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April 2014
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Archives for April 2014

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Wedding Wednesday – How Can I Give My Daughter Special Attention?

Your Wedding Wednesday Question

How can I give my daughter a little special attention during the wedding?

Answer:

It’s great that you want to include your daughter in a special way during the wedding. There are many ways to achieve this so you just have to decide what’s more suitable for your relationship. You can share a special mother/daughter dance during the reception, let her walk you down the aisle or you can give her a special gift to symbolize the start of a new family.

We hope this answered your question!
If you have more wedding questions, send them to: social@weddingandpartynetwork.com
Every Wednesday we will post answers to your biggest wedding questions.

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Sail Away with Me – The Ultimate Destination Wedding Theme

There comes a time in everyone’s wedding planning when you start to think of places you would like your wedding. The church you’ve been going to since birth, the vineyard 20 miles up the road or the land your grandparents own all seem to come into play and are unique to every couple. Well, except one. The beach may seem like a huge hassle for those of you who want to invite 250 people, but for those looking for a destination wedding that grabs the culture of the beach without strangling it, read on.

“Sail Away with Me” was my theme when I wanted a beach wedding at one point in my life, so all these ideas have been laid out to perfectly align together. I know! I know! You’re welcome. Ok, so here were my first thoughts, “I don’t want it to be cheesy.” Same here, sister, no one wants your wedding to be cheesy and that starts out with colors.

Wedding ArborWedding Decor:

  • Main Colors: Navy and Starch White
  • Accent Colors: Anything cream and natural, such as starfish, seashells or pearls. Stay away from reds, or other bright colors to keep the elegance of the navy, white and cream.
  • Vases: Big round glass vases in sea glass colors or clear will add height and dimension to your seaside wedding.
  • Arrangements: Remember to stick tall dried grass or your favorite summer arrangements in large tall quantities. You could also add smaller vases to even out the area.
  • Lanterns: These are a huge obsession of mine and so is the color white. It just makes sense to have white lanterns at your wedding. I found mine at IKEA (made of real glass and they’re pretty sturdy) that were pretty budget friendly , but don’t forget to check out TJ Maxx and Marshalls. You can stick seashells in the lanterns or candles depending on the time of day.
  • Wooden Arches: They are a huge hit on the beach. They can be white or a natural wood color with sheer white curtains to add to the elegance of your dress.
  • Pillows for Chairs: Depending on how formal your wedding will be, the extra expense for chairs may just be a pain. Laying out matching blankets and chairs can send an ambience for your guests to sit back, relax and enjoy the romance.

Reception Decor

  • Long Tables: If you are creating your own reception area, I would personally adore long tables. They feel so much more intimate instead of splitting your party into circles. Plus, its way easier to decorate long tables with long runners and garland
  • Beach CenterpieceNapkins: Brides can have a field day on napkins even if they are paper. Luckily, I have two suggestions for you. (1) Take grey linen looking cloth napkins and find a stencil that relates to your wedding and simply paint it in blue paint. It can be “LOVE” like the picture below or your new name. If you are using white napkins, simply wrap them in navy and white ribbon and a twig of rosemary adds a touch of your theme, while the rosemary leaves a refreshing scent.
  • Seashells: What is something so natural and beautiful in a large abundance at the beach? Seashell! Seashells can be used for candles (Simply, pour wax into the belly of the shell and add a wick.) The seashell candles will be a beautiful hit at your reception table. or under a beautiful coral and candle arrangement! Wouldn’t those scream elegance on your seaside wedding?

Whatever you decide for your beach side wedding, just remember, you are there to relax and enjoy the wedding, but who doesn’t love to plan a delicate and classy wedding? We all do! So enjoy planning your “Sail Away with Me” Destination Wedding!

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Chi Omega, Yours Forever Candlelight

Preparation for a candlelight can be a glorious thing. You get to pick out your dress, get your hair and nails done all in preparation for the big event. For those of you who have no clue what a sorority candlelight is, I’m here to help.

shelbiA sorority candlelight is an announcement of your engagement through a sorority ceremony amongst your sisters. Your engagement ring is placed on top of the candle and is passed around under candlelight for a better and more intimate view of your engagement ring. There’s a catch. No one knows who is engaged! The first pass around the room is for a close look and the second, is for the announcement of who is engaged. On the second pass, the member will wait until the candle is passed into her hands and then she blows out the flame!

I had my candlelight in the middle of the afternoon after our initiation. I waited 45 days to announce my engagement! By that time, I nearly passed out as soon as the candle hit my hand, but it was all worth it. My sisters went from singing “Chi Omega yours forever” to jumping up and down and screaming. Talk about feeling loved, right? Seconds later I’m tackled with hugs and photos.

