Sparkler-Inspired NYE Wedding Ideas

New Year’s Eve Weddings are exciting! Adding in anything with glitz, glitter and sparkle will add to the festive energy that New Year’s Eve carries with it. Check out these 7 countdown-worthy ideas:

Sparklers on the cake

Pinterest via French Wedding Style

 

Must take sparkler shot: Spell out the date 12/31/__?

Pinterest via Indulgy

 

A sparkly table runner can add a glam/festive feel and is more cost effective than entire sequin table cloth

 Pinterest via Fleur

 

Your centerpieces should be full of light

Pinterest via Chic Wedding Candles

 

Mini champagne bottles make great NYE themed favors

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Light up LED escort cards for a wow effect



Pinterest via Instructables

 

Sparkly Shoes. YSL...we should all be so lucky!







4 Gorgeous Fabric Choices For Your Winter Wedding Gown

The best part of winter wedding fashion is that you can indulge in luxe fabrics and without getting too hot or feeling weighed down. If you're considering a winter wedding check out these 4 cozy materials that will keep you warm and stylish for your winter-wonderland wedding.

Velvet is a soft, thick fabric with a felted face and plain underside.

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Brocade is a heavy weight fabric woven on a special loom. It has raised patterns that gives it a contrasting white on white appearance. Commonly designed with a floral pattern.

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Silk is the premiere wedding fiber for softness, luster and beauty. Real silk is made from silkworm cocoons.

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Satin has a tightly woven effect that creates a fabric with a beautiful sheen on one side.

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Sources: The Knott, Bridal Bargains 10th Edition 

6 NYE-Worthy Champagne Signature Cocktails

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Now it's time to start thinking about New Year's! Check out these New Year's Eve Worthy Champagne Cocktails.

Red Velvet Champagne Cocktail (Pink Champagne or sparkling rose Stout beer, ground espresso Orange twists)

Rachel Ray

 

Rosemary Champagne Cocktail (raspberries, St. Germaine, Champagne, rosemary)

freshherbs.com

 

Cranberry Bourbon Champagne Cocktail (Whiskey, Champagne, Cranberry bitters, sugar cube)

fridgg.com

 

Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktail (cotton candy, Champagne)

Pinterest

 

Ginger Champagne Cocktail (ginger, sugar, Chinese five-spice powder, crystallized ginger, whole star anise, Champagne or sparkling wine)

Self

Kahlua Float (Kahlua, chocolate, espresso ice cream and champagne)

tastespotting.com

Winter Holiday Wedding Inspiration Board

As much as I love holiday bling and metallic tones. I have a soft spot for natural holiday décor. Nothing makes me more nostalgic than paring birch branches, evergreens, pinecones and bright red winterberries with matte and glossy chartreuse and velvet fabrics to add dimension and character. Check out my Winter Holiday Wedding Inspiration Board.

Cigar Bar 411

 

 

 

One of my absolute favorite wedding trends of 2013 were Cigar Bars. With all things vintage and 1920's-themed making a big splash, a Cigar Bar is such a great way to add a unique touch to your reception, and to have something for the groom, groomsmen and the men at your wedding to appreciate!

There are several different ways you can create a Cigar Bar to suite your budget and your space :

A) Cigar Corner : The most economical and least space consuming method is to buy a variety of cigars by the box to set out on a table. Add some cigar books and a bowl of matches or create some customised cigar bands and cigar matchboxes with your names and wedding date. For an extra touch you could add a bottle or two of cognac or scotch with some glasses.

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B) Cigar Bar Service : Hire a service to come out with humidors, cigars, etc and set up a cigar bar for you. This takes some of the work away from you and gives you a more cohesive look.

C) Hand Rolled Cigars – For the Midas touch incorporate a real live cigar roller into your reception! Although this may be one of the pricier options, this is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests! Though they have to be booked in advance.

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D) The Men’s Lounge – If space and budget permit, why not create a men's lounge? In order to prevent separating the men and women for too long, only have it open during a portion of your event, keep the area small as to only accommodate a small number of men at a time, and keep it easily accessed from the main reception area.

Source: Vasundhara Nigam, Raas Intratech pvt. ltd

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Radiant Orchid named Pantone's color of the year for 2014

Radiant Orchid, a version of the purple hue, follows this year’s pick of emerald green. Expect Pantone Inc.’s chosen purple hue to pop up in many fashion, beauty, home design, consumer products and especially Weddings in the coming year.

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6 Tips for Your Food Tasting

Wedding 101

If hosting a wedding where you are serving dinner or having a buffet, it's essential to have a "tasting". The caterer or the catering property schedules a tasting so that you can sample the foods that will be served at the reception from the hors-d'oeuvres, to main course, to the cake (if included in the package).

The tasting is an essential step in the planning for your catering because it is the only chance you will have to sample possible food items for your wedding and make any applicable changes. Make sure the tasting is included in your contract with the caterer or catering property.

