Wedding Wire happiness!

We're so happy to be Wedding Wire rated for 2012!
A huge thank you to all of our wonderful brides who have provided us with such fantastic reviews over the past year.
xo

Melissa
Blush Notes
www.blushnotes.com

Blank Note Cards on Etsy!

We're so thrilled to introduce our new line of blank note cards new line of blank note cards available in our Etsy shop!
We've worked hard to think of creative but simple new designs for all of life's little events.
It's just so easy to log on to your computer and send a thank you email, but people LOVE getting these fun note cards in the mail. 


These can be personalized in just about any way! Add a name to the front cover, change the colour or alter the design. They're created just for you!


Save 10% of your next order of note cards by entering YOUMAKEMEBLUSH at checkout.

Mr. Moustache "little man" birthday party

We found this adorable birthday party post that we just had to share!
Kitschy never looked so CUTE thanks to Cristina Prusz of Le Partie Sugar! Inspired by the birthday boy himself, Cristina selected a party theme to celebrate her son’s first birthday that was not only adorable but very personalized… Cristina’s now one-year old son, Hudson, weighs-in at a whopping 26 lbs and stands at 34 inches tall! You won’t ever find her little guy dressed in the typical baby onesie. Oh no. It’s all cardigans and button-upsfor this little man! ;)

A red, aqua and chartreuse color theme kept this kitschy birthday shindig coordinated, along with a few splashes of mustache, tie and ‘man’ elements. The table centerpieces were kept playful, with framed Jonathan Adler mustache and tie graphics and pom-pom table cloth overlays. I made these heavily starched men’s shirt cuffs to hold all the menu cards labeling the food and drink (one of my personal favorite touches!), which were nicely complimented by the necktie napkins. Since the party would go until dusk, we also had aqua and chartreuse paper lanterns hanging overhead which all the little ones loved to see.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES
The party was held between 3:00 – 6:00pm, so we had plenty of little treats for our guests to enjoy. Since the party was on our outdoor rooftop overlooking Los Angeles, we wanted to keep folks warm with a homemade Hot Cocoa and Fixings Bar complete with little peppermint candies, cinnamon candies, salted caramels, hazelnutpirouettes, whipped cream, homemade marshmallows and Kahlua for the adults.

To round off the Sweet Treats, we had a first birthday cake for the birthday boy, homemade ‘pockets square’strawberry pies and little mini cupcakes topped with adorable fondant mustaches for everyone else. OurSavory Eats consisted of some ‘guy food’ snack staples like the popular pigs-in-a-blanket, corn dip with tortilla chips, and caprese skewers (for guys with a healthy side) – plus our little guys had their favorite go-tos…cheerios and goldfish (any mom of a child under 3 knows to never leave home without these!). There was of course beer and wine for the adults, plus other refreshments at the beverage station – and guests could keep track of their bottle drinks easily with the mustache bottle toppers.

ACTIVITIES

To bring out everyone’s inner-child, we had a photo booth set up in the corner complete with mustache and tie props, plus a ‘I love hudson’ and ‘mister hudson is turning one‘ signs. After the photo session, guests could leave a birthday note to Hudson in his photo book next to their photos. We’re also enclosing individual photos in the thank you notes.”

PARTY FAVOURS

For the favors, my creatively-talented girlfriend, Jen of Shop Snug Haven, made the most adorable t-shirts for our Little Ladies and Gents. I picked up each child’s shirt size and Jen used her stash of fabric (which coincidentally was leftover men’s dress shirt fabric from back in her NYC days) to make ties and lips for our little guests. We also used that fabric to make the little cake bunting for Hudson’s cake and the fabric garland for the photo booth. The other guests (who outgrew the 12 – 18 month size many, many years ago) took home Dapper Little Gingerbread Men favors.

VENDOR CREDITS:
– Event Styling, Photography & Party Printables: Le Partie Sugar 
– Kids T-Shirt Favors & Pom Pom Tablecloths: Shop Snug Haven
– Cupcakes & Cake: Vanilla Bake Shop
– Mustache Fondant Toppers: Sweeten Your Day Events
– Photo Booth Tie & Mustache Props: Little Retreats 

It's MY bridal party!

Today we have a guest post by Celebrant, Celia Milton about the challenge of trying to include all the important people in your life into your wedding. 

You’ve chosen your future spouse; now, what are you going to do about that bridal party? 

There’s your best friend from college, your colleague from work, your sister, your cousin, and inevitably there is someone who chose YOU, and expects you to return the favour. 

