At one time I had the idea that destination weddings were good because they were easier…you know, fewer people, just let the hotel handle it, etc.

Well, now I know a destination wedding can be the most tender, fabulous, detailed, well thought out, totally choreographed event for a couple of hundred people that can possibly happen thousands of miles away from home in a setting that doesn’t even have a major grocery store within many miles. Central Market hasn’t landed in Ketchum, Idaho… although sparkling skies, lush foliage, mountain views…

sunny days and cool nights, wonderful lodgings, delicious little cafes, hiking and bike paths, horses and skeet shooting, juicy barbecue, quiet nooks for reading, stunning scenery (Cole found ample time to paint)…

and friends all around more than made the days surrounding this wonderful wedding fun and relaxing.

Jeffrey Kollinger, of Spice of Life Catering in Dallas

Ralph Randall, me and Cole

elegant wedding guests

Cole and me

Pure love for the bride and groom and their family infused the entire occasion with an ambiance of happiness.

THE FLOWERS AND GOWNS: As a designer, I was particularly entranced by the nuanced palette selected by the bride for the nuptials and related events. The colors of the late summer, early fall flowers still surrounding the family home and the church.

All other event locations were blush tinted butterscotch tones… with warm pink and rose tones fading into more golden autumnal shades.

The bride incorporated these beautiful tints into the wild flowers and garden foliage bouquets and garlands which decorated the church, the dinners, and her bridesmaids, mother and grandmother’s beautiful dresses.

Her own gown, embellished with antique lace, was contemporary but rich with associations of other eras, romantic and memorable.

As Cole and I watched the family and bridal party come down the aisle, the sun glinted against the shimmering textiles, really adding a special glow. Several guests had sequins in their own dresses and the myriad reflections sparkled everywhere.

Centered over the altar was a cascading chandelier which looked like a cluster of hovering white porcelain butterflies or tiny white doves. The bride stole a kiss from the groom midway through the service.

Seeing the bride’s grandmother escorted by two of the bride’s brothers, each beaming as they walked with arms entwined, made me a little teary. I loved the way the groom and groomsmen wore beautiful suits but no ties… very current but also indicative of the more relaxed and fun approach of the entire series of events.

But the hands-down most beautiful moment of the weekend was watching the bride and her father, who had some recent health challenges, dance together at the reception later that evening. No eyes were dry when they took the floor.

It was love and happiness magnified by the number of people there.

THE KITCHEN: but perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the festivities was the full scale kitchen that was built to feed the multitudes. Just the core family is a large one, which means that the most intimate friends list is still a bit larger than most (sooo many cousins, for example). And if there are big events, there is a big staff, which means they also must be fed. With few local supplies or equipment available to cook and serve numerous meals from twenty to two hundred people, the solution was to BUILD a kitchen.

Jeffrey Kollinger, of Spice of Life Catering, and his staff of 40 simply moved to Idaho for a couple of weeks to set up the facility, organize and create the menus for major events, cook and serve many meals, and finally disassemble the entire shebang.

Jeffrey Kollinger, President and Head Chef

Victor Mari Alonso, Event Manager

They sent commercial dishwashers, ranges, refrigerators, ovens, work stations, coolers, food and supplies, an entire office, serving pieces, china, cutlery, linens, aprons, drinks, glassware, floor mats, fireproof/insulating materials for safety, ventilation systems, shelving, plating tables, pots, pans, coffee services…and on and on…PERFECTLY organized and planned down to the last amuse bouche.

some of the great wait staff!

Based in a four car garage, which thankfully had plumbing already so they could hook up their cleaning equipment, this amazing chef and his team created a Michelin ratable restaurant that continually amazed the entire group assembled to celebrate the newlyweds and their family.

Touring this amazing facility, I was struck by the careful planning that the bride and her mother had used to think everything through, including entrusting Jeffrey and his team with the responsibility for pulling this all off. And I will never underrate the complexities of a destination wedding again!!

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