Party Invitations, Party Planning & Event Ideas

Invitations Go Green!

In trying to make our everyday life more environmentally friendly, we are reading more, investigating more and trying out more tips, ideas and products to help make our lifestyle more eco-friendly.  There are many, many products out there now and my favorite on-line/paper reference greenliving Magazine gives great suggestions for beauty, fashion, home, kids...just about everything!

The latest issue gave a number of 'green' party tips including a eco-friendly source for invitations, Botanical Paperworks.  This company manufactures and prints invites and stationary on handmade-to-order paper and they have many fabulous ideas for invitations, paper party favors and cards.  My favorite is the handmade paper embedded with wildflower seeds which, if planted and given proper water and sunlight, will grow in 6-8 weeks.  Not only is this paper used to make invitations and cards, but reply cards, place cards, hand-bound guest books, thank you cards and wedding/shower/party favors are also available.  They have great ideas for baby showers, graduations, Christmas cards (spruce tree seeds replace the wildflower seeds) wedding showers, garden parties, birthdays, tea parties Easter, and all other celebrations you can think of!  They even sell supplies to make your own paper and can help you to personalize your eco-friendly stationary to fit every occasion.  Long after the event, your guests can remember and enjoy a gift of flowers in their garden or home.  What an elegant way to help the environment!

Photos courtesy of Botanical Paperworks

SIMPLE HINTS ABOUT FLOWERS FROM THE FLOWER DISTRICT

Pictured: "prairie gentian"

Flower districts or flower marts in large cities are the premier resource for growers, shippers, suppliers, wholesalers, distributors, floral designers, and retail florists. Though primarily a wholesale operation, they are open to the public during certain hours for retail purchases.

This is not your normal shopping experience. Do not expect salesclerks and glamour or overstuffed chairs. It is cold (for the flowers) industrial, busy and intense! But, you can get some spectacular flowers for you party or event for amazing prices.

Bring cash. You'll get better prices. Say "Paying cash, how much?" Don't haggle with people like a shark. Flower people are some of the nicest folks you'll meet.

Be nice. The nicer you are (asking people's names, etc.), the more "flexible" they will be with you.

Go early. There will be no selection left if you are showing up at 9 am. They have likely been going since an ungodly hour like 4 am! The start of your day is the end of their day.

Only touch / pick up flowers that you are strongly considering - excessive and needless handling of flowers can damage their stock. They will observe this and not appreciate you.

Use care. If you pick up a flower and there is water dripping from the stem onto their container of flowers will damage their stock. They will observe this and not appreciate you. Amateur alert!

Gentle examination. If the blossom is closed on a loose petal variety of flower, you can blow one blossom open gently with your breath to see the inside.

To get organized when decorating for an event, make a dress rehearsal run down to the mart to determine parking, growers that you like and seasonal selection the week before your event.

Kuler Your Party

For both the color obsessed and the color challenged, Adobe Labs has developed a web-based color wheel community called kuler. Designed to compliment the Adobe Creative Suite, it offers a public forum to cultivate and swap color schemes. The easy to use program is self-explanatory. Browse designs by Newest, Highest Rated, or Most Popular.

Click “Create” on the homepage to make your own. If you have a few colors in mind, but don’t know how to organize them, try creating a scheme according the one of the Rules provided. Analogous provides similar colors, Monochromatic will give you colors in the same family but in different hues, Triad will give you three harmonizing color families.

Complementary will provide you with opposites, while Compound will serve up opposites and similar but not-quite-opposites. Shades looks much like the paint sample strip you might pick up at the home improvement store, showcasing the same color in various tints. With any of these selected, you can change the location of flags on the color wheel, or move the spindles on the color levels below each color block to change your scheme, much like any Color Picker available in Desktop Publishing Programs and Adobe Software.
The Custom option is where you can make a truly unique scheme. If you discover something fantastic, save it MyKuler, the area designed for your own color schemes. If you’re especially fond of your scheme, and want to share it with the world, publish it, so site browsers can find your distinctive palate. I’ve used this site for several projects, and I’m always thrilled with the results.

