Lavish Events Blog

Green Inspiration!

2010-03-17T09:31:00.003-04:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day (I'm a weee bit Irish), I thought today would be a good day to make a Lavish Blog comeback! I know it's been a while, forgive me! Work has been BUSY BUSY BUSY and blogging is, unfortunately, on the back burner! I'm hoping to change that. To earn your forgiveness, I've created a GREEN inspiration board to celebrate my favorite day of the year!!!

Credits: Candy Buffet: Details Event Rental | Shoes: Bridal Buds | Table Setting: Manolo Bride | Cupcakes: Make Way for Cupcakes Erie, PA | Everything Else: The Knot

Out of the Box Brilliance

2009-11-13T10:34:00.008-05:00

Different Do’s

You may think that your hair on your wedding is the least of your worries, but having the wrong wedding hair could mean giving off the wrong tone for your wedding gown. The hair has got to match the dress or its disaster city! (ok well not a total disaster, but you get the point) In my opinion, if you are wearing a full Chantilly lace dress you hair has to be very romantic and not a tightly pinned up do. Of course, there is a rainbow of other choices in between!

I know this technically isn’t a bride, but the hair is gorgeous none the less! I love the loose side pony tail with the flower in the center. I really like how it is a flower that has color and not just white or ivory. Color is one of the prettiest details you can add to your wedding so why not add some to your hair?

It used to be that brides would make their best friends wear the most hideous dresses they could find, but now most brides want their bridesmaids to look just as beautiful as they do. I love that this bride chose to have her bridesmaids wear feather headpieces and she chose to just wear a tiny tiara. It looks great and she really took the time to make her wedding party look complete and fabulous!

This next bride I absolutely love. She chose to have her and her bridesmaids wear their hair like they would on a normal day. I know that most brides will never do this, but I thought it was a great idea. You know how to make yourself look the best because you do it on a daily basis! These girls look great and they all look like they are comfortable and glowing, just like the bride.

This bride (who happens to be Milla Jovovich) chose to go with a very boho chic look on her wedding. I really love how she chose to put flowers sporadically in her flowy locks. I think that this gives the look of a hippy wedding in the 1960’s through 1970’s. I don’t recommend the wheat that she also has in there because I think that may give off a little too much of an earthy feel. Maybe replace it with a crown of tiny flowers instead to still have a free flowing look, but not like you just have stuff randomly stuck in your hair.

Lastly, here is a hairstyle that really lives up to an out of the box worthy picture. Nothing says glam to me like pin up girls! Okay maybe you don’t want to be in a bikini on your wedding day or anything, but the hairstyles back then were definitely glam. These are just two of the hairstyles that were popular back then and would make your wedding have the perfect 1950’s glam theme you were looking for!

Word to the wise brides out there; choose your wedding do very carefully because the right hairstyle will showcase your gown perfectly. Choose the wrong one, and you may end up looking back on your pictures saying “what was I thinking!?”

Budget Bride Bootcamp!!!

2009-11-04T13:38:00.002-05:00

Calling all budget brides!!!! Lavish Events is presenting you with a fabulous opportunity! If you're are taking a hit from the economical crisis at hand AND you are trying to plan a wedding, perhaps you simply cannot afford to hire a planning professional. While hiring Lavish Events will save you lots of money--and usually offsets our fees--we can understand why every little cent you have needs to spread as thin as possible.

To help you out, we are offering the Budget Bride Bootcamp!!! These are ONE on ONE, 2 hour meetings that will go over any and all wedding planning questions you have, as well as present you with all of the worksheets, timelines, and ideas that you need to put on your OWN budget wedding. You'll even get the signature custom Lavish Events Budget Breakdown which is an absolute LIFE SAVER!

Check out the brochure below (you'll have to click it to make it larger) and email us to book your bootcamp session.

OH and the most important detail--it's only $100!!!!!

Out of the Box Brilliance

2009-10-30T12:51:00.009-04:00

Spooky Chic

In honor of Halloween tomorrow, it wouldn’t be right not to talk about Halloween themed weddings. If a Halloween wedding isn’t out of the box, I don’t know what is! Brides and grooms all have their own personality, and a lot of them are choosing to have their big day on the one day of the year that all the ghosts and goblins come out.

