Turn Dessert Hour into Happy Hour

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Advice & Inspiration, Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

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apple pie, baking, cakes, candy bar, chocolate, cupcakes, dessert, dessert bar, food, pies, weddings

Traditionally, you would see a cake at a wedding and most people choose this option. There are tons of different ways to make the cake unique and go along with your theme. However, nowadays its time for a change. Get creative and give your guests something to get excited about. Not the same thing they have seen since 1990. Honestly, I don’t even eat the cake at weddings anymore and I hardly am impressed. I know everyone has a different design aesthetic but its time for a little fun, don’t you think?

More and more you are seeing even better ways to showcase the dessert hour. From cupcakes and pies to a full on candy bar. These usually end up successful. My husband and I opted to go the cupcake route and had tasty treats that were out of this world delicious. We chose to go with chocolate, vanilla, red velvet and lemon and I swear everyone attacked them! We got so many compliments which made us extremely happy. Georgetown Cupcake made our dessert hour an unforgettable one for sure.

BHLDN just posted a cool little story on taking the path less traveled and choosing other options for your wedding dessert. Here are a few of my faves:

Here are some more great ideas and beautiful cakes I hope will inspire you. Remember to always have fun and never let wedding planning get you down. Being to serious when it comes to decor and your theme will clearly show to all your guests. Weddings are supposed to be a fun celebration with the people you love, not an event for the Queen of England. Let loose, get creative and make it unforgettable.

Food Styling

12 Sunday Jun 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Crafty Ideas, Decor Ideas, Events & Parties

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cupcakes, design, dessert, flowers, food, food styling, whoopie pies

I love when I get to host a dinner party or gathering. Putting smiles on people’s faces makes it all worth it but I find a lot of fun in decorating the space and styling the food. Everything you serve should look good. In terms of baked goods, pretty is what you should always shoot for. No one wants to eat food that reminds them of something gross. If you’re like me, you won’t go near something if it smells bad or looks unappealing. It just ain’t gonna happen!

I recently had my fiance’s cousin and her boyfriend over for dinner. Even though I was in the kitchen cooking and baking all afternoon, it was worth it. They loved everything and we all had a great time catching up. For dinner I made Veggie Quesadillas with Spiced Corn on the Cob and Salad. Then for dessert I whipped up Vanilla Cupcakes and Whoopie Pies (which was a first). I was glad to know they were a hit.

A thing to remember when you are serving food of any kind – it’s all in the presentation. If you just throw stuff in a bowl and lay it out, it will look that way. It’s nice to show you care and want everything to be special for your guests so jazzin it up a bit is the way to go. You don’t have to crazy, simple always comes out of top, but just a few little additions and your table will be beautiful and picture perfect!

Here I used pretty white decorative plates and flowers to brighten up my dessert table. The cupcakes stood on a cake stand and I placed a bud vase in the middle with smaller flowers. All the colors came together and made a gorgeous spring presentation. Yummo!

{Due to the dreary day, the area lacked a lot of light. So if you can get past the shadows, enjoy the photos}

Vintage Charm

23 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Decor Ideas, Events & Parties, Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

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antique, birthdays, children, cupcakes, design, dessert, eclectic, events, parties, vintage

Throwing an event with some vintage charm is a great way to add a nostalgic feel. It can be a birthday party for your kids, a dinner party with friends or a wedding reception. Vintage style can be added to any kind of event. That is what I love about it. Plus, it looks so beautiful. Muted pastel colors are great for spring and summer while darker tones like reds, golds and browns are great for colder months. The possibilities are also endless.

Looking for vintage items to use are quite easy. With all the antique shops around and garage sales close by, its kind of hard not to find cool objects. It can also be cheaper, which is a bonus. It is just a matter of creating somewhat of a theme. You can be eclectic and mix it up but make sure it all blends together somehow.

If you are having a dinner party try vintage settings and simple flowers in old jars and vases. Go the extra mile with embroidered napkins or a tablecloth. You can also out put antique candlesticks. For cups, try mason jars or a design from the era you chose. Present food in decorative containers and platters to keep the vintage feel fresh. Dessert is where you can have fun so get creative. Display yummy treats like cupcakes, pies, cookies and candy on pretty dishes and antique tiers. If you really want to be authentic, dress the part and your ready to go!

Birthday parties or celebrations for children is an excuse to really get creative. Think of things kids love like animals, toys, ice cream and games. So places like the zoo, the circus, an ice cream shoppe and festivals would make great themes. Decorate the party area with your theme and take all the guests back to the good old days. Create ice cream sundaes, a vintage candy bar and cute cupcakes. You can give little toys from the 50s or 60s as favors and they will love them. Sounds like fun to me!