Anyone Else Tired? 🙋🏾‍♀️

We can help! We’ve partnered with some friends to encourage you to unwind. Scroll on down to learn more about how you can join in for a chance to win. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out! ✨

What You'll Win

- $20 Gift Card to Kelly’s Ice Cream
- $50 Better than Sex Gift Card
- $50 Gift Card to Artifact Candle Foundry
- $50 Gift Card to Miscellaneous Market
- Naked Bar Bath Bomb
- Self-Care Journal
- Espresso Martini Kit & Glasses
- Picnic Basket & Blanket
- Boudoir Session with Ashley Jane Photography
- Cake Decorating Class (for Two) with Bakers Cottage Cakes
- Hair & Make-up Session with Jazz it up Artistry

the R U L E S . . .

- Follow our pages (@cypressgroveestatehouse @luxmoregrande @rentalsbyrwevents)
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- SHARE/TAG for some extra entries on Instagram

April 21, 2023April 24, 2023

Let’s face it, planning a wedding can be overwhelming. But fear not lovebirds! Whether you’re a Type-A personality who has color-coded spreadsheets for every aspect of the big day or you’re just winging it (hey, it happens), our team at Cypress Grove Estate House & Luxmore Grande Estate has got your back. We know that choosing the perfect venue is a big decision, which is why we’ve compiled four tips for making the most out of your venue tour with us. So grab your fiancé and let’s make some memories!

When you’re ready to take the next step in your venue search, it’s time to go on a tour! Before heading out, make sure to discuss details and budget with your partner so you can decide which style and price range of venues fit your needs.

1. Discuss Details & Budget!

Let’s talk about details and budget, shall we? Sit down with your fiancé and family to discuss all the juicy details and the wedding budget. Remember, the venue is the first big decision you’ll make, so it’s important to know your style and, more importantly, your price range. Before you go venue touring, there are two crucial details you must have on lock – your wedding date and budget! Keep in mind your guest list (size does matter!) and don’t forget to ask about a Plan B in case Mother Nature decides to throw a tantrum. This is Florida after all, folks!

Pro tip: don’t be afraid to mix it up with your venue style. You never know what kind of beauty may catch you off guard!

2. Schedule an appointment for your site visit!

Don’t be a rebel without a cause, schedule an appointment for your site visit! Each venue is a master of their own schedule and handling tour procedures. Guarantee your slot by scheduling an appointment, where you’ll have a knowledgeable venue staff to walk you through and discuss all details and packages. If you choose to wing it and walk-in without an appointment, you risk the chance of the venue being closed for another event, or no one being available to give you a tour.

Pro Tip – Don’t be shy, reach out to the venue staff beforehand and dig for deets or even ask for an estimate prior to the tour! With a little pre-tour probing, you can discuss your day more in-depth during the tour.

Give us a Holla!

3. Get Smart about Your Wedding Venue

Ask Questions and Take Notes! Jot down a few essential questions and amenities you want in a venue before heading to your tour appointment.

Venues can vary greatly in their prices and packages, so it’s best to come prepared with a fresh checklist for each visit. That way, you can easily compare your options with notes and checklists post-tour. It’s the best way to ensure you get the information you need to make an informed wedding decision..

4. Have Fun

Don’t forget the most important part of wedding planning – FUN! Sure, it can get stressful, but keep your eyes on the prize and remember why you’re doing this in the first place. Skip the stress and focus on the big picture. And if you’re looking for a beautiful, stress-free day, don’t forget to book top-notch vendors and venues.

Happy hunting, and if you need a hand… Holla at us 💖

February 2, 2023February 2, 2023

Vendor Spotlight | Kim Go Goes Behind The Lens of Her Creative Mind

When we think of Kim Go, we think of three things:

1. - Good vibes
  - Authenticity
  - Vintage feels

She is a master of capturing raw emotion in every single shot she takes. She strives to make sure that every moment she captures is full of love and joy. Based in Orlando, FL but you can catch her on a flight real quick traveling.

