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Flip Flop Craft

Wedding Reception Planning: Celebrate Your Wedding in Your Own Unique Style!

Wedding Reception Planning:

Celebrate your wedding in your own unique style!

Every bride dreams of having a special wedding celebration, it’s the definition of special that may vary from bride to bride. When I got married I knew that I wanted the atmosphere and décor to be a reflection of my own personal style. The big challenge for me was; what was my personal wedding style? Sure, I knew my colors, chocolate brown and scarlet red, two sensuous shades that have always spoken to me. And I was also confident that I wanted our wedding to be a really fun and fabulous night for everyone in general. Now, I know that you are probably thinking, “Who doesn’t want their wedding to be fun?” but what I mean more specifically by a fun and fabulous night is that I wanted our guests to experience that awesome, magical kind of fun that you can’t plan on just any old night out. It was important to me that instead of memories of me cutting a cake, tossing a bouquet and otherwise basking in the spotlight, our guests left with memories of dancing to their favorite music, enjoying delicious and unusual delicacies and reconnecting with old friends and family. I had little other wedding planning ideas past these, but these I was sure of.

I was a very fortunate bride-to- be in that I have experience in event planning, not tremendous experience, but enough to feel that I was starting this process with an advantage. And unique to many other brides, without panic. So I carefully and thoughtfully began, step by step, to formulate the decisions that would define the atmosphere and décor of our wedding in a way that would help it to stand out among the typical cookie cutter wedding reception that we have all come to tire of. I would love to share some of my tips, techniques and advice that allowed me to plan and execute the wedding of my dreams and even enjoy doing so!

#1 Tear Sheets

Congrats! You are engaged! Now run immediately to your favorite newsstand and buy every bridal magazine! WAIT! There are so many more resources out there than every bridal magazine. I suggest buying two bridal mags to get a read on what the trends are in the wedding industry. Are brides going for traditional gowns? What are your contemporaries doing for favors? Find the look of invitation that most catches your fancy. Scour the two magazines you choose for whatever peeks your interest and then tear, tear, tear! Move on then to the interior decorating magazine you picked up with your latest issues of “Modern Engaged Bride-to-be”. And then pour through an issue of “Real Simple” or “Fine Cooking”. These are magazines dedicated to the finer aspects of living and celebrating life and they offer great insight into chic and distinctive ways of hosting a spectacular event. Lastly go through your favorite home catalogues, mine is Crate & Barrel. Tear out the pictures and advice that speak to you and along with the pages that you favored from the bridal mags and lifestyle publications begin a wedding production binder. Spend some time with these images and ideas, envision how you could incorporate them into your ceremony and reception and give yourself a little time to think on it! Before you realize it, your style will begin to rise to the surface.

#2 Book your locations

While you are mulling the images and ideas over and over in your mind, begin making appointments with ceremony and reception locations. While you factor in cost, layout, capacity and availability, keep in mind the mold-ability of the location and how you could incorporate your pages from your production book. Is there a great built in fireplace that you could fill with candles? Is the décor shabby-chic just like your favorite catalogue? Are the draperies inspired by your favorite destination? Make mental notes of the design influences in the space you are checking out, you may be able to play off of those features in a way that makes HUGE impact! Once you find your locations, the remaining decision fall into place much more easily.

#3 Invitations & Dress

Not many wedding planners would likely group together two such major event aspects like stationary and wardrobe, but for style purposes – they work well together. Keep in mind that both areas will complement the style of your wedding but are typically considered separate areas of the event. Well, they are and they’re not. For one, the invitation and dress set the tone of the event. By choosing the best wedding stationary and wedding gown, you can bring together all of the aspects of your wedding style that you have selected. If your décor is a sleek and modern white wedding staged outside under a tent of glowing Chinese lanterns, your perfect invitation, menu and escort card could be printed on delicate rice paper featuring the Chinese ideogram for love. Your ideal dress may be a gauzy and simple boat necked gown cinched sharply and intentionally at the waist with a silk obi. This complete look, preceded by the invite and completed by the décor, harmonizing food and drink and capped off with arrangements of cherry blossoms and votives, will be breathtaking! Pulling off your wedding style is as simple as minding your details and keeping in mind that every decision is an opportunity to make a statement.