Many people assume that when a couple wants their wedding on this day that they must be creepy or gothic. That’s not true at all anymore. A Halloween wedding, to me, can mean a deep, dark, romance with rich colors and a great way for your guests to really get into your wedding. Having this theme doesn’t mean that your wedding has to be silly or sloppy at all. There are so many ways to make this theme the most elegant event your guests have ever seen.

I have talked about cakes before, but since this is a special Halloween edition I have to talk about these creepy cakes. These cakes are great because you know that they are meant to be for Halloween, but they are still classy. The first one is a lot more whimsical, but the second one is more subdued in its “Halloween-ness”. Both will suit any type of couple for their holiday wedding.

For a fun wedding like this, centerpieces can make or break what kind of theme and tone you are going for. I feel there are three different types of feelings here. The fall tree branches can give more of a harvest feel to your wedding. Also, it gives more color to the reception room. The spider webs candelabra definitely give the stereotypical Halloween feel. For the right couple, this is great! Last is my absolute favorite idea for a centerpiece. The Jack-o-Lantern is a neat way to kill two birds with one stone. It is beautiful in itself because of the great orange color, but you can carve it to serve another purpose as well. This person chose to carve the letter of their last name into it, but you could put the table numbers or names to let guests know where they are supposed to sit.

Ok so we all know what Halloween is really about right? Candy of course! Many couples are now having candy buffets at their wedding. For a Halloween wedding candy should really be one of the main features. Kids will be swarming around the candy buffet all night. If you are having an adult only reception, you will find most of the adults turning back into kids at the sight of your candy spread! Here are just some pictures I had to post because they looked so Halloweeny and delish!

On a closing not, I really want to caution the bride and groom about wearing any kind of costume. Maybe if you and your guy are really set on wearing a costume, save it for the reception. You don’t want your guests not taking your wedding seriously. Another idea about wearing some kind of costume down the aisle could be something like this mask below. Your guests know you are wearing a costume, but you will still look elegant and how a bride should look.

(I just wanted to post these two very cool pictures I found of a reception venue all dressed up for Halloween to show just how stylish this theme can be.)

Keep all these things in mind if you decide to have a Halloween wedding. You can make it as creepy or as chic as you want. This type of theme really gives you a lot of freedom to be creative as you want. Whatever route you choose to take, just make sure you use that creative freedom to your full advantage!

Teriffic Traditions and Inspired Innovations: Bridesmaids

2009-10-26T17:29:00.007-04:00

Bridesmaid: /briedz-,mayd/ n. a woman who is an attendant of a bride.

Even without the definition, we all know who the bridesmaid is. She stands next to the bride at the altar and helps her through the exciting day - hopefully not in an ugly gown! But, do you know why we have these ladies on our side, or how many it is proper to have? Well that's why I'm here!

Traditionally, bridesmaids would dress in very similar gowns as the bride to ward off evil spirits. It was superstition if the women acted as decoys and followed the bride everywhere the she went on her special day, the evil entities would get confused and therefore could do no harm to the bride.

Today we have our bridesmaids to spread word about the wedding shower, throw the bachelorette party, help address invitations and thank yous, assist decorating the reception hall, keep us calm before the ceremony and basically do anything we need them to do to keep the wedding running smoothly! For these reasons, it's important to choose a solid lineup of women to be your support group during your special time. No one wants a cranky bridesmaid who complains about everything, or one who is unwilling to find run and grab your lipstick before picture time!

Though a nice sentiment, and thought to be tradition, it is not necessary to have sisters as your bridesmaids, whether yours or your fiances. If these ladies aren't cut out for the job of making sure you're wedding day what you've been dreaming of, then don't feel obligated to make them part of your wedding party. It can be hard to make this decision, especially if you want to avoid family conflicts, but if your future sister-in-law will only cause you grief on your wedding day, try including her in another way. She can always be a reader during the ceremony or perform a song if she's musically inclined. This goes for your sisters as well. You should be at ease during your wedding, with a troop of maids who would do anything to keep you smiling!

