Rooftop Event

Ice House Louisville Wedding Feature: Emily + Kyle

March 13, 2019 by icehouse Leave a Comment

On October 27, 2018, Emily and Kyle Vaughn’s forever began on the Ice House Louisville’s downtown rooftop in Louisville, KY. Surrounded by loving family and friends, these two entered into their marriage in full celebration. We’ve asked Emily and Kyle for thoughts and advice they would share with other couples in the midst of their own wedding planning journey.

IH: If you were to share a few pieces of advice on wedding planning with newly engaged couples, what would you suggest?

E+K: Don’t sweat the small things! Slow down to ENJOY the planning and your big day because it’s going to go by fast! You won’t remember the tiny details years from now, but you will remember how happy you were and the memories you made with your family and friends.

IH: Give us a description of what it was like working with the Ice House and Crushed Ice Catering staff!

E+K: We had our wedding at The Ice House in Downtown Louisville and had THE BEST experience. Lindsay and the entire Crushed Ice Catering team were very accommodating, organized, and on top of everything! She was a huge help to our planning and we couldn’t have done it without her. We highly recommend finding a venue that will provide a coordinator to help you along the way. Lindsay brought creative thinking and an experienced perspective to each of our planning sessions while ensuring we were staying on top of our timeline and within our budget.

IH: What specifically stood out to you about your coordinator?

E+K: Lindsay coordinated everything with our vendors from the drop offs, to setup’s, pick ups, and more. It was a relief to know that everything was taken care of the day of. She even provided us and the bridal party with a timeline for the day to help to keep things running smoothly. The Ice House allowed us to drop our things off a few days before the wedding and set up the decorations we provided for us. Everything was arranged exactly as we had planned and the space was so beautiful. The day went by without a hitch!

IH: Tell us your thoughts on your menu selection and how the culinary aspect impacted your wedding.

E+K: The food from Crushed Ice Catering was AMAZING! We loved the KY and BBQ themed stations. The food, prepared by Chef Laurence Agnew, was different from any food that we’ve had at a wedding before. The Hot Brown Casserole is a must! The food was laid out so beautifully and complemented our centerpieces surrounding it. The Ice House Catering team put a lot of thought and creativity into every detail. We are still getting compliments from people about the food! Being able to coordinate the venue, food ,and alcohol all in one place, rather than bringing in all separate vendors, made planning so easy.

IH: What do you think uniquely set y’all’s wedding apart from others?

E+K: Our favorite part of The Ice House was the cocktail space. The outside bar, firepit, and large light up L.O.V.E. letters made for a unique, convenient, elegant space for us to mingle with our family and friends between the ceremony and reception. There were garage doors that opened to the dining and dancing area allowing people to float in and out of the space throughout the night. It was set up perfectly for people to visit and dance the night away!

IH: Any last details that y’all would like to share?

E+K: The Ice House has so much to offer – a beautiful venue, fun add ons to the space (lighting, decorations, fire pits, etc.), great food, accommodating staff and a book full of recommendations for vendors they have worked with before to help make your planning less stressful. We can’t thank Lindsay and her team enough and will definitely be recommending The Ice House to our friends and family.

Florist: J. Elizabeth Designs

Photographer: Firm Anchor

Planner: Lindsay Brough – Crushed Ice Catering

Videographer: Paper Crane Cinema Co.

Dress/Shoes: Maggie Sottero/Gianni Bini

Hair: Echo Salon – Dakota and Mandy

Makeup: Sara Colvin

Bridesmaids Dresses: Rebecca’s Wedding Boutique

Music: DJ Mike Franklin

Officiant: Bob Cunningham

Cake: Stir Crazy Cakes

Ice House Louisville Wedding Feature: The LaMasters

February 26, 2019 by icehouse Leave a Comment

Every so often, there comes along a couple who possesses such a charisma that you can’t help but admire them together. Kellie and Michael LaMaster are one of these couples. Their connection is undeniable and we were thrilled that they chose the Ice House in downtown Louisville, Kentucky to host their reception. Continue below to see details and photos from their day!

Kellie + Michael chose to be wed in St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church

“Working within the wedding industry over the past seven years, I thought surely planning my own wedding would be a piece of cake, when in fact it made things a little harder. Everything seemed so over-done in my eyes—I’ve seen it all! That’s why I tried my best to create a very unique wedding.

