Toad Valley Tasting

I met Allison George when I photographed Ashley & Brendan’s wedding at the Toad Valley Golf Course in August, and it has been so fun these past few months to work with the George family and get to know them more. The more I am around them, the more I love them! Last night they hosted a tasting for the brides and grooms who will be having their wedding/reception at the golf course. This is such a great idea, since the couples usually don’t get to eat much of the dinner at their own wedding! It also gave them an opportunity to see the reception hall set up and decorated like it will be for the day of their wedding. Allison had a few of her favorite vendors come to this event, and I had the honor of being one of them! I had a small table set up with sample albums and my laptop with a slideshow of images, and I got to meet some really neat couples who are in the thick of wedding planning!

Allison also had a design company called Ephemera there as well as a cake company called Goodies Made with Love. Read more about them below!  Here are some photos from the evening:

Sample display of the head table. Near the end of the event, a couple sat where the bride and groom will at the reception…I guess they had to feel it out, feel what it will be like to be at the head of their own table!  Allison arranged different themed centerpieces for each table, as a way of sharing decorating ideas. I love this one, since it fits the golf course theme and…you got it…because it’s green! =) This was one of my favorite foods I got to taste. I’m not sure what it was called, but it was a sweet scone-like treat with raisins and nuts. Yum! As I mentioned earlier, the owners of Ephemera were at the tasting and I am THRILLED I got to meet them! Arin and Karen were best friends in college, and began their own stationary studio. They are fabulous women with spunk, personality, authenticity and style! They are brilliant designers, and they create unique & gorgeous wedding invitations!

Aside from wedding invitations, they also do: save the date cards, business identity, website designs, packaging, classes & workshops, and they serve cupcakes to their customers one day a month! This one was my favorite:

Check out these details! I love the different textures of the papers, and even the stitching around the edges!  And the next image – guess who this invite was designed for?! None other than an Allison! =)

Here is another of my favorites of their designs below. I love the color and the overall design – it’s irresistable!

The cake company is called Goodies Made with Love, owned by Amy. Amy makes unbelievable cakes!! She made mini cupcakes for sampling, with 3 different types of frostings. She is an extremely talented cake decorator! Here is a sampling of her cake: 

And to top of the cake…toads! What else?!

Allison, thank you for a wonderful evening at Toad Valley! It was an honor to be there with your 2010 brides and grooms, and I can’t wait to photograph another wedding at the beautiful golf course!