When it comes to how many bridesmaids you should have, the possibilities are endless. A general guideline however is to have one bridesmaid, accompanied by one groomsman, for every 50 guests. Therefore, if you will have 250 guests at your wedding, you should have five bridesmaids. Having five maids at an intimate wedding with 80 guests might look a little unbalanced. It's your day though, so anything goes!

Speaking of, who says the people standing next to you has to be women? If you have a best friend who is a man, or a very close bond with your brother, you can always have him as an attendant. He can also be your maid of honor. In this case, the proper title would be Honor Attendant.

Lastly, you should never feel obligated to have a friend in your wedding party just because you were in his/hers. You should do what feels right to you.

So brides, just remember when you're picking your bridal party, bridesmaids should be the people who you love and who love you, who will be beaming at you while you beam at your groom and who will make your wedding day all the more special by standing by your side!

Until the next Terrific Traditions and Inspired Innovations, I wish you happy planning and wedding bliss!!

xoxo!

Vendor Spotlight: Save the Doodle

2009-10-25T09:54:00.001-04:00

Planning a wedding reception is a huge responsibility and no detail can go overlooked. But when it comes to providing a new twist to entertainment, look no further than artist Christopher Schroeder. A lifetime of drawing and studying faces has brought Chris to where he is today, a professional caricaturist and freelance web, print, and illustration artist. He makes bringing our each person's best (and arguably, their biggest) characteristics seem easy. Even the most elegant reception could use some of the good humored entertainment that Chris' whimsical portraits offer.

Chris has been requested for hire by several brides in the past two years. The wedding themes are as unique as each bride, ranging from by-the-book traditional weddings to all-out gothic costume party receptions. A wedding reception of any style paired with Chris' doodles are a perfect match!

A caricature is an exceptional reception favor that each party guest would be proud to display in their homes. They outlast Jordan almonds and soft mints with no contest. And when someone has a caricature drawn of themselves on display, someone is bound to ask, "Where did you have that done?" And what better place than at you lavish event?

Please contact Chris Schroeder for more detailed information by visiting his website at www.SaveTheDoodle.com.

Out of the Box Brilliance

2009-10-23T14:38:00.006-04:00

To Veil or Not To Veil?

I say….neither!! Why go straight for the typical? Of course, there is nothing wrong with a tradition that has been around for hundreds of years, but that’s what we are all about here! Traditions are sometimes meant to be livened up. Things that worked for our parents parents, don't always work for us.

The new trend to replace the customary veil is the birdcage veil. Many brides have taken this route and I am definitely a fan! I think these veils are a great homage to the past, but have a completely contemporary look when paired with the right gown. You can wear a birdcage veil with flowers or feathers where the veil gathers. Or you could be a little more daring and go for the pillbox veil. This first picture was designed by Sara Gabriel. I loved this one because she chose to use fabric that would usually be found on a “normal” veil, instead of the loosely woven netting. You can buy her bridal accessories at MB Bride in Greensburg PA. The pillbox veil is an Erica Koesler design. Some of her products are a little outdated, but she also has fabulous ones such as the one below. If you are looking to take a trip back to the 30’s, this is your veil!

This next idea I love because it’s for the bride who wants to be a princess on her day, but also very simple and classy. The bridal headband is the perfect way to let people know you are the bride without wearing a huge tiara like the queen of England! Both of these pictures are designed by Maria Elena. She doesn’t have very many products on her website, but the items that she does have are really beautiful. I really can only describe the bridal headband as class and elegance with a hint of flash.

Staying along the same lines as the headband with simplicity and sophistication, the bridal combs and barrettes are a modern brides dream! These both are Regina B bridal accessories. She is a great designer in New York and if you visit her site, all her products are available for order. Almost every barrette or comb she designed will go great with any hairstyle a bride chooses. They are just the right amount of bling to dress up your wedding hair and make you feel like royalty.

Last accessory I want to share with you is definitely out of the box material, and it is my favorite! This is a Stephanie Browne design. She is a designer in Australia and a lot of her products are pretty pricey, but well worth it in my opinion. When you walk down the aisle with this beautiful headpiece, you will certainly be the center of attention. Not to mention this is something that you would rarely see any other bride wear. So, if you want to dare to be different, this is your accessory!

