Delicious Theming in Miami

Normally, I don't like re-posting material from other blogs.
BUT, I had to share this Miami wedding of the friend of one of my hubby's friends!

It is from the fabulous blog of Candidly Elegant Photography.

The stunning decor and coordination for the wedding was done by Designs by Guerdy.
I think this is a quintessential example of inspired theming PERFECTLY done. It is beautiful, well thought out and not overdone.
Please enjoy the super eye candy of Erin and Gavin's wedding and be inspired!

Candidly Elegant Photography
Designs by Guerdy

Getting Creative With Carnations

There are lots of old posts in Savvy blog about carnations (we were ahead of this trend!)--namely about how I really love this forsaken flower when it's arranged right! So, of course I enjoyed the visuals of a recent Hostess blog post on carns!

And last but not least, my own reception centers!

Lasting Impressions Event Rental, Cleveland

So I visited Lasting Impressions while at home and was very pleased with their customer service and very shocked with their selection. I was helped by Kristen (I think) but also worked with Patty over the phone and both are great.
We're using them for some of our rentals--highboy tables and pipe and drape.
Although we found a better deal for our dinner table linens, you can imagine my delight when this was the first thing I saw when walking into the store:

click pic to make big and clear!

You have to love that satin damask-print linen in their showroom!
So cute! And pops so well against the red so will surely pop well against hot PINK!

Well, trust me, the company knows this print is hot...because they are renting those things for literally an arm and a leg.
So I was thinking to use a few to break up my main linen color.
But then, as I was putting in my main linen order with BBJ Linen I happened to come across these photos on their web site (the bottom two images):


Not QUITE damask...but still really close....and equally pretty!

Well, the BBJ Linenversion is considerably cheaper....so...you know being the budget bride I am....!

Damask Boxes

Would YOU ever think to look at Organize.com for reception table decor? I sure would not. But it is here that I found these super cute boxes. They are actually 'photo organizers' or 'photo storage boxes' and they were just $6.99 each. I have big, big tablescape-ish plans for them...

Chic it up, baby!

I know I am partial to this Etsy store because 1) its storefront is in my wedding colors and 2) they sell damask decor.  But you should check out this eye candy anyway.  The store is called "Chic Shack" and its slogan:"Chic it up, baby!"  

They sell cool vinyl wall stickers...you know, the large decals you can stick on your walls to add instant...chic-ness!  Also see their blog for much inspiration!

Photo Inspiration for the Day

You know I lovvve candles--especially pillar candles--and how they look in mass.
Well, here is a perfect example of the kind of ambiance candles grouped together can create for dinner tables if you are looking for non-floral centerpiece ideas.
I just love how the candles make the table look like they are "glowing" in the centers.
Photo courtesy of The Event Essentials

Post-Valentines Treat!

My sweet fiance got me three bunches of flowers for Valentines Day, some orchids, tulips and carnations, so I decided to play around with the carns and thought I would share! Also found a cool damask candle holder at Dollar Tree this evening that would go perfectly with my decor if I can find more. They are different than the other damask votive holders I found. I'm going to try to call Dollar Tree Direct Tuesday to see if I can order a bunch more. The cubes the carns are in are from Dollar Tree also. I secured the ribbon to them with double-sided tape, but if you're looking to secure ribbon to glass for an event, I'd use hot glue to make sure it stays. Anyway, enjoy!

On Rose Petals...

Whether fresh, freeze dried or artificial, there are many places one could make use of rose petals in the course of a wedding day.
The first to come to mind are the ceremony aisle, of course, dinner tables, newlywed hotel suite, etc!
But one thing I've always had trouble with is exactly HOW MANY petals are needed to cover certain areas moderately, densely etc.
Apparently, it takes about 600 cups of petals for moderate coverage on a 50-foot aisle. 12,000 petals= 210 cups...
Here are a few web resources that breaks this down pretty well. Hope it helps!
Fifty Flowers Guide (Under 'Product Details')
PetalGarden Guide

DIY: Blingy Branches!

Branches are a dramatic and effective decorating tool and are now coming colored,sparkled, glittered and iced to add an extra element to decor.
But these 'designer' branches often don't come cheap and cost much more than a bundle of unembellished branches.
For example, Nettletown Hollow is selling a bundle of 25 4 foot birch branches for $16.50--while for just FOUR of the same ICED birch branches you pay $16.99. Same with the sparkle birch.
But I have the answer!


Save-On-Crafts, a wonderful wedding planning resource has a great idea for cutting costs and making your own iced branches using tacky glue and Colorfill Diamond Vase Filler.

Materials
Tree branches
Aleenes Tacky Glue
Colorfill Diamond Vase Filler by Garden Splendor

Step 1.

Place a sheet of newspaper down for a work area. Pour a pile of Colorfill Diamonds in the center.

Step 2.

Place tacky glue on the branches and roll in the Diamonds. Let set 1 hour and you have ice covered branches. Easy as that!

Variations: Add some artificial moss or red berries to some of the branches.

And Voila!

IKEA Run!

Bless IKEA!
I spent about an hour in the store this afternoon (an hour is impressive--normally its around three) looking for wedding goodies.
By far my favorite find were these 99 cent table easels!



I'm going to either paint or spray paint these and maybe stamp them with flourishes to create a print. I'll use them on our dinner tables to hold the table signs.

I also found some large and tall bundles of 6 foot tall straight willow branches which I bought to give to my florist. $14.99 each.

Beaded Table Numbers

Want to get creative with how to let your wedding guests know where to sit for dinner?
I present to you these pretty, handmade table numbers from Etsy seller BrassPaperclip.
You can customize them to be made in any color bead--or even Swarovski crystals for a really blingy piece. And they can stick right into your flower arrangements!
This seems a bit more practical than the wooden table numbers I've seen covered with glued-on rhinestones...
And it seems like something you could do yourself with wire and beads if you're even a little bit crafty...
Enjoy!

Personality Pop: Bouquet Wraps!

OK--so I'm still debating whether or not I'm going to DIY our dinner centerpieces. But I am SURE I will use a florist for all of our personal flowers.
That said, I really would like my bouquet, the girls' bouquets, and the bouts to be personal and have character. So I plan on collecting material to send to my florist to be used on our personal flowers.
There are so many possibilities when it comes to upping the personality factor of your flowers and thinking outside of the box is good.
Just collect items as you find them and when you're ready put them in a box and mail them to your florist!
Here are just a few possibilities that I love: (Bouquet courtesy Jennifer Skog and Asiel Design)

Silk
Velvet
Lace
Printed ribbon
Beaded trim
Jeweled trim
Fringe
Feathers
Rhinestone Buckles
Bouquet jewels
Vintage Brooches
Pins
Stretchy jeweled bracelets

Here are some great places to get you started in your search:
Decorating Studio

EJoyce

Les' Bon Ribbon

JKM Ribbon & Trims

MJ Trim

Rhinestone Shop

Bouquet Jewels

Hancock Fabrics

Do you know of any good places to find cool trimmings?

Some Inspiration to Carry You Into the New Year!

Here are a few things to whet your floral/event/wedding related appetite as we head into 2008...
Plus, some of my own style and design tips for the new year.

1. Black is the New Black
Chocolate brown will come and go...but black is forever classic.


2. Less is More
Instead of traditional flower arrangements that include in many types of flowers and colors think about simple, monochromatic arrangements. Using the same flower type in the same color for arrangements or using several flower types in the same color often has great impact! This is also great for the DIY bride or novice because they are simple to arrange and look lovely packed tightly--or sparsely into cubes.




3. Embellish, embellish, embellish!

In 2008, I'd love to see embellishment taken to higher heights. I'd love to see bouquets wrapped in ruffles, velvet, 'blingy' trim or anything that personalizes and makes them more feminine and interesting.

4. Let There Be Light!
Candlelight, that is! For an evening wedding reception, dinner or party, you can never have too many candles. Candles are quite possibly the cheapest way to make great impact on your tables and in a space. Think about it. When has candlelight ever looked tacky? It hasn't! And candles grouped together--whether pillars or votives--create a romantic and dramatic effect. And they also produce beautiful light! If you can't afford to hire a professional lighting designer--going crazy with candles can create an equally great ambiance. But the key is to go crazy. Plan on ordering hundreds of candles for your event.


5. Go Crazy with Something...

For maximum impact in an event space, consider a theme and really run with it. Whether it be hundreds of branches, candles, roses, orchids, flower petals--guests will notice an element that runs through your entire event. Branches are a bold, striking and cost-effective way to do this as they're much cheaper than many flowers.

