Recently Engaged?

Make this intimate bridal show one of your first stops!

Bridal Show

Winter Wedding: Favor Boxes

Thanks to one of our 2010 brides, she pointed me to this link.

How adorable would these be for favor boxes for your winter wedding?

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/christmas-table-settings?xsc=eml_msl_2010_12_23#slide_25

Tools and Materials

• Clip art
• Toilet paper or paper towel tubes
• Brown paint
• Glue stick
• Craft glue
• Hot-glue gun
• Wooden disks, available at michaels.com
• Wooden knobs, available at michaels.com
• Nests, available at michaels.com
• Pine springs
• Artificial bird
• Glitter, available at artglitter.com
• Candy or other small treats
  
  
  
  

  Step 1

  Prepare Tube

  
  
  Use 1 3/4-inch-diameter toilet paper tubes or trimmed paper towel tubes. For each, you'll need two 3/4-inch-wide strips from an extra tube. Glue strips in tube ends 3/16 inch from openings. Paint tube brown. Let dry.
  
  
  
  

  Step 2

  Decorate Tube
  
  
  Trim clip art to wrap around tube, leaving 1/16 inch of tube showing at ends. Glue in place with glue stick. Use craft glue to secure a 1 3/4-inch-diameter wooden disk in one end of the tube to close it. Glue a wooden knob to a second disk. Glue a 3/4-inch disk to bottom of tube for balance.
  
  
  
  

  Step 3

  Add Glitter

  
  
  Brush craft glue over top of tube; sprinkle with clear shard-glass glitter. Brush glue on a pine sprig; sprinkle with clear fine glitter. Mix white paint with more glue; brush on a grapevine nest, and sprinkle with clear shard-glass glitter. Brush glue on an artificial bird, avoiding beak and eyes; sprinkle with colored glass glitter. Hot-glue bird into nest, and nest and sprig onto tube. Tuck favors inside; close end with other disk.
  
  
  Read more at Wholeliving.com: Yule Log Favor Boxes - Martha Stewart Crafts 

Cheers!

I have just been introduced to the fabulosity of Olive and Cocoa.  Very high end gifts (to give to someone else or to keep for yourself - either one!) I have not seen anything on their site that is not drool-worthy.
For instance...

How yummy are these champagne flutes from Olive and Cocoa? 

Do you know someone who just got engaged? This is the perfect engagement gift to bring to their party.
 - or -
Why not use these as your toasting flutes at your wedding?
- or -
For the New Year's Eve Party

As you can see, I'm in love.  

and drooling.

EASY DIY

Just ran across this fabulous post on Elizabeth Anne Designs.

LOVE the white with a pop of color!

SUCH an easy DIY. Just wrap string around a blown up balloon, spray with fabric hardener, pop balloon and now you have a precious centerpiece idea!

CyberMonday - Ornament

As you are browsing online on this fantastic CyberMonday, make sure to head over to Etsy for these adorable ornaments.  Need an interesting ornament to bring to the annual ornament swap or to give your cousin who got married this year - check these out!

Browsing on Etsy I came across these must have ornaments for Atlantans. 

These locations should look familiar if you are an Atlanta native.  

Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, Marietta and Smyrna First United Methodist Church are local church landmarks in Georgia. 

Songbird & Twig replicates churches all over the city for these precious ornaments. For $20-$30 these make a great gift, especially if you attend or grew up in one of these churches! 

Getting married in one of these churches over the holiday season? Hello favors! And I wonder if you could talk this sweet Smyrna, GA resident making one for your church even if it is not listed...

A Twist On Your Bouquet

A recent bride introduced our team to broach bouquet's and we instantly fell in love! 

This is such a cute idea on so many levels. One, it looks adorable! Also, it is a great idea to incorporate a broach you have that hold significant value, whether passed down from a grandmother or something your spouse to be bought you. 

The bouquet's can be custom designed for specific colors or themes. 

You can order an original from Amanda on Etsy  for around $350. But if you DIY we promise not to  tell, we may even try to create on ourselves!

Gifts for every Hostess

Party season has arrived. Whether you are attending a Thanksgiving meal, holiday party or just a dinner with friends, everyone wants to take an appropriate hostess gift, or host. Here is a run down of the perfect gift for you to take.


