Inspiration: Favors

Are you stuck for a creative wedding favor solution? Want to make a gift as small as your wedding favor be hugely appreciated and totally unique? May we suggest something everyone can enjoy? Make it edible!

Edible favors are always a hit. Unlike most knickknacks, they tend to be gratefully received -- and are quickly put to use. How better to thank your guests for traveling to your wedding than with a taste of  Sweets!

Dip Sourdough Pretzels in chocolate, place them in glassine envelopes and stitched closed with thread. Add labels to convey the personal message of your choice.

                                                          Marthastewartweddings.com

Mostly everyone likes treats, so you won’t be stuck with a lot of leftovers, pretty and fun Cake Pops can be personalized with your theme, color or monogram and are typically less expensive than other types of favors. Cake Pops will look classy on your guests reception tables! They will be the talk of the wedding! They are about the size of a golf ball, very yummy and unique to say the least. Don’t be surprised if any of your guests say they have never seen these before – so it turns out to be a unique tasty treat your guests will remember for a very long time!

And...What can be sweeter than a Candy Buffet?

www.njcandybuffets.weebly.com

So, what is so great about a wedding candy buffet anyway? Well, with an almost limitless selection of candy types, textures and colors out there, it is pretty easy to tie a candy buffet into your overall wedding theme and color scheme. Plus, not only it serves as a favor, it also serves as decoration and/or an additional dessert option all at once! Your guests can visit the buffet as often as they wish and fill up their own containers of candy to nosh on throughout your reception and fill it up again to take home as a favor.

Buy treats in bulk and repackage them in imaginative ways. There are so many inexpensive and easy-to-assemble wyas to present your favors. Also keep in mind these "do" and "do nots" before purchasing edible wedding favors from BRIDES magazine: Do buy samples before committing. Do allow enough time for delivery and (DIY) packaging. Don’t buy too few. Generally, favors are for each guest, not each couple. Don’t order too far in advance or your treats may be stale on the big day.

Happy Planning!

Inspiration: Design it yourself Martha Stewart Ring Pillows

Wedding ceremony ring pillows are a small but important detail. Give the symbols of your love the transport they deserve with these great ideas!

Patterned Fabric Ring Pillow

We think a homemade ring pillow has tons more charm than most store-bought options. Choose a pretty fabric and sew your own from a pair of squares. (If the thought of needle and thread makes you itch, enlist a crafty friend.) Secure bands with a ribbon tacked to the top.

Ribbon Ring Pillow

A handmade ring pillow will look lovely from all angles when its sides are crafted from pretty ribbon. To give the cushion a tufted effect and to provide a spot for the rings to nestle, add a button by stitching all the way through. Attach the rings by tying them to the button with a thin ribbon. Click here to learn how to design your own Ribbon pillow.

Velvet Leaf Ring Pilow

Embossed velvet leaves, made with a rubber stamp and an iron, dress up a silk ring pillow. Go here to learn how to design your own Velvet pillow.

Floral Ring Pillow

Create a soft, plump pillow using flowers instead of fabric. Cut a block of floral foam to size and poke 'Kermit' chrysanthemum stems into top and sides. Push a U-shaped piece of green floral wire through foam; bend tips flush against bottom of block. Cover bottom by pinning paper over. Tie rings to wire with ribbon.

Vintage Linen Ring Pillow

It's only fitting to present the symbols of a new union on a beautiful "something old": a pillow embellished with an heirloom handkerchief or another vintage linen. A few stitches keep everything in place and can be snipped later. If you don't have a vintage piece, you can find one at a flea market. Go here to design your own Vintage Ring Pillow.

Silk Flower Ring Pillow

Silk flowers add elegance to a ring pillow. A crisp fabric holds its shape well; we used silk dupioni, shantung, and taffeta. Go here to design your own Silk Flower Pillow.

Happy Planning!

Mitzi + Robert {The Grand Summit Hotel}

Mitzi and Robert were a sweet couple. I had a lot of fun putting together a perfectly purple candy buffet for their guests to enjoy!

The happy couple

Their yummy cake

Our sweet feast of candy!