Here are six tips to remember before you attend a tasting:

1. Eat before you go. If you’re starving by the time you get to the tasting, most anything will taste good when your stomach is growling.

2. Limit the number of people who go with you. Take your fiancé with you, and if someone else is paying for part of the wedding take them too.  What you don’t want is too many opinions because it will become overwhelming. Be sure to confirm with the caterer how many guests will come with you.

3. Shop around. (Unless your venue requires use of their chef and catering staff). Don’t feel pressured to hire the first caterer you meet with. Attend at least three tastings to get an idea of what’s available.

4. Take notes. How was it presented? What stood out in your mind? You’ll sample quite a bit of food, and you want to remember what you liked and didn’t like. Even if you are given a menu, take notes on the menu.

5. Be open-minded. Don’t push off a food that you’ve never really enjoyed. Chefs prepare foods in different ways, and one may prepare your despised brussel sprouts in a new, delicious way. Also, some items that you have your heart set on may not work in your budget or may not be in season for your wedding.

6. Find something that represents you and your relationship. I’m a big proponent of finding unique ways to represent your relationship. Do both of you love breakfast? Why not consider a breakfast-themed late night snack? Did you eat at an Italian restaurant on your first date? Then you may want to consider having Italian menu items. Obviously you can go another route, but always consider personalizing your menu options.
Source Wedding 101

How to Create Welcome Bags for Your Wedding Guests

Show your appreciation to out-of-town guests by giving them personalized welcome bags.

Pinterest via Style Me Pretty

• Choose pretty packaging: a basket, a custom printed bag, or buy plain gift bags and tissue paper in your wedding colors; use stickers, ribbons or markers to decorate them.

• Offer your guests a guide to the neighborhood. Include favorite local hotspots (i.e. where to find the best coffee or your favorite museum). Include directions to your wedding events, as well as brochures and coupons for local activities.

• Fill it with more of the couple’s favorite goodies such as a favorite candy, wine or beer. Add a product that reflects your wedding location; examples include locally grown produce, handmade crafts or local magazines and publications. Write a short note to your guests explaining the significance of each item.

• Include a thank-you note so your guests know how much you appreciate their efforts to attend your wedding.

• Have the welcome gifts delivered to the guests’ rooms before they arrive.

Source eHow

Use Cocktail Napkins To Help Reflect Your Personality

A standout touch to help reflect you and your fiancés personalities throughout the wedding are cocktail napkins printed with "Bride and Groom Fun Facts". These tidbits from your past will double as romantic trivia and create fun and modern mood to reflect in the details of your day.

Pinterest via Washingtonian

5 People You Don't Have to Invite To Your Wedding

It’s your wedding – so it’s essential that you’re surrounded by people you love. So while you’re working on your guest list, you may encounter some people about whom you might ask “Do I have to invite them?” Here’s a primer on what to do about those on-the-fence folks.

Photo from Pinterest via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Co-Workers This one is your call. If you work in a small office where you socialize with your co-workers outside of work, then by all means, invite them. However, if you aren’t personal friends with your colleagues, then you aren’t obligated to invite them. If you go this route, keep the wedding talk at work to a minimum to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings.  
 
Parents’ Friends You Don’t Know Your mom really wants to invite her new friend from her yoga class – now what? If you’re paying for the wedding, you can quickly nix it, but if your parents are paying for everything, it’s a bit trickier. You can sit down with your mom and calmly express that you really want to be surrounded by people you actually know and love at your wedding, but if she insists, there isn’t too much you can do.
 
Your (or Your Fiance’s) Ex Even if you and your exes are still good friends, you should probably skip inviting them to your wedding. Your future-intended may claim that he/she is cool with inviting an ex, but it may start drama later on.
 
Your Friend’s New Boyfriend The “Should I invite plus-ones” debate is one that will probably keep you up at night. The bottom line is, you don’t have to invite plus-ones, but once you make a decision you must stick to it – no exceptions!
 
Kids This is similar to the plus-ones debate – if you decide against having kids at the wedding, you need to be consistent. The one loophole would be to only invite the children in your wedding party, but no others.
Repost by Project Wedding

How To Plan A New Year's Eve Wedidng

Photos via Project Wedding

A New Year's Eve wedding is a very romantic way to ring in the year to come. To have your wedding on New Year's Eve, you must plan it well in advance. Follow these steps for a successful New Year's Eve wedding:

1. Reserve your ceremony and reception locations. Be aware many venues may be reserved for New Year's Eve parties. Try to make reservations more than a year in advance, if possible. Schedule the times for night, starting your reception at around 8:00 so your guests will be there at midnight to ring in the new year.

             

2. Inform guests well in advance with a save the date notification before sending invitations. Because it's a holiday, many people may have standing plans or reservations they'll need to cancel. Do this as soon as you have officially determined the date, aiming for at least 6 months in advance.

