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12.23.2009

Linda & Harriet Moose Lovelies

Linda & Harriet Moose Lovelies: "



I am loving all the moose items over on the Linda & Harriet site for the holidays. Go check them out!  Although, I think these are mainly for Christmas gifts, this is such a great example of how to tie a theme into various parts of your wedding.  Start with a basic image used on your printed materials - invitations, save-the-dates, etc - and carry it on throughout the events with it recurring in the placecards at the rehearsal dinner, a theme for the cake table, or incorporate it into the favors.  It creates a great unity and ties everything in to your special day!

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Gold Glam Holiday from Swanky Tables

Gold Glam Holiday: "
Bring on the glam and glitz with gold holiday decor. The gold pear display is amazing! I love it!

Images: Home and Garden, House Beautiful
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12.03.2009

Epic Save-the-Date

If you are looking for some fresh ideas on what to send out for a save-the-date, the newest trend is to send them electronically.  This gives you the opportunity to work with your photographer, videographer, or just some creative friends to create a save-the-date that is truly unique.   I've seen a few video save-the-dates on YouTube but today I found one that is really a work of art.  I can not imagine the amount of hours that went into putting together a trailer like this but it truly will be something that they treasure for a lifetime.

See it for yourself here - Jeff & Erin's Wedding Trailer

11.30.2009

Thanksgiving Cake Wrecks

Having been there myself, I found this site pretty amusing.  I have definitely made some 'special' cakes in my time :)   The turkey cakes made me laugh out loud - http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

A little bit about the site: 


A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.

11.17.2009

Movie Night at Royal Oaks & OPL Game Show

Last week we had two events that were really great!  The first was a movie night at Royal Oaks with my good friend, Mary.  She is always looking for something to keep the residents at her apartment property happy!  So she decided to take advantage of this lovely fall weather and have a movie night out on the tennis courts.  She teamed up with Feel the Beat to have an outdoor screening of Twilight.  It was such a great event!  They blacked out the fencing around the tennis court to block out lights and distractions, and also some wind, which I thought was such a cool idea.  Then there was pizza, hot chocolate, popcorn, & cookies for everyone to snack on.  There was even a raffle for a free month's rent!  The turn-out was great and I think everyone had so much fun snuggling up in their chairs and blankets, munching on snacks, and enjoying a movie right in their own backyard!  Big thanks to Mary & Regina at Royal Oaks for putting everything together!

The other event that night was an over-the-top fun game night for Optical Prescription Lab!  These guys know how to throw a party!  Even their meetings incorporated the game show fun.  They had name tags just like the ones on Price is Right and they gave away prizes all night!

Who wouldn't want to attend that event?!  Feel the Beat provided classic game show set pieces and also a huge set for our own game show!  There was Wheel of Fortune, Price is Right, $20,000 Pyramid, Family Feud, and Hollywood Squares.  Then we played Family Feud and Jeopardy games with the whole group after dinner.  This group was such a blast!  They have some genuinely fun-loving people that they work with and it made it a lot of fun.

11.02.2009

Get with the Program!


If you are looking for an easy way to add some creativity into your wedding ceremony, there are tons of ways to play up your program!   The program is a great guide for guests to know what to expect during the ceremony, but it can also convey theme, formality, and a little bit of personality!

I loved these 'ribbon' folded programs pictured to the left!  How clever to just use the way the program is folded to make a statement!  The color is gorgeous and I can imagine it makes a stunning presentation to have them all stacked at the entrance to your venue.

Are you serving a delicious dish at the reception?  Include the recipe in the program, and your guests leave with more than just a favor.  If it's a family recipe be sure to give credit!  Personalize it even more by including a short explanation of why you and your fiancee love the dish or how it came to be a family favorite!

10.28.2009

Fright Night Expo- Mad Hatter Party

Last Thursday the Birmingham Convention and Visitor's Bureau teamed up with Go Pro to host the annual Fright Night Expo.  There was a Mad Hatter theme and Birmingham's top hotels showed up with their brightest and best!





We were excited to join the Tutwiler Hotel in their booth with our Cool Shots Photo Lounge.  For their booth, they went with a tea party - Mad Hatter style!  There were giant teacups and tiny cupcakes, bright pinks and oranges accented with teal,  and the cake by Culinard which was absolutely a masterpiece!

We wanted the Cool Shots Photo Lounge to match with the rest of the theme, so I went to work creating a psychedelic beaded curtain and some tea party necessities!  Here are some pics of the process with a few notes of how everything came together.
DSC04173.jpg image by linzilu2
First,  I started with two different sizes of styrofoam balls for the beaded curtain and painted them in the bright colors of the booth.  With styrofoam, you have to be careful with your paint choice because some paints and glues will actually eat away the styrofoam.  I went with a basic acrylic craft paint, which also worked well on my teacups and saucers.  I just grabbed these at the local thrift store (REUSE!)  I also added a light coat of Mod Podge to seal in the paint and add a nice gloss.

