more than cake for dessert!

Today…Kelley, the fabulous love, lillian intern is sharing with us some great sweet treats and ideas for couples with a sweet tooth!

Think outside of cake to all of these delicious ideas!

Start off with personalized Candy Bags...an easy way to create wedding favors! Put your names on treat bags and let your guests fill them with their choice of tasty treats.
Check out Bliss Wedding Market for the bags above, or one of our favorites, Beau-Coup. They have many different packaging options. Beau-Coup has some great sticker labels that can be customized, and Martha Stewart Weddings has some label options as well, search under DIY.

Log onto mymms.com to personalize your candy! A creative touch for any occasion…they can be personalized with colors and text. Also, Candy Warehouse & Candy Direct are 2 great online sites to get candy...think any color, any favorite childhood treat and more!

{Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings}

Who can resist a delicious array of gourmet cookies? Don’t limit your sweet tooth on your special day! We love the idea of using family recipes or family favorites, as pictured above.

Can’t decide on just one or two dessert options? Create an assortment of your favorites…sure to be a hit with the guests!

Appetizers aren't the only thing that could be "mini"...add different flavors of mini pies for unique finger foods during desert!

Are you looking to “wow” your guests at the reception? Allow them to create their own dessert with an ice cream bar. Or have a member of the catering staff make coke or root beer floats! Yum!

top 5 favorite cakes: David from Blu

#1)
This cake is one of my all time favorites. In part because it's beauty really comes from nature and the bold colors the flowers bring. In creating it, I discovered that it can be nice to step away from the traditional shapes wedding cakes often have. This cake represented the couple perfectly. They had a small reception catered in the back yard of their lovely home surrounded by friends, family, and fresh flowers. Simple elegance to be sure.

#2)

This cake was part of a celebration in IU's Alumni Hall. It's a grand hall with very tall ceilings, length, and a large stage. It can be a daunting space to decorate but Bari Kuhlman, IU Memorial Union's coordinator accomplishes the job each and every weekend. We created this cake to fill the space. It was the first thing guests saw when they arrived. It stands out initially because of it's size the varying heights of the different tiers but the real focal point is the hand made chalice and flowers on top. Hours and hours went in to creating this non-traditional topper made of sugar. The off whites and ivory go very well with the burgundy colors that help fill the room.

#3)
This was just a beautiful cake for a beautiful couple whom have become regulars at our chocolate studio. The truth is the dark brown color of the chocolate ganache makes just the perfect backdrop for the Fall colors of the burnt orange and yellow orchids and lilies. Sometime the challenge we have in designing the cakes is to not interfere too much with the natural beauty surrounding us! This is one such example. This cake was organic and vegan.

#4)

I love this cake for one simple reason, the hand-painted calla lilies on the side. One our cake designers, Scott Jackman, is a painter who translates his artwork into edible sugar couture. The cake highlighted the understated beauty of the table decorations created by Artful Blooms - also red and white calla lilies.

#5)
I have been joking since we started creating cakes 7 years ago that I can't wait to make a cake that requires a ladder to get to the top. This is it. We were asked to create a one-of-a-kind cake for a bride and groom from Indy who held their reception in the atrium of the West Baden Hotel. I can't think of a more grand setting. The cake had to meet the expectations of the space. Over 8 feet tall, this cake fed almost 400. We had a scouting mission to initially investigate the space. We took elements from the surrounding decoration, colors, columns, stained glass, to make this cake that looks like it belongs here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blu Boy
112 E. Kirkwood Ave.

www.bluboychocolates.com
334.8460

brown county spring wedding

I met with Amelia and Justin this past weekend to talk about their spring wedding at
Brown County State Park...it was great to meet them and I'm looking forward to working with them both!

Amelia had some beautiful ideas that got me thinking about an inspiration board.

Here are some of the ideas and inspiration... pink & taupe with turquoise accents, lodge, intimate, candlelight, peonies, rustic & sophisticated...which turned into this board:

I love taking ideas and something a bride loves and
bringing it to life...look for more inspiration boards to come!

Happy Planning!

Linens & Chair Covers, oh my!

I'm excited to be working a lot more with linens for my clients {and others that just need assistance upgrading or selecting} linens for their wedding or other special event! It's been a lot of fun and I think this is going to continue to be a great addition for my clients.

I'm pumped to be working with Chair Covers & Linens out of Michigan. Most of their products are American made and many are handmade right there.

They have linens of every size, but also chair covers for many different types of chairs and sashes. Their website includes some great tools to see the entire picture for an event, as well as galleries. I've said many times and will continue to do so, chair covers and great floor length linens are two things that can make a big impact on a room and decor.