How you do begin to pick?

Many of my couples choose to keep their bridal parties small (or eliminate them all together) to eliminate the hurt feelings, political tussles and extra expense of having numerous people on each side. Wrangling all those bridesmaids, groomsmen, jr. attendants, flower girls, and Sparky, the ring dog is not everyone's idea of their perfect wedding day. Fortunately, there are many other ways to include honored guests in the day and keep the your stress level under control.

For many of your friends and family, just being asked is honour enough. They may not have the time, the money, or (and I know this hurts….) the desire to be part of the bridal party with all the responsibilities that go with that request. When you ask anyone to do anything, you should give them a gracious way out; they’ll love you even more.

But let’s, for the moment, assume you have a list of eligible candidates that is bigger than the ceremony space. How can they be involved?

Many interesting ritual elements can include these guests. Unity candles and sand ceremonies often include different people to pour sand and light candles that eventually are blended to symbolize the intermingling of each partner's family friends. A traditional Celtic hand fasting can include as many as six people to drape the  different cords that will 'bind' the couples' hands.

Readings can be included; and many are appropriate and very cute for children if they are old enough to enjoy that spotlight. (Dr. Seuss' “ Oh the Places You'll Go" and Taylor Mali's, "Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog", are two that are great for kids, and long enough to be divided between several.) Your readers may even want to write their own. (Let them know to keep them to several minutes…)

Almost every wedding has ushers (or usherettes!) who will welcome the guests, guide then to their seats, and tell them, (nicely of course) to turn off their cell phones. They can hand out programs, rose petals or bubbles for the recessional. They can also alert the guests to anything unexpected they’ll be a part of; a ring warming, for example.

One of my couples had two children who were a little too old to be ring bearers or flowers girls. They had a big banner made, and the children preceded the bride in the processional with the side that said, "Here comes the bride!" and then followed the married couple with, "Just Married". It was adorable, and they wore normal dressy clothes, not expensive outfits that matched the bridal party.

Many of the ceremonies I write with my couples speak of the people that played a part in their history; the colleague who introduced them; the friends who helped keep the proposal a secret. When they are mentioned in the story, it is instantly a more individual story, drawing on the memories of everyone who knows the character of the couple.

One of my couples gave single flowers to their siblings, thanking each one for the role they played in their family while growing up; another had their siblings process up the aisle with them and add a flower each to a vase on the ceremony table. Another had a little part of the ceremony in which each sibling and parent stood and read a one line quote about marriage; some funny, some touching.

Your choice to include each person in your wedding is a gift of love. Give those gifts wisely, and your ceremony will be personal and memorable to both you and them.

Guest post by Celia Milton, Celebrant

2012 Wedding Trends

2012 is here, and for most of us in the wedding biz, Wedding season is just about to begin!
Today, we've got a two part special detailing some of the hottest trends in wedding this year. 


In 2012, brides will look to be transformed on their big day and they will make their day an 
extension of their personal individuality.



According to one of our wedding community's members, Streetlight Republic Photography¸
“2012 is all about Romance. Lace. Ruffles. Princesses.  The scenery and props of Pride and Prejudice combined with Cinderella’s wedding gown and horse drawn carriage (maybe not a pumpkin though) would be right on trend."  

1.  Color, color, color!! It doesn’t seem like you can go wrong with any colour palette. Some popular mixes are red cherry and lime, coral and grey, hot pink and black or white, mocha with soft pinks, light blue and aqua, and a mixture of oranges.

2. Themed weddings are back. Everything from the cake and invitations to dinner and the venue will tie into the theme. This travel themed wedding {featured on Hostess with the Mostess} is one of our favs!

3.  Romantic elegance is the biggie in 2012. This is where the princess part comes in.  Think silver or gold accents, chandeliers, English gardens, statues, ball gowns, hats and gloves, romantic candlelight, soft hair.

4.  Pets in the wedding party are still huge. Everyone will be oooing and ahhing over your sweet pup as he stumbles down the aisle to bring your rings. Some are even dressing them in tiny tuxes or dresses to match the wedding party.

5.  Dresses are romantic.  Victorian style dresses, horsehair trim, corsets, layers of soft ruffles, lace sleeves, two tiered skirts, short lengths and illusion necklines are a few of the big trends. It is also okay to add a little color this year. We are seeing dresses in light sage and blush — a beautiful addition.

We love these trends and are so excited to see more as the year progresses!!