Create My Event

Stylish Wedding Can Be Yours With This Little Guide

When you're planning your wedding you want to make sure it’s going to be stylish and that your guests are going to be impressed. If you want your wedding to be stylish, it’s not hard to do. You just have to take the right steps in the planning stages and I think I know where most brides are going to want to start.

The Dress

Choosing your wedding dress is a crucial decision if you want a stylish ceremony. You should not be considering, even for a moment, buying off the rack. Instead, you should look into getting your dress professionally designed. This will cost extra but it will be worth it when you walk down the aisle looking and feeling like a princess. When you go dress shopping, it’s important to take someone that you know you can count on for an honest opinion. This will either be your best friend or your mom. Under no circumstances should you take the groom.

Also, remember to pick out stylish bridesmaid dresses as well. Many brides forget about the bridesmaids and then wonder why their wedding photographs look awful.

The Venue

You might have your perfect venue in mind. Or, you might be on the precipice of going hunting for one. Either way, you should make sure your venue offers everything you need. Think about space and how many guests you will be inviting. Also look out for places that have the perfect spot for photographs. This might be a beautiful grass verge just outside the building. You should also be looking at access if you want to arrive at the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage.

The Services

Remember, that your wedding is going to be judged on three things by the guest. They’ll be looking at how beautiful the ceremony is, how much fun they had and the services available. For instance, at the reception, you are going to have to make sure your guests are catered for. You will need to hire waiters, caterers and perhaps even a band. These services might sound expensive, but you can save on costs by not booking a venue for the reception. Instead, throw a stylish garden party in your home. That way, you’ll have more money to spend on the ceremony.

The Stylist

It usually takes a couple of hours to get a bride ready for the wedding. But, you will need the help of a stylist to get the end result you want. Remember, you want to look like a princess and only a professional stylist can grant this wish. You should think of your stylist as your fairy godmother, transforming you into the belle of the ball.

The Music

Finally, a wedding is nothing without good music, and I’m not just talking about the reception. When thinking about walking down the aisle, you should consider hiring a band to play the music. This will give your wedding a unique feel and make it stand out from the other ceremonies guests will be attending after yours.

Pumpkin Decorating 101

Pumpkins are a staple of the fall season and in the past few years, pumpkin decorating has become it's own art form. Wow your Halloween guests with these creative ideas.

Carving

The traditional way of decorating a pumpkin is carving pieces out of the skin to make a face, or design. Common tools to use would be knives, pokers, and markers. If you want to branch out and make your creation come to life, then try using a drill to add a sparkly effect or try sculpting your design into your pumpkin. Light orange pumpkins have thinner skin than dark orange ones. If you plan on using a sculpting technique, buy a pumpkin with very thick skin. Carved pumpkins will rot in about 7-10 days after carving. To help prevent your pumpkin from collapsing on Halloween night, use a fake candle instead of a real one. The flame from a real candle will speed the rotting process. Add a fun spin and use a glow stick to add a splash of color to your carving!

 No-Carve Decorating

A not-so-traditional way of decorating pumpkins is painting them. Painted pumpkins can be great for in-doors decorations where they can be admired fully. One type of painted pumpkin to put outside are ones made with glow in the dark paint. These pumpkins will take longer to rot, so if you plan on leaving for Halloween or like to make decorations early, this is a great option for you. Other ways to decorate your pumpkins are to use glitter, puffy paint, decorative tape or even melted crayons. 

Pumpkin Tips

- Don't just throw out your pumpkin guts! There are great recipes for pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pies or soups that you can make. Remember to shop local and organic if you can!

 -There are many ways to preserve decoration-only pumpkins. One way is to soak the pumpkin in a diluted bleach solution, and spray the inside of your gutted pumpkin with the same bleach solution. The bleach will kill most of the bacteria that causes rot. 

-If you're not planning on eating the fleshy part of your pumpkin, use it for compost! (Note: do not compost if you bleached the pumpkin)

-Always supervise children who are decorating their own pumpkins and keep sharp tools out of their reach.

 

If you're looking for more inspiration, follow us on Pinterest, where we have a board set up full of pumpkin decorating ideas. Happy decorating!

Image Source 

 

 

 

 

How to Capture Special Memories at Your Next Event

Social gatherings aren't just fun in the moment. Looking back at old memories is good for your health. PsychCentral reports that engaging in nostalgic activities makes people more curious and open to seeking out new ones. Memory viewers also experience more vitality and less stress in life.