For the "Foodie Host" 

Fleur de Sel French Sea Salt

Williams-Sonoma $14

I know what you are thinking, $14 for salt? But trust me, one foodie to another, it is worth every penny.

Macarons $10 for five

I could live off of macarons. These from macaronmacarons.com make it an easy hostess gift that will tast delicious!

For the "Girly Host"

$20 from Cost Plus World Market 

 A real friend would get this monogrammed...

Lolita Glass $24
Also found at Macy's

I have been collecting Lolita Glasses for four years and I LOVE them. They are precious to display, and all have great drink recipes on the bottom! Many of them are themed for holidays or citys, they also have lots of random fun ones!

For a "Go-to Gift"

Wine is always a good go-to gift for a party host. Go with a medium priced wine like a Yellow Tail or Red Truck, both provide nice quality but won't break the bank.

Origins $20

Origins Hand Treatment will rock your world. Smells great, and makes your hands silky smooth. A perfect combo for your host who will spend the night washing dishes.

Delicious fudge from Zara May's 

With the tagline of, "As heathy as fudge can be." I was sold from the get-go. This organic fudge is SO yummy!

For a "Holiday" gift

These rosemary Christmas tree's are the perfect hostess gift during the holiday 
season. A bit smaller than a foot, these sit festively on a counter while being 
beneficial for the cook! These can be found easily at Pike's or your local nursery this time of year. 

$10 on davebarns.com

The Dave Barns Very Merry Christmas CD will get your in the holiday spirit, quick. So do your host a favor and share the spirit. 

A toast to your weekend

As a toast to your weekend, we are going to share some of our favorite adult beverages today. Drinks are something that are so easy to customize just for your party or event! Even by using one of your favorite drinks but by switching the name you can create a festive accent to your event. Here are some of out favorites for you to try this weekend. With festive names, of course!

Tailgate Twister:

6 Beers

1 750ml of Vodka

1 Can of frozen pink lemonade concentrate 

1 liter of Sprite to taste

Mix all in a large cooler and enjoy with friends !

Thanksgiving Thirst Quencher: 

Also know as 

Frozen Cranberry Margaritos via Southern Living

1- 10oz can frozen mojito mix

3/4 cup tequila

1/4 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 tbs orange liqueur

2 tbs fresh lime juice 

Ice

Combine fist 5 ingredients in a blend. Fill blender with ice to 5-cup level, and process until smooth. Serve immediately.

Holiday Parties

Holiday parties will be here before you know it. Before you turn around, Thanksgiving will be gone and you will already be getting a late start on your holiday party planning. Here is a great article written by our very own Erica Prewett on Four Ways to Make Your Holiday Party Better Than Ever. 

Perhaps your holiday season will be a little different this year because of current economic weirdness. But you don’t have to compromise on style and fun to uphold holiday traditions, and enjoy the season. Erica Prewett, chief event planner with A Big To Do Event, shares four ways to make this holiday season better than ever.

1. Use what you have. Do you have Grandma’s old milk-glass collection in your attic and have you been wondering what in the world to do with them? Use them on your buffet. Also, instead of renting high-priced specialty linen, consider using a curtain in your “pop” color. I have even used a long dress to brighten my table. Just turn under the edges and fluff the fabric. No one will know.

2. Don’t be too matchy-matchy. It’s perfectly fine to use different patterned plates, different-sized glassware, and even different-colored cloth napkins at your parties especially when the party is in your home. You are inviting your guests into your personal space. What better way to make them feel at home and like family?

3. Identify a “Greeter.” We’ve all got a friend who has never met a stranger. Use him/her as your door greeter. His/Her job is to greet guests as they arrive, bring them to the bar, and introduce them to another couple along the way. Everyone feels included and comfortable.