I must admit that it takes a certain bride to wear most of these veils and accessories, but there are so many different styles out there that every bride will be able to find her own niche. They may seem intimidating at first, but before you think that these are not for you, try them on first! You never know what could work with your wedding and your style.

Erie Wedding Industry Networking Event!

2009-10-22T12:41:00.005-04:00

Hello all! Lavish Events is in the process of organizing a networking event for ALL ERIE WEDDING INDUSTRY VENDORS! This event will be held on March 3rd from 6pm until 8pm at the Bel Aire/Clarion in Erie.

There will be a speaker from a big-time wedding magazine, as well as a speaker touching on the topic of social networking in the wedding industry!

Also if anyone is interested in contributing to the event please let me know. I would love to have a DJ or band provide music for the evening, as well as cake/sweets samples, wine tastings, and anything else you'd like to offer. There will not be organized booths as I wish this to be a true networking/mingling style event. The venue will be providing light hors d'oeuvres and there will be a cash bar.

Many, many more details and formal invitations to come...but for now, if you're interested in attending, please shoot me an email so I can get a general idea of interest! Email: KaraMarie@LavishEventsOnline.com

Attendees should include, but aren't limited to:

Erie, PA: wedding planners, photographers, caterers, rental companies, videographers, florists, officiants, bridal boutiques, hair salons,spas, makeup artists, event designers, lighting designers, cake baker/designers, sweets shops, limo companies, tuxedo shops, hotels, other venues, live artists, bands, dancers, stationary/invitation shops, favor suppliers, wineries, fitness clubs, personal trainers, and ANYONE/EVERYONE else who provides a service that can be of use during the wedding planning process.

**ALSO, an FYI-this event is not, in any way, meant to be in competition with any other business networking groups in Erie. Sticking together and getting to know each other is SO important in the wedding industry. I just wanted a large event that will be open to everyone...in other words, not a "members only" soiree!

I hope to see each and every one of you there!!!

Mary and Michael's Autumn Birdland wedding!

2009-10-19T09:53:00.008-04:00

On October 10th, 2009 a Lavish bride dressed in an heirloom mantilla veil married a strapping British gentleman at the Girls' Club of the Chautauqua Institute. Congratulations to Mary and Michael on their new marriage!

This Lavish wedding featured so many little, thoughtful details, but I certainly cannot take all the credit. The bride was extremely hands-on during the whole planning process. And when I say "hands-on", I mean: She MADE her cake with her mothers help, the cake toppers, the place cards, the mothers & grandmothers corsages, the table markers, and even wanted to do all of her flowers herself at one point...but I'm glad she handed that over to someone else or she would have been drowned with DIY projects during a very important time to relax!

Strung from the outside of the Girls' Club was a series of photos of both Mary and Michael as they grew up. Also on the freshly painted porch was a station for guests to have their photos taken, printed, and placed in a guest book for each to sign during cocktail hour.

When the guests entered the reception site, they were welcomed by a warm color scheme of robin's egg blue and a burnt orange/copper color. The bride had spent every summer of her life at the Girls' Club at the Chautauqua Institute, and knew that was where she wanted to be married, even though the place wasn't designed to host a wedding! Although there was no heat and a lack of electrical outlets (which presented a challenging set-up of lighting for us!), the wedding was a success! Christmas lights swooped over the venue along with beehive lanterns lit with amber lights. The linens were a beautiful shade of blue with a copper organza runner. A giant birdcage hung from the center of the room, showcased by the copper fabric draping across the ceiling. Each table was named after a bird species and had matching bird salt and pepper shakers!

The food was an eclectic, non-traditional mix of lamb, mushroom stuffed shells, pushpana, tamalie pies, Greek salad and more scrumptious bits! Deserts included the homemade cake and M&M's (the bride & groom's initials!).

Later on in the wedding, there were SO many tremendous and heartfelt speeches! It was amazing how they decided to combine American and British culture, right down to the toasts. Soon following was the groom with a beautiful song played on his guitar.

So congratulations, Mary & Michael! I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your wedding, as Lavish certainly enjoyed being a part of it all!

