Showing posts with label favors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favors. Show all posts

Monday, 27 August 2012

Look Who Nailed It: Pretty Please


Along with most of the ladies I know, my nails are an obsession. My once weekly manicure (don’t judge me) is what I consider an elective necessity. One of my dream jobs has always been to be a ‘Nail Polish Namer’ (come on, how awesome would that be?). Then I came across Pretty Please, a fabulous, NYC based company that allows you to creatively customize your own bottle of nail lacquer!

With 12 amazing hues to choose from, ranging from perfect pastels to bright berry tones, Pretty Please offers you the chance to pick your fave shade and aptly name it! The ideal favor for showers, bachelorettes and bridal party gifts, impress your besties by tailoring the moniker to the event.

What's in a name???

Follow Pretty Please on Facebook and Pinterest for the ultimate inspiration and trendsetting tips.

It’s time to get pretty personal.

Sincerely,

S

Friday, 17 August 2012

All You Need is LOVE

"Friends don't let friends drink wine alone." - Unknown

Last weekend I was happy to be a part of my friend Emily's bachelorette extravaganza. Her MOH, who brilliantly planned the entire weekend, asked me to help out with the paper goods for the festivities and naturally, I jumped on the chance to get crafty. The bride-to-be's future last name is Love (I know, right??), making for the perfect starting point for our theme. I decided to play on the 'I heart NY' logo but instead spell LOVE (see below).


With the 'LOVE' theme in mind, I created custom water bottles, stickers and signs to accessorize the brunch table and home.


The fun began at the maid of honor's home, where we feasted on a delicious breakfast, including a cereal bar, croissants, scones, muffins, fruit salad and more. Shortly after we were picked up by a bus and brought to Niagara-on-the-Lake for an afternoon of wine tasting. On board the bus, we were greeted with "Love" bags which had water bottles and snacks to keep everyone hydrated and full throughout the day. We visited 4 vineyards, had a delectable lunch and tried some fabulous wines and cheeses.


Upon our return to Toronto, we had dinner (and a little karaoke!) at Cadillac Lounge and continued on to Stones Place for an epic dance party.

After very little sleep and with great effort (for some of us), we gathered the next morning at Le Select for a lovely brunch. As a surprise, Emily's mom and family friends joined us, and we all enjoyed a beautifully scrumptious brunch and a toast to the bride-to-be. Along with the help of Em's bridesmaids, I prepared a crossword puzzle all about the bride and groom. The program I used was Armored Penguin and they turned out great. They were displayed at each place setting for guests when they arrived, and we all had a good laugh as we completed them!


It was a fabulous weekend and a wonderful way to get everyone excited for September 28th!
42 days and counting...it will be here before we know it!

Yours Truly,

A

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Jayme's Last Call

"There are no good girls gone wrong - just bad girls found out." - Mae West

This past weekend I, along with a group of fantastic ladies, had the pleasure of planning our friend Jayme's bachelorette. Months ago we unanimously decided the theme for the event would be wine and cheese; the bride's favorite things (aside from her fiance and puppy, of course).

For the main event, we hosted a DIY wine tasting which included 7 different varietals of wine from different countries. Each girl was greeted with a wine glass dipped in Martha Stewart Crafts Chalkboard Acrylic Paint to write their name on and keep for the night. We had each wine labelled with its name, date and region as well as a food pairing. We selected nuts, fruits, meats and cheeses to pair with the wines. We also created rating sheets for guests to rate each wine.  It was fun to have everyone score the wines and discuss their personal tastes and preferences.







Throughout the wine tasting, we had a cleansing palate station with water and bread, a selection of cheeses and served hor d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Angie MacRae.




As one of the activities for the night, I prepared a Mad Lib for the bride-to-be to help her write her wedding vows. We later asked her to read them aloud and were entertained by the thoughtful and ridiculous answers.



The logo used on all of the paper goods was created from the Wedding Chicks Free Printables.  I often use them because they are creative and useful when you don't have a graphic designer handy and you're working on a budget. The logo was used on custom water bottles, labels for the favors, menus and much more. Check out their site for inspiration for your next event.

For favors, we used kraft paper take-out boxes from Michaels and chose 4 different ribbons and our logo to spruce them up.  Inside, guests were given Wine Erase wipes, which remove any red wine stains for your lips and teeth, a heart shaped wine stopper and gold Hershey's kisses - a good combination of practical and cute, and perfectly suited to the theme.


Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures from dinner but the meal that Chef Angie MacRae prepared was excellent and definitely worth mentioning.  On the menu was a Maple Pecan and Pear Salad with Parmesan and Arugula to start followed by the main entree of French Bistro Steak with Provencal Butter, Lemon French Beans and Sweet Potato Chipotle Gratin and was completed with a light and delicious dessert of Raspberry Sorbet with Vanilla Shortbread. Everything was beautifully prepared and enjoyed by all.  I have included a photo of the menu.


The rest of the night's festivities will stay between the bride-to-be and us ladies, but it was definitely a night to remember (hopefully) and a great tribute to Jayme before she ties the knot in 28 days!!

Jayme and her maids :)
All photos were taken by Janine Therese

Can't wait for the big day and for the celebrations to continue.

Yours Truly,

A

Friday, 6 July 2012

It's Getting Hot in Here

"Summer heat, boy and girl meet, but uh-oh those summer nights"  Summer Nights, Grease 

With the heat wave upon us, it is quite clear that summer is here! For all the brides that have spent the last year planning their big day, it is impossible to let a little humidity get in their way.  However, your guests might not agree.  Embracing an outdoor ceremony will be a little tough when your skirt is stuck to the backs of your legs and your hair has glued itself to your forehead.  Think of them sitting under the scorching sun and plan ahead for your outdoor nuptials and consider turning your wedding ceremony programs into fans! They are practical, charming and your guests will be thanking you in this hot and sticky weather.

Below are some "chilling" examples:
This stylish fan comes in an array of colors and can be found on Etsy
White and coral fans found at Martha Stewart Weddings - download template HERE and make them yourself!!
Chandelier Estate Opulence Fan Program by Citrine Designs 
Bright yellow heart shaped fans - photos from Style Me Pretty
Wedding Party Program - found on Style Me Pretty
A basket of fans as guests enter your ceremony - Pinterest

We think these are FANtastic!

Until Next Time,

A & S

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

WTB Hearts: Dazzling Expressions

An all-encompassing, one-stop type of shop, Dazzling Expressions showcases a vast selection of wedding accents to suit all styles. Choose from incredibly inspiring designs ranging from rustic chic to vintage elegance.

Their uniquely charming collection boasts everything from favour tags and bags to place card holders, table numbers and chalkboard signs. With personalization options offered on a wide variety of their fabulous finds, this Etsy shop makes decorating seem easy; as for narrowing down the faves, now that’s the tough part.

Wooden Burlap Heart Place Card Holder
Black and White Damask Place Card Holder
Cherry Pine Nautical Place Card Holder
Vintage Chandelier Muslin Favor Bags
Starfish Tin Pail Candy Container
'Love is Sweet' Personalized Burlap Bags with Honey Dipper
Cedar and Rope Rustic Wooden Table Number
Giant Clothespin Western Rustic Table Number Holder
Chalkboard Heart Tags
Vintage Style Paris Wooden Favor Tags
Monogram Unity Candle Set with Ribbon
'Happily Ever After' Cupcake Toppers
Personalized Mustache Cigar Box Groomsmen Gifts
Personalized Scalloped Wooden Guestbook Alternative Box

Delightfully dazzled. 

Until next time,

A & S


Wednesday, 11 January 2012

WTB Hearts: Scrap Bits

Thanking your guests is one custom not to be forgotten. Whether it's at a shower, bachelorette, engagement party or wedding, it's nice to thank your loved ones for being a part of your day.  These days, there are a variety of ways to thank your guests; favors, cards, donations, candy, home-made sweets, hotel bags and more. Get creative and add personal style and flair to each giveaway.

Scrap Bits is an Etsy shop featuring tags, stickers, and labels to adorn your goodies. Each item can be personalized to match your colour scheme or theme, and can include your wedding date, 'save the date', or your own unique way of saying thanks. We simply adore the crafty creativity with pops of vibrant colour and modern design. They also offer great stickers for baby showers, birthdays, corporate retreats, etc.

Check out some of our faves:

all images courtesy of Etsy

'Stick' to these and your guests will be in for quite the treat!

Until Next Time,

A & S

Friday, 23 December 2011

Be Our Guest

“Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A guest book is a wonderful way for those nearest and dearest to express their warm wishes and sentiments. Not limited to weddings, guest books are a subtle yet sweet detail at bridal showers and engagement parties too (maybe not so much for the bachelor or bachelorette bash, as the lovely thoughts shared on such occasions are probably best left undocumented).

These days, some brides and grooms opt for a more modern approach to the traditional guest book. Etsy presents a vast selection of ways for loved ones to share their happy thoughts with the happy couple.

Classically conventional…

 Shabby Chic Guest Book- Shabby Scrap