It's All Fun & Games...

Lawn games are the perfect entertainment for rustic wedding and outdoor parties this summer!  It's a great way to entertainer guests during cocktail hour.

Here's some ideas:horseshoes, bocce ball, croquet, badminton, corn hole, twister, ring toss...

Image Via Pinterest

Image Via Style Me Pretty

Image Via On the Go Bride

Rustic Barn Weddings and Gatherings

 Fall is a great time for intimate gatherings with family and friends.  Fall brings families together as people are thinking about coming home, spending time with loved ones and it’s a romantic time for a wedding.  You can set the setting for your guest as soon as they walk in by hanging wreaths of wheat and sitting decorative corn stalk bundles wrapped in fall foliage.  Fall is filled with beautiful rich colors of reds, oranges yellows and browns, as well as comes with an array of natural decorative pieces, such as pumpkins, acorns, cornucopias and gourds.  A perfect location for a fall gathering is in a rustic, natural yet intimate setting, such as a barn.  It can be casual yet elegant.  Decorating options are limitless.  Most barns have exposed beams, which provide lots of great lighting options such as hanging elegantly draped strands of white twinkle lights or lanterns.  Paper lanterns can be a less expensive alternative.  You can also use carved pumpkins with decorative patterns, rather than scary faces, or use paper bag luminaria to light a pathway, aisle or just to simply add more decorative lighting.  If you live in a climate where the leaves change color in the fall, use them as decoration.  For weddings, instead of an aisle runner, sprinkle leaves and fall colored flower petals down the aisle.   If you do not live in a climate where the leaves change in the fall, you can by decorative silk fall leaves.  You can also sprinkle these along with flower petals on your tables as decoration.  Also consider using carved out pumpkins as your centerpiece vase to put beautiful rich fall flower bouquets in.  Whatever your event, whether it is a wedding, special event gathering or Thanksgiving, fall is the perfect setting for an intimate gathering with friends, families and loved ones.

Images via google

Fashion Friday... Bachelorette Party Ready

Go Faux Leopard! Look of luxury without the sacrifice of a living creature.

simplyna featuring stiletto boots

DOLCE & GABBANA SS10/F6K68T N000 COTTON/NYLON/ELASTANE -, 359 GBP
Leopard Fur Collar Car Coat, $170
kate spade cropped fur chubbie - leopard
GIANMARCO LORENZI A0D7E0565/3LEO LEOPARD FABRIC 1888701, 689 GBP
Christian Louboutin Dorepi 120 Pony skin Courts, 565 GBP
Easy in Leopard Printed Nylon, $1,245
Kathena leopard pony clutch, $1
Crystal Leopard Statement Bangle, 42 GBP
80's Leopard Stud Earrings, 8 GBP

Vintage....Lost & Found

Looking for those great vintage trunks, chairs, and suitcases? Try found an event decor and prop resource supplying brides, event planners, designers and photographers with unique vintage items to give their presentations character, style and originality. Using resources and connections across the country, Jeni is usually able to find that unique item you have been dreaming about!

Images Via: Wedding Chicks

Fashion Fridays: Autumn Romance

Autumn Wedding by gokarm featuring Giambattista Valli dresses

Items in this set:
Giambattista Valli dress, 3,765 GBP
Brownsfashion.com shoes, 465 GBP
Allthingstrendy.com bag, $180
Todd Reed ring, $1,890
Modcloth.com necklace, $15

Fashion Friday: Halloween Beauty

Happy Halloween!!!

Black Dress $7,472
Net-A-Porter.com

Betsey Johnson - Skull W. Bow Cameo Necklace $125
Betsey Johnson

Tom Binns Crystal oval skull earrings $354
harveynichols.com

Alexander McQueen Black Ornate Skull Clutch $2,735
alexandermcqueen.com

Givenchy Urania feather and leather sandals $1,150
Net-A-Porter.com

Fashion Fridays: Tim Burtons Dark Delights

Tim Burton has an incredibly twisted and creative imagination, which I love. There is something beautiful in his deliriously dark Harpers Bazaar photo shoot!

Spooky Spirits

Rouse your guests "spirits" by serving up a little black magic -- in the form of cocktails made with vodka that's as dark as night!


Image and Receipt from Martha Stewart.com

Ghost in the Graveyard
Serves 1
2 ounces black vodka
2 ounces creme de cacao or coffee-flavored liqueur
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
Pinch of finely grated nutmeg, for garnish

In a glass, combine vodka and creme de cacao, and set aside. Place a scoop of ice cream in a highball glass, and slowly pour vodka mixture over ice cream. Garnish with nutmeg; serve immediately.

Screwed-Up Screwdriver
Serves 1
1/4 cup ice
1/2 cup freshly squeezed tangerine juice
1 1/2 ounces black vodka
1 black licorice twist, for serving

Place ice in a tall glass. Pour juice into glass. Pour vodka over the back of a cocktail spoon into glass so it sits on top of juice and creates a layer of black. Slice 1/4 inch off each end of licorice, and use as a straw. Serve immediately.

Berry Scary Martini
Serves 1
1 cup ice
1 ounce black vodka
2 ounces cherry juice
Fresh raspberries and blueberries, for garnish

Combine ice, vodka, and cherry juice in a cocktail shaker; shake vigorously. Pour into a martini glass. Thread raspberries and blueberries onto a cocktail skewer, and place in drink. Serve immediately.

Fashion Fridays: Natural Elegance

Creme Brulee, gold and copper with a touch of sage creates an elegant and natural color palette for a Fall wedding. Couldn't you see yourself getting married at the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse, in those amazing Christian Louboutin sequined ballerina slippers?