DSC04197.jpg image by linzilu2DSC04201.jpg image by linzilu2I layed out the pieces of the curtain first to make sure that everything would work and added in some flower heads to add a little garden appeal to the tea party theme.  The flowers were a little droopy, so I also Mod Podged them to keep the petals nice and straight.   A little fishing line and some beads were used to create each string and space apart the items.  I used the remaining flowers in a silver teapot (also a thrift store find),  a cool glass bottle with 'Drink Me' tag, and some other items I found in the bright colors as the finishing touches.  

DSC04203.jpg image by linzilu2
DSC04205.jpg image by linzilu2The Tutwiler created a cool framed 'looking glass' that the guests stepped through to enter the Photo Lounge.  It was such a great element to tie everything together!  I was really happy with how everything turned out and so was the rest of the crowd - The Tutwiler Hotel's booth was voted #1 for the event!  We couldn't have asked for it to turn out any better!

Thanks so much to the Tutwiler team for having us!

10.12.2009

Sweet like Honey

Looking for a sweet favor for your guests?  Try local honey!

This sweet treat has been used for centuries, not only for its sugary flavor, but for its healing power.  Honey has a long and interesting history from being the most popular medicine in Ancient Egypt to being used to treat wounds in the first World War.  Wrap up a little bit of local honey for your guests and you will send them home with a unique treat that helps them build immunity to the allergens in your area!

Dress up the jars by matching the theme and colors of your wedding day.  Small squares of fabric tied with twine lend a rustic feel to the honey jars pictured above.   Adding a little label with your monogram and the date of the wedding, personalizes them, and easy enough to do yourself!

9.29.2009

Featured Couple: Emily & Jason Eversull



Emily and Jason are one of the nicest couples I have met and are such a great match!  They met here in Birmingham through work and continued their relationship while they were both in school at Auburn.  The day before Emily's birthday, Jason took her for a stroll on the beautiful Auburn plains before dinner.  They ran into photographers in front of Samford, but Emily didn't think much of it.  When they asked to take their picture to make sure the "lighting" was correct,  she was still thinking more about food than photos. But when she turned around to find Jason on one knee,  it all made sense!  He even had their families waiting at the restaurant, so they all could celebrate the occassion!

They were married on August 8th and Feel the Beat helped them celebrate afterwards at the Vestavia Country Club.  It was a gorgeous set up with lilac and pinks everywhere!  Gene's Flowers sprinkled their beautiful touch throughout the room including a cascading curtain of live orchids and other single-stemmed florals. This couple's laidback and friendly personalities shows through in the work of Arden Photography, as well as videographer, Mitch Joynt, who were there to capture all of the beauty of the day.  And leave it to Louise's Cakes and Things to make an absolutely beautiful and delicious cake for the occasion!  Afterwards, Emily & Jason made their getaway in one of Rocky Ridge's very own firetrucks!  Best wishes to both of them!

Bless the Broken Road

I found a wedding idea today that I just love! It was featured on Laura Hooper Calligraphy, a green invitation company located in LA (no not Lower Alabama!). She creates Emotional Maps for couples that show the journey of their lives, when they met, and dates that have been important in the relationship. What a wonderful way to share some of the more personal highlights of you and your fiancee's courtship with all of your friends and family!  You could also use this idea to map out the locations of all the events that are taking place on your wedding weekend.  Check out the website for more ideas for using the map for save-the-dates, programs, or just on display at the reception!

9.22.2009

Great Tips from Brides Post-Wedding from Bellagala

Everyone hopes that each aspect of their wedding will execute flawlessly. But no matter how much planning you do, things can be overlooked, and the unexpected may arise. Newlywed brides share their biggest wedding regrets to let those in the planning phase learn from their mistakes!

Chocolate Disaster

"I would not have combined a chocolate fountain at our wedding reception with six flower girls. Thank goodness for Shout Wipes -- they were the only thing that managed to save my dress."

Tip: Regardless of whether a chocolate fountain OR young children are involved in your wedding reception, it's a wise idea to pack a bridal emergency kit. Include items like aspirin, clear nail polish (for stocking runs), and a miniature sewing kit.

Mapquest Fiasco

"I would have driven the route to the reception myself instead of just going by an online map. A lot of people got really lost on the way, and I'm still hearing about it to this day."

Tip: Don't count on online maps, because there may be glitches. If your guests get lost and frustrated en route to your reception site, they will be less enthusiastic and it's likely to show in your photos. Map the route yourself, and have a family member designated for guests to call for direction clarification.

Bustle Complications

"I would have taken pictures of my bustle at my final dress fitting. When I was 'bustling up' before the reception, we couldn't quite figure out how to get it right."

Tip: The arrangement of the bustle can indeed be a tedious task. Bring a member of your bridal party to your final dress fitting so she can learn precisely what needs to be done for the wedding.

Ghastly Lashes

"I would not have worn those ghastly fake eyelashes. They work on some people, but I'm not one of them."

Tip: Be sure to test new beauty products you'll be using for your wedding at least a few times before the big day. You don't want to run into an "unexpected" look and loathe all your wedding photographs as a result.

