In the Pink!

In the January, 2012 issue of Brides.com, there was information about rose gold jewelry/rings!  What a beautiful and unique idea! 

Tell us more about your engagement and wedding rings -- my engagement ring is gold with a marquis-shaped diamond with little diamonds on each side of it; it makes a set with my wedding band which also has little diamonds on it 

If you are already married, what other jewelry did you wear on your wedding day?  My now-husband and I wore watches that we had given each other.  My maid of honor had just given me, for my birthday, a gold and pearl bracelet which I wore; and I wore a small pearl necklace and earrings to match.

If you are engaged and planning to get married, have you thought about what jewelry you will wear that day?  Wearing something  from your mom or grandmother is a wonderful way to incorporate that "something borrowed" element into your wedding!  On your wedding day, don't forget to move your engagement ring to your right hand before you walk down the aisle!

Share with us your thoughts and ideas!

Happy "Leap Day" -- I have a wedding on Leap Day this year at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum -- more on that later!

Have a great week,
Lexi

A beautiful summer wedding!

Hello all!

I thought for this blog, I'd include some pictures of a wedding I had in August 2011, as well as the vendors who made the wedding perfect for this young couple!  The remainder of the pics will be on my facebook page.

The wedding was at St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Church in Hampstead, Maryland; Father Michael Roach and The Rev. David Schafer officiated.

The new Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Stansbury!!

Beautiful flowers created by Divine Designs & Events.

Lovely cake by Karen Rodkey.

The reception was held at Piney Branch Golf Club in Hampstead, Maryland.

A little rain didn't spoil the festivities!

Photography done by Remember the Day located in Westminster, Maryland.

________

Enjoy!

Lexi

Menu Trends of 2012

Happy New Year to all!

Interested in what food trends are popular in 2012?  These work for any type of event -- corporate, social or weddings! Successfulmeetings.com recently surveyed about 1800 professional chefs and asked them "what's hot in 2012?"  Locally sourced food is top, closely followed by nutrition.

That being said, here are the trends for the new year!

• Locally sourced meats and seafood
• Locally grown produce
• Healthy kids' meals
• Hyper-local items
• Gluten-free/food allergy-conscious items
• Locally produced wine and beer
• Whole grain items
• Newly fabricated cuts of meat
• Farm/estate-branded items
• Food trucks/street food
• Artisan spirits
• House-made/artisan ice cream
• Non-traditional fish
• Children's mini-menus (smaller versions of adult menu items)
• Culinary cocktails

What do you think of these?  What specific food items could you have at your event incorporating these trends? 

Thanks for sharing!
Lexi

New Spins on a Ring Bearer Pillow

A recent issue of Brides Magazine ( http://www.bridesmag.com/ ) listed some great ideas to personalize your ring bearer's carrying piece:

• a piece of coral
• a kid-size fishing pole (tie the rings to the hook)
• a coconut shell
• a pincushion
• a box lined with a matching pillow
• a book of poetry (bind the rings to a book strap)
• a cross-stitched embroidery hoop
• a slice of a tree trunk (attach a hook or pushpin and tie on the rings with ribbon)
• a bed of moss
• a small vintage bowl or teacup
• a seashell
• a horseshoe (knot the rings to it with ribbon)
• a bird's nest
• a paper fortune cookie (fold the rings inside)
• a tiny pumpkin (secure the rings to the stem)
• a baseball mitt (tie the rings to the leather laces with twine)
• an antique jewelry box
• a vintage key (use twine to tie the rings to it)
• a top hat
• the ring bearer's lapel (pin the rings on as a boutonniere)

What great and fun ideas to add to your wedding!  Please add to this blog any other ideas you may have or may have even seen at a wedding you attended.

Have a great week!
Lexi

2011 Registry Trends

Most of you will be attending at least one wedding during the next few months.  According to bridal magazines, here are some ideas of trendy items on the couple's registry list!  Some of these would also be perfect for hostess gifts for any social events or parties you may attend!

Kitchen Gear – colorful high-quality pots & pans and appliances

Entertainment – game consoles, movie and music collections, even board games

Sporty Stuff – hiking and camping gear, mountain bikes, tents

Green Gifts – organic towels and linens, garden-related items, home-composting kits  

Local Boutiques – one-of-a-kind artisanal gifts like sculptures, photos and handmade rugs

Please add to this blog by indicating what type of trendy item you have given or plan to give this year as a wedding or hostess gift!

Have a great day!
Lexi

Wedding Trends of 2011!!

According to http://www.brides.com/, here are some of the wedding trends of 2011!

Showpiece "save-the-dates" -- be supercreative when announcing your wedding.  Personalize it -- print on fabric, style it like a movie ticket, vintage postcards!

"It" hors d'oeuvres include: bite-size fish tacos, mini gourmet mac-and-cheese tubs, baby lobster rolls, zucchini fries in cones, asian slaw salad with mini California rolls.  "Everything's petite!"

Entrees -- no-meat dishes, offer something like asparagus risotto.

Using fresh and locally grown food.