3. Plan your food and drinks. Since guests will be eating later, it's a good idea to just stick with hors devours and dessert for food. Mention in the invitation that guests should eat something beforehand and you'll be serving snacks and appetizers since they'll be eating later than usual. Make sure you include lots of champagne on your drink list, as well as coffee.

             

4. Decide on wedding colors and attire. Having a wedding on New Year's Eve is a good opportunity to do a black tie event. Everyone will enjoy the chance to dress up to ring in the year. Black, gold and silver are the colors typically associated with New Year's, so use those if you can.

5. Send invitations to your guests. Do this around 3 months in advance instead of the usual 2 month timeframe used for wedding invitations.

6. Plan your decorations and flowers for the wedding. Include noise makers, confetti and party hats. Have a big clock or TV for the countdown.

             

7. Purchase party accessories and favors to go with the New Year's Eve theme. Good examples are personal champagne bottles, fortune cookies, a CD with the songs which were a hit during the past year, bells which say ring in the new year with (your names) or personalized calendars for the year to come (do it yourself or use the local copy shop).

Source: ehow

5 Amazing Tablescape Ideas for Your Reception

Are you struggling to find the perfect wedding reception décor? Creating amazing tablescapes is all about layering and playing with colors. Here is some table eye candy for your Wednesday.

Belle The Magazine



 

via Pinterest

 

 Calligraphy by Jennifer via Pinterest

 

ceremonyblog.com via Pinterest

 

Belle The Magazine via Pinterest

 

Contact me today to set up a design consultation.

 





Black Hair That Rocks For Black Brides

Here are some fantastic and unique hair do’s being rocked by Black Brides all over.. Get Inspired!

Photos via My Wedding Nigeria

Want to see more? Check out My Wedding Nigeria.

Fantastic Engagement Announcement Idea

DIY Wedding Invitation Ideas

Creating your own wedding invitations can be fulfilling both in terms of expressing your creativity and saving money.

Check out Meridian Bride's Pinterest board for DIY wedding invitation ideas.

Having said that, managing invites, planning ahead, and the logistics involved in guest list management can be an entirely different and complex task. Let a Bride's BFF help you mange this aspect of your wedding. Contact me today for more information on my Guest List Management Services.

Save Big on Your Wedding Gown During The Holidays

Don't know what to put on your Christmas list? Well, turns out that the holiday season may be one of the best times of the year to buy a wedding dress, according to USA today.
 
"Since most ceremonies take place in May and June, things are much quieter in November, and stores are looking to move last season's gowns to make room for next year's styles. (You may be able to negotiate prices on wedding venues as well, since many halls are less busy this time of year.)"

-USA Weekend

via Pinterest

I'm swooning over this elegant wedding day inspiration for a Caribbean Destination Wedding.

Stylist Stacie Steensland, Photography Brilliant Studios, via Love My Dress

If these photos haven't swayed you to consider a destination wedding I don't know what will! But here's the good news:

1. You CAN have a very personalized wedding, even if you choose to have a destination wedding.
2. Now you can have A Bride's BFF help you plan a Grand Cayman destination wedding!

On a recent trip to Grand Cayman, I was able to personally meet and connect with a variety of great wedding vendors and suppliers on this lovely island. And I can't wait to start collaborating with them to make your island wedding dreams come true!

I will be featuring more on this beautiful Caribbean destination and offering introductory specials soon! For more information or to book your 2014 dates now contact me directly.

5 Ways To Serve Hot Cocktails At Your Wedding

Repost from The Knott Nov. 4, 2013

Wintertime may not be the most popular season to get married but there are a number of benefits to choosing a colder month. Namely, all of your wedding details will look decidedly different. One fun winter wedding detail we love? Serving warm drinks at cocktail hour. (Think mulled apple cider or hot chocolate with a splash of peppermint schnapps.)

Here, a few ways to personalize your favorite cold-weather cocktail.

Edible Cups

via The Knot

 

 

Custom Calligraphed Drink Sleeves

 

via The Knot

 

Add Edible Spoons

 

via The Knot

 

Hire A Barista

 

via The Knot

 

Add Heart-Shaped Sugar Cubes

 

via The Knot

 

 



Looking for more Winter Wedding Inspiration? Head on over to my Winter Weddings Pinterest board. 





More 2014 Wedding Trends

According to this article by loverly, event planner and lifestyle expert Mindy Weiss predicts that in 2014 one of the hot wedding trends will be (drumroll...):

Unique lighting

You know like the goth-looking candelabras and chandeliers? Yeah, that type. While your traditional uplighting and string lights are still widely used. In 2014 it will be all about cool fixtures and ambiance!

 

Pinterest via Wedd Book

 



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Pinterest via Lace & Tea

 

Pinterest via Swooned

 

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Head on over to my Lighting Pinterest Page to see more lighting inspiration for your wedding.