4. Super Woman doesn’t exist. We all want to do it all. Until right before the guests arrive, we still think we can. Prevent panic by allowing friends or a professional to handle the last-minute details. You’ll be glad you were able to mingle with your friends versus kitchen duty.

images via Just Be Splendid

Guest Blogger: Jenny Reed

This week we have a super fun guest blogger, Jenny Reed is a travel agent who is VERY experienced in honeymoons! She has provided us with a few questions to help you and your fiance decide the best honeymoon destination for you. Thanks again Jenny for joining us! Enjoy

via Grey Likes Weddings

What is Your Perfect Honeymoon?

The engagement was a romantic affair, the wedding date has been set and the details of the wedding are being checked off your list daily. The next step?  Planning the honeymoon! 

So where do you start?  What is your “ideal” honeymoon?  There are so many choices as well!   So here is a quick quiz to help you get started and see what destinations you favor. Once the location is decided all you have to worry about it what to pack!

When you think of the perfect getaway, you think of

 White sandy beaches and a crystal clear lagoon

Consider the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands or taking a cruise

 Towering mountains and a cooler climate

Consider Alaska, Russia or New Zealand

 A thriving city full of adventure and sights

Consider European cities like Paris and Rome, or Hong Kong or New York City

On your vacations, do you want

 Action and adventure

Consider a destination with lots of tourist attractions and night life, such as France, Britain, Hong Kong, Las Vegas or Mexico

Romance, peace and quiet

Consider a remote island, like Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean, Tahiti or Fiji

 A little of both

Consider cruising to Alaska, visiting the smaller islands of Hawaii, or the Bahamas

On your honeymoon, do you envision

 Meeting fun and new people

Consider cruises, where you get the chance to bond with the people you sail with

Exclusive bonding with your new spouse

Consider small luxury resorts in Mexico or the smaller islands in the Caribbean such as Bonaire or Aruba

 The opportunity to do both

If you would like the opportunity to do both, consider the all-inclusive resorts such as Couples resorts in the Caribbean or the all-inclusive Excellence, Secrets or Dreams resorts in Mexico.

Your estimated total travel budget is

 $3,000

Consider Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Yellowstone National Park, or Yosemite Park

 $5,000

Consider an all inclusive Caribbean or Mexico resort, a Hawaiian adventure or a Mexico or Caribbean cruise or Disney World

 $7,000 or above

Consider touring Europe, such as Italy, France or Spain, a Mediterranean Cruise or an Australian adventure

 Photo's via Susan Stripling

Which of these best describes the travel experience of you and your future spouse?

 Visited parts of the US, never been out of the country

Consider nearby Mexico or Canada, or take the time to see some of the great American landmarks, such as Yellowstone National Park, The Grand Canyon, Hollywood or Disney World

 Visited most of the US, visited some foreign countries

Consider Britain, the European neighbor of America, France, Italy or the Caribbean

 Traveled in the US and abroad extensively

Consider Africa, Australia, Thailand, China, Japan or Dubai

Most of all don’t stress over the planning of the honeymoon!   Being together wherever you decide to go is all that really matters!

Jenny Reed has over 16 years of travel experience at her agency where she plans honeymoons for couples to worldwide destinations.   Ask away as she does not charge a service fee.  Please visit www.OurCruisePlanner.com for more information.

To see more tips for Jenny check out her blog! 

Handmade Buys

So you guys have seen how much we love Etsy here, here, and here.

But after I stumbled upon ArtFire I knew there was some competition in town. Although, not yet on par with Etsy, Artfire is quickly catching up.

Check out some of the fun items I found while browsing:

Wood signing mat:

How fun is this wood piece to use instead of your generic guest book?

Wedding invitations galore:

These super cute wedding reception signs!

So be sure to check out these precious crafts, along with much,

much,

more!

Guest Blogger: Anne Barge Final Day

After all this talk about bridal trends this season you are probably thinking…"how do I get my hands on those?” This is where I stress the importance of trunk shows. Trunk shows will have the most recent gowns and therefore the most recent trends. The dresses that travel on shows are the best sellers and designers favorites.This guarantees that you will see the best that line has to offer.

Trunk shows are also a great place to get the best deal on the new dress. Usually stores will offer an incentive to purchase the weekend of their show. They will offer you a percent off and even sometimes throw in other perks. You can get more dress for your money this way.

Trunk shows are also super fun. Stores will go all out for trunk shows to really pamper the bride and make the day more special. Champagne and treats are involved people!