Wonderful Graffiti

Innovative brides will love this one... Wonderful Graffiti offers a breath of fresh air in the over saturated no-commitment vinyl wall decal market.  These whimsical designs adhere to walls, doors, floors, furniture...anything that will hold still.  Custom monograms, succinct quotations, and quirky motifs are a perfect way to add personality to an otherwise bare wall.  Think loft wedding! Choose from one of their options or create your own with their very cool design program.  Go ahead.  Write on the wall. 

by Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.

Fortune Cookie Favors

I recently heard about the idea to use personalized fortune cookies as party favors and I thought it was a really fun way to add a personal touch to any kind of party or celebration.  After some investigation, I found there were many companies out there which will make these cookies for you and insert a personalized message.  I looked at Fancy Fortune Cookies and the prices seemed reasonable and the pictures made my sweet tooth ache!  If you were to throw a large party or use these cookies as wedding favors, I think buying bulk cookies and having them made and shipped to you would be the least time consuming choice.  I also thought it would be fun for a dinner party or smaller gathering to make my own cookies and insert original quotes or personalized predictions for each guest.  There are many recipies on-line and in chinese cookbooks you could use, but kitchen novices beware - this could be time consuming and frustrating without the proper tools and loads of patience!

The following recipie is courtesy of Rhonda Parkinson and includes many useful tips on how to make tasty, personalized fortune cookies.

Search the web for jokes, riddles or Cool Quotes that will suit your guests' personalities or sense of humor, then just make sure you give each person the fortune that was created for them!

Good Luck!

Fortune cookies can be tricky to make - it's important to make sure that the cookie batter is spread out evenly on the baking sheet. Instead of using the back of a wooden spoon to spread the batter, it's better to gently tilt the baking sheet back and forth as needed. Wearing cotton gloves makes it easier to handle and shape the hot cookies. This fortune cookie recipe makes about 10 cookies.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons water

PREPARATION:

1. Write fortunes on pieces of paper that are 3 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease 2 9-X-13 inch baking sheets.

2. In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg white, vanilla extract, almond extract and vegetable oil until frothy, but not stiff.

3. Sift the flour, cornstarch, salt and sugar into a separate bowl. Stir the water into the flour mixture.

4. Add the flour into the egg white mixture and stir until you have a smooth batter. The batter should not be runny, but should drop easily off a wooden spoon.

5. Place level tablespoons of batter onto the cookie sheet, spacing them at least 3 inches apart. Gently tilt the baking sheet back and forth and from side to side so that each tablespoon of batter forms into a circle 4 inches in diameter.

6. Bake until the outer 1/2-inch of each cookie turns golden brown and they are easy to remove from the baking sheet with a spatula (14 - 15 minutes).

7. Working quickly, remove the cookie with a spatula and flip it over in your hand. Place a fortune in the middle of  a cookie. To form the fortune cookie shape, fold the cookie in half, then gently pull the edges downward over the rim of a glass, wooden spoon or the edge of a muffin tin. Place the finished cookie in the cup of the muffin tin so that it keeps its shape. Continue with the rest of the cookies.

Socially Conscious Weddings

While most people link socially responsible weddings with the environment, one of their main tenets is that they also take caring for humanity into account, choosing products that are fair trade and not produced in sweatshops.  Here are some practical ways you can make sure that your event is socially conscious and promotes human rights:

1) Instead of giving your guests favors that will be thrown away, donate that portion of your budget to your favorite charitable organization.  Place a certificate at each place setting or table, letting your guests know that a donation has been made in their name.  The certificate in the photo above notes a donation made to Thirst Relief International, an organization committed to providing clean drinking water systems to developing countries. 

2) Using locally grown, organic flowers ensures that your floral products aren't coming from sweatshop-like farms overseas.  If your florist is having flowers ordered from other areas, ask to see the wholesaler'€™s policies on fair trade and labor laws. 

3) Have your caterer arrange to donate any leftover food from your reception to a local shelter.  Make sure to check the laws in your state on this, as some no longer allow it.