#4 Food, Drink, Tunes & Favors

The final details to incorporate into your fabulous event are the guest’s favorite! Perhaps you have chosen a location at a beach club. Your stationary could feature a save the date “flip flop”, a lobster embossed engraved invitation and escort cards of painted seashells. Your dress is a simple silk bias cut sheath, with a gorgeous cowl neck accented with a designer flat thong. Imagine your guests enticed by the scents of lobster hors devours wafting though the air and the whimsical sounds of a steel drum band. You could have your signature “beachcomber” cocktail passed on trays with mini umbrellas in them! This is the making of a memorable event! As your loved ones depart they can take with them his and hers flip flops in the colors of your wedding, wrapped in a beach towel monogrammed with your wedding date and a message of thanks! The trick to adding the best details to any event is to ignore the pressure to make a decision and think of a natural choice. Sure, the websites and magazine might suggest favors for a wedding being hosted at a country club, but those favors wouldn’t incorporate the feel of your event. Use your imagination. If you decide that you would rather have centerpieces of hurricane vases filled with shells and candles rather than flowers than you can make it happen! Shells and candles are easily obtainable at craft stores such as Michaels. Another cute centerpiece idea for a beach wedding is a aluminum sand pail with shovels filled to the brim with garden roses according to your colors. What an impression you would make!

I hope my approach to wedding planning has given you a decent jumping off point. There are a few more areas to tackle, like wedding party plans and transportation… Look for my next article dedicated to bridesmaids, groomsmen and carting them around. There I broach the subjects of shopping for flattering dresses in bulk and censoring the Best Man’s toast!

Good luck, enjoy and follow your heart. It will lead you right to your style!

By: Ellen Preimesberger

http://www.TheWeddingColony.com

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Midwest Products Mosaic Flip Flop Stepping Stone Kit List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $14.18 You save: $5.81 (29%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Add a little bit of tropical fun to your garden with this pair of mosaic flip flop stepping stones. A full pound of brightly colored stained glass is included in this fun kit, enough to create two individual flip flop stones. The kit comes with two six-Inch by eleven-Inch reusable plastic stepping stone molds, seven pounds of stepping stone mix, stained glass mosaic pieces, wooden mixing and writing tools, easy to follow instructions and design templates. Features A full pound of brightly colored stained glass is included in this fun kit Add a little bit of tropical fun to your garden with this pair of mosaic flip flop stepping stones Includes two six-Inch by eleven-Inch reusable plastic stepping stone molds, seven pounds of stepping stone mix, stained glass mosaic pieces, wooden mixing and writing tools Easy to follow instructions Includes design templates

CK Products 1-1/2-Inch Flip-Flops Chocolate Mold Sale Price: $2.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description CK Products chocolate molds are first quality, plastic molds. They are durable and reusable. not machine washable. Our chocolate molds are suitable for chocolate, soap making, butter molding, ice-cubes, plaster and concrete crafting. These molds are FDA approved Features Each piece is 1-1/2-inch by 3/4-inch by 1/4-inch 16 Cavities per mold This mold makes approximately 200 pieces or 100 pairs per pound of chocolate Not dishwasher safe; do not use for hard candy or other hot ingredients FDA approved polypropylene plastic; use with chocolate, candy coating, soap, butter, or cream cheese

Cuttlebug 2 Step Dies (Set of 2), Flip-Flop Sale Price: $9.60   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Cuttlebug dies offer innovative, crisp artwork by the industry's leading designers. Their intricate, cutting-edge designs are unprecedented in the industry. Cuttlebug dies cut though a myriad of materials, such as paper, cardstock, and thin metals. Features Cutting dies for use with Cuttlebug machine Features a flip-flop and bare foot Perfect for scrapbook layouts, cards, and home decor Can be used in most die cutting systems Each die measures approximately 2 by 2 inches