Take a look at their website and I look forward to continuing to work with them moving forward!
Don't forget I can order samples and show you many different styles and colors in person.

Happy Planning!

Rainy Day Weddings...

Rainy day in Bloomington today…and I started to think about rainy wedding days.
Even thought its said to be good luck to have rain on your wedding day, many brides-to-be start to cringe when they see rain drops predicted for their big day.
A way to brighten the day and have some fun might be beautiful umbrellas...for the couple, for the bride, for the bridal party, or guests! I just love the pictures of a kissing couple under the umbrella {rain or shine!}. Check out these fantastic options!

Pamela's Parasols: http://www.pamelasparasols.com/ {above}

They offer personalized umbrellas, and also "Pure & Simple" for less and an organics collection as well.

Bella Umbrella: http://bellaumbrella.com/
Vintage, polka dot, bridal options and more..as well as a rental option!

I Do Originals: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31146814

www.idooriginals.com {more on them later!}

There are also several other options available on Etsy. Check it out!

Hopefully these ideas will start you thinking about turning rain drops into picture perfect moments...

Happy Planning!

happy first day of fall!

In honor of the first day of fall, some inspiration for a fall wedding or event! We love it!

Pumpkins and apples!

Or think about pears or pomegranates...

We love the idea of the shawls being used as gifts...and how practical are those dresses!

Happy Fall!





{Credits: Martha Stewart Weddings; cafemom.com; beau-coup.com; daffyapple.com; beau-coup.com; paperyandcakery.com; etsywedding.com; favorideas.com}

What We're Loving Now!

This week has flown by...I can't believe its already Thursday!
We've been working on Megan and JD's wedding this weekend, and have also come across some awesome ideas and items on the web. Here's what we're loving now:

• Cute clutch from Etsy {above}! We think it would be great for bridesmaids or for yourself...fun, classic, great colors, and a bit unexpected. Also love that there is a small pocket on the inside for smaller items. Check them out at AngeeW's shop here.


• Cupcakes! Yes, cupcakes have been around forever, but we're loving these presentations and using them for different events besides the wedding. Both of these first images are from Vanilla Bake Shop in Santa Monica.
  
  

  

  Cupcakes can be a great option and the presentation can be just beautiful!
  
  This {below} is from Pink Cake Box and was designed for a bridal shower. Loving all the sweets--cake, cupckaes and cookies! That's our kind of shower! {Their blog has great ideas! Check out for awesome ideas and designs!}

  


• We've been thinking about table numbers and came upon this via the Southern Weddings Magazine blog {love them!, love southern weddings!}, check it out to start your wheels turning about great table numbers for your wedding!
• Lastly, keeping along the theme of sweets, I came across this company recently...they specialize in renting wedding cakes! That's right...why not save money and rent the tiered wedding cake that you'll cut for that special photo opp and use sheet cakes to serve to guests. They are gorgeous, and not just your traditional cake either. Check out Cake Rental and let me know what you think! {They did the cake in The Hangover movie this summer}

Happy Planning!

something blue: friends

{Our guest blog today is by Sarah from the "I do" chronicles...enjoy! }

This idea came to me as I sat in the passenger seat of Tricia’s car pondering HOW on earth to choose a wedding party from my most incredible group of good friends. So I guess, it’s fitting that she asked me to guest blog on this topic.

Instead of embroidering my wedding gown with blue thread or donning blue shoes, I asked 13 amazing women to be my "something blue.” Blue is, perfectly, a bride's symbol of loyalty and fidelity.

I sent invitations, each with a handwritten note of thanks for our sincere friendship, asking each woman to “stand up with me in spirit” by wearing a “token of blue.”

My mom and I hosted a Something Blue Brunch in their honor, at which the ladies received embroidered handkerchiefs and spent the morning laughing, telling stories, and shedding sentimental tears. Then we packed up mimosas to go, and headed to pottery-painting. I now have a treasured set of mugs, bowls, and a creamer and sugar painted by my dearest friends.

Our programs featured a small passage about true friendships and listed each woman’s name. Some wore brooches, some wore beads or wraps, others bought dresses. They all looked beautiful in their blue!

Most importantly, for me, each person was able to give of herself in an individual way, whether that meant visiting the hair salon on the day-of, meeting for lunch on Friday, toasting with an “Ode to Sarah” at the rehearsal, or sending heartfelt cards or books in the weeks leading up to May 2 … the list goes on. I was blown away.

As the invitations said, I carried them with me in the months leading up to the wedding and most definitely on the day of. And, thanks to my sisters’ thoughtfulness, I now carry their love with me in the form of perfectly unique mugs filled with warm coffee.

Read more about Sarah’s newlywed adventures and wedding memories here.

