Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile

 
  Lately I have felt the autumn bug take hold of me and it has given me an uncontrolable urge to put away all of my summer stuff and bring out the fall decor. I'm ready for the cool weather, cozy house and the smell of cinnamon! There's something so relaxing about this time of year and what better way to settle in to this new season than throwing a fabulous fall party?! To satisfy my hunger for everything fall related, I found some thrifty and charming ways to spice up any fall party and to put everyone in the mood for the season without breaking the bank!

An easy way to shed a light on your table or mantle! Just scoop the insides out of any apple, gourd or pumpkin and place a small candle on the inside.

Simple and darling table decor for any outdoor party!



These make fabulous place settings at your table that all of your guests will adore. Simply scoop the insides out of any small pumpkin or gourd, let dry, and fill with your favorite fall candy!



Perfect way to add some color to your table and use up those extra pumpkins that you have lying around!

Babies Babies Everywhere!

It's been quite a while since I've written any riveting blog posts for everyone to read ; ) To make up for this, I have pictures from a recent surprise baby shower that I coordinated that is sure to satisfy your craving for cute! The shower was a pink and green princess theme (inspired by the mom-to-be's nursery scheme) and even after some minor catastrophes (melting food and uncooportive decorations...yikes!) it turned out BEAUTIFULLY and I couldn't have been more pleased with this celebration to welcome the beautiful little girl into the world! Enjoy!

Golden Anniversary Party

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to help plan and coordinate a 50^th wedding anniversary celebration for my loving grandparents. It was such a joy to be a part of the momentous occasion and I had a blast watching them enjoy it! We helped recreate the table and décor from their original wedding reception table and we had a ceremonial second cake cutting….it turned out awesome! I posted just a few pictures from the special day because most of the rest are of friends and family : )





                                 

  



Sunny Summer Party Trends of 2011

    
     Elle magazine recently published an article featuring the hottest colors for summer 2011. Since reading this article I’ve decided to show you how to work those sizzling trends into your backyard bashes this summer!

1. Hot color trend number one is neon yellow. Although bright yellows have always been popular during this time of year, neon colors are making a comeback! This picture, recently featured in Country Living Magazine, uses neon yellow as the focal point of the table. With gorgeous sunflowers as a centerpiece and the bright yellow napkins as an eye catcher, the smaller yellow details are just a bonus! Check out their use of yellow straws, lemons place card holders, and lemon slices in the glasses. This yellow accented table is sure to brighten anyone’s summer day!
2. Color trend number two is Pink! More specifically pink and orange together, making an even spicier pair. This beautiful backyard bash, featuring a garden party theme, flaunts these colors well. From the flip flop favors, to the garden hats, to the perfectly pink iced cupcake, this party is PRETTY IN PINK!
3. Color trend number three is the ever famous trio: red, white and blue. Nothing says summer like the Fourth of July, and where would the fourth of July be without red, white and blue?! This picture, recently featured in House Beautiful magazine, sports a barnyard barbeque theme. Guests are treated to red, white and blue seat cushions, tablecloths and even decorative flags. This Independence Day themed party is simple enough for even the most inexperienced party-throwers and cute enough to WOW the guests.
4. The fourth and final hot trend of this summer season is green, and I’m not just talking Eco-friendly! With all of the heat outside, it’s nice to cool down with this refreshing color. This picture, recently featured in Southern Living Magazine, displays an array of delicious green delicacies on a simple white backdrop. Pair this fabulous spread with some white tablecloths and some simple green flowers and you have yourself a gorgeous green get-together that will surprise you at how easy it is!

5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Unique

     There are over two million weddings held in the United States each year. Every bride wants her wedding to be the most unique and unforgettable, while still maintaining many of the traditions. It can be hard to come up with unique ideas that no one else has thought of before, however there are many ways to achieve a picture perfect wedding that guests walk away from WOWed. One of the best ways to make your wedding unforgettable is to bring your personality as a couple into the wedding and allow your guests to have fun with it. Those who know you best will take joy in the wedding and will love the personal touches that were woven into your special day.

1.                The first way you can make your wedding unique and unforgettable is to choose a theme or item that makes surprise appearances throughout your wedding day. A great way to achieve this would be a special color, monogram or item (such as butterflies, or musical notes) that you weave into all of your wedding details such as flowers, cakes, favors, aisle runner, table centerpieces, sashes on dresses, etc. This makes guests feel like they are seeing a special part of the couple that is not typically seen and creates a sense of familiarity.

2.          A second way that you can bring your personalities into your special day would be to choose a decade or era that represents the personality of you two. If you two are fun loving and love to dance, maybe try a 20's themed wedding with jazz music. Weddings like this are a blast and the guests leave feeling refreshed and upbeat. If you two are a more subdued couple, try having a formal Victorian wedding with elaborate centerpieces.

3.          A third way to create a sense of uniqueness for your wedding would be to choose a unique color combination. Surprising color combinations, such as red and blue, or orange and pink are very trendy right now and brighten up any wedding day.

4.          Another great way to bring tradition and personality together to form an unforgettable day is to bring ethnic traditions into a wedding. A bread dance, jumping over the broom, or taking part in a special food or drink ritual are all fun ideas sure to surprise your guests.

5.          The fifth great way to make your wedding unique is to put a twist on common wedding traditions. You could have your bridesmaids carry something other than flowers, such as umbrellas. Or have pie instead of a traditional cake. Anything that you do out of the ordinary for your wedding is sure to be great fun for your guests.

