DIY: Pretty Packaging for Party Treats and Favors

Such pretty packaging for your sweet treats this holiday season. Whether your gifting the sweets or bringing them over as a hostess gift, they will definitely look sweeter when wrapped in these seasonal-themed bases with the integrated cello bag and tag. Available at Joann Fabric and Craft Store.

Other holiday packaging ideas you might like include the following . . .

Red Scallop | Holiday Treat Bags

Happy Hour Flowers : Say "Cheers" with a gorgeous floral arrangement

Looking for a super fun way to say Cheers and send a fun gift this holiday season or anytime of the year? I love these martini, margarita and sangria fresh floral arrangements from 1-800-Flowers. Not only are they gorgeous and clever florals - but they would make a lovely centerpiece for a bridals shower or even a bachelorette party. You can see the entire collection of Happy Hour Flowers here.

A gorgeous Minnesota Wedding with unique gallery art as the backdrop

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Today's gorgeous wedding of Rachel and Justin comes to us from Erin Johnson Photography. The photos of the couple taken at The Chamber's Hotel in Minneapolis are just great. I'm loving all the unique gallery art as the backdrop. And, their reception was amazing. From the plums in the vases of the florals to the dessert bar from Cocoa & Fig - everything was just perfection. And, at the end of the night, guests were treated to the Turkey to Go food truck {which is owned by a couple of the groomsmen}. As Erin, their photographer wrote . . . "All in all, it was a beautiful occasion and I was so honored to be a part of it!"

Wedding Vendors:
Photographer: Erin Johnson Photography
Hair Stylist: Sara Grimaldi
Caterer: Oak Ridge Country Club
Event Planner + Designer: Amy Zaroff Events + Design
Floral Designer: Sadie's Couture Floral and Event Styling
Cake Designer: Cocoa & Fig
Linens and Coverings: Linen Effects, Inc.
Equipment Rentals: apres
Makeup Artist: Andrea Holton
Transportation: Lorenz Bus Service
Event Venue: Le Meridien Chambers

Wedding Gown Trends as the weather is changing

article courtesy of 1-800-Registry

As the weather is changing, so is the "traditional" wedding dress.

In the wedding world, the next few months, from now to Valentine’s Day, are known as “engagement season” so 1-800-Registry, the first full-service wedding advisory for brides and grooms for weddings, honeymoons and now home buying, has compiled a list of the top dress requests they are seeing from their brides.  1-800-Registry’s all-encompassing, personal concierge service has helped hundreds of bride’s choose dress vendors based on their dream dress specifications, making them an expert in the trends field.   

Below are three of the top bridal requests:

Princess Inspired – Though the Royal Wedding was over six months ago, Kate Middleton’s gown is still a top reference for the bride who wants to look like a princess on her big day. Detailed lace from head to toe and a modest neck line is what makes the princess inspired dress so beautiful and classic.

From Wedding Inspirasi - Rosa Clara 2012 advance collection | Aire Barcelona 2010 collection

Unique Colors – The new season of wedding dresses is taking a step toward the modern with new, unique color choices like rose, light peach and now black, thanks to Vera Wang who debuted the new color in her 2012 runway show.

From Wedding Inspirasi - Cotin Sposa 2011 collection | pink ball gown with straps

Multiple Dresses – Many brides are now purchasing additional dresses for their big day. This allows a bride to choose different styles without having to settle on one look from ceremony to reception.

Embellished Belts – If a bold, unique color dress isn’t your dream, a beautifully embellished belt may offer the perfect blend of traditional and modern. Belts this season are vintage inspired, wide and covered in sparkling gems and gorgeous pearls.

From Emici Bridal - a Triple Hera Gemstone Beaded Feathered Chiffon Flower Sash in White or Ivory

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About 1-800-Registry:
1-800-Registry is the leader in wedding, honeymoon and registry services and makes it simple for couples to plan their weddings, honeymoons, and important aspects of their future together. The company offers an innovative Reward Dollars program for using select vendors, which can easily add up to thousands of dollars for the couple. In addition to live concierge help available daily, their easy-to-navigate website provides online tools to help couples identify the best options for their wedding and coordinate all the details including florists, photographers, venues, caterers and more. 1-800-Registry also allows for couples to plan the perfect honeymoon or destination wedding, and even finance a dream home with their Reward Dollars. Every vendor on 1-800-Registry is a Bride-Certified Wedding Vendor that has gone through an extensive reference check, ensuring top quality for a bride’s most special day. For information, call 1-800-843-5668 or visit www.1800registry.com.

