Behind the Blooms
Gourmet & Grapes at The Sanctuary for MUSC
Wednesday, March 18, 2009






Charleston is a very giving town, even during this economic meltdown. Recently The Sanctuary Resort on Kiawah Island created it's innagural "Gourmet & Grapes" fundraiser. It benefitted the Medical University of South Carolina's Hollings Cancer Center. The MUSC Hollings Cancer Center was recently recognized as one of the best in the country. The Sanctuary has also been recognized as one of the best resorts in the country. It was a great partnership and we were proud to be part of it.



As the florist and event decor specialist for the Sanctuary, we do a lot of work with Adventures in Charleston, their destination management company. Hope Sweeney of Adventures in Charleston and our own Gayla Harvey brainstormed with The Sanctuary's Director of Catering Pam Russell on the look of the event.

They decided we needed a very large, contemporary design element for the center of the room. Something colorful, bold and well, LARGE. In fact, the goal was to completely cover the giant chandelier and take emphasis away from the lighting truss being installed for the event. Gayla and I kicked around different options, and eventually sketched out a square, tiered "lamp shade". We thought about making it entirely of Hawaiian orchid garlands...until we crunched the numbers and realized it would cost over $10,000 just for the flowers. Instead we decided to use a shimmering fabric in shades of dark red, the event's colors. Including the frame, fabrics and labor, it totalled just over $1,000. We also donated all of the flowers and other design elements for the three day event.



The photos you see take you from the brainstorming sketch we made in the office, to installation and finally during the actual event. I just thought it was a unique opportunity to see the entire process. Click on the photos to see larger images.



We attended the event, and it was a great success. It raised over $100,000 for the MUSC Cancer Center...great for the first year! It's always tough to start a fundraiser from nothing, and all the folks at The Sanctuary worked real hard on the event. I'm sure it will grow every year. Kudos to The Sanctuary, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, and especially the fine folks who attended the event and graciously donated their time and money. With all the negative stuff we see on in the news, it's inspiring to see these folks stepping up. Ultimately it will be that type of energy that will be the "bail-out" from the economic troubles we are in. I left the event Saturday night understanding the solution to our troubles. It will not be the government, the banks, nor the money. It will be individuals, stepping up and leading the way.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Posted by Manny Gonzales
0 Comments >>>

Mingo Point "Marsh Madness"
Friday, November 21, 2008

Mingo Point, the rustic outdoor venue on Kiawah Island is one of my favorite places in the world. Just 5 minutes from the 5-Star Sanctuary Resort, it's a slice of our pristine lowcountry natural treasure.
The saltwater Kiawah River wraps around Mingo Point almost 360 degrees. Everywhere you look it's water, spartina grass, live oaks, cypress, egrets, heron, osprey, palmettos and more.
Most of our events there are in the evening, and the setting sun over the marsh and river is a living work of art. When the full moon is shining through the live oaks, well you just have to experience it yourself.
I love to fish, and let me tell you the Kiawah River is an amazing fishery. It is absolutely loaded with speckled trout, spottail bass (redfish) and flounder. It's rare when you DON'T see folks fishing at the nearby bridge. With it's remote location, the vast majority of the gamefish there have never seen a hook! Add in the short distance to the ocean, and the result is an angler's dream. Bring stout gear, those Kiawah River spottails can reach thirty pounds. During the summer and fall, you can net a shrimp dinner for an entire family in about 15 minutes. TIP: Go at low tide.
About the flowers, simple, rustic, lowcountry is the rule at Mingo. We shouldn't and don't try to compete with the natural beauty on Mingo, just accent it a little. The earthy colors of the rented linens, seagrass container and local sunflowers are all we need to make the point "POP".
Kiawah Resort is smart about using Mingo Point the "right" way. While it has all the amenities you expect, it has kept its natural appeal. Kayak, fishing and dolphin trips are all offered through the resort, and all are great for the family day trippers or the serious nature enthusiasts.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Posted by Manny Gonzales
0 Comments >>>

