I Do OverTurning Disaster Weddings into Dream Weddings

Cheryl Dent is a food stylist and entertaining guru. She can turn just about any meal in a special never-to-be-forgotten event. She did it for a couple on I Do Over with an amazing Candy Land theme and if you read her articles on Celebrations, she can help you turn food into the focal point of your next celebration. Cheryl took a second to give us some of insights on filming I Do Over, how to select a theme for a wedding, and her own personal sweet tooth favorites.

What was the biggest challenge in creating a Candy Land themed wedding?

Actually having enough candy and sweets left for the wedding. The cast and crew would sneak into my prep area and snack away! Also, as the sun came out, we kept moving our tables around to prevent a big chocolate meltdown.

Have you ever done a wedding for television before? What made it different from other events you’ve created drinks for?

I created a vintage Carousel themed wedding for the television show “Battle of the Wedding Planners.”  The venue was infested with yellow jackets. Needless to say the bees created an interesting challenge. We tried literally to move the bees to the other side of the park by relocating all the trash cans and our kitchen as far away from the dining area as possible. But not all the bees heeded my eviction notice and some did show up on camera for their unpaid television debut.

What advice would you give to a couple looking to pick a theme for their wedding?

Just relax and have fun.  Pick something you both really like and use that as a starting point. My friend Dawn’s wedding featured a gourmet coffee cart that served our favorite beverages and provided an intimate space for mingling and conversation. The couple met at a coffee shop and that coffee experience felt really special at their wedding.

How did you get involved in event design initially and why do you love it?

When I was running my boutique catering company, I found that guests loved not only the food but the artful presentation of the plates and buffets. And I began to get calls asking me to design events from beginning to end. I also work professionally as a food stylist of all the edibles you see in TV commercials, and all that attention to visual creativity just seems to lead naturally from designing a delicious-looking burger to designing a scrumptious-looking physical space.

What’s your all time favorite candy?

Some well toned eye candy working out next to me at the gym! A close second would have to be Harry London Buckeyes, a rich peanut butter center dipped in milk chocolate.

Check out Cheryl’s expert party ideas on Celebrations!