Tag: funny wedding stories

Winter Wonderland Weddings with Snowflake & Icicle Inspired Décor

courtesy of michellewellsphotography.ca

There is just something so magical about winter weddings.  The crisp weather.  The sparkly icicles.  The slow falling snow.  The dazzling night skies.  It’s a perfect setting for romance, snuggling up and dancing the night away with the one you love the most.

And after looking through several of these Frosty the Snowman inspired designs – featuring intricate lighting, crystallized ice sculptures and baby’s breath centerpieces – it’s super hard for me to believe that Old Man Winter remains the least popular season to say ‘I do.’

Below are some of my favorite wintry wonders.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

A dash of twinkling baby’s breath can make all the difference.

courtesy of myweddecorations.blogspot.com

Sprinkle in snowflake lighting to really make ‘em ooh and ahh.

courtesy of eyedialogue.com

Drizzle your decor with draped crystals and create the look of poshly lit icicles.

courtesy of foreverphotographystudio.com

Sculpt an impeccable setting with ice, mini floras and fur (yes fur!!)

courtesy of bellzandwhistlezblog.blogspot

Cover up with a chic cardigan and take your gown to celebrity status.

courtesy of dressestutor.com

Or for the super sassy, try a frisky fur wrap!

courtesy of ungovernableungraceful0211.blogspot.com and Oscar de la Renta via weddinginspirasi.com

Make your cake top pop with Old Man Winter’s prettiest creations.

courtesy of thecakeblog.com

Surround your guest with chilling-inspired love from floor to ceiling — this is by FAR my fave!!!

courtesy of myweddecorations.blogspot.com (top and bottom) and brendasweddingblog.com (center)

 

1 Comment December 13, 2011

Let Your Guests Keep on Truckin’ with Late Night Meals on Wheels

courtesy of coutureclosetboutique.com

These days, a wedding isn’t just a brief moment in time… it’s a monumental event for the ages!  In fact, I’m often reminded of a quote from Wedding Date - the 2005 film starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney (dream!) - when I think of just how epic some weddings have become.  Shortly after Kat Ellis (Messing) arrives in London for her sister’s wedding, her mom (played by Holland Taylor) informs Kat that:

“This is a marathon, not a sprint.  We’ve got welcome cocktails today.  Then, tomorrow’s Young People in the Park and Stags and Hens.  Friday’s the picnic, then the rehearsal dinner, and since you left you no margin for jet lag, I need you to hydrate.” 

Of course not everyone goes that over the top when planning their big day, but that doesn’t mean their day feels anything less than a marathon.  From sun up to sun down, a bride, her groom and everyone else in between have a lot of ground to cover… and while some might say the key to duration is hydration… others are more lenient towards sustenance of the chewable variety.

And in big cities like New York, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, grub is precisely what they get!  These big time metro poles are famous for their food truck industries, which they are becoming all the rage in wedding day agendas!  In LA, for instance, mobile grub doesn’t get much bigger than In-N-Out Burger, which has been providing years worth of service to brides and grooms looking to keep their guests full and focused well into the night.

It’s also a great way to talk to guests you may have missed!  One bride (pictured below) used In-N-Out Burger at her reception and said, “We didn’t do a receiving line at the reception, but while everyone was lined up to order their food my husband and I went down the line and greeted everyone while they waited.  It worked out really well and helped fill the time that people were just standing around.”

courtesy of weddingbee.com

Love love love.  Of course, there are so many other ways to keep on truckin’ even if there are no trucks.

At my sister and brother-in-law’s wedding a couple years ago, there was a break between the ceremony and reception for the bridal party to get pictures; so, while everyone else was enjoying a wide assortment of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, the bridal party was schlepping through a park trying to capture the perfect shot.  Matt and Jess (the SIL and BIL) didn’t want their favorite people to suffer however and provided all of us with White Castle burgers and fries to go, as a tied-me-over ’til dinner.

You might also consider:

  • Food Carts
  • Hot Dog Stands
  • Popcorn Machines
  • Goody Bags
  • Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
  • Late Night Pizza Delivery
  • Midnight Snacks
  • Homemade Treats

Leave a Comment December 6, 2011

Golden Hollywood Marriages: Celebrity ‘I do’s’ that Lasted 50+ Years

Paul Newman and his bride, Joanne Woodward were married over 50 years, until his death in 2008. (photos courtesy of people.com)

Okay, I have to admit it, when it comes to Hollywood marriages, I – like the rest of the general public – can be pretty skeptical.  I figure this has something to do with the media’s spin on most marriages, and the fact that you generally don’t hear about a Hollywood hook-up until it’s on the rocks.  Therefore, it’s no surprise that so many of us are skewed so easily.

