2.09.2012

Heidi & Clint- Winter Elegance with Rustic Flair

We first met with Heidi and Clint back in 2009, when they first got engaged and began their wedding planning!!  Their families live in the area, but they are living in Massachusetts while Heidi attends law school... and they quickly realized that they needed professional assistance with finding vendors, researching venues and managing their budget- so they hired Remember This Day as their full-service wedding planner!!  

I love that we were with them from the beginning- potential venue walk-throughs... florist meetings... favor ordering... budget making/monitoring... honeymoon planning... linen rental (from Remember This Day!)... decor and event design... invitation design meetings... photographer interviews and negotiations... limo contracting... and even cake tastings (ok, you really had to twist our arm for us to attend that one! mmmm!)  The great thing about hiring a full-service planner is that we work with you from the start, and take your "vision" and make it a reality!  We aren't just there to make sure that everything you planned is executed to perfection- we are the ones doing the research and helping to make decisions and contracting the vendors, so it's even more special when we see the final product and reveal the reception room to our couple!

Heidi and Clint wanted their December Wedding to have rich tones of burgundy and metallic gold accents with black in the background... lots of candlelight and greenery (think elegant "Christmas Carol" decor).  Simple yet elegant... rustic yet classic.

The ceremony was held at Immaculate Conception Church, where we were lucky enough to still have the Poinsettias adorning the Church.  The limo (Buker Limo) then took the bridal party to the reception which took place at one of our favorite local hotels, Hilton Christiana!!  

The cocktail hour was held in the atrium lobby of the hotel, with a delicious spread of appetizers as well as a personal crab cake station!!!  The couple had Signature Drinks (His: Manhattan; Hers: Winter Cosmopolitan)- which the guests loved... and champagne was flowing!

Dinner was served in their Christiana Ballroom... where the warm and rich ambiance continued with abundant candlelight, and Remember This Day provided the Waldorf linens on each guest table, with coordinating burgundy bengaline napkins... and the "Mickey Mouse" head tables (a homage to Heidi & Clint's love of Disney!) were draped in our Burgundy Satin linens with the Regal Vine Overlay, and coordinating dark gold bengaline napkins.  The same linens were on the cake table and place card tables, as well.  Each chair also had a black chair cover.  Words can not express how dramatic of a difference linens can make in a Ballroom when trying to create a certain ambiance and really make your reception unique and elegant!

The centerpieces, which were tall cylinder vases with submerged orchids and a floating candle... as well as the gorgeous bouquets and bouts were created by the lovely Judy from Creations for Celebration!!

One of our favorite DJs, DJ Amaze, spinned records all night long (yes, he actually spins!!), and kept the dance floor packed!!!

The beautiful (and yummy!) cake was custom designed for the couple by Cannon's Bakery- and incorporated Heidi's love of "Hidden Mickeys" to perfection!!

It was so great building a friendship (both professionally and personally!) with Heidi and Clint!  From the very first meeting back in 2009 to their late December 2011 wedding, we were with them the entire time.  It was such an honor to be such a big part of their planning process and to see all of their "visions" come to fruition due to Remember This Day, and the couple's decision to hire a professional to make sure that their wedding dreams would become a reality!

MANY thanks to the fabulous Photography by Leah, who was with us all day and truly captured spectacular photographs that Heidi and Clint will reminisce on for many years to come....


























2.03.2012

So You're Throwing a Super Bowl Party?!?



It's that time of year.... Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner- and whether you are planning your own party or attending someone else's, we've compiled a bunch of fun and unique ideas to make your party stand out from all the rest!!  (If you're a guest at a party, WOW others when you bring one of these awesome treats/ideas with you!!


And be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this post- where you will find FREE SUPERBOWL PRINTABLES (courtesy of MJ Paperie)


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Other than watching football (of course!), the Superbowl is about getting together with family and friends- eating delish food, drinking refreshing drinks and watching the commercials, too!  Putting together a menu is super simple- finger foods and munchies are the way to go... with an assortment of options being key!!  Here are a few classic options:


Pigs in blankets

Tortilla chips and dips (fresh salsa, salsa con queso, spinach artichoke dip)

Deli platter and rolls

Pretzels

Pizza (homemade personal pan pizzas- you can make your own with various toppings to choose from- or just order from your favorite pizza shop!)

Hot wings (with ranch, blue cheese and celery)

Antipasta display- Assorted  crackers, cheeses, pepperoni, olives, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, etc
Fruit bowl

Veggie tray with dip

Here's a REALLY fun idea that we found (if you have the time!!!)... a Food Stadium!!


Cupakes (fun idea- decorate cupcakes with either the Giants or Patriots and put them on opposing sides of the dessert table… then have a “field” in between them (either a sheet cake with green frostin and decorated- or if you want more formal- a centerpiece of grass!!!) 


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And Signature Drinks in addition to beer are a fun way to incorporate your theme (and offers a yummy alternative for those non-beer drinkers!):

Quick Kick
(Left image, highball glass)
Ingredients
- 1.5 parts Canadian whiskey
- 4 parts cola
Preparation
- Fill the collins glass half way with ice
- Pour the ingredients into the glass
- Stir together
- Garnish with lemon wedge

Brady Bomb
(Left middle image, shot glass)
Ingredients
- 1 part Bourbon whiskey
- 2 drops Tabasco sauce
Preparation
- Pour whiskey in a shot glass
- Add drops of Tabasco sauce into the center of the drink
- Bring it home
 
Patriot Pride
(Right image, old fashioned glass)
Ingredients
- 1.5 part tequila
- 0.5 part Blue Curacao
- 0.5 part cream
- 0.5 part white Creme de Cacao
Preparation
- Add ice cubes to the shaker
- Pour the ingredients into the shaker
- Shake well
- Strain into an old fashioned glass, on the rocks

Manning Martini
(Right middle image, cocktail glass)
Ingredients
- 1 part dry vermouth
- 1 part Bourbon whiskey
Preparation
- Add ice cubes in a mixer glass
- Pour the spirits into the glass
- Stir together
- Strain into a cocktail glass

Courtesy of Team Distinction.

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So go have fun, be creative, and most of all- ENJOY THE GAME!

{{ FREE SUPERBOWL PRINTABLES DOWNLOAD HERE!!! }} 

(thanks to MJ Paperie)