The final reason to go to a trunk show near you is the help that is offered. Lines will send representatives with the dresses and sometimes a designer or two will show up. They have insane knowledge of the dresses and can help you decide which trend is best for your body and wedding.

I cannot stress how much of an opportunity trunk shows are. To find the nearest trunk show near you visit a stores website. If you have one designer you absolutely love, check out their website for trunk show dates. (I recommend www.AnneBarge.com)!

images via bippty boppity boo

We want to take a minute here at the end and thanks Ginny Brogan from Anne Barge again for giving up her time to provide all of us with these amazing tips and insiders information! It has been such a pleasure having you. I hope everyone has enjoyed this guest blog as much as we have! Be sure to check out more from Ginny on the Anne Barge Blog!

Day 4 with Anne Barge

Today were are heading into day 4 with Ginny Brogan from Anne Barge. Today, Ginny is going over shopping for a dress! Some of the most important information you can get as a bride. So read on! If you are just finding us, be sure to look over day 1 day 2 and day 3!

With all these great trends and gorgeous gowns you are probably wondering how you can get your hands on them. Easy as pie…call your local bridal store and make your appointment. If you have a designer you love, visit their website for their authorized vendors. Then, let the fun begin!

One of the most overwhelming experiences you can have is your first bridal appointment. After all, it is something you have never done before. So, here is a basic rundown of what you can expect. (I have also included little tips to make it easier for you, I have italicized them!) When you arrive you will meet your consultant and have a quick chat. Use her as a resource. She will know the dresses like the back of her hand and have some great recommendations for you. After your brief chat you will get to pick out some gowns. Be sure to choose a wide variety on your first appointment. You want to be sure you see a little of everything on your body. I recommend trying on a ball gown, trumpet, a-line, fit and flare and sheath to cover all the bases. Also, pull some lace and beading for kicks! Stores will vary on how many they let you pick, but once you have your choices it is time to try on. Wear simple clothes that are easy to change out of and your own strapless bra. This will save you changing time, but also save you from wearing a store's bra. This is where things get tiring…you will try on dress after dress, and more than likely love more than one. Just start narrowing down choices and ruling out dress categories. After you have tried on everything you picked the consultant may pull in some ideas she has, or you may get to go back out and do a second pull. At the end of your first appointment, if you didn’t find the dress this time, the consultant will write down your favorites and off you will go. See, nothing scary…just exhausting for you as these dresses are heavy!

Above all, buying your dress should be fun. If you had bad and un-fun experiences at a store go somewhere else! There are other fish in the sea. Keep an open mind…even if you are not looking for your perfect dress it is looking for you! Enough with the corny relationship metaphors, Have fun and happy shopping.

Guest Blogger: Anne Barge Day 3

Today is day 3 with guest blogger Ginny Brogan from Anne Barge. If you are just joining us, be sure to catch up on day 1 and day 2.

One of the best things about the new trends in bridal is that they are so easy for everyone to wear. You just have to pick the right dress in the right trend. How do you do this? The key is knowing your body. From years of getting dressed you have learned what you love about yourself and what you would like to hide. Getting dressed in a bridal gown is no different. A great rule I always go by is always emphasize your smallest point, your waist. By emphasizing your waist you draw the onlooker’s eye to that point thus making yourself look smaller. This is a great example of doing that successfully…

Perhaps your waist is not the part of your body you are most comfortable with. Then go to the next line to emphasize...the vertical line. By creating a seamless vertical line you can literally stretch your body to be longer and leaner. The eye has nowhere to stop and thus will keep travelling up to your beautiful face and wedding day do! Here is an example of this line…

Finally, if you are just lost go to the “go to dress” .This is the full skirt with cinched waist. This will pull you in the right spot and hide everything else. This is a go to dress for EVERYONE. It creates curves if you have none, emphasizes the good curves if you do have them, and fits like a charm. Trust me, this is the bridal equivalent of the little black dress…

The bottom line is this…there is a dress out there for everyone. Even those with the craziest of bodies to fit can find one that makes them feel like a million dollars. Don’t give up or get discouraged…you just have to find the one that shows you off best!