Wedding Tip: RSVP Cards

When you are putting your wedding invitations together number the lower corner of the back of the RSVP cards and make a list - on paper or on your computer (maybe on an excel sheet that also tracks your will/will not attend) - where a guest name or couple corresponds to each number. This way when you get an RSVP card back in the mail with no name or return address you can easily figure out who sent it back and you won't have to worry about calling everyone you are waiting to hear back from to see if they were the nameless guest.

Happy Planning!

Thirsty Thursday: Pink Inspiration

Fruity Pebbles

Ingredients:
1 – 750 mL bottle of Amaretto
1 – 750 mL bottle of Peach Schnapps
4 – cups Cranberry Juice
2 – cups Pineapple Juice
Splash of Grenadine

Mix ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl and it’s ready to serve all day! Garnish cocktail glass with a pineapple slice and cherry which add a nice touch.
CHEERS!

Etiquette: RSVP

                                                                             RSVP

The term comes from the French expression “Répondez, s’il vous plaît,” or, “Please reply/Please respond.” This little code has been around for a long time and it’s definitely telling you that your hosts want to know if you are attending. Reply promptly, if possible, within a day or two of receiving an invitation.

Whether it is to a wedding, a dinner party, shower or gala event, an invitation comes with some important obligations.

If RSVP is written on an invitation it means the invited guest must tell the host whether or not they plan to attend the party. It does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression "regrets only" is reserved for that instance). It means the host needs a definite head count for the planned event, and needs it by the date specified on the invitation.

An incomplete list of respondents can cause numerous problems for a host including difficulty in planning food quantities, issues relating to meeting minimum guarantees with catering halls, uncertainty over the number of party favors and difficulties in planning appropriate seating, among other things.

So the next time you see RSVP on an invitation you receive, please respond promptly.

Happy Valentines Day! Get Inspired!

With today being the most romantic day of the year. It’s the perfect time to propose to your sweetheart. With all the love in the air, it is no wonder that many nervous grooms-to-be pop the question on Valentine’s Day. Cupid’s arrow will surely guarantee them an emphatic “Yes!”

 On that note, we wanted to share some Red and White-Valentines Inspired Weddings.

Hope you enjoy!

Inspiration Board by Wedding Wire

Message Bottle Love Scrabble Beatles Quote Poster Ceramic Love Vases

Inspiration Board by WeddingBlogger's Polyvore

And for those tickled Pink like me...get inspired with this beautiful board.

 Inspiration board by the following Paper Doll Romance, Brides, Wedding Planning 101, Birds and Blooms, The Inspired Bride, pasaiipaperie, The Knot, NicNacManiac, Modcloth, April Foster, FA2u, Party Poms

Happy Almost Valentines Day!

With Valentines Day just a few hours away, I am sure most of you have already planned out something for that special someone-if not celebrated early due to the fact that it falls on Monday.

Tomorrow will be Chocolates and Flowers galore, and when you send flowers you send more than beautiful blossoms, you send a message from your heart and the rose is a perfect choice for expressing the nuances of your deepest feelings. To make sure you are sending the right message when you select roses for your special someone, we are sharing the meaning of their colors.

Red Love, Beauty, Respect, Courage, Passion, Well Done, Congratulations
White Purity, Secrecy, Innocence, Reverence, Worthiness
Pink Appreciation,"Thank you", Grace, Perfect Happiness, Elegance, Romance and Sweetness
Dark Pink Appreciation, gratitude
Light Pink Admiration, sympathy
Yellow Joy, Gladness, Friendship, Delight, Promise of a new beginning, Caring, Welcome/Welcome Back
Orange Desire, Enthusiasm and Pride
Red and White Given together, these signify unity.  

Red Rosebud A symbol of purity and loveliness
White Rosebud Symbolic of girlhood
Thornless Rose Signifies "Love at first sight".
Lavender Deep Adoration, Majestic and Opulence


And keep in mind that..
Valentine’s Day isn’t just a celebration of romance. It is a celebration of LOVE. And as a celebration of love, Valentine’s Day can and should include the entire family—whether you are single or part of a couple.
We want to share some creative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day together as a family. There’s no need to limit the celebration to one day, either … it can span the entire week!

