Budget Friendly Centerpieces

In today's economy, it is common to find ways to make your budget stretch as much as possible. One way that brides end up successfully doing this is prioritizing what sections of the wedding need more money than others. Budget friendly centerpieces that are simple yet elegant can enable the wedding budget to be emphasized elsewhere. Here are 7 ways to make a beautiful centerpiece without blowing your budget out of the water.


1) Turn favors into centerpieces

2) Decorate tables with candles (as long as venue allows open flames)

3) Use seasonal fruit filled centerpeices 

4) Use streamline centerpieces 

5) Repurpose your ceremony flowers into centerpieces - bringing the ceremony flowers, including the bridal bouquet, to the reception site enables you to take the most advantage of your flowers instead of buying flowers for each venue.

6) Use photos

7) Substitute potted plants for flowers

Happy Planning!

Emily

Something blue, Something you!

Wedding days carry many superstitious and traditions that are made to ensure that the day and the marriage goes perfectly. The one tradition that has evolved into allowing the brides to personalize it for themselves is the "something blue". 

A typical blue piece that a bride incorporates into her attire is wearing a blue garter. However, this is not the only way that brides are embracing their "blue". Here are some unique ways to add in blue to your day:

1) A blue accent jewelry piece

                                   2) Blue nail polish

3) Blue bridesmaid dresses

4) Blue flowers or decorations on your bouquet 

                     5) Blue crinoline under your dress

6) Blue undies or undergarments 

        7) Blue shoes

8) The wedding date sewn in blue in the dress

9) Blue sash on the wedding dress

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These obviously aren't the only ways to incorporate blue into your wedding, but hopefully these ideas will spark your creative mindset and you will come up with something great!

Happy planning!

Emily

Hot Summer Trends

As the weather is getting warmer and the days longer, I can’t help but get excited! Summer is my absolute favorite season. With the sand between your toes, sun-kissed skin and all the cute bathing suits, it is by far the best time of year!

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Since the official start to the summer season begins this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about some of the hot summer wedding trends! The summer months are one of the most popular times for weddings, and with these awesome ideas I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to say, “I do”!

Bright, Dynamic Colors

As to be expected, the summer months provide the perfect opportunity to incorporate bright and exciting colors in to your wedding! However you have to be careful because using too many could cause your wedding to seem more like a carnival or Crayola box rather than a special and elegant affair. Choosing a particular dynamic color (or two J) that can be incorporated in to your day allow for your space to be more unified and allow for a stronger statement to be made. To incorporate such a trend, try selecting all one color for the centerpieces or bold colored table linens.

Laid Back Music

I don’t know if it’s just me, but one of the things I closely associate with the summer months is the beach. Whether it’s the absolute pleasure I get when I’m laying in the sun with my toes in the sand, or the laid back attitudes its seems as though everyone carries, it makes me feel as if I’m just on one long Caribbean vacation. Again, I’m not sure if it’s just me, but one of the things I closely related to the Caribbean is laid back music. Whether it’s the steel drums or the “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” attitude I definitely see how laid back music has become one of the most popular summer weddings trends. Instead of having a pianist or string quartet, maybe try opting for a steel drum or classic swing band. Even a singer accompanied with a ukulele can create a different, more laid back and summer appropriate atmosphere!

Unexpected Invitations

Although the letterpress invites in the black and ivory are a classic, maybe consider going for something a little more unexpected if you are having summer nuptials. Instead of using bright colored lettering on a monotone background, go for monotone colored lettering and a bright colored background. Maybe even consider going for a different type of invitation that incorporates your theme or location. The possibilities are endless!

Natural Centerpieces

When one thinks about wedding centerpieces usually flowers and candles are what comes to mind. However, if you want to incorporate a hot summer trend without some of the above extremes, go for natural centerpieces! Using fruit in vases creates a beautiful yet unique atmosphere. Another option is to incorporate wooden vases or pedestals with grass/moss for greater texture and a much more natural feel.