Your happy event can quickly turn sour when you get the bill, though. According to CostHelper, event photographers charge anywhere between $50 and $300 per hour for their services. Save money and turn your amateur skills up a notch with technology and techniques to capture the best shot. This ensures you can always look back at your photos with cloud storage and physical storage options.

Choose Your Camera

No matter what your photography education, today's cameras help you capture quality photos. Cameras like the Nikon Coolpix S6900 cost less than $200 and include video-recording options, while weighing less than half a pound. Similarly, the Canon PowerShot SX600 HS model starts at around $250 and features useful zoom range.

Save even more money by forgoing a standalone camera and using your smartphone as a camera. Look for smartphone cameras that feature high-quality sensors, powerful shooting modes and a variety of camera settings. The new iPhone 6 Plus is one of the hottest commodities, not only because of its mobile capabilities, but also because of its sexy 8-megapixel iSight camera with focus pixels and optical image stabilization.

Compose Your Shot

Now that you have your camera, keep in mind basic photo-taking techniques. Photographer Dave Ference, owner of Ference Photography, tells Phoenix People that photographers should take photos in the shade and use a flash to fill in dark spots, and they should eliminate bright sun spots to alleviate the subjects' need to squint. He also suggests taking a minute to compose your shot. Don't position your subjects next to a garbage can, and make sure your focal points are balanced.

Show off Your Shots

Now that you've effectively documented your event, ensure your photos never get lost or destroyed by saving them in the cloud. There are a myriad of free cloud storage options available, ranging from Google Drive to Dropbox, that allow you to upload high-resolution photos, segment them into groups or folders and share them with the people you choose.

When choosing a cloud storage provider, investigate its security, suggests PC Mag. Be sure to ask if the provider uses double-encryption to protect files, if there have been any issues with its servers and if the brand is trusted among top technology reviewers. You also need to consider collaboration options and pricing before deciding on a service.

If you love the feeling of a tangible product that you can hold and flip through, there are plenty of memory book creators that allow you to upload your photos and receive physical copies of them in the mail. Options such as Shutterfly enable you to create photo books for as little as $13, with customizable features including cover photos and captions throughout the book.

Turn your event into a calendar or card with a service like Mixbook. If you're interested in transforming your event into a self-publishing venture, Blurb lets you add copious amounts of text and sell your work through marketplaces, such as Amazon.

A Guide to Fall Floral Arrangements

"Wedding centerpiece of garden roses, crab apple, fall foliage, wild grass, eucalyptus, lamb's ear, coxcomb, and blushing bride protea by Honey of a Thousand Flowers" --Source

The autumn season is known for whimsical falling leaves, pumpkins, and cozy clothes. This is the time of year where most plants are either dying or being harvested, so what are we supposed to do about floral arrangements? The secret about some of the most beautiful floral arrangements is: not all of it has to even be floral. Autumn is a perfect time to get creative with your decorating. There are so many hidden opportunities that are waiting to be discovered. 

Where to begin?

Start with a color palette. There are many you can find on the internet, or in any paint store. If you want to make your own, make sure the colors all look good together. Keep an open mind, many colors can be used for a fall color palette, but pay close attention to which shades that will fit best. Stay closer to muted, earth, and jewel tones rather than loud, neon shades. 

Accessories and Details

There's always a rustic, earthy presence in the air this time of year and it's important to capture that to some degree. For example: If you are using these floral arrangements for a fall wedding and you decide you want the color scheme to be mostly white. White isn't a color associated with fall, but you still want both of those things to be a part of the theme for the wedding. Take your white flowers, and put them in a white pumpkin vase. This way, you have both the color and the theme. Other options could range from whicker baskets and rustic tin flower pots to twine and burlap. Using dried flowers is even an option, especially in wreaths. 

(Not) Florals

As mentioned above, not everything in your arrangement has to be flowers. This is the fun part about autumn. We also mentioned pumpkins above, but it doesn't stop there. Anything having to do with harvest or the time of year in general can be useful. Leaves, wheats, grasses, berries, feathers, and even decorative antlers can all add a unique flair while communicating the fall theme. 

 

If you're looking for inspiration, follow us on Pinterest, where we have a board set up with other helpful images and tips. Happy decorating!

Image Source

Halloween Cocktail Party

Halloween can get a little boring when you're too old to trick-or-treat, but it isn't the only way to celebrate. Party the night away with these spooky tricks. 