Vendor List:

Planner & Event Designer: Kara Marie of Lavish Events with assistants Joe & Stephanie
Photojournalist: Brady Dillsworth
Ceremony Venue: Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Chautauqua Institute
Reception Venue: Girls' Club, Chautauqua Institute
Catering: Donna and team from Catering Plus
Flowers: Tom Wineman, Chautauqua Institute
Cake: The Bride and Mother of the Bride!

Out of the Box Brilliance

2009-10-16T12:26:00.011-04:00

Totally Unique Toppers

When we think about wedding cakes and how they used to be, it would most likely involve lots of white butter cream icing and a topper with a generic bride and groom. Those kinds of cakes are definitely a thing of the past, but what about cake topper? Have we graduated from something like this:

(I sure hope so!)

Okay, I’m sure the modern bride wouldn’t have something like that atop her fabulous fondant cake. So what would she be willing to put up there? These days there are so many choices to make your cake scream unique!

Of course you always want every aspect of your wedding to reflect a little bit about you and your groom, so why wouldn’t the cake be a part of that? These custom made toppers couldn’t describe you and you groom more! That’s because they ARE you and your guy! The toppers can be special ordered to look exactly like you. They are a little more pricy, but I think they are really worth the price. Your guests will love seeing this whimsical “mini you’s” on top of the wedding cake. Yea, these aren’t for the serious bride who wants her wedding to be posh from top to bottom, but if you are the kind of bride who wants to lighten up the day a little, this is definitely for you!

If your wedding has a theme, many brides choose to continue the theme with the cake. If you have butterflies all throughout your reception, why not have them flitting around the top of your wedding cake? Or if you have a spring flowers I love this cake topper I found on ButterfliesandDasies.com. Most of them are pretty expensive, but can you really put a price on something like your wedding cake?

Lastly, we all know how much I love feathers right? This one is my favorite! I can just imagine it on top of a beautiful black and white cake. This one is has the long slender feathers to give it the light and airy look, but not like you just plucked a chicken and pasted it on to your cake. For a really ambitious bride, I could see this being able to be reproduced and made at home. I’m sure all busy women can admit that sometimes its better to just throw some money at it and be done with it!

If nothing else, you can always invent a cake topper that is all your own and totally unique. Don’t feel nervous coming up with something new and different because you never know what out of the box idea will become the next hot fad!

(I just couldn't resist posting this cake because I thought it was the cutest idea!)

Brides! Don't Give In!!

2009-10-15T19:15:00.007-04:00

No, I’m not talking about the latest argument with your future mother-in-law.

I’m talking to you!

Don’t get me wrong, tradition is fabulous….white linens, white flowers, white dress……IF that’s what YOU want! If that’s NOT what you want, don’t give in! You’ll find that as soon as that ring goes on your finger, EVERYONE is going to have a different vision for your big day. But who gets to make the decisions? You do. So if you don’t want the white flowers, don’t get them. If you want lime green linens, get them! If you want a blush dress, go for it girl!

There are a lot of new traditions in today’s bridal world. One new trend is finding a hot pair of shoes to go with your gown. You don’t have to wear white shoes with your dress. Plenty of women are out there buying sexy red heels to don under that petticoat….we all know there is something about a great pair of heels that makes us feel irresistible.

Another tradition dilemma is hair styles. Most of us know the traditional wedding ‘up-do’ as a pile of stacked curls with the veil tucked neatly on top of the curls. It’s a wonderful ‘do, but is it you? If you’re not the kind to get the smooth sleek styled curls, then simply don’t. You want to look like the best possible ‘you’, not like someone else. Find the best hairstyle for your face, dress, and overall feel of your wedding.

Finally, the reception is for your guests to enjoy, but give them something to ‘WOW’ about. White on white is elegant and classic…..but what if you and your fiancé are modern fun-loving night owls? Try a jazzy and sultry themed reception, bound to be remembered for years to come!

Whatever your style, make sure you stay true to your hearts when planning the details of your wedding!

Stay Lavish!
~Lavish Lisa

P.S. If you need help making these dreams come true, call us!!

Inspired by Pink

2009-10-13T15:51:00.000-04:00

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought I'd put together a PINK Inspiration board.

