Bridal Fashion Week

With fashion week coming to a close and bridal fashion week approaching Oct 13th to 15th what did you think of the new trends for 2013, and which trends do you think will flow over to bridal fashion week?

Like this past spring/summer, next spring will be all about colors, neon's, pastels, dusty shades.. Prints are also a huge hit! floral, birds, dots, stripes. As for bodies peplum was a HUGE hit this year and looks like it will be  next year as well, there was also allot of talk about lace, layers, body con, open backs, tiers,hi lows, maxis, shine, embroidery the list goes on..

We chose our favorite trends and put together a sneak peak of the wedding gowns for 2013!
Take a look and share your thoughts! Are you getting married in 2013? Share your dress ideas or pictures!

We will keep you updated with all the new trends as bridal fashion week unfolds! Look for PT 2 of our Bridal Fashion Week blog!!!!

Life is one BIG celebration, so why not celebrate in style.

The trend of planning parties have changed drastically over the years.
As  a child growing up in the 90's, BIG parties to us was, a cake, a party bag and some balloons. Now parties have been taking to a whole new level, with dessert tables, themes, decor, fancy cakes and so much more to personalize a party. Your party should leave a lasting impression on your guest. Take a look at our 10 best party selections:

Vintage Sweets baby shower - http://www.hwtm.com/
I absolutly love this theme. It is also a unisex theme!!!


Simple, yet so elegant!



Spider Man theme party-

This dessert table will leave all your guest gasping.
Cake pops and cupcakes are a HUGE hit!!






Casino theme cookies-

Everything at your party should follow a theme.



Parties are a creation and should be thought out and planned with time.
There are so many fun creative things  that you can do when planning your party!
Want more party ideas, check out http://www.hwtm.com/!!

Spice up your July 4th BBQ with unique drinks and desserts!

With July 4th right around the corner... Here are some ideas to spice up your BBQ's.

Weither you are hosting your event at your home or on the beach, a Red, White and Blue drink is perfect... I just hosted a BBQ and the drink of chose was Sangria with fresh fruit  and Red and Blue jello shots which were a BIG hit! I purchased a large drink dispencer from Bed, Bath and Beyond and filled it up! It looked amazing on my table setting.

Here are some other drinks:

1- 4th of July cocktail- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/fourth-of-july-cocktail-recipe/index.html






2- Patriotic Shots- http://www.ecurry.com/blog/drinks-cocktails-beverages/patriotic-shot/




3- Blue Tini-
 http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/bluetini-recipe/index.html



4- Spanish Sangria- http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Classic-Spanish-Sangria/Detail.aspx




We also had some great July 4th desserts!! Star shapped cookies with red and blue sugar and fruit kabobs. There are so many different desserts you can create, here are our top choices:

1- Red, White and Blue Cheesecake Bars- http://www.recipegirl.com/2007/05/31/red-white-and-blueberry-cheesecake-bars/



2- Wave your flag cake- http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/wave-your-flag-cake-50205.aspx



3- Cherry Pie- http://moon-pie.blogspot.com/2006/07/4th-of-july-cherry-pie.html



4-Sparkling Marshmellow Pops -http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/sparklin-marshmallow-crispy-treats-53448.aspx  This was a GREAT hit for the kids!



5- Watermelon Pops-  http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/watermelon-pops-113172.aspx



Need some decor ideas...
buy red/white or blue/white checker flannel table clothes or stripe table cloths
purchase the old skool mustard and ketchup holders
If you are having the BBQ in yout home, you can decorate your yard with patriotic decor.
Set up your tables with all of the themed food/desserts and drinks you decided on.

Remember the key to a successful event is DETAILS!!!!!!

Have FUN and be SAFE!!

Should I or Shouldn't I... Have my child's Birthday Party at Home?!?!

Its that time of year again and you have found yourself pondering on what you should do for your childs birthday. For some parents, planning their child's birthday party has become as complicated as hosting a formal state dinner where the standard fare now includes goodie bags, paid entertainment such as a musician or clown, and food choices. So many questions spring to mind!!! Besides the regular task of figuring out who should get invited or what activites you should have for the kids, you find yourself asking whether or not you should have the party at home or at a local venue.

Well, maybe this will help!!! There are many reasons to throw your childs birthday party at home...

1) Your child would not just become a number on a door and have limited time to enjoy the space set up for the party.

2) You can have a BIG impact for LESS!!!

3) Throwing a party at home gives you an opportunity to tap into your creative side.

4) Your child will be able to show off their toys.

5) Having the party at home will be more memorable for the child.

6) As the parent you will be able to SAVE the money that you would have spent on occupying a space.

7) You will be able to include your child in the party planning process!!!

On the other hand, there are many that would say you shouold not have your childs birthday party at home... Here are their reasons why...

1) You have more to do to keep the party going and the children entertained.

2) If you are throwing the party in your home you take the risk of something being broke.

3) You will have to deal with the guests that wont leave at an appropriate time and linger around.

4) You may end up with more guests than expected.

The bottom line is that everyone is different and there are always various opinions on what a good birthday party is.  Check out all options and do what is best for your family and especially your child. You know your child and have an idea of what would please them!!!  



Cocktail Hour Ideas

Everything about your wedding should be unique and represent you!
Here are some fun non-traditional ideas for your cocktail hour

1-Personalized Napkins- Personalize napkins with fun facts about you and your bride/groom.


2-The Perfect Pair- TREND ALERT!!!!! Sip and bite! Mini patrons and mini tacos!


3-Self Serve- Signature cocktails ready to be served



4-Whats cocktail hour with out the music?
To set the mood right, why not have a violenist for your cocktail hour?

