Popsicles, Popsicles – Cool Treats for your Summer Parties

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I know, I know.  Summer isn’t here yet. But it’s just around the corner.  So if you need some ideas of what to serve as treats for your bridal shower, backyard party or afternoon picnic, here are three cool popsicle recipes that are fun, sweet and cool.  Have fun! 

Lemonade-Cucumber-Spa Popsicle -  These treats are refreshing, delicious and perfect for a spa theme bridal shower!

Mango-Orange- Yogurt Popsicle  - Love these yummy treats for an afternoon picnic or party on a hot summer day.

 

Cherry-Apple-Whiskey-Sour – Perfect for a summer party!

Personalized Gift Bags For Your Out-of-Town Guests

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If your planning a destination wedding and have guests flying in from all over the country, one way of giving them a warm welcome is surprising them with a warm welcome bag in their room. Your first step is to find or create a unique bag or box to insert your goodies.  Instead of a bag, maybe insert in a cute cardboard box or an old cigar box to insert all your goodies.  You can also customize a cute map for your guests with your favorite local restaurants, coffee shop, shopping, hiking spot.  For example, I suggested to my couple to create a map based on their favorite spots in Hollywood and tie in their love for the sports in their package. Here are some fun goodies you insert into your welcome package.

  • Something sweet from your favorite bakery
  • Something salty like popcorn,nuts, chips
  • 2 bottles of water — perrier or fiji or a couple of bottles personalized
  • maybe two bottles of your favorite beer or mini champagnes
  • hangover kit or:  advil, tylenol, pepto
  • fresh oranges, specialty teas or coffee
  • mints
  • a traveling candle, playing cards??
  • a local magazine
  • a cute map of your favorite restaurants, sweets, coffee shop
  • welcome note on a door hanger *see picture
  • schedule of rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception
 
photo via: Martha Stewart

How to get ideas for your celebration or wedding

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A few months ago I wrote a post for Emilee Sutherland of Tasteful Tatters on inspiration for your wedding.  So I’m excited to share it again on my blog! I hope you get some ideas from this even if it’s just one tip that inspires you.

What inspires you? How do you come up with bold, bountiful ideas for your celebration or wedding? Is it through music, color, art, blogs, travel? I love to travel especially to places that are rich in color, culture, food and adventure.  It drives me to be creative and innovative.  I learn from other cultures and it makes me not afraid to express myself because it’s my passion that makes me come alive. I enjoy spending time with local people because I get some of most creative inspiration from them, whether it’s learning to paint, taking a cooking or watching a tango show.  So I challenge you to go beyond the magazines, and blogs. Dig deeper. Here are five small steps you can take to fuel your inner creative juices, begin with one or two challenges:

  • Attend a play, musical or play.  Do something you’ve never done before.
  • Fill your walls with things that inspire you. Tape up photos of quotes you love, words, empower words, magazine photos. Keep it fresh.
  • Take your project to the park, walk around your neighbor and explore the boutiques and businesses around.  Have a journal with with you and take notes.
  • Listen to a new genre of music, watch a foreign film or watch a documentary on a painter or designer.
  • Be Bold. Choose vibrant colors.  Don’t be afraid to go bold and bright. One quote I love comes from one of my favorite designers, Kelly Weastler ”When it comes to color, be confident, go with your heart and follow your emotions.”    

Be different. Be unique. Be Bold.  What inspires you? Food, Music, Culture or Travel?

 

Photo shoot at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica

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It’s Springtime, a time for new beginnings and last weekend was the perfect time for a new Photo Shoot!  It was a beautiful day  in Santa Monica, so we headed to the gorgeous Huntley Hotel Santa Monica for a day of fun and glamour.  Of course, I had a team of lovely ladies who made it all happen.  The lovely Christine, of Lady C Artistry and Christina of Christina Dely Photography.  Wow, Christine did an amazing job of making me glamorous and Christina “WOWed” me with her photography skills.  I highly recommend these two creative ladies for your next wedding, event or special occasion.  They’re the best!

