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Archives for May 2011

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Good Friends – Good Memories – An Over the Hill Birthday Party

Turning 50 is a HUGE milestone and one that many people dread. This party will be as special as the birthday guest!
Over the Hill is a commonly used  party theme and by playing it up with an ALL black party decor, you'll have a successful 50th birthday party that everyone will enjoy!

Over the Hill Food
Over the Hill Menu

Fruit trays, chips and dip, veggie trays, chicken wings, finger sandwiches on rye bread, hamburgers, brats or grilled chicken will all make wonderful party food. Keep the menu enjoyable for everyone. If you don't feel like cooking, call your local caterer to create a wonderfully personalized menu!

You should definitely think black for your food. Your menu can contain fruit dipped in DARK chocolate, black olive kabob with cheese, black bean salads, blackberries, black mushrooms, black rice, black licorice and a fantastic black birthday cake!

Create a signature drink with a funky personalized name. Add black food coloring to for a finishing touch.

Black Party Decorations

Keeping up with the black party decorations will be easy. Just visit your local party store and you'll find everything you need. So, stick with the basics, such as black balloons, black flowers, black napkins, table clothes, confetti, and even black foods. The party decorations are easy,  but will definitely set the theme for this birthday party.

Decor:

  • A great centerpiece for an over the hill party is a birthday chronicle featuring historically accurate information as a newspaper page. With the birthday star's picture and bio as the focal point, you can include fun facts from the their birth year.
  • Over the Hill Decor
    Create a slide show honoring the birthday guest through out their 50 years of life.
  • Music : Play oldies all day long, and set up a dance floor to get guests moving!
  • Accessorizing tables with wind-up false teeth, laxatives, magnifying glasses, dentures adhesive, icy hot and fiber pills will get a laugh!
  • Set up the guest of honor's table with a walker or cane, bib and ear horn.

Entertainment

A fun game to play is name that tune. Split the guests into teams, play 5-10 seconds of music from the 50's and see which team can name the song and artist first! Each correct answer gets the team a point, each incorrect answer loses one point. The team with the most points in the end wins!

Whether your party is simple or elaborate this party is sure to bring laughs and good memories!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

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Inspirational Friday – Memorial Day!

Every Friday, Wedding and Party Network will be choosing a theme or color and give you inspirational photos. We want to help give you inspiration for your next event, wedding or party. So, take a look and we hope to give you a bit of inspiration when planning your wedding or party. Our inspirational board will give everyone inspiration for Memorial Day. Lets not forget the purpose of Memorial Day and what it represents for this country. So, share this special time with close friends and family and celebrate!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a special observance. Therefore, you want to share this moment with close friends and family so you can celebrate this holiday together. Remember what it stands for. If you're having friends and family over, start by decorating in red, white & blue. Start out the grill outside and cook delicious party foods. Keep it simple with hamburgers, hot dogs and maybe throw in one unique dish in there. Plan entertainment, contests or anything else that will let everyone create new memories. If you don't want to stay at home, plan a trip to the lake, beach or a road trip with friends. Just remember the reason behind the holiday!

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Creating The Perfect Gift Basket

Gift Baskets are a suitable gift for any occasion. When you can't find the perfect gift for that special someone, a unique and personalized gift basket is the perfect choice! You can create beautiful and personalized gift baskets with just a little time and imagination for birthday parties or even wedding shower gifts!

Gift Basket Ideas
Baskets come in a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes. You don't have to limit yourself to a basket either, you can use decorative bowls, mugs or even bright-colored serving platters.

The first thing you need to do is decide the theme for your gifts basket. Is this for a child, a senior, a junk food fanatic, a wine connoisseur, movie lover or a simple congratulations gift? Whatever the occasion, choose a color scheme and gift basket theme and run with it.

Once you have purchased the basket and the gifts to go inside you will start by laying out a large piece of cellophane on your counter top or table. Place your basket in the center and start to fill with the heaviest objects in the center working your way out and up.

After you are satisfied with your arrangement, start to gather the cellophane pulling up the short side first, then the longer and secure them with a long twist tie at the top. Use ribbon or a pre-made bow with long curvy tails to finish. You can attach a card message with a ribbon or place it inside the basket before wrapping. It is such a simple and creative gift that will make the recipient feel special.

