Welcome Fall

I can't believe today is the first day of Fall.

Enjoy some fall centerpiece decor ideas:

The classic pumpkin vase - its easy to do and will last- just buy a mum and put in pumpkin then adorn with fresh flowers. pic from MarthaStewart


or something more simple- just fill a vase with acorns. from Pottery Barn

















Here is a large vases filled with apples with a large chunky candle. from BHG

Kid's Table Decor

Are you having a 'Kids Only' table at your wedding?
If so -don't put a floral centerpiece on the table - think of something interactive for the kids.

Simple would be butcher paper with a bucket of crayons and markers in the center tied with some balloons.

or more elaborate - a lollipop cone! Saw this at Martha Stewart.com - would be easy to recreate with a cone shape, paint, glue and some ribbon. There are instructions here.

This would also be great for a candy table at a wedding or at a Kids birthday party.
You could use rice krispie treats on a stick or chocolate covered strawberries or something not edible - think of the theme of your party.

Maybe I will try this for Gavin's 1st Birthday party - I am still dreaming up the perfect theme!!

Table Runner DIY

I love Ballard Designs!
They have so many great home decorating ideas and this month some great tips.

On their website I came across directions on how to make your own table runner. These would be great for a baby or bridal shower.

How to Make a Table Runner

The Easy Way!

A table runner can add life and personality to your table. It can also protect it from warm serving dishes and fresh arrangements filled with water.

So how can you make one? It really is a simple, no sew project. And we will be happy to walk you through the process.

• Choose a fabric that is relatively thick – cotton or cotton/poly blends (for a relaxed look) or a satin or brocade (for a more formal look).
• Measure the width of your table – your finished table runner should be about one third the width of your table. Add one and one half inches to all sides to allow for hemming.
• Measure the length of your table – your finished length should be the length of the table plus twelve inches on both ends for the overhang. Again, make sure you add an additional one and one half inches to allow for hemming.
• When cutting the fabric make sure you allow one and one half inches along all edges for seams. If your want your finished runner to be 18” wide and 90” in length, then you would cut your fabric 21” wide and 93” in length.
• Measure one half inch all around the edges folding and pressing the raw edges onto the wrong side of your fabric.
• Now fold the seam over again - one inch to create the hem and press into place.
• Place the No-Sew Hemming Tape inside the one inch seam that you just pressed – use the directions on the No Sew Tape to seal the hem.
• You can keep the corners square or if you wish or if you want pointed edges on either end, just fold the corners to meet in the center of the fabric attaching the ends with No-Sew Tape.

There are many options for embellishing a runner. If you choose a plain cotton fabric, try using a rubber stamp and fabric paint stamping a design along the border or creating an allover print by randomly stamping the fabric. Try using a feather or a leaf dipped in paint and pressed onto the fabric for an organic, outdoor look. If you have a beach theme, try pressing the outline of some different sized shells in a random pattern. Instead of a tassel at the end on your runner, why not attach shells tied with raffia? Or if you have a more formal look, purchase some crystal drops at your local craft store to hook onto the ends. Whatever your table theme, making a table runner can customize your look and your guests will be amazed!

Cocktail Reception

Guests moved to the south terrace for more surprises.
The ever famous Ice Ball from Ice Caters - Perfect for a martini or high ball glass!Raw bar - I can't believe how people flocked to this - the Country Club staff couldn't even keep it full fast enough.
And a fun lobster sautee station.
Frank Sinatra Tribute Show - Tony Sands sang great Sinatra tunes for cocktail hour and dinner hour. Guests loved this!
Linens for this area were turquoise with pink peonies!
Neat silver wire wrapped vases.

Beautiful Spring Wedding

Saturday was a beautiful day for a wedding! I helped coordinate Hanyoung and Bretts wedding, starting with a traditional Catholic mass, a Korean Ceremony then dinner and dancing at the Marriott Conshocken. Han changed gowns for all 3 parts. They were so fun to work with and really brought some creativity to the wedding.