{Photo Credits}
Shoes- Manolo Blahnik::: Pink Wedding- Daniel & Kristin's OK wedding Courtesy of the Knot:: Flowers- Bella Design Studio::: Wedding Card Box- All of You Etsy Shop::: Bridesmaid Dress- Amanda Uprichard::: Cupcakes- Simply Sweets::: Groom's Socks- The Bride's Cafe::: Pink Bug- Kim Thomas Photography::: Martini- Bubbly Bride::: Wedding Canopy- Wedding Bee:::

Terrific Traditions and Inspired Innovations: Something Blue!

2009-10-12T14:02:00.015-04:00

By now, we've all heard the old adage "Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue, And a silver sixpence in her shoe." This little British poem is said to have started in the Victorian Era, and many traditional brides still use this as a guide to their wedding day attire. While all these details have different meanings, today I'd like to focus on Something Blue.

According to my research, this hue on the cool side of the color wheel, has been a part of weddings for centuries. Ancient Roman brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty and fidelity. Christianity has depicted the Virgin Mary in blue, so the color has also symbolized purity. Whatever the reason, this tradition allows the bride to add a fun splash of color to just herself, or the entire wedding theme.

What kind of planner would I be if I didn't come armed with something blue up my sleeve? Here are a few blue items I've found, and quite a few that will get you this tradition for a lot less green!

The gorgeous satin garter to the left is from Julianne Smith and is priced at $42. The garter on the right is also satin and equally lovely, and can get you that something blue for only $1.99 at wrapwithus.com!

This next idea is for the bride who loves to shoe shop! You know you're going to have fabulous shoes for your wedding day, so why not let them shine in a blue shade? The two below are examples from Payless' Unforgettable Moments collection. On the left is "Catherine" in Tahitian and the right shows "Audrey" in blue frost. They are each priced at $44.99 and shipping and dyeing are free! Out of 64 possible shades, there are nine blue to choose from. Also, Payless is running its BOGO (buy one, get one half off) deal now, so you and your maids could split the costs and save some dough!

So, this next one is cheating a little, but it was too pretty to pass up! This is from Enzoani Jackets and it's part of the Blue line, so technically you'd be wearing something blue! It's priced at $225 at bestbridalprices.com and would be perfect for a chilly wedding in fall or spring.

Lastly, the icing on the cake, your jewelery! Go blue with earrings like the ones below. The pair on the right are oval shaped sapphires surrounded by brilliant cut diamonds in 18k white gold from Blue Nile. They are priced at $2,450. For a more savvy bride, check out the gorgeous pair on the left. These JCPenney steals are sapphires accented with diamonds in platinum covered sterling silver. Originally priced at $100, you can get them on sale today for $34.99!! That's such a fab deal, I might have to pull out my visa and snag a pair for myself!

You can also wear some blue lingerie under your gown and surprise your hubby later, wear blue nail polish on your fingers or toes, have your florist place some blue flowers in your bouquet or wear blue eyeshadow or eyeliner (dark blue eyeliners make brown and hazel eyes pop!) You can also go all out with blue and have it as your wedding theme! Think blue table cloths, chair sashes, or twinkle lights. (Check out Jamie's and Lisa's blogs for centerpiece and gown ideas!)

Here's my idea for something blue that's hidden and extra special: have your seamstress stitch your and your husband's initials somewhere inside your dress (maybe near your heart?), using blue thread of course. You'll know it's there, but no one else has to.

Don't be blue if you're not into this hue, whether a lot of blue, or a little blue acting on this tradition is up to you!

Till next time! Wishing you happy planning and wedding bliss!

Xoxo,

Out of the Box Brilliance

2009-10-08T23:35:00.006-04:00

Personal Place Cards

It may seem like an element that brides don’t always think too much about, but your place cards can be a very important detail at your wedding. Think about it for a minute girls, it’s one of the very first things your guests see when they come to your reception. It’s really your first chance to show your guests what you and your groom are all about and what to expect when they walk into the reception. They can truly set the tone for what is yet to come.

Of course you can never go wrong with the normal printed card stock place cards, but what about adding your own little flair to it? You can also save some money by simply going out in your own backyard to find great colorful goodies that will liven up any plain place card. This couple chose sprigs of Leyland Cypress. If you are in love with this idea, but worried they won’t be that green in the winter, don’t worry! The Leyland Cypress is an evergreen so you will find them at this fabulous color all year round.