 Decorations

"The more, the merrier," definitely applies to Halloween decorations. Focus a unique visual on your  front yard and front door. It's your guests' first impression of your house and allows you to communicate the atmosphere of the party before they even enter. Dry ice in a cauldron is a classic, but if you're daring enough, these chicken wire sculptures are sure to attract attention. If you have outdoor speakers or are willing to instal some, it wouldn't hurt to play a loop of spooky sounds at the time that your guests will arrive.

Interior decorations should be concentrated to the most populated areas, including kitchen, bathroom, dining room, living room, etc. Decorate liberally, but don't make it cluttered. Your guests should feel comfortable. Play some background tunes to keep the party (re)animated. If your back yard or patio will be used, make sure to add decorations there too. 

Remember the little details. Fake cobwebs are great at filling spaces that look empty, like hallways or doorways. If you have a bathtub, maybe lay a skeleton in it with some bedding to look like a coffin. The back of your bathroom door also has great potential. If you have a trick mirror, that would be the place to put it. 

Food and Drink

Place hors d'oeuvres and drinks in the living room at arrival time. You can make them as creepy and creative as you want, but we suggest you don't go too crazy or else they might not get eaten. There are about a million different Halloween inspired cocktails to choose from but to add to the experience, find some creepy glasses, or place the beverages in some distressed bottles. Make the hors d'oeuvres filling enough so your guests won't get too hungry towards the end of the party. Display is just as important as the food, but keep it fun and light, not grody. 

Quick Tips

• If this party is going to be on Halloween night, remember to leave some candy out for trick-or-treaters and periodically check to refill when needed
• Be conscious of any decorations that are placed on the floor. There may be people wearing high heels. With alcohol being served, it's probably not wise to have any decorations that could be potentially dangerous. 

Halloween is a fantastic time of the year for creative folks. For more inspiration, follow us on Pinterest, where we have a board set up with drinks, decorations, hors d'oeuvres, and displays. 

Image Source
 

Fun & Festive Fall-Themed Birthday Parties for Kids

When it comes to a perfect time of year for an outdoor birthday party, it’s hard to beat fall. The hot weather is behind you, so you are not locked into a pool-party theme. And because Old Man Winter has not started doing his thing, you and the kids can have fun outside without having to fuss with heavy coats and scarves. Whether you plan to have the party in your backyard or at the park, here are three fun and festive fall birthday party ideas to consider:

Fall Carnival

If your child loves playing games, host a fall carnival birthday party. Set up cornhole boards in the backyard — you can either purchase them in a big box store or make your own — and have the kids throw beanbags in autumnal hues like red, gold and orange. Other game ideas include tossing ping pong balls into colorful bowls of water, throwing darts at balloons and spinning a mystery prize wheel. To really take the party over the top, rent a dunk tank and a bounce house from a local party rental company. For fall carnival supplies, Oriental Trading Company is a holy grail of ideas for everything from games and prizes to treat bag items and photo booth props. The company has an entire section devoted to photo booth props that the kids can use to take hilarious pictures in a photo booth, whether you rent one or create your own DIY version. For prizes, pick up some small toys at a discount store and buy some large bags of Halloween candy.

Costume Party

For kids who love dressing up, an outdoor costume party is a fun idea. As a bonus, being outside in the cool fall weather will help prevent the kids from overheating in their superhero or royalty-themed costumes. Ask your guests to come in their favorite costumes, or suggest a theme, like a Morphsuit party. For kids who are a bit on the shy side or have sensory issues, wearing a Morphsuit that covers their entire body can help boost their confidence and provide calming sensory input for kids with autism. They also come in funny, silly and scary patterns, so they are sure to fit every child's personality. If you are uncomfortable asking your guests to purchase a specific costume, ask them to match the theme, and then purchase party plates, cups and decorations to go along with it.

County Fair

To give your child a more rural-themed party with plenty of Americana, plan a county fair celebration. Serve caramel apples on a stick, deep fry some Twinkies, rent a cotton candy machine and make fresh-squeezed lemonade. If your child loves animals, search for petting zoo rentals and arrange for some chickens, baby goats, lambs and other four-legged farm animals to be at the party. For games, hold a pie or watermelon eating contest, and send everyone home with balloons and plenty of sweet treats.