Other Summer Treats

One of the best parts about the summer are the delicious treats. Whether it be the delicious smoothies that can be made from the fresh fruit or the frozen ice cream that tastes delicious after spending time in the high temperatures, both are unique treats. Incorporating these ideas in to your wedding could make it an unforgettable experience not only for you, but for your guests as well! Having smoothies or another cold and frosty drink can add a little extra flair to the cocktail hour or reception. Another recently seen trend that I personally love, it’s hiring an ice cream truck to show up at the end of the reception for an added, unexpected treated for your guests! Not only does it bring back those classic childhood memories of the summertime favorite but allows for the perfect ending to the perfect day! J

What do you think of these hot summer wedding trends? Would you incorporate any of them in to your big day?

xoxo

Lauren     

     

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too?

Have you ever wondered how to defy the saying, “you can never have your cake and eat it too”?  Well, I’m here to tell you that on your wedding day, you can! Thanks to the tradition of saving the top tier of your wedding cake, brides and grooms everywhere are able to eat their cake at the reception while saving the top to eat whenever you want.

The whole tradition started in England with their brandy-soaked fruit, most served at weddings.  The newlyweds would save the fruit and bring it out to eat again on their one-year anniversary or the christening of their first child. Although it was easier to preserve back then, people today still choose to stick to the tradition... and we're happy they did! It's a great way to keep the love alive and rekindle all emotions from your wedding- months after the big day.

The key is in the way it’s packaged! Before the wedding, purchase a plastic container big enough to fit the circumference of the tier, and an airtight lid. Bring the container to the reception (or have event planners, like Paisley Events, take care of it for you). After the cake is cut, immediately place the tier into the container. If you are going on a honeymoon, have a close family member or friend take it to their house to freeze. Don’t forget—before putting the container in the freezer- wrap the whole thing in tinfoil! With all the protection, it is almost guaranteed that the cake will be ready to thaw and eat with your loved one just in time for your one-year anniversary. Enjoy!

***Remember to tell your baker you're planning on saving the top tier so you still have enough cake to feed all your guests***

Example of top tier one year later

Wedding Favors!

Wedding favors are a tangible item your guests will walk away with forever. The last minute of your wedding is just as important as the first. It is their last image and memory of your special night, so it is important to make sure this aspect of your wedding doesn’t get ignored. Here are a few tips to ensure that your favors have your guests smiling for the rest of the night:

Tips:

1. Make sure your favor is consistent with the theme and style of your wedding.

2. Make it something useful that they won’t throw out as soon as they get home.

3. Get creative and personal, it’s usually the last memory of the night and a “take away” for your guests. 

4. Delicious wedding favors are very in right now – everyone loves food and drinks!

Ideas & Trends:

 Edible Favors

Who doesn't love something to snack on after the wedding is over? Above are decorated chocolate covered apples. Other ideas include mints, chocolates, candy, wine, etc.

P.S. Everyone loves chocolate ;)

Something alive! 

Plants, flowers, or seeds with a whimsical note “love is always growing..” 

     Click here for poem ideas to attach to your plant or flower:

Personalization

 Things like personalized coffee flavors, drink mixes, stationary, or wine bottles an are always a hit. Include your monograms, names, or pictures to make it personal yet useful to all guests.

Themed

 Staying with the theme of your wedding is another great idea to stay consistent and memorable. If you have a beach wedding, sand and shells are cute and relevant to give your guests.

I LOVE this s'mores idea for a country chic or outdoorsy wedding!

When brainstorming your wedding favors, think about if YOU would like to receive it after going to a friend's wedding. Check out Pinterest.com and search "Wedding favors" for more unique ideas. 

Good luck & Happy crafting!

XO, Sierra

Where Do your Pinterests Lie?

One of the many "Interests"-- Wedding and Events!

