The Wedding Planner, Part 3

Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of The Wedding Planner.

The flowers are an important part of a wedding but they can also be an expensive part!  One of the best ways to save money on flowers is to do it yourself.  It’s easier than you think!

Andrea said they had never done flower arranging before except to help with her sister’s wedding last year, but they decided to give it a try.  She searched the Internet for sites to order flowers from and chose fiftyflowers.com because they had wonderful reviews from their customers.  Andrea was a little scared to order because she really wasn’t sure how many to get, but she just ordered what they could afford and figured if they didn’t have enough, they’d buy local at the last minute.

The flowers arrived on Thursday morning via FedEx.  They trimmed them all and placed them into large buckets from home depot for the next 24 hrs.

Some of them were still not opened and fiftyflowers told them to mix a solution of 1 tsp of vinegar, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp of sugar  with a 1/2 gallon of water and that would force the blooms to open.  Nathan, the groom, is an IT major at Michigan State University, so they decided to break up some computer parts (ram, floppy drive, etc) and mingle it in with the boutonnieres for him and all his groomsmen.  They were cute!

The bouquet for all the women were made next and then the rest of the corsages.

All the flowers that were left were arranged at the reception site on Friday afternoon.

They used White Ranunculus, Color me Purple Garden Centerpiece (which gave them a great variety) and then Purple Lisianthus.  They borrowed clear vases of all different shapes and sizes for the tables.  Some tables had one, some had more if the vases were small.

I loved how they used all different vases and Mason jars!

Jars of flowers were hung from the pews in the church too – lovely!

Next Up:  The Wedding Food!

The Wedding Planner, Part 2

Of course one of the first steps in planning a wedding is deciding on a color scheme for the event.

Emily chose the colors for the wedding after she went dress shopping which I think was a brilliant idea.  Instead of deciding on a color scheme and then trying to find dresses that matched she first found the dresses she loved and the colors they were available in and then used that to establish her color scheme!

She really liked the combination of green & purple (actually LAPIS and CLOVER) that were available in the dresses she chose.  With 7 bridesmaids she thought it would be good to break it up with more than one color.

Even though those were the COLORS for the wedding, they decided not to go too crazy with everything in purple & green all over the place.  This is Andrea and Mark’s second 2nd daughter to get married and they told both of them that the wedding is a special day, but it is just A DAY, not A MARRIAGE.  They wanted it to be pretty, fun, original & special, but they did it on reasonable budget.  So wise!

The main thing they did in the color scheme was the paper lanterns.  They saw some fun ideas for using them at receptions online and  ordered them all, on sale, from asianideas.com. They ordered green too, but in the end, they sent the green back and went for purple, light purple and white.

They even used them at the front of the church to bring the theme of the reception into the beginning of the event.

They hung them all with fishing line.  It took a long time to hang them all and a few got ruined in the TORRENTIAL RAIN they had for 2 days prior to the wedding, but it really made the tents look magical.  They strung inexpensive tulle around the whole tent wrapped with white Christmas lights.  They borrowed the lights from all their friends and just had them tape their names onto each so they could return in the end.

About a week before the wedding they decided they wanted to have assigned seating at the tables and thought of the idea of Names for table titles instead of numbers.  The Names consisted of of things that were important to the couple and told the story about them to the people sitting there.

They picked up sticks in the woods and attached the table signs with twine to them and stuck them into the centerpieces.  We hung the individual names or family cards from twine clothes line that was attached to cedar posts and cemented into buckets.  Her friend Chantelle came up with this idea.  As people walked up to the location, they just removed their name from the clothes pin and searched for their table.

Next Up:  The Wedding Flowers!

Graduation Party Ideas

Today I wanted to share some links to some great graduation party ideas I have found recently out there in blogland.

Cupcakes are the perfect dessert for a graduation party and here are some darling Graduation Cupcake Toppers.  A free download!

These darling Graduation Flags could be used for all kinds of fun things! Another great free download.

Need a fun and unique graduation gift?  Check out Lisa’s fun post on a Soda Fountain Gift.  What graduate wouldn’t love all the makings for their own soda fountain!

For the younger graduates (preschool, elementary school) check out all of Marie of Make and Takes great ideas for a Kid Graduation Party!

Tip Junkie did a great post on all kinds of graduation party ideas!

And of course don’t forget about the fun graduation lei!

Happy Graduation!

The Wedding Planner, Part 1

Over the next week or so I am excited to share with you some photographs and details from the wedding of a friend’s daughter.  This is Andrea’s second daughter to get married so she’s getting to be a wedding expert!

