Meg + Ralph, A Fort Desoto Beach Engagement Session

I absolutely love how Meg and Ralph's engagement session by Rachel Burkhart turned out. I wanted to share them with you and officially welcome them as an AVD couple. I love the location Rachel chose for their photos and they did a great job decided what to wear including Meg's awesome Rifle Company Keds! 

Meg and Ralph met in college and have been together for 8 years. They are adventurous, fun and easy-going. Anytime I meet with them I feel like I am meeting with old friends and there isn't much more I could ask for as a planner/designer.

Meg and Ralph love the outdoors, traveling and Disney and wanted me to design a wedding that reflected that. One of the most exciting aspects of my job is infusing details with my couple's personalities. At first, I was a little stumped on bringing all of these things together but I love a little challenge. I have completed their design and I am even more excited for their Sand Key Beach Ceremony and Clearwater Community Sailing Center wedding. The locations they chose are absolutely beautiful and a great reflection of them. I am so excited to get to work with such a great couple! 

KB Communications | Tampa Brand Styling

Kasey Brennan, communications genius and word ninja behind KB Communications knows the importance of connecting with your potential clients. Kasey writes, "KB Communications was born out of a deep desire to help organizations effectively share their stories with the audiences they impact. Whether you're a national corporation looking to showcase your expertise in the trade media, or a local nonprofit hoping to increase awareness in your community – I can help."

As Kasey helps to connect potential clients to organizations  through words I help connect potential clients to businesses through styling. Business owners are no longer after a regular old headshot to place on the bio page of their websites, they are looking to share more about who they are and the why behind their business in order to better connect with their clients. Imagery can be just as important as words. I loved working with Kasey, not just because she's a sweet person but because she truly got the purpose of her branding images. 

Kasey  moved into her home not too long ago while she searches for a more permanent place with her new husband. She has been stumped on decorating her office. Although I thought it was pretty cute, it didn't truly represent her brand. She shared some inspiration on Pinterest along with her new site and I got a good idea of her brand through all of that. From there I began sourcing and curating the perfect details that would showcase her brand and style and really shine in her brand images. I will do a little before and after for you. The before images were taken on an iPhone but all other images were taken by Laura Foote. 

BEFORE 

AFTER

1.  I wanted something to draw the eye up and add interest to the wall. I chose a piece with a natural element and texture because it fits Kasey's brand and style. 
2. I bought a classic framed cork board for Kasey's pieces of paper that inspire her. She had a lot of papers that where important or meant something to here and this just provided a space to house all of that and add some decor to the mall. 
3. To add in more natural elements I found a wooden letter holder and papers in her branding colors to place in it.
4. Kasey loves chambray (me too!) and I found the perfect chambray notebooks that tie in her style to her desk. 
5. I found Kasey some glass geometric pen holders to bring in some modern elements.
6. I bought some pens and pencils in her branding colors to create a cohesive story.
7. Kasey shared a gold task lamp in a lot of her inspiration photos and I love how it looks on her desk. 
8. I created a floral arrangement that is free flowing and organic to bring some more natural elements to her desk.
9. Speaking of desk. Kasey's desk is an heirloom passed down from her grandfather. It is where he worked to run his own business and I just love that Kasey runs her empire from it too! 

I absolutely love the way Kasey incorporated these images into her new site, you should definitely go take a look here! I also have to say Laura Foote is amazing to work with. She knows and understands the importance of brand imagery too. She takes the time to get to know each of her clients to understand their brand and in doing so will know which specific shots to take to use for your marketing efforts. I highly recommend Laura! Kasey, you are a joy and I loved working with you. I wish you all the success in your business! Thank you for trusting me to help communicate your brand through styling these images. 

Photography: Laura Foote

Coryn & Brian | Tampa Marriott Waterside Wedding

Coryn and I go way back. We both cheered for our high school. I will never forget how genuinely kind and helpful she was to a younger sophomore like me and not much has changed. We got back in touch at a mutual high school friend's party last year and I was so excited to see she was recently engaged to Brian and had the biggest smile on her face. 

I had just relaunched the planning side of AVD so it was perfect timing and I was so glad I could offer month of coordination for Coryn and Brian. Coryn was amazing to work with. She was organized and on top of things, not always necessary when working with me but very much appreciated. Coryn and Brian, it was a complete honor to help you on your wedding day. The way you make each other smile is incredibly infectious and I hope you continue to make each other smile for many, many more years! 

Is this not the cutest first look ever?! You can't help but smile when these two are around. 

I loved the view of Tampa Marriott Waterside. It is right on the water with boat docks directly behind it. The weather was absolutely perfect thanks to Florida winter. The boats even blew their horns when the had their first kiss as husband and wife. 

Vendors who made it all happen: Photography: Ailyn la Torre Photography |  Venue: Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina | Bride’s Makeup: Carly McClure | Bride’s Hair: Laurie Pollice | Bride’s Dress Store and Designer: The White Magnolia – Mikaella | Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal – Vera Wang | Wedding Coordination: Amber Veatch Designs | Florals: Events in Bloom | Baker: Sugardarlings | Invitations: Invitation Galleria | Decor Rentals: Events in Bloom | Entertainment: Inpulse Entertainment

Kristen & Greg | St. Pete Wedding at Morean Center for Clay

I vividly remember my first conversation with Kristen & Greg. It was a video chat since they live in Boston. I was nervous as I always am when I first "meet" clients. That lasted for about thirty seconds. I immediately felt like I was talking to two old friends. I could truly tell how much they loved each other in the excitement in their voices when we talked about how they met and wedding specifics. I live for these moments with my clients. 

Kristen and Greg came up with their own color palette and it was love at first site for me. Look how fun?!

Kristen and Greg are a great team. They supported each other throughout the planning process and it was a breath of fresh air. They are so thoughtful and they treated me more like a friend than a vendor. 

