Thursday, October 21, 2010

Fresh and Healthy Appetizers

Photo courtesy of http://flatironkitchen.com/

Every wedding should have some healthy appetizers! These individual servings of dip with assorted vegetables is the brainchild of Flat Iron Kitchen.

Flat Iron Kitchen is a "boutique catering company serving fresh, creative, seasonal cuisine using market vegetables and other ingredients that are sourced locally wherever possible."  If you live in the New York City area take the time to contact them about your catering needs.  Fresh and healthy! A perfect way to start your lives together. 

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Wood Picnic Basket Wedding Favors

Photo courtesy of FavorsandFlowers.com

I love the idea of favors that are packaged in gorgeous containers.  Favors and Flowers (their web site is http://www.favorsandflowers.com/) offers you picnic basket favors that are perfect for picnic or garden weddings.  Each one can be purchased with ribbon and hang tags (also available on their site) or you could make your own.  Choose your favorite candy filling to make your guests day complete.

Favors For Your Picnic Wedding

Photo courtesy of: http://www.favorsandflowers.com

Having a wedding picnic? Consider offering your guests fans as a wedding favor.  Favors And Flowers, (their web site is http://www.favorsandflowers.com/) offer a variety of shapes and sizes of fans.

This heart traditional bamboo hand fans measures 13" L top to the bottom tip of the fan and 10" across. It is made of quality sturdy bamboo strips. Just add some silk ribbons and a tag or some silk flowers and your favors are complete.  This site offers a variety of sizes and shapes of fans, so stop by and take a look.

This favor is guaranteed to be used by every guest at a summer wedding!

Give Your Drinks A Real Buzz With Fizzy Lizzy

Photo courtesy of Fizzy Lizzy http://www.fizzylizzy.com/

I recently discovered some incredible juice drinks at my local Whole Foods. Known as "Fizzy Lizzy" this award winning beverage is a combination of fruit juice and 'fizzy water,' hence the name "Fizzy Lizzy." Fizzy Lizzy comes in eight different flavors (my personal favorite is pineapple, grapefruit a close second, but try
them all!). I love that they not only quench my thirst but have a high percentage of REAL juice without fillers.

You can choose to drink these alone or use them to make signature drinks, Fizzy Lizzy is a great boutique juice option for your wedding. Just toss them in a tub full of ice and they are perfect for a picnic wedding, cold and thirst quenching but pretty colors and great flavor too.

Their web site reveals there really is a REAL Fizzy Lizzy. According the the site: "One day back in 1995, Liz (yes, there’s a “Lizzy”) was riding her bike. As usual, she had a carton of grapefruit juice and a bottle of sparkling water in her backpack. You see, it was her habit to mix juice and seltzer and the only way to get that combination was to make it yourself. So she got off her bike, started mixing and had her “aha” moment. The next thing you know Liz is running a little company out of her fifth floor Manhattan walk-up, pounding the pavement and evangelizing (to anyone who would listen) about the virtues of juice and sparkling water without the usual added sugars, gums, or other junk. A new religion is born: The Fizzy Lizzy Church of Healthy Soda (TFLCHS for short). Try Fizzy Lizzy. We think you’ll join up. Whether you’re into our Cranberry or our Pineapple, all are welcome. TFLCHS has a big tent."

Stop by their web site for more information on "Fizzy Lizzy" with a list of flavors and serving ideas.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Eyelet Lanterns Light Up Your Wedding


Photo courtesy of http://favorsandflowers.com/
Bring a festive glow to your celebration with these lovely white eyelet paper lanterns. Perfect for a wedding reception or bridal shower. Set of 3 (1 piece measures 11.75"Dia and  2 piece  measures 8" Dia) , comes with 3 wire frames. Simply unfold these eyelet paper lanterns, insert the wire frame, and suspend in different heights using monofilament strings (not included) to create a festive celebration. This not a light source, decorative only. 

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Flower Girl On A Swing

 Photos courtesy of JKoe Photography.

