Tipsy Thursday - Champagne 101

I love a bit of the bubbly.....I love toasting and the clinking of the crystal, everything about it is festive! Celebrations just don't seem complete with out it.

Most people serve a Champagne or sparkling wine for toasting! FYI, they are the same thing, except that sparkling wine is not made from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France.

There are a variety of Champagnes that have very different tastes and complement different foods.

These are the most common varieties, from the sweetest to the driest:

-Demi-sec

-Dry,

-Extra-Dry

-Brut (the most popular)

Long stemmed flutes are the best for serving champagne it enhances the flow of bubbles, and the glasses should not be chilled in order to maximize your bubbly experience.

Be sure to sample your champagne prior to the big day. I'm sure you can find something to celebrate!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Photo of the Week- Confetti Getaway!

This is the ultimate in getaways! I convinced the venue to let us do it, only because we agreed it would be cleaned up (didn't know what we got ourselves in to!)


What a great way to end a holiday wedding celebration!

Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you in 2010.

Photo of the Week- Winter Wedding Cake

We continue our Photo of the Week theme of holiday wedding ideas

with these Holiday Wedding Cakes! Evergreen, berries, and holly decorate the cake.

Pinecones with white chocolate dipped edges, and chocolate sticks.

The frosting on this cake depicts a wintry scene of snow covered mountains, and trees.

Tipsy Thursday - Yummy Signature Drink

I often do a pre-ceremony cocktail hour. Especially nice during the winter months when you are waiting for those late arrivals. During the pre-ceremony cocktail time we serve a signature drink. Many of you prefer a non-alcoholic choice that still sets the mood. Give this one a try.

The Apple Cinnamon

2 oz cranberry juice
4 oz chilled apple cider

Directions

Fill a wine goblet with ice. Add 2 oz. cranberry juice and 4 oz. chilled apple cider. Stir to mix. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Photo of the Week-Winter Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

Ok...if you haven't figured it out.....I LOVE Christmas! If I was to marry my hubby again I think I would get married during the holidays so I could have a winter wedding.....ok who are we kidding, I think I'd have to have 5 weddings to cover all the wedding designs I love!

BUT....today for Photo of the Week I just couldn't keep it at one! So here's several winter centerpiece ideas for you!

For this winter inspired wedding, the bride chose a white and silver color palette. The vases were filled with snow and tall silver branches, decorated with tons of crystals and silver ornaments (that later became favors). On this table we used ice blocks with tealights in the top, surrounded by mounds of fake snow and flowers. (Note, the mounds of snow were handy to cover the tray that collected water as the ice melted).

This was a simple centerpiece I did for a trade show....great vase (I call it the IKEA vase), again filled with fake snow, calla lilies and surrounded by silver candelabras and beautiful cut crystal.

This is one of my favorite tables...I loved putting together the all white details. White orchid spray, pearl and crystal linen with faux fur edging, again cut crystal for that elegant icicle feel. Even the chair caps and napkin rings were fur!

I love the all white look! What's your favorite?

Tipsy Thursday- Frostini...another great signature drink!

Yes...we are forgoing our usual wedding etiquette tips for great holiday signature drinks.

My hubby is a Starbucks addict...so this one is for you babe!

Give the Frostini a try!

FROSTINI

Ingredients

1 part Starbucks™ Coffee Liqueur

1 part Starbucks™ Cream Liqueur

Splash of DeKuyper® Peppermint Schnapps

Directions

Shake ingredients over ice. Serve in a martini glass.

Photo of the Week- Wintry Bridesmaid Flowers

I love winter weddings, there are so many places to find inspiration! Are you looking for something different for the bridesmaids to carry down the aisle? For this holiday wedding we chose a white fur muff (faux of course ladies!) with a sprig of holly attached.



There are so many wonderful ways to create a magical wintry feel for your ceremony. I love the idea of the bridal party walking down an aisle lined with sparkling snow drifts, candles, and tall white trees creating a magical pathway. The ladies can carry a huge bouquet of white hydrangea with a silver ribbon and bells at the ends or a candlelight ceremony with the bridesmaids carrying a candle circled with white flowers. Hmmmm......this totally has me in the mood for snow!

Tipsy Thursday- Holiday Signature Drinks

Ok, something about this time of year...all the parties....friends gathering...a few drinks here and there...it always gets me thinking about great signature drinks for a winter wedding!