I love their venue for several reasons. It's a local non-profit that provides art classes to the community that is located in an old train station. You know I love supporting the arts! The historic brick, big windows and old railroad doors are beautiful pieces of character that I love! The event space is a nice blank canvas but full of character-my kind of venue!

When I was going through wedding details with them there were a few areas that they really wanted to be non-traditional. I could tell they were maybe a little nervous to tell me and when they did I was very excited! I welcome my clients to let their personalities show in the details and not be afraid to go against the norm. I love that they opted for an ice cream sandwich stand instead of a wedding cake. I heard a lot of guests say "best wedding ever!" after they picked out their ice cream sandwich by A Cow Named Moo. I have to agree, it was one of the best days ever!

I also loved that they ditched their fancy ceremony shoes for some sweet dancing shoes, look at those Converse!

Another detail I loved were the place cards and table numbers. They decided to play a little trick on their guests and number the tables with numbers that had meaning to them. I think my personal fav was table $9.99, the cost of their favorite clam chowder. On the back of the table number it explained the meaning behind the unique number. When guests were heading to their table I am sure they had a good laugh and it set the mood for the whole reception. Kristen and Greg's goal was to have a wedding that was classy but not too stuffy and I think their fun table numbers helped set the tone for that. 

I love how the reception design came together. I knew I wanted the centerpieces to be colorful like their color palette. The flowers used each color except teal and Kristen and Greg really wanted to incorporate more teal into their reception. I proposed a bistro napkin with a teal stripe and I think it added the perfect pop of color to the table. Teal can sometimes be an overpowering color and I wanted to avoid that. 

Kristen and Greg, thank you for trusting me to design your wedding. It was truly an honor to work with you to create a special day. I will truly miss working together and I wish you two a lifetime of happiness! 

I seriously got to work with an amazing team of vendors:

 Venue: Morean Center for Clay // Coordination: Blush by Brandee Garr // Design, Styling & Reception florals: Amber Veatch Designs // Personal & ceremony florals: Jodie Katzeff // Hair and makeup: Lasting Luxe // Calligrapher: Old City Calligraphy // Dress designer: Paloma Blanca // Bridal shop: White Magnolia // Hair piece: Powder Blue Bijoux // Groom’s attire: Indochino // Ties: The Tie Bar //Bridesmaids dresses: Modcloth // Catering: Puff ‘n Stuff // DJ: Expert Productions // Dessert: A Cow Named Moo // Ceremony: Espiritu Santo Catholic Church // Cocktail hour music: Breezin’ Entertainment // Videographer: J&S Media // Beer: Treasure Island Brewery //  Transit: Skyline Limousine & AstroSkate Bus // Guy’s getting ready space: Renaissance Hotel

Modern Romantic Wedding Inspiration

I wanted to create wedding inspiration inspired by my branding. I had complete creative control for this project and it was a lot of fun for me! This was also my debut of planning, designing, styling florals and rentals for a shoot! It was a lot of work but it felt right and like I was in my element. The team of vendors that I got to work with did an incredible job and truly helped me bring my vision to life. The photos from Emily Katharine absolutely blew me away and I hope you enjoy them! 

The design board I created for the shoot. I wanted modern elements like the geometric terrariums and metallic accents balanced with older elements like the exposed brick and historic details that Ybor City and CL Space offers. I tend to always have romantic and whimsical elements in my design without trying and the flowers really represented that for me. I loved how beautiful but effortless Jenny's look was. The dress had unique details like the intricate beading and open back but it wasn't over the top with lots of poofy layers or fuss. I loved that about it! 

The invitations from Wedding Paper Divas were the first detail I started with. I saw them and had to have them! The movement in the colors and the metallic gold elements totally had me. 

Our models were Jenny and Mike who just celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary. Jenny and I volunteer together through The Junior League of Tampa and she is just the sweetest. She is also the owner of Bar Method Tampa and if you haven't checked it out yet I highly recommend it!

I can never get enough of Ybor City's charm. All the brick and cobblestone gives me all the heart eyes! 

The seating chart is the easiest way to incorporate your personality into your wedding. For this I had my husband stain and add nails to a palette. It played off the industrial look of CL Space. I hand lettered marble tiles in metallic gold with guest names and table number. 

I squealed when Trudy delivered this cake. It reminded me so much of my logo and she totally did that unintentionally! She created this design just by looking off of my design board. I added the florals and terrarium and it was the perfect piece to this design. 

You can see this inspiration shoot featured on Every Last Detail.

The team who made this possible: Photography: Emily Katharine Photography  // Styling, concept, design and flowers: Amber Veatch Designs // Venue: CL Space // Bridal gown: Rebecca Schoneveld via The Bride Tampa // Hair & Makeup: Style Hair and Makeup // Cake: Trudy Melissa Cakes  // Copper Arch, blue glassware, bar table: Ever After Vintage Rentals // Gold Flatware, gold chargers, farm table, clear glassware: Set Event Rentals // Benches: MMD Events // Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas  // Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

To The Bride Who Is Getting Married After the Loss of A Loved One

To the bride who is getting married after the loss of a loved one,

You are making plans to marry the love of your life and you're happy but you also have this uneasy feeling in your stomach. You're excited but dreading your wedding day too. How will you feel? Will you miss them too much? Will you have an emotional breakdown?

Friend, I've been there and I've felt those things and it's going to be okay. My mom was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage 4 brain cancer and she passed away four months before my wedding. I kept myself busy by making plans and checking off my to do list and put off dealing with her loss in a way. I knew I wanted to honor my mom but I didn't want this giant reminder that she wasn't there on my wedding day either. I spent a day at an antique shop which is one of my favorite things to do. I picked out a gold locket and decided that I would honor my mom by attaching it to my bouquet. It was a subtle reminder that she was "with me" and when I missed her I would hold onto or look at my favorite pictures of her placed inside. When it was time to choose the photos for the locket the loss of her caught up with me and I broke down. It's okay to do that. You can find several ways to honor your lost loved one here. 