These delicate place cards might not necessarily be the best thing for a large wedding, but for a shower or intimate reception, they are great. The best part about them is Martha Stewart gives a template on her website for them. (Martha always thinks of everything) All you would need after that is a dear friend with beautiful handwriting and some free time on their hands. Martha gives the template for the butterfly, but you can order different shapes and styles off of Etsy. They go for about $1 a piece. The best ones that I have found are leaves, dragonflies, peacocks, snowflakes, and (my favorite) shrimp. Ok I know what you’re thinking, why shrimp? When you hang them off of water or champagne glass, it looks like a delish shrimp cocktail!

Lastly, for the bride and groom who not only want unique place cards, but want a unique spread for them too, they can go off of this idea. It’s all about the texture that goes underneath the place cards. I couldn’t resist putting up both of these pictures of the surf and turf styles! This will work great if you and your groom have a great engagement story about how you met on a beach when his dog ran up to you as you were sun bathing, or it could be as simple as you both wanting a destination wedding without the travel time. The other mossy arrangement is really simple to make, but gives great texture, color, and style to any wedding.

I do want to add a word of caution to all of these place card options; they all have so much character wrapped up into one aspect of your wedding, so you have to be careful to keep with their theme. You don’t want to have your guests wondering whether they are at a reception or stuck inside a David Bowie music video. (The point of that bad comparison was chaos…) Any event should always have some kind of uniformity to it.

It’s great to be thinking out of the box, but don’t completely forget about it all together. ;)

Vendor Spotlight:: Walten Point Productions

2009-10-05T22:44:00.002-04:00

Walten point Productions Co. was founded by Erie, Pa resident Matt Barnes when he was in sixth grade. Ten years later, now 20 years old Matt Barnes owns the largest entertainment/production company in the surrounding area. They specialize in live disc jockey entertainment with a total of five disc jockeys on their staff. The company performs at nearly 200 events per year. Walten Point Productions Co. also has an accent lighting, equipment rental, celebrity booking and a graphic design division. Walten Point Productions Co. is very unique because they offer many different high end products that you see in very large cities or on TV, although they make it reasonably affordable for the demographic they serve. Their staff disc jockeys range from the age of twenty up to thirty-six years old and they have one staff member that is an MTV DJ.

Ten years after Walten Point Productions was opened for business, they added a sister company to their corporation. At the beginning of 2009 Barnes Limousine opened for business also headquartered in Erie, Pa. Barnes Limo is a specialty high-end stretch limousine company offering limos anywhere from ten passengers up to twenty-two. The great thing about both companies is that they are managed by the same entity and owned by the same person, Matt Barnes. This aspect is really taken advantage of by their clientele because they love the fact that they can book more than one service in one place and know that they are getting a top notch product.

Currently Walten Point Productions Co. and Barnes Limousine is located at 3850 Walker Blvd in Erie, Pa. They operate out of a nearly 6000 sq foot building and are located behind Larese Floral on Peach Street in the same building. The company’s partnership with Larese Floral makes it convenient for their clients to meet with them and then stay in the same building to speak to one of the best florists in town, if they are in need of their services as well

Owner of Walten Point Productions Co. and Barnes Limo, Matt Barnes, was quoted saying, “Well there are a lot of disc jockey companies out there, as well as other companies that offer some of the services we do…I truly believe that we have the best product. Everything comes at a price. Although, we offer the highest quality product for the price and that is how the business has grown so large even with me being only 20 years old.” Walten Point Productions Co. and Barnes Limousine’s motto is the staff at the company does not rest until our employees are 100% satisfied. It seems like they have stuck to that as they have hundreds and hundreds of very happy cliental.

For more info please visit the DJ website and the Limo website

Walten Point Productions Co + Barnes Limo
3850 Walker Blvd.
Erie Pa 16509
Ph: (814) 449-0274

Out of the Box Brilliance

2009-10-02T00:41:00.004-04:00

Buttons, and Feathers, and Boutonnieres, OH MY!

Alright girls, we all know that weddings are all about the dress right? Well what about the bouquet? If the bouquet doesn’t perfectly compliment the dress, than it just won’t do.

