A Touch of Whimsy

When I started planning the decor for our wedding last year, I came across this photo and absolutely fell in love with the parasol "ceiling" over the dance floor. I knew that somehow, someway, we needed to incorporate this design element into our decor.

I also flipped when we saw the movie Meet the Fockers because they had the most gorgeous backyard wedding reception with hanging parasols! It was very Florida-hippy-chic! .

(this isn't the best shot, but the only one I could find)

Once our venue was booked and I knew where the dance floor and market lighting would go, I designed a plan for our parasols and placed an order with Luna Bazaar in varying shapes, sizes and colors to match our decor.

(the plan)

Next, Kevin screwed brass hooks into the handles of each and used pliers to bend the hook into a loop. This allowed the set-up crew to simply attach each parasol in place on the cable supporting the market lighting with a zip tie. Easy up, easy down!

I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. The parasols added a sense of whimsy over the dance floor. They swayed softly in the breeze as if dancing along with us and created a sort of faux-ceiling overhead which made for beautiful photos.

*Photos of our wedding by Emily Faulknor Photography.

DIY: Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party Gifts

Here are a couple of cute ideas for bridal shower and bachelorette party gifts that you can make yourself.

His and Hers Koozies - I got these in the dollar section at Michaels and then applied Bride and Groom sticker decals to make a cute and inexpensive gift for a wedding week at the beach!

Lingerie Basket & Bouquet - For the same beach bride, I had friends of the bride send lingerie gifts to me and then I rolled each with tissue paper into a flower. I gathered all of the lingerie flowers into a bouquet and used a corset top to hold them all like a vase. I put the bouquet along with a few other little gifts such as slippers, bath salts and a hat to keep the sun of her face into a cute gift box.  We presented it to her as a group with a champagne toast.

Bride Ball Cap - For another friend who was getting married in sunny San Diego, I made a cute, white "Bride" cap for her to wear during her pre-wedding festivities. At that time I couldn't find an already made Bride hat, so I bought a plain white hat and bedazzled it with with rhinestones from Michaels. I paired it with a white zip-up hoodie for the perfect bride-to-be outfit!

Bachelorette Bouquet Favor - I also had the pleasure of throwing a Bachelorette Party for for this San Diego bride. We took her to a chic bar downtown, ordered delicious appetizers and drinks and celebrated the night away. I wanted the girls to have a special favor in honor of the bride, so I had some shot glasses engraved and then filled them with M&M's in the colors of the wedding. Then I sealed each one with "Glad Press 'n' Seal" (the best tool to keep in your kitchen BTW!) and trimmed around the edges. Lastly, a girlfriend and I made a dozen Martha Stewart tissue paper flowers and stuck one in each shot glass. At the party we grouped them on a table together to create a bouquet. It turned out really pretty and was a huge hit with the girls.

The Mrs. Tank - I must admit, I stole this next idea from the sister of a friend of mine, but I loved it so much that I made one for my own little sister who got married last March. It's super easy to make and let me tell you, THE GROOMS LOVE it! All you need is a plain white tank top and iron-on letters (also found at Michaels). Lay them out on the tank to spell the soon-to-be Mrs. new last name, then follow the directions to attach. Pair with a cute pair of boy shorts and you are sure to have One Great Gift!

Steal these great ideas for your next shower or bachelorette party.

Where I've been...

Okay, okay, I know I’ve neglected my lovely little blog over the last few weeks, but it’s all been for good reason. I’ve been planning the ultimate event - My own wedding!

We’ve booked the most adorable venue up in Carlsbad, CA called the Leo Carrillo Ranch and will be tying the knot there this summer!

Here's a sneak peek at the venue:

We are now busy talking to caterers, establishing group hotel rates, designing our wedding website, working on our Save the Dates and so much more!

I’ll keep you posted as we go, but for now check out the fun photo booth pics that Kev and I took this weekend at Belmont Park in Mission Beach!

Happy almost Friday!

Party in the Park

A few months back we threw a party in the park for our staff at work. It turned out pretty cool and I wanted to share a couple of the pictures with you.

We had a really nice day. The weather cooperated, there were games, beer and delicious food from MIHO Catering and Viva Pops. I highly recommend you check out both if ever you are in SD! Yum.

Halloween on the Horizon

 
Halloween and Christmas are two of my favorite holidays and with Halloween just around the corner, I was reminded of an event that we did at work two years ago. One of my responsibilities at work is to help plan and coordinate events for the company. Even though the events add more to my work load, I enjoy planning them because they allow me to be creative!

I've actually been planning events for about twelve years. In high school I was class president and was responsible for planning dances such as homecoming and prom and organizing student events. And now in my current position, we have at least two big events each year and often several smaller ones in between. These events vary by year and range anywhere from eighty to one-hundred and sixty people.

Two years ago we threw a Halloween party for the staff and their children. The staff brought in their little ghouls and goblins for snacks, cookie decorating and trick-or-treating around the office! It was a really great event and everyone enjoyed themselves a lot.

Check out some of the photos: