Announcing your engagement with style!

Tags

engagement party, engagement party ideas, pre wedding events

The Proposal

You’ve just gotten engaged – CONGRATULATIONS!! Now what? Well how about having a party, your engagement party that is. What better way to celebrate the occasion as well as announce your bridal party and introduce both families. Your engagement party should take place within three (3) months of your proposal. It can be as formal or casual as you prefer. The typical party  will include a game or two, food, fun and friends. It’s also a good idea to acknowledge your wedding party with a token of your gratitude but it’s certainly not mandatory.

I’ve always preferred a really nice cocktail party or a nice sit down dinner party where you can decorate appropriately with a nice tablescape that will echo the theme of your wedding. Traditionally, engagement parties are hosted by the bride’s parents but there is nothing to say that in this day and age to hinder the groom’s parents from joining in on the fun or the couple from hosting the party themselves.

Engagement parties are typically intimate affairs. I like the feel of a grown up event, with few to no games at all, just festivities, it’s not a bridal shower or bachelorette party mind you. Typically parties are held in someone’s home but restaurants or hotel event spaces have been used as well. Whatever you choose to do for your engagement party be sure to remember it’s about you, your fiancé and announcing your intent to marry to those you hold most dear.

Some helpful hints are to be sure to budget for the event. An engagement party is like any other important event. Several aspects come into play such as possible space rental, food & beverage, invitations, game prizes, cake, decorations and gifts for your honor attendants. But we’ll touch on the various aspects of the engagement party in Part 2 of “Announcing your engagement with style“.

Happy Planning!

The Proposal – source
Engagement Party – source

Sentimental Value

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finger print tree, guestbook alternative, honor family, memory locket, memory table, memory vase, prayer circle, sentimaents, sentimental ceremony, special wedding moments, wedding sentiments, words of encouragement

Sweet Sentiments can be infused into your ceremony, reception and wedding photos for just about any wedding or committment ceremony. Whether it is something that you do, give or showcase be sure to give your wedding that sentimental touch, something that you will look back on and it will just make you smile. There are several ways to highlight how special your family and friends are to you and in ways that will create a lasting memories.

I love the Fingerprint tree!! It’s a great way to involve all of your guests into such a cute keepsake. Also a great guest book alternative, your guests ink their finger and press it to the canvas. If names aren’t pre-printed they can write in their names by their finger print. It’s like a great family tree. This Finger print tree is courtesy of “Style Unveiled” and even includes a customizable template which can be found here at http://styleunveiled.com/wedding-fingerprint-tree.

The ceremony is a special time when you can showcase pictures of loved ones you have lost. Set up a table with pictures of those lost in nice frames and a few candles. Set it near the guest book so that everyone can see it as they come into your ceremony space. Your bridal bouquet is another aspect that you can add a sentimental touch with a bouquet locket to honor a family member that is no longer with you to keep them close to you at all times during your ceremony. There are memory vases as well where a special message is etched into the glass and you can place at the pulpit or near the unity candle.

Memory table, memory locket and memory vase

Another lovely idea that I have come across is writing a cute note to your bridesmaids on the bottom of their shoes or have your bridesmaid write messages to you on the bottom of your bridal shoes. It’s a great unexpected twist on a thank you note. One Greek wedding tradition is to sign the names of all the single bridesmaids on the bottom of the bridal shoe and the last to rub off is the next to get married. Now how cute is that??

I coordinated a wedding were the toasts were renamed “Words of encouragement” and offered not only the traditional folks (best man, maid of honor, parents) the opportunity to say something about the bride and groom but all of the guests as well. It was so touching and special to hear the love & admiration that everyone had for the couple (young and old). There were sweet stories and funny stories but all special moments of the day.

A small yet beautiful outdoor wedding that I coordinated last year included a prayer circle. After the ceremony, the guest circled the couple while holding hands and the bride’s mother lead us in prayer. It was a very special moment that I will always remember.

Prayer Circle around couple (photo credits - Jax Photography)

Adding a sentimental aspect to your wedding day events are sure to add a special touch to the day. Go with your heart and incorporate something meaningful, just for fun or a cultural tradition. You can’t go wrong because it speaks to who you are as a couple and how you feel about your family and friends. Untill next time…

Happy Planning!!

Memory table – (source)
Memory locket & vase – (source)
Bridal & Bridesmaid shoes  – (source)
Greek tradition shoe – (source)

Groom’s cakes…whose cake?…his cake!!

