Archives for August 2014

August 29, 2014 by Celebration Advisor

Inspirational Friday – Wedding Cake Toppers

Today's bride is leaning towards non-traditional in many aspects of her wedding. You can get as unique as you'd like, even down to the smallest detail. One tiny detail that has been changing is the wedding cake topper.

Instead of the classic bride and groom at the top of the wedding cake, brides are changing to a multitude of toppers to make their personality shine through. Some use coral as their topper to complete their beach wedding while others use bride and groom decorated cake pops. Whatever you decide for your topper, let it be a reflection of you and your future spouse to make your cake even more special. Check back with Wedding and Party Network for more wedding ideas and tips.

August 28, 2014 by Celebration Advisor

Book Themed Party Favors

Throwing a book themed party, but don't know what favors to give your guests? Wedding and Party Network is here to help! Whether your theme is centered around a specific book, a library theme, or even just a book trading party, these five favors are prefect reminders of your get-together and can work for all ages.

1. Bookmarks
Readers are always in need of page markers. Get creative and choose bookmarks that represent your party. Having a book themed bachelorette? These heel bookmarks a perfect girly gift that make great keepsakes of the night.

2. Book Plates
Personalized or designed, book plates are great to make sure that your favorite book is returned to you if you lend it to a friend or if lost.

3. Crafts
Create unique crafts out of the pages of old books you can find at your local thrift shop. Make origami flowers or pinwheels and use them as party favors for your party. You can even make your party invitations using book pages!

4. Gummy Worms
This yummy snack can bring a couple of laughs with special packaging. Label the goodie bag "Book Worms" and your guests can eat their special treat while delving into a new paperback.

5. Book
What's a book party without a book? You can give your guest the latest best seller or a favorite childhood book. Have them pass it on to another person once they are finished.

Check back with Wedding and Party Network for more great party tips and ideas.

August 27, 2014 by Celebration Advisor

Wedding Wednesday – When to leave?

Your Wedding Wednesday Question

As a guest, when is the right time to leave the wedding reception?

Answer:

Wedding guest etiquette dictates that the appropriate time to leave a wedding reception is after the cutting of the cake. Once you have your slice of cake, make your way to the bride and groom for your goodbyes. After that, you can feel free to depart politely.

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.

August 26, 2014 by Hannah Jackson

A Light-Hearted Labor Day

With Labor Day coming up, it isn't typical for our minds to start planning a get together. When I think of Labor Day, I think of the year my mom told me and my sister that she would be laboring on Labor Day–her creative way of telling us that she was pregnant with my little brother. So, I don't start planning parties in my head either. BUT, it's a day when people are off work and are able to enjoy a day free from the usual routine. Make it a good one!

Breakfast in Bed

When I think of ultimate relaxation I think of breakfast in bed. It doesn't even necessarily have to be in bed, since it's probably safer at the table to avoid falling back to sleep mid-bite. But I like it to be prepared for me. Everyone deserves to be served breakfast, whether you leave the house for work or do just as important work at home. It just lets you start your day stress-free.

If you know someone who works super hard and could use a pick-me-up, try providing them with a meal! It's really true that cooking with love provides food for the soul.

Family Fun Day

When I was little (and up until I moved out of the house), we would have family swim days. We knew a very special lady who let us enjoy her pool anytime we wanted. We always called her first to be respectful, but it made for a whole lot of relaxing days by the pool with family and friends.

Your day doesn't have to be a swim day, but if there is something you and your family love to do together, make a day out of it! You're off of work and the kids are out of school. It can also be a fun time of discussing beforehand with everyone what plans they would like to make for that day.

Plans for Autumn

If you're a planner like me, it's extremely comforting–and, dare I say, fun–to sit down and plan something. Sometimes it's stressful, but if it is something leisurely and exciting then it can be just the opposite. Labor Day marks the beginning of the end of summer so why not use it as your guide to start planning for things you want to accomplish this fall season?

