Get a Glimpse into Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Lipinski's Engagement Party

Olympic medalist Tara Lipinski brought home the gold for the United States in the 1998 ladies’ singles figure skating competition, but now, she’s taking on a different kind of adventure – saying “I do!” Tara and fiancé Todd Kapostasy have been engaged since last year, and the pair was ecstatic to be able to celebrate their upcoming nuptials with an engagement fête in Beverly Hills on Saturday (May 21^st, 2016). “Due to our hectic work schedules, Todd and I aren’t able to officially tie the knot until 2017, but we couldn’t wait that long to celebrate,” Tara shares. “Having an engagement party was a great chance for our friends and family to get to know each other better and get excited for the big day.”

With the help of celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss, Tara selected an elegant white-and-gold concept for her event, hosted by Wedding Paper Divas, and filled the space with simple, low floral arrangements in shades of ivory. The event also featured a sentimental painting of the moment Todd proposed to Tara, which appeared on the invitations and serving trays, as well as the couple’s custom Snapchat filter created for the party. Guests enjoyed celebrating with the happy couple through lively dancing, and a personalized photo booth that featured specialty props – including a fake gold medal to honor Tara and a fake Emmy to honor Todd’s sports Emmy. 

Mindy was thrilled to put together such a sophisticated celebration of love and commitment. “Tara and Todd decided on a clean aesthetic with lots of white and touches of gold,” tells Mindy. “Personal details brought the décor to life, sharing their love story with guests through custom napkins stamped with their names in gold foil and [the] fun photo booth with interactive backdrops – including an ice rink! – that allowed guests to create their own animated GIFs with [the] props.” When it came to deciding upon the culinary options, Tara and Todd had a very clear vision. “The lovebirds used their menu to share their favorite treats with guests; they had a huge assortment of their favorite desserts – banana bread pudding for Tara and mint for Todd – as well as cake pops covered in edible glitter, warm chocolate chip cookies with milk served in shot glasses, and an ice cream sandwich station. Everyone with a sweet tooth was in heaven!”

When it comes to coordinating a refined engagement fête, Mindy had some expert tips and tricks vital to the process.

-  “You can keep it simple, but not sparse. If you have a great venue, accent what you have instead of going overboard with décor and taking away from the natural beauty of the space.”

-  “Don’t forget about the details. Personal touches and small details will make the most minimal décor come to life without breaking the bank.”

-  “Let your personalities shine. Use menu items, favors, photo booth props, and more to share personal help your guests get into the spirit and celebrate YOU!”

All in all, Tara was thrilled with the soirée. “It was incredible to celebrate with all our family and friends but some of my favorite moments were on the dance floor. My custom dress had a full skirt that detached to reveal a fitting mini dress, allowing for lots of dancing with Todd and some fun choreography with [fellow Olympian] Johnny [Weir!]”

Take a look at details from Tara Lipinski's wedding! To see wedding details from another Olympic athlete, check out Shawn Johnson's search for the perfect wedding dress, and get further inspiration for your own nuptials by viewing our real weddings and following Inside Weddings on Instagram and Pinterest.

Invitation design and hosting: Wedding Paper Divas; Venue: Mr. C Beverly Hills; Photos by John & Joseph Photography for Wedding Paper Divas