Kim has worked at Luxmore countless times and we took the time to get some insight into her photography style and favorite moments here.

How would you describe your photography style?

“My photo style is very candid and carefree! I don’t typically like to have my couples in super-posed stances, so my client galleries are always filled with genuine candids. My editing style tends to be on the warmer side, with hints of grain for that vintage feel! Grainy b&w edits are huge for me, so there’s always a handful of those in every gallery I send out!”

Favorite spots at our Luxmore

“Luxmore is such a big venue, it’s definitely hard to choose just one spot. But if I had to, I’d say the library room is one of my favorites. I love how versatile it is, and how we’re able to transform the area with subtle decor chances. The front entrance of the venue with the fountain is a very close second – it gives “Gatsby” vibes, which became the inspiration behind one of the styled shoots I did there!”

Vendors:

What was your favorite shoot at Luxmore?

“The Classic Thanksgiving Inspired Styled Shoot that I hosted at Luxmore back in 2021 has been one of my favorites! Ironically, this shoot was designed, planned, and put together within a matter of days, but the outcome blows me away every time. The vendor list was very strong for this shoot, which is why I think it turned out so well. The elements that each vendor brought ended up blending together so well!”

Previous slide

Next slide

Vendors:

We’re excited to see what’s next for Kim Go as a photographer. Anyone who has ever worked with her can vouch that she is an absolute joy to shoot with, and we wish her all the best. Show our girl some love and give her a follow @kimgophotography

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021

The Women Behind the Brand | Kimberly

Hey, there! I’m Kim – some people call me a unicorn because they hear about/from me, but never actually see me in person 😉 I’ve worked for RW Events for 10+ years, and about five years ago I relocated to Arkansas. I was so blessed to be able to keep my position with the company and work from home, so that’s why I’m not around too often. Why Arkansas, you ask? The Florida heat and humidity are not my friends, I love the cold but not snowstorms, and the seasons here are AMAZING! Color-changing leaves, wildflowers in the Spring, lake days in the summer {I’m not a beach person – no sand or sharks for me!}, and cozy fireplaces in the winter – yes, please!

Working for a small company for such a long time has really given me the chance to learn the ins and outs of the business; I’ve got my hands in all the pots at this point – marketing, client accounts, vendor relations, human resources… you name it, I’ve probably done it!

Being a unicorn is great {I’m pretty introverted so I love having a solitary work space}, but there’s one downfall – if you haven’t been following the RW brand for quite some time, you probably don’t know me! That’s my goal this year, to make myself more visible. Starting with, you guessed it, Instagram! Be sure to follow me at @rwevents_kimberly – I’ll do my best to update bi-weekly for now 😉

December 27, 2020December 15, 2020

Styled Shoots 101

We consider ourselves old pros at styled shoots, so it makes sense that we share some of our lessons learned and tips for success with our fellow creatives. An on brand styled shoot can win you clients and connect you to likeminded vendors, while a poorly executed shoot may alienate clients and vendors alike. We’re not ashamed to admit that we’ve taken in part in both! There are certainly styled shoots we’ve done in years past that we hope never see the light of day again. Here are our tips for creating a styled shoot that you’ll be proud of!

The Theme

Choose a theme that’s reflective of your brand and appeals to your ideal client. Don’t get so caught up trying to be unique that you choose a theme that doesn’t truly match your style or that’s too difficult for you to execute. Start with one piece of inspiration and grow from there. Whether it’s a color, a flower, or a cool piece of furniture, trust your gut (not Pinterest!) and put together a cohesive idea.

The Team

A successful styled shoot is the sum of the vendors involved. When you’re selecting your vendor team, consider what the vendors will get out of participating in the shoot. For example, invite a florist who you know wants to try out a new arch that matches your shoot, or reach out to a bridal store you know is launching a new line. When you reach out to vendors for their work in particular, they’re more likely to consider accepting the invitation because they’ll know you’re not just inviting everyone in a vendor category and hoping someone says yes.