With the world of technology consuming lives, people almost become immune to new advances coming out on a day-to-day basis.  However, one thing cannot be denied and that is the attention drawn on social media. With the start of MySpace and Facebook, it seems like more and more platforms have entered the scene. One of the greatest of these is Pinterest.  Although we all can’t all be Mark Zuckerberg and come up with a website in its entirety, we can help to create a personalized page—thank you Pinterest! With different boards and pins, the website has virtually created a new world for those to organize their interests.  From DIY and crafts to fashion and fitness, Pinterest definitely lives up to its name of covering everyone’s interests. Which brings me to why you might be here at this blog reading my article… weddings on the mind? Let me tell you that if you’re stressed at where to start, I’d say first stop—Pinterest! Pinterest allows you to ultimately collect a multitude of ideas and virtually save them by “pinning” onto your online pinboard. Want to know how to make your hair look for the event? Go on Pinterest. Concerned with how to do a few DIY things yourself? Go on Pinterest.  The website functions as a great one-stop-shop for those interested in all things wedding.  Between unique ideas and magical post-wedding getaways, Pinterest has it all there for you!  Once you organize your favorite wedding wants and likes, it’s our time to step in.  You have the ideas, and the joy of places  like Paisley Events help make them a reality! 

Who wouldn't love a ring like this? GREAT idea to show your husband-to-be. 

Pinterest shows an elegant and stylish way to do your hair for your special day!

Tangerine Tango

Hello Everyone! I am so excited for this summer! Getting to learn all about the wedding and event planning industry is definitely a dream come true. Each week I will be submitting a new blog post as I learn new things and I hope that you will all follow along!

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For my first post of the summer I decided to write about the Pantone color of the year
TANGERINE TANGO!

For those of you who don’t know, each year a color is chosen as “the color of the year”. In 2010 the color was Turquoise, in 2011 the color was Honeysuckle and now its Tangerine Tango. To go along with the colors various emotions and situations are tied to the particular hue that the people at Pantone Color Institute feel as if summarize the year. Tangerine Tango is considered to be a color that “continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward” because it is so bright and exciting! Considered to be both sophisticated as well as dramatic and seductive Tangerine Tango has become an orange hue with a considerable amount of depth. It is reminiscent of not only a beautiful sunset, but also of warmth and excitement. It is truly a color that can be incorporated in to all.

To be perfectly honest, at first I did not like the color. I have never been a huge fan of orange, however there is just something about Tangerine Tango that has converted me to a huge supporter. It is so versatile. No matter where you wanted to incorporate the color, whether it is in your flowers, fashion or décor, it would definitely end up looking beautiful. With its brightness and versatility, it not only looks great when paired with other bright and vivid colors but darker and more subtle hues end up looking great as well! What are your thoughts on the Pantone 2012 color of the year?

xoxo

Lauren Tanner      

P.S. The color is Pantone 17-1463 just in case you were wondering J

The Perfect Veil

While being given the new responsibility of looking for up and coming wedding trends or finding the answers to all different types of wedding questions or inquiries, I knew as the new Junior Consultant at Paisley Events, I had to start off with something that not everyone thinks about. While many and most girls dream about their perfect wedding dress, not many consider the perfect veil. What many people don’t know is that not only does the veil have to be coordinated with the dress, but the veil needs to be appropriate for the location of the wedding. Veils also can emphasize or hide specific parts of the bride’s body thus the length, widths, and tiers are important components of the veil.

Lengths:
 

Very short - very short veils such as visor veils do not extend past the chin. Visor veils resemble fascinators worn to horse racing events. If your bridal gown has a high neck detail, this type of veil can work well. They are a good style to pair with sophisticated or eclectic style wedding gowns.

Shoulder length- shoulder length veils are around 20 inches in length. They are perfectly suited to dresses that have bust, waist, or lower back details. However, they are often too informal for classic, formal dresses.

Elbow Length- approximately 25 inches long, this veil falls to around the elbow. They can work well with romantic ball gown style dresses, because they end where the fullness in the skirt begins.

Waist Length- this veil is just slightly longer then an elbow length veil at approximately 30 inches. They suit most dress styles that do not feature a train.

Fingertip Length- one of the most popular lengths, when you stretch your arm out it reaches around your fingertips. They are approximately 36 inches long and also suit the majority of dress styles.

