calgary adds sophistication to a Canadian tradition with their gourmet artisan treats. They offer dougnuts for everything from children’s birthday packages, to weddings, to holiday events–how great would these be for a holiday party at the office or a New Year’s brunch? Yum!

Thanks to Ryan Monson for sharing this treat with us!

(Want to make your own holiday donuts? Why not try these baked eggnog donuts? So good!)

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Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Features, Food, Lifestyle

Parties and Events: Tea Time

30 Oct Filed Under: Events and Parties, Featured, Home and Decor, Inspiration, Lauren, Lifestyle, Real Weddings

Today’s submission was staged as a wedding inspiration shoot, but we think this tea party theme is perfect for any occasion! There’s nothing more classic than a vintage tea party, but Zipporah K Photography threw in some updated details to make this tradition seem modern and fresh. Swap out the real roses for charming paper ones, bake up some red velvet cupcakes, and throw on a vintage white frock, and you have all of the ingredients for a perfect afternoon tea. (Oh, and don’t forget the gumdrops. How cute!)