I encourage you to confide in someone and discuss what you are afraid of and dreading when it comes to your wedding day and your loved one not being there. Don't chose a way to honor them if you feel like it may be hard for you to witness. Also, don't ignore the issue and act like it doesn't exist. By discussing my concerns with my now husband I emotionally prepared myself for what I might feel on my wedding day. I was also worried about who would help me get into my dress. Traditionally your mom does this and the photographer captures that special moment and I feared for how that would make me feel. I discussed this with my maid of honor. She knew my fear and was there for me. I'll never forget how much that meant to me.

I also think it's important to note that you should still take the time to be excited and make plans. Don't let that fear steal the joy of such an exciting time in your life. I'm sure your loved one wouldn't want you to sit out on celebrating your engagement. 

When the wedding day came I just remember being so happy. I was excited to marry the love of my life and I was overwhelmed by the love others showed us. So many of our friends and family traveled just for us and I didn't take that lightly. It was also the first time since my mom's funeral that we were all together again and my heart is full when I can spend time with friends and family. I have hope that you will feel the same way too. Things have a way of working out. I planned to walk down the aisle by myself. Our little two year old girl who had been excited about her flower girl duties for the past year had other plans. She refused to be the flower girl and she grabbed my hand and walked me down the aisle. That will probably always be one of the best moments of my life. 

I may or may not know you but I want you to know you can email me if you feel like you need to talk about these things. I'm happy to do that. I have had the honor of planning weddings for brides who have also lost their mother and I was happy to help them navigate that difficult time. I think people come in and out of our lives for a purpose and it comforts me to know the loss of my mom is helping others. She would have been proud of that. I think it is important to communicate family dynamic and losses to your wedding vendor team too so they can be sensitive to these situations. I hope this provides some peace and comfort to you. I leave you with this quote from This Is Us. "You see, for days, I've been plagued by the question: how do I honor my father's legacy? Then I realized, I honor his legacy by taking what I learned from the way he lived his life and use it to shape the way I go on living mine." -Randall, This Is Us

All my love, 

Amber 

Photography: Jessica Lea Photography

What Does it Mean To Work With A Designer-Planner? | My Design Process

Unfortunately my job is foreign to a lot of people. They know what a wedding or event planner does or have a good idea. But, when you hire me you aren't getting just a planner, you are getting a designer. In fact design is my specialty. My goal is to take you from Pinterest overwhelm to crying at your wedding because it was better than anything you could have ever imagined. You know what you want or are pretty darn close to it but you don't know how to get there. I can help and here is how I do it. (I have included photos from Tiara & Ike's design process and actual wedding to help explain).

Brittany Bishop Photography

I meet with my clients and really listen about what they are saying and sometimes not saying. For my wedding couples I ask a lot of questions to pinpoint what their specific style is. I ask questions like what style the decor is in their home, where they shop for clothes and what brands they are drawn to to name a few. My goal is to understand what style makes them happy and best represents them individually and as a couple. It is important to me that my client's weddings and events are a representation and celebration of who they are. I feel strongly about this because it is a big part of why I started my business and why I love this work. Life and love are very much worth celebrating and I don't want the celebration to be generic. 

How I start. I start by seeing a few photos from my clients. This can be four pictures or an entire Pinterest board. I have the ability to look at several random photos and decide what the common factor is. Maybe I can see that you love romantic floral arrangements but a pop-of-color is what you are really drawn to. Maybe I see that you like a lot of greenery or none at all. Maybe I see that you are drawn to a certain color and I help you incorporate that into your design.

After I go through a design questionnaire and talk with you and see your inspiration photos I start creating your design plan. This part of the process is what takes the longest. I search through so many different images and select the ones that communicate the vision. My design plan includes a color palette and a break-down of each main component of your event. For my wedding clients it will start with the color palette, the fashion, the paper goods, the ceremony decor, cocktail hour, reception design, floral inspiration (or a full break down if I am doing their florals), transportation and send-off. Within those main components I incorporate ideas for details. For example, suggesting specialty rental items, a unique escort display, lounge area, photo opportunity (custom backdrop, props, photo booth), a dessert display, specialty drink and more! It depends on each individual client, their priorities and the space I am designing in. 

Below is Tiara & Ike's actual wedding compared to the design board I created them. 

I present the design plan to my clients. This is a digital look book that explains each component that I listed above and sometimes more. This is a very helpful tool for my clients for several reasons. It helps them see how I am taking their inspiration photos and creating a cohesive plan that they can visualize. When they are able to visually see my vision planned out it helps them. It is also a great resource for my clients when they are meeting with their other vendors. My clients can reference the design plan and show their vendors so they can clearly see a defined style and vision and can stay within that specific concept. By doing that you are more likely to have a more cohesive design because everyone is on the same page aesthetically. 

Scroll through my design plan for Tiara & Ike's wedding below.

Once this design plan is approved by my clients I begin making it happen for them. I am reserving rental items, securing vendors that I know will do a great job and fit the look of the wedding or event and a lot of other behind the scenes work you will never know about. I also love create design mock-ups for my clients so they can again visualize how it will all look and make any changes to the design if needed. 

Laura Foote Photography

On the day of the wedding or event I style all the details and components that we designed and planned. After all the careful thought I put into this design I have a very good understanding of your goal for the look of the event and can make that happen for you. In some cases even after all that careful thought and design planning I have to take the initiative to make design changes. I know that in most cases my clients will be okay with these changes because they trust me to know what they want. (If it is a major change I consult my clients without stressing them, don't worry!) I put careful thought into where and how I style each detail and it is important to know that you can trust my vision. 

I hope this helps you understand my process and what you are getting by hiring a designer and planner. I help you take your inspiration and create a meaningful wedding or event that celebrates your story and individual style. If this sounds like just what you need contact me and let's work together! 

My favorite Tampa area wedding venues

I am doing a round up of the Tampa area venues. These venues make my design heart happy and inspire me creatively. There are so many great venues in our area but I tend to lean toward those that have a historic elements full of character and stories behind them. I am a sucker for exposed brick, simple floors like concrete or hardwood! I also love an outdoor wedding with old oak trees and Spanish moss and a big field to use as a blank canvas. Here are a few of my favorites that fit within this aesthetic. 