CK Products 3-1/2-Inch Flip-Flop Sucker Chocolate Mold Sale Price: $2.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description CK Products chocolate molds are first quality, plastic molds. They are durable and reusable. not machine washable. Our chocolate molds are suitable for chocolate, soap making, butter molding, ice-cubes, plaster and concrete crafting. These molds are FDA approved Features Each piece is 3-1/2-inch by 1-1/2-inch by -5/8-inch 5 Cavities per mold This mold makes approximately 13 pieces per pound of chocolate Not dishwasher safe; do not use for hard candy or other hot ingredients FDA approved polypropylene plastic; use with chocolate, candy coating, soap, butter, or cream cheese

Dimensions Counted Cross Stitch, Flip Flop Frenzy List Price: $17.99 Sale Price: $17.61 You save: $0.38 (2%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Whether it's thoughts of warm weather, the beach, or cute sandals, this design will have you dreaming of summer all year long. It has fun embellishments, like pompoms, bead strings, and fringe, that you'll add for a special touch. Kit contains cotton thread, 14 count white Aida, silver beads, thread palette, needle, and easy instructions. Finished Size: 15-Inch by 6-Inch Features This cool design uses half cross stitch for shading Finished Size: 15-Inch by 6-Inch Easy to follow instructions

Flip Flops, Arts 'n Crafts Garden Size Applique Flag Sale Price: $12.95   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Make an impression! These beautiful, brightly colored, creatively designed flags are the perfect way to greet someone to your home or garden. Made with tight-stitching and high quality material to last and last. Our applique garden flags are extra-durable, weather-wear- and fade-resistant, sure to hang proudly in front of your home for month after long-lasting month. Features Hand-crafted Soft, high-quality nylon fabric Fade-resistant colors Tight, detailed stitching Double-sided, read from both sides

Geo Crafts IE 1013 18-Inch-by-30-Inch PVC Backed Coir Doormat, Flip Flop Sale Price: $19.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Coir, also known as coco, is a gift of nature extracted from the husk of coconuts and is one of the strongest natural fiber available. The husks are retted in lagoons for up to ten months to soften the fibers. These golden fibers are beaten with wooden mallets, fluffed and spun into yarn using spinning wheels called "ratts". With rare skills and craftmanship, handed down through generations, this golden fiber is either meticulously handwoven or power loomed with a PVC backing in the Southern region of India to create a wide assortment of enchanting door mats, matting and rugs. Widely used and heavily favoured for hundreds of years, coir products are well known for their rigid strength, mildew resistance and water absorbancy. The sturdy bristles of the door mat brush clean stubborn dirt and hides it within the fibers to protect your home interior. Flip flop sandle design stenciled in natural and acrylic dyes for a durable design. Features Coir is one of the finest natural materials for brushing dirt, slush and mud off shoes and boots PVC backing helps reduce shedding Mat features attractive design made with colorfast dyes Rug measures 18-inch-by-30-inch To prolong life of design, recommended for use in covered area

Flip Flops, Arts 'n Crafts Regular Size Applique Flag Sale Price: $26.95   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Our Applique Flags are made with high quality material with rich and deep color and detail. They are also double sided for an amazing display whichever side of the flag you're on! Flag Size: 28" x 43"These elegant flags are designed by American artists and created with beautiiful, vibrant colors. Our flags are extra-durable, weather-wear- and fade-resistant, and sure to hang proudly in front of your home for season after season. Features Hand-crafted Soft, high-quality nylon fabric Fade-resistant colors Tight, detailed stitching Double-sided, read from both sides

Kelly's Crafts Suncatcher Bulk Flip Flop (Pack of 6) See Reviews For This Product Description Kelly's Crafts Bulk Suncatcher are projects everyone will love. They come in a large variety of designs. The picture designs are recessed into a clear plastic material and the raised outlines of the designs are painted Black. They are easy & fun to paint! Once they are finished and dry, they can be hung from a suction cup or string, on the attached loop. Paint with Kelly's Glass Stains-sold separately. Flip Flop- 3 1/4"x 4 3/4"

KandCompany Flip Flop Grand Adhesions Sale Price: $7.01   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Grand Adhesions make every project a grand one!  Use these Flip Flop stickers on page layouts, creative frames, handmade cards, gift tags and more! Grand Adhesions vary in size and quantities. Features Dimensional sticker Make a grand statement with these incredible three-dimensional stickers 12-Piece Acid free Lignin free