Post-Wedding Brunch..."Yes Please!"

If your worried the time at your reception will breeze by and you'll be saying goodbye to your family and guest as soon as you said hello... 

You might consider having an informal brunch at the home of the parents of either the bride or  groom the following day so that you both can leisurely enjoy some time opening gifts and visiting with relatives and out of town guests before they leave. 

A simple menu might include an assortment of muffins, cut up fruit and mini quiches.  Mimosas, Bloody Marys, juices, tea and coffee will be perfect for beverages.  A special toast can be incuded as a personal touch!

Most brunches begin between 11:00 a.m - noon.  They only last a couple hours and allow guest to come and go as needed.  "The aim of a brunch is to delight the eye and refresh the body," says Serena Bass, founder of Serena Bass Inc., a New York City catering and events company.

When hosting a brunch that involves colorful decor, fresh food and personalized touches, you've found the perfect way to say good-bye to your guest and let them know you appreciate them sharing in your special day.

Have the host send a seperate fun invitation if your choosing to invite only those who traveled or limiting it to family/close friends



This might be an opportunity to offer family made gifts/favors to your guest.



Outdoor settings can be played up and give a beautiful, yet relaxed and casual feel to your gathering.



Display beverages in glass containers with slices of fruit; the bright bursts of color will pop.



Create simple and colorful looks so the bruch is not considered too formal.



:-) Remember those Bloody Mary's, this will be an extra special treat

Apothecary Jars = LOVE!

Apothecary Jars have been around for Centuries, and the original ones were used to hold spices, wine and other luxury items.  In the 16th Century they transitioned into more modern styles that were used by Pharmacist to store medicine, herbs & botany.  Now days, they are a stylish home and wedding accessory that I absolutely have fallen in love with.  There's just something about their versatile use and their vintage/modern combonation that just never lets me down. 



If your looking for a unique centerpiece, conversation starter, and something timeless, consider Apothecary Jars.  I love how this Bride turned the lid upsdie down and used it as a number holder as well as a centerpiece! 

Photo by Brookelyn Photography

Spreading the Word...

An amazing online auction is going live tomorrow Thursday April 7th for a fabulous cause.  Check out some of the awsome items up for auction at;

 http://hyenacart.com/laynieandbelle/

Below is a list of vendors that are participating!

If you scroll down to the bottom of the link you can read about the Burn's family.

The family had set off for their annual trip to St. Pete Beach for a relaxing week! In Macon, GA their family trip came to a heartbreaking stop when their car was struck by a semi.  By God's Grace Dylan and Colton were unharmed. Melissa was taken to the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon where she has had Fabulous Care but will endure several surgeries to fully recover.  Melissa lost her soulmate & the boys lost their Amazing Dad, Brent.

Normally, I won't be promoting online auctions, fundraisers, etc on my blog, but being a wife and a mother of two, Melissa's story has touched my heart and caused me to slow down and enjoy my family more.  It's one thing to watch stories like this unfold in movies and another when you hear about it and your friends are victims of the heartache it causes.  So take time tomorrow and see if there is anything your interested in...Amazing Jewelry, cosmetics, headbands, clothing gifts books and more!!!

As promised...some budget friendly options :-) I'm loving these tin cans wrapped with lace. Start saving your coffee cans for some chic bridal and baby shower centerpieces.

Photography: Lizelle Lotter
Decor and flowers: Vars Liefde

Wedding cakes have become a detailed, eye catching part of every wedding reception.  Each Bride is looking for a cake that will stand out and be described as unique and different! Whatever your wedding look, there’s a cake to match.  Gone are the days of heavy, cumbersome looking pieces.  I’m sure we all remember those oh so lovely, fountains and stairways,…but today’s wedding cakes are full of details, color and amazing flavor.

   For our first feature, I went over to visit Linda Kelsey of Kelsey’s Kakes to chat with her regarding the eruption of designer wedding cakes for brides, and sometimes grooms ;).  Linda has been designing wedding cakes for over sixteen years, realizing she had a special talent after making her first Train cake for her son’s birthday.  Her style is recognizable within the LaSalle-Peru and surrounding areas.

