Creative Centerpiece Ideas

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Although I love floral centerpieces, sometimes you might want to go a less traditional route and do something different. I went to a wedding recently where some of the centerpieces were vases filled with water beads. It was the first time I had seen that done at a wedding, and it got me thinking about some other creative centerpiece ideas.


Photo credit: San Diego Wedding Insider
The water pearls in the vase are created by adding water, which forms the spheres. They look beautiful, and you can choose from a variety of colors.


Photo credit: Bridal Inquirer
Another interesting idea is to use upside-down wine glasses as decorative pieces, as well as candle-holders.


Photo credit: EHow.com
If you want a fresh look, using fruit can be a great way to brighten up your tables. These are especially nice for spring or summer weddings.


Photo credit: Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas

Photo credit: Brides.com
Using fishbowls is another great centerpiece idea. The decorating options are endless - you could use live beta fish or goldfish, floating candles, flowers, seashells, or whatever else you desire.

Photo credit: SuperWeddings.com
If you're a fan of floating candles, and want to go for a softer look, this centerpiece could be for you. Keep in mind to go for a sturdy base for your bowl of floating candles and rose petals. You could also opt for red roses for a change of mood, or any other color to suit your theme.

Photo credit: San Diego Wedding Insider
Finally, in my opinion, you can never go wrong with candles. They're perfect for adding a soft glow and romantic feel to your wedding. This might look hard to recreate, but all it takes is a whole lot of tea-light candles, some floating candles and wide vases.

Whether you decide to stick with traditional floral centerpieces, or try something a little different, there are countless ideas out there to create the perfect centerpiece that suits your personality and your wedding.

Happy decorating!

Zineera

Weddings to Celebrate: Maricela & Brooks

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This past May I had the pleasure of coordinating the day-of events for Maricela and Brooks' wedding in Galveston, TX. I've known Brooks' most of my life (we grew up in the same very small central Texas town), and I instantly fell in love with Maricela. They compliment each other perfectly, and I know they will have a lifetime of happiness. Not to mention the most adorable (and extremely TALL) children. :-) Here are a few of the sensational shots taken by photographer-extraordinaire Scott Kelly.


















Oh! And I should also mention: Maricela & Brooks own BB's Cafe. Their newest location is in The Heights, just a few blocks from our office. If you haven't dined with BB's before, you should. The food is cajun / tex-mex fusion, and it is soooo YUMMY!

xoxo,


Cast of Vendors:

Coordinator: Something to Celebrate, Resha Zazueta
Venues: Menard House / Roof Garden / San Luis Resort
Photographer: Scott Kelly
Florist: Knapp Flower Shop
Catering Staff: BB's Cafe
Cakes: Chopin Mon Ami
Band: The Spiffingtons
Rentals: Majestic Linens / One Stop Party Shop
Carriage: Seahorse Carriage
Limos & Shuttles: Galveston Limo Service

Band or DJ...which one is right for you?

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Music is no doubt the life of the party at your reception so when choosing a professional DJ or a live band you want to make sure that they match your personal style. Here are a couple of other things to keep in mind for your search.



Cost: Generally speaking, a DJ can be more affordable than a live band.

Sound: Nothing beats the sound of a live band over pre-recorded music.

Variety: a live bands repertoire can be limited if you are looking for a wide range of music.

Space: check with your venue to see what works best in the space you are given.


Whether you choose a DJ or band make sure to give them a personal list of what you want to be played and what you don't want to be played.



Also, remember to see your band or DJ in action before you decide!


happy feet!


Jacklyn

Wedding Sparklers

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Brittney and Matt's Sparkler Send-off at Camp Lucy



Hope your 4th was a fabulous one! I, personally, missed the fireworks - darn drought! We're lucky enough to have amazing fireworks at several of our weddings each year, and sparklers at probably close to half of our Austin weddings. I figure this pretty much makes us sparklers experts! Sparklers can be a fun and dramatic finale for your celebration, but there are a few things you should keep in mind:
  • Consider your space. Is there enough room for your guests to comfortably form two lines and still have plenty of space for the two of you to walk through? How about when those guests are wielding sticks of sparking ambers? Make sure there's plenty of room that you minimize your risk of being touched with a sparkler. Did you know that sparklers burn at a higher temperature than a lighter? You don't want them too close to your (or your hair or your dress!).
  • Be honest with yourself - are your guests responsible? Remember that most of your guests will likely be quite inebriated by the end of your celebration - how responsibly will they handle fire?
  • Buy the 10" sparklers. Sparklers come in all sorts of sizes, and "they" will tell you that you need to buy the long ones. Don't do it! The huge sword-like sparklers burn far longer than needed and let's be honest, do you want your drunk guests holding fire longer than necessary? ;) The 10" sparklers are plenty long enough because we at STC have sparkler-lighting down to an art. We know exactly when and how to light them so that the timing is perfect. Any longer and they'll put out too much smoke, shorter and they'll go out before you've made it through the line.
  • Check with your venue. More and more venues are prohibiting the use of sparklers. Sometimes there's some wiggle room but you want to choose your battles wisely - how important are wedding sparklers to you?
So how about you - what will you use for your wedding send-off?

