Antonia Christianson Events

Michelle and Jerrel: The Chamberlin

A few weeks ago we were honored to see our clients Michelle and Jerrel get married. After a beautiful wedding ceremony at St. Matthews in Virginia Beach, we all headed over to The Chamberlin to enjoy a night of celebrating! Kelly Lee shot some amazing images that really captured Fort Monroe in a whole new light! Michelle had a lot of great do-it-yourself touches which made the reception site very unique to the couple, including hand-made fans from the Philippines with a special monogram attached to each individual one. These really came in handy on the hot, June day! The cake was done by Jennifer Shockley from Shockley's Sweet Shoppe, which matched the details from the entire wedding perfectly. Congrats Michelle and Jerrel and we hope you enjoy every second of your new life together!!! Michelle, we will definitely miss your weekly visits to our office, but we are so excited for you!

We can't complete our blog post with mentioning a few of the other vendors that made this event a success...

Pike Media Resource created a bit of ambiance with their lighting skills, Philip Andrada kept the dance floor hopping all night and Elissa Johnson rocked the hair on our beautiful bride and her maids.

As always...we'd like to tell you our favorite memory....and to be honest, it wasn't an amazing first dance (although theirs was HILARIOUS!) or an emotional toast right before cutting the cake...My favorite memory was when Jerrel and Michelle shared their feelings with us about how they felt their big day unfolded. They were truly elated with how the room looked, they also loved how they were able to relax and enjoy their wedding without any stress.

We were honored to be able to help you enjoy the most important day of your life thus far without a worry in your mind! Thank You!

Rachel's Getting Married!! Part 3!

We are so excited that our very own Rachel is getting married this fall to a wonderful man, Nick! You may recognize her from some of our events, considering she is an amazing member of our ACE staff! Here are a few images from their engagement session with David Schwartz. Rachel looks absolutely stunning, and we are so happy for the two of them! You can really tell that they are so in love with one another! We can't wait to be a part of her big day. Enjoy!

The Wedding Event: Rodney Charles

I have tried to introduce you to a wide array of vendors that will be at this weekends Wedding Event...and today i'm going to introduce you to a final amazing friend and vendor Mr. Rodney Charles owner of Arch Entertainment. Rodney Charles has been a go to DJ for many years in Hampton Roads, I am honored to have used him for my own wedding 5 years ago and dozens of clients since. Rodney has an uncanny ability to read a crowd...a necessity for an amazing DJ. He keeps any wedding hopping all night long..he is never the dreaded "cheesey dj" and always receives rave reviews from clients from the first meeting through their final dance.

Below is a formal bio on Rodney...But let me just tell you, HE ROCKS!

Arch Entertainment Company was created by DJ Rodney Charles. Together with his very talented associates Rodney set out to break the standard mold or concept of what people would normally expect from a wedding entertainment service provider. Exclusively performing at, and specializing in wedding reception entertainment, Arch Entertainment Company can be described as: friendly, modern, unique, flexible, trendsetting, talented, adaptable, polished, and fun. Arch Entertainment recognizes that most people have never hired a DJ and that your quest to find the right one can be overwhelming. They will be open and honest, and available to personally meet with potential clients so that you can get a feel as to if your chosen entertainer will be a good match for your event.

Widely recognized for talent and ability, Arch Entertainment has been given the "Brides Choice" award for 2010 by WeddingWire.com, and has recently been recognized as “Best of” by The Knot Magazine! Arch Entertainment is currently recommended as a preferred vendor by many local photographers, florists, coordinators, and videographers, as well as most of Hampton Roads finest venues.

Choosing the right entertainment for your celebration is an investment into the success of your event and is one of the most important decisions you will make for your wedding day. Arch Entertainment understands the importance of your celebration and they will create a stress-free entertainment experience that you will never forget. They believe in total event personalization and utilize a modern approach to traditional wedding entertainment that will keep you in the spotlight without using “cheesy” outdated DJ techniques. They will be involved as much or as little as you prefer them to be. Arch Entertainment has the experience to serve the needs of any event: large or small, classy or casual, loud and crazy or elegant and refined. They will provide the perfect mix of music to make your special day exactly as you have imagined it would be. It's your event and you get to call the shots!