Give this one a whirl! (Thanks to http://www.thedenverchannel.com/)

Vanilla Peppermint Martini

Serves two

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka

2 ounces half and half or cream

1 heaping tablespoon hot cocoa mix

1/4 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Peppermint Extract

1/2 teaspoon pure chocolate extract

1/2 teaspoon pure Tahitian vanilla extract (Madagascar or Mexican if preferred)

Ice Chocolate syrup

Mini candy cane

Directions

Add all ingredients except the syrup and candy cane in a shaker and shake vigorously. Pour into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a swirl of chocolate syrup and candy cane.

Photo of the Week- Christmas Wedding Flower Girl

To get in the spirit of the season, here's one of my fave photos from a winter, Scandinavian, Christmas themed wedding! The flower girl was adorable, and she loved her evergreen halo & Lucia crown. It was perfect for the candlelight ceremony.

What You Missed at Fall 2010 Bridal Fashion Week

The bridal designers sent their latest looks for Fall 2010 down the runway in October.
Here are some of the bridal trends they have in store for us!

-The ballgown is back! Tight torsos and full skirts....love it! (This one by Carolina Herrera)

- Pockets! Now you can keep that tissue handy!
-There are crisp fabrics, lots of texture, laces, beads, sequins....

(The first is by Amsale and the second by Monique Lhuillier)

-Short hems- picture that perfect after party dress!

-How about a little black detailing? Love these sophisticated touches! (By Vera Wang)

-Fabric Rosettes (by Amsale) -Off the shoulder (also by Amsale) -Layers of tulle (more from Vera Wang)

Ah ladies...so many dresses....how can you pick just one?

Say NO to the Plain Bow!

Chair Ties...more than just a plain bow!

I was checking out new things at a local rental company and they had this table set up showing various options to the plain 'ol bow we typically see for chair ties. You've all seen it, right.....Now there's nothing wrong with a bow, it's just there are other tying treatments that you may not have seen. Here's a slight variation on the typical...

Or switch it UP.....BUT......I'm lovin' these!
This last one is my favorite!
Thanks Event Rents!

Real Weddings- Hudson Gardens, Littleton, Colorado

Kylie & Bobby's Fall Wedding

Hudson Gardens

Kylie and Bobby envisioned an elegant fall wedding, and an outdoor ceremony. Tricky for an end of September wedding...in Colorado you just don't know about the weather. Luckily, we had a gorgeous day .......and did I mention a stunning bride!

Kylie chose a pale yellow for her bridesmaids and then fall tones for all the wedding colors. Alicia at Bella Fiori did a fabulous job on all the flowers.

The groom's favorite hobby is golf....he was surprised by a few things like the ring bearers carrying the rings on golf tees.

Off to the ceremony....Kylie and Bobby chose the Rose Garden for the ceremony backdrop.

Elegant fall details on the chairs (curly willow, crystals, fall flowers and amaranthus), as well as on the candelabras.

More fabulous fall flowers at the reception in the garden canopy. Twinkle lights (provided by TDA) covered the ceiling and made a very romantic setting!
Desserts! There was a lot for the guests to choose from...the wedding cake, groom's golf ball cake (another surprise) or the smores station.

Thanks to Cooley Photography for great images, Epicurean Catering, and the Makery.

Bride and Bloom Magazine Feature!

Check us out in the latest issue of Bride and Bloom!

Have you seen this magazine, it's goorrrgeous! I love it for all the stunning floral ideas.

In this month's issue of Bride and Bloom we were selected as the Feature Coordinator!

After submitting our idea for the rustic elegance spread we didn't find out that we had been selected for this issue until the last minute. We were thrilled, but nervous that we had only one week to pull it all together!

Here's a few detail shots!

Love the close-up shot of the florals, check out the rustic treatment on the vase.

Julie Sandusky whipped up the paper items for us. We had birch wrap on everything from the invitation, vases, and even the napkin ring! That's the boutonniere on the right with the invite.

Our rustic table number....

Desiree at the Makery designed a cake that even looked like our birch inspiration. Oh... and thanks to Erika at the Villa Parker for letting us "borrow" a few branches for the cake base.

Thanks to Villa Parker, Bella-Fiori, Wildflower Linens, Jared Wilson Photography, JS Design, The Makery, & Event Rents for making this happen, and look so fab!