What a gorgeous idea for a photo op!  If you're having your wedding outdoors and there's a convenient tree, make a swing and have your florist decorate it, not only will it be great photos for your flower girl and ring bearer, but for the bride and groom as well.  The combination of blue and red flowers with the greenery for this wedding are stunning without looking overdone.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Gingham Accents For Your Wedding

Photo and design courtesy of: Etsy.com MeandMatilda Shop

Gingham is the new black this summer's picnic weddings. Check out a few fashionable ways for your groom to accessorize for your picnic wedding.


Photo courtesy of: Gentlemansjabot's Store Etsy.com


 

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Pink And Green Centerpieces Accented With Candles For Your Picnic

Photos by Max Wagner via Duet Weddings Blog re-posted by Annie @ MarryYouMe

Flowers, votives and an interesting tablecloth and candlesticks all make this picnic an elegant event!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Men's Casual Shirts for Outdoor Weddings


Casual wedding wear for men can be hard to find, you want something casual and easy but which suits this very important day.  Penners Inc. offers the groom and his wedding party many choices for easy and comfortable wedding wear.

  

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Outdoor Lighting for Your Picnic

All Photos courtesy of: Isabella Catalog 


These colorful garden bottles (above) come in sets of six and they will turn the drabbest backyard or garden into a magical place. Hang them from trees, line a walking path with them, hang them from arbors or overhangs, or put one on each table. Place a tea light (sold separately) in each bottle. The set includes six colored bottles: one each of purple, pink, yellow, green, orange, and blue. Save them for other occasions after your wedding as well.

Visit Isabella Catalog to find more assorted ways to attractively light your wedding outdoors.  Options are surprisingly affordable and will add zing to your wedding day!




If you want more than the peaceful ambience candles bring and want to add beauty and elegance to your picnic, use these Hanging Garden String Lights. You'll find that the atmosphere takes on a very special feel. With ten 4'' round rice paper globes strung on a 12-foot long cord of replaceable 12V light bulbs (comes with 2 extra bulbs), these lights are festive, lovely, and unique. The cords can plug in end-to-end (to a maximum of three) so you can get several to make a longer string of lights. Appropriate for outdoor use if weather is dry; bring inside after use.  Available in Peony or Dahlia. 

(This option comes in white, green and peony)

Glowing Nights Lantern come in Peony, green or white.  Flickering like real candlelight, these paper lanterns take away any concerns about candles burning out or anything catching on fire. The secret is a super efficient, battery-operated LED light (replaceable lithium battery included) that twinkles for over 15 hours.
The lanterns are made from sustainably harvested and renewable bamboo and rice paper with a fold-down recycled plastic handle so you can hang them or stand them on a table. Group several for a dazzling display.




#15938 - 4'' x 4'' x 8''

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Casual Wear for Your Beach Wedding?



Photo courtesy of: http://www.islandimporter.com/

Ok, so you know what you're going to wear, you're the bride and have probably put months into choosing just the right gown, but your groom may have been planning to go the rental tuxedo route, until you decided on a picnic or beach wedding! Now what to do?  No worries.  Try anyof these linen or cottom options for your groom.  His shirt can act as an accent color for your wedding or you can coordinate his shirts with your bridesmaids.  For other choices run a search under "Mexican Wedding Shirts" and you'll find plenty to choose from.  All these shirts also come in ivory or white, but I thought the color option was a little more interesting!  Also all shirts shown here come in XXL or XXXL sizes as well as S, M, L, and XL.

 
Photo courtesy of: http://www.islandimporter.com/

Photo courtesy of: http://www.mycubanstore.com/


   Photo courtesy of: www.mycubanstore.com


Saturday, June 12, 2010

Avocado Strawberry Salad Recipe for Weddings or Bridal Showers


Avocado Strawberry Salad is a great salad to serve either at a shower or a wedding.   Easy to make, and great taste!  Recipe from: Bill Lombardo and Thach Bui, and The Washington Post Writers Group.  This recipe only serves four, so you'll need to change to amounts for a greater number of salads.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Centerpieces Don't Have to Be Flowers


Lemons and Oranges and a green garland on a dark blue tablecloth provide an unusual wedding accent and are much less expensive than the usual floral centerpieces. 

Free Download from J. Bartyn Design and Manufacturing Event Concepts



Having a picnic?  Download these great labels for free!  Pick up some jars to keep it cold and you can set it up and forget it.  Labels come in Strawberry Lemonade (above), Sweet Pink Lemonade, Lemonade and Limeade.  J. Bartyn Design provided the link below for you to print your own.  Enjoy! 