Things to remember while preparing for your candlelight:

  1. Check and see if your meeting is informal or formal – I bought two dresses before being told my candlelight was informal and that was a bummer on my wallet and emotions.
  2. Do your nails – People will be looking for manicured nails on candlelight days so try not to go for bedazzled but get them done one or two days before with friends.
  3. Do not spill the beans – Candlelights are supposed to be a surprise, if you are wanting a full fledge candlelight experience. Keep those lips tight.
  4. Breathe – My candlelight was moved back a week, changed to informal and I thought people were figuring it out. Just breathe and move forward. In the end, it was just stressful for that week and totally worth the wait.

The most important thing to remember with your candlight is just to relax and enjoy it. It’s such a special time to share this momentous occasion with all your sisters.

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Writing Contest: Music and Parties Runner-Up

We held a writing contest for students at a local Jr. High where we asked them the question, “Is music important for a party?” The following essay was written by our runner-up, ninth-grader Katelynn Copeland!

How to Select Party Music

Having the wrong kind of music can bring down the mood of the world’s best party. People feel music, and good party music has the ability to not only create a particular atmosphere at the event but also have a very strong influence on the attending party guests and their general experience.

It would be silly to say, “This playlist is perfect for any party.” Every party is different and party music often needs mixing properly on the night. This is why a professional party DJ or band is a good idea to manage the party entertainment. Either way, it’s important to give the music choice a lot of thought and consideration.

When people are party planning, they will generally have close family and friends attending, and so it’s quite possible that they know their party music preferences in advance. Nothing is better on the night of the party than to have certain party tunes that stir up the good ole memories!

Listen through old CD’s or other party music collections. What’s important here is that the host and the party guests will enjoy it on the night. Another trick is to send off little song request slips with the invitations. This will give an even better idea on what type of music to play at the big party.

Thank you, Katelynn. Great job!

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Arrive in Style with Kansas City Airport Car Service

Are you planning transportation options for your wedding? Do you have a big date for the prom? Are you picking up a corporate client that you need to impress? Nothing makes a bold statement quite like a sleek, elegant limousine. The luxurious interior provides every comfort, the chauffeur has long been the gold standard for professionalism and the extras and amenities are almost unlimited. If you want the full limo experience and you’re in the Kansas City area, call Kansas City Airport Car Service!

Make an Impression

Having a limo waiting to drive the bride and groom away from the reception is a classic scene you always see in movies. Why? Because a limo is the epitome of class and style. It lends a sense of gravitas to the entire proceeding. And don’t you deserve the same?

A limousine is impressive, there’s no doubt about it. And there are a world of options to choose from! Sometimes you need something smaller sometimes bigger, but whatever your needs, Airport Car Service has the vehicle you need. Just take a look at their line-up:

  • Town Car
  • SUV
  • Limo
  • Van
  • Escalade Limo
  • Hummer Limo
  • Party Bus – Coach

No matter how many or how few you have in your party, they have the car you need!

Excellence and Experience

When you choose Airport Car Service, you choose a dedicated team of professional chauffeurs striving to provide a level of service that is unsurpassed in the limousine industry. They are constantly recognized by clients and the community alike for their communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. They have excelled in planning, exceptional client relationship management and the ability to serve as adviser for private and corporate event logistics.

When you need quality transportation and you want professionals who treat you and your guests with the respect you deserve, you want Kansas City Airport Car Service!

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Make it Spotless with Drycleaning by Dave!

Did you spill some wine on your dress during the reception? Did your location wedding at the beach leave saltwater stains on the hem of your dress? Maybe you just want to preserve your wedding dress so it will be beautiful forever. Whatever the issue, it’s no problem if you live in the Calgary, AB area! Just drop your garment by Drycleaning by Dave and you’ll get a perfect dress in return!

Preserve Your Wedding Dress … and the Environment!

When you use this company to preserve your wedding dress, you are also helping to safeguard the future of the planet. They worked together with Carbonfund.org,  the leading non-profit provider of carbon offsets and climate solutions, to calculate the carbon footprint of preserving a wedding dress. They calculated every step from your trips to and from the business to the different cleaning procedures to the wedding chest’s manufacturing. They then donate to Carbonfund.org to offset that carbon footprint through reforestation projects worldwide.

They are the first in the industry to offer carbon-neutral wedding gown cleaning and wedding gown preservation, and their ZeroCarbon™ gown preservations are unique. They also use MuseumCare™ wedding gown preservations with archival-quality storage materials and a written international guarantee honored by Association members around the world.