Knee Length- a knee length veil is approximately 45 inches and reaches to around your knees. It looks good with mid calf length wedding dresses.

Floor length- often referred to as a ballet length veil, they just brush the floor at around 72 inches. They are well suited to full length gowns that do not have a train.

Chapel Length- slightly shorter then cathedral length; these veils still drape onto the floor. They are typically around 90 inches long. They are best partnered with dresses that feature a train.

Cathedral Length- the longest and therefore most formal, these veils are usually around 120 inches long and some extend up to nine feet along the ground. They work best with full length, classic wedding gowns.

Widths:

Veils typically come in three different widths that create varying degrees of fullness at the sides and top. 

54 inches -this is the sleekest version, with limited fullness at the top and sides. If you want to show off a dress detail that is covered by your veil, this type is sheer enough to accommodate. This style hangs behind your shoulders, which means it is ideally paired with dresses that feature decorative straps or sleeves.

72 inches -this veil is moderate in height and width. It offers some coverage around the arms, so it is a good match for simple shoestring strap dresses. It tends to have a more romantic feel then the 54 inch.  

108 inches -this veil is the widest and has the most fullness on top. It comes around to cover the arms. This style is great if you are wearing a strapless dress and would like some coverage around your arms and shoulders. However, it is likely to look too overdone with a sophisticated wedding dress.

Tiers:

The options for tiers for a veil range from one to three tiers. The choice is largely dependent on the style of your dress. A one-tier veil is suited to a sophisticated look, but a romantic dress often benefits from a two or three tier veil. Classic dresses also tend to require at least two tiers. One of the tiers is typically a blusher, which is the part of the veil that is used to cover the brides face during the start of the ceremony. Today’s bride is free to choose whether she wants a veil that covers her face or not. If using a blusher, it’s best to select a veil that reaches at least shoulder length, because a blusher measures around 30 inches in length.

While considering your personal attributes, it is most important to consider your body shape and face shape.

Wedding Location:

A cathedral style veil is the ultimate show stopper if you are having a formal wedding in a large church, with several attendants.

If you are getting married in a small chapel, then it is best to stick to chapel length or shorter.

If you are getting married in an outdoor ceremony, there are extra considerations to be mindful of. You may have sand, wind or dirt to contend with. It’s advisable to choose a knee length veil or shorter. Also bear in mind that in windy settings a long veil can be difficult to control. Visor veils can work well in these conditions. You might also like to consider the climate. For example; in hot, humid weather it is not going to be pleasant to be swathed in full layers that could stick to your skin.

Face Shape:

A veil frames your face, so your face shape is an important denominator in choosing a veil. Consider the following advice for your face shape:

Round face –In order to help your face look slimmer and longer, it’s preferable for your veil to reach at least shoulder length and for it to have some volume on the top of the head. Avoid veils with too much fullness at the sides of the face.

Square face –In order to help your face look softer and add length, it’s preferable for your veil to reach at least shoulder length and for it to have some volume on the top of the head. Circular and cascading styles can help soften the angular nature of your jaw line.

Oval Face - As this face shape is well balanced, it’s easier to experiment with different styles. However, it is a good idea to avoid going extreme in either volume or width, to help maintain your proportions.

Rectangle face - When choosing a veil look for a style that has width around the face, but no height at the top of the head.

Body shape:

Your veil has the ability to help correct the proportions of your body shape. If you have a large bust or stomach, you will benefit from wearing a long veil that extends to fingertip length or below. This is because it will help elongate your upper body. Pears shaped women tend to suit veils that end at shoulder, elbow, or waist level. These lengths draw attention to your smaller points, rather then the width of your hips. Full figured women should ideally stick to one tier, narrow width veils, because you don’t want to add an extra volume to your body. Tall women can typically carry off longer veils, but shorter women tend to suit veils that are waist height or above.

Hope this was informative! Good luck with all of your planning! More to come soon!

Stay classy and fabulous!