The Wedding Event: Keith Cephus

If I haven't explained to you enough this week about how amazing of a bridal show The Wedding Event is going to be...this next All-Star vendor should seal the deal for you to come to the Renaissance this Sunday. So far we have introduced you to Daevid Reed of Daevid's Flowers and Emily Patti of PattiCakes...today KEITH CEPHUS of Keith Cephus Photography!

Keith Cephus is an international wedding and lifestyle photographer based in the Virginia Beach/DC area. He has been shooting professionally for more than seventeen years and has traveled the world photographing exotic weddings in Hawaii, St. Lucia, Bahamas, St. Thomas, Jamaica, Virgin Islands & Mexico.

Cephus' work has been recognized by numerous publications worldwide including American Bride, Destination Weddings, Bride and Bloom, Modern Bride, Destination IDO, The Knot, Vow, Essence and Hampton Roads Bride. His celebrity weddings include Grammy Award-winner Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, Darryl Tapp of the Philadelphia Eagles and NFL quarterback Aaron Brooks. His most recent accomplishment was being selected, "Best of Weddings 2010" by The Knot Magazine.

Don't forget...one happy couple at the Wedding Event will win a Free Wedding (YES, IT"S REALLY FREE)...and of course, when you win the photographer for your event will be the one and only Keith Cephus! (along with services from Daevid Reed, Emily Patti, Antonia Christianson Events, DJ Rodney Charles, Blue Steel Pro Lighting, the Portsmouth Renaissance...and the list goes on!)

The Wedding Event: Patti Cakes

If you read our post yesterday you know that we will be introducing some of the fabulous vendors that will help make the Wedding Event the great wedding show it is destine to be...I have already introduced you to the often imitated, never duplicated Daevid Reed of Daevids Flowers...and today I thought I'd tantalize your taste buds and make you hungry just talking about our very good friend and amazing baker, Emily Patti of Patti Cakes Inc.

Nearly 2 years ago we interviewed Emily as part of our "Monday Meeting" Series on our blog...Today I thought i'd repost her responses to our questions along with some of her amazing cakes she has created since our last feature..

How did you get into creating and designing special event cakes?
I have always had an artistic streak growing up but never really utilized it. When I had my son, I started making his birthday cakes every year. A few years later, a friend of mine literally forced me to make her wedding cake. It turned out to be a huge success! My business grew not only from a love of art, but a lifelong love of sweets as well.

What is the biggest trend you are seeing in the world of Wedding Cakes?
Having an extreme groom’s cake featured at the wedding along with the wedding cake. This is a way to get your fiancé to become willingly involved and excited about the process and together we can come up with something so creative and that will be such a conversation piece at the wedding! This is a great way to let the personality of the groom or the two of you as a couple shine. Plus, unlike featuring a groom’s cake at the rehearsal dinner, everyone has the opportunity to see it.

What is your favorite part of working with a bride and creating her dream day?
Having the opportunity to hear her ideas and details in order to come up with a cake that is truly unique and personal. It’s more fun to combine our ideas to come up with a piece of art that makes a statement rather than just serve as the “expected” wedding cake. I’m so fortunate that I’m given the opportunity to create the centerpiece for a couple’s biggest day of their life.

What is a cake trend that is over-used in modern weddings?I have been so lucky to work with brides that relish the opportunity to get creative with their cake that I haven’t really come across something that is “over-used”. I always say “it’s trendy to be unique!”. Take this opportunity to let your ideas run, choose cake flavors that you really like and not what you feel is expected, and start your own trend.