I read a lot of wedding blogs and I am always blown away by the amazingly beautiful things I see.  Most of them are put together by professional wedding planners and designers.  So beautiful but for the majority of us just not in our budget.

When I saw the photos of Andrea’s daughters wedding that she posted on Facebook I was so excited.  You could feel the love that went into putting this wedding together.  It wasn’t a high price, Hollywood style wedding but it was a beautiful wedding that fit into their families budget that was put together by family and friends that loved the bride and groom.  It was a beautiful day that accomplished their primary goals:

#1 that God would be glorified in the event

#2 Nathan & Emily’s love would shine for all the world to see

#3 that not only would Nathan & Emily have FUN, but it would be a joyous occasion for all! Andrea says they met all our goals and then some!

Aren’t Nathan & Emily darling!

The reception was held at their friend’s beautiful farm, Stepping Stones Farm in Michigan. Originally they were going to place the tents on the lawn, but when they considered that Michigan usually gets their April Showers in May, they started worrying about squishy lawns. So, they decided to use the tennis courts.

Two large tents were place on the court after the net was removed. One tent was a 30×40 rectangle and the other was a 30×40 hexagon. They rented the tents, tables, chairs, and dance floor.

At the last minute they borrowed another small square tent with 3 sides from friends.  They butted that right up to the side of the other two for the gift table and the Candy Bar. Their hope was to NOT use the walls for the tents, but they  kept them on until just hours before the reception when the rain stopped and the sun came out!

Graduation Caps

Thinking of all of you out there planning graduation parties when I saw this cute idea over at a blog I frequent – Not So Idle Hands.

It’s another great idea for a party favor at your upcoming graduation parties!  Use your school colors for the tassels!  So cute!

For more info and directions head on over here.

Graduation Ideas, continued

Two years ago my daughter Cali graduated from high school.

We had a joint party with her best friend Hannah.  They had been friends since they were three.  I highly recommend combining efforts with a friend if you can.  Since they both had many of the same friends it made that crazy Graduation party season calendering easier for people too and it’s always nice to share the party work load.

Here are a few fun ideas we used:

Aren’t these the cutest little graduation caps? They are made from chocolate covered graham crackers and mini Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. For directions visit Sherra’s blog. I used red and blue M & M’s since those are our school colors. I also used red and blue Fruit by the Foot for the tassels.  They were a huge hit at the party and disappeared fast!

Another fun idea was the fruit kabobs.  I cut the school’s initials out of Styrofoam, frosted them and then covered them with coconut.  We then used the letters to hold the fruit kabobs we made.  Caution:  The frosted Styrofoam may be mistaken for actual cake and people may attempt to eat it!

And if you are looking for a great cake recipe that feeds a crowd that doesn’t come from Costco (Costco cake has its place but this one is so much better) give this Almond Sheet Cake recipe a try!

Of course if you would like a personalized party menu I can do that too – just click on Shop up above and let me know how I can help you!!

Graduation Party

Tis the season!

I have had several email requests lately for ideas for graduation parties so this week I will be sharing a few.

Last week our family attended a graduation party for  a friend who was graduating with their nursing degree from University of Portland – way to go Leslie!  I took my camera along to the party and snapped a few photos.

The easiest way to plan a graduation party is to use the school’s colors as your theme.  The University of Portland’s colors are purple and white so of course that was used in the party planning.

There were some fun tissue paper poms in different shades of purple and some white Chinese lanterns.  They were hung over the kitchen table area and over the kitchen island.

Hannah, one of the party hostess’, also made a fun Happy Graduation banner.

Little purple details were everywhere!  I loved the little purple ribbons tied on the salt and pepper shakes and the cutlery holders!  Little details make all the difference.  Of course there were purple paper goods too!  I loved the square purple plates.

Purple was even integrated into the food.  You’ve heard of Red Velvet Cake well, we had Purple Velvet Cupcakes!

They used a cake mix and just added in some purple food coloring!

But the best part of the whole party, for me, was the purple chocolate fountain!!

Wilton has different colored Melts and they found purple ones!  How clever is that!

Of course there were lots of yummy dippers for the chocolate as well as some purple punch!

Do you have a graduation party coming up?  Would you like a  personalized party guide for your party?  If so, I’d love to help!  Just visit my Shop tab up above to see what I have to offer!

Sweet Pea Baby Shower Recipes and Sentiments Cake

Earlier this week I introduced you to Party Guest Lisa and her darling Sweet Pea Baby Shower.  Lisa has graciously shared some of her recipes too.