Fall is the favorite season for a lot of people, and it gloriously shifts us into a different mindset of flavorful breezes and holiday preparations. Some not-so-fun preparations you can tackle are:

Clearing out your gutters
Cleaning your fireplace and chimney
Checking your doors and windows for drafts before the cooler weather sets in.

More cheery preparations include:

Researching an autumn wreath you can make for your front door
Planning a camping or fishing weekend for the kids in the cooler weather
Outlining any changes you may want to make to your flowerbed or landscape
Scheduling outdoor family pictures.

Whatever mood you find yourself in this Labor Day, allow yourself to do something different from your day-to-day. Whether it's a day spent surrounded by special people in your life or a quiet day alone, spare yourself the stress and have fun!

August 25, 2014 by Celebration Advisor

Spring Wedding Trends for 2015

With every season’s change comes new wedding trends to look forward to. So what’s in for the 2015 spring wedding season? Wedding and Party Network has the latest spring wedding trends that you’ll want to incorporate into your upcoming wedding.

Off the Shoulder Neckline
The off the shoulder neckline dominated this year’s Bridal Fashion Week, as a variety of designers featured this romantic look in their 2015 Spring Collections. It’s a great option for brides who would like some sort of sleeve but still show some skin. With this look, you’ll be royalty for an enchanted evening.

Sparks Florist

Non-Traditional Colors
Today’s brides are saying “I do!” in colors not typically seen in a traditional wedding. With Radiant Orchid recently announced as Pantone’s pick for 2014 Color of the Year, we suspect this vibrant shade of purple will be making waves in both the fashion world and upcoming weddings. So if you’re wanting a more captivating color palette for your wedding colors, incorporate playful colors like purple and pink into your bridal wardrobe.

Floral Headbands
Spring has sprung, and so has the popularity of floral headbands! So embrace spring by donning a lovely floral headband as you walk down the aisle. From big blooms to dainty crystals, adding that feminine flair to your wedding day look can be just what you need to demonstrate that love is abloom.

When it comes to wedding trends, we're seeing bright, colorful and glamorous. When planning your wedding, try to incorporate some of these wedding trends into your spring wedding and make it special.

August 22, 2014 by Celebration Advisor

Inspirational Friday – Unique Wedding Cakes

It's not mandatory to keep all aspects of your wedding traditional. If you want to throw out the simple wedding cake and make a groom's cake your dessert centerpiece, you can!

Show off your rustic theme with a tree stump wedding cake or make your black tie affair stand out with an edible top hat. The choices are endless with the creativity of your wedding cake. Choose a design that is as unique and quirky as you and your spouse-to-be. Check back for more inspiration and ideas from Wedding and Party Network.

August 22, 2014 by Celebration Advisor

An Ethereal Bakery

Ethereal is not normally a word associated with cupcakes. But how could anyone deny treats that are described as highly refined, extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world?

Ethereal Cupcakes and Coffee Shoppe is much more than a chic cafe. This unique bakery has you know and love with all natural and organic twist.

Made Fresh
What started as a quest to make fresh cupcakes everyday from scratch evolved into a popular bakery with fresh daily coffee, comfy seating, and even some celebrity spotting. Some enjoy the baked goodness while others, like Daphne Maxwell Reed from “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” visit the shoppe and join in on the fun, baking alongside the bakers and learning a couple of baking tips and tricks.

This shoppe’s one of a kind custom cakes and gourmet cupcakes range in a variety of flavors for every craving. Looking for something vegan and gluten free? Desire an alcohol-infused treat for a bachelorette? With flavors like green tea and white chocolate lemon meringue, it’ll be hard to choose just one.

Wedding Cakes
The design of a wedding cake is just as important as the yummy inside. Their custom fondant and buttercream cakes have won this shoppe the title of Best Bakery in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.

It’ll be difficult to choose between Triple Valrhona Chocolate Cakes and Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Cakes, whose exotic ingredients range from Europe to Africa.

They strive to make authentic cupcakes and cakes from scratch with hand picked ingredients, never from a cake mix box. Let your tastebuds do the talking and check out Ethereal Cupcakes and Coffee Shoppe for your next event.

August 20, 2014 by Celebration Advisor