What advice would you give a bride and groom when they are trying to pick the best cake with the best vendor?
Follow your heart! The cake is ultimately an edible, artistic expression that should compliment your personality. It should not only serve as a memorable centerpiece for your event, but leave a delicious taste in the mouth of all your guests. Choose the vendor that you truly believe understands the image and feel that you are trying to convey.

One of my favorite cakes yet...it photographed so beautifully and it was simple yet out of the box. This cake was for the wedding of Jerri and Shaka. (image courtesy of Hayne Photographers)

Such a great cake...I believe it was derived from a cake in Sex and The City and this beautiful cake was for our clients Laura and Matt. (image courtesy of Sam Hughes)...Did I also mention this wedding was recently featured on the national blog of Weddings Unveiled Magazine?

The above to images were from a beautiful lemon and lime themed wedding that we were honored to plan at the Virginia Beach Westin. The top cake was our clients grooms cake...it matched his Rolex to a T. AMAZING! (images courtesy of Hayne Photographers)

Yep...thats a replica of a Canon 5D...for a party near and dear to my heart...My hubby's 30th surprise party.

(thanks Trey Tesoro of James Christianson Photography)

I love quilting on a cake...it's traditional yet modern. Really pretty and classic. This is Stephanie and JJ...a very fun couple who just celebrated their 1 year anniversary! (image courtesy of Hayne Photographers)

A snapshot of our office cake...it usually sits in our conference room...but here we had to share it with potential brides at the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase. It's so clean and classic! It gets complimented daily in our studio.

This amazing cake graced the pages of Bride & Bloom Magazine (still currently on newsstands). Daevid and I came up with the design concept behind this amazing shoot and Emily pulled through as always! Thank you Emily! Without you...cakes might taste good but they definitely wouldn't look good! (image courtesy of Eleise Theuer)

The Wedding Event: Daevid

This Sunday is the much anticipated and talked about Wedding Event at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. This one of a kind event boasts the top vendors in Hampton Roads along with amazing views, samplings of great food items to nibble on and 1 lucky couple will win A FREE WEDDING! It is a definite don't miss event for couples currently planning for their big day...or couples that think marriage is in their future. Who knows, you could win the FREE wedding.

This week i'd like to introduce you to only a handful of the wedding vendors that will be showcasing their work at the Wedding Event.

First up, our good friend and Fabulous, Creative, Fun Florist Supreme Daevid Reed of Daevids. We have had the extreme pleasure to work with Daevid on weddings, industry events and even a spread in the fabulous bridal design magazine Bride & Bloom. (still on newstands now!!)

Look at this amazing creation:

Let me introduce you to Daevid and his philosophy:

"Inspired by nature and designed with passion!" Daevid’s unique and personalized designs exemplify what is perfection in the floral industry. His goal is to use a creative vision to articulate the DREAM wedding of each bride. Daevid takes a personal interest in each wedding he produces. His guarantee to you is that he will personally incorporate your wedding vision into his designs with distinction and elegance. He will help you set the trend of your event from Demure to Dramatic, Sophisticated to Spectacular, your vision comes to life with Daevid’s assistance. His natural creative ability, and love of nature enable Daevid to focus his skills on what he does best - exclusively catering to brides. His specialty is Bridal Floral, with over twenty years of experience his talent of floral and décor can also enhance corporate events, holiday parties and other social events.

Daevid has a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture from Virginia Poly Technical Institute. His education gives him a solid foundation and broad perspective of the floral industry. He has owned retail studios in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Alexandria, and Norfolk, this gives him a landmark reputation of success, and assurance of a sound business that provides the service for everyone's budget allowance, with personalized attention. He has designed and arranged weddings from Providence, Rhode Island to Miami Beach, Florida as well as from Washington DC to Galveston, Texas. Ask Daevid to be your partner in creating the wedding of your dreams!

We are listed in weddingwire.com, Hampton Roads Wedding Guide, The Knot (voted The Best In Weddings) by local brides 2010, Bride & Bloom, and Weddings Unveiled Magazine.