When choosing your theme it is only limited by your imagination! A few popular gift basket ideas are:

  • Congratulations! Basket: Include wine or champagne, sausage, cheese, candies, cookies, crackers, jam, tea, coffee, kettle chips and caramel corn.
  • Fruit Basket: Include bananas, grapefruit, mangoes, apples, oranges, pears, cookies and jams.
  • New Baby Basket: Include baby bottles, pacifiers, teething toys, plush animal, onesies, socks, blanket, baby lotion, nail cutters, cloth diapers, wipes and a few things for mom such as cozy socks, aromatherapy candles, chocolates and coffee.
  • Senior Citizen Basket: Include stationary, calligraphy pens, stamps, coffee mugs, tea bags, candles, sweet and salty snacks and hand lotion.
  • Kids Basket: Include stuffed animal, gummy worms, suckers, toy cars or Barbie, children books, bubbles, crayons and coloring books.
    Fruit Basket

Chocolate baskets will include a variety of gourmet chocolates and nuts. Coffee lover baskets should include coffee mugs, chocolate covered coffee beans and coffee of course! Junk food baskets can have Cheetos, candy, Oreo, chips and all things yummy!

If you would rather have a professional put together your basket for you, you can call your local florist and make arrangements to bring in your gifts and basket and they can put it together for you!

This post is brought to you by San Diego Party Rentals.
Not in San Diego, CA? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find party rentals near you!

Thank you to Mathew Hoelscher, nathansnostalgia, caybo, Concierge for Gift Basket Pictures Via Flickr and Wikipedia.

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June – The Month Of Roses, Kites & U.F.O's?!

Well, the warm weather is in full force and so are you! It's time to start planning those summer parties and vacations that will create memories to last a lifetime. The pool & lake season has begun, school is out and now it's time to sit back and relax. June is a great month to get outdoors and celebrate, especially with all the unique holidays! Therefore, if you're hosting a party for the month of June, let Wedding And Party Network give you some party themes that you'll love!

Fun June Facts

June is the 6th month of the year and one of the 4 months with 30 days in it. The Roman poet Ovid provides two etymologies on how this month was name. One including that the month was named after Roman goddess Juno and the other being that the name comes from the Latin word, iuniores, meaning "younger ones." This month has the longest daylight hours in the Northern hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern hemisphere.

The Month Of June
Birthstone & Flowers

The birthstone for June is the simple pearl. It is absolutely stunning and so elegant. You can throw an elegant tea party for your friends and use pearls to decorate with or throw your little girl a tea party and let them dress up in pearls.

Along with the birthstone, the flowers that represent June are the rose and honeysuckle. Roses are absolutely gorgeous and come in a variety of colors. While honeysuckles are simple, yet amazing. Use these flowers in arrangements around your house or centerpieces for a party.

June's Astrology

The astrological signs for June are the Taurus, Gemini and Cancer. Taurus are patient, reliable, warmhearted, loving and determined. However, they can be jealous, possessive, self-indulgent and greedy. Geminis are adaptable, versatile, communicative, witty, youthful and lively, but can be cunning and inquisitive. Cancers are emotional, loving, imaginative, protective and sympathetic, yet can be changeable, moody,  over emotional and unable to let go.

Special Events & Holidays To Celebrate

Dairy Month
Great Outdoors Month – Camping themed party!
National Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Month – Get your kids to eat their veggies and fruits!
National Rose Month – Decorate with roses
National Tennis Month
Zoo & Aquarium Month – Plan a zoo or ocean themed party

National Fishing Week – First week in June
National Clay Week – Second week in June
Adur Festival – Celebrated the first two weeks in June in West Sussex, England.

Throw A June Party
June 1st – Donut Day
June 3rd – Egg Day
June 4th – Cheese Day
June 5th – National Gingerbread Day, World Environment Day
June 10th – Iced Tea Day
June 12th – Magic Day
June 14th – Flag Day
June 15th – Fly A Kite Day, Power Of A Smile Day
June 18th – International Picnic Day
June 19th – Father's Day, Garfield's Birthday – Do something special for your father
June 20th – Ice Cream Soda Day
June 21st – First Day Of Summer
June 24th – U.F.O Day
June 29th – Camera Day
June 30th – Meteor Day, Superman's Birthday – Host a Superman themed party

The month of June has lots of fabulous holidays in it. So, take a theme and run with it! Get creative and feature multiple holidays in one event. Do something creative for Father's Day, go outside and fly a kite and celebrate the first day of summer. All these themes are absolutely amazing and everyone will love it!