The good news is, nowadays brides have so many more options than just the typical “rose with baby’s breath” bouquet. A lot of brides are going for the bouquets that won’t die within a week by getting either fake flowers, or buttons! No, that’s not a typo. I meant to say button bouquet!

These baby blue button bouquets (try to say that 5 times fast), are a trend that is definitely on the rise with more and more brides who want to dare to be different. I found that a shop called Princess Lasertron that makes really great ones, and she even sells a kit on her Etsy shop so you can make your own (or maybe have your maid of honor do it for you because that’s why we love them). You might be wondering “okay I want these but how I am going to get the boutonnieres that match?” She’s got you covered for that too. She makes matching boutonnieres to go with every bouquet.

Okay so you’re reading this and thinking “this is cute, but buttons just aren’t my style”. Don’t worry because I have another alternative that might be up your alley. What about feathers? Come on now, what girl doesn’t like feathers? This one was made by Ardesign and I found it on her Etsy shop. (Isn’t Etsy great??) She also makes the matching boutonnieres to go with any bouquet. This one goes for about $80 and she has an option for a custom request feather creation! Not a bad price considering this will last forever. (If you have a place to keep it forever)

So whether you are deciding between buttons, feathers, or your own creative bouquet design, remember that thinking out of the box will always give your wedding that little something extra you were hoping for.

Ruby V? Cornflower Tea? Watermelon Spaghetti? Platinum Tank?

2009-09-30T19:45:00.005-04:00

At this point, anyone’s fiancee is wondering what the heck you’re talking about!

On the flip side, anyone’s bridesmaid knows EXACTLY what you’re talking about….(drum roll please….)…..Bridesmaid dresses!!

Some see it as a moment of excitement, some have a moment of panic, and some experience mass confusion. However, whether there’s one of them or twelve of them, the girls have to have dresses and YOU have to choose them!

Bridesmaid dresses come in all styles and all colors. The styles have changed dramatically over the years and so have the color opportunities. As the bride, you have to choose the color and style and traditionally, your maid or matron of honor goes with you to help choose ‘the one’ that will look great on all of your maids. While there is a chance that the strapless tea-length olive number will look fabulous on all 6 gals, there is also that chance that it won’t.

Lots of things should be taken into consideration when choosing dresses for your crew, like body type, budget, and season among others.

Some of us are chesty, some of us are hippy, and some of us are…well….’butty’. Then there are some of us that could pass as part-time supermodels! We’re all shaped differently and that means that one dress may not suit everyone equally. Many brides have chosen to allow the maids to choose the style that suits their body type best as long as they’re all the same color, while some brides allow the maids to choose a color (within reason of course) as long as they’re the same style. Be flexible with your choice because these girls are proud to stand by you on your wedding day….the last thing you want them to feel is embarrassed with how they look. A recent suggestion from a Lavish Bride’s mother is to buy fabric for each bridesmaid and tell them to find a good tailor and have a dress custom made (pending your approval of the tailor’s design!).

While that Ann Taylor Bridesmaid dress for $300 looks great, you may want to reconsider if all of your bridesmaid can’t swing the price tag. There are so many dresses at so many price levels that you’re bound to find one that everyone can afford without breaking the bank. Remember, they will be throwing you a shower, pitching in for a gift, paying for their hair and/or nails to be done, buying new shoes, and possibly footing the bill for a hotel room after the reception….take the time to consider your options.

Of course, the season may have an impact on your decision of the type of dress you want your girls to be in. A heavy satin or….*gulp*….polyester (yes they still make them)…..can be very uncomfortable in the summer, especially if there is any type of crinoline petticoat underneath. Those pictures will last you a lifetime….don’t memorialize your bridesmaids with sweat dripping down their brows!

All in all, it is YOUR wedding, but keep those lovely ladies in mind when choosing what they’ll be wearing on your big day. And don’t fall for that old trick of ‘the worse the bridesmaids look, the better the bride looks’! Everyone is always enamored with the bride! Your bridesmaids are the icing on the cake….but YOU are the cherry on top!

Happy Shopping and Stay Lavish!

~Lavish Lisa