How to Beat a Boring Rainy Day

If you are the type of person who can't stand being alone during a storm or rainy weather, this guide will help you out. The next time a storm is coming to your area, invite other people over to celebrate and socialize. Bad weather is a great way to get in touch with your community and your friends.

Preparations

For your rainy day party, it's going to be extremely important to double check your prep plan. After the storm starts, it could be too dangerous to drive anywhere. Remember roads are the slickest during the first 15 minutes of rainfall. Go to stores at least a couple of days ahead of time to get all of your supplies, and do not forget the basics like extra toilet paper, batteries, matches, etc. Keep in mind that fake candles run by batteries are safer than real candles, especially if there will be younger children at the party.

Meal Time

During the dark, rainy seasons, many of us will end up with a slight vitamin D deficiency. In order to prevent that, try eating foods that are naturally high in vitamin D, like fish, eggs, and mushrooms. Serve a hearty meal, gaining a little bit of winter weight is natural so our bodies can keep themselves warm. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are some rainy day classics, but don't be afraid to branch out to other drinks, like apple cider or chai. During meal conversations, talk about your favorite and least favorite parts of storms or bad weather and maybe a few spooky stories. 

Activities

When your guests arrive, serve some snacks, get cozy and start with a movie. It's less likely for a power outage to happen in the beginning of a storm, but if there is, don't worry. With all of the technology we have these days, we tend to forget about all of the options we have without it. Board games have a reputation to be, well, boring, but you just have to find the right one for your group. Another activity you could do, is make a small time capsule or a collage to remember the fun you had together. A mix of creative group activities should keep your guests entertained and comforted while the storm continues. 

 

Don't hesitate to follow us on Pinterest, where we have more inspiration, activities, and recipes for events like this and many others. 

 

Image source

Back to School for Teens

School is a major portion of your teen's life. It's where they spend most of their day, and lots of time in the evening they will be preparing for the next day's classes. Here is a crash course on how to keep them organized and confident throughout their school year. 

Organization

Jumping back into the school year is a little bit chaotic, but it can be especially stressful if your teen doesn't stay organized. Collecting the right school supplies is just the beginning of alleviating some of that stress.

Usually schools will send out a list of what your teen needs, but if they don't, here's a few:

• pencils
• pens
• erasers
• white out
• high lighters
• sticky notes
• note book(s)
• schedule/calendar

Taking organized notes is an important part of staying on top of classes. They aid study habits that your teen may need in higher education. A simple way to organize notes is color coordination. In order for it to be useful, it must be consistent. Every color means something and should hold the same meaning throughout every subject (example: highlighted words in pink will be on the test). Each subject should have a different colored notebook. If your teen runs out of pages on their first notebook, it should be replaced by one of the same color. This may be confusing or hard to remember, so your teen may want to keep a code of what each color means in their bag and at home. 

Schedules are just as important as note taking. Make sure your teen has one at school with them at all times. It could be on an electronic device if their school allows, or a book planer. Having one at home is good too. Try a whiteboard calendar. Your teen can copy everything from their school planner onto their home planner so they have a visual of what they need to do, and when. A home calendar is also helpful if your teen does extracurricular activities, and scheduling study time. 

Quick Tips

If mornings are difficult, suggest that your teen prepares everything they will need before they go to bed. 

• school supplies should be put in their bag
• outfit should be chosen (if they do not have a uniform)
• lunch should be made and put in their bag

Going to school on an empty stomach is not healthy, and will make them extra sluggish in the morning if they are not sleeping enough. Some good brain foods for breakfast are eggs, fruit, and oatmeal. Caffeine should not be a part of your teen's morning routine. It may seem like a good jump start to their day, but they will crash at some point, causing them fatigue.

Although education is important, so is your teen's development. Teenagers need 9 1/2 hours of sleep each night. This may seem almost impossible if you take the rest of their lives into account, but sleep is one of the number one ways to keep your teenager from failing classes or falling into bad habits. If your teen is having behavioral problems, it could just be that they're tired. Open a line of efficient communication with them. Growing up is not easy, and no one should do it alone.

Find something your teenager is passionate about. The adolescent brain is very efficient at gaining and sharpening skills. This could be a musical instrument, visual artistic talent, sport, etc.

Socialize your teen with other people who they enjoy being around and challenge them to grow as people. If they cannot seem to find friends at school, there are usually a multitude of places in your community where teens can get together and meet other people with similar interests. 