1. Armature Works 

Armature Works offers several beautifully renovated event spaces to entertain your guests. These unique spaces have originality dating back to 1910 when it was first built, including restored windows and exposed brick walls. The renovation even went to the extent of taking the wood planks from the original ceiling and using them to create the beautiful hard wood floors you will see throughout 40% of the building. The views to the Hillsborough River and the downtown Tampa skyline are stunning. 

This room makes me want to squeal because it's so beautiful but it isn't even completely restored yet. 

This will be restored but I already just love this building! 

I imagine a ceremony on the lawn next to the Hillsborough River, a cocktail hour in their courtyard and a reception in the old theatre with stunning reclaimed hardwood floors, exposed brick and all the windows. I couldn't pick my jaw up from the ground when I toured it and it wasn't even finished yet! I can't wait for Kristen & Greg's wedding there in May with Emily Katharine Photography!

2. Rialto Theatre 

Photo via Tufted Vintage Rentals by Monika Gauthier

Rialto Theatre is a theatre in Tampa dating back to 1925. It was restored in 2013 and serves as a gallery for artists to display art and other collaborative art events. I love the concept behind it and it is seriously stunning inside! It has concrete floors, very high ceilings, white walls and my favorite, the arch where the theatre stage was. It is a beautiful piece of character and the background is all brick! 

Photo by: Best Photography via Every Last Detail

Design and florals: Ashton Events Linens: Kate Ryan Linens

3. Le Meridien Hotel

Le Meridien Hotel was transformed from a courthouse into a swanky and beautifully designed hotel. One of the court rooms is now a ballroom with beautiful character. The staff is very accommodating and they have a delicious restaurant, Bizou Brasserie. It is right next door to the stunning Sacred Heart Catholic Church too! 

Caroline & Evan Photography

Caroline & Evan Photography

Design by Flaire Weddings, Florals by Shea Hopely, Rentals by Set Event Rentals

 Jordan Weiland Photography via 100 Layer Cake

4. GREEN BENCH

Green Bench is a brewery in St. Pete, FL and it is awesome! I love the big outdoor space and the greenery climbing up the white brick. you could cater your reception here or my favorite, bring in a food truck since it is right of the street! This space isn't for the most traditional couple but it has a beautiful and fun vibe. 

Jordan Weiland Photography

5. FORTY-TWO TEN

Located in South Tampa, Forty-Two Ten is a beautifully designed smaller scale venue. I love the outdoor courtyard area because you could put seating for dinner out their under their bistro lights, you could have an awesome cocktail hour or you could have your ceremony. Sandy, the owner is amazing to work with and I love the neutral elements she chose so you can truly make the space your own. It is also the perfect option for a rehearsal dinner or shower! 

Photos by Migrant Collective Weddings Design by Amber Veatch Designs

You can see more photos of Forty-Two Ten from our pop-up dinner party here.

I hope this introduced you to some amazing venues. I think we have so many great options in our area and it was hard to narrow it down! If you are planning to have your wedding at any of these venues just know that I would be honored to help you design your wedding because these places are so inspiring for me. 

 

Welcome Kristen & Greg | Boston Engagement Session

Emily & Thomas of Emily & Katharine Photography "introduced" me to Kristen & Greg because they thought I would be a great fit for them. When I met Kristen & Greg through video chat I could see why. These are my people. I just remember getting off the call and not being able to stop smiling. That is how fun, happy and in-love these two are. They are just a joy to be around and talk to. Every vendor of theirs that I have communicated with has said the same. It's couples like Kristen & Greg that make me love my job even more. 

It was tough to narrow down these photos because they are all so good. Greg is an architect and I love how Emily & Thomas incorporated a lot of the gorgeous Boston architecture into their photos. 

In my design meeting with Kristen & Greg they explained several details that were non-traditional and almost apologized. My goal for my clients is to create a meaningful and unique wedding that best represents their style and personalities. Don't even apologize for forgoing a wedding tradition because it doesn't resonate with you. It is for that reason and more that I am so excited for their Armature Works wedding next May. Kristen and Greg, thank you for trusting me to design and execute a wedding that celebrates you two. It is truly an honor and I am so excited for you! 

Love Builds a Home | Tampa, Florida Proposal

last year I got an email requesting some help to create a proposal and I was so excited to help! Matt and Stacy purchased a lot where they would be building a home together. Matt planned to propose to Stacy on the lot where they would build a home together on Thanksgiving morning, how sweet is that?! Matt also planned to have their family meet them there after he popped the question so requested we have donuts and mimosas. He didn't know that he was completely talking my language. 

I was given a link to a Pinterest board of Stacy's with just a few pictures thanks to Marissa (photographer and sister-in-law). From those few pictures I could tell that she was a fan of Kate Spade style, touches of gold, navy and pink and I ran with that. I wanted to create a Kate Spade-inspired romantic table for them to celebrate together. I created a fun and bright floral arrangement and set up a donuts and mimosa station for them to share with their family. 

Stacy & Matt celebrated with mimosas, donuts and cronuts with their family and I can't think of a better way to celebrate. Matt and Marissa were very sweet and thoughtful when planning this proposal. If you or someone you know are planning to propose I would love to help you by making it special and specific to your significant other. Contact me today to get started! 

Photography: Marissa Moss Photography // Planning, design, styling and flowers: Amber Veatch // Rentals: Set Event Rentals

Tuscan-Inspired Wedding in Dade City, Florida

When Andrea Layne contacted me about working together, I already knew this was going to be something good. When she explained that her concept was  “Under the Tuscan Sun” wedding inspiration I was even more excited! There would be a canopy of oak trees, lush greenery including olive branches (my favorite), a mix of bridesmaid dresses, a delicious food table and a feasting table for the guests. "Sign me up" is what I said, if I remember correctly! Nothing is better than working with an incredible group of vendors or “friendors”. Andrea and I worked to pick the items we knew would translate the design best from Set Event Rentals and Wish Vintage Rentals.