{awesome photographs throughout, by Shea}

something blue...flowers & cakes

{Photo from The Knot}

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Today we're featuring some fun blue items...cakes and flowers. Almost every bride has both of these things, have you considered bringing blue into these aspects? We started prepping for today by focusing on the flowers, the bouquet the bride carries down the aisle could have blue in it or a blue ribbon. But the color can be carried in additional ways (such as cakes).

I'm seeing blue in lots of weddings right now..from navy (for fall and spring weddings!) to tiffany blue. There are so many possibilities.

{Love to Know and Katie Elfers bouquets}




I often see hydrangeas in the blue family, great for spring!

Happy Planning!

love this!

I came across these neat floor decals a few weeks ago while looking for something for a bride and have been meaning to post about it...love it!

While lighting effects {"gobos"} are awesome, they can be very expensive and be part of a larger lighting package that some couples can't afford.

These decals can be put on dance floors and are much more affordable than a lighting package. They are made to be "low-stick" and should not damage floors. {Of course check with your venue to see if you can affix a decal before you order.}

The photos above are from Cathy's Concepts {$95 and $120 for different sizes!} and Right on the Walls {between $40 and $70!}.

If you go to the Right on the Walls website, while you are there, check out their Home Decor and other options...so many great ideas. The photos and testimonials page on their website has some great ideas and inspiration. I'm seeing a quote on the wall in my office very soon!

Enjoy browsing & Happy planning!

Something Blue.. Shoes

{the inspiration!}

I think its such a cute idea to wear blue shoes on your big day as your something blue! What a fun, unexpected addition underneath your dress! Think Carrie in the SATC movie & her Louboutin's above...

{JCrew, Maxx Studio, Manolo Blanik}

I also love the idea of having your bridesmaids sign or write a short message on the soles of your wedding shoes. What a sweet reminder...

Happy Shopping!

Summery Additions to Your Big Day!

{photo from Martha Stewart Weddings}

Even though it hasn't really felt like summer, especially summer in Bloomington here lately (I'm not complaining! Its been wonderful), I love these summery ideas (Summer Good Things) for weddings from Martha Stewart.

From sorbets, to ice creams, cold drinks and other summer inspiration (think sea shell bouquets)...these ideas are great. I think many are actually do-able too which makes them extra-wonderful (her how-to's and recipes...amazing!)!

I think its worth a conversation with your caterer, baker, coordinator or maid of honor about how you can bring the best of the season, and some fun, personalized touches to your big day.

Happy Planning!

Fall 2009 Color Report

Sorry I’ve been MIA this week…where has the time gone?
Wedding season is just around the corner and I’m looking forward to it! I’m going to be unrolling some great new features here including local vendors, real weddings and more. Stay tuned.

For now, as I get excited about summer 2009, Pantone’s Fall 2009 Fashion Color Report has come out. For fall brides out there, check out these beautiful colors from burnt sienna, rapture rose, and majolica blue. I love so many of them. A “true red,” “timeless neutrals,” “refinement and sensuality,” a “vibrant blue” and “feminine touches” come out in the colors, many of which look spectacular together.

Happy Planning!

PS: coco + kelley's blog, also has some beautiful photos of rooms with these colors. Great inspiration for decorating your home.

Bouquets: After the Wedding?

You carry your bouquet down the aisle, perhaps display it at the reception…but then what do you with it? It’s beautiful, and you’ve considered its every detail for several months—colors, size, style, and more. Maybe you want to keep it and the precious memories that go along with it.

You could consider preserving your bouquet to keep forever. Be sure to hand off your bouquet to someone reliable after the reception, make sure they put it in water overnight and then take it early the following week to the florist for the best results. Check with your florist for recommendations of how or who can preserve your bouquet. You could also get crafty and use the dried petals in a shadow box or similar display with other mementoes from your wedding.

Not so sure about doing the traditional “tossing” of the bouquet (often times a smaller arrangement of similar flowers to your bridal bouquet) to your single-friends all gathered together in a mass as “Single Ladies” plays over the dance floor? I see fewer and fewer brides who want to do this, so what can you do if you don’t want to blindly toss a bouquet?

I love the idea of giving a smaller bouquet, or even your own if you don’t want to keep it, to a special guest. You could say a few words at the reception and give the bouquet to any number of people such as a woman who has meant so much to you, the woman who has been married the longest, or even someone who has been going through a difficult time or recently loss someone close to them. Or you could also give it to a new mother or newly engaged friend. It could also be a special moment to present it to your mother, in thanks, in love, and in excitement of all the future holds. The possibilities are endless. Who would you honor?

I think this is an graceful gesture to honor someone who has meant a lot to you and may fit in with your vision of your reception and friends gathered together better than “all the single ladies…”