 

For more inspiration, we have a Pinterest board with other back to school ideas. 

Image Source 

Family Reunion

Summer is a great time to have a family reunion. Kids are out of school, and there is a tranquil feeling in the air. There are about a 1,000 ways to plan a family reunion, but a day in the water is a great way to beat the summer heat. You can host this party at a river, lake, pool, ocean or any other body of water. 

 

Safety First

It's always incredibly important to stay safe around water, especially when children are involved. Always have someone supervising children if they are in or around the water. If you are hosting this party near a natural water source, use life jackets. You may want to use life jackets near a pool as well, especially if there are going to be many children, or if they are not capable swimmers. Another thing to be wary of is alcoholic beverages. One should never swim while intoxicated, especially with kids around. It's a danger to everyone involved. Make sure everyone understands water safety rules. 

 

Games

A great way to bring family together is playing games. Choose whatever type of game that fits your family best, from boardgames to even video games. People who aren't up to play can watch, or maybe even start their own game. There are countless fun activities  families can play in the water, but remember to always keep to the safety rules. Other crafty ways to make memories is to get creative. Tie dying some plain white beach towels together can be fun, and every time you use it, you'll remember the great times you had. Sew each family member's initials onto their towel to add flair. An easier option is to make a memory tablecloth. All you need is a tablecloth and some markers. Have each family member write something nice and then sign it. Keep it for the next reunion and read what everyone wrote. 

 

Food and Drink

Always remember to stay hydrated in the summer heat. Water is best, but it can be boring. Keep it interesting by infusing water with fruit, or even fruit ice cubes. Not everyone likes the same kind of fruit, so put a couple of different pitchers out. 

Hunger can turn family into foes, so leave some light snacks out next to the drinks. That should keep everyone happy until the real meal. Barbecue is a staple of summer, and there are countless options, even for vegetarians. A cold, icy treat afterward is a perfect ending to a day of family fun. 

 

If you're looking for more inspiration, we have a Pinterest board full of ideas for the perfect family reunion, and some family reunion online invitations to go along with it. 

 

How to Create an Effective and Attractive Party Invitation

 

Invitations set the tone for any event, and can also have an effect on the turnout. The design, color theme, font style, paper texture, and wording can all give guests a hint about what the special event holds in store, so make sure your guests know that yours is a party not to be missed!

Create the perfect first impression for your special occasion by considering the following invitation tips:

The Right Invite for the Right Occasion

While nearly all types of invitations include the basics such as the event name, location, time, and RSVP details, the format of wedding invites will vary greatly from those used for your son’s first birthday party. For example, as Here Comes the Guide notes, a wedding invitation usually includes the invitation, a reception card, a response card, a card with directions and other important tidbits of info, along with an inner and outer envelope. For a child’s birthday party, a simple, colorful postcard that includes all of the details will suffice.

Determine the important details that your guests will need to know, and use that information to select the right template and style for your invite.

Invitation Basics and Nuances

To help make sure your invitation will be answered, be sure it includes all of the information that guests will need to RSVP quickly and easily. Make sure the host's name and phone number and/or email address are clearly listed, along with a date, if applicable.

Carefully choose your wording to convey if your event will be a formal or casual event. In the case of a wedding, state in the invitation if the reception will include a sit-down dinner with a Champagne toast, or a backyard barbecue with baby back ribs and all the fixings.

Since gifts are inherently part of many events like weddings and birthday parties, specify “no gifts” if the honorees do not wish to receive presents.

While bridal and baby shower invites can include registry information, the rules of etiquette say it is not appropriate to add this to wedding invitations.

Designing the Invitation

Although you can custom order invitations or pick up pre-printed invitations at office supply stores, it can be fun and more personal to create your own. PS Print offers free party invitation templates that are pre-formatted for size, resolution, and color.

Find inspiration for color themes and graphics using a stock photography site like Shutterstock, loaded with a variety of images that can be used to create your special eye-catching design.

Print your custom creations at home or use a local printing service.

Consider Digital Invitations

If you're on a tight budget, digital invitations are an easy and inexpensive way to get the word out about your event. Use a site like Sendo Invitations to customize your invitations, selecting the theme, wording, and style. Digital invitations are now acceptable for formal occasions and casual affairs such as barbecues, housewarmings, baby shower celebrations, and more. As a bonus, collecting RSVPs is a breeze with digital invitations since guests can reply on the spot with one simple click.