Friday, June 5

Outdoor Decor

Here are some great ideas to help you spruce up your outdoor event, or outdoor living space. It’s really amazing what you can make your event or patio look like when you use such simple and creative ideas.





Photo Credits: Martha Stewart

Comments (0) • Posted in Design, DIY, Events, Home Decor, Weddings

Tuesday, June 2

Our Wedding: Vendors

I thought I’d share the wonderful (and one not so wonderful) vendors with you from our May 25, 2008 wedding. I could not have done any of it without them, and would recommend them with the highest regards to any and everyone planning a wedding in the DC Metro area.

Location: Black Rock Center for the Arts - Great location if you are looking for a site with a blank space. We held the ceremony in the art gallery and the reception in the dance theater. I loved it from the beggining for the lighting. I’m all about the lighting setting the tone at a wedding. They had theatrical lighting in the theater, which works perfectly for a wedding. http://www.blackrockcenter.org/

Rentals: Party, LTD. - Outstanding customer service, and outstanding quality. Party, LTD. was recommended to use through Maria Cooke, our wedding coordinator, and they delivered what they promised, on-time and 100% correct. They have so many selections to choose from for chairs, linens and so, so much more! Use them! http://www.partyrentalltd.com/

Wedding Coordinator: Ritzy Bee Events - Maria is an absolutely amazing wedding planner. I came to know Maria through her sister, and one of my bridesmaids, Erica. Our wedding truly would never have been as successful without Maria. I’m sure most of you have heard of her by now. In the past year her business has taken off. If you need a wedding/event coordinator, Maria is your girl! http://ritzybee.com/

Catering and Cake: Side Street Catering - Sandra is a spectacular caterer. I have known her forever it seems through my friend, and another bridesmaid, Angela (her Mom). We went with a cocktail themed wedding and Sandra ran with it. She created amazing mini burgers, chicken satay and so much more. People could not stop talking about the food! She also made our cake. We did not want the stiff, fondant every day wedding cake. We wanted something that looked good enough to eat, and that people were not afraid to eat! We got exactly what we wanted in a white chocolate buttercream iced, almond flavored cake...yum! http://sidestreetcatering.com/

Officiant: Creative Ceremony - Rev. Julie Price was a joy and honor to work with. She was so kind and considerate to both the needs of Tory and I from the beggining. She truly cares about each couple that she works with, and delivers on her promise to make your ceremony memorable. We loved her, and would ask her to marry us all over again if we could. She will even give you a typed ceremony booklet with your word-for-word ceremony as a gift to you on your wedding day. I look at ours from time-to-time and would still, never change a single word of it. http://www.creativeceremony.com/

Photographer: Okello Dunkley Photography - Okello was the photographer at my friend Angela’s wedding and I knew how much fun he was to work with from being a bridesmaid at her wedding. He’s got a great attitude towards the whole wedding photographer thing. We let him roll with it, and he gave us some great shots. http://www.okello.com/

Photo Editing: Casa De Camera - I came in contact with Jaime through a local photographer in the area Laura Kay. Jaime is based in Houston, Texas, but was kind enough to do the editing portion of our photos since at the time of the actual wedding, money was tight (as with most couples) and we could not afford to do editing at that time. I sent all of the photos to Jaime on CD, showed her a few photos and ideas of what we liked and she sent us back some of the most amazing editing skills I’ve seen. http://www.casadecamera.com/

Florist: Blossom and Basket - This was another place that was recommended from my sis-in-law, Lauren, who used this florist at her wedding. Absolutely the best florist, hands down I have ever worked with. They really take the time to work out every single detail with you and work with whatever is within your budget. Pictured here are the bridesmaids bouquets. I loved them. http://www.blossomandbasketboutique.com/

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas - I had never heard of the Diva’s before I bought my invites from them, but within the past year, it seems like they’ve really taken off! The quality of our invites with spectacular and played into our purple them, and monogram perfectly. If you’re buying invites, use the Diva’s. (these obviously were not ours, but we did use the exact same color and style) http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/

DJ: Davis Deejays - Unless you like drunk DJ’s who mess up songs and all of your bridal parties names, DO NOT hire this company. Horrible, horrible, horrible customer service...okay that’s all :-)

Comments (3) • Posted in Design, Events, Floral/Florists, Food and Drink, Music, Personal, Photography, Reviews, Stationery/Paper, Weddings

Tuesday, May 19

Love This Idea!!

Do you have drab and outdated dining room chair cushions? If you are on a budget and want to give your dining room or living room chairs a new look...simply add an old sweater!

Yes, a sweater. I found this great DIY, How To: Repurpose Old Sweaters into Chair Covers - from Apartment Therapy. 

Comments (0) • Posted in Design, DIY, Home Decor, Style