First comes love...

I have talked on the blog about weddings and fundraisers...linens and chairs,

but the birth of a baby quite possibly trumps them all!

The thoughts of a fluffy and fun baby shower make me smile. 

I have just about passed the childbearing years (forget I said that),

so it is fun to get to be involved with some of these oh-so-young, first-time, mommas-to-be. 

Wedding planner extraordinaire Jenessa Bailey (J. Bailey Occasions) and her cool hubby Mark

just welcomed their first baby, sweet little Dyer.

I couldn't wait to get this fab family my favorite baby gift ever...personalized goodies.

I loved seeing my babies' names on ANYTHING. 

Especially the ever-so-soft silkies and fun burp cloths.

Don't want to get your burpie rags mixed up with some other little dudes at church!

I recently had the pleasure of helping shower sweet Nikki and fun-loving Brett

before the arrival of their little Faith.

I used lots of fun serving pieces from Festivities to create the tablescape.

Including the mini chocolate fountain flowing with PiNk chocolate.

The fabulous Courtney made the great tissue paper poms and name banner.

So.  Cute.

We filled glass jars with pink cookies, salt water taffy, and candies to carry out the theme further. 

We used the ever-so-inexpensive pastel marshmallows for vase filler!

Pink lemonade was the obvious drink of choice. 

Faith was no exception.  She received my baby faves too! 

Some of you may think this post is totally out of place here.  But, you know how the saying goes...

First comes love.  Then comes marriage.  Then comes the baby in the baby carriage.

Sweetness.

-Lori

Let the chocolate (and caramel) flow.

I am sure that many of you remember when chocolate fountains first hit the event scene. I was amazed how the molten chocolate cascaded down the tiers of the fountain. I was overwhelmed at the variety of items that you could dip into the creamy chocolate flow. I mean, what doesn’t taste better dipped in chocolate?

Festivities sent out literally (well probably more figuratively, but you get my point) tons of chocolate over the past few years. It was fun. Everyone raved. Then…”been there, seen that” occurred . You see, nobody wants to have the same thing their mother, daughter, sister, or friend had at their soiree. To tell you truth, I got a little tired with the same old setup.

Well, the chocolate fountain is BACK!

Ever seen pink chocolate, lavender chocolate, orange chocolate…

The possibilities are endless people. I have some crazy ideas here. I’m thinking holidays, themed parties, wedding colors. How about you?

Now…as if tinted chocolate wasn’t enough, I have another little surprise. CARAMEL!

Can you say “caramel apple station” for your upcoming fall shindig? Gracious sakes alive. I do believe that heaven just got a little closer!

No event is too large of small for one of these fountains. Festivities rents a mammoth fountain that packs in a whopping 18 pounds of chocolate. They also have “his” daintier sister for smaller events that comes with 6 pounds of creamy Belgian goodness.

I think that I may be taking one home tonight to drown myself do some market research on caramel.

PS-Sorry for the grainy pics.  Something happened after I uploaded them and my IT department couldn't get it figured out.

Happy fonduing ya’ll,

Lori

Here Comes the Bride 2010...Whimsical twist on fall reception decor

Call me crazy, but I LOVE bridal fairs.  They are the time when the creative juices can flow freely.  The sky is the limit.  This show Festivities paired up with the fantabulous Signed, Sealed, Delivered crew for a whimsical twist on fall reception decor at the annual Here Comes the Bride Bridal Experience.  Anyone else tired of the long "head table"?  Check out our unique twist...a couple's table flanked by two sepentines attached to two larger rounds for the bridal party.  I'm thinking this is a winner.  Bye bye Mister Head Table.  It's been nice knowin' ya!

When you pair a rustic centerpiece (compliments of SSD) with burlap, moss shimmer crush, cranberry lamour, and great tabletop accents, what do you get?  Scrumptiousness.  Is is fall yet?  There were even custom placecard holders for George Clooney and the likes thanks to SSD!

This couple's table is my favorite yet.  The flocked taffeta linen was TO. DIE. FOR.  I loved the custom place card holders from SSD and the moss covered container for the florals.  Can you say PERFECT?

I love ceiling treatments.  I saw some inspiration on the web and the gals at Signed, Sealed, Delivered translated it perfectly.  It created the perfect chandelier for our couple.  Love is in the air.  Literally!

The giant urns connecting our head table added major drama.  They towered around 10' tall.  The layered look of the linens created a touch of elegance.  Texture and color were key to this overall design.

The Festivities' bunch would love to help you come up with your one-of-a-kind reception design.  Call them today to set up your very own VIBEconsult at 479.750-8981.  They have everything you need to pull off your dream look.  The talented team at Signed, Sealed, Delivered can add lots of exciting touches from paper to florals.  Check them out too.

I know that Spring is springing...but Fall will follow.  Enjoy the view!

Lori Bova

Heavenly floral color...

I had to blink twice after seeing this photo on the non-stop wedding idea express...Style Me Pretty.

Might just be me, but I'm thinking heaven must look something like this!  The soft and subtle greens, yellows, and blush tones are yummy.

Can you say hydrangea?  Quite possibly God's most perfect creation.  The blooms are so billowy and delicate.  Ever need a gift idea?  Oh sorry, I digress.

Now check out how they amped up the color for the reception by adding taupe, blue, and coral.  Still stunningly sophisticated. 

