Add Flair to Your Fall Wedding with Glam Pumpkins

It's hard to contest that Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year to get married. The temperate weather, gorgeous foliage and feelings of comfort that the season brings creates the perfect setting for a wedding! As your autumn wedding plans come together consider an elegant twist on the traditional for decor at your event. Who wouldn't think of using pumpkins at their fall wedding? While usually these plump, orange beauties are more at home at a country festival or Halloween celebration, they can also be dressed up, just as your guests will be, on your big day. Whether your celebration is being held in an old charming barn or a grand ballroom, glamorous pumpkins are perfect for a rustic, elegant fall wedding. 

When decorating for your wedding, utilize pumpkins and gourds in all shapes, sizes, and colors for added interest. Cover in glitter, sparkle dust, metallic paint and accessorize with vintage brooches and gleaming satin ribbons. Cluster the glittering gourds and oh-so-pretty pumpkins together on side tables and stack them on pedestals for centerpieces. Line up miniature pumpkins with attached place cards on a front table to direct guests to their seats or cut out the center of large pumpkins to use as vases for floral centerpieces. I love the look of an all white arrangement! There are so many options for showcasing these glamorous fall delights at your wedding and you will no doubt want to use some of these ideas for your Thanksgiving table later in the season! Check out our Fall and autumn themed ceremony accessories and decorations for more inspiration! Enjoy!

Image Credits: Wedding ring glitter pumpkin, Frosted pumpkin pedestal, Metallic pumpkin arrangements from Wild Ink Blog, Glitter pumpkin with ribbon, White pumpkin centerpiece

Nature Inspired Etsy Finds for Your Wedding

The trend towards the unique, handmade, upcycled, and one-of-a-kind, green wedding has inspired many a bride to turn to local artists for their favors, stationery, and wedding decor. Sometimes it just isn't possible to find what you need locally and other times, every other bride in your social circle has already found it. When you want something creative and new, where should a bride turn? Well if you don't know already, Etsy is the place to go for hand-made art, gifts, and decor that will make your wedding day completely unique. Here are just a few of our recent Etsy faves with a nature vibe.

The Vermont Branch Company- Recently Featured on Etsy's Facebook page, this husband and wife duo makes natural wood toys, rustic decor, and more. We love these natural birch table numbers!

Colleen Jordan - These wearable planters would make the most adorable boutonniere alternatives! We love the idea of handing them out to guests as well.

Trinkets818 - We're in love with these silver forks stamped with mr and mrs on each one. These would be such a wonderful keepsake and eventually a family heirloom from your wedding! While they aren't strictly nature inspired, They are so deliciously cute we can't hold that against them. They also have that upcycled vibe everyone loves and will fit right into your natural decor.  

ElizabethAO's Twine Wedding Shop - Is your wedding on the rustic or fanciful side? These water bottle labels that read "drink me" on aged paper can be customized for your wedding. What a great way to dress up your refreshment table. This shop also carries candy bar wrappers, escort cards, and more to match.

Visulingal - This shop's adorable "seed bomb" wedding favors come packaged in screen printed pouches. The seeds are encased in a ball of clay and other nutrient rich ingredients so you can just "throw and grow" as the listings read.

We think these items from Etsy would look great with our new eco-friendly kraft cocktail napkins. Check 'em out here!











Now that you've got a good start on your nature inspired wedding, it's up to you to get browsing and get inspired and get creative! Isn't wedding planning fun?

Choosing a Color Scheme for your Fall Wedding

Fall is the perfect time of the year to plan a wedding. The air smells clean and new and the weather is usual perfect. Fall is also just around the corner so if you are planning a fall wedding then you should be thinking about what color schemes would be the best for your special day.

Planning a fall wedding allows you to choose from many different color options. Of course you have red, orange and yellow but there is so much more out there. The colors copper and bronze are a couple of my favorites and either color can really add some drama to any color scheme. Use cooper, bronze or gold accents to really bring the feeling of warmth and richness to your wedding.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. I also think purple is a great fall wedding color and it is becoming very popular. You can accent the color purple with other deeper or lighter shades of purple, or you can also use reds, browns and greens. The color combinations are endless and using deeper shades will give your wedding a wonderful sense of the fall.

Another fun color scheme for fall would be green. Green is actually my favorite color. There are some many color options when you are considering green. For fall a beautiful sage green would complement most any other color. I like the sage green with brown, burgundy and copper. You can also use darker shades of yellow to compliment a green wedding.

Last but certainly not least is the color orange. The color orange is vibrant and bright and will add a sense of fun a whimsy to any wedding. You can complement orange with red, brown, green or gold but my favorite trend is adding blue and turquoise to the wedding color pallet. This is definitely a fall wedding theme but with much more fun and pizzazz.

Whatever color options you decide on for your fall wedding, make sure it suits your taste and style. Have fun with it and make it your own. Good Luck.





Photo Credits; Sensational Wedding Vendors, You're Invited Events, Keen to be Seen and Wedding Bee

Our Favorite Things - Aqua. Red, and Brown Paper Packaging

I know I'm not the only one who is obsessed with the modern look of aqua and red paired with cute and kitschy stripes or polka dots. Add in the warm tones and textures of brown kraft paper to get a look with a modern - meets - nostalgic feel that has event planners and bloggers swooning. I've compiled some of my favorite ideas to inspire your aqua and red themed party. Pay special attention to the coordinating personalized party supplies, adorable french fry tray, and striped straws in glass bottles.



Photo Credit: Personalized Party Supplies from My Wedding Reception Ideas. Suitcases from Hostess with the Mostess. Red Striped Straws in Glass Milk Bottles from Brilliant Bash. Thank You Card from Oh So Beautiful Paper.  Paper Package from Wink Designs. Red Napkin Wrapped Flatware and Fry Tray from Ideas in Blume



Great 4th of July Recipes

Happy 4th of July everyone! It 's that wonderful time of the year when we all get the burgers and brats on the grill, have the drinks chilling in the cooler and the sparklers ready for the sun to go down. I have found some recipes you can add to your holiday cook-out this year. The following recipes are sure to add some fun and yum to your 4th of July Celebration.

Photo: Taste of Home



Patriotic Dessert Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

• 1-1/2 cups cold milk

• 1 package (5.1 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix

• 3 cups fresh strawberries, halved

• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Directions

• In a bowl combine flour, pecans and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

• In a bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Fold in half of the whipped topping; spread over crust. In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.

• Spread over cream cheese layer. Cover with remaining whipped topping. Decorate with strawberries and blueberries to resemble a flag. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Yield: 12-15 servings.



Photo: Taste of Home

Red, White and Bleu Slaw Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 cups angel hair coleslaw mix

• 12 cherry tomatoes, halved

• 3/4 cup coleslaw salad dressing

• 3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese, divided

• 1/2 cup real bacon bits

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, tomatoes, salad dressing and 1/2 cup blue cheese. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Just before serving, sprinkle with bacon bits and remaining cheese. Yield: 6 servings.

Recipe by Guy Fieri and Photo by: Kate Sears

 Fourth of July Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 ounce watermelon schnapps

• 1 big splash cranberry juice

• 1 very thin slice jalapeno or serrano pepper

• 1 slice lemon

• 1 slice lime

• 1 1/2 ounces tequila

• 1/4 ounce blue curacao

• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

• Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass.

Muddle the jalapeno pepper, lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao and simple syrup (to make a batch, dissolve sugar in equal parts hot water and chill) in the shaker. Slowly strain into the glass over the red layer. Garnish with watermelon, if desired.

Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July to you and your family!