Fresh catering -- food trucks offering such things as Korean BBQ, Indian curries, waffles, omelettes, grilled cheese are big either at the rehearsal dinner or parked outside the wedding, offering late-night snacks.

3 Fun Wedding Cake Colors -- Aubergine (eggplant), Sapphire, Deep Turquoise

The Groom's cake is back -- create his cake to look like a record player, race care, fishing boat, golf course, whatever his hobby!

Candy station alternatives -- Fried-to-order donuts, Shots of infused vodka or tequilla, Ice creams and sorbets, Scotches, Fruit Crisps (blueberry, peach, rhubarb, strawberry, whatever is in season!)

Photo Op -- have guests get their pictures taken in front of a whimsical backdrop, a quilt, a hand-painted canvas, bright fabrics

Flower of the year -- Peony

Color of the year -- Purple -- any shade!

Invitation color of the year -- A sophisticated dusty blush, combined with charcoal gray or silver

Tablecloths with pizzazz -- lush florals, black lace, artsy prints, vibrant colors.

Table centerpieces -- a single type of flower in multiple containers of all sizes and shapes.

Hotter than ever -- seated dinners, but at a variety of tables.  While older folks sit at traditional tables, younger ones lounge on couches or dine at high tops.

Class cocktails (ask your bartender for details!) -- Bee's Knee's, Brown Derby's, Sidecars, Old-fashioneds, Manhattans, Gimlets

Signature drinks -- a mixologist is the party's rock star, creating signature, speciality drinks that you like for all your attendees to enjoy!

Couples are also offering guests speciality non-alcoholic drinks!!

Band or DJ? -- Instead of choosing one or the other, couples are hiring musicians such as conga players or saxophonists to play along with the DJ.


What fun and exciting ways to really personalize your wedding!  All of your guests will enjoy it and will remember it as one of the best weddings they have attended!!! 

Super Bowl Party Tips!!

Now that the playoffs are over -- it's time to make arrangements for your super bowl party to cheer on the Packers or Steelers!!  Here are some tips to be sure your party is tops!!

1. Invite your guests as soon as possible so they can mark your party on their calendars!

2.  Serve sofa-friendly foods that are hearty, fun and casual!  Make as much as you can in advance so you aren't in the kitchen during the game!  Some ideas include hot wings with pineapple glaze and/or creamy blue cheese dip, sweet & spicy parmesan popcorn, chili, chilled cocktail shrimp, and wraps.  If you will have kids at the party, don't forget kid-friendly foods such as pigs in a blanket, cut-up fruits and veggies, macaroni & cheese, and chips and dip!  For dessert serve something easy like cupcakes and/or football shaped cookies.

3.  Be sure to have a variety of drinks to include beer, wine, water, and other non-alcoholic drinks.  Don't forget to get ice to chill the drinks before your guests arrive!  Plan on 3-4 drinks per person.

4.  Play some music to get your guests fired up for the game -- anything by Bon Jovi, Queen, Garth Brooks -- whatever your taste in music is!  Include noisemakers to pump up your attendees so they can make some noise when their team scores!

5.  Decorate your game-viewing space with the colors of the team you are cheering for.  Use those colors in your plates, napkins, cups, and other decorations.  Personalize cupcakes with little flags of those  team colors.  Going to your local dollar store for these items will help you have a budget-friendly party! 

6. Create a trivia contest/challenge to be played during commercials and/or half-time.  Research some facts about the Packers and Steelers and their players, championships, and statistics.  Play individually or form small teams and have your guests write down their answers.  Tally the scores and announce the winners before the 4th quarter begins!  You can find inexpensive super bowl themed prizes or create your own certificate for the "Supreme Super Bowl Team Trivia Challenge Champion of the World"!

7.  For kids and adults -- have a football toss at your party.  Set up a football toss for indoor and/or outdoor fun!  Clear out the furniture and breakables in the most spacious room of your home that is out of the way of those watching the game on TV.  Hang a goal post of team color streamers from the ceiling.  Put the streamer posts close enough to make the game challenging.  Compete to see who can toss a SOFT football through the goal posts without touching the streamers.  Or hang a hula-hoop from a tree using team color ribbon.  Stand a good distance away from the hoop and toss a football through the hula-hoop without hitting it.

8.  To keep kids entertained, set up an activity station with poster board, stickers, markers, construction paper cut-outs, and football-related word finds and crossword puzzles.  Encourage the kids to create their own broadcast-worthy "Super Bowl" posters. If you've got some performers in the crowd, have the kids choreograph their own half-time show routine to music.  During the 4th quarter when the kids are getting restless, set up a "Super Bowl Sundae" bar with vanilla ice cream and a variety of themed toppings.

9.  For those who are looking for a low-cost way to host a party, make it a "pot-luck" party and invite your guests to bring their favorite super bowl game snack!

10.  Create small gift bags for your guests -- items to include could be pens and notepads showing your team's colors, M&Ms in the team colors, mini footballs, etc.


Most of all -- enjoy the game and being able to spend time with friends and family!