4) Register for gifts through organizations like the I Do Foundation and up to 8% of all purchases will be donated to your selected charity at no additional cost to your guests.  Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Target, REI and several other stores are all participants in this program.   

Photo by Kimberly Jarman Photography

Inspirations for a Fall Wedding

Fall is a truly magical time to have a wedding- with the crisp air and the sensation of new beginnings. Incorporting the qualities of the season into your event makes it all the more special- but doing it in a elegant, fresh way in crucial. Avoid the expected and find new ways to bring energy and delight to your memorable big day!

I love the combination above of the rough wood barn and soft drapes lining the entrance- a very easy and economical way to add drama to an otherwise rustic setting. If your ceremony is taking place outside, wrap wire around various sized glass jelly jars and place a small votive candle in each and hang them from low tree branches, the effect will be romantic, natural and magical. Tons of candlelight is a cost effective way to create a rich, elegant feel.

I love the photo above of the fall themed dessert buffet of pies, tarts and crumbles instead of the usual wedding cake! However, if you want a tradition tiered cake, the faux bois version from Martha Stewart above is simply stunning and very fashionable!

Centerpeices and bouquets are incredibly fun to create in the fall using branches, berries, feathers, wheat stalks (a few sprigs tied with a small ribbon would make a great men's boutonierre!) and fruit that is in season, like small pears and crabapples. Think outside the box, and use baskets of fruit as a centerpiece, with great plaid napkins to accentuate the fall theme!

Have your bridesmaids wear something unexpected, like a gorgeous sweater dress or shirt dress (above, Sak.com and JCrew.com)- something they would love to wear again to another occassion! Or pair a great taffeta skirt with a cashmere sweater set and a fun, chunky stone necklace.  I love the Oscar de la Renta gown above for the bride...it's relaxed, yet incredibly glamorous. Top it off with a vintage fur stole if it gets chilly at night.

Photos courtesy of Brides, Martha Stewart, The Knot, Inside Weddings.

The Gown of your Dreams

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

The bride’s gown is often considered the focal point of the wedding. It’s the bride’s glowing beauty and her groom’s reaction to it that fuels the romantic spirit of the celebration. My personal experience in searching for that perfect gown has inspired this post. Because no matter how many magazine clippings, model numbers, and fabric samples you save, the dress you choose could surprise you.

 

Search the bridal magazines for the style you want, not the dress you want. Many of the gowns shown in bridal magazines are far beyond the budget of the average bride. Some designs look more expensive than they are, and some designs are more expensive than they look. The best way to find your dress is to show some of the styles you like to the attendants of the bridal stores you visit. They can help you find a dress that is so similar in color, shape, and detail that you won’t even notice it’s a designer knock-off. What you will notice is a significantly lower price.

 

Decide on a budget before you go shopping. Whether you’re on a tight budget or your price range is more flexible, identify an ideal cost before you try on gowns. Regardless of your decision, make sure the attendants at the store are aware of the maximum price you can afford. It’s upsetting to set your heart on a gown you can’t afford, and a savvy boutique will do their best to find something beautiful at a price you’re happy to pay.

 

Start searching bridal stores at least 10 months in advance. Most stores expect a dress to take 3-5 months to arrive, and allow 3 months for alterations. The best boutiques will remain on call the day of your wedding, should an emergency occur, but that’s not the kind of catastrophe you’ll want to invoke by ordering a dress too late. Bring shoes with a heel comparable to the one you think you’ll be wearing, a strapless bra, and any magazine clippings you’ve collected of dress styles you like.

 

A quality boutique will provide a quality dress. Pay attention to each store you visit, noting how well they take care of their displays, the customer service you receive, and the fittings of any other brides that happen to occur during your visit. While these elements might not keep you from finding your dress, the stress of unaccommodating staff and an unskilled fitting can ruin the experience. If their fitting process seems less than extraordinary, you can usually take it to another boutique for tailoring. If you find a dress, and the boutique lacks in service and sewing skills, make a note of the designer and style number. A superior boutique that frequently carries that designer will be able to order it for you.