This post is brought to you by Miami Party Planners.
Not in Miami, FL? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a party planner near you!

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Tips On Selecting Your Wedding Vendors

You're engaged, now you have a big wedding to-do list that keeps piling up. Some brides just want to get everything checked off their wedding list as fast as they can. However, start thinking about your vendor's quality when checking off those items on your wedding checklist. Quality is key to your wedding day. You wouldn't want to have an awful caterer. If you did, that is the main thing your guests will remember from your wedding day. Therefore, Wedding And Party Network is here to offer a few wedding tips on selecting your vendors to make your wedding day special.

Beautiful Wedding Ceremony
Shop Around – It's important to shop around for vendors and not settling for one straight from the beginning. First off, take a moment to set a budget and decide on what you want for your wedding day. Write it all out, create a folder with all the different categories and take it with you for each vendor to see your vision.

Sit down with each vendor and talk to them to see if they can actually create your vision. Next, start comparing prices. See which one fits best into your wedding budget. Next on the list, how well did you connect to that vendor? This is extremely important. You want to get along with your particular vendor, make sure they share the same vision and are easy to talk to.

Social Network – If you have found a wedding vendor, get on their social media page and check them out. They normally can put pictures of their work and you can read their customer's comments. Also, don't forget to check out different wedding websites and blogs for recommendations in your area and reviews.

Check References –You may have researched vendors online, checked out their websites or heard from a friend about a particular vendor. However, if you have researched them online, don't forget they control their website. Therefore, they only put out there the information that they want you to see. Check out their past few clients. Ask them questions and how they worked together.

Ask – If you have chosen a few vendors but are still undecided on others, ask the ones that you have already chosen for their recommendations. They would love to give you suggestions on what they've seen and who they know will do a great job.

The Fine Print – Always remember to read the fine print. That is very important in everything you do. There is normally a contract you must sign with them, so read it. Yes, it may seem time-consuming, but again it's very important. If there's anything you don't understand, ask questions. Make sure you understand it all. Therefore, you aren't thrown any curve balls during your wedding planning or on your wedding day.

Wedding Reception Decor
Develop A Trusting Relationship – So, you have finally chosen your vendors. Now, sit back and relax and trust them. You've already done all the leg work on them, so just enjoy the ride.

You want your wedding picture perfect and everything you've always wanted. So, start planning. They're right when they say, the sooner, the better. Anything can occur when planning your wedding, especially with your vendors. Therefore, you need to be ready and even your vendors should be ready for all possible situations that could occur.

This post is brought to you by Miami Wedding Planners.
Not in Miami, FL No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy wedding planning directory to help you find a wedding planner near you!

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Inspirational Friday: Groom's Cakes!

Every Friday, Wedding and Party Network will be choosing a theme or color and give you inspirational photos. We want to help give you inspiration for your next event, wedding or party. So, take a look and we hope to give you a bit of inspiration when planning your wedding or party. Our inspirational board will give everyone inspiration on groom's cakes. These cakes are a must at any wedding and are absolutely fun to look at. Plus, it shows off your groom's style.

Grooms cakes are a must at any wedding! They are so fun and unique. Plus, they add a fun element to your wedding reception. It shows off the groom's style and lets them be apart of the wedding. They can show off their love of sports, hunting, animals, hobbies and just their fun side. Your local baker can create 3D cakes, themed cakes and tiered cakes. Whatever the groom wants, he should get! Let him pick out the taste and design so it represents him to the fullest!

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Celebrating Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to celebrate and remember our loved ones. It marks the beginning of Summer, the beginning of road trips, picnics, camping and cookouts. Gathering your family and friends together to share in a Memorial Day Party is a great way to kick off the summer!

Celebrate Memorial Day
Setting The Atmosphere:

When planning your party, you need to find a good place at a public park with lots of picnic tables or you can use your backyard filled with umbrellas, tents, tables and chairs.

Sending out invitations  2-3 weeks early will give your guests plenty of time to set a side the day. If you are having a pot-lock or cookout and you want your guests to bring a tray, incorporate that into your party invitations along with an R.S.V.P to help you get  a good count on the amount of food you will need according to how many people plan on attending.

Decorating With Patriotism:

Decorations for Memorial Day are patriotic with red, white and blue. Table clothes, paper wear and utensils should be in the same color family. Confetti spread out along the table tops is a fun little extra. Flower arrangements with red, white and blue flowers will look great as centerpieces for your tables.