However, after running across the Wikipedia article featuring Hollywood Marriages that stood the test of time, my skeptical spirit was uplifted, and I was given a whole list of reasons to believe in the power of “I do.”  Maybe it’s the fact that it’s December 1 and my holiday spirit is in full throttle or maybe it’s because I simply love love so much… either way, but I couldn’t help by get all kinds of Christmas cheer after seeing this list of long time lovers — warmed me from the inside out :)

  • Norman Lloyd and Peggy Lloyd, 75 years, married June 26, 1936, to her death on August 30, 2011.
  • Art Linkletter and Lois Foester, 74.5 years, married November 26 1935 to his death on May 26, 2010.
  • Charles Lane and Ruth Covell Lane, 71 years, married from April 12 1931 until her death on November 30, 2002.
  • Karl Malden and his wife Mona were married from December 18 1938 to his death on July 1, 2009.
  • Sherwood Schwartz and Mildred Seidman (23 December 1941 – 12 July 2011)
  • Bob Hope and Dolores DeFina Hope, 69 years, married from 19 February 1934 until his death on 27 July 2003. It was his second marriage, his first being brief.

    Bob + Dolores = True Love (photos courtesy of gossiprocks.com and film.guardian.co.uk)

  • Bruce Bennett and Jeannette C. Braddock, 67 years, married from January 21 1933 until her death on June 30 2000.
  • Sid Caesar and Florence Levy, 67 years, married in July 1943.
  • Jane Wyatt and Edgar Bethune Ward, 1 day short of 65 years, married from November 9 1935 until his death on November 8 2000.
  • Carl Reiner and Estelle Reiner, nearly 65 years, from December 24 1943 to her death on October 25, 2008.
  • Charlton Heston and Lydia Clarke, 64 years, from March 17 1944 to his death on April 5, 2008.

    Charlton and Lydia sitting in a tree... K.I.S.S.I.N.G! (photos courtesy of old.gretnatheatre.com and newsimg.bbc.co.uk)

  • James Cagney and Frances Vernon, 64 years.
  • Ricardo Montalbán and Georgiana Young, 63 years from 1944 to her death in 2007.
  • Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. 62 years, married since March 5, 1948.

    Eli and Anne, 62 years and going strong! (photos courtesy of life.com and movies.yahoo.com)

  • Robert Young and Betty Henderson, 61 years from 1933 to 1994.
  • Fred Zinnemann and Renee Bartlett, 61 years from 1936 to 1997.
  • Jack Paar and Miriam Wagner, a little over 60 years. He had been married and divorced to an Irene twice before marrying Miriam.
  • Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse, 60 years. Although it was a second marriage for both.

    Tony and Cyd proved second time's a charm! (photos courtesy of imdb.com and news.xinhuanet.com)

  • Jonathan Winters and Eileen Schauder, 60 years from 1948 to her death on January 11, 2009.
  • Eva Marie Saint and Jeffrey Hayden, as the article says they married in 1951.
  • Lloyd Bridges and Dorothy Simpson Bridges, nearly 60 years from 1938 to his death in 1998.
  • Henny Youngman and Sadie Cohen Youngman, 58 years to her death in 1987.
  • Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, from 1948 to 2005. Second-marriage for her.

    Ossie and Ruby had the right stuff! (photos courtesy of community.livejournal.com and upi.com)

  • Patrick McGoohan and Joan Drummond, 57 years from 1951 to 2009.
  • Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence, 57 years, from 1940 to his death in 1997.
  • Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara have been married since 1954.

    Jerry and Anne prove a sense of humor can go a long way! (photos courtesy of jaydeanhcr.wordpress.com and movies.yahoo.com)

  • Mel Blanc and Estelle Rosenbaum were married from 1933 to 1989.
  • Bud Abbott and Betty Smith were married for 55 years from 1918 to 1974.
  • Danny Thomas and Rose Marie Cassaniti Thomas, from 1936 to his death in 1991.
  • Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville were married from 1926 to 1980. Although British, Hitchcock became a naturalized citizen and died in Los Angeles.
  • Anita Page and Lieutenant Herschel A. House were married from 1937 to 1991. She had a brief earlier marriage to Nacio Herb Brown that was annulled due to his divorce not being final.
  • James Garner and Lois Clarke have been married over 54 years, since August 17, 1956.

