In case you didn't know, a planners BFF is none other than the World Wide Web...yea that's right, you heard me the Internet. When planning an event, the very first thing I will do (after meeting with my client that is) is fire up my trusty laptop and search for images that I can use for inspiration. One of my absolute FAVORITE sites to look at is Hostess with the Mostess. The dynamic team made up of Jennifer and Sonny Sbranti (yes, friends - husbands and wives CAN work together) never fail me or their audience with providing us with some yummy eye candy and easy DIY ideas to get those planning creative juices flowin'.
While working on my little one's 2nd birthday party, I stumbled upon this lovely candy bar. Isn't it absolutely adorable? There are a few elements that I'm thinking about using for the upcoming party. I will provide more details about the party in a later post. In the meantime if you think this picture was cute, you must check out the rest of the post...you'll LOVE it! To read more about this whimsical lollipop inspired dessert table click here.
Tired of the "cookie cutter" wedding? Do you want to take your wedding from drag to fab? Below we share 5 tips to add some spice in your wedding day!
1) A fabulous way to make a wedding unique is to incorporate the cultures of the bride and groom. Whether you feature a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, the breaking of the glass, jumping of the broom or traditional foods, I think incorporating one’s culture is a beautiful way to add depth and uniqueness to your wedding.
{Jumping the broom by Annie Lee}
2) Another way to add dimension to your wedding is to entertain and “wow” the guests with creative interactive experiences. Some examples might be adding a photo booth, a dessert buffet of your favorite desserts, a cigar roller, or a port and cheese tasting. All are non-traditional items that you wouldn’t find at weddings past and also provide an interactive element to your wedding that your guests will enjoy and best of all remember for years to come.
3) Think outside the box when it comes to your wedding décor, more specifically your table centerpieces. Instead of using traditional flowers, try something a bit different. Some ideas might be incorporating a few stunning vintage bird cages, elegant crystal chandeliers, or even miniature wedding cakes as centerpieces.
{weddingbee.com}
4) Make your wedding special and different (not to mention “wow” your guest) plan to include over the wedding weekend some different activities for your guests to participate in. Plan a mini tennis/golf tournament; a Clam bake for all your guests; a morning hike; a luau or a Sunday brunch, just to name a few. Adding some creative activities for your guests really helps add a whole new unique aspect to your wedding.
5) However the most important part of making a wedding unique is to incorporate the passions and personalities of the bride and groom. For example, if the couple is really into wine, use that theme and infuse it throughout the wedding. You could have the tables named after vineyards you love, set place cards in wine corks, use deep reds and browns as your color scheme, and bring in wine barrels to add additional décor to the room. Bringing in who you are as a couple is very important in making your wedding special and unique!
Spring, hands down, is my FAVORITE season. With this season, the weather starts to get a little warmer and the days become longer. Spring/summer is the easiest season for entertaining too. Parties are expected to be causal, seasonal foods are plentiful and reasonably priced, and mother nature has taken care of all of your decorating needs. With Memorial Day right around the corner, we have come up with some easy summer entertaining tips that are guaranteed to make your next fete a success!
1.Lighten Up Your Menu
When planning your next outdoor soiree try to use as many fresh, seasonal ingredients in your menu as possible. As the weather gets warmer appetites for heavy recipes start to shrink. Go for salads, fresh fruits and grilled food in place of stews and casseroles. You will find it’s much quicker and cooler to prepare these items in the warmer weather and your guests will welcome the seasonal change.
2.Make Sure You Have Plenty of Ice
Never underestimate how much ice will be used during a warm weather event. Even if the party is inside, guests are still feeling the heat of the spring/summer days and will want lots of ice in their drinks to help cool them down.
3.Don’t Underestimate How Many Beverages You Will Need
You can best believe that there are never enough drinks available in the spring/summer! From soda to bear to mixed drinks, there never seems to be enough. Whether your guests are simply mingling outside and chatting, or playing a vigorous game of volleyball, you can rest assure they will work up a thirst now that the weather is warmer. When determining your beverages for your next warm weather gathering, make sure to include plenty of bottled water in your beverage arsenal. Sometimes nothing does the trick like a nice icy glass of water. Event Diva Tip: Place a bucket of fruit filled ice cubes on the side to add a little extra pizzazz. Your guest will LOVE them!
4.Keep Your Décor Colorful and Casual
There's no need to lug your expensive place settings and décor outside for your next BBQ. Take the advantage of the casual atmosphere the warm weather brings to use inexpensive melamine and other plastic materials at your next outdoor bash. If you don't own any, it pays over the long haul to invest in a sturdy set of summer dinnerware. Colorful dishes help to create a festive mood, it's better for the environment (think green) and it's cheaper than buying disposables (trust me it will pay for itself in the end).
5.Provide Shelter
If you're hosting your outdoors party during the daytime make sure to provide your guests with options for escaping from the sun. Whether you rent a tent, place groups of chairs under a shady tree, or set up tables with umbrellas, your guests will appreciate a place to escape from the heat. Event Diva Tip: When planning events outdoors, always have a plan B in the event Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate with your vision of sunny skies and delivers some unwelcome rain.
Erika Beckwith is the host of the popular internet based radio show Cocktails and Conversation which airs live every Saturday @ 8 am EST. www.blogtalkradio.com/cocktailsandconversation
Cocktails and Conversations with the Event Diva - LIVE every Sunday @ 8:00 P.M. EST
We are happy to announce our "new" radio show "Cocktails and Conversations with the Event Diva" LIVE every Saturday @ 8:00 A.M. EST on Blog Talk Radio.
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