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boxing gloves cake, cakes, cigar cake, fire truck cake, fish cake, groom, groom's cake, groom's cake ideas, luggage cake, money cake, pac man cake, personality cakes, Personalized cakes, shoe cake, stacks of money cake, stadium cake, Steel Magnolias armadillo cake, Tyrus Thomas grooms cake, unique cakes, wedding cakes

There is nothing like a Groom’s cake to lighten the spirit of your guy on his wedding day. Remember the Armadillo cake in “Steel Magnolias”?

You get the point. The Groom’s cake, a southern tradition is typically chocolate or liquor based and is a fun and unique way for all significant others to present something special to the man in their lives. Who wouldn’t love a groom’s cake that showcases the personality of the groom? Whether it is a golf bag with clubs or a fish and tackle box as a nod to his favorite pastime or a tote bag with his work out gear or my personal favorite, a cake that represents his favorite sports team.

Favorite things groom's cakes

Favorite Pastime groom's cakes

Many grooms elect to have their cake depict their careers such as a fire truck for fireman, a badge for a policeman or a computer for a programmer.

Career grooms cake

Groom’s cakes can also be fun and showcase his favorite movie or cartoon character. Another fun idea is to have the cake represent something that he always wanted like that expensive sports car he has several magazines of or a stack of money. Throw them all together like in the groom’s cake for NBA baller Tyrus Thomas of the Charlotte Bobcats. His cake had all of his favorite things. Either way, the cake should express the personality of the groom and his style, his favorite things and it’s sure to be a big hit.

Groom's Cake for NBA baller Tyrus Thomas

Cake credits:
Charm City Cakes - Pac-Man, Fish and tackle box, Running shoe and Fire truck
Charmed Treats - Stacks of money
Just Cakes - Box of cigars and Luggage
Creative Cakes - Boxing gloves

Up Above My Head

Tags

balloons, Diann Valentine, event decor, F&G Weddings, filling space, hanging flowers, hanging items, hanging lights, Preston Bailey, The Knot

When you walk into a reception venue, what’s the one thing you notice immediately? You first notice the space right? Whether it has high or low ceilings, chandeliers, other lighting fixtures such as sconces, you notice if the room is large or small and certainly the color (for me it’s the definitely the carpet color). If you book a venue that is vertically challenged then filling the space is never the issue, it’s making the room feel more open. You actually have to be a bit careful with what you fill it with to make sure not to overwhelm the space with large centerpieces and lots of chairs. Add people sitting in those chairs and your reception could become quite uncomfortable.

Now say you come across a venue and this particularly happens with larger venues, that has very high ceilings. The real question is how to best fill the void? To bring the room in and make it a bit more intimate. Enter “fillers”, I categorize fillers as items that hang or extend into open space such as balloons, Japanese paper lanterns, ornaments, twinkle lights, fabric and other hanging items, large centerpieces with tree branches or tall glassware, etc.

Having space to fill can be a good thing. It is one way to add a wow factor to your venue. It draws your guests’ eyes up to the void that otherwise would make the space seem empty and hollow. Filling the space can also be fun. I’ve seen upside down umbrellas as well as very mod looking silver spheres dropped from the ceiling.

When you look at venues, you want to be sure that they allow items to hang from their ceilings. If they do not allow it, you can usually have structures or scaffolding built. Now centerpieces are a bit easier. There is the age-old rule of not building a centerpiece that is too big that your guest can’t see each other from across the table. But the higher you build up to less likely something will obstruct ones view that badly. Take a tall clear vase for instance filled with large Elephant ears (the leaf not actual Elephant ears), not only have you created filler for the open space but you haven’t obstructed anyone’s view of other guest, the dance floor or sweetheart table.

Working with your wedding designer or florist can be fun to think of creative ways to fill the space. It adds drama to your events and will certainly keep people talking about your event for years to come.

Happy Planning,

LaToya

The pictures showcased are not property of Something Blue Weddings and were found around the web via The Knot, Diann Valentine, Preston Bailey, F&G Weddings and others.

Help WIsh Upon a Wedding Win Charity of the Year and a grant for $15,000 to Help Them Make Wishes Come True!

Tags

Awards ceremony, Charities, Charity of the year, Classy Awards, philanthropies, Wish Upon A Wedding

It only takes a moment to VOTE!!

Classy awards

The Stay Classy Awards program is the largest philanthropic awards ceremony in the country, honoring the achievements of the nation’s top charities, businesses and individuals. This year’s program will be in San Diego on September 17th.