    JG + LC + True Love! (photos courtesy of people.com and upi.com)

  • Arthur Penn and Peggy Maurer were married from 1955 or 1956 to his death in 2010.
  • Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw were married from 1949 to his death in 2003.

    Angela and Peter, 'til death did them part. (photos courtesy of silverscreenoasis.com and life.com)

  • Frank Capra and Lucille “Lu” Capra were married from 1932 to 1984. It was his second marriage as he had been married to Helen Howell in the 1920s.
  • Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, married from 1942 to 1994. It was a second marriage for both.
  • Roy E. Disney was married to Patricia Ann Dailey from 1955 to 2007, but the marriage ended in a “collaborative divorce.”
  • Rance Howard and Jean Speegle Howard, 51 years from 1949 to her death in 2000.
  • Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, 51 years from 1947 to 1998.

    Roy and Dale said yee-haw to marriage for over 50 years! (photos courtesy of posters.ws and sunsethills.cc)

  • Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, 1958 to his death in 2008. It was a second marriage for him.

**All from Wikipedia, Hollywood marriages.

1 Comment December 1, 2011

Speed Photos: An Interesting Concept, A Mememorable Creation

Denise & Ryan, oh so in loaf! (courtesy of Denise Keown)

This past weekend, the Mister and I attended his step sister’s wedding in Indy.  A beautiful black and white ceremony accented with richly red rose petals, the evening was filled with all the usual wedding charm.  And while weddings have practically become a weekend standard for the Dietzes, it never ceases to amaze me how each one always brings in elements unique to the couple behind the celebration itself.  Denise ( the hub’s step sister) and Ryan’s big day was no exception!

My absolute favorite part  came after dinner when the DJ announced that everyone needed to return to their seats for at least the next two and half minutes… Two and a half minutes??  This immediately peaked my curiosity, as we all scurried back to our tables and anxiously awaited what would be revealed next.

Then, the deliberate emcee continued by saying that the bride and groom truly appreciated everyone for being there and wanted to make sure to remember each guest who was a part of their big day.  He then explained that in order to do this, the bride and groom had decided to get a picture with each and every one of us! 

So, while Aram Khachaturian’s The Sabre Dance (trust me, you know the tune) played over the stereo system, Denise and Ryan - followed super closely by their photographer - ran frantically from table to table posing with each group of people. 

Some of the shots were funny.  Some of them were serious.  Some – especially by the tables who had obviously been previously forewarned – were well planned out, while others were thrown together haphazardly and hilariously… But no matter what the outcome of the actual shot was… all of them were definitely 100% authentic and 100% amazing.

And what a great way to make instant memories and set the tone for the rest evening!!  Love love love it and can’t wait to see all the photos!

Congrats to Denise and Ryan and cheers to many, MANY years of happiness!

1 Comment November 15, 2011

Hollywood Happily Ever After’s are Hard: Kim K says ‘So Long!’ to Hubby Humphries

photos courtesy of Michael Simon, Albert Ferreira/Startraks and Nick Saglimbeni via eonline.com

Well, the sanctity of marriage took another blow yesterday when Kim Kardashian announced she had filed for divorce from Kris Humphries after a solid 72 days of wedded bliss, er, amiss.  Shocker, I know.  But all things considered, 72 days of marriage in Hollywood years is like a Silver Anniversary in regular years; so, mayhaps we should be applauding their valiant effort in holding such high esteem for the ’til death do us part vow. 

Yes?  No?  Maybe?

And while I’m not a fan of bullying (putting others down to lift myself up) or celebrating mediocrity per say. I am a fan of celebrating in general, and in this case, I like to think of how we can turn this 72 day negative into a sublime positive. Because I truly believe behind every storm cloud, there lies a silver lining.  And I’m pretty sure I found here :)

Kim K and frisky Kris had a fairytale, $20 schmillion wedding – making every day of their marriage worth a cool $277,777, whoop whoop! – but they still couldn’t make it last…  And alas, this is where the upside lies…

I figure, if you’ve been married longer than 72 days, well then, you have beaten the odds and have a cause for celebration!  Bust out the champagne glasses and let the toasting begin, because you and your Mister have outlasted a ‘dream come true’ ceremony and 20 million dollar marriage!!  Um, can anyone else say amazeballs??