Emily

Trash The Dress

Hi there! As a consultant-in-training, I wanted to take a look at some growing popular trends in weddings. I became interested in a trend that usually takes place after the wedding – a fun photoshoot where the bride gets to basically go crazy – in a good way. A fast-growing trend known as “trash the dress” is a fun, creative photo shoot where the bride doesn’t have to be as clean and pristine as you may expect.

A few popular photoshoot themes are:

•        underwater
•        pools, beach, fountain
•        cars
•        paint
•        whatever is personal and fun for you! 

Check out some examples below.

Often times the shoot takes place a few days or weeks after the wedding. But, if you have time on your actual wedding day, it could be a fun whimsical way to release some stress and have fun! Don’t worry - a lot of these ideas can be reversed with a little laundry detergent and water. The memories from these shoots will last a lifetime. Happy “trashing”!

XO, Sierra

Introducing the Intern Class for Summer 2012!!!

Here at Paisley Events, We take pride in our education of the wedding and event industry. There is nothing I dislike more than a novice who jumps into the industry and thinks they have it all and can do what a trained professional does. Trained professionals are professional for a reason: They have the training and experience!!! Because of this, I have made it a part of my company to take on part of that responsibility! I owe it to myself, and all my fellow colleagues and those in the industry to guide those invested in what we love to reaching the same level of professionalism! So without further a due, I introduce to you my summer interns!


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EMILY DEMARCO

(Junior Consultant)

Emily is a senior at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She is a business administration major with a concentration in hospitality and tourism management. Emily is from Newtown, CT. She is interested in the event planning industry because the excitement of observing and creating an event from beginning to end is exhilarating. She has a passion for events and is looking forward to learning everything she can about the industry!

 

ANGELA PIA

(Consultant-in-training)

Angela Pia lives in Trumbull, Connecticut and is a rising senior at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore.  She is an advertising and public relations major with a minor in marketing.  Angela grew up with a deep love for Disney princesses and always had the mentality that everyday a prince will find her princesses as they did in the movies.  With this thought, she knew that she wanted to become an integral part of the “happily ever after,” thus the love for event planning developed in her. Through her internship at Paisley Events, Angela is extremely excited to work hands on with the event planning industry and gain invaluable knowledge of weddings and other events throughout her experience.  As a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honor Society, she knows what it is like to work hard and let creativity flow while seeing positive results in the end.  She cannot wait to jump into this new world of events, see what it has to offer, and finally make her dreams come true.

LAUREN TANNER
(Consultant-in-training)

After growing up in northern central New Jersey, Lauren is now a junior at Indiana University, majoring in Communications. She is extremely creative and loves planning various events. This past semester, she took a wedding planning class and absolutely fell in love with the process. It became clear that she needed to begin gaining experience in the field and when the opportunity came up to join Paisley Events, it was as if it was the perfect fit. She cannot wait to learn more about the industry and is greatly looking forward to all the adventures this internship has in store.






Lindsay DeAngelo
(Consultant-in-training)

Lindsay DeAngelo is going to be a senior at Eastern Connecticut State University. She is a Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Business Information Systems. Lindsay is looking forward to joining the Paisley Events team to successfully plan weddings and other events.She is eager to begin and learn the ins and outs of this industry!









 

NEIL MCCORMACK

(Consultant-in-training)

Neil just graduated from the undergraduate program at Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science in Earth and Environmental Engineering, and hold a bachelor of science degree in this field, with a special concentration in Water Resources and Climate Risks. Neil has been involved in the event industry, from many angles, physically in Fairfield County and New York City and would like to offer you his passion, hard work, and persevering assistance in planning your special day.

SIERRA BROWN

(Consultant-in-training)

Sierra is a Communications and Public Relations double major at the University of Rhode Island. She is from Somers, NY and loves anything that has to do with flowers, fashion, music or writing.  Sierra has a passion for writing music, singing, travel, and cooking. She has always had a passion for event planning and loves helping others' dreams become reality. She feels an internship with Paisley Events is the first step into the wedding and event planning industry!