One of the things Lisa does at a party, an idea I have totally fallen in love with, is a Sentiments Cake.

When I asked Lisa what a Sentiments Cake was this is how she explained it to me:

A sentiment cake is a cake I make for sentimental purposes.  It is where
I make cupcakes to be enjoyed by the friends who come to the party and
the sentiment cake is boxed up to be enjoyed by the family members not
invited to the party…  Maybe a hubby or younger siblings.  They LOVE
it!  That way not too much cake is consumed or wasted!  But it helps to
carry the theme.  What is a party without the cake.”

Isn’t that just the best idea – I so love it!

The menu for the baby shower included:

Pea Pod Baby Shower Menu 
 

Lime Punch

Cheese and Assorted Gourmet Crackers

Sweet Snap Peas

Croissants

Pitas

Curry Chicken Salad

Almond Chicken Salad 

Vanilla Cupcakes with Whipped Buttercream

Coffe and Tea

Thanks to Lisa for sharing some of the recipes with us!!

“Sweet Pea” Pecan Tassies

3 eggs

1 cup dark corn syrup

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 ¼ cups pecan halves

1 15 oz. package refrigerated piecrust dough or homemade

Place Demarle Boat Tray on Perforated Baking Sheet.

Roll dough out on Roulpat. Use boat dough cutter to cut out little “pods”. Line tray with pastry. Use shaper to press dough into tray. In a mixing bowl beat eggs. Add corn syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla and pecans. Mix well.

Pour filling into prepared “pods”.

Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes or until golden.

Lime Punch

1 carton Lime Sherbet

4 litres 7 UP

Add ingredients to One

Glass Crock – availabe at Target and Costco

Lisa’s Almond Chicken Salad

6 boiled chicken breasts, chopped

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 ¼ cups Best Foods Mayonnaise

1 cup toasted almonds, chopped

1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese

Mix all ingredients together, except for almonds.

May be refrigerated overnight.

Add almonds before serving.

May add more mayo if needed.

Lisa’s Curry Chicken Salad

6 cups chicken, chopped

2 8oz. cans water chestnuts, chopped

1 ¼ cups Best Foods Mayonnaise

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. curry

Mix all ingredients together except water chestnuts.

May be refrigerated overnight.

Add water chestnuts before serving.

Note: If I am boiling chicken breasts, I figure on one chicken breast per cup.

May add a bit more mayo before serving if needed.

Enjoy!

Party Guest}Sweet Pea Baby Shower

What better reason to have a party than a new baby!

Today I am excited to welcome a party guest to the blog – Lisa from Simply…This, That and The Other is here to share her Sweet Pea Baby Shower!

Here’s what Lisa had to say about her baby shower:

There are celebrations to celebrate just about everything, but I can’t think of any celebration as SWEET and exciting as the arrival of a new baby.

There is so much anticipation and joy. Some showers are planned after the birth which means that the baby gets to be passed around and adored which is even more fun.

Lisa and her friend Kim put on a beautiful party for some lucky new mommy and baby!  The theme for the shower was “Sweet Pea.”

The color scheme (pink, green and white) is what they based the menu and shower on to pull it all together.

According to Lisa the shower was pretty much stress free. All of the details were done in advance. The only thing that was not done ahead of time was the punch and that doesn’t really count because all it took was opening a carton of lime sherbet and adding 7 UP to it! Easy PEAsy (HA!). The cupcakes, the “sentiment” cake and pea pod pecan tassies were made in advance and then frozen.

The chicken salads were made the day before along with the cheese slices.

Lisa’s advice is to keep things simple…food and decorations…so that when your friends arrive, you are able to enjoy the special occasion you are celebrating!

Here are some of Lisa’s great ideas for an event that can be enjoyed by everyone, including the hostess:

* Get a date on the calendar
* Figure out your colors~I like to choose two colors and I ALWAYS use white as the background. It makes everything look classy and it is way more economical to always have the basics…dishes etc in white so that you can reuse them.
* Pick a theme. For example: Peter Rabbit, circus, firetrucks etc. If you can’t think of a theme, stick with colors for your “theme” and it will look B.EAU.TEE.FUL.
* Decide on what time of day or evening you will be gathering. This will help you to decide on your menu.
* Start collecting inexpensive glass luncheon plates and cups and white dishes. Hit garage sales, flea markets or your Gramma’s attic. This will eventually save on the cost of expensive paper products. (I started collecting mine 20 years ago!)

Stay tuned for some of the recipes Lisa served at the shower as well as information on a “sentiment” cake – you are going to love the idea!!