Beyond Platinum Event

Last night we had the opportunity to attend the Beyond Platinum Event at Arden Hills Country Club in Sacramento. This was the first year Arden Hills has put together an event for event planners, vendors and brides and the evening was a success! As expected of an upscale venue such as Arden Hills, no detail was overlooked. The moment we arrived we were treated to complimentary valet service and plenty of AH staff was there to direct us to the "main event".

After picking up our tickets at will call we were welcomed into the cocktail hour. Two beautifully decorated rooms were set to received guests and several bar areas served champagne. Guests checked out models wearing some of the latest designs in wedding gowns and had the opportunity to take some candids in a photo booth.

When cocktail hour ended the rest of the event opened up and attendees could browse various rooms featuring wedding vendors, continue socializing with other attendees, and enjoy chatting and learning about the newest and hottest wedding and event trends.

Overall, it was definitely worth going to and we are already looking forward to next year's Beyond Platinum Event!

Last night's party was the perfect way to begin our VACATION! The holidays are the "busy season" for Pear Tree Events since we specialize in private gatherings-- Christmas parties here we come! We'll be back soon with more inspiration boards, featured businesses, and DIY party details. Don't forget that you can email us any questions, requests, or small businesses you think should be featured. Email us at peartreeevents@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you and will answer emails as soon as we get return!

Feature Friday: Handmade by Heather

Etsy is one our favorite places to find unique, handmade touches for the parties and events we design. Today we'd like to introduce you to Heather Mattos, owner of Handmade by Heather!

Remember Katie and Jon's wedding this summer? We had the sign pictured above custom made for the event. The wooden sign was displayed on an easel at the entrance of the venue to welcome guests and later moved to the lawn where the reception took place.

Best of all, the newlyweds had a gorgeous keepsake they could display in their home long after the wedding!

Handmade by Heather specializes in personalized wooden signs. When we say "no detail is overlooked" this is the kind of thing we're talking about when personalizing an event for a client.

A personalized tiki bar sign will be making an appearance at the In Luau of Christmas party in December!

Every child should have a special birthday outfit, right? Handmade by Heather's birthday t-shirts are a-DOR-able and the child can wear the t-shirt long after the actual birthday.

The "initial tee" would also be a thoughtful surprise for the guest of honor.

Remember that Handmade by Heather takes custom orders of just about any kind! Have an idea? Send her a message. We have a 1 year-old's birthday coming up and will be submitting our order for a custom birthday bib shortly!

Be sure to take a peek at Handmade by Heather's shop and stop by her blog. She has got some amazing recipes, fun craft ideas and gorgeous pictures.

Thank you Heather, for letting us feature you this morning!

Teresa's Baby Shower

Last weekend was Teresa's baby shower! Tom (daddy-to-be) and Teresa, along with their family and friends, gathered to celebrate the pending arrival of their new little one, A.M.

The shower was built around "A is for Apricot, B is for Baby" and the decor was inspired by shades of apricot/orange and aqua/blue.

The dessert table featured French Meringues, Apricot and Blueberry Thumbprint cookies, Coconut-Apricot Macaroons and Mini-Cheesecakes with apricot and blueberry jam.

We made a simple bunting string out of various fabrics that complimented the color scheme-- orange sherbet gingham, blue paisley, a shimmery aqua and apricot and blue florals.

"A" and "M" are the initials of Tom and Teresa's bundle of joy. They took the wooden letters home to use in her nursery!

Instead of traditional flower centerpieces for the tables, fresh herbs were used, giving the tables a country-chic feel paired with the blue linens and white accents. Using fresh organic herbs is also environmentally responsible as they can be used long after the baby shower is over.

How gorgeous is that aqua table cloth? The simple herb centerpiece stands out beautifully against the cool blue backdrop.

We used scraps from the bunting to create custom newborn onesies for Tom and Teresa to use for their baby girl and they also acted as decor for the shower.

The appliques included the initials "A" and "M", an apricot, a flower and a baby rattle.

We wish Tom and Teresa all the joy in the world with their new baby girl!

Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your celebration!

Feature Friday: MKL Designs

We love when we get to feature brand new businesses and even though MKL Designs is new, we are head over heels for owner Melissa Larson's gorgeous work. Melissa is the mother of two gorgeous girls and calls herself an "amateur" photographer although the photos on her blog could easily pass for professional. MKL Designs debuted this fall and we are loving their fresh, simple, and beautifully bold designs.

