Birthday Party Favors

Lordy lordy look who’s turning 40 has to be the most popular and widely used verse in birthday cards and invitations alike. With 40 comes a confidence that you may not have had before. No longer a kid, you have plenty of life's experiences under your belt. You may find that you don't care as much about what other people think and that you don't sweat the small stuff as much as you used to. So, go on and embrace 40! It only comes around once!


Whether you’re planning a surprise birthday for a friend or relative, or you’re taking charge of your own birthday bash, the sky’s the limit with endless possible themes to make it a momentous occasion everyone will still be talking about when you’re turning 50.

Have a Party of the Decades where guests dress from any of their favorite past 4 decades. Each family member can make up posters of what happened in the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's then add in a few facts of the birthday boy or girl for a fun filled trivia game covering those decades. Do a little research and make popular food and décor to represent each decade. Have collages of various items displayed for those who've witnessed the birth of the personal computer, the compact disc, the DVD, cell phone, and SUV. It takes very little research and it's a fun kind of retrospective for a 40th birthday party bash. Give away some fun favors like photo albums, key chains, or small gifts that reflect a particular decade and sure to put a smile on each guest’s face.

Renee’

Serving Up Style with Personalized Drink Coasters

Serve up a little piece of style at your wedding reception with custom printed pulpboard drink coasters.

We love these coasters because they are not like the flimsy paper coasters that you sometimes see.  These babies are thick, they don't bend, and they have a cardboard feel to them.  Technically they are considered disposable but we would have to disagree.  If they don't get damaged, then there is no reason that they can't get used over and over again.

Such a great way to add a custom touch to your bar area, have a funny phrase, your monogram, the name of your bar, a special message for guests, or your names and wedding date stamped on the top.  The possibilities are endless.  To learn more, check out these personalized drink coasters and let your creative juices flow.

Happy Planning!

Allie

Deciding on Serving Alcohol at you Wedding Reception?

Toasting the bride and groom with a glass of champagne has been a long standing tradition for many decades. When planning your wedding reception, decide early on if you are going to serve alcohol to your guests. It is just as proper to serve alcohol as it is to not serve it; after all, it’s your special day.


Having a dry reception can save you a lot of money. Serving non-alcoholic champagne, sparkling cider, or fruit punch filled in champagne glasses so your guests can toast the new bride and groom. The toast is a requirement the alcohol is not. Have a themed non-alcoholic drink such as flavored tea or Shirley Temples your guests are sure to enjoy.

If you decide alcohol is a must at your reception, verify with your caterer if they will provide and serve alcohol for you and how much it will cost. Determine the type of bar you would like and what your budget will allow. A beer and wine reception bar typically includes red and white wine, light and regular beer, soft drinks and non-alcoholic punch. You can also reserve special bottles of champagne for the toasting to the new bride and groom. Don't be shy about asking your guests to drink responsibly!


You can be very creative with whatever you decide and rest assured your family and friends will have the best time sharing this momentous occasion with you.
Renee'

Pearls Make the Best Gift for a Bride or her Bridesmaids

Since ancient times, the pearl has been a symbol of unblemished perfection. It is the oldest known gem, and for centuries it was considered the most valuable. The gift of pearls is an ideal wedding gift because they symbolize purity and innocence.

Pearls, according to Indian mythology, were dewdrops from heaven that fell into the sea. They were caught by shellfish under the first rays of the rising sun, during a period of full moon. During the Crusades, gallant knights returning from the Holly Lands would bestow pearls to their fair maidens for their wedding day. From Queen Elizabeth I to our modern Queen Elizabeth II, the tradition of wearing pearls on the wedding day has continued. At the beginning of the 20th century, pearls were as much a nuptial gem in the United States as diamonds are today.

The tradition of bestowing pearls upon the bride continues. Often the father of the bride or the groom gives the gift of pearls. Many brides also give their bridesmaids pearl necklaces, bracelets or earrings too. Giving your bridesmaid the gift of pearls is the classic gift that can be worn for years to come. Pearls never go out of style.

Carrie

Photo Booth Fun

Who doesn't love the look of black and white photo strips? There is just something about that curtained off compartment that brings out the fun side in anyone. If you are planning a wedding or event, I'm sure you have come across the Photo Booth Trend that is sweeping across the special event scene. It is just too adorable not to discuss, just on the off chance someone has yet to view some of the wacky photos produced by giddy guests and crazy props. 

There are a couple ways to pull this off. If you have the money, but little manpower, the easiest thing to do is to rent a photo booth. Places like  http://www.rentphotobooths.com/ can bring the booth to you. All you have to do is provide the guests... and possibly the alcohol. These photo booths can produce the vintage looking photo strips we all love or the more modern photo collages we have come to expect when we come across a photo booth at a mall or amusement park.

(image courtesy of greenweddingshoes.com)

If you have more imagination, but less of a budget, you can set up your own photo booth. It can either be manned by a friend and a good digital camera on a tripod, or by your fabulous wedding photographer. Backdrops can be as simple as a brick or solid painted wall. You can also provide a few different backdrops in the form of patterned sheets (crisply pressed, of course).

A great way to encourage guests to take a fun photo is to provide a prop box and hand out favor bags with an assortment of props inside. Some of the most popular props are  mustaches and lips on sticks in the style of traditional masquerade masks. These props can be found at numerous places, including MaroDesigns on Etsy.com. They can also be easily made by the more crafty brides and party planners. Other fun props are oversized frames, huge sunglasses, and wigs. This would be a good time to head to a local consignment shop or ask friends to donate their old halloween costumes for the night. Chalkboards and dry erase boards allow guests to write funny or heart felt messages to you in their photo.

These photos will be your favorites of the day. They will capture your friends and family as you know, love, and tolerate them. If you keep the digital file of the photos you can also have them printed and sent to guests as Thank You's for as little as $0.30 a print at local photo centers.

Happy Memory Making!

Jenna