Michael and I met on Match.com four years ago. We were each other’s first date for the rest of our lives! Eventually we moved to southern Indiana, so it made perfect sense to have our wedding in Louisville, KY where we were building a life together. And, why not enjoy both sides of the Ohio River! Ceremony took place at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in New Albany, IN for its beauty and architecture—then we held our Reception at the Ice House in Louisville for its industrial, modern feel that fit us perfectly. We fell in love with the Ice House the moment we walked in!

Making our wedding the most unique was truly my inspiration, down to every detail. Dreaming of a late fall wedding, I chose jewel-toned colors for the dresses and my color palette. Each bridesmaid wore different color/style dress, while my sister (MOH) wore a sequin dress. The groomsmen had little hoop boutonnières to mimic the bridesmaids fun hoop bouquets—which was my absolute favorite detail!

Looking back on our magical windy day, I wouldn’t change a single moment. It turned out more perfect than we ever could’ve imagined, and we’re so grateful. The Ice House team of experts are incredible and made everything so simple. Their stress-free planning process all the way to perfecting our big day—they nailed it! Christina, Erica, Morgan, Spencer, of the Ice House and Crushed Ice Catering crew were absolutely amazing and I appreciate everything they did to make our big day perfect.

I had the best vendor team all around! That is my best piece of advice to brides—you have to find/hire the best team who will make it all possible.” – Kellie LaMaster

Kellie and Michael’s Vendor List:

Church: St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church

Reception Venue: Ice House Louisville

Photographer: Stacy Able Photography

Florist: Amy Jo Goforth at Merci Bouquet (New Albany, IN)

Videographer: Alyssa & Ryan at Paper Crane Cinema Co.

DJ: Jason Shields at Music in Motion of Kentucky

Cake: Sweets by Morgan

Hair: Paige Brigman

Makeup: Ashley/Lola B Beauty

Dress: Modern Trousseau

Shoes: BHLDN

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid

Styled for Romance: An In Depth Look into our Winter Styled Shoot

November 29, 2018 by icehouse Leave a Comment

As winter seems to be making an early appearance in the Louisville area and given us proper dusting of snow, our sights are set on the upcoming winter bridal season. And even more so are we looking forward to the winter weddings celebrations taking place here at the Ice House. To stoke the fire of our team’s imagination, our Event Decor and Design Coordinator, Spencer Freeman, conjured up a dreamy matrimonial vision and brought it to life. Showcased in our winter wedding styled shoot are some of our favorite hues, textures, and local Louisville vendors for this coming season.

A list of our treasured vendors:

Venue: The Ice House

Calligraphy & Florals- Lauren Wilhite Art

Hair & Makeup- Siera Phillips

Furniture Rentals- Southern Classic Rentals

Catering & Cocktails- Crushed Ice Catering

Dress- Rebecca’s Wedding Boutique

Photography- Drake and Eliza Photography

Stylist- Spencer Freeman

Well wishes to you and your inspiration,

Morgan Blake

Featured Wedding of the Week: Sara and Steve Stifano

August 7, 2018 by icehouse Leave a Comment

For most couples, when they start planning their wedding they don’t plan on making it “eh” or “just alright” they want to “knock it out of the park” and that is just what this week’s Featured Wedding did. Sara and Steve first met on a softball team so they made sure to add plenty of personal touches such as: a Louisville Slugger bat that everyone signed instead of a traditional guest book, and they even had a team huddle during the reception!

A common struggle when it comes to wedding planning is how to make your day as personal as possible. Sara and Steve had no problem with that. To get their family and friends involved, instead of having the DJ make all of the announcements, they had three friends introduce the wedding party, father-daughter dance, and cake cutting. This is just one example of how you can get your loved ones involved.

For Sara and Steve their wedding planning process was slightly different from most. While they both live in Rhode Island, Sara is from Kentucky and that’s why they decided to get married here in Louisville. They only had an opportunity to see the venue twice in person before their wedding. Thanks to plenty of emails, Facetime sessions, and phone calls, when it came down to it “the entire day was practically perfect, our guests were raving about everything, especially the food!” – Sara Stifano

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it takes a village to pull off the perfect day and we could never do it alone. This wedding was no different. Here is a list of all the vendors that help make Sara and Steve’s day so special!