Happy planning!
jessica
Jessica and Michael's Sparkler Send-off at The Mansion at Judges Hill

Weddings to Celebrate: Bevin & Phillip

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The incredibly sweet couple got married in March at Tenroc Ranch in Salado, TX. From beginning to end I had such a great time working with them! One of my favorite design elements in this wedding was how the rosettes on the cake perfectly matched the rosettes on Bevin's dress!
Below are some photos captured by Jennifer Lindberg Weddings amazingly talented team! I honestly can not say enough great things about Jennifer and her team. They are such a pleasure to work with and as you will see below they produce stunning photographs.


















The Amazing Cast of Vendors:

Venue: Tenroc Ranch
Coordinator: Something to Celebrate, Lauren Carrillo
Photographer: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings, Holly Bollinger
Videographer: Ten 17 Media
Florist: Last Petal
Caterer: Johnny's BBQ
Bar Set-up: Dagar's Catering
Rentals: Marquee Rents
Ceremony Music: Steve Kostelnik
Reception Music: Full Circle Media




Weddings to Celebrate: Glee-Ann & Robert

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A couple of Saturdays ago I had the absolute privilege of coordinating Glee-Ann and Robert's wedding at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and The Hilton Post Oak. I met them back in September and from day one the planning process was truly a delightful experience. Glee-Ann is the kind of person that you cannot help but smile after spending five minutes with her! You can imagine how I felt after our hour long meetings-I was grinning from ear to ear!

Glee-Ann has a clean, pure and elegant design aesthetic, as well as an eye for detail. Together we created a palette of all creams and ivories, which we pulled through the entire ballroom. From the stunning flowers (Lisa truly out did herself) to the beautiful lines with matching chair covers and caps everything had a clean, elegant feel. The array of votives and floating candles on the tables glistened off the glass chargers so beautifully, creating the same affect the warm amber lighting had on the rhinestone belt on Glee-Ann's breathtaking Vera Wang gown. The ballroom had a warm, inviting energy, just like that of the amazing couple!

Below are some photographs taken by the amazing Nikki Tran of John Ly Photography!











Glee-Ann & Robert-
You were honestly dream clients! I feel so honored to have been a part of your special day!


The AMAZING Cast of Vendors:

Church: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Venue: The Hilton Post Oak, Margery Reinheardt
Coordinator: Something to Celebrate, Lauren Carrillo
Photographer: John Ly Photography, Nikki Tran
Videographer: Alexander Wedding Films, Alex White
Florist/Rentals: Wedding Flowers by Lisa
Ceremony Music: Divisi Strings
Cocktail Hour Music: Essential Harp, Sara Shute
Reception Music: Grupo Batacha


A Piece of Cake

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One of my favorite parts of any wedding is the cake. Bride’s cake, groom’s cake, white cake, chocolate cake, and everything in between – I love it all. I come by this obsession quite naturally…my grandmother will not leave a wedding reception until she tries a slice of both the bride and groom’s cakes.

Photo courtesy of The Knot


But there are so many options when it comes to wedding cakes that making the decision of what you like best can be a headache. Here are some tips to remember:
  • If you’re having a multi-tiered wedding cake, each tier can be a different type of cake. So if you love chocolate cake, but your husband-to-be prefers strawberry, that’s ok. You can a have tier for each flavor!
  • The rule is that around 50% of your guests generally leave once they get their slice of cake. So if you’re hoping most of your guests will keep dancing well into the night, don’t cut the cake right after dinner.
  • More and more couples are opting for their favorite dessert or some other delicious treat instead of having the traditional cake. If you consider going this route, have fun with it! Perhaps choose a dessert similar to what the two of you shared on your first date. Or maybe each of you has a favorite childhood treat that you’d love to share with your guests. Here are some yummy suggestions:

Ice Cream Sundaes
Photo Courtesy of TLC


Pies (you could also serve cobbler, yum!)
Photo Courtesy of The Bridal Blog


Rice Krispie Treat Cake
Photo Courtesy of The Knot

A Milk and Cookies Bar
Photo Courtesy of Brides.com

Hoping your wedding day is a cakewalk,

Holly

Isidora and Henry

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One of my most favorite weddings of the year was Isidora and Henry's wedding at Mansion at Judge's Hill. This lovely couple incorporated a lot of elements from their culture into the wedding; which I love. Thanks so much to Stacy from SMS Photography for the amazing photos!

