Top-Shelf Idea: Maybe you've planned on having a rocking DJ to keep you dancing throughout the reception, but for the cocktail hour, slow it down. Hire a jazz trio, quartet or acoustic guitarist to set a distinct mood.

5-For the Virgin Drinkers- Not everyone is into a cocktail. It is always important to consider all of your guest when selecting any menu. Be sure to have at least one non-alcholic drink.

Top-Shelf Idea: Give guests more than just water and soda by having at least one mocktail on the menu. Work with your caterer or mixologist to come up with something inventive -- like a mix of grapefruit and orange juices, a little coconut milk and a small scoop of orange sherbet on top.- The Knot

Check out more ideas on our pinterest page :http://pinterest.com/eeventz/p-o-p-cocktail-hour-ideas/

Wedding Planning- The"small" things that are not so small after all

Since we were little girls we have always dreamed about our wedding plans,  all we were missing was our prince charming. Now that you have found him and have decided to take the next step in your life it's time to make all those dreams become a reality.

You should leave yourself a minimum of a year to plan your wedding, especially all of my DIY brides. The To Do list is rather long and is filled with a lot of "small" things that is often put off to the last min, but as I have seen happen with my past brides those "small" things are the most tedious things to get together. Take your time and make sure you cover all bases.

After chit chatting with a few married couples, the following areas are places they wish they would have spent a little more focus on:

1- Beat the heat-

Out door weddings are amazing especially in the summer. Brides are always hoping for no rain, BUT what if there is a heat wave? That is just as uncomfortable as sitting in the rain. Are you prepared to keep your guest cool? Check with the venue to see what options they offer, or you can provide personalized fans, a cooled lounge area, or ice cold cocktails.

2- Food! Provide options

I have seen plenty of brides save the food options for one of the last things on their to do list. At this point they have already started to experience some of the stress that comes with planning a wedding and decide the food isn't that important and decide to simplify the menu. 

Although this does not have to put on the top 5 to be done first, you should def put some thought into the menu and give your guest  at least 3 options to choose from.

3-Memories... Catch them all!

Your weddings is one the days that you will have all your loved ones In one location enjoying themselves.

Along with a photographer you should defiantly have a videographer.

To capture all the special moments during your wedding also any special messages your guest will have.

4- Time is essence!

Plan more time than you need to get ready. For some reason it feels like the big day takes forever to get here, but once the day has arrived the time seems to go as fast as lightening.

You don't want to be stressed on your big day. In fact all you should be doing Is relaxing and getting ready.

5- A day of Coordinator

Attention my DIY brides, help is always great especially on the day of! I plan parties for a leaving, trust me  you should be relaxed and stress free and not worrying about if everyone is standing in the right place

Deciding if you want a destination wedding.. Here are some Pro's and Con's

I am all for a destination wedding, white sand... blue water... amazing weather on the beach... what is there not love RIGHT??? well like everything else, destination weddings have its pro's and con's..

PRO

Destination weddings are surprisingly affordable.

Because of the smaller guest list and the more casual atmosphere, destination weddings are surprisingly affordable. Most destination weddings take place at resorts that specialize in these types of events, and they often offer all-inclusive packages to make the wedding even more affordable.

CON

They aren't more affordable for your guests.

One of the reasons resorts offer great deals on catering, flowers and the venue is that your guests will be staying with them. Many resorts actually charge entrance fees for wedding guests who are not staying there. Even if you are able to pay for your guests' rooms, your affordable wedding may be at their expense when you add in the cost of their airfare.

PRO

A small guest list equals less stress.
A destination wedding relieves you of all those "duty" invitations. You don't have to include your mother's bridge partner, or your boss, or your best friend's sister. Or, you can have it both ways: Send them an invitation and relax in the knowledge that they won't come all the way to the Caribbean to see you get married. Fewer people equals fewer worries.

CON

Small guest list equals more hurt feelings.
Remember going to all of your cousins' weddings? How will you feel if none of them can make it to yours? No matter how convenient and affordable you think your wedding site is, not everyone will be able to make it. While this is true of any wedding, it's especially true of a destination wedding.

Many of your friends and relatives will not have the vacation time, financial ability or inclination to travel a long distance for your wedding. For older relatives, a long plane trip may be a physical hardship. If you have friends or relatives with small children, they will have to decide if they should bring the kids and miss out on a lot of the fun, or if it's possible to leave the kids at home with a sitter. While your feelings may be hurt by some dear ones who choose not to come, some of your guests also will feel that you've chosen a wedding they are unable to attend.

CON

People will have opinions.
Speaking of hurt feelings, here's something you need to know: A lot of people simply hate the idea of destination weddings. They find it rude and presumptuous of the bride and groom to decide their vacation plans for them. They find the idea of devoting an entire weekend or more to one couple's wedding absurd.  While your friends are probably more used to the idea of a destination wedding and know that it's their choice whether to attend, older relatives may be especially put off by the idea. For a lot of people in the older generations, the assumption is that it's rude not to attend a wedding, so you may wind up with a very grumpy Uncle Morty at your wedding.

PRO

You get a head start on your honeymoon.

Imagine it's day after your wedding. You wake up and you don't have to pack or rush to the airport -- you're already in paradise! And sometimes you're even in a complimentary or reduced-price suite.

CON

Your parents are on your honeymoon with you.

You've always wanted to see Hawaii, right? That's why you got married there. Guess what? Your parents want to see Hawaii, too. After all the stress and planning of the wedding, they need a little break, and since they're already in Hawaii, they might as well stay. After all, it's not like they're going to turn around and go home after only two days...