Acknowledge that different types of vendors have different costs, so cultivate your ask accordingly. If you’re asking a florist to deck out a staircase for a styled shoot, you should offer to cover at least a portion of the cost. If you’re asking a venue to use their location, consider setting up in one room and be sure to clean up after yourself. The way your treat your vendor team at a styled shoot will determine if they’ll want to work with you again.

The Day

Make shoot days fun by being organized, thoughtful and on time. Send all the vendors involved a timeline and floorplan so they have a clear expectation of the day. Provide water and/or snacks. Thank you notes and sweet treats go a long way too! Stick to your timeline and be respectful of everyone’s day.

Is there more that goes into planning the perfect styled shoot? Of course, but these are the most important things to remember: choose a theme you genuinely love, be intentional with your vendor list and acknowledge their contribution, keep shoot day organized and on time. You do all that and we promise you and your vendor team will be delighted!

Shout out to: Alex Gotawala Photography, The Chaos Coordinator, + In Bloom Florist for creating this whimsical shoot at Cypress Grove Estate House.

November 25, 2020November 25, 2020

A Day of Thanks

One of my absolute favorite holidays is Thanksgiving! That’s mainly due to the endless carbs and yummy desserts. It’s also a time to reflect on traditions, family time, good food, and gratitude.

In the Cowart household, Thanksgiving has always been about comfort food, laugher, board games, a little retail therapy, and lots of hugs! It’s a comforting time for us knowing that we have so much to be thankful for. Afterall, we have each other Naturally, the Thanksgiving menu was a hot topic in our office the last couple of weeks. From favorite dishes, celebrity chefs and traditions.

We learned that Dede + Alexis loves to eat (if someone else is cooking) and the rest of us has a fondness for comfort food. What’s on the menu for the Cowart family tomorrow: Smoked turkey, ham, dressing, maple glazed yams, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, collard greens, green bean casserole, brussels sprouts, and desserts from our friends at Bakers Cottage Cakes. I’m not sure about you but the dinner time changes every year at our house and it’s always based on when the mac-n-cheese comes out the oven .

Although I love cookbooks for inspiration, I’ve never been one to stick to a certain recipe and often merge ingredients from a couple of options to mix things up a bit! The only recipe I don’t experience with is the brine for the turkey – I’ve perfected it over the years. Most of my cooking inspiration comes from Barefoot Contessa, Pioneer Woman, and Chrissy Teigen – It’s the perfect blend of sophisticated comfort foods with a little twist.

While we’re on the topic of “comfort” foods, one tradition we hope to carry on for years to come is the after dinner naps! That Turkey coma is something serious and always leads to us piling up on the sofa (with ‘bad’ holiday movies in the background) to take a quick one-hour nap before we pull out the sweet potato pies.

Check out some of the Thanksgiving traditions and favorite recipes from the team.

Love, Tamuel + The Cowart Family

Kimberly

What is your favorite thanksgiving dish and why – Creamy mac & cheese. I know, I know… so basic. But it’s delicious and reminds me of my cousin and I eating too much when we were kids 😜

Is there a Thanksgiving tradition you hope to carry on for years to come – Watching the Macy’s Parade while putting up the Christmas tree Thanksgiving morning.

What are you most thankful for in 2020 – Oh, gosh, where to start!? So many things, but the one that comes to mind first is my friend group. Living away from family can be hard, and they invited me to quarantine with them for three weeks this past spring. It was such a blessing to not be stuck at home alone for almost a month!

Celebrity chefs you channel when cooking – I actually don’t follow any. I just make it up as I go!

Any favorite recipes you care to share – Cherry cobbler: boxed vanilla cake mix combined with 1.5 sticks of melted butter. Crumble on top of cherry pie filling and bake ’til bubbly. Top with vanilla ice cream.

Maddie

What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish and why –Dressing hands down! It’s the most complicated to make so we only have it around the holidays.