Wedding Party Selection

"I wouldn't have jumped so quickly to choose my bridal party. I would have taken more time and given it more thought since I hurt quite a few people in the process. I realize now that out of sheer excitement, I hastily selected the people who were closest to me at that time, neglecting the people that were with me for many years before."

Tip: Give it some time and thought before jumping to contact those you wish to include in your wedding party. There could be conflicts between those whom you'd like to ask, and those who anticipate that they'll be asked. Identify those potential conflicts before you make any hasty decisions. Most times, there will be at least some damage control to be done, since it's impossible to include everyone in your life in your wedding party. But you'll feel much better knowing you put in lots of consideration.

DON'T Do-It-Yourself

"We wouldn't have done DIY invitations. The amount of money we saved just wasn't worth the time it took us to make them."

Tip: Make sure you understand the nature of the project and what to expect of the result before taking on something that you ultimately may not wish to finish.


Day-of Coordinator

"I would have hired a day-of coordinator. It got irritating when people would ask questions like, 'Where should I put the extra programs?' after the ceremony."

Tip: You shouldn't have to be in charge of mindless details on the day of your wedding. Hiring day-of help will let you enjoy the individual moments of the day rather than answering questions and dodging obstacles. Being able to relax and enjoy the day will be worth the cost.

9.17.2009

Green Tip of the Day: Use local, seasonal flowers

Did you know that there are 2.5 million weddings a year in the United States, with an average of more than 150 guests each.  When you add up all of the stuff that goes into weddings (single-use bleached white dresses, chemically treated imported flowers, toxic makeup and skin care products, mined gem-based jewelry, individual packets of rice, etc.) you see that the environmental impact from these events is enormous.


Going green for your wedding day may not be as difficult as you might think.  There are hundreds of things that you can do to cut down your wedding day's impact on the environment and every little bit helps!  


Today's tip is to talk to your florist about using local flowers.  Flowers that do not have to be transported long distances have less of an ecological impact and flowers that are in season during your wedding will already be a perfect match with the season of your event.  You can even take it a step further and re-purpose old teapots like the ones shown in the picture to use as centerpieces that will benefit not only the earth, but also your wallet!


For more green wedding tips, check out The Green Bride Guide at http://www.thegreenbrideguide.com/

9.04.2009

Alabama Weddings & Flowerstems on the U of A campus

It is a well-known fact that if you are planning a fall wedding in Alabama, you better check the football schedule!  In honor of this weekend's initiation into official college football season, here's a clip from an Alabama Weddings Magazine photoshoot down at Tuscaloosa's campus.  Flowerstems provided the bouquets and MGMT provided the awesome music that you hear - Electric Feel - one of my favorites.  For more great ideas, go to Alabama Weddings website at www.alabamaweddingsmagazine.com

8.25.2009

Repost from Memorable Events: Flavorful Favors for under $1

Flavorful Favors for under $1: "There are two things I look for when choosing favors, okay maybe three.
  1. I find that guests love edible favors. Chocolates, jelly beans, M&Ms, anything tasty. Even a candy buffet is a great idea, just place a bag or box at the table with a cute note and have the guest fill them with all of your favorite candies.
  2. With all the money you are putting into the rest of your wedding, favors should be reasonably priced. Since you are giving one to every person the cost of favors can add up quickly.
  3. Whatever you give your guests as their favor should represent your overall look and feel of the wedding. The biggest way people do this is by incorporating your color scheme and any graphic they may be using.
The favors above were extremely easy to make and the cost came in for under $1 a piece! All the supplies for both favors pictured were purchased at Michaels.

I will start with how to make the favors in the top picture, the tulle with the cute charms.
  • The tulle is available is pre-cut circles to make it easier to gather and tie and comes in different colors. Another super easy way to get this same sort of look is to purchase organza bags with pull ties (look on ebay if you want a specific color)
  • Cut your chosen ribbon to a good length that you will be able to get a nice bow out of, slip on the charm before you tie the bow.
  • Lay out the tulle circle and place your candy in the center, gather the edges together.
  • Tie the ribbon around the tulle just above the candy and make a cute bow.
  • Enjoy!
How to make the boxes with the ribbon bows.
  • The boxes are available in rectangular ivory or white squares and they come in boxes of 100.
  • The boxes are very easy to fold together.
  • Place a square of tissue paper inside to surround the candy. Use paper in your wedding color to add a little splash when the boxes are opened.
  • Fill the boxes with your candy, we used Assorted Gourmet Jelly Beans from GFS Marketplace stores. A 1/2 cup fit into the rectangle boxes.
  • Next we cut the ribbon to a length that would wrap the box and provide a good sized ribbon.
  • Tie the ribbon around the box and...voila! Adorable favors for under $1 each.
Here is one done using the square white boxes.

Have fun!
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Repost from Swanky Tables: So Sweet Wedding Posters from Ello There

So Sweet Wedding Posters from Ello There: "
Love, love, love these wedding posters from Etsy Store Ello There. You can have the bride and groom customized to match and both posters can be turned into invites too!
Images: Ello There
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