You can buy small American Flags and place them in the flower arrangements or display them around the party area. Set a side large coolers to fill with ice and beverages and don't forget lots of seating for your guests to sit back, relax and enjoy!

What To Eat:

Party Food

Choosing the menu is something that depends mainly on your budget, but also on the theme you choose for your party. Local caterers are always a great way to go when you don't have time to prepare the food yourself. If you want to get your hands in on creating the food, there are several ways you can go:

  • Potluck Style: Ask your guests to bring their favorite dish to share and you give the drinks .
  • Picnic Style: Ask your guests to bring their favorite side dish and drinks and you provide the main dish.
  • Buffet Style: Your guests are not asked to bring anything, you provide the entire meal.

Some great ideas for summer buffet foods are: easy appetizers like chips and dip, cheese and crackers or veggies and dip. For the meal, you can serve crock-pot beans, burgers, hot dogs, brats, macaroni or green salads, cold cut grinders, chicken wings or even grilled chicken.

Serving pre-cut watermelon is always a hit! Homemade cookies, brownies, cupcakes or ice cream sandwiches are favorites too. You can order or create your own Memorial Day Cake decorated with an American Flag.

Keeping Your Guests Occupied:

Outdoor Activities
Your guests can keep busy by playing horseshoes, Frisbee, touch football, volley ball, relay races or even kite flying.

Water balloons or slip and slides are always a lot of fun, but make sure to warn your guests ahead of time if you are planning on getting them wet so they can bring a change of clothes!

If you really want to go all out, you can even include a pie eating contest or pie war using whip cream pies in disposable tins. This is always a crowd favorite – depending on your crowd's sense of humor!

If you want to send home goody bags with the little ones, you can include sunscreen, windmills, candies, sunglasses, tiny water guns, bubbles, flags and bouncy balls.

Remembering To Observe The Holiday And It's History

However or where ever you hold your Memorial Day Party, you and your guests should pay special attention to the history behind the holiday and take a moment or two to honor and remember the brave soldiers that gave their lives for our country.

This post is brought to you by Philadelphia Caterers.
Not in Philadelphia, PA No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy party planning directory to help you find a caterer near you!

Water balloon, picnic basket photo provided by Steve Wilhelm, Paul and Christa

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Fall In Love With Castle Ladyhawke

One of the first things you decide is finding the perfect place for your wedding day. Your wedding venue is everything to you. It sets the tone, style and shows off you and your groom's personality. Location is a big deal on your wedding day. Determining your wedding place is one of the biggest decisions you will make when planning your wedding. Therefore, it should be everything you've always imagined. So, if you are in the Tuckasegee, North Carolina area, Castle Ladyhawke is a spectacular wedding place that everyone will fall in love with.

Simply Breathtaking

Immaculate Wedding Venue

Castle Ladyhawke is a magical private estate that is on a 62 mountain estate. What is so great about this wedding location? It's a castle! What girl doesn't dream about getting married in a castle? This gorgeous castle offers both indoor and garden ceremony and reception locations. This castle definitely gives off a medieval ambiance.

This place is simply amazing! The gorgeous stone exterior, as well as some interior, beautiful look out points, lush gardens, amazing ceilings and a grand staircase all make for an extraordinary wedding. Your guests will be blown away and you will have the wedding you've always dreamed about.

A Wedding You'll ALWAYS Remember

If you're planning a wedding, their friendly staff is there to help you. First, pick from the wedding packages that they offer that best suits your wedding style and budget. Choose from their elopement package, wedding of 25, wedding of 100, packages that include pre-ceremony decorating, event coordinator, hors d’oeuvres buffet, tables, linens and chairs. You can even choose from their Prince Charles package, the queen package or the royal wedding, which includes everything that you could ever want.

Beautiful Wedding Details

Rent this immaculate site for 4 full days, catered rehearsal dinner, bridal party brunch, valet parking, wedding photography, tents, dj, floral package, full dining package, champagne toast and accommodations, this wedding package includes it all!

Whether you are planning a small or grand wedding; Castle Ladyhawke wants to suit every bride and every budget. From your wedding ceremony to your wedding reception venue, everything will be simply amazing.

You will even find recommended wedding vendors on their website, along with floral and other ideas for you wedding. Always offering the best of wedding vendors and suggestions to make your day truly a dream come true.

