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!

Table Goodies

19 Tuesday Apr 2011

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

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design, diy, doily, events, flowers, milk glass, natural, organic, table runners, table settings, unique

The table setting is always an important element of an event. It doesn’t have to be crazy. Actually, it shouldn’t be crazy at all. If you are designing the table people will be eating at then I recommend you don’t put flowers or any decorative items in front of their faces. Guests should be able to look at each other and talk. I am not a big fan of events where the host is blatantly trying to impress everyone with elaborate designs.

If you are trying to spice up a table with a buffet or dessert, all you need is a few pops of happy to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Just remember, when food is near don’t include candles that smell. Why have them compete? The food should smell tasty enough!

Here are a few cute and unique ways to brighten up a table at any event. Keep it simple and you already get two thumbs up.

It’s All in the Details

05 Tuesday Apr 2011

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

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crafts, design, diy, etsy, events, favors, handmade

There is nothing I love more than the special elements of a design or space. They can be subtle or visually vibrant but are placed perfectly as if they were meant to be there. It’s these pops of sunshine that bring a cohesive flow to a design. Nothing should stand out among the rest unless its a main focal point of a room. Everything should come together in harmony. If you don’t hear those birds a chirpin and the warm sun’s rays on your face, then something just isn’t right.

Here are some beautiful and unique works of art I found on Etsy that would make an excellent addition to your DIY design.

Your Dream Wedding

03 Sunday Apr 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Wedding Decor Ideas

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caterers, design, events, getting married, marriage, planning, venues, weddings

Everyone has an idea of what their dream wedding would be like. Even guys! There are all types of ways to design and style the event in addition to choosing a venue, caterer, music, photographer and what else, the guest list. Let’s face it, there are a lot of elements you need to think about when planning a wedding or any event for that matter. Well, here are a few tips to help you along your way.

Who Are You?
First and foremost, your wedding should represent who you are. You and your fiance are together for a reason, right? We all know you love each other, that’s a given. What do you both believe in or stand for? What special morals do you have? What is the reason you both live the lifestyle you have chosen? These are all important questions you should ask yourselves before you even start planning.

Family & Friends
Who do you want to share your special day with? Is it everyone you know or just close family and friends? Some people want a grand affair and others choose to have a more intimate one. One thing to remember, don’t just invite people to get gifts. That’s a little rude. People your hardly talk to really don’t need to be there, unless they are friends of your parents. Once you figure out who you want there, you can move on to the next step.

The Budget Blues
Talk with your parents or others that may help to see what your budget is. Most weddings nowadays are $30,000 and up but don’t freak out if your budget is smaller. You don’t need to spend a fortune to have an awesome event. Work with what you have and know it will all be beautiful in the end.

Choosing the Place
Now that you have a general head count and your budget in check you can research venues. Being organized will make this step a lot easier. I recommend doing a lot of research. I spent 4 months searching for the perfect place and happily I found it. Not only was it totally within our budget but it represents my fiance and I perfectly! Remember, the venue will be a reflection of who you are. Make sure you get all the details you need to make your decision and don’t let places walk all over you. If some of their rates are a little pricey, let them know.

Finding a Caterer
This is one of the most important steps when planning your wedding. In most cases, the caterer handles the rentals, the food and any other elements that need to be taken care of. That is the traditional way of doing things. You don’t have to go that route if you don’t want to or simply can’t afford to.

While I was contacting caterers I wanted to pull my hair out! For what I wanted they were asking way too much and including tons of food that isn’t necessary. They were basically trying to sell me a big fancy wedding. That is what bothered me the most. Not everyone wants that! I felt as if they weren’t listening to me at all. Some of them didn’t even get back to me. How unprofessional. So, if you want the caterer to only take care of the food, that is fine. It will be much cheaper.

Design
This is the fun part! I am choosing a DIY wedding because I can. I understand not everyone has the creative genius to do so. That is why there are plenty of people out there that can help as well as magazines, blogs and books. Research! Maybe you have a talented friend who has been waiting to put together an event, great. Give them the chance to help out even if you are doing it yourself.

A good way to start is to come up with a theme. Depending on your venue this can be just about anything. If you love nature, go for a garden theme or present the affair with lots of flowers. Girly girls can glam it up with a hollywood theme and couples interested in history can go for a vintage look. There are so many things you can do. The possibilities are endless.

Services
Choosing whether you want a band or a dj shouldn’t be that hard. Just make sure you meet with a few people so you know all your options. If you have someone in mind, go for it. Why waste time? It’s the same with the photographer and videographer. Decide on a group or a smaller independent artist. Compare rates and see what works best for your budget. You also want to make sure they produce good work!

Follow these tips and your wedding planning journey will turn out to be a smooth ride. It may be bumpy along the way but what isn’t? Breathe, focus and always stay true to yourself.