And the celebration train station doesn’t just stop there!  Oh no, my friends, it keeps on going!  For those of you looking for more reasons to ‘cheers!’ your love, here are some other Hollywood Wedding Whoops-a-daisies that could help you out:

  • The hubs and I are vastly approaching our two year anniversary, and we can feel proud to know that our love outlasted a Hollywood great, Humphrey Bogart and his first wife Helen Menken.  Their marriage ended in divorce after 17 months, as did Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow’s. 
  • And if you’re marriage has gone longer than year, well then pour the wine and cut the cheese because you made it longer than joltin’ Joe DiMaggio and his iconic bride, Marilyn Monroe, who ended their marriage after only 9 months.  Also in this category?  Funny man favorite Jim Carrey and ex-wife, Lauren Holly, also said bu-bye before a year…  ending their nuptial love fest after 10 months.
  • Let the WAHOO continue if you’ve made it to even 6 months because you’ve now gone longer than a country singing mega star, an Oscar winning actor and actress and a daughter of a living legend.  Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger, as well as Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley all said see ya before they even reached the half year mark!
  • Heck, if you’ve only been married for a couple of weeks, why not raise a couple glasses in honor of the fact that you made it longer than sultry siren Carmen Electra and NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman?  Their marriage ended after a staggering 10 days!
  • And you know what??  Just because we all could use a little more yay in our life… go ahead and pat yourselves on the back if you’ve even been married longer than 57 hours because you made it longer than one of my all time faves, Britney Spears, and her childhood friend, Jason Alexander.  They had their marriage annulled after an astounding 56 hours.  Yep.  Amazing.

 So, you see, where one door closes, another one opens, my blog loving brides, and we all can have a reason to celebrate this day!  I just hope whoever is writing the check for Kim Kardashian’s next nuptials uses a luckier pen :)

1 Comment November 1, 2011

Real Life Wedding: Falling in Love is BEST Packaged by Family Fun

The gorgeous bride and her handsome groom. (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)

Recently I had the distinct pleasure of not only attending but also rockin’ it out as a bridesmaid at my cousin Kimberly Lynn’s wedding.  Marrying the man of her dreams, the former Ms. Kidwell wed Brian Mitchell during a b.e.a.uuuutiful fall fiesta ceremony in the heartland of the Midwest.  Surrounded by their closest 450 - give or take – family and friends, the duo said “I do” at Kim’s childhood parish, St. Barnabus Catholic Church on October 15, 2011.

It was a celebration for the ages, sprinkled with all things fabulous, and to say it was a joy to be a part of it all would merely be the tip of the excitement iceberg!  As many weddings as I’ve attended (Kim and Brian’s marking the 50th the Mister and I have attended together alone!), it never ceases to amaze me at how original each one is… how the individuality of the bride, her groom and their families seem to take the same occasion and mark it with something genuinely unique, something uniquely them… I’m telling you, it’s something nothing short of amazeballs.

And because it’s always such an honor to be included in a celebration, I like to glorify the creativity of each by sharing it with the masses (you’re welcome, haha!) and posting it for all to see!  Below are some of my favorite parts… feel free to be inspired:

Post Rehearsal / Pre-Wedding Slumber Party.  Kim had all the girls over for a final Girl’s Night In after the rehearsal, and in a word, it was fantastic.  Giving one of the best attendant gifts ever, we celebrated the evening by watching one part of the gift,  Bridesmaids and secretly “ooh’ing and aww’ing” the other… unique bridesmaids’ jewelry – picked out by the bride herself – for us to where on the occasion.  Love love love!

How much do you la-Louvre those colors together? (courtesy of Google Images)

Killer Color Combo.  As sampled above with the bracelets, the colors were purple, orange and green.  The mother of the bride, my fabulous Aunt Gail, is a DIVA when it comes to decor; so, there was no doubt that the wedding would be nothing short of F.I.E.R.C.E. when it came to its overall layout… and I have to admit, just looking at the floral arrangements alone, you can see just how fierce it was… Tyra Banks, eat your heart out!

And yes, that would be my bouquet barely peaking in on the right and me totally cut out. Yep, haha! (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)

The Bride wore Purple Pumps.  Keeping in theme with the wedding day and the trendy modern bride, Kimmi sported her best plum pumps for the occasion, and showed off her boogie shoes in style!