We had the best time working with Bella Bridesmaids Tampa to create a mix but effortlessly cohesive look for the beautiful bridesmaids to wear. Stephanie Paul of SMP Makeup Artistry perfectly executed the beautiful but effortless look I was imagining for our bride and her bridesmaids. She created subtle makeup, loose waves and up-dos with braids. I will say, the floral necklaces Andrea created were hands-down my favorite detail. 

Andrea worked with Shine Wedding Invitations who beautifully created calligraphy looking font for the paper goods and they were seriously the perfect detail to the design.

I think my favorite part was the opportunity to hand pick a bridal gown and accessories at the new bridal boutique in Ybor City, The Bride Tampa. Viktoria has a wonderful unique selection of gowns and is so sweet and knowledgable to work with. The lace peplum belt was the cutest addition to her gown too! 

 I really enjoyed putting the food table together. Food styling is really fun for me. I purchased all the items and sourced display pieces through Set and Wish to best display the items. I wanted to offer an olive oil bar, charcuterie, pasta, hummus options and a whole lot of bread! I loved how the styling turned out on that Set farm table with those beautiful trees as the perfect backdrop.

Andrea really outdid herself with the bold pops of color in the butter toned ranunculus and plum florals with the eucalyptus and olive branch (among other perfectly picked blooms). I am still in love with her floral design!

I also loved styling the lemonade and favor tables. We offered limoncello favors on beautiful accent tables from Wish. I love using functional items like favors to create a big design element like this display. Can we talk about this cake for a minute? This was my first time trying a Trudy Melissa cake. It lives up to all of the lovely things I have heard about her creations. This naked cake was the best one I have ever tasted and I have tasted quite a few wedding cakes! I love how Andrea styled the florals on this delicious cake and the gold cake serving set from Set Event Rentals was the perfect touch. 

Working with Emily and Thomas of Emily Katharine Photography was an absolute treat. They are the cutest team and their dynamic is just a joy to be around. They support each other, give high fives, give sweet feedback to each other and their clients and it creates an overall positive and comfortable environment. I am a fan of their perspective in the way they take their photos and I have had a hard time not sharing every last one of these photos because they are just so beautiful. I loved working with this team and would highly recommend any of these talented professionals to help you with your wedding. 

You can see our feature on The Perfect Palette, here. You can see Emily & Thomas' blog post here.

Photography: Emily Katharine Photography // Concept, Planning & Floral Design: Andrea Layne Floral Design // Planning, Styling & Event Design: Amber Veatch Designs // Rentals: Set Rentals & Wish Vintage Rentals // Venue: Laurel Wood Gardens // Bride's Dress: The Bride // Bridesmaid dresses: Bella Bridesmaid Tampa // Hair & Makeup: SMP Artistry (Stephanie Paul) // Cake: Trudy Melissa Cakes // Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations // Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab 

Back to the Table III, Tampa's Pop-up Dinner Party

A few weeks ago Saltblock Catering and I wrapped up our third pop-up dinner. In my humble opinion these dinners get better each time. Our mission of bringing the community together to enjoy each other's company and share an incredible meal is more apparent and guests are attending with that goal. South Tampa's newest event venue, Forty-TwoTen graciously hosted us and it was the perfect setting for this dinner. 

We started the night with our cocktail hour in the outdoor area of Forty-Two Ten which was absolutely perfect. We had plenty of room for a live musician, a bar and giant Jenga. It was a lot of fun! Our signature drink was the Hemingway Daiquiri a super refreshing rum based grapefruit cocktail. The passed appetizers were spicy tuna poke, conch fritters, sliders and fries. They were of course passed in perfectly styled display, in true Saltblock style.

The first course was a square watermelon salad then followed by my favorite, Polynesian marinated swordfish that was to die for. The third course was pork loin with a bourbon-soy glaze straight from the grill. Dessert was absolutely amazing! It was a blackberry cobbler served with liquid nitrogen vanilla ice cream.

My design for this dinner was inspired Chef Rocco's summer menu and the fresh and modern design of Forty-Two Ten. I went with an old Florida summer vibe. I want a fresh neutral palette like the venue so I stuck with a linen table cloth (actually handmade from my wedding) and topped the tables with wicker chargers from Set Rentals. I accented the table with gold candlesticks and romantic candle light and gold flatware also from Set to make things a little more modern. I foraged all of the tropical greenery from my yard and I love that simple element made such a big impact in the over all design. I wanted a small pop of color so I chose a flamingo pink napkin to really make things interesting and fun. The venue didn't require a lot of decor because its simplistic design was just enough and that's one thing I really love about the space. 

This particular dinner was great for me because several of my friends attended. Having friends who support your passions is something that means the world to me. We would love to have you at our upcoming dinners. Keep an eye out for the next ones. You can see the recap for the first dinner here and the second dinner here. 

Photography: Migrant Collective Weddings Catering/Partner: Saltblock Catering Design, Styling, Florals: Amber Veatch Designs Location: Forty-Two Ten, South Tampa Production assitance: The Dashing Ginger Wicker Chargers, Gold Flatware, Candlesticks: Set Chairs, dishes, linens: Rent All City Accent pillows: MMD

Why I am different

    Let me start this post by saying that this blog post is about me and why my definition of success is perhaps different than others and why I run my business the way I do.

    Success for me is spending time with my lovely children and amazing husband while also running a business doing what I absolutely love that my heart is fully in. That means being able to pick my kids up from school and hearing every detail about their days and taking them to their extra curricular activities. It means date nights with my husband even though that usually means quite literally Netflix & chill.