     Weddings are such fun to plan and are just as much fun, if not more, to attend. Treat yourself, and your guests, to a unique and special wedding by implementing some of these great ideas or creating some of your own!

Exceptional Etiquette for the Rehearsal Dinner

  

   Planning a wedding is stressful enough without adding to it the stress of planning showers, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and receptions. I’m here to de-bunk some of the myths of rehearsals dinners, and answer some of the most asked questions.

Who pays for the rehearsal dinner?

     In the past, tradition had it that the groom and/or the parents of the groom were always expected to foot the bill for the rehearsal dinner. This was typically the case because the bride’s parents were the ones paying for the wedding and reception. However, today more couples are paying for their own weddings and feel uncomfortable asking parents to pay for such a dinner. In many cases the parents will offer to host a rehearsal dinner for the couple or to split the bill, but if that is not the case the couple will need to budget a rehearsal dinner into their plans.

Who should be invited to the rehearsal dinner?

     While there is some flexibility to this list, any and all people involved in the wedding should be invited to the rehearsal dinner. This would include any grandparents, musicians, officiant, flower girls etc. As for additional people invited, some couples choose to invite out of town guests to the rehearsal dinner as well. However, this is completely up to the discretion of the couple and the people who are paying for the dinner.

We are on a tight budget, is it required to host a rehearsal dinner?

     A rehearsal dinner is typically a thank you for being involved in the wedding and is a courtesy for the wedding party taking the time to be involved in the rehearsal. This also serves as a wonderful way for all wedding participants and family members to become better acquainted. If you are on a tight budget, consider hosting a low-key cookout at your home and making the food yourself. There is no need to have a formal dinner at a restaurant or banquet hall for a rehearsal dinner to be meaningful and memorable. After a busy day rehearsing and with wedding preparations most guests will be grateful for a chance to relax.

Should formal invitations be mailed out for the rehearsal dinner?

     This completely depends on the type of rehearsal dinner you are hosting, whether a sit down dinner or back yard bbq. It is polite to inform your guests of the dinner with some kind of invitation, however if you are simply inviting the wedding party and you feel comfortable doing so, a phone call could suffice as an invite.

When should I invite guests to the rehearsal dinner?

     Guests should be notified of the rehearsal dinner no later than 4-6 weeks before the event, same as wedding invitations. Especially for out of town guests, it can be difficult taking the extra time off of work and arranging travel plans.

Who, if anyone, should give a toast at the rehearsal dinner?

     It is not required to give a toast at the rehearsal dinner if you do not wish, however some sort of short speech or toast is typically given to thank the guests for attending and to wish the bride and groom well. This can either be done by the groom, or by the person hosting the dinner.

What can I do to make my rehearsal dinner memorable?

     There are many simple ways to make a rehearsal dinner memorable such as having a special groom’s cake, inspired by something meaningful to him, made and served as the dessert. Choosing a theme or special décor always promises to surprise and awe guests as well.

When does the rehearsal dinner take place?

     The rehearsal dinner typically takes place immediately following the rehearsal, which is typically held the day before the wedding.

How formal should the rehearsal dinner be?

     The rehearsal dinner can be as formal or as informal as you wish. There is nothing wrong with a formal sit down dinner as there is equally nothing wrong with a poolside pizza party. The choice is completely up to the bride and groom and/or whoever is hosting the dinner.

More Ways to Cut Costs from your Special Day

    
     This is part two of my cost cutting wedding blog posts...glad to see you've come back for more! In today's economy eveyone is interested in saving a few bucks and I'm here to provide you with more easy steps to keep your money in the bank without skimping on your perfect day.

6.       Decorations! these beauties take up a large chunk of the budget, and it's no question as to why. What would a wedding be without decor?! A fun and cheap way to decorate your wedding, not to mention give it character, is to consider using unusual items to decorate with, such as family heirlooms, silk flowers or pillar candles that you personalized yourself. Little things like this can turn your wedding into a unique experience that people will walk away from WOWed. And best of all, these things can be resold after the wedding, earning you money in return!

7.       Photography can be extremelely expensive today, but this is one area where you probably don't want to nix. A great way to lower the cost is to consider using a photography student or apprentice. They may not have as much experience working the events, but they will have just as much talent and will appreciate your business! Many times they will give you a package for a fraction of the cost of a “professional photographer.” If you find someone who matches your style and price range, book them!

8.       Another obvious way to save money would be to limit the number of guests you invite. Remember that this is your wedding and people will have to understand that you cannot invite everyone you have ever met or spoken to. If you simply cannot cut your list any farther, consider doing an appetizer only reception, or a fun dessert-only reception with lots of festive cake, cookies and candies. This can turn into a fun theme and your guests won't even miss a sit down dinner!

9.       If you find yourself invite 400 of your closest family members and friends and are wondering how to pay for a cake that size, keep in mind that most bakers will charge you 3-5 dollars a SLICE…that adds up very quickly! To keep costs down, try ordering a cake that feeds only a fraction of your guests for ceremony purposes and then having a big sheet cake to feed the rest. If your caterers are cutting the cake in a separate room and serving it to the guests, no one will ever know the difference!

10.   Lastly, for all of your extra must-haves, consider buying used or borrowing. Whether this means buying your shoes, jewelry and decorations at a thrift store or on craigslist, or borrowing your table centerpieces from a friend. Regardless, it will save a significant amount of money and leave more to splurge on your honeymoon!