Gaudi Comb | Mimco $35
Mimco

Button Earrings $25
Yes Style.com

Hansel & Gretel Maxi Dress by Irwin & Jordan $391
My Wardrobe

Baby Alpaca Vest $775
Virve

Christian Louboutin Sequined ballerina shoe $628
Brown Fashion

Fashion Fridays: Autumn Bride

Using this season's colors of nomad and creme brulee, Carcudda creates a stunning inspiration board for a Fall or Winter wedding.

Vera Wang Gown
Vera Wang

Jacket
My Theresa

Marc by Marc Jacobs Bow Jewels Bow Ring
Couture Zappos

Mother of Pearl Necklace $1,485
Vivre

Betsy Johnson Pearl Multi Charm Bracelet
Zappos

Sterling Flower Whimsy Ring $60 Jan Jewells

Isharya Gypsy Earrings $175

Net A Porter

Bronze Aries Platform Shoes by Terry de Havilland $559
My Wardrobe

DIY Tufted Moss Ring Pillow

What You’ll Need: A 5″ x 5″ X 2″ piece of Styrofoam 2 feet ribbon (2″ wide) 3 yards of ribbon (1/4″ wide) A 6″ x 6″ scrap of fabric A handful of sphagnum moss Straight pins Round-headed corsage pins. A pair of scissors.

Instructions

1. Center your fabric face up on the Styrofoam square Fold the fabric
edges over sides of the Styrofoam and secure with straight pins. Wrap
the corners neatly and pin. (see figure 1)

2. Turn your Styrofoam over so the fabric side is down. Take your
sphagnum moss and stretch it out across the top of the Styrofoam. Be sure
that the moss completely covers the surface. (see figure 2)

3. Cut a length of the skinnier ribbon and run it diagonally across the
mossed surface. Attach both ends of the ribbons on the sides of the
Styrofoam using straight pins. Repeat this process to create a diagonal
grid of ribbon on the top of the pillow.

4. Take your corsage pins and stick them into the points where the
ribbons intersect on the pillow top. (see figure 4)

5. Turn the pillow on it’s side and pin the end of the wider ribbon in
the center of the side, using your straight pins. (see figure 5)

6. Wrap the ribbon around all four sides, concealing the fabric edges and
skinny ribbon tails. Pull it tightly as you go and keep the ribbon edges
lined up with the edges of the pillow. (see figure 5)

7. When you pass your starting point, fold under the ribbon tail and pin
it down using your corsage pins. (see figure 6)

8. Trim off any loose moss bits.

9. Cut a 12″ length of the skinnier ribbon and tie it to the corsage pin
in the center of the pillow. Attach your rings by tying a bow. (see
figure 7)

What it costs:
Styrofoam square $.90
Ribbon $3.00
Corsage Pins $2
Small bag of moss $1.80
Total = $7.70

Project created by Laurie Cinotto, Via Once Wed

Inspiration Board: Fall Sienna, Honey, & Creme

Inspiration board created by Besty White.

Burnt Sienna, honey yellow and warm brulee are beautiful transitional colors from Summer into Fall.

Mood: Warm, Romantic, Rustic

Get the look: The Bride and Bridesmaids: The bride in a warm ivory gown. To add drama to the wedding gown add a sienna sash. The brides bouquet is sienna colored peonies. The bridesmaids would look stunning wearing shades of sienna and honey yellows. Delicate ivory blooms give the bridesmaids a monochromatic look.

The groom and groomsmen: The groom and groomsmen wear chocolate brown suits, with vintage ties. A mini ivory boutonniere for the groom, sienna and honey boutonniere's for the groomsmen.

DYI... Another Great Rustic Centerpiece

I found these simple rustic candle centerpieces at Once Wed. Perfect for a fall wedding!

What you will need:

· slice of wood ( 11′ diam x 2.5′ h)
· glass cylinder vases ( 11′h, 9′h, 6′h x 3.5′ diam) you can find these at
Jo-Ann Fabrics, Michael’s Crafts, and Hobby Lobby
· pillar candles ( 3 varying heights to fit in each vase)
· ribbon & yarn
· fabric, wood, or dried flowers
· double sided tape
· scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut 3 pieces of ribbon/yarn (one arms length per piece). Wrap each vase with ribbon/yarn. Attach ends of ribbon/yarn with double sided tape to surface of vase. I chose to wrap with a knobby yarn, satin ribbon, and grosgrain ribbon to create a variety of textures. I also wrapped the ribbon/yarn at different heights on each vase to create more interest.

2. Attach fabric/wood/dried flower to a piece of ribbon and tie around tallest vase.

3. Insert pillar candles into vases. arrange cluster of vases on wood slice, keeping the sides with the tape facing the center.

4. Arrange fabric/wood/dried flowers on wood slice around the vase cluster. Light the candles and enjoy your rustically elegant centerpiece!

FYI: The wooden flowers shown are no longer available for purchase. I would suggest creating fabric flowers or heading to a local craft store and picking up some dried botanicals. If you are interested in creating these centerpieces in large numbers, I would suggest ordering the vases in bulk.

2009 Fall Color Fashion Report

With Fall right around the corner we move from bright, vibrant colors to the rich, deep hues of Autumn. Here's Pantones color forecast for Fall!

Colors - Top Row: iron, purple heart, majolica blue, American beauty, honey yellow
Bottom Row: rapture rose, burnt sienna, warm olive, nomad, crème brulee

For the next couple months I'll feature inspiration boards with these color combinations. Feel free to share your inspiration boards with us!

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