Photographer: BG Photography

Florist: Nanz & Kraft

Planner: Ice House and Crushed Ice Catering

Dress: My dress was from Lara’s Bridals & Formals

Shoes: Kelly & Katie (from DSW)

Hair and Makeup: The Blushing Belle

Bridesmaids dresses: Morilee

Venue: Wedding and Reception were at the Ice House

Music: Family friend

Officiant: Family friend

Cake: Gigi’s Cupcakes

Wedding Backup Plans: What To Do and Why They’re Important

July 30, 2018 by icehouse Leave a Comment

Anyone that dreams of the perfect outdoor wedding with the perfect flowers, the perfect pictures, and a perfect first dance under lights strung from trees, also has nightmares of rain and storms. What can you do to insure that your day goes off without a hitch? Aside from a traditional rain dance, or saying a prayer to the Big Man upstairs, there is not much you can do to stop mother nature. This is why it is CRUCIAL to have a back-up plan! Just ask J-Lo she would know all about this…

No matter what venue you choose, make sure you discuss weather back-up plans. These can be anything from rain delays where you wait it out, tents, or moving the entire ceremony/reception inside. At the Ice House we have multiple back up plans. If you are planning on having your ceremony or reception on our roof-top garden or outdoor terrace, we can always move it inside to our mezzanine or to the main hall. Most venues will have an indoor back-up plan as well, just be sure to ask them about it.

Tents are always a good back-up plan, just know that with most companies they usually have a 24 hour notice policy to guarantee they have time to set the tent up properly. This is not always the case, of course it varies from vendor to vendor, but if the chances of rain on your wedding day are high it’s usually better to play it safe rather than sorry. However make sure to plan for the tent in your budget. It will be much easier on your stress level to have money left over instead of not enough money to pay for the tent.

Rain is not the only weather issue, cold fronts and heat waves can play a major role in outdoor weddings as well. If that is the case there are always heaters, blankets, fans, misters, etc… Not only will the guest appreciate your efforts to keep them comfortable but there are plenty of ways you can work these items into your décor or theme. Pinterest will be your best friend for cases like this!

If it’s going to be a hot outdoor wedding these are just a few options to keep your guests comfortable and cool! Fans make great programs/wedding favors, refreshment stands are a perfect option to keep your guests hydrated, and make for a great photo-op!

If you’re afraid it might get a little chilly depending on the time of year, there are plenty of options when it comes to keeping your guests warm. Such as: using blankets as your wedding favors, setting up a hot chocolate stand, or having a s’mores station set up around a fire pit!

So no matter the weather just remember, it’s your special day and nothing can rain on your parade! Not even the rain…

(Photo Credits: Pinterest)

Brunch Weddings

August 15, 2016 by icehouse Leave a Comment

Are you a brunch lover? That’s a silly thing to ask because everybody loves brunch. Now here’s a real question: Do you think you’d have a brunch wedding? You may be thinking “no” right away, but I bet by the end of this week’s post you’ll be considering it for your Louisville Wedding!

Before I go into specifics, let me give you a general run-down about why brunch weddings are the best.

First off, hosting in the early hours of the day means that the heat hasn’t hit just yet. This gives you a few extra hours not having to worry about sweating off your fresh makeup and being able to enjoy being outside a bit longer.
You can also host on a Saturday or Sunday and many venues, like The Ice House, offer discounts for booking on a Sunday since it’s less popular. That means less money spent on your part. Plus, we have an awesome rooftop garden that would be perfect for a brunch reception!
Speaking of saving money, brunch events also tend to lean more on the casual side. This means the decor can be playful and even your dress, groomsmen suits, and bridesmaids dresses can match the event and keep it a little less formal. Your menu can also be on the lighter side, and there’s no need to pay for an expensive lighting package or a full bar!

Let’s break it down a little more:

DRINKS

Like I said, we don’t need a full bar at 10AM, but it’s nice to have a little somethin’ for your guests to sip on. I’m sure you already know what I’m talking about too- Mimosas. Ahhhhh yes, everyone loves a little bubbly in their OJ! But have you thought about a mimosa bar? Grab your favorite varieties of juice, put out some bowls of fresh fruit and let the guests be their own bartender. The combinations are endless and make for a fun and refreshing morning drink.