The ice balls (from IceCaters) were a HUGE hit! and her centerpieces were a mix of high branch and candles and low flowers and candles (from Fresh Designs)(branches seem to be popular with my spring clients). The band eFusion Love rocked the house and had people jammed on the dance floor till the last song!

Photography was done by Nathan and Thran at Lightyear Studios - check out their blog for the professional pictures.

My Version!

So what do you think?

Easter Table Centerpiece

So Easter is at my house this year - I am so excited. I plan to set the table with my grandmothers china and do the above centerpiece but use the TyeDyed Eggs in the middle.

Instructions from BHG.com:

Turn a handful of dyed eggs and a bouquet of carnations into a playful spring centerpiece. Fill a medium-size footed bowl with a few inches of water. Nestle dyed eggs in a smaller bowl (prop bowl on a dish if necessary). Cut carnation stems about 2 or 3 inches long and pack the blooms around the bowl of eggs.

Happy Nesting!

Chalk it Up!

Check out these cool containers from Pier 1!!
They would be a nice addition to the ever popular candy buffet!
You can write the candy type right on the container. ($10-14 each)


Use the stemless glassware with a floating candle then write the table name on the glass; or use on your cocktail tables and write your monogram on it, or maybe words that go with the theme of your wedding.

Favorite Centerpiece

This is my new Favorite Centerpiece Idea:


What do you think?

Carving Pumpkins

Put your personal stamp on your pumpkins this year - Create a monogram or initial and carve on to a pumpkin! Great for your doorstep to greet trick or treaters, have it line the aisle at your next outdoor wedding ceremony or even use the smaller size as a centerpiece.

Many craft stores have the carvable pumpkins that you can keep year to year. You can't use real candles inside but you could put battery operated ones in there!

VIP Rock and Roll Table Top

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile I was busy preparing for a Table Top Competition. It was held last night at the Villanova Conference Center and put on by the Society of Wedding Planners.

Here are some pictures of my table - I decided to do a Rock and Roll Theme - VIP Bar Mitzvah actually!

I used stanchions to separate off my table, my husbands guitar was the centerpiece with carnation balls and glitter candles. The table was lucite with a metal frame base uplit with red lights.

Silver snakeskin chargers with black plates, black silverware and soho glassware.
Menu cards were also Back Stage passes, complete with lanyards. The menu was appropriately named after rock songs. (Welcome to the Jungle - mixed green salad)

Place cards were cd's and Rock Stars were the guests. Every guest also received a rock candy treat.
Take home favors were custom made tshirts - just like a rock concert. The shirt said VIP Tour of a Lifetime - Sept 3, 2008.

Thanks to Irene at Party Rental for generously lending me the rental items for this display.

They Deserve Love To

That is Carnations! So many brides say 'I definitely don't want carnations at my wedding.'

Well they are missing out - if you cluster carnations together they are just beautiful and resemble peony's or hydrangeas. They are inexpensive, versatile and long lasting; great options for centerpiece or hanging pomanders. I encourage you to think outside the box and give carnations some love! Look at some of these beautiful examples:









brides.com, marthastewart.com, classiccreationsphotography.com

Loving This

Thanks to my friend/colleague LaKendra Kennedy with Affairs with Elegance for showing this to me.
My new favorite thing and works as double duty. A vase and frame!

As you may have guessed I love monogrammed things or items you can put your name on. Makes it soo much more personal.

Glass Photo Vase from Beau-Coup

Picture this as centerpieces - add a picture of you and your fiance or use it to put table names. How about you two hold a sign that says '2' for table 2, insert that picture in the vase. Maybe use it as a candy jar and put a sign that says Love is Sweet!

This is also a great gift idea for your wedding party or parents - a little token of thanks! Cool Classic Gifts also have a lot of other very cute items to put your personal stamp on!

To get you Dreaming...