Linda says one of the most popular trends she has seen recently has been “square wedding cakes and using colored ribbon that matches the color theme of the wedding.”

 When I asked Linda what advice she has for Brides when choosing their wedding cake, she explained, that it’s not necessarily advice she would give, since she wants the Brides to choose what they want! However, she will tell Brides to stay away from crazy tri-colors or something that might seem a little “too much”. You never know what the bride and groom are going to want, Imagine if you can a Ballerina and Construction cake adorned with Tutu’s and Tools.  When it comes to cake styles, it seems Kelsey’s Kakes has done them all.  From, small personalized birthday cakes to elaborate and elegant jeweled wedding cakes. She works hard at bringing your vision to life while creating a cake that doesn’t loose the quality in taste. 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Brides sometimes think that to get that look of a gorgeously smooth cake, they must resort to using the ever so popular fondant.  Linda Kelsey uses butter cream and her cakes and designs are in one word, Perfect!

If you’re interested in ordering a wedding cake through Kelsey’s Kakes, plan ahead two-three months or you can just decide your wedding date based on Kelsey’s Kakes availability….she’s that good!  

My 30th Birthday Cake =)

Over the weekend, I've been working on a "Cute as a Button" themed baby Shower.  It's been so fun to bring it all together.  Then I just so happen to be looking around tonight online for more inspirations, and I saw these two photos.  It is a reminder that the look and details of your wedding can really become anything your heart desires.   Here they have created a beautifully soft look with these buttons.  Add some ivory flowers, and some lace and you can easily start to see "Wedding"! 

Photos by Eternal Reflections Photography.



A Wedding Planner??? For What?!?

 I guess when you consume yourself with wedding magazines, blogs, and details...you sometimes forget that not everyone is that passionate or concerned with "the details". After experiencing so many weddings in Chicago, I saw that a "Day-Of" wedding coordinator has become a typical part of a Brides budget.  Yet, the question that has been brought to me several times recently is ...Why would I want to hire a wedding coordinator? 
Let me first say most importantly, you don't have to be obsessed with the details, and be on a lavish budget to desire and hire a Wedding Planner. With a variety of weddings these days there comes a variety of budgets and as a Wedding coordinator, I like to offer something for every budget!!  Even those with a Pig-Pickin backyard BBQ wedding could still benefit from a wedding planner at some point in the planning process- but why?

Hiring a wedding planner will make the planning process stress free and enjoyable, it can take several pressures off the Bride and Groom.  A wedding planner usually will have good contacts with other vendors such as bakers, photographers, and florist.  Usually having experience, a wedding planner can anticipate issues that may arise that haven't been thought about by the Bride and Groom.  We can help Brides come up with ideas that will add personalization to their wedding, and sometimes a planner can just begin by giving good direction to the Bride who doesn't even know where to start. 
It's easy for couples to get overwhelmed, and that's what a planner helps to avoid.  A Wedding Planner will provide etiquette, budget, and time lines for each couple to save them time and energy and be a major support system for the big event.  Getting your big day to flow well is important no matter where your having your wedding, and having a planner will help make that all run smoothly. By working closely with each couple, we can make the most important aspects of your wedding really happen and make adjustments quick and flawlessly when needed.  We want to bring your vision to a reality!  The day of your wedding should be pure bliss, and there's no time for headaches worrying about if your aunt put the place cards where they were suppose to go, or if your cousin remembered to put rose petals around the dessert table.  Trust me, you won't have time the day of your wedding to be making last minute decisions let alone be decorating your reception hall.  The Wedding Coordinator will be the person that everyone goes to for issues the day of your Wedding rather than you, the happy couple.  Who wants to ruin a couples big day by telling them the photographer hasn't arrived.  Having a coordinator - they will have already confirmed that the photographer will be there, and if he/she isn't- your coordinator will be tracking your vendors down for you! " Wedding day coordinators take over the "business" side of the wedding" allowing brides and their families to relax and have fun.  Many Brides admit later that they almost didn't hire a wedding coordinator but realized afterwards that it was the best money spent on the entire wedding.  Brides want a perfect wedding day and we as Wedding Coordinators make your day perfect!  If you haven't considered hiring a Wedding Coordinator you should! Your vendors and family will thank you ;-)