CHIC CHALET INSPIRED WELCOME RECEPTION
Wedding Planning and Event Design by Andrea Eppolito. Images by Nicole hernandez.
What’s a winter wonderland without a chic day at the ski chalet?
Hosting a destination wedding gives you a captive audience, guaranteeing that you have quite a bit of time with your family and friends. My couple really wanted to take this opportunity to create meaningful memories with their family and friends, just as they have in the past. We had arranged for a full day of skiing at North Star followed by apres ski light bites for lunch in the Manzanita Pavilion of the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe.
That evening we continued the theme with a chic chalet, inspired welcome party in the Pines Ballroom of the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe. I love designing to a theme, especially when we are inspired by the location. I wanted each evening to stand alone, and for this event the color palette was going to be very neutral, with a heavy amount of interest coming from texture.
Our guests experience began as soon as they turned and entered the hallway. Our ballroom was a bit small, and so we extended the space by visually connecting the hallway and pre-function space with the main ballroom. Both the hallway and the ballroom were covered in a soft, slate gray carpet. For the drapery, I selected an almond-colored silk with textured threads running through them. We installed a hallway of birch finished arches that held antler light fixtures. Beneath the hallway, we set up a series of high boys and bar height stools that lead all the way to the back of our space where we served specialty cocktails from a white wooden bar.
Flowers bring so much life into a space, but I wanted to use them with restraint. I selected bowls made of stone and wood and asked that they be filled with tightly packed roses in dusty shares of nude, sand, latte, and blush. Birch accents were placed throughout which allowed us to tie in all of the surrounding spaces with a similar texture.
Guests could exit to the left and enjoy the cool, brisk winter air on our private patio. Despite the space being heated from the floors up, we had over 6 feet of snow that week. Our crew was shoveling snow up until hours before the event, when we set up handcrafted igloos made of metal cage and vinyl. Beneath each igloo, we set up battery operated candles to create the glow of a fire.
The main event took place in the Pines ballroom, which was to the right of our hallway. I wanted to immediately set the scene for a party, and nothing does that better than a circular bar in the center of the space. Not only is it visually interesting, but it provides a focal point, and gives guests one central location where they can gather.
We wanted guests to really cozy up to one another during this event. To faciliate conversations, I created small groupings of furniture in each space. We used these absoluteluy beautiful open-work wooden love seats and chairs mixed with velvet couches and occassional chairs, wooden tables, wicker accents, and fur throws. We also included tall communal tables where guests could sit and enjoy their food and drink with smaller, individual cocktail tables placed throughout.
Upon entering the space, guests would immediately be “greeted” by two sculptures; one 12 foot roaring bear and one 4 foot long wolf. Between them we recreated a ski gondola which served as the backdrop for our portrait experience with The Banga Booth. If you have never experienced a portrait station, this is an absolute must! It gives me an opportunity to design an interactive experience. Imagine having the chance to tell a full story and give a nod to the night in a tiny 10X10 corner of a room!
The food at The Ritz Carlton is some of the best I have ever had. Inventive experiences such as Ramen Bars and carving stations lined the perimeter of the ballroom. At the far end of our space we set a stage decorated with dusty miller. The Jordan Kahn Orchestra provided entertainment and the dance floor was packed all night long.
Styled by Wedding Fashion Expert Nayri and with hair and make-up by Sara Ajdahim, my bride looked absolutely dazzling in a custom white jacket dress and bejeweled heels. My groom to be matched her in a custom suit by his personal tailor, and guests were asked to arrive in Chalet Chic Cocktail attire. Yes, I know, that is not a real thing! To help guide guests in selecting their outfits, we created a style guide that included satin jumpsuits, textured cocktail dresses, fur accents, and sportscoats.
The beauty of a destination wedding is that you have a captive audiance that you can surprise and delight time and time again. Allow your location to serve as inspiration and create a unique experience that your friends and family will never forget!
Always…a
WATCH OUR BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEOS FROM OUR WINTER WEDDING
CHIC CHALET WELCOME PARTY
CREDITS:
Luxury Destination Wedding Planner Andrea Eppolito. Images by Nicole Hernandez Photography. Video by M Place Pro. Venue: Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas. Production by Blueprint Studios. Floral by Javier Valentino. Entertainment by Jordan Kahn Orchestra. Lighting by Jacob Creative & Co.