I wanna put on, my my my my my Boogie Shoes, and boogie with you! (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)

Crowd Pleasing Priest, personalized by friendship.  Being graduates of the local Catholic high school (Roncalli, what?), Kim and I had the pleasure of seeing one of our former classmates (and prom kings!), Dustin Boehm, reach the high honor of joining the priesthood.  Kimmi decided no other priest would do, and Dustin, errr, cough cough, Father Boehm was the one chosen to oversee the whole newlywed nuptials!  He did such a Tony the Tiger GRRREEEAAAT job!

Father Boehm in person and in action! (courtesy of yours truly and photosbyjennifer.com)

Father of the Bride Speech, marked with Love.  So, being a complete sentimental nut, one of my favorite parts of a wedding day is always the time honored father of the bride speech, and my Uncle Rich did not disappoint!  One of the best parts was when he totaled to the years of marriage Kim and Brian had backing them between the families, and because the Kidwell side is such a force to be reckoned with… he had all of us stand up and officially welcome Brian to the fam… all 900 and couting.  Haha! 

Kim giving her Papa a hug after his speech, so sweet! (courtesy of yours truly!)

Ceremony Shoes + Reception Runners.  Kim’s nephews, Jackson and Austin, rocked it out as ring bearers and were both equipped with wedding shoes for the ceremony and running shoes for the reception.  Genius.  I also like how they took it upon themselves to ditch their jackets, ties and tuxedo shirts as well.  Ahhh, boys :)

Work it out, Jackson! (courtesy of yours truly)

Glorious Groom’s Cake.  Vastly becoming one of my favorite parts of the reception, their Groom’s Cake was one of the best I’ve ever seen!  Courtesy of Cheryl Blessing of thecakestandindy.com, K+B’s groom’s cake was representative of their hometown pride and their fanatical love for the NFL.  Kim, being a born and raised Indy girl, loves the Colts, and go figure, she falls in love with a Illinois native / Chicago Bear extremist.  Yep.  I can hope their kids are smart enough to make the right choice ;)

Touchdown perfection! (courtesy of photosbyjennifer.com)

Epically assembled with dance circles, laughter and all kinds of greatness, I could go on and on (and ON!) about Kim and Brian’s wedding, but sadly, like all good things, this post has to have an ending.  So, here’s to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell…

As you sit side by side on the roller coaster of life, remember to scream at the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops and enjoy every twist and turn!  We love love love you and cheers to many years of happiness!

2 Comments October 27, 2011

Everyday Dishware VS Fine China: Who Wins Gold with Wedding Registries?

Waterford Dinnerware versus Vera Wang Wedgwood Dinnerware (photos courtesy of macys.com)

While we all know how I feel about the bridal registry – click here if you need a refresher – I think there is something to be said for the never-ending debate of what should or shouldn’t go on one.  In particular, I especially like discussions revolving around items which toe the line between Trend VS Tradition… in today’s case, Everyday Dishware VS Fine China.

When registering for a wedding, pre-nup pups almost always think of dishes first.  No longer are the days of mismatched plates, cups and plastic ware; now are they days getting hitched, moving up and into some grown up dishes!  And with this at the forefront of every bride’s mind, tradition almost always leads them straight down the fine china path.

But is this the way for every bride to go?

In a word… no.  While registering for our wedding back in waaaayyy back in ’09 (haha!), the hubs and I were met with quite a quandary.  While we consider ourselves a lot of things as a couple, ‘fancy’ would not rank among the top of our list; so, you can imagine our predicament when we were already in the possession of three - count them 1, 2, 3! – sets of fine china, inherited over the years from family… I mean, if fancy we’re not, how could we possibly pick out a fourth set of luxe-ware when we didn’t even have a home for the first three?

Answer: we couldn’t.  After discussing this with our fabulous Bed, Bath & Beyond bridal consultant, we went with her recommendation of simply registering for a nicer set of everyday dishes, while still picking out other big ticket items for people looking to spend a little more.  (Shout out to my boss, Cathy LaValley, who purchased the six remaining sets of our dishware to complete the registry!  Dead sere, can’t eat without thinking of you, haha!)