Have a Valentine’s Exchange
Remember those paper bags from elementary school? Grab a handful and decorate them together as a family; write the name of each family member on a bag. Buy a box of store-bought cards (or better yet, make your own). Write one thing you like about each member of the family on a card (no peeking!). If your kids are too young to write, have them color a picture on each card instead. Fill out enough cards for each day of the week; drop one in each bag every day. At the end of the week, open the bags together and share the comments/drawings.

Schedule a Family Photo Shoot
Grab your camera and have a family photo session. Snap a picture of each family member with every other member of the family—just two people per picture. Print the photos out and have each person make a handmade and handwritten Valentine’s card for the person in the picture with them.


Tell Your Love Story
Take advantage of the occasion to tell your children your story as a couple—how you met, why you fell in love, what you have learned from your spouse/partner, etc. Keep it short, sweet and age-appropriate. Your kids may outwardly protest, but inwardly, they’ll love hearing their parents say nice things about each other. Throw a little kiss on the cheek too and watch them really squirm.

Enjoy a lovely Valentines with the special people in your life!
All the best,

TheKnot.com Best of Weddings 2011 Pick!

FOR YOUR EVENT PLANNING NAMED BEST OF WEDDING PLANNERS IN THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS 2011

We are super excited to share that For Your Event Planning has been awarded Best of Weddings 2011 ­ in Theknot.com, the number-one wedding resource that’s most trusted by brides. This is the second year 
For Your Event Planning has been honored and voted the Top Pick Wedding Planners for The Knot Best of Weddings.
This prestigious award is presented annually to those wedding professionals whose commitment to excellence ranks them far and above their peers as rated by the brides.

This award is a reflection of our excellent customer service, professional and creative team of planners and assistants and our unique ability to make wedding dreams come true.
I want to extend a big thank you to our wonderful brides and grooms for nominating us for this distinction, you made 2010 an amazing year! Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your day. To our 2011 couples; we can't wait to work with you and create amazing wedding memories that are a reflection of your love and joy.  
I would also like to send a very special thank you to my colleagues/industry professionals for another great year of working together-without your support, we would not have accomplished so many wonderful events. And Congratulations to all my colleagues who share this wonderful award.

And...Stay tune, 2011 will be full of surprises at FYEP!

For Your Event Planning - Voted Best of the Knot Weddings 2011 among New Jersey’s Top Wedding Planners.



About The Knot Inc.The Knot (http://www.theknot.com) is the Internet’s most-trafficked one-stop wedding planning solution. Founded in 1996 to offer a much-needed alternative to the white-gloved, outdated advice of the available etiquette experts, The Knot has quickly become America's leading wedding brand reaching out to millions of engaged couples each year through our award-winning website, books, magazines, and broadcast offerings.
The brand’s trademark fresh voice and real-world sensibility can be found everywhere a bride looks: on newsstands in national and regional editions of The Knot magazine; in bookstores; in newspapers through Scripps Howard and McClatchy-Tribune News Services; online at major portals like MSN and Comcast; and on TV through original programming on the Style Network and a weddings-only, video-on-demand channel on Comcast Cable.

The Graycliff Open House

Planning a Wedding or Special Event? Come be a part of this special event!

                                     
                                                                            
The Graycliff is hosting an open house on Friday February 11, 2011 at 7pm. This open house will give booked clients and potential brides, sweet 16’s/quinceaneras, Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, and other private event clients an opportunity to view the facility setup for your catered event. Also, the open house will provide you a variety of appetizers and cocktail food available for you to sample. Along with the food and drink tasting there will be plenty of vendors on site to supply you with as much information and answer any of your inquiries. This “one-stop-shop” banquet hall provides everything you need for your special occasion. There is no cost for this open house event, but you must RSVP. You can do so by calling The Graycliff at
201-939-9233.

Come meet The Graycliff's wonderful staff, tour their property, sample their food and meet us! Our For Your Event Planning staff along with many other wonderful industry professionals is looking forward to meeting you. We'll have a few giveaways!! For more information... visit http://www.thegraycliff.com/