Photo Debra Eby Photography

    Success in my business is taking on a limited number of clients and projects per month so I have time to do those things with my family. It also means because I only take on a limited amount of bookings I can really spend the time that each client deserves to craft the perfect event for them. The client experience is so important to me. I am not looking to be a wedding factory, that is not fair to my clients and certainly not my family. I don't book more than one event in a weekend. Typically I only book a few per month, depending on the complexity of the project. Success in business is when my clients email, call or text me just to tell me they picked out their wedding shoes and can't wait to show me and then still call, text or email after the wedding just because. I count it a success when my clients want to tell me the little details and the big ones too because they know how genuinely enthusiastic I am to hear it all. 

Photo Laura Foote Photography

    I am different because maybe I care just a little too much, but that's me. I am different because I don't necessarily want to book the over the top wedding at a luxury hotel but sign me up for a challenge like making a historic venue that has walls with stories to tell (bonus points if those walls happen to be exposed brick)! I am different because I crave different and non-traditional. Don't apologize for not wanted to have a traditional wedding, let's do it! I am different because I encourage you to be different. You met at a food truck rally and want food trucks instead of a formal dinner at your wedding? Um, yes please! I am different because I consider it a goal for the designs I create to cater to each guest so they also feel welcome and comfortable at your event. I am different because my style isn't stuffy but it is still refined and elegant in it's own way.

    If all of the above have you just excited as me then there's a chance we would work pretty well together. Engaged or like to party?! Contact me to help you design your next occasion. 

Christin & James | Tampa Elopement

It was a Thursday afternoon and I got a text from Phil of The Portos. He was going above and beyond photographer duties to help out a sweet couple of his. Christin and James had planned to have a small ceremony with 8 people in a hot air balloon that Saturday but due to a forecasted storm the hot air balloon flight was cancelled. Phil had Christin call me and within 20 minutes I had calmed a frantic bride into a little bit of relief. We met that night and planned everything out from the flowers to the picnic lunch they would have. The next day I spent hours scrambling for everything we needed to make their newly designed elopement happen. 

I made a few floral arrangements and a bouquet and neatly packaged their picnic lunches for their loved ones. I packed up my truck and headed to the park they chose. I walked the quaint little park in Lithia and picked the perfect spot for them to exchange vows to each other. Remembering the only things Christin wanted during our initial conversation "I just want to get married in the woods...and I like blue." Done and done. I knew we would get along just fine. I picked a spot with a beautiful oak tree canopy and backdrop and set the scene. 

Kristin from The Dashing Ginger met me there and helped me style the area. We set a ceremony space with the perfect wooden chairs from Wish Vintage. I tied loose, organic arrangements with ribbons to the chairs lining the aisle. I made two arrangements with roses, thistle and foraged greenery and placed them in mercury glass vases on wooden crates to mark the spot they would say "I do!" We placed farm tables from Set Rentals for guests to have a picnic and toast the newlyweds. I lined the middle of the table with eclectic bottles and single stem florals. Each loved one had a boxed picnic lunch and it was the perfect way to casually celebrate. 

This was one of the most challenging tasks I have pulled off as a designer. I had 24 hours to make this happen. It was worth every bit of hustle to see how relieved they were when they knew I was going to pull it off. It was a way for them to celebrate with their closest loved ones without it being too over the top or expensive. Every couple deserves that celebration and it was an honor to make that happen for Christin and James. 

Photogrophy: The Portos Planning, design, styling and florals: Amber Veatch Designs Production stylist: Kristin Berry, The Dashing Ginger Chair rental: Wish Vintage Rentals Table, chargers, napkin, serving set: Set Event Rentals

Back to the Table Tampa II

Saltblock Catering and I hosted our second Back to the Table pop-up dinner party last month. If you aren't familiar with our concept you can visit here for our last dinner recap. 

For this dinner we decided to give a nod to Cinco de Mayo since we were in the month of May. Chef Rocco created an amazing Mexican-inspired menu with paired tequila cocktails and my design was full of color and Mexican influence as well.

We started with a signature cocktail, a chili pineapple margarita and passed hors d'Oeuvres of ceviche, margarita oysters, pato taco and papa tacos. 

Guests were brought upstairs to CL Space were they sat at one long farm table and shared a meal. I planted colorful plants in terra cotta pots and arranged them on different crates for some rustic texture and height. I mixed in succulents and cacti and guests got to take them home at the end of the evening. 

Chef Rocco announced each course and it's tequila pairing. The first course a corn bisque with the most delicious cornbread and pork belly pieces in it. The second course a chili rubbed grouper with smoked octopus was the crowd favorite for sure. The third course brisket in a chili-scallion sauce was full of flavor. The dessert, a scratch made banana churro served with dulce de leche sauce and Mexican hot chocolate was amazing! 

Our next BTTT will be on Friday, July 22nd in South Tampa. We would absolutely love to see you there! 

Thank you to all the amazing sponsors who made this event possible:

Catering: SaltBlock Catering Photography: Migrant Collective Weddings Design, Styling, florals: Amber Veatch Designs Venue: CL Space Farm tables and driftwood chargers: Set Event Rentals Chairs and wooden boxes: Wish Vintage Rentals Paper Goods: Blush Design Studio

A Fun and Glamorous Dinner Party on NYE | Jacksonville and Tampa Event Designer & Stylist

Last year I had the honor of planning an annual dinner party for a MLB player and his family. I loved the concept. This couple hosts a fun dinner for their closest friends every for the last five years. This year the majority of their friends had kiddos to think about while planning the party. As a mom to two I was up for the challenge! I had free reign on the design but was told they wanted something a little bit out of the normal New Year's Eve party design that you might expect.

I wanted a fun color palette since we were celebrating the new year and it would be a kid-friendly event. I wanted sparkly accents because that is such a NYE staple to every party. 

I chose to have the party at Bella Sera in Riverside so the kids could play freely outside in the beautiful courtyard but the parents could still watch the bowl game and keep an eye on them if needed. I set up a kid's play area with coloring, a city rug to push toy cars on, bubbles, rocket launchers and bouncy balls. Catering by Liz did a wonderful job with the food and bar and as always their staff was wonderful and attentive. 