Check out these gorgeous save-the-date's (which could just as easily serve as wedding invitations themselves.)

After the wedding you may be in need of these...

And then these...

And then these!

Why not get a jump on your Christmas cards this year? MKL Designs has tons of holiday card options to choose from and welcomes custom orders.

Go check out MKL Design's shop and Melissa's blog and be sure to submit your holiday order soon!

Inspiration Board: In Luau of Christmas

This is for a surprise party we're planning so we can't say who this inspiration board is for but in lieu (or in 'luau'-- get it???) of egg nog and Honey Baked ham, this family is going to be enjoying Mai Tai's and and pulled pork this Christmas.

Our plans for the party include Roasted Pineapple Hot Buttered Rum as the signature drink, Broiled Pineapple with homemade vanilla ice cream for the starter, a traditional Polynesian menu, bright and colorful decor, a Christmas tree ornamented with hibiscus flowers and surfboards, and a special photo op for party-goers (who are requested to wear Hawaiian-inspired attire.)

We can't WAIT to put this fun, festive party together!

Check back on Friday for this weeks' featured business and again next week for pictures of Teresa's baby shower coming up on Saturday.

Feature Friday: Sweet Expressions Desserts

About a month ago we mentioned that we had a "*sweet* feature" to bring to you, and we finally have it! Meet Kiiki Pittman, owner of Sweet Expressions Desserts.

Kiiki had been making desserts for friends and family for years and after a person hears, "You should do this for a living" so many times, they start to think that might actually be a good idea. For Kiiki, it turned out to be a great idea! Kiiki's dessert business is mainly word-of-mouth and referrals (which is the BEST way to get business). She made the leap to be her own boss after being laid off from her 9-5 job and, like many other entrepreneurs, has found success in doing something she loves.

Sweet Expressions Desserts has an extensive list of treats they offer but they will happily do their best to fulfill any custom order. Here are some of their delicious dessert choices:

• Baklava
  
• Banana Pudding
  
• Brownies (over 17 varieties)
  
• Brownie Pops
  
• Brownie and Cookie Sundaes
  
• Cakes (over 17 varieties)
  
• Cake Poppers
  
• Cheesecake : Traditional (plain), cherry, blueberry, double chocolate, strawberry, chocolate chip, toffee bar, peanut butter cup, pumpkin (seasonal)
  
• Cheesecake on a Stick
  
• Chocolate Fountains
  
• Chocolate Dipped Fruit
  
• Chocolate Truffles and candies
  
• Cookies (over 23 varieties)
  
• Cupcakes
  
• Cupcake Parfait
  
• Cupcake Towers
• Flan
• Fresh Fruit (seasonal fruit kabobs and fruit bowls available)
• Lemon Bars
• Parfait
  
• Petit Fours
  
• Pecan Bars
  
• Peanut Butter Chewies
  
• Rice Krispie Bars
  
• Sugar Cookies (decorated) - we have over 100 different shapes
  
• Tarts
  
• Trifle
  
• Monogrammed Treats

I don't know if you caught that, but Sweet Expressions Desserts offers 17 varieties of brownies. YUM. We've sampled their brownie pops and they are amazing.

Sweet Expressions Desserts has done candy buffets (pictured above), dessert buffets, and ice cream buffets. They also frequently have "just because" customers... I mean really, do you need an excuse to enjoy dessert? We sure don't think so!

If you are in the Sacramento area, don't miss Kiiki and Sweet Expressions Desserts on Fox 40 next week! She is doing a cooking demonstration on Wednesday, October 21 at 11AM. Set your DVR's.

If you need to satisfy your craving after all this yumminess, give Kiiki a call at 916.508.3293 and check out their website here.

Enjoy! And thank you to Sweet Expressions Desserts for letting us feature them!

Do you know someone who owns a small business that is related to the event planning industry in some way? We would love to feature them and learn more about their business. Send us an email at peartreeevents@gmail.com. And don't forget to check out our new website: http://www.peartreeevents.net/.

Inspiration Board: Teresa's Baby Shower

Teresa's baby shower is at the end of this month and the hostess requested a color palatte of apricot and blue. We opted for apricot and aqua for this "A is for Apricot, B is for Baby" coed shower. We're looking forward to helping Teresa and her family and friends prepare for their baby girl!