Whenever finding your dream wedding venue, Castle Ladyhawke is your place to make all your dreams come true. The gorgeous views, lush gardens and spectacular rooms makes for an absolutely amazing location to have your wedding. Just imagine what your wedding photos will look like! So, create the wedding of your dreams with Castle Ladyhawke.

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A Guide to What is Expected From the Maid Of Honor

So you've been asked to be the Maid of Honor, now what? As you know, being the maid of honor is an honor indeed! The bride has chosen you most likely because you are her closest and most trustworthy friend. She is putting her faith in you to help through the planning and celebrating stages of one of the most important days of her life.

Beautiful Bride & Bridesmaids
As the maid of honor, you are now her right hand man. Well woman, for the next few months! Even though the responsibilities of the maid of honor are great, the most important one is to be there for the bride when she needs you. Be her shoulder to lean on, her advisor when she asks and best friend through the emotional stress that she will go through!

Here is a list of what is expected from the Maid of Honor:

To be the leader: Of the bridesmaids, assigning duties, planning dress fittings, planning the pre-wedding parties and arranging all bridesmaid's activities.

To help the Bride when choosing invitations, wedding colors, flowers and of course the cake!

To attend ALL pre-wedding parties

To host or co-host bridal shower

To plan the Bachelorette party

To keep track of gifts received at all pre-wedding parties

To coordinate bridesmaids attendance to the rehearsal; arranging for transportation and lodging

To make sure that the bridesmaids are ready for the ceremony with their flowers, dresses, hair, makeup and accessories

To hold the groom's ring during the ceremony

To hold the bride's bouquet during the vows

To sign the marriage license

Bouquet Toss
To play hostess at the reception

To collect and secure gift envelopes at reception

To stand in the receiving Line

To make sure that the bride eats during the reception

And finally, to make a toast to the bride and groom

Although the list of responsibilities may seem overwhelming, you are allowed to delegate to the other bridesmaids if help is needed. Be sure to remember that this is the bride's day, you are there to aid her in making this day as carefree as possible! And don't forget to have fun!

This post is brought to you by Saint Louis Bridesmaid Dress Suppliers.
Not in Saint Louis, MO? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy wedding planning directory to help you find bridesmaid dresses near you!

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Arrive In Style & On Time With DBH Limo

If you have a major event going on in your life, don't you want to travel in style? You should definitely do so. When you arrive and people see you coming in fabulous transportation, it will set the tone of the entire night for you. So, if you're in the Charleston, South Carolina area and are needing to be transported in style, you must visit DBH Limo. This limousine service wants to take you to your next event in true style.

Specialty Transportation
For any event in your life, you should always travel in style. Well, DBH Limo wants to give you a great experience. Whether you are wanting special transportation for your wedding day or from the airport, they'll take care of you. You can always rely on them to give you comfortable and reliable transportation. Be transported by one of their professionally trained drivers that know their way around the city, suburbs and airports. Being on time is never an issue for them.

Wedding Transportation

Are you planning a wedding and want to arrive to your event in a fashionable way and on time? Well, DBH Limo will offer those services. They offer gorgeous limousines that will truly add a touch of formality and elegance to your wedding. Not only does a limousine for your wedding give a touch of class, but it also provides you with less stress.

Quit worrying about how you're going to get from your wedding ceremony to your reception venue, they've got in covered. You can also quit stressing about how your bridal party will make it to your reception as well. Whenever your wedding ceremony is over, your limousine will be awaiting you and your bridal party to get you there on time. This transportation will allow enough room for you and the groom, plus your bridal party.

Planning Any Other Major Events?

Maybe you're not planning a wedding, but you always have other special moments coming up in your life. Proms, homecomings, birthdays, special date nights or just needing a lift to the airport are all occasions that they offer their services for. Is it your anniversary? Well, plan a special night and ride in style in one of their limos or town cars. Their transportation would be ideal for proms, homecomings and birthdays too!

Limousines and town cars are great ways to arrive to your wedding or any other special event. You can relax about getting there on time and Continue reading "Arrive In Style & On Time With DBH Limo" »

Wedding Flowers: From Palette to Petals

Flowers set the stage for a wedding by adding color, texture, and personality to every detail. The right blooms complement your color palette and help create the mood, whether soft and romantic, bold and dramatic, or fresh and modern. With thoughtful floral choices, your wedding can feel personal and beautifully reflective of your style!