Helping Out at the Ronald MacDonald House
Thursday, November 20, 2008



The Sanctuary Resort asked us to help out with an idea for the Ronald McDonald House. Bill Lacey, Sanctuary Director of Operations (that's him in the left photo with Sanctuary Housekeeping Director Anna Glac) decided to turn the House into a 5 Star Resort for the day. What a great concept. As everybody knows, The Sanctuary is a 5 Star, 5 Diamond resort on Kiawah Island. They really do it right out there, and I find their focus and standards very inspiring. When they asked us to provide the flowers for their 5-Star Ronald McDonald House, well it was a slam dunk.
Every knows what great work the RM House does in providing a comfortable, home-like setting for families eduring long hospital stays. Located across from our Medical University of SC Children's Hospital, it is unfortunately a very busy place.
Bill asked us to participate and of course we said "yes". So late last week, during a very busy, hectic day at the shop, Gayla and I snuck over to the RM House to get an idea of colors and decor. Talk about a reality check. We were wrapped up in our production schedule, ringing telephones and mounting emails, but seeing families taking a break from a hospital vigil with a snack and a nap really hit us hard. I've got two kids, and like all dads I would walk through fire rather than see them hurt or sick. Gayla and I both felt humbled and fortunate.
So we made some nice arrangements for the lobby and each guest room. The RM House was in full holiday decor, so we created our first Christmas designs of the year for them. That's a picture of Taylor posing with The Big Guy while delivering one of our centerpieces. Ronald's the one on the right.
Bill, Anna and a large Sanctuary volunteer staff made the house look great. White linen tableclothes, doorman, full 5-Star buffet complete with uniformed servers, they even provided spa massages for guests!
Hopefully, we made their day a little brighter. I don't want to get preachy, but if you can make the time or have a few extra bucks, there are a lot of good folks out there who could use a little comfort.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Posted by Manny Gonzales
0 Comments >>>

Beachside Wedding At Sanctuary Kiawah Island
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Probably the best thing Charleston has to offer for events and weddings are the awesome venues! It's not unusual for us to set-up beachside, at a plantation, country club, historic mansion, grand ballroom....all on the same day!
Here we have a wedding ceremony on the Terrace Lawn at The Sanctuary Resort on Kiawah Island. We put a little lowcountry island flair in the design. This was Gayla Harvey's event, she is our designer dedicated just to the Sanctuary.
You have to be careful with the island look in our area. Get too tropical and it has a Florida/Hawaii feel. Stay strictly with local blooms and it goes to "wildflower". We like this look with hydrangeas, roses, palms and fern. Definitely less is more with a background like that! Love the windswept live oak tree seen within the arch. That is a Kiawah trademark, in fact it's part of their logo.
The Terrace Lawn is a wonderful place for a ceremony or cocktail hour. It has a beautiful view, yet because it is just outside the Terrace Ballroom it is sheltered from sun, wind and weather. On mild days the French doors to the ballroom remain open creating a great inside/outside event. Nothing like watching shrimp boats and dolphin while partying! It also lights up great at night with tikis or our wrought iron lanterns.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Posted by Manny Gonzales
0 Comments >>>

Fall Is In The Air-Kiawah River Course
Friday, November 7, 2008

I love fall flowers! Rich, full, overwhelming colors that really burst in candlelit events! This is Clara's event at the River Course on Kiawah Island tomorrow night. She just finished them up in the design studio and I took a quick photo before they were treated and placed in a cooler. Dahlias, hypericum, gerberas and several types of orchids bloom out of a container made of real birch branches. The earthy textures will be a great contrast to the luxury of the River Course Country Club.

We are also making a matching collar for the bride's dog to wear. We've done that a few times before, it really works great. I swear, it seems the dog is aware that she is wearing some bling and walks a little taller, a little prouder. Good stuff! It;s a busy weekend, several weddings and events going on. The weather is going to be perfect, 71 degrees and sunny. Bring it on!

Labels: , , , , , ,

Posted by Manny Gonzales
1 Comments >>>