December magazine cover revealed + winners of Nov giveaway announced

We're about to head into the first weekend of December. Can you believe it? Do you have any holiday parties or decorating you'll be tending to? I'm so happy to share with you today the cover of the December issue of the Best Wedding Sites Magazine. It features a beautiful floral arrangement from 1-800-Flowers that I received and the photo was taken by me the day after it arrived. {coming up the week after next, they will be sponsoring a giveaway on my blog, Brenda's Wedding Blog, for 2 lucky readers} Be sure to stay up to date on that blog for weekly giveaways and the December Best Wedding Sites giveaways have already launched. This month you could enter to win . . .

• a $30 gift certificate to shop at Tilley Jewels Bride
• a rose tower with 3 preserved beauty rose cubes from Twenty Seasons
• four pairs of beautiful, flat heel "Crystal" design flip flops for your bridal party from Weddings Are Fun

And, now I'd like to announce the winners of the November giveaways and I had asked the participants to let me know what comes to mind with the color palette of red, orange and brown. The winners are . . .

• Amy of Rochester, NY who wins a set of 3 Jillian Rhinestone Flower Hair Pins with iridescent autumn leaves and copper Swarovski pearls from Tilley Jewels Bride
My Wedding theme for the reception "Every day falling more in love with you" There will be thin string with leaves hanging in different spots as if the leaves were falling from the ceilling

• Adrienne of Delray Beach, FL who wins a set of custom photo or personalized wedding cufflinks + a custom photo bridal bouquet memorial charm from PhotoJule
These are the colors of the earth.  They feel warm and welcoming.  It reminds me also of fall in the midwest when the leaves changed color - sooooo beautiful!  All of this takes me back to the memories of family, those carefree falls in St. Louis, raking leaves, laughing as we jumped into the large piles we had made! What fun.

• Elizabeth of Raleigh, NC who wins a Mary Kay Satin Set from Mary Kay rep Renea
Gorgeous fall wedding! My friend recently was married and that was her color scheme.  It was gorgeous, especially with the changing leaves on the trees!

• Amber of Castro Valley, CA who wins a $40 Gift Certificate for Jewelry from Sheyna.com
Chocolate covered strawberries and oranges, a fruit themed wedding, maybe a chocolate fountain, instead of dinner everyone could try different cheese and chocolate fondues with different foods and  orange cheddar cheese for dipping. Foods can be brown graham crackers, brown and red steak cut into small bites for dipping into brown au ju, also different vegetables for dipping. Red and orange fruits dipped into chocolate. Mmm...

An unexpected combo - plaid on the top, frilly skirt on the bottom

Happy December!!!! This month on the Best Wedding Sites Magazine, you will find a mix of colors as there is no real color palette to follow. Just lots of winter and holiday inspiration mixed in amongst some great wedding planning articles and real weddings. And, starting today is the most perfect dress for a holiday wedding . . .

This is such a stunning look and perfect for not only rustic weddings in the countryside, but simply beautiful for the holidays. A plaid top paired with a frilly white wedding skirt {with a bow on the back} and a pearl necklace. Photographs by Ciara Richardson Photography {entire fashion shoot is here}.

originally found via Naomi of Enchanted Dream Weddings

The leaves have fallen, it's time for some winter inspiration

Today marks the end of November, I cannot believe tomorrow is December already. Where has 2011 gone? Coming up next month in the Best Wedding Sites Magazine will be a bit of a mix - no real color palette to follow, but there will of course be winter and holiday inspiration mixed in amongst some great wedding planning articles and real weddings. See you back here tomorrow . . . in the meantime, I just fell in love with this holiday photograph from Mistflower Photo on etsy.