Is there a Thanksgiving tradition you hope to carry on for years to come – Every year the week before Thanksgiving I help my mom and other coaches’ wives cook a huge meal for my dad’s basketball team. Typically, they travel out of state for a Thanksgiving tournament and don’t get to go home, so I love seeing everyone come together as a family and try new things.

What are you most thankful for in 2020 – My health and extra time at home with my dog Sophie!

Celebrity chefs you channel when cooking – Does Chrissy Teigan count? That’s as far as my “celebrity chef” knowledge goes.

Any favorite recipes you care to share – Dressing (family recipe from my Great Grandmother Niblett)

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, deboned
10 eggs, 4 boiled and chopped and 6 raw
Bell pepper
Mushrooms
Sweet onion
Celery
2 sticks butter
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 pan of cornbread, crumbled
6 slices of bread, toasted and cubed
Chicken Broth…up to 32 oz container
salt/pepper can add sage/thyme (I don’t)

Directions

Sauté sliced celery, mushrooms, onion, and bell pepper in 1 stick of butter. Add to bowl when they are soft.
Debone whole chicken in a big bowl.
Boil 4 eggs, chop, and add to bowl.
Make cornbread and crumble in bowl.
Toast bread and pull apart…add to bowl
Add both cans of soup to bowl.
Melt one stick of butter and add to bowl.
Add chicken broth to make a little soupy.
Add spices (salt/pepper/etc.)
Pour into greased baking dish. Bake at 350 for 90 minutes or until set.

Amaris

What is your favorite thanksgiving dish and why – My favorite thanksgiving dish is my Mom’s cornbread dressing. It was always the highlight of our time in the kitchen together. I’d bake the cornbread the night before and wake up bright and early on Thanksgiving day to help her prepare all the fixings. Cutting up onions and laughing through onion induced tears. The best part was being the taste tester right before it went into the oven. It’s my fondest Thanksgiving memory. Though she never shared the recipe, it’s etched in my heart and made with love every single year for our family and by request for her closest friends.

Is there a Thanksgiving tradition you hope to carry on for years to come – I’m not sure setting a menu with the family is a tradition, but, every year me and my siblings create the Thanksgiving menu together on what each person will make. We always joke that it’ll take 3 days before we get my youngest brothers dishes because he is always late (fashionably, of course). We’ve learned to not give him the important things. Dessert only! Even when we’ve all moved to new places, It’s my hope that we’ll always come together as a family on Thanksgiving day with our children.

What are you most thankful for in 2020 – Whew! 2020 was a hell of a year!!! But I am so thankful for the time it’s given to really put things into prospective. It’s taught me that time is priceless and to cherish every single moment like it’s the last. To be present in all things and to value your friends and family. Oh, and to never take things for granted. Who knew toilet paper would be so scarce?! Ha!

Celebrity chefs you channel when cooking – Does my Grandma count as a celebrity chef?!

Any favorite recipes you care to share – I’m the worst at sticking to recipes. Most of my favorite dishes are a hodgepodge of different recipes I’ve tried, tweaked and added my own flair to. Added more butter, a dash more of this or that. How do you measure wrist shakes of certain seasonings?! Three shakes of this, a pinch and a half of that… ok ok fine, here’s the one recipe I can kind of share with measurements

My Peach Cobbler Recipe – Best served over two or three large scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. Tillamook Vanilla Bean is my fav

Ingredients

Batter:

1 cup of milk
1 cup of Sugar
1 cup of flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
Filling:

2 16oz cans of sliced peaches in syrup or fresh peaches peeled, pitted and sliced
1 cup of sugar
Pumpkin pie spice
½ teaspoon of Cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon of salt

Directions

Melt ½ stick of butter in a 13×9 glass pan
In a separate bowl, combine your batter ingredients (should be the consistency of pancake batter)
Pour your peaches into a large pot with the juice of one can.
Add your sugar and spices to taste
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly
Pour your batter over the melted butter
Spoon your peaches on top of the batter (DO NOT MIX)
Pour juice over the peaches ( not all of it or you’ll have a true mess in our oven)
Place in your oven at 355 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown

Akili

What is your favorite thanksgiving dish and why – Macaroni and cheese! I only make it on the holidays and it’s the perfect main or side dish.