If mimosas aren’t your thing (Gasp!) then maybe you’d like to try a Bloody Mary bar. Have your bartender serve up spicy or sweet Bloody Marys and have your guests load up a skewer of their favorites! Pickles, bacon, celery, peppers, spices and more, are sure to add a fun twist to a morning cocktail.

Get creative with your drinks! — Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bars are Perfect for Brunch

As a former Barista, there’s one beverage that a brunch wedding would not be complete without: Coffee. Not only is it a “thank you” for those guests who struggled to put themselves together this early for you, but it’s an excuse to create the most adorable coffee bar or cart. Serve a cup to your friends and family as they walk in to the ceremony and keep it going throughout the reception. Personalize cardboard cup and/or sleeves to add a fun touch, and a fancy mocha will keep those under-agers happy even though they can’t have a mimosa.

Coffee bars are a MUST for brunch. — Keep those early risers happy with a special coffee bar.

FOOD

Your Food choices also offer you a chance for you to stray from the ordinary. Find a caterer like Crushed Ice Catering that has an awesome breakfast menu and go to town. Omelets, frittata, muffins, quiche, waffles (yes please!), fresh fruit. I could go on forever with all of the awesome options.

Even though “brunch” and “cake” aren’t usually two words we put together, having a small cake for your dessert can still be a great idea. Ditch the heavy icing and 5-tiers and try something simple and sweet like a naked cake. Many bakers are trying these lately and they are really a beautiful and delicious way to keep with tradition. You can even pair your small cake with donuts or pastries to stick with the morning theme.

Try a waffle cake for something unexpected and delicious! — Feeling like you want to try something new? How about a waffle cake!

RECEPTION

Receptions during the day may not require the same “entertainment” as an evening affair. A band or a DJ could be a great idea as far as music goes, but chances are, grandma isn’t going to want to cut a rug on the dance floor at 11am. This is a great time to socialize and have some yard games out for guests to just enjoy their time with their family and friends. Cornhole, ladder golf, giant Jenga, and even board games will be sure to make everyone feel like a kid again and have fun celebrating with you.

Personalize your Corn Hole Boards! — Add a personal touch to your reception activities.

DECOR

This may be my favorite point of all. Your decor can be simple yet make an impact at the same time. Focus on plants and pops of color instead of lighting and candles. Paper garland or bunting banners look so cute and bring more color and height. Your buffets or stations are bound to be delicious so play up how good they look set up! Chalk signs, menu tags and greenery will make them stand out and look as beautiful as they are yummy.

Love you a Brunch! — Chalk walls and menu tags look awesome on your buffet set up.

Liking the idea but still feeling that a brunch wedding isn’t for you? Take these ideas and pass them along to your family or bridal party and turn them into a shower or day-after party for a smaller crowd. You can’t go wrong with brunch!

Cheers,

Madeleine

Summer Weddings: Why We Love Them!

July 6, 2016 by icehouse Leave a Comment

Picking a date for your wedding is a big decision. You may be trying to land a specific day, one with special significance to you and your partner, but often times it comes down to what the venue has available. Many couples shy away from summer dates thinking either spring or fall has better Louisville weather, availability, etc. However, there are so many upsides to choosing summer for your big day and here’s why we at the Ice House and Crushed Ice Catering love summer weddings!

WEATHER: Yes, you take the risk of it being a bit hot, but chances are that the day will be warm and beautifully sunny. By choosing summer, you’ve just opened the door to a whole other group of venues that offer outdoor spaces. The options to do an outdoor cocktail hour, rooftop ceremony, or even a garden-party type reception are available. Not to mention the photos ops that are presented for an outdoor space. Which brings us to our next point…