AlleyCakes made the most delicious desserts of macroons, rice krispy treats, champagne cakepops, and a variety of dessert shooters. As a favor I packaged chocolate kisses and labeled them as "midnight kisses". 

I had Catering by Liz create a bar cart setup of fresh fruit, juices and champagne and added rock candy to add some fizz and sweetness to the champagne. 

Photography: Alex & Cammy Photography

Design, Styling and Florals: Amber Veatch Designs

Gold Chiavari Chairs, Tables and AV Equipment: Mugwump Productions

Linens: Kate Ryan Linens

Venue and Catering: Bella Sera at Catering by Liz

Desserts: AlleyCakes Dessert Co.

Paper Goods: Citrus Press Co.

Gold Chargers, Goblets, Bar Cart, Gold S&P Shakers: Set Event Rentals

Back to the Table Tampa- Recap

If you remember me talking about Back to the Table in my last post you can probably remember how excited I was to put this all together (with the help of some other Tampa business super stars). I am happy to report that it turned out better than I could have ever imagined. Not because the table looked great or the food was ridiculously tasty (I mean guys, it was life changing). Within minutes guests were meeting new people, mingling, laughing, shaking hands, sharing a meal together and seeing that unfold was beautiful and actually had me a little emotional. We wanted to create an event for our amazing community that fostered just that, friendship, laughter and a great memory. 

The chairs by Wish Vintage Rentals were a perfect touch to our elegant, rustic, spring-inspired design. 

The Set Event Rentals farm table all in one grouping allowed for an intimate dinner that encouraged conversation. The wood looked incredible against the exposed brick of the future space of Foundation Coffee Co. Add in Set driftwood chargers, gold flatware, goblets and gold salt & pepper shakers and they all worked together to create a beautiful tablescape. The powder blue linens from Kate Ryan Linens were the perfect subtle touch of color with the bright florals.

Guests started in Foundation Coffee's courtyard, an awesome space behind their shop. Our signature drink, a gin cucumber mint mojito was the perfect refreshing drink for an outdoor cocktail hour. Saltblock Catering Co. passed charcuterie and cheese, swordfish belly sashimi and my personal fav, the deviled crab stuffed lollipop. The atmosphere was made complete with hung bistro lights above and amazing music by the talented Colt Clark. Before dinner a roll away door was opened up for the room reveal. 

Chef Rocco Taliani explained each dish to the guests and it was so fun to hear what inspired his creations. He started with a smoked carrot ravioli, followed by his amazing curry poached cobia and ended with a perfect hangar steak. Dessert was my personal fav, strawberry shortcake but not just any shortcake (see torch above)! 

Our amazing hosts and sponsor Foundation Coffee Co. treated us to coffee with dessert and guests loved it! I am personally a big fan of their present coffee spot in Riverview and can not wait for this new coffee shop to open in Tampa Heights this Summer. Their location is beautiful and we are so thankful that they allowed us to use it before they redesigned the space.

We would absolutely love to have you at our next dinner party which will be on May 12th in Ybor City. Tickets are available here. If you can't make it this time we have so many exciting locations in the works too so keep an eye out for future Back to the Table events.

If you would like to see the video of this dinner by the amazing Evan of Caroline & Evan Photography head over to my Facebook page. 

Thank you again to the amazing team that made this happen:

Photo and Video: Caroline & Evan Photography

Location and Coffee: Foundation Coffee Co.

Co-Founder and Catering: Saltblock Catering Co.

Co-Founder, Design, Florals, Styling: Amber Veatch Designs

Farm table, driftwood chargers, goblets, gold flatware, salt & pepper shakers: Set Event Rentals, Tampa

Elodie Chairs and Stools: Wish Vintage Rentals

Linens: Kate Ryan Linens

Back to the Table Tampa, a pop-up dinner party experience

A few years ago in our neighborhood my husband and I decided to host a driveway happy hour. We knew our neighbors and waved in passing but we didn't ever take the time out of our busy live's to really have intentional conversations. At driveway happy hour we shared drinks, light snacks and meaningful conversation while our kids played together in the front yard. Now our neighbors are great friends. What if we did this all the time in our every day busy lives? What if we truly took the time to share stories and got to know one another? 

One of the main reasons why I run an event business is because bringing people together truly brings me joy. My favorite part of events are the part where everyone gathers around the table and shares a meal and conversation. I contacted my favorite catering company SaltBlock Catering Co. about the idea of having pop-up dinner parties around unique places in Tampa and they were so excited to offer this together. They had also been working on this concept already. I am so excited to join with them to design and style unique places throughout the Tampa area so you can learn about and experience these venues, meet local business owners that we partner with but more importantly share a meal with friends, loved ones and neighbors. I am excited about building community right around the dinner table. Welcome back to the table, Tampa. 

There will be live music, craft drinks, a four course meal paired with the best wine and you will make so many new friends in a beautifully styled setting. The are two seatings available with only 32 seats at each to keep the dinner intimate. This time we partnered with Foundation Coffee Co. to use their future coffee shop location in Tampa Heights. It has the most beautiful exposed brick and an inviting courtyard. Trust me, there coffee is AMAZING (you can check out their Riverview location at 10022 Carr Road). Other sponsors include Caroline & Evan Photography Wish Vintage Rentals, Kate Ryan Linens and Set Event Rentals. 

You can go here to purchase tickets.  We can't wait to get back to the table with you! 

Rising Tide Society Tampa Holiday Party

When I moved to Tampa in August I had a hefty goal of really putting myself out there and making new friends. In Jacksonville I had a hand full of wedding professionals that I considered to be close friends and I didn't ever know how I was going to replace that (you can't). See I am naturally very introverted and this big goal of mine was enough to make my heart skip beats with anxiety. Just in time with my move Kelly Hancock of Kelly Hancock Events started Rising Tide Society Tampa. Yay!

