DETAILS!

Mr. and Mrs. wedding cake forks will add an extra special touch to the first taste of cake.



Buy from:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/52133528/vintage-silverware-garden-markers-mr-and?ref=cat2__15

Favorite Florals

One of our favorite florists to work with is Jana Stall from

Events in Bloom!



Jana has an amazing eye for florals and the knowledge to make it all happen! I can't say enough great things about her and her work!
She is very enthusiastic about making your day look amazing and works miracles with her arrangements.



Events in Bloom
9637 Palm River Road
Tampa, FL 33619
813.857.9098

Ideas We LOVE!

Ceremony and Cocktail!

2 Dresses, 1 Wedding!

So many brides today are opting to have 2 dresses on their wedding day! I think this is a great idea for any bride! A bride may want to change dresses for several reasons!

1. Her ceremony dress is too restricting or cumbersome. For a bride that wants to dance the night away, but not sacrifice her dream couture dress, she might opt to have her amazing dress for the ceremony, and change into something that allows for a little more movement for her reception.

2. WOW! factor. Some brides just love the idea of surprising their guests and this is one way to do it.

3. Some couples just aren't done partying! I did have one couple who weren't ready to call it a night after the reception was over. The bride pulled out her second party dress for a night on the town with her new husband and friends!

4. Some brides don't want to risk getting the bottom of their dress dirty from the dance floor so they opt for the second dress to change in to.

Reception!

Secrets to a Fun Reception

The Knot has some great tips for a great reception!

1. Hire a Day-of Coordinator
You may have a ton of fun ideas for your reception lined up -- say, a rockin' entrance, an amazing band, and surprise late-night snacks -- but the truth is it's much harder than you'd think to keep each of those plans in check. If you already have an event planner, genius. If not, look into booking a day-of coordinator to oversee the details (trust us, it's worth it).

2. Order Good Food
Its important to be a great host and order food that your guests will appriciate. Many guest have traveled a long way and may contribute a significant amount to your honeymoon or future home. If you can't afford a quality sit-down dinner, consider a cocktail reception with passed hors d'oeuvres! But dont skimp on quality!

3. Keep the Toasts Short (And Prep Your Toasters)
When it comes to toasts, it's really all about quality over quantity. So direct anyone who is speaking in advance to keep their speeches to two minutes max and ask them to share any other long-drawn-out stories at a prewedding party like the rehearsal dinner.

4. Add a Lounge to Your Reception
If at all possible, create a lounge-like area in your reception space. Why? People can get antsy. Instead of having your guests sit around the same dinner tables all night, a change of environment will promote conversation and keep even your nondancing guests entertained. Look into renting or borrowing couches, chairs, and other pieces of furniture that you can then stage with pillows and votive candles in your wedding colors.

5. Have a Game Plan for Kids
To keep the little ones entertained throughout the night (and to give their parents an opportunity to hit the dance floor!), set up an area specifically for them. In a separate room, arrange for a babysitter who can set up movies for them to watch. Or designate a couple tables just for the kids and pack them with coloring books, crayons, and small toys.

6. If You've Hired a Band, Make Sure There's Good "Break" Music
We've all been to that wedding before: Just when the dance floor starts to get packed, the band takes a break and the party dies. Don't let that happen to you. When you hire your band, ask specifically about how they plan to handle breaks. Some bands will take them in shifts and split off into a smaller 2- or 3-piece bands. Others will turn on filler music. If yours is planning to use filler music, make sure you know what it will be!

May NACE metting!

I am now an annual NACE member of the Tampa Bay Chapter! Hooray! This months meeting was fabulously fun with amazing decor and delicious food! Our challenge this month? Create an amazing piece to strut down the runway with. The catch? We had to use linens and a few misc. crafty items left at our disposal!

Thank you to Booray Perry for some great pictures! Check him out at http://www.boorayperry.com/

For a list of all the other vendors that contributed this month you can check it out at http://www.fwnace.com/news.php

Cake Connesuir

My friend Joyce has begun perfecting her cake baking skills! In this down economy, we all have had to find creative ways to feed our families! We think Joyce has found her niche! I have taste tested these cakes myself and they are delicious! More info on her blossoming career to follow!

Happy Caking Joyce!

FAVOR FRIDAY!

Charitable Donations

More and more of today's Bride and Groom are not as traditional as the last. So many couples are established in their careers, home owners, and bluntly put, already own all of the appliances and glassware they will ever need.

Whatever the reasons, more and more couples are choosing to donate to a charity as opposed to providing wedding favors to their guests. Some simply feel the favors are a waste of money because they are, so often, tossed aside and forgotten about the day after the ceremony.

So how can you make your donation look appealing and meaningful to your guests?

One couple chose to make cute cards adorned with antique buttons, letting guest know they had made a donation to two charities for animals in need.

Some charities also provide escort cards with a small paragraph about the charity and your donation to place at each place setting!

Happy Donating!