Friday, May 25, 2012

Spicing up your ceremony with distinctive food and drinks

Today I want to highlight some food and drink options that are unique and guaranteed to be a hit with your guests! A lot of brides and grooms come to me looking for ways to make their wedding day stand out. While this can be taken care of with decorations, invites, and lighting, those options can often be expensive. One alternative is going the “yum” route – add some cool food and drink choices that fit the vibe of your wedding, and your guests are sure to be talking about this day for a long time.

~~~
Stick with your season! If you’re having a winter wedding, offer hot chocolate - maybe with whipped cream vodka ;) - or a coffee bar and display accordingly.


How could this not be a hit with guests?
[weddingfashionfiles.com]
~~~


Having an outdoor wedding in the notorious Baltimore heat? A lemonade or iced tea setup will be a blessing for your guests – and look good at the same time.



Classic and chic.
[southernliving.com]
~~~

If you’re trying to save on your catering bill, have one or two signature drinks that best represent you as a couple instead of having a full bar with various types of liquor. This keeps things more interesting than a simple beer and wine bar, without breaking the bank. Displays are a cinch – make a small, coordinating card explaining what’s in it and why it’s your signature drink, and place it on one end of the bar.

Brightly-colored drinks are a fun option for the summer.
[floridianweddings.com]
~~~

For food, your options are endless. I love when my brides and grooms opt for a variety, as it’s something most of your guests aren’t expecting. It’s also a great way to carry on your wedding day theme if you have one.

Great rustic look.
[glitterweddings.com]

~~~

Dessert bars are very popular now, and for good reason: they’re inexpensive, fun, and not that difficult to make on your own. You can use desserts that fit with your color palette or wedding theme, and they can even double as your favors with little takeout boxes. (So simple, but just be sure to have more than enough for everyone take some home!)



I LOVE this.
[theknot.com]

One of my November 2011 couples had a s’mores bar – it was an instant hit, and is something I’m recommending to my future brides.
[ethanyangphotography.com]

Milk and cookies, and other awesome sweets to dip in milk. One of my October '12 brides is doing this, and I’m so excited about it.
[alwaysablogsmaid.com]

I couldn’t resist…more milk and cookies, but in a different display.
[thefrenchbouquettulsa.com]

If you decide to go the DIY route with desserts, you can make a lot of them ahead of time. Some of my favorites are white or dark chocolate covered pretzels (you can add sprinkles for color), brownies and blondies, cookies, and cupcakes. They’re easy to make and either hold well for up to a week, or they freeze and thaw well. I always recommend testing this out several months in advance, just in case! I did this for my daughter’s birthday last month and froze 206 cupcakes several weeks in advance. It worked out perfectly, and now I’m a huge advocate of doing this to save money! Check them out here.

Have you seen any cool dessert bars lately? Send me your pictures!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A fairy tale wedding in Baltimore

The weather in Baltimore has been so dreary lately that I figured everyone could use a pick me up. And what could be better than pictures of a beautiful wedding, with a couple so obviously in love with each other?

Jarett and Monica tied the knot last September, on 9/10/11. I was referred to them by Regan’s mom, who Monica worked with. Monica’s maiden name is Peacock, and so we incorporated various peacock elements into the wedding – from the beautiful cerulean bridesmaid dresses, to the feathers in the bouquet, and even the styling of her makeup (and I wore peacock-inspired colors too!).

If you’ve ever been to Cloisters, you know that it has a romantic, whimsical charm. The colors and styling of Monica and Jarett’s wedding really brought out the fairy-tale feel of the venue, and it made the whole day come together and just feel right. It was so special that their wedding was featured on United With Love last week! Monica glowed throughout the entire day, and Jarett couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The candle centerpieces were all made by the bride, and they had a wishing tree for guests, something that adds a nice, personal touch. It allows guests to feel like a big part of your lives after the wedding day, when you read their notes and advice.

Enjoy!

This wedding felt like a modern day fairy tale, and I’m so glad I was a part of it. Congratulations again, Monica and Jared!
Thanks to the vendors who helped make this wedding so special!
Photography: Borrowed Blue Photography
Venue: Cloisters
Catering: Atlantic Caterers
Florist: Rutland Beard

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Summer 2011 Wedding of Regan and Greg

The warm temps we’ve been having lately are making me so excited for my upcoming summer brides and causing me to reflect on past warm-weather weddings. This recap is of Regan and Greg, who were married last July at Swan Harbor – a beautiful venue for a beautiful couple. I worked with Regan and Greg for just under a year and along the way we found out that Greg and my husband went to high school together… what a small world!

Their colors were navy and ivory with green accents, which were perfect for an outdoor summer wedding. There was a mix of tall and short white centerpieces – so elegant. The napkin rings were all handmade by Regan’s mother and sister – navy ribbons that velcroed with green flowers attached. A perfect personal touch!

The lighting was hung in a whimsical pattern over the main dining area and dance floor, and as the sun went down, it really made the tent look romantic. And the weather! It was perfect for an outdoor wedding… not too hot, even though it was July. This wedding was so special and I’ll always remember it. Congrats again to Regan and Greg… you were so fun to work with. Wishing you many more years of happiness!











Big thanks to the vendors who helped make this day so special:
Photographer: Elizabeth Ryan Photography
▪ Venue: Swan Harbor
Lighting: Event Dynamics
Catering: Dean and Brown Catering
Flowers: Amanda’s Florist
DJ: Friendly Entertainment
Cake: SugarBakers Cakes
Hair and Makeup: Up Do’s for I Do’s