The Rising Tide Society is a national group created to get creative entrepreneurs together. It's not a networking group but a group that cultivates encouragement, support, friendship and community over competition in the crazy journey that is owning a creative business. Most days we are in our home offices alone with little interaction (other than pets and little ones). Knowing that we aren't alone in this journey and we have support makes you want to keep going and reminds you why you started this journey in the first place.

Thinking back to the first ever meeting of our sweet Tampa group actually makes me cry happy tears. I was the new kid in town, about three people had "heard of my from instagram" but you know what, that didn't matter. The group was full of so many incredibly talented creatives that I looked up to. They asked me to sit with them, they asked me questions that allowed them to truly get to know me and most of all they genuinely cared. Now I have great friendships with these people. From simply leaving sweet comments on my Instagram to tell me how much they love my work to asking me out for lunch, collaborating on projects or referring potential business to me. These people are my tribe and it makes the move here that much more worth while and justified. 

That being said, I wanted to host our holiday party as a thank you to this group. So after just being in Tampa for a few weeks I reached out to some incredibly talented event professionals and without even knowing me they jumped at the idea of working together. To all of you, thank you, that meant the world to me and I am still so thankful! I wanted to thank this group by creating a fun event to celebrate or successes from the year. My design was a spin on Christmas with deep merlot and blush with sparkly gold and silver accents. The party was held at CL Space, the exposed brick and industrial vibe it gives is one of my favorite event spaces hands down. Andrea Layne Floral Design  created the most beautiful garland of my dreams along with other arrangements and beautiful candles that she arranged around the space. Kate Ryan Linens provided the stunning sequin linens and they completely stole the show! The chairs were provided by Wish Vintage Rentals and they were the perfect touch to the industrial chic design. The food and drink was provided by Elite Events Tampa and it was delicious! The desserts by Hands On Sweets were just amazing and we could not get enough. The open air photo booth by Photogenica was so much fun and the backdrop was the perfect sparkly addition to the room. Set Event Rentals provided the tables, chargers, and bar. DJ Jacob and Courtney Towe drove all the way from Jacksonville to provide lighting and music and they will never know how much that meant to me and everyone else. Jacob put up with my needy request of lots of Taylor Swift and boy band music and while I am sure he eye rolled when I wasn't looking he is always so accomodating and professionsal. Last but certainly not least Evan of Caroline & Evan provided these lovely images and I am so thankful!

So to all of my Rising Tide Tampa friendors thank you for all you do and I hope you had just as much fun as I did at the party! 

Amber Veatch Designs Editorial Photo Styling

Editorial Photo Styling by Amber Veatch Designs

Photo taken by Laura Foote of me styling an editorial that was published on The Perfect Palette

If you've been around here a while you know that I produce a lot of photo shoots. Styling for me is an art form that completely fires me up. I have had several people ask me how I do them, why I do them, what my process is and how they can work with me. First of all I am honored, thank you for your interest. I hope this gives you some insight on this service.

Who is photo styling is for?

Editorial photo styling can be for a product or a brand. One of my favorite jobs was producing  a photo shoot for the popsicle brand Backyard Pops. Ashlee  came to me with her marketing goals, explained her brand and I took it from there. I created two different looks to showcase how amazing it is to have Backyard Pops at your wedding or event. I designed a wedding cocktail party showcasing Backyard Pops passed with cocktails or as a midnight snack. I gave wardrobe suggestions and handled finding a wedding dress (from my friends at Ivory & Beau), I styled the props to communicate this and gave creative direction on site during the photo shoot with Couture Studios. Because she now has quality photos to communicate that in her marketing she is more likely to book events and weddings which was her goal.

I loved working with Erin Whitman of Erin Whitman Photo Arte to style her branding photo session with Esther Louise Photography. Erin rebranded and wanted photos that encompassed her romantic, whimsicial and botanical brand. I sourced a lot of romantic candle light, a lot of greenery and florals from Shea Hopely Flowers which were very important in communicating her brand. I styled the props and florals for Erin and stayed on site to readjust things and offer creative direction. I am also able to give prelimary wardrobe suggestions and arrange hair and makeup.

Photo Styling can be for your lifestyle photo session such as your family or engagement photos. I can help scout a location, arrange or suggest photographers and hair and make up artists. I also give prelimenary wardrobe suggestions that coordiante well and represnt your personal style or suggest professional fashion stylist for more in depth help. I can create custom signage and props if needed and style them on location. I will be available during the sessioin to give creative direction along side the photographer. 

I loved styling for Couture Studios' mini sessions. Lucky for me my kids got to be in the photos too! 

Editorial Photo Styling can help you get published and gain exposure. I am fortunate to have been published in multiple differenet media outlets such as wedding and event blogs, magazines, television shows and social media. My process for this is either taking my inspiration or taking direct requests from these publications and creating inspiration that they can publish. I love collaborating with other professionals to make these photo shoots successful. 

Jennifer Blaire Photography featured on Grey Likes Weddings

My Process

Once I have inspiration for the photo shoot I start by creating a color palette. These colors are my reference point to all the other details that need to be chosen. I then create an inspiration board. This board is never something I replicate but base my ideas off of. It communicates the feel I want to recreate. After I have designed the inpspiration board and it is approved I get to work on booking vendors, find the perfect location and source details and props. Usually this means a lot of shopping happens or I just walk out to my garage and pull from my own collection in order to find the perfect details . On shoot day I pack up my car and am amazed how much more I can fit in there than the last time. I set up the props, flowers, signs and decor keeping in mind the inspiration board I created. Keep in mind this is 80% of my job, the schlepping. On location during the shoot I work with the photographer to suggest certain shots, poses or angles. Most of the time I don't have to suggest too many things because the photographers I work with are so amazing and they nail it. If this is an editorial session I can work with the photographer post production to narrow down the top photos. I can suggest what publication would be a good fit to submit it to and guide the photographer in doing so.

I love how creative I can be in this role. I enjoy helping people tell a certain story through styling. If you are interested in hiring me for photo styling I would love to hear more about it! Contact me to get on my schedule!