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Wedding Tea

If you are having a wedding in a park or a venue that doesn't allow you to serve alcohol, or you're just choosing a alcohol free wedding, try serving this great tea blend.  You can find tins of it available at http://www.harney.com/.  Or elect to hand tins of Wedding Tea out as favors to each couple at your wedding.  This elegant tea is a special blend created for your special event.  Mutan White tea, with a touch of lemon-vanilla to taste, pink rosebuds and petals blended together to please and refresh your guests.  Serve iced in a pretty pitcher or larger urn. 

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Outdoor Wedding Favor



Planning to say "I do" on the beach or lakeside? Put a fresh spin on the personalized bottles of water favor by buying tiny bottles of suntan lotion instead. Recommended?  We recommend SPF 30 4-oz. bottles by your favorite sunscreen maker. Have fun designing personalized tags using your monograms, or better yet, your favorite vacation photo.

Photos courtesy of: http://www.favoraffair.com

Friday, May 28, 2010

Need Economical but Attractive Shade for Your Outdoor Wedding?

Dyning Shades Photo Courtesy of Shaded Nation
Product from Ikea

Ikea makes a 'Dyning Shade,' (shown above in a picture by Shaded Nation), which is a great option for DIY brides who want to add a canopy effect to their outdoor wedding.  This is a great inexpensive option for draping outdoors.  Head over to your local Ikea store and check these out, they are a budget friendly $25.00.  These shades that look like sails give a decorator look to your wedding.  The shade comes complete with hooks and cords to hang it from columns, lamposts or trees.  For indoor events you can get some extra strong magnets with a built-in hook (Model# 07218) from Northern Tool that cost less than three dollars which will let you clip it to the ceiling.  Add drama and break up the space of your event space without spending a fortune. 

Monday, May 24, 2010

Bella Umbrellas and Parasols--Keep off Rain and Sun

Photo by: Cristi Dame Photography Posted on: http://soiree-boise.blogspot.com

Looking for a unique accent for your outdoor wedding?  Try these great parasols and umbrellas you can buy or rent from Bella Umbrella.  They come in almost any color or type, plain or fancy, and prices vary.  They also make great photo ops as you can see from the photo above.

Photos and umbrellas from this photo and all below: http://vintage.bellaumbrella.com




Monday, May 17, 2010

Fans for Your Wedding Day


Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com

Fans are used for a variety of reasons during a wedding, some act as wedding reception menus, some as a program of for your wedding ceremony, and some just to keep cool on those warmer days in the sun for outdoor weddings or for churches that aren't air conditioned. There are some beautiful ready made fans but also some that are great DIY projects. Find the fan with the look and purpose you want or make your own. We did some for my daughter's wedding, it was an easy DIY project mostly requiring time, not complex at all or needing fancy equipment.

Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com/

Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com/

Photos and products courtesy of: http://www.daisy-days.com

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Cabbage and Carrot Salad Brightens Up Your Menu

Photo and salad courtesy of http://everybodylikessandwiches.com/

This unusual vinegar (Umeboshi Vinegar is found at your Chinatown market) is used on a cabbage and carrot salad (shown below) to heighten the bright colors and add that extra something to an old favorite.  Umeboshi Vinegar added to olive oil, black cracked pepper,and some smoked salt.  The result is not only delicious but a feast for the eyes!
Photo and salad courtesy of http://everybodylikessandwiches.com

Pretty Poppy Invites


These pretty poppy decorated notecards can also be ordered as wedding invitations at thesweetunfolding
store on etsy.com.  See site for other invite designs as well.

More Picnic Inspiration Pics!

http://www.kristiblunt.com photo credit

Picnics go from casual to upscale chic but it's always good to have some inspiration for your day!



http://www.kristiblunt.com photo credit

http://www.kristiblunt.com photo credit

http://www.kristiblunt.com photo credit

http://www.kristiblunt.com photo credit

It's Your Picnic!

A few photos for your inspiration board if you're planning a picnic reception.  Photos are courtesy of http://www.kristiblunt.com/.