 

Quick Tip: Handling Your Gifts and Thank You Notes

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It’s getting close to your wedding day and you’re probably receiving gifts now. We’ve noticed that weddings guests bring gifts at many of the weddings we work. One of our responsibilities as your day of wedding coordinator is to handle is to arrange to have them carefully packed in your designated persons car before evening ends. It’s not something the bride and groom should have to worry about on their wedding day. But we do recommend that you write your thank you cards out when you receive the gifts. But if you have a large wedding, you can tackle this when you return from your honeymoon, if your leaving after the wedding. One tip is take a polaroid shot of the gift, write the name of the giver on the photo. You can send a little pre-printed note saying it was received. Also remember, it’s customary to send thank you cards out six weeks after you receive the gift. Now, go get those thank you cards!

On Etsy: Vintage-Modern Eco-Beautiful Invitations

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They say first impressions mean everything.  Without a doubt you’ll definitely impress your wedding or party guests with Beacon Lane’s beautifully designed eco-style invitations found on her Etsy Store.  If your wedding style is vintage, modern, eco-friendly, these designs are perfect!  Her designs are vintage – modern and beautifully designed.   She has a great selection of suites to choose from — stylish, clean and beautifully done!

Photo Credit:  Etsy – Beacon Lane

Inspiration Board – Destination Wedding Barcelona

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Hello everyone!  I’ve been meaning to share this Travel to Spain mood board we created based on our  photo shoot in 2011.  We hope this inspires couples who’s thinking about having their wedding in beautiful Barcelona or maybe style their celebration based on the culture, colors, entertainment and art of this beautiful destination.

Planning a Destination Wedding: Preparing for Your Guests

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If you planning a destination wedding one of the most important things you can do is making sure your guests are treated as VIPS.  Giving them as much information and making sure they are well taken care of is key to a well thought out and successful event.  Here are a couple of tips to help make your guests vacation one they’ll remember.

  • Try to give your guests as much information as possible so they can plan accordingly.  Then give enough notice by sending a save-the-date- at lease eight to six months in advance.  Then setup a website to direct them to for detailed information such as  weather, directions, dress attire, links to hotels and airlines.
  • Give them enough notice to plan their trip by sending a save the date at least eight  to six months in advance.
  • If your destination is near a nice selection of hotels, besides the host hotel, give guests at least two more options to choose from with different price ranges.
  • Arrange airport shuttle service to and from airport
  • Provide in-room welcome bag and accessorize it with items like snacks, sunscreen,  and a few favors from the destination,
  • Have brochures on local activities (restaurants, shopping, adventures, tours)  weather, dress attire suggestions.
  • Place a newsletter or calendar in your guests room with the weekend’s scheduled  festivities.
  • Have a fun map created with your favorite local spots they can visit.
  • Host a Welcome Party so that everyone can mingle and get to know each other  before the weekend festivities start.
  • Most importantly, don’t forget to send a special thank you to each guest for traveling miles away to celebrate

We love this fun destination wedding invitation suite found on style me pretty!

Photo Credit:  Style Me Pretty

 

RETRO GLAM WEDDING IN PALM SPRINGS: ACE HOTEL

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When Cathy and Dorry, owners of Celebrations of Joy asked me to help setup for their couple’s retro, vintage wedding in Palm Springs, I was so excited.  For one, they plan the coolest weddings and this was my chance to check out f Los Angeles and spend the day at the cool and hip ACE Hotel.  I’d have to say this is definitely one of the reasons why I love my job.  The couple was fun, the staff was great to work with and overall we had a good time.  What I love about the ACE Hotel ~ it’s fun, the food is good, and it’s a perfect spot for couples and family.  Oh, and it has a great outdoor and indoor space for weddings or private parties!   Below I want to share with you some highlights of this awesome night.

ACE Hotel is a new boutique hotel in Palm Springs that is fun, retro and so cool!  You can buzz around town in these retro scooters!

The wedding was intimate and simply elegant. What I love about this hotel is that is has a raw space that you can turn into a spectacular setting!  The couple decided to have square tables and used simple candle lighting and lanterns for an elegant and romantic setting.  You can rent a moped at the hotel to buzz around town.  They also have vintage bikes!For the guest book, the couple had their guests take polaroid shots and sign their guest books.  Everyone loved it!