bar, Brunch Wedding, cocktails, Crushed Ice Catering, Event Planning, Event Spaces, Exclusive Caterer, Louisville Catering, Louisville events, Louisville wedding, Rehearsal Dinner, Rooftop Event, Rooftop Wedding, Uncategorized, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception, Wedding Trendsbar, cocktail hour, Crushed Ice Catering, Crushed Ice Events, Curshed Ice Events, East Terrace, event planning, Honeymoon, Louisville catering, Louisville events, Louisville wedding, Main Hall Package, mezzanine, Photography, Rooftop Garden, rooftop wedding, stations and bars, Summer Wedding, The Ice House, The Ice House Lounge, up lighting, Weather, wedding catering, wedding ceremony, wedding checklist, wedding planning, wedding reception, wedding show — Guests enjoy cocktail hour on a beautiful July evening at the rooftop garden.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Just think about the fun that your photographer could have being outside! Not only is the natural lighting a huge benefit, but day-of photo op locations are now endless. You don’t need to worry about taking off and putting on jackets, rosy cheeks, or goosebumps, but you can take advantage of the natural greenery, flowers and sunshine through the clouds. You’ll really appreciate the photos after it’s all said and done.

COLOR/DRESS: Fall and winter weddings limit themselves to a darker color palette. Although this could lead to a more “romantic” or upscale wedding, your options for bridesmaid dresses are limited. The decision of long versus short dresses may be made for you. Summer offers a huge selection of color options from linens, dresses, suits & ties, and flowers. Plus, flowers are in abundance and your florist will be excited to put together bouquets or centerpieces full of color to stand out and make an impact.

GUESTS: Most people usually save their vacation days for summer and have an easier time traveling during this time. If you’re expecting more guests to be available, generally summer is a better option.

COCKTAILS & FOOD: When it comes to picking out your food and bar menu, you really can’t go wrong in the summer. Foods and ingredients are their freshest and generally make everything tastier. Caterers like Crushed Ice Catering and our Chef Lawrence Agnew take advantage of the freshest locally grown foods for a top notch meal. To top it all off, pick a signature cocktail that reflects the personality of you and your significant other. Your guests will surely appreciate a refreshing beverage unique to you!

HONEYMOON: Now lets not forget about the honeymoon! Having a summer wedding gives you a good chance to schedule your honeymoon directly after the event. More destinations are available during the summer months and traveling back and forth is easier. However, since the weather is good locally, you don’t have to travel to a tropical location. You can have your honeymoon is a big city or out in the country based on your preference.

The Ice House could be the perfect summer wedding venue. From the rooftop garden to the terrace directly off of the main hall, we aren’t short on beautiful outdoor spaces. Our exclusive caterer, Crushed Ice Catering, provides the highest quality fresh food, and summer guarantees the best ingredients for you and your guests. On top of the awesome space and food available, during the month of July we offer a 20% discount for the venue pricing which means more flowers and fun for you! See, summer isn’t so bad after all!

Cheers!

Madeleine

Blue & Company: Rooftop Event

April 29, 2015 by icehouse Leave a Comment

Blue & Company kicked off Thunder in style with a Rooftop Event perfect for viewing the airshow and fireworks. This all-day event was held in the Main Hall Package which includes the Main Hall, Mezzanine balcony and East Terrace and the gorgeous Rooftop Garden.

Crushed Ice Events provided a crowd pleasing picnic style buffet, which included hamburgers with all of the toppings, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and pasta salad. A buffet was set-up inside the Main Hall and outside on the Rooftop Garden. With a crowd of 350 guests, seating was available inside for guests to get out of the heat and enjoy a bite to eat! Crushed Ice Events also provided a bar on the Rooftop Garden as well as the East Terrace. The outside bars are the most popular place to be on a gorgeous Spring day!

Guest lined up their folding chairs theater style facing the Ohio River to enjoy the airshow. This provided an ideal view of the planes as they circled downtown Louisville and the parachutes as they landed on the nearby Great Lawn. For the fireworks- guests lined up on the side of our sizable Rooftop Garden to view the show.

Our Rooftop Garden can accommodate up to 350-400 guests standing room including a buffet and bar option. Our Rooftop also has full A/V capabilities as well as a stage area for an entertainment.

Ice House Louisville Wedding Feature: Emily + Kyle

Ice House Louisville Wedding Feature: The LaMasters

Styled for Romance: An In Depth Look into our Winter Styled Shoot

Featured Wedding of the Week: Sara and Steve Stifano

Wedding Backup Plans: What To Do and Why They’re Important

Brunch Weddings

Summer Weddings: Why We Love Them!

Blue & Company: Rooftop Event

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