I leave in the morning for The Special Event Conference in Atlanta.
This is going to be a great week of learning, getting inspiration, meeting other event professionals, sharing ideas and coming up with new ones.
Here are some inspiration pics from last years Los Angeles Conference. I will report back next week with 2008 trends.

Martha Watch Out

Wine glass lamps you say?
why yes - this is a fabo idea to use at a dinner party or perhaps on an escort card table or near the guest book at your next wedding. Think of all the options!
I love it!!
Found on Charles and Marie to purchase for $20.

Made out of fragile parchment, each set contains 3 different shades with cute and whimsical designs that are printed in a faint white. All you need to do is take them out of the package, roll them up, drop a candle into a wine glass and add the lampshade. That's it. Instantly the white pattern is transformed to a darker shade (as if it were a shadow) and a wine glass is turned into a sweet miniature lamp.

or as a DIYer try this:
Materials
8-1/2″ x 11″ sheets of vellum (one per lamp)
Scissors
Scissors with decorative blades
Decorative paper punch in desired shape
Glue pen
Wineglass
Votive candle or a LED Battery Operated Tea Light

1.Lampshade Pattern (PDF file click here)

2. Trace the lampshade pattern onto the sheet of vellum. Cut the straight ends and the inner curve using plain scissors with decorative blades.

2. Punch designs about 1″ from the lower edge, spacing the designs evenly.

3. Apply a thin line of glue (a glue pen works well for this) to one straight end. Lap the other end over the glued end, forming the shade.

4. Drop the candle in the glass and set the lampshade on top. Voila!


Thank you to Jane and The Event Essentials for showing pictures and instructions on how to do this.

Your Senses to Create a Memory

You want to have an elegant and sensational wedding??

In order to set the mood and wow your guests you picked brown velvet linens(touch), hired a lighting company(sight), tasted chocolate ganache for your cake(taste) and taken dance lessons to your favorite song(hear). Well what about smell?? Lets knock the socks off your guests - literally!

David Tutera is big on this - he is always offering suggestions on using all 5 of your senses to create your event or wedding.

Start with a smell you want to remind you of your wedding day, does it match your colors, your theme, your food? As Reece said in Legally Blond with her pink scented resume - you want to 'give it that extra something'' You want to subtly have this scent everywhere - from the Save the date cards to the favors.

There aren't great places to get scented paper but in making your save the date cards or invitations, you could spray the paper lightly with room spray before stuffing envelopes. Or use drawer liners from Crabtree and Evelyn. Another way to introduce that scent is to enclose an item; a sprig of rosemary or eucalyptus, rose petals, mint, a leaf or cinnamon sticks.

Add it to a signature drink; lavender lemonade, mojito, cinnamon cider, a licorice stick in a martini. Have your florist add something to your flowers; fruit etc. This may not work for centerpieces because you don't want to take away from the food smells but any aisle decor or even a wreath on the church doors.

If you do want something in your reception you could look for a scent machine. www.scentevents.com and about $300 for a small discreet devise that would work for hours in a hotel ballroom.

Other ways to make your wedding scent-sational:
Enclose a candle or other scented item in the out of town gift bags, use reed difusers in the restrooms, put candles everywhere. If your scent is food related, incorporate it in the favor; cinnamon snicker doodle cookies, olive oil infused with rosemary or caramel apples.


Scents bring back memories -Now every time someone smells cinnamon or lemon verbena - they will think of you, your wedding and be reminded of the love you showed that day.

Pumpkin Carving Ideas

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS IDEA - Create a monogram or initial on a pumpkin! Use this idea for your doorstep to greet trick or treaters, have it line the aisle at your next outdoor wedding ceremony or even use the smaller size as a centerpiece.

Click here for instructions from www.marthastewart.com

Right now Michaels and AC Moore have carvable pumpkins that you can keep year to year. You can't use real candles inside but you could put battery operated white lights. I am making mine today!