Thank you to the amazing vendors!
Coordinator: Lorena from Something To Celebrate
Guitarist: Ravner Salinas
Invitations: Inviting Affairs

Lorena Molina

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There are so many websites out there that focus on weddings, but these two are worth a second look.

I'm sure y'all have heard of Anthropologie's new site BHLDN (http://www.bhldn.com/) but in case you haven't checked it out lately, you should. They have expanded the website to include decor, honeymoon attire, accessories, and, of course, bridal fashion. They even have sections by theme, such as vintage and glitter. And for our Houston brides, they are opening a store in August! Check it out!


And speaking of bridal fashion, http://www.theaislenewyork.com/, is a members only website that gives you access to couture bridal gowns at discounted prices. Isaac Mizrahi is designing gowns exclusive to the site. Finally a way to make your wedding dress dreams come true without breaking the bank!


--Katie

Real Wedding: Heather and Colby

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Congratulations once again to Heather and Colby married on April 2, 2011 at Angel Springs Event Center in Georgetown, Texas! What a beautiful and sweet couple! One of my favorite things about this wedding was the wonderful Southwest Airlines Groom Cake, as Colby was a Southwest Airlines pilot! Thank you to Houston-based photographer Michaelle of Tresor Photography for the lovely photos!
Good luck to Heather and Colby and thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!









Cast of Vendors:
Coordinator: Lorena of Something To Celebrate
Florist: Last Petal

Lorena

Bridal Hair Accessories

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I got my inspiration for this post while assisting with a wedding this past weekend. The bride was wearing a beautiful hair clip, and I am a huge fan of hair accessories. Here are some ideas to consider for your special day:

Photo courtesy of: Shehasgotitall

Photo courtesy of: The Knot

Photo courtesy of: HairStylesChats

Photo courtesy of: Wedding-Olivia

Whether it's feathers, flowers or hair combs, these accessories can add the perfect finishing touch to your "I do" hairdo.

Zineera

Weddings to Celebrate: Sami & Steve

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Back in February I had the privilege of coordinating Sami & Steve's wedding reception at Kim Son Bellaire. The lion dance performed by Lee's Golden Dragon, shown below, was definitely a crowd pleaser!
Here are a few pictures taken by Abbie of Abbie Flynn Photography...














Cast of Vendors:

Venue: Kim Son Bellaire
Coordinator: Something to Celebrate, Lauren Carrillo
Photographer: Abbie Flynn Photography, Abbie Flynn
Florist: HEB
DJ: Bach Sound Productions, Jeremy Holzbach



Sami & Steve- It was an absolute pleasure working with you guys! You are truly an amazing couple and I wish you all the happiness in the world!

Love,


Weddings to Celebrate: Abby & Josh

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Abby & Josh were married in April at Lutherhill Church Camp in La Grange, TX. The venue holds a special place in Abby's heart - she attended the camp many times as a child, and acted as a counselor when she was older. She and Josh wanted a warm, inviting, comfortable atmosphere for their wedding, and immediately thought of Lutherhill. When they asked me to help them coordinate everything, I was ecstatic to help!

Abby wanted cheerful colors and choose a palet of vibrant yellow, orange and red. Orange and yellow linens were accented with red uplighting on both the decks and in the ballroom (I wish I had a picture of that for you). A mixture of rustic lanterns and tradional florals in square vases acted as centerpieces for guest tables. S'mores after the rehearsal dinner and a reception menu of old-fashion mac-n-cheese, fried chicken and green beans, added to the comfortable and campy feel.

Here are a few of the pictures taken by Amanda with Whitney Lee Photography ...














Guys - I couldn't have asked for better clients. I truly enjoyed helping you plan your special day. I will miss talking with you both - and hearing all the fun ER stories! I know you'll have a fabulous life together, and I wish you all the happiness in the world.

xoxo,




Cast of Vendors:

Venue: Lutherhill - La Grange, TX
Coordinator: Something to Celebrate, Resha Zazueta
Photographer: Whitney Lee Photography, Amanda
Caterer: Party Thyme Catering
Cakes: Cakes by Gina
Florist: Last Petal
Ceremony Music: Arundel Ensemble
DJ & Lighting: LG Entertainment
Rentals: Elegant Beginnings

What do I get my bridesmaids?

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Finding the perfect gift for your bridesmaids is often at the bottom of your wedding to-do list, and there isn't usually a ton of your budget allocated to gifts for your attendants. But, the ladies you ask to be a part of your wedding are usually special friends or family members (or soon to be!) and deserve a little something special. The best gifts are things people actually use, and might not buy for themselves. Here's some cute, different ideas:



photo from: marthastewartweddings.com

Water bottles are so popular right now, everyone seems to have one. The company that made this adorable example (discountmugs.com) allows you to send custom artwork (a monogram, or a design used throughout your wedding like this silhouette) and they apply it to the bottle.


