Fall Themed Weddings

It may seem to soon to think about falling leaves and the smell of crisp fall air but not if you're planning a fall themed wedding now is the perfect time to start making your plans.

Fall themed weddings are my favorite of all weddings. I love the colors of fall, such as green, orange, red and brown. Mix in some gold, copper and bronze to add drama.

Fall is also the perfect time of the year for an outdoor wedding, when it is not too hot or too cold. A fall outdoor wedding or outdoor reception can utilize all the wonderful natural things about the fall, like pumpkins, gourds, straw, corn stalks, apple cider etc.

You can make beautiful table centerpieces just by using the natural items that are available in the fall. Hollow out pumpkins or gourds to hold beautiful fall flowers such as daisies, sunflowers or mums. Add fall fruit to your center pieces such as apples, cranberries or pears.

When you’re thinking menu, think comfort food. Turkey, red potatoes, cornbread dressing and all the fixings are perfect for your fall themed wedding. For a beverage serve hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks.

Fall wedding favors can be homemade like fudge, candy apples, honey or jam. Another idea would be a candy buffet of all your favorite Halloween candies.

The ideas are endless and some much fun. Be creative and happy planning!

Carrie

Graduation Party Gift Ideas

It’s that time of year when graduation ceremonies are being held to honor and acknowledge those who have completed their high school or college education. This is a huge accomplishment for them and they deserve this day of recognition. Graduations parties have became increasingly popular within the past few decades and why not? It’s a memorable occasion and what better way to celebrate than with family and close friends.

If you’ve received a graduation party invitation you probably need gift ideas. Jewelry is a traditional gift that will last forever. A bracelet, necklace, charm or picture frame would make a wonderful gift for a girl. If you are shopping for a guy, he might like a watch, wallet, money clip or keychain. Or put together a scrapbook with photos and memorabilia of all their accomplishments throughout school, they are sure to love and treasure it for a lifetime. One gift you can’t go wrong with even though you may feel it is a little impersonal, is money or gift card. It will come in handy whether the graduate is going off to college or joining the work force. What ever gift you decide to give is going to be appreciated as you celebrate the end of one milestone and the beginning of another.

Congratulations to all 2010 Graduates!

Renee’

Fairly Fabulous

Summer is just around the corner and in our neck of the woods this means everyone is looking forward to the county fairs. Not only are they innocent entertainment for people of all ages, they are also like a slice of apple pie. As nostalgic and American as they come. In honor of this, I thought I would suggest bringing a little bit of that fair atmosphere into your outdoor wedding reception.

Some people are into the all-out theme receptions. For you, I say take this list of ideas and run (or potato sack race-hop) with them! For others who prefer to tone it down, consider incorporating only a few.

• Cotton Candy and/or Popcorn Machines
• Kissing Booths - which may be a cute substitute for a dollar dance!
• Photo Booths or a caricature artist!
• Hay bails covered in  cloth and secured with rope or ribbon to use as bench-like seating.
• Classic games such as a ball toss at a pyramid of glass bottles. I would advise against the "guess your weight/age" booths. This may not go over well with future in-laws.) These games would not even necessarily have to be working booths, but merely set up as part of the decor to give the impression of a fair.
• Fair Food! In the midwest this means funnel cakes, fresh doughnuts, caramel apples, and elephant ears. You could also have homemade ice cream and fresh baked pies set up as a mock baking contest. Or if you know some family members that want to contribute, you could actually have a baking contest.
• Drinks served in old fashioned soda bottles.
• Balloons, giant lollipops, and really the possibilities are endless!

These are just a few ideas. Choose what you love most about an old fashioned summer fair. One ambitious couple even rented a Ferris Wheel! Check out more photos from their carnival wedding here.

Of course this theme lends itself to a more casual, outdoor wedding reception or party. That doesn't mean your event can't look well-put together. Choose colors and materials carefully to present a polished look.

As always, have fun and be creative!

~Jenna

Photo Credit: Ferris Wheel Kiss - Edited version of an original photo by Glamour

An Eco-Friendly, Do-It-Yourself Wedding

The push for eco-friendly initiatives is everywhere, and this earth-loving mentality has spread to 2010’s wedding trends! Many brides are choosing to go eco-friendly while planning their wedding events. Purchasing a secondhand wedding gown, growing (and making) your own flower centerpieces, using recycled paper products for your invitations, and serving organic food at your reception are all ways to promote your environmentally savvy ingenuity.

When planning wedding favors there are several eco-friendly choises, from plantable flower seed placecards to eco-friendly note pads and pencil favors. Give Guests A Favor That Keeps the Wedding Spirit Going. The entire point of a wedding favor is to give your guests something that evokes a memory of your wedding celebration. Why not make the favor match the theme? Giving unique wedding favors such as seed packets allows them to create a growing memory of your special event. Seed packets are quickly becoming one of the more trendy wedding favors on the market, exactly because of their lovely finished product.

Some brides also decide to make wedding decorations themselves to save money – sew your own tablecloths from ‘green’ fabric or serve cocktails and drinks in recycled glassware. You could even have a donation bucket for an environmental cause of your choice, asking guests to chip in as part of your wedding gift.

Carrie

The Cricut for Cakes!

Yes! You heard right.  The famous Cricut has released a machine specially designed for cutting intricate cake and cupcake decorations called....you guessed it, the Cricut Cake.

If you are a scrapbooking fanatic like myself, then you've heard of the Cricut.  If not, here's a quick recap.  The Cricut machine is a DIYer's dream come true, introduced years back by the people at Provo Craft.  Their machine will cut intricate scrapbooking patterns out of paper at the press of a button.  Giving precious time back to scrapbookers and taking away the calluses.  Now, the Cricut designers have carried this genius idea over to the baking world.  How does it work?

All you have to do to knock out beautiful designs is load a thin sheet of gumpaste into the machine, select your design, and press cut.  Voila!  Great for novice bakers who are still working towards becoming the baking artist they dream about.  While some may argue that the machine takes the artist out of the creation and that it is technically cheating, I say potatoes, patatoes.  Whatever works for you.  Check out some of these inspirational photos to see the Cricket Cake in action.

How much you ask?  Well, while the Cricut Cake is a steep $400 bucks, if you love to bake and are apt to making gourmet treats, then this machine is the perfect investment for you.  To learn more, visit cricut.com.

Happy Planning!

Allie