Formal Place Setting- Napkin Debate

So, honestly, when I asked for photographs of place settings, I honestly thought I'd find major faux-pas that I could rip a part and complain endlessly about people putting the linen napkin in the water or wine glass, and how wrong that is.... but instead, I got this.... the most beauteous place settings EVER!

Photos by: ENV Photography

Formal Place Setting- Napkin Debate

Someone emailed me yesterday and asked what a formal place setting with a menu card could look like. Well, there are so many, but here is one that I like!



What about you, what do you guys think?

This is from Agape Weddings and More

Entertaining Tips

New Rule!

Keep it Simple, Stupid...

We recently thew a small party at our house after our son was baptised. And I wanted to just have cake and coffee. Anyone that knows me, would probably interject right now and say, "Melissa, would never throw a party and just have cake and coffee" well they would be right...but... let's get back to task.

Keep it simple, if you are going to serve cake and coffee... premake your coffee and keep it hot, leave it on the oven or carafe your coffee, assume 3 glasses of coffee per person, have a self serve creamer (offer options of flavored non-dairy creamers), several sweeteners, disposable coffee cups, and make hot water for tea, and have 3 tea bag options. This way you don't have slave over it all day. (Simple!)

We actually bought 3 of the boxes of coffee from a local coffee shop, so I didn't have to even make all of the coffee. (Simple!)

And then well, cake! And since you are only serving cake... make sure it's delicious!

(for the official record, I had M&M's, Goldfish Crakers, Garbage Bread and Toasted Nuts in addition to cake...)

Wanna see the cake???

(Gabriel, Me and The Hubs)

Cake was made by KB Kakes... it was more amazing than this photograph portrays....

Place Setting- Where does the Napkin Go?

So, the napkin can go in several locations at the table at your wedding. In these images, they had a buffet meal, so the napkin was pre-set at the table, folded nicely on the table. You could even emblish the napkin with a small floral, fold a menu into the napkin, a ribbon tied around the napkin.

But really, it looks lovely just placed oh so perfectly on the table.

Photo's by: Dawn McKinstry Photography



In accordance with FTC regulations, we officially notify you that no one was compensated for this endorsement.

Place Setting - Where does the Napkin Go?

So, my original intention was to do a series on not putting the napkin in a glass when doing a place setting at a wedding. This is a huge pet-peeve of mine!



The napkin doesn't belong there, so please for all things that are holy, stop putting the napkin in the water, wine or champagne glass at a wedding! There are plenty of other elegant napkin folds and places for that beautiful linen to go, I promise!



But, I said, when I started thinking about this post... so what happened in the meantime, I got these super fun, amazing photographs of place settings, and now I MUST share them with you!



Fair Warning... *Insert Beep, Beep Beep* here... the first picture has the napkin in the glass, but if you can tell me its not precious and wouldn't be adorable at a bridal luncheon... then... well... shoooosh!

Who would have thought that a pink polka dotted napkin would be so stinkin' cute!



Photo's by: Ashley Brockinton Photography and Styling and Planning by Mary Hines, Chandelier Productions







In accordance with FTC regulations, we officially notify you that no one was compensated for this endorsement.

Paper & Sweets

We'd love to invite you to MasterPiece Weddings  Studio to take a peek at some amazing invitation designs, well, actualy all things paper!



Check out some beautiful LetterPress, Save The Dates, Place Cards, Table Numbers, RSVP Cards, Receptions Cards, Maps, really, you get it, anything paper!



So if you are looking for invitations, your own personal stationary, or to brand your wedding - call Leslie and RSVP for an amazing night of paper, paper and more paper! With a side of Sushi from Dragonfly and amazing sweets from Ms. Debbie, Entertainment from Gyn-s Entertainment, Decor from Unforgettable Events and Photography from Verve Studios (I did say incredible, right?)



Call Leslie and RSVP now!

Alli and Tim's Gorgeous Sweetwater Wedding!

Alli and Tim's wedding was so pretty and so fun! We had such a blast planning their wedding, there were so many surprises, and so much love! It was a perfect day!

Many thanks to:

Verve Studios

MasterPiece Weddings (that's us... tooting our own horn)

Plant Shoppe

Gosia and Ali

Sweetwater Branch Inn

Video by Dani (can't wait to show you a sneak peek!!!)

Entertaining Tips: Planning

New Rule

Make yourself a timeline for your dinner party. What can you make in advance that won't get soggy, or gross or go bad?