Happy 2008!

Funky (and cheap) Table Runners?

So, I came across some cool fabric--actually called'Sheer Organza Sheets'--over at Jamali Garden.
The fabric sheets measure 58" wide by 10 yards long--so just one sheet could effectively be made into about several nice-sized table runners to fit just about any table. I'm always amazed to find fabric large enough to work with 72" rounds.
Anyways, check them out here.
I'm sure you can think of a ton of other uses for this fabric. At $25 each--$20 if you order more than 4--it's a steal!

Flowers...Check!

So...over Thanksgiving weekend you know I met with two florists in addition to the lighting company.

Well, I am glad to say, I have found my florist! And it was such an easy an obvious choice!

ABOUT HELENE
Helene of Brunswick Ohio-based Hosanna Designs will be doing floral for the wedding. (She created that mandap pictured).
I first chatted with Helene last month and got a great feeling about her over the phone.
That feeling was confirmed upon meeting her Saturday over the Thanksgiving holiday.
She works from her home studio on the west-side of Cleveland, so we met half way, near downtown, for lunch (which she'd offered to treat me to).
As soon as I saw her we connected and bounced ideas off of each other for about an hour.
What I loved about Helene is that she was very upfront about what flowers cost and had great ideas on how to save money. She actually showed me catalogs of her wholesalers and was clear about pricing. Most of all, she is clearly passionate about what she does.
Very excited to be working with her!
**One thing I must note about Hosanna Designs is that they don't charge a deposit. I was certainly prepared to give her one, but...according to Helene: "I've raised kids. Spend that money on vendors who need it now.."
Just like a mom!

OTHER FLORISTS
In all, I interviewed three florists. Maybe I should have talked to more, but interviewing vendors is tiring and I believe you know when you've found the right one.

The others I met with with were Lynn from Creations by Lynn, Broadview Heights and Amy of AC Designs, Westlake (well, didn't actually meet her but communicated via e-mail).
Both Amy and Lynn could be good choices for floral and I have nothing but good things to say about them both.
Lynn's shop was very organized. She even had fresh orchids, mokara and cymbidium, by the stem-- a huge plus for an orchid-lover like me!
Her prices are reasonable but she said she does 4 weddings in a weekend--which seems like a lot and kind of turned me off).

Amy is a fast and excellent communicator. She worked with me via e-mail for a few days and created sketches of ideas she had and was able to quote me this way. Amy's prices are very reasonable and she is good at thinking outside of the box. I just wished I could've seen more of her work...

What's Your Color Inspiration?

Color is perhaps one of the key things I think about when considering the feel and vibe of any event. A good way to start is to figure out a color pallete that suits your style. It doesn't have to be rigid, but it's a good way to begin.
So...
1. Gather a few images that inspire you. They don't have to be pictures of flowers, attire or anything wedding related, for that matter. In my opinion, they should just be pictures that make you "feel" something and set a mood.
2. Go to: Colorhunter.com or DeGraeve.com.
3. Enter the URL of your image (s) and VOILA! Your own custom color palette!

Dollar Tree Direct

The other day I wrote about the fabulous damask-inspired votive holders I found at the Dollar Tree. Turns out between two local Dollar Tree locations I was able to buy enough of them for what I needed (about 60). But apparently, for people planning large events, Dollar Tree recently started up Dollar Tree Direct, where you can buy ANYTHING you see in a store, in bulk.
I don't think I need to explain why this is is useful to event planners and brides planning wedding!

I think this service is fairly new. Here is a write-up from the press release on Retail Net.

Dollar Tree has launched an e-commerce site called "Dollar Tree Direct" (www.dollartreedirect.com) designed for customers who want to purchase large quantities of items from the store.
Customers can submit orders via electronic submission, fax or by phone. No matter what method they choose, shoppers will have the chance to speak with a customer-service representative who will check on availability of requested items and process payments.

It doesn't look like a whole lot that I've seen in the stores is on the web site yet, but as long as you have the product number you can call-in an order.

For those who love Damask....

A Walmart run and a trip to the Dollar Tree landed me these fabulous damask-inspired votive holders and a damask box that I may modify and use as a card box. I've seen these same/very similar votive holders elsewhere for like $29.99 for two! Look here! and The votive holders were two in a pack for a buck. Lets just say I cleared the shelves. The box was $4. More on my love affair with damask.