Expert Heirloom Restoration

But they don’t just specialize in dress preservation. They also do some of the finest work in heirloom restoration. Their exclusive process uses the safest, most effective methods for cleaning, restoring and preserving all heirloom fabrics including family gowns, linens, quilts and/or doll clothes. Whether your prized possession is stained, yellowed from aging or damaged from smoke or flood, they can return it to it’s near previous state of glory.

They are licensed to use the safest, most effective methods ever developed for presentation and restoration of all your heirloom fabrics. They hand clean each item individually and take special care to protect its delicate components during the cleaning process. They even offer a free consultation to evaluate the condition of your treasured item.

Don’t trust your most prized possessions with just anyone. If you’re in the Calgary, AB area, you can trust Drycleaning by Dave!

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Personal Gifts for Your Mom on Mother’s Day

We all want to find just the right way to show our mom how much she means to us. After all, who else would spend five hours on a miniature birthday cake just to have it destroyed within five minutes? She has given us life, and gone without so many times just to see us smile. While there may not be a perfect gift out there that can fully describe our gratitude, here are a few ideas for gifts with a personal touch that will definitely put a smile on her face.

An Old Fashioned Letter: This is an oldie-but-goodie. For a mom, nothing is sweeter than hearing encouragement from her kids. Take the opportunity to sit down and flood some paper with your favorite qualities that she possesses or your favorite moments with her. Encourage her with ways that you appreciate her selflessness as your caregiver or how you noticed when she made you your favorite dessert as a kid when you had a bad day. She needs to hear those things and a letter is possibly the best way to reflect on the woman who has given you so much. It will be a gift that keeps on giving because you can be certain she will read it over and over, even when Mother’s Day has long passed.

Your Time: Obviously, this gift also entails how you spend your time, but start with blocking off some time for her that you know she will look forward to. Meet her for lunch at her favorite place, just you and her, and give her an uninterrupted hour. She will leave with a full and happy heart, I promise. She knows you’re busy, so it will mean a lot that you wanted to spend some quality time with her.

Jewelry: Now, we all know that jewelry can be the most over-done and impersonal present there is, but it doesn’t have to be! Notice if she wears a certain piece of jewelry a lot–whether it’s a necklace, bracelet, or earrings–and give her a new piece that has meaning. Put the birthstones of her kids on bracelet, or pick out a ring that symbolizes how much she means to you. As long as you take the time to make it personal, it can be something that will brighten her day when she wears it because she will think of the story behind it.

Pictures: You can go with pictures you already have, or you can plan ahead a little bit to capture some particularly special moments you want her to have. Keep your eyes open for opportunities such as when she’s reading to her grandchildren or holding your dad’s hand. You can also set up photo-ops with certain people that she loves so you can frame them later without her ever knowing the secret reason behind the picture.

A Party: We can’t forget this option! Try to round up a handful of her favorite people. Keep it small so as to keep the personal feel. Get together for a couple of hours to celebrate her with her favorite meal, dessert, and conversation. You don’t have to make it extravagant and spend tons of money; just make her feel special. You can even go to her favorite restaurant so you don’t have to cook. Shower her with praise around the dinner table by taking turns sharing why you love her. After all, that’s what Mother’s Day is all about–bringing to light all of the love that she has spent so much time giving to you.

Mother’s Day is the time to show your mother how much you really do appreciate her. So get creative with a gift that says it all.

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Inspirational Friday – Party Decor Ideas

Here at Wedding and Party Network we want to give you inspiration for your wedding and party details. The details are what sets your wedding and party apart from anyone else. The colors, theme, detailing and style all creates your wedding day style and conveys your party theme. So, today’s Inspirational Friday will focus on party decor ideas.

Need inspiration for party decorations? Wedding and Party Network has some this week. Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, anniversary party, reunion or some sort of theme party, there are decorations for your party.

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Wedding Wednesday – Do We Need Inner Envelopes for Our Wedding Invites?

Your Wedding Wednesday Question

Do we really need inner envelopes for our wedding invitations?

Answer:

There is a purpose for inner envelopes. The inner envelope lets your guests know exactly who is invited. For example, your outer envelope might just be addressed to Mr. & Mrs John Doe but the inner envelope may include the child’s name to let them know they’re invited as well. These aren’t absolutely necessary but people still use them.

We hope this answered your question!
If you have more wedding questions, send them to: social@weddingandpartynetwork.com
Every Wednesday we will post answers to your biggest wedding questions.

Planning a Classic Halloweekend

The vibrant green of summer has given way cozy shades of autumnal orange and yellow. Pumpkins, pies, costumes, and classic jack-o-lanterns are trademarks of the new season, and the ways to celebrate Halloween are endless. Whether you’re a big party planner or like to enjoy a nice weekend full of fall activities, we have some tips for enjoying every minute of spooky season!

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!