Goodness.  Gracious.

Blink.  Blink.  I do believe that I have just witnessed a little bit of heaven.

-Lori-loo (nickname courtesy of A. Hannon)

Published! Sweet Jaclyn Tucker weds Brad Julian

Festivities was so pleased to be part of Jacyln Tucker and Brad Julian's wedding day.  It turned out to be a unique expression of Jaclyn's (and her mother Monica's) sweet charm.  Celebrate Magazine, with the help of editorialist and paper queen extraordinaire, Amy Hannon of Sincerely Yours, chronicled the love story.  Visit Amy's blog for photos of the lacy and shimmery invitation that perfectly encapsulated the entire mood. 

The fabulous photography by Jason and Kori Hudson of the Hudsons Modern Photography captured every detail.

The cake from Shelby Lynn's Cake Shoppe was a real show stopper!  Wish I had tasted it.  I know that it was scrumptious.

As always, we enjoyed working with Lisa Rose of One Fine Day.  She always keeps the mood light and stress-free.  I can't wait until she has her new outdoor venue, Creekwood Gardens, up and running this spring.

My favorite part of Jaclyn and Brad's big day was the ceremony itself.  Jaclyn had a great vision of a warm amber glow to fill the ceremony site.  Using uplights and gels on both sheer and bengaline draping, we were able to create a romantic and heavenly atmosphere.  Guests were surrounded by the warmth and glow of the day. 

The reception was equally as lovely with Jaclyn's elegant style.  She chose scrumptious bengaline cloths in ivory, gold chiavaris, and continued the theme from the ceremony with more draping and lighting.  The floral details created by Julie Mendenhall of Jules Designs added a spark of fall color and drama.

             

The one memory that I will never forget from this wedding was the kind nature of the young couple.  They were so thoughtful, considerate, and gracious the entire day of setup.  Their sweet dispositions will take them far in life.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Julian from the entire Festivities' crew!

Can we talk fabric?

Alright friends, can we talk about fabrics?  I know, to many of you, fabric sounds fairly mundane.  However, in event decor, a fabulous tablecloth can totally set the tone for your shindig or soiree.

There are the BASIC...

Basics, like polyesters and cotton twill, are most budget friendly.  They are readily available in gobs of colors and can be paired with an overlay or runner to snazz them up a bit.  These cloths tend to lean more to the casual end of the tone spectrum.

There are the MID-RANGE...

Mid-range fabrics could be a shimmery lamour or bengaline.  These fabrics usually boast a little sheen to add that extra ambience.  In the rental market, these are truly becoming the mainstays and are most definitely worth the extra expense.  If you can't cover your entire table in one of these fabrics, consider an overlay, runner, or napkin on a basic cloth.

...and then there are the SWANK.

Okay, now we're talking.  Obviously this fabulous crinkle taffeta doesn't belong in any 'ol shindig, but it definitely has a place at your next soiree! 

Just met with a bride today that chose a dupioni silk. 

Goodness gracious!  I wanted to wrap myself up in all of its natural nubbiness!  While at the higher end of the price scale, a little of these luxious fabrics can go a really long way!  Think focal point and WOW! factor.

Consider the tone of your event before choosing your table linens.  The table tops typically end up being the largest surface area in the room.  Special thought on the front end regarding color and texture can go a long way to creating your signature look.

L.

What's Your Vibe?

This post is directed to brides, but could easily be applied to any event.

Well ladies, he popped the question and you said “YES.” Now what? The wedding planning process may seem a little overwhelming at first glance. However, there is one key to pulling off the wedding of your dreams without a hitch. You must first decide what your VIBE is.


Your VIBE will set the mood, style, and tone for your entire celebration. VIBE is not only about color, but also about special touches that will make your day uniquely yours. If you can clearly define your VIBE up front, it will flow flawlessly throughout your event. Your VIBE begins with the invitation and continues on to flowers, wedding party attire, and reception décor. All design details should be carefully selected to create a custom look.

Color is the primary key to setting your VIBE. The internet has endless resources to help find just the right inspiration. Visit any one of these websites to get dozens of fabulous ideas: stylemepretty.com, projectwedding.com, flickr.com. VIBE can most easily be communicated through color. Some companies offer consultation services to help you determine what best suits you and how to pull it all together. If you don’t have access to a planner, make you own VIBEboard using fabric, ribbon, and clipped photos from magazines or the web.

Other considerations to determining your VIBE is season, time of day, venue, and formality. Are you a sultry, formal, evening type where dark colors and candlelight prevail? Or are you a whimsical, casual, afternoon girl that loves bright colors and the outdoors? You can see how determining your personal style will make the selection of each element much easier.

It’s all in the details! After you have nailed down your VIBE, focus on the little touches. This attention to detail is what separates the truly fabulous designs from the boring and uninspired ones. If you are into shabby chic, start collecting flea market finds for your centerpieces. Are you a DIYer? Buy some great textured cardstock and a custom stamp to create your own place cards. Is “sentimental” your middle name? Display your mother’s and grandmother’s wedding gowns with their photos. These are the things that your guests will remember for years to come.

At the end of the day, your wedding can be the truest expression of yourself. Take time planning upfront to insure that you create a cohesive look that is just your VIBE. If you see something that just doesn’t feel right…it probably isn’t. Define your VIBE and stick with it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.