Is there a Thanksgiving tradition you hope to carry on for years to come – Nope

What are you most thankful for in 2020 – My family and friends! Being forced to slow down in 2020 strengthened my relationships and reinforced who’s important in my life.

Celebrity chefs you channel when cooking – I channel Chrissy Teigen. Like her I’m not a real chef but I can whip up a tasty meal!

Any favorite recipes you care to share – Million Dollar Chicken. This always comes out perfectly roasted and the creme fraiche sauce is incredible! https://carnaldish.com/recipes/million-dollar-chicken/

Alexis

What is your favorite thanksgiving dish and why – Leftover Turkey sandwiches with pickles and cranberry on rye bread..mmm mmm good! WHY? The food always tastes better the day after.

Is there a Thanksgiving tradition you hope to carry on for years to come –Thanksgiving Family Football game!

What are you most thankful for in 2020 – How much we have learned and leaned on one another. I think 2020 brought out self-awareness of our own mental health and encouraged us to check in on those surrounding us.

Celebrity chefs you channel when cooking – Shopaholics, always buying way too much food. The Grocery store is my happy place!

Any favorite recipes you care to share – Store bought cranberries is my jam, just open up the can and pour it in the bowl, clearly I’m not a cook.

In conclusion, we hope all of you have the very best time celebrating (virtually) with family and friends 🙂

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 10, 2020November 3, 2020

Picnic in the Park

We love a good picnic in the park. But when that picnic happens at Cypress Grove and includes a basket from Miscellaneous Market + food from Big City Catering, it becomes a GREAT picnic!

As summer came to an end, we hosted a contest and the lucky winners received a picnic in the park! The winners, Jay and Kelsie, were treated to a picnic lunch, dessert from Bakers Cottage Cakes, and a photo shoot!

Want to host your perfect picnic in the park? Here are our tips!

Make It Tasty and Cute

Include items that are best served cold, easy to eat with your hands, and Instagram worthy. Jay and Kelsie enjoyed charcuterie, fresh berry salad, sundried tomato and feta turnovers, and a seasonal fruit salad.

All the Pillows, All the Style

An uncomfortable set up guarantees your picnic won’t last for long. Keep it cute and comfy with a rug and lots of throw pillows for lounging. We chose this fun blue and yellow palette and by some magic, we perfectly matched the cake provided by Bakers Cottage!

This spread by Big City Catering looks so yummy!

In Good Company

Quarantine has taught us that ANYTHING can be fun with the right company. Whether you’re planning a romantic picnic for two or something for your squad, make sure your invitees are down to kick off their shoes and relax!

Don't Sweat It

We get it: picnics are meant to be outside, but we don’t like to sweat. If the temperature isn’t to your liking, bring your picnic indoors. Yes, fresh air is nice, but sometimes A/C is better.

We loved putting this contest together and have a feeling we may be planning a fall date night at Luxmore soon!

November 5, 2020November 3, 2020

Wedding Tablescapes for Days

Not to brag, but we know how to design stunning wedding tablescapes. Styling is our jam, and as we prepped for fall wedding season, we decided to invite others to join us in a two-day style session! Wedding planners, photographers, florists, bakers, and calligraphers all brought their A-game and styled the day away with us! We showcased some of our favorite tables, chairs, and chargers, along with table settings from Treasury Rentals.

It was the perfect way to ease ourselves back into busy season and to see some new + familiar faces. We’re so grateful to all the vendors who joined us and we cannot resist sharing a few sneak peeks from the day with you!

Blue Ribbon Weddings collaborated with In Bloom Florist to create a dreamy, floral wonderland in the estate room. Photos by 28 North Photography

Fern and Curl Designs styled blooms for two wedding tablescapes in front of the bay window. Her first design is perfect for fall and features resin floral favors by Rejoice and Blossom Art. On day two she partnered with Melanie Paige Events for a bright, organic look paired with our brand-new luxe chairs!