It seemed to be a win / win for all, especially since not a single piece of our three fine china sets has ever seen the light of a guest whilst dining with the Dietzes.  Um, oops?  Look, I said we weren’t fancy, haha!  But we did pick a registry that worked for us, which is what I would implore all of you to do too!  Find things that work for you and work them… more importantly than giving you the finest, most expensive wedding gift ever, guests really just wanna a give something they know you’ll use and love!

Cheers and happy shopping!

2 Comments October 13, 2011

Pack Your PJ’s: It’s Time for a Pre-Wedding Slumber Party!

courtesy of parati.taconeras.net

I am 27 years old, and if you think I can’t remember the jittery feeling of anticipation I’d get every time I prepared for a weekend slumber party… you’d be seriously mistaken.  (I wanted to say “dead wrong” but never really enjoyed the harsh connotation of it, haha!)  There was just something about packing PJ’s inside my Care Bear backpack (hollllla to Care-a-lot!) that would send me reeling into excitement OVERLOAD!  It still brings a smile on my face even to this day :)

But somewhere along the line of growing up - I’m assuming somewhere between getting my license, going away to college and landing in the constant state of slumber party madness with female roomies – slumber parties seemingly lost their TALLY-HO appeal, and thus, fell off the fun scale altogether.

However, and this is a big however, when my cousin (wad it do, Kimmi!!) sent an email stating that after her rehearsal dinner any and all bridesmaids were invited to her parent’s house (yay, Uncle Rich and Aunt Gail!) for a post-rehearsal, pre-wedding slumber party… the famed frenzy started again! 

You see, Kim lives in Chicago, but because most family and friends are still in good ‘ole Indiana, they are doing the “I do” thang here.  With no place of her own, she turned to the magic of her childhood home for refuge and extended the welcoming hand to the rest of us as well.  Maybe it’s the nostalgia of being in a favorite spot from my youth or the fact that I know it will be an amazeballs time, but I can’t help but feel the same twinge of childhood excitement come over me in preparation for it.

While I highly doubt there will be any pillow fighting in our underoos (sorry to crush your hopes and dreams, fellas), we will more than likely get to spend an evening painting toenails, giving facials, eating junk (how much will be determined by the tightness of our dress alterations, haha!), laughing and simply enjoying each other’s company.  I’m sure glory stories of the past will be relived and we’ll all stay up waaay to late, but it will be well worth it to send off our beautiful Kimmi in style! 

And as an added bonus, we’ll already be together in the morning for the hair and makeup ladies’ arrival!  Dead sere, this pretty little lady is PUMPED!

But the best part is… this could work for anyone!  If you’re a bride interested in having all your girls gathered for an evening of pampering, junk food eating, laughing and childhood inspired ridiculousness… why not have a pre-wedding slumber party too?!?   This not only gives you one last opportunity to giggle with your girls, but it also ensures that everyone will be ready under one roof when your big day arrives!  

It’s fun.  It’s simple, and best of all, the details can be left up to you!  Make it a high end event with on-hand manicurists and a relaxing masseuse or low brow fun with rolled out sleepers and classic romantic comedies on the big screen… it really can be whatever you want, and what a great way to say goodbye to your old life before starting your new one!  Here’s to you and happy slumbering!

1 Comment September 20, 2011

‘Sprinkle’ Your Bride with Love: Bridal Shower Alternatives

courtesy of news.asiantown.net

This day in age, there are all types of brides, and often times, many of those brides are second chance brides.  No matter what pomp or circumstance lead to it, there are several reasons why a first marriage maybe didn’t work out as planned, but more importantly than the reason why it didn’t is the fact that that these ladies continue to find enough faith to give it another try.  It’s these brides that I especially love… the ones who never stop believing in ‘happily ever after.’

Recently, a family friend (holler Jennifer!) got married to the man of her dreams, and even though it was her second husband, it was his first for everything; so, the sisters of said dream man wanted to spare no expense.  The dream man and Jennifer, however, had other plans in mind.  Being that they were both older and already living together AND that she already had the big, whoo-whoo celebration before, neither one felt the need to have all the hoopla a wedding can often bring.

One of the first “hoopla” items to go was the shower.  Because they already had several of your typical shower gift items under lock ‘n’ key, they didn’t find it necessary to register for a whole bunch of things they already had.  Plus, they were both already well established and struggled to combine what was already there in the first place…  But the sisters persisted and decided that if a shower was out of the question, then they wanted to throw a ‘Sprinkle’ for Jennifer instead. 