A week or so in advance write out your menu, including drinks. Write your shopping list at the same time. If you need to put something in the oven that will take 40 minutes to bake, you only have one oven, that is something you need to plan for, including the time it takes for your oven to pre-heat.



Planning ahead will save you time and hassle later. Promise!

Spring has Sprung!

We are feeling very inspired by spring around here with all of the gorgeous weather lately!  Courtney in our office made this fabulous inspiration board, what do you think?

Links: {bouquets}{bottles}{boutonniere}{shoes}{bridal party}{rings}{lighthouse}{cocktails}{bridesmaid dress}{pinwheels}{hair piece}

Ring Bling Week!

So stinking cute!  Need we say more?

Photography by: Cody Jordan Photography

Ring Bling Week!

A ring bling picture can be something simple, and still be fabulous! 

Photography by: Rae Leytham Photography

Ring Bling Week!

There are so many things you can do with ring bling shots, the possibilties are endless.  We love how they can really bring out the personality of each couple!  It not only displays your beautiful rings, but also a unique detail of your wedding!

Link: {ring bling}

Ring Bling Week!

This couple's last name was Hogg, so they had these fun little hog lollipops.  So cute!

Photography by: Rae Leytham Photography

Ring Bling Week!

I asked all photographers out there to send me their funnest ring bling shots, and this week we are going to show what we got!  We will start with a few adorable ring bling pics from Halloween inspired weddings! How fun are these?

Raising the Bar:: Farewell Bar!

We had a client who did a "farewell bar" that we though was such an awesome-tastic idea!  They had candy, cookies, brownies, and little bottles of water for their guests to grab as they left the wedding!  What a fun way to send off your guests!



Different than a Candy Bar.... this had Jelly Beans, Mini Cakes, Brownies, and Red Bull! How fun!

Link: {bar 1}{bar 2}

Raising the Bar:: Bubbly Bar!

I had this great idea for a "bubbly bar" that I think would be a super fun detail for a wedding!  You could have all different champagne, different flavored foams, and different fruits to add too!  How cute and fun would that be? We need a client to do this!

Links: {champagne bar}{fruit}

Raising the Bar:: Carb Bar!

Some of our fabulous clients had this wonderful idea for a "Carb Bar"!  They asked on their invitations for guests to send in the response their favorite snack/candy, and they took the top choices and put those in their carb bar! 



They had white cheddar popcorn, goldfish, M&M's, snickers, and so much more!  What a fun way to include your guests in your reception, and you could provide decorative boxes to fill as favors!

Link: {carb bar}{carb bar 2}

Raising the Bar:: Coffe/Espresso Bar!

Want to do something fun for your guests to keep them partying the night away?



How about a coffee, espresso, or cappuccino bar for after dinner drinks?  What a great way to send off your guests for the night but with a yummy coffee treat?

Links: {coffee bar}{espresso cart}

Verve Studio: "Fools In Love" Contest

The fantabulous Matt and Krystal of Verve Studio are giving away a 20-page "Love Story" album in their "Fools In Love" contest, running April 1-7.  We think it is such a great way to kick-off their new blog, and we encourage you to go check it out!  We can't wait to hear all of the stories! 

Raising the Bar:: Candy/Cookie Bar!

This week is Bar Week!  There are so many delicious details to make your day unique and reflect you as a couple.  Aren't a fan of cake?  Or want do do something fun as a favor?



Then a cookie or candy bar may be the perfect thing for you!  Whether you want a tower of cupcakes, a chocolate fountain, all your favorite cookies, or jars of candy in your wedding colors, you can really have fun with a candy or cookie bar! 

Links: {candy bar}{cookie bar}

Karen and Jonathan Inspiration Board

Karen and Jonathan had the most gorgeous details for their wedding! Jimmy Ho was amazing enough to create this inspiration board of just their wedding details, and we think it is just beautimous! What do you think?

Photography by: Jimmy Ho Photography

April Fools!

So, I've always wanted to do a super fun April Fools joke... but I never have. Or what I thought in my head, never materialized to what I thought was really that amazing!

Soooooooooooo....when I mentioned what I wanted to do to my competition for April Fools, everyone said I had to do it! MUST. HAVE. TO.

So we did.

I cannot thank Shena enough for making our "home video" look amazing!!!

Masterpiece April Fools Prank from Platinum Digital Video on Vimeo.

Fun Centerpiece!

I was checking out some of my favorite blogs, and I found this! Thanks to Unique Designs, Event Diva's,  and Posh Pastry.

How fun is this, it's a super chic vase with an awesome lamp shade! You could even do a smaller version for a cocktail table!

Photo: Footstone Photography