Out of over 2,000 entries, Wish Upon a Wedding (http://www.wishuponawedding.org) was chosen by judges as one of the TOP 25 philanthropies, nominated to win Charity of the Year in the 3rd Annual Stay Classy Awards.

This award could help the organization secure grant money valued at $15,000, enabling them to further enhance  their current programming and services.  It is their goal to begin providing travel and accommodations for distant families, which they currently lack the funding to do.  Your vote can help them reach their goals more quickly!

It only takes a moment to VOTE, so please do so today at http://classyawards.stayclassy.org/classy-awards/voting

 I did!!

SOMETHING BLUE

Tags

blue shoes, blue wedding shoes, Something blue

What’s in a name? Everything!!! Take our company’s name, Something Blue Weddings. Why you ask? Because every bride needs “Something Blue” just like I believe most brides need a wedding planner but we won’t get into that right now. Let’s talk about my favorite color – BLUE!! Yes, every shade from cobalt to turquoise to electric, I can honestly say that I am blue with envy. Traditionally and amongst several different cultures, blue symbolizes love, modesty, purity, and fidelity.

All brides can incorporate a little something blue into their wedding day attire. My favorite take on this is to rock out a pair of ultra fabulous blue shoes to play peek-a-boo from under your gown. There are so many different types to choose from; pumps, flats, sandals, slippers to different types of material such as patent leather, satin, glitter and the use of feathers. Below are a few examples.

I very recently came across these gorgeous and reasonably priced blue Feelgood shoe from Nine West. I love the shade of blue, peep toe, scalloped edge and the matte texture of the suede that is sure to go with any wedding dress and add a little extra umph.

There are many other ways to incorporate “something blue” into your day such as carrying a blue handkerchief, wearing a blue garter belt, even wearing blue bridal jewelry such as sapphire earrings or maybe your something blue is having your wedding on the beach overlooking a gorgeous body of blue ocean water. Whatever you’re inspiration, wearing “something blue” is a nice take on the tradition. Remember ladies as the English put it:

Something old, something new
something borrowed, something blue
and a silver sixpence in your shoe.

LaToya

ROYAL INSPIRATION

Tags

Duchess Catherine, inspiration, Princess Grace, Royal Wedding, Royal wedding gowns

Did you watch the Royal Wedding? Who didn’t?!? How fabulous is it that in 2011 a simply regal Catherine Middleton can marry her prince (literally) and exude so much class and elegance while back in 1956 a beautiful American film star looked just as timeless and elegant as she married her prince, Prince Rainier III in Monaco. I’ve been up since 4 am to watch the ceremony and catch a glimpse of Catherine’s wedding gown and she did not disappoint. I was almost scared that her gown would be extremely simple and boring.

I love all things weddings and one of my favorite aspects of a wedding is a women’s choice for her wedding gown. After have gone wedding gown shopping recently with a current client and watching her try on several gowns only to fall in love with a Vera Wang gown that made her cry in her mother’s arms at the sight of herself and the realization of what will happen, I am convinced that the wedding gown is the first if not THE most important decision during the planning process. This decision is both meticulous and very time consuming and everything has to be perfect. I fall in the realm of people who believe that the wedding gown should look timeless no matter the style of wedding. One should not be able to look at a bride in a picture and tell exactly what decade she got married in let alone the year.

This brings me back to Princess Grace Kelly who looked absolutely timeless in her gown, designed by MGM designer Helen Rose. Seeing now that 55 years later Duchess Catherine wore an Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sara Burton that closely resembles Princess Grace’s in 2011 and still looks stunning, modern yet very traditional is proof to my point. Looking back on this day many many years from now, we will be able to say the same thing about Duchess or Princess Catherine’s wedding gown as well.

LaToya

Se marier á Paris!!

Tags

destination wedding, Paris, Parisian ideas, Parisian inspired

Se marier á Paris!!  (get married in Paris)

A really good friend of mine is getting married this year in beautiful Paris, the city of Light. So I figured what better way to give her some ideas for her Parisian affair, as well as share some ideas with those of you who aren’t necessarily going to log any frequent flier miles, but would love to infuse a little French flair into your big day.

If you have a theme in mind you never want to go overboard, which of course as themes go, is one of the easiest things to do. You don’t necessarily have to pull every aspect of your theme into every element of your wedding. Simple touches here and there that make the most impact are desirable.