A more traditional gift idea, these make-up bags from http://www.beau-coup.com/ are silk shantung and come in really pretty colors. You could get them in a color that corresponds to your wedding palette or a color that reminds you of each bridesmaid. Get them monogrammed with initials or names.



LL Bean totes come in so many cute colors and different sizes, and again, can be monogrammed (love!). Fill them with water, snacks, info for the wedding weekend and a sweet note.





















I'm a huge fan of stationery, and, you guessed it, especially when it's personalized. I love the idea of getting notepads with patterned or personalized pencils or pens (the examples above are from iomoi.com and Oriental Trading Co.). Who doesn't love a cute notepad to jot down a grocery list? Or notecards with their initials (these are from minted.com)?


Another cute trend that also contributes to a good cause (bonus!): Toms! Each pair you buy also buys a child in need a pair. Get different styles to fit the personality of your maids, or all the same. Love the glitter styles!

For the bride with a classic sense of style, pearl stud earrings are a welcome addition to any woman's wardrobe.


Have fun with it, and let it be a way to show your gratitude to these special ladies!

--Katie

Rehearsal Dinners-Austin

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Can't decide on a rehearsal dinner location? Pick from some of my favorite locations in central Austin. Great food, great location and a fabulous ambiance! See my list of suggestions below!






Located on West Sixth and owned by Sandra Bullock, Bess Bistro has an underground dining room option with a bar and patio space as well! A great spot to host a rehearsal dinner.

2. Perry's Steakhouse:
You can't really go wrong with a beautiful steakhouse! Wine and steak, perfect combination for your guests! Located on 7th, close to the Stephan F Austin hotel.


3. Lustre Pearl:
This bar located in the up-and-coming area just off 1st street, is the newest hot bar-hoping scene. A favorite among photographers, you will have some great photographs of your rehearsal dinner at this location! Bride and Groom hula hooping contest? Bring it on, becasuse they have that here!




4. Parkside:
This is one of my favorite places to enjoy on a Friday night! Oysters and Mojitos and Donuts...enough said! Parkside has a great rooftop and upstairs space to accomodate groups of most sizes! Give them a call for your rehearsal dinner! Located in the heart of world famous Sixth Street.


5. Z-Tejas: Sixth Street Location:

A very popular pick with my Austin clients for their rehearsal dinner space. You can't really go wrong with this Austin staple.




Enjoy!

Lorena Molina

Love from The Mother of the Bride

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I found this letter in our office mail a couple of weeks ago. It, of course, made my day. I loved working with Diane and her daughter and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I can't wait to show you pictures!


xoxo,




And just in case you couldn't read the actual note, here it is:





Dear Resha,

Thank you for making my daughter, Emily's wedding fairy-tale perfect.
It was gorgeous and amazingly flawless (at least to me!). Your help at
eliciting all of the organizational structure along the way was instrumental in
making it a perfect party where I was able to feel like a guest too. It
truly was the prettiest wedding I've ever been too. It was every bit as
fabulous as any wedding - celebrity or ordinary - that I've seen written up and
featured in magazines.

You were marvelous at creating the line-up of all of the bridesmaids &
groomsmen and helping everyone to know their spot. (It's true that I got
mixed up but that was through no fault of yours!) The ceremony was
wonderful and the party afterwards was perfect! Everything was in its
place and done in flawless order. It made for such a pleasant party.
The band performed the few "Jewish" songs like they'd been doing it always and
Hava Nigela & dancing the hora were most definitely wonderful. Thank
goodness you spotted the fact that we'd never discussed it and helped plan for
it. I loved the huppah being used as a focal point first for the wedding,
followed by using it to showcase the wedding cake and then for the banana split
bar too. It was truly magnificent. Thanks for getting the whole
candy buffet set up in advance. It was fun and festive and made a lot of
impact early on. Thanks for all that you did to arrange with each and
every purveyor to do what they were supposed to do - all at the right time,
place, and according to specifications. Thanks for your marvelous
suggestion of arranging for the horse and carriage. It was a storybook
ending to a gorgeous wedding!

Your system for eliciting answers to all of the blank spaces on your forms
was so well done and helpful. You made it all very easy to keep organized
and get everything squared away in advance.

I could never have carried off the wedding without you, although I
previously thought that I was a catering and party planning expert. Thank
you for everything you did in listening, designing, and creating a truly perfect
wedding in every way.

Sincerely,
Diane A. Gelman











Meet Isidora and Henry

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I had the pleasure of working with Isidora and Henry as I coordinated their wedding this past weekend at Mansion at Judge's Hill(Stay tuned for fabulous photos to come). This couple couldn't have been any sweeter! Take a look at their fabulous engagement pictures from the lovely Stacy of SMS Photography.



Stay tuned for photos of their amazing wedding!


Lorena Alexandria