First of all, the name alone… Addddooorrrraaabbbllle… But the idea behind it???  Even cuter!  Instead of having Jennifer register at a bunch of places for gifts they didn’t need, they simply took her out to dinner at her favorite spot and showered her with well wishes, advice and sentimental gifts.  Ummm, helllooo?  Love!

And you wouldn’t even have to go out to dinner necessarily either.  You could even plan a luncheon or girls night in.  Really, the choice would be up to you!

It’s also a great idea for the non-traditional bride… or even the non-traditional groom to use.  Because Sprinkles are intended to be less formal, many couples may choose to make it a couple’s event.  This way, there’s no obligation for guests to get traditional gifts, but rather, still spend an afternoon or evening celebrating your love!  It would also work famously for older brides and grooms already living with each other, who don’t feel the need to register for new China or spatulas or couples looking to downsize what they already have.   The possibilities are literally limitless!

1 Comment August 16, 2011

Let Them Eat Cake!: Fun Wedding Cake Alternatives for a POP of Fun

courtesy of treschicbride.blogspot.com

When throwing a shower for one of my girlfriends awhile back, I came across a little recipe for “cake pops” and have been OBSESSED ever since!

Being the regular Betty Crocker (for those of you that know me, please hold in your laughter) that I am, I decided this would be an excellent choice for a festive dessert!  And if I’ve gotta be completely honest… it TOTALLY was!  (Subsequently pats self on back)  I made three kinds: Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry.

Now, while these three flavors may seem like nothing all too impressive, it’s what you can do with them that makes them so incredible!  After baking the three cake mixes in the oven (according to the box instructions), I simpled let the pans cool for about 15 minutes before crumbling each flavor into a mixing bowl and stiring in the same flavor frosting. (White w/ Vanilla, Chocolate w/ Chocolate and Strawberry w/ Strawberry.)  After which, I balled the sugary goodness into small circles and covered them with candy melt toppings.

It took a little practice, but once I got the hang of it, it was super easy… and even more delicious!  I topped the White Cake Balls with vanilla icing and yellow sprinkles; the Chocolate Cake Balls with chocolate candy melts and coconut, and the Strawberry Cake Balls with a melted white chocolate candy bar and pink candy heart sprinkles (my faves!).  I placed some on sticks, creating a gourmet sucker look and the rest I left on decorative trays for easy, sweet munching!

There are several options on how you can create your cake pops / balls, but I have yet to find one I didn’t enjoy!  Take a look below for some delicious inspiration and easy to make recipes (found below images) and start poppin’ your way to party goodness!  

Choloate and Turquoise Dream!

courtesy of karascakery.com courtesy of Google Images courtesy of bzevents.com

Pretty in Pink!

courtesy of bakersroyale.com

Citrus-y Goodness!

courtesy of bzevents.com

Wrapped with Love!

 

courtesy of etsy.com

 

Turtle-Something Surprise!

courtesy of cakebybridges.com

Cupcake Cuties!

courtesy of thehappychickadee.blogspot.com

Designed by Darlings!

courtesy of camillestyles.wordpress.com

Lined with Perfection!

courtesy of thesepeasarehollow.blogspot.com

Sweetly say “I do!”

 

courtesy of etsy.com

 

Example Recipe Guide for Reference:

  • 1 Box of Cake Mix (Choose your favorite the flavor)
  • 1 16 ounce Container of Pre-Made Frosting (Again, choose the flavor!)
  • 1 3 ounce Bar of Flavored Confectionery or Candy Melts (Choose your taste yet again! Mixing and Matching is half the fun!)

1. Prepare the cake mix according to package details, using any of the recommended pans for backing.  Once cake is baked fully, simply crumble the cake while still warm (but after 15 minutes of cooling) into a large mixing bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended.

2. Melt your flavored confectionery or candy melt coating in a glass bowl in the microwave or a metal pot over a pan of simmering water on the stove-top, stirring occasionally until at a smooth consistency.

3.  Use a melon baller or scoop (or even just your hands!) to form small balls (use Dunkin’ Donut holes as reference) of your cake mixture.  Then, either dip the balls into the melted pan of goodness using a toothpick or simply drizzle it on top using a spoon to coat each one accordingly.  Place on waxed paper to set. 

4. Decorate accordinly.  Place on sucker sticks if desired. Refrigerate once fully cooled.

5. & ENJOY!!

1 Comment August 2, 2011

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