If anything, these two days showed us just how important flowers and greenery are for styling a beautiful tablescape! We’ve got to give a huge thank you to all of the vendors who joined us and we can’t wait to reveal more photos soon! We’ve been if we’ll do this again… The answer is yes, but give us a few months to recover, and buy new inventory 😉

July 15, 2020July 15, 2020

Central Florida Vendor Connections | RW Coffee Shoppe

Central Florida Vendor Connections | The RW Events team meeting with new faces in the Central Florida wedding industry

We love connecting!

I’m not sure about you, but we love making authentic connections. We’re always looking for ways to stay connected to this amazing Central Florida wedding community. A couple of years ago we started an intimate networking series that we were too busy to keep up with. However, COVID has given us some time to reflect on the little things we’d like to accomplish… staying connected with our vendor partners and creating new Central Florida vendor connections was at the top of the list.

We’re happy to say we’ve reworked and reintroduced The RW Coffee Shoppe. The entire goal of the networker is to authentically connect! To connect without judgments, rekindle old friendships, chat about business ideas, and spill the tea on what we’ve been up to. All while having a good time over mimosas, coffee, tea, and treats!

Sidebar: we’ve been practicing, and the coffee is pretty darn good now. For those of you that attended the inaugural Coffee Shoppe – thanks for being our guinea pigs, lol!

If you’re open to a laid-back networking environment + looking to build stronger Central Florida vendor connections, we’d love for you to join us! The events are intimate, so be sure to reserve your spot soon! Click here to RSVP.

Shout out to our girl, Ashley Jane Photography, for the pics!

September 4, 2019April 2, 2020

RW Events | We Love Our Clients!

This time last month, the RW Events team was in final prep mode for our first client appreciation event! The event took place just before school started as a last summer hoorah, and to thank our clients for trusting us with their events. Confirming vendors, sending out reminders, and finalizing all the little details was a major fête and our team pulled everything together flawlessly!

Custom balloon arches adorned the gazebo and front of the Estate House for the RW Events client appreciation event.

Our pals, Evelyn and Kerline (of Joie de Vie Events), helped Amaris man the welcome desk while Alecia and Megan got in on the fun 😉

We have the best vendor pals! Thanks so everyone that volunteered and sponsored!

From photo booths to caricature artists and specialty performers, we had a little something for everyone! Past and current clients also enjoyed carnival games + rides, tasty treats, and amazing giveaways from Miscellaneous Market and some of our vendor pals.

Custom photo backdrops, a caricature artist, and Jenga were just a few of the activities clients got to enjoy.

The day ended with a friendly game of tug-of-war between clients and the RW Events team! Can you guess who won?

The Estate House at Cypress Grove was the perfect location for our event. The green space became home to games, food trucks, and more! The RW Events team went up against clients in a tug-of-war to end the event.

We can’t wait for our next event!

Xoxo,
Kim

August 31, 2018April 22, 2020

RW Chronicles // Vendor Game Night

The competition is on for Central Florida vendors!

Our team loves getting our friendors {“vendor friends” if you’re not familiar with event industry lingo } together to kick back and let loose whenever we can! What better way to start off everyone’s busy fall season than with an eventful evening of games and cocktails at Luxmore Grande!

While we all consider ourselves creatives, being artistic is not quite the same thing…our attempts at Pictionary proved just that! We had no idea just how competitive this game would be, but my goodness did we have fun!

Playing pictionary with our vendor pals.

Special shout out to our MC for the evening, Justin, with Orlando DJ Group, who took off a night of hosting trivia around town to put our pop-culture knowledge to the test!

Perhaps the most memorable moments came from our ever so talented lip-sync battle performers, Luxmore’s Got Talent Edition!

Getting together with friends new and old is something we strive to do. It’s an opportunity to see each other outside of a wedding or event and allows us to get to know vendors on a more personal level =)