 

Don’t be surprised if your original ideas don’t match your final selection. You’ll try on so many dresses you won’t know which is which—until you find the one that looks fantastic on you. The attendants at a good boutique will know what dresses to show you based on your magazine clippings and descriptions, but what you don’t like about a dress will tell them even more in regards to what you’re looking for. Don’t turn down a style that seems too plain or too flashy on the hanger—it can look completely different when you try it on.

 

Finally, don’t stress out too much. In the same way you know you’re fiance is the one, you’ll know when you’ve found the dress that’s made for you.

The Giving Tree

As the fall season of weddings and showers approaches, here is a fresh idea for what to give: trees.  What is a place setting of seldomly used china next to an enormous birch, maple, pine, or redwood tree growing stronger each year while it filters the air and produces oxygen?  At Arbor Day, you can invest in the future of the couple's marriage, as well as giving back to our planet by repopulating the depleted forests. 10 trees for $10.  And for those of you that want something that lasts longer than a set of monogrammed towels, there's a significant return on your investment.  "Over the course of 50 years, a single tree can produce $31,250 of oxygen, provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion." 

As we face a global climate crisis, it just may be about time to stray from the registry...

Visit www.arborday.com for more information on how to contribute.  by Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.

Hot Honeymoon Trends

Perhaps one of the best parts of the wedding process is the honeymoon.  That sweet time where you and your new husband can unwind, relax and spend time not thinking about whether the double-sided satin ribbon you ordered for your programs is the right shade of plum.  While all-inclusive resorts can be a good option for some, they also the pose the dilemma of being impersonal.  Some couples arrive to find dozens of other newlyweds who had also tied the knot on their same date.  That tends to put a damper on "look at me, I'm the bride". 

In order to get a better glimpse into alternatives to the big resort choices, I asked Shannon Rice, the owner of Riso Studio, a boutique travel firm to lend her insight on the matter.  Here is some of what Shannon has to say about honeymoon planning:

What are couples today looking for on a honeymoon?
Today's couples are still looking to accommodate the basic ideas of a honeymoon: relaxation, romance, and simplicity. Yet they are trying to be adventurous, eco-friendly, and giving.  What couples need to remember is that their honeymoon, excluding their wedding, is the first experience they share together as a married couple. Some couples are taking this to heart and are signing up for a week of volunteering and then traveling around their location for another week.  Other couples are throwing in the towel on relaxing and are planning an 8-10 day adventure style vacation in remote mountain or jungle areas. For the green lovers there are new lines of luxurious green and eco-friendly boutique hotels.

What are some of the advantages for couples in getting off the beaten path?
The best part about taking a risk and trying something new for your honeymoon is that it makes the couple immerse themselves into a new culture and lifestyle. They can experience parts of a culture and location through staying in a small remote town, dining at the local hangout without getting stuck in a tourist trap, and staying at a five star family run hotel.  Meeting up with a translator or hiring a local guide or college student for a day of local fare can definitely make your travels worthwhile. If you like the off-the-beaten-path style, make sure you steer clear of the big chain hotels and research the small boutique or bed and breakfasts instead. You will get more personal attention while vacationing like a local. Trust me, there are still amazing family-run small five-star accommodations out there to keep the luxuries and romance going throughout this style of honeymoon.

What are today's hottest trends in travel?
A new trend in honeymoon travel is still staying true to the simplicity of an all-inclusive experience yet with a 5-star location with all the amenities. There is a new twist that introduces eco-adventure all-inclusive lodges. They are normally set in remote locations, and include all meals, lodging and an array of activities. The couple will still experience the 'community' like feel of an all inclusive on a smaller scale and not only limited to honeymooners. This style of travel can be perfect for the luxurious and stylish travel duo to the rough wilderness and nature lovers. Some of the lodges are eco-friendly and include very healthy gourmet meals. Adventures such as canopy tours, river rafting, deep sea fishing and rock climbing can all be included based on locations. They pride themselves on making your trip an “experience” in a beautiful natural environment and not just a vacation.

If you're planning your honeymoon, make sure it's special and uniquely you.  Boutique travel firms are a great resource for planning your wedding finale and the peace of mind knowing everything is on schedule is invaluable.