Let’s start with the one element that will set the tone for your wedding, your invitations. You can do something as simple as lining your outer invitation envelope with a beautiful Parisian inspired paper or you can go all out and such as in this beautifully French inspired invitation suite designed by Ceci Johnson of CeCiNewyork. Very simple, yet elegant while making a statement.

Going with a soft color palette of blues, creams and pinks is an option. You may also go with something a bit bolder like a Damask pattern, Toile or Fleur-de-lis are all French inspired designs and optimal choices for stationary and an element to carry throughout the theme of your day.

Another way to incorporate Paris is through your menu. Serve French wines as well as a Croquembouche. This towering confection is the traditional wedding cake of France. The name Croquembouche, which means “crunch in the mouth,” refers to the hard caramel that coats delicate puffs of pate a choux filled with vanilla cream which are stacked into a cone shape then drizzled with caramel. Sounds tasty, don’t you think?

Attire is a very important element for your wedding that you can certainly infuse some Parisian influence. These wedding gowns by French design house, Cymbeline, would be perfect for any Parisian ceremony. Be sure to show off your Parisian style by hitting a few landmarks for some pre-reception wedding photo opportunities. Can’t you imagine sitting home and reminiscing over all of the beautiful cityscapes that are the background to your day?

Need something to wear for your Parisian courthouse ceremony? This cute short frock is very European and chic.

Fashionable photo frames in 17th-Century Italian baroque style can be used as escort card/favors or as table name holders. You can name your tables after your favorite landmarks in Paris or cities in France.

Favors and accessories are another wonderful way to tie it all together. Gift tags with pictures of Parisian landmarks or Eiffel Tower place card holders add a little Parisian flair here and there.

So whether you intend on flying to France for your nuptials or staying right here at home, you can always infuse some Parisian influence into your day. Trying not to go over board will prevent your event from looking theme-y. Pick a few items that will make high impact bold statements such as your invitations, attire or décor and really go to town but most of all keep it elegant and sophisticated.

Félicitations to my friends Bond and Aaron on their upcoming Parisian Affair!!

Blissful Wishes Ball

Tags

Blissful Wishes Ball, Gala, Wish Upon A Wedding

On Wednesday, November 17, 2010 I had the pleasure of attending the Blissful Wishes Ball supporting Wish upon a Wedding’s Washington DC/MD/VA Chapter. As an event committee member I was privy to some behind the scenes details as we prepared for the big night. I can say that it was lovely to enjoy an evening of charity, entertainment and fun. I certainly enjoyed everything from the venue, Tremont Grand in Baltimore, MD to our celebrity musician, Mr. Art Sherrod and all the wonderful wedding and event industry leaders that were in attendance. 

 

We started the night off in the Roman Strada room with cocktails and the silent auction. We later moved to the Corinthian Room for the reception. There we enjoyed a lovely dinner,  a sweet serenade by celebrity jazz saxophonist, Mr. Art Sherrod. While Mr. Sherrod blew old jazz and R&B melodies we were delighted to be entertained by Event Planner, Stephanie Courtney’s professional ballroom troupe. After dinner, we enjoyed a wonderful array of Cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes as our wonderful chapter President, Ms. Shelby Tuck-Horton presented Ms. Julie Brown-Edwards, Catering Director for the Tremont Grand, with the Chapter’s first Shining Star Award.

We spent the remainder of the evening mingling with industry colleagues, dancing and maybe having a little too much fun in the photo booth by Shutter Booth. With props in hand the event committee members piled in the booth several times to capture the fun had by all. Even the Style Network’s, “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway” feature coordinator, Mark Kingsdorf was in attendance. When all was said and done, the Blissful Wishes Ball & auction was a success and I want to congratulate all of the hard working women who made it possible.

You can certainly find out more information about how you have contribute or become a wish granter for Wish Upon A Wedding at www.wishuponawedding.org.

Photos by Jax Photography and Sweet Tea Photography

The effortless Bridesmaid

Tags

bridesmaid, dress, Two Birds

One (1) dress – over 15 different ways to wear it – is the best way to describe this fabulous bridesmaids dress by TwoBirds!! The dress comes in several colors and styles including their new Rosette Collection.

If your searching for a bridesmaid dress that is as versatile and diverse as your party then I believe this dress is certainly an option. Whether you want everyone in the same dress and different colors or same color different dress, short or long – you can certainly accomplish that with this dress. AND the fabric is very forgiving. Check them out http://www.twobirdsbridesmaid.com/main.html.