All Things Purple!

Purple, in any shade, is my favorite color. Left to my own devices, my entire house would be decorated in shades of purple or with purple accents. At a party or a wedding, purple adds drama to a room and makes the guest of honor feel like royalty.

Cherry Blossoms

National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC draws millions of visitors from all over the world and I know why, they are breathtaking and beautiful.  Here's some inspiration for this beautiful theme that can be used for a bridal shower, baby shower, wedding or birthday. The pink and brown color scheme is still very popular and can be used in both informal and formal settings.

Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth!

Children's parties are so much fun to plan and decorate for. Your imagination is your only limitation. This creative mom planned a circus-theme party for her one year old. Brown lunch bags filled with an animal shaped sandwich, a piece of fruit and a plush animal were sealed with round labels that matched the decor on the centerpieces and banner. The centerpieces were photos of the birthday boy throughout the first year of his life and the take home snack were boxes of animal crackers. Makes you wish you were kid again, doesn't it?

Images from http://www.partyspot.com/

New Party Products

Nothing excites me more than new party products. Here are just a few new products that can spice up your next event.

First row from left to right:

• Completely edible Dazzle Pops--lollipops garnished with glitter by Bedazzle My BonBons.
• A DYI delight--the new Chandelier Centerpiece Kit from Decorative Novelty takes only minutes to assemble.
• New eco-friendly freeze-dried petals from Flyboy Naturals won't stain but will biodegrade.

Second row from left to right:

• The new four-light candelabrum from Home Decoration Accessories offers an affordable yet sophisticated look suitable for contemporary and traditional decor--and it's easy to set up.
• Cute, custom party favor packets from Pic-a-Pak give parties personality.
• New Event Cubes from Ultimate Bars run off a totally cordless LED lighting system in 16 color choices; the cubes can be changed from square to round to hexagonal.

BBQ Rehearsal Dinner

Although BBQ season is a few months away, I could not resist this idea of having a BBQ Rehearsal Dinner. With the summer months still being very popular time of the year to get married, a BBQ is a perfect way to get family and friends together for a relaxed meal after the wedding rehearsal.


The menu included firecracker barbecue country-style ribs, French fries, old-fashioned summer potato salad, hamburgers, and grilled Utah sweet corn on the cob.

Bottles of Jones Soda (http://www.jonessoda.com/) in the couple’s wedding colors.

The groom designed and printed the red-and-blue menu cards. The casual typefaces and design perfectly fit the laid-back rehearsal dinner vibe.

Potted red geraniums served as dinner table centerpieces. The couple sent the blooms home with family at the end of the evening.

The favors were super-personal: the bride and groom filled vintage-style tins with their families’ favorite recipes. They ordered the tins online, added big, red, vinyl letters to the front of each, and printed the recipe cards themselves.

Tasty Treats

A great party depends on the location, the music and most importantly the food! Once you have chosen a menu that will be talked about adoringly for years after your party is over, there is still one thing left to give your guests…a sweet treat. Beyond the wedding or birthday cake, the tasty treats below are a perfect finish to a fabulous party.

All photos from http://www.marthastewart.com/.

Double Duty Centerpieces

The best way to save money is to make your centerpieces work double time. During the event they serve as beautiful additions to your decor. When the event ends, they break apart to become favors for your guests. This idea works for any type of special event but even more so for weddings and baby showers.

Candy Land

Who doesn't love candy and other sweet treats? Candy was the inspiration for this party created by Kate Landers Events, LLC. The guest of honor's favority color was purple (my kind of girl!) so the decor, dessert and candy revolved around that one color.

You Light Up My Life

No matter how small or big an event is, lighting plays a huge part in the decor and ambiance of the venue. Over the last couple of years, florists and event planners have found new and innovative ways to add light to the decor.