Hydrangea: "why you so obsessed with me?"

review update

Still no pictures from Studio Blue.  I finally emailed them last Wednesday to express my...concern (read: red-faced rage).  I was articulate, to the point and slightly more pleasant than I had wanted to be, but happy to hear back from Bryan later that same day.  He assured me that the photos had been uploaded and would be posted "within a few days".  Now it is the following Tuesday, and yesterday he promised (again) that "today is the day".  I am  not sure what will happen if I don't see some pictures today, but it will likely involve a black ski mask.  Kidding.  Sort of.  Stay tuned.
**end of rant

ghost writer

My friend Nicole (great name) is soon to be wed to a guy that I have known since grade school-and, I will admit, used to have a crush on (read it and weep Zach).  They are a couple that I can honestly say that I know were meant for each other-and it makes me so happy to see them so happy.  Both are of Mexican heritage and thus, will be saying "I Do" in Cancun this May.  Now, Nicole is a fashionista and has the inside scoop on all things wedding, so when she discovered that I am blogging she thought that she could help-and oh, has she ever.  Not only is Nicole planning her wedding on a budget, but she also has great taste-can you tell that she and I get along splendidly?!
Now, I will likely be borrowing ideas from Nicole a lot in the near future, and I should honestly probably be paying her for the leads that she provides, but until she names her price I will continue to freeload (not sure how I feel about that word, but it will have to do-for now).
So, one of the most appealing sites that she has led me to thus far is MyGatsby.com.  No matter the occasion, this site is to be bookmarked.  They provide ideas, inspiration, templates and step-by-step guides to creating your own invitations.  You can mix and match, pick your paper, print your own or craft a completely unique design.  Additionally, they provide quick tips and customer support over the phone so that if you get stuck or are having trouble, you are able to right your 'wrong' in no time.  No matter the occasion, My Gatsy is sure to have something that tickles your fancy.  And if you are short on time, check out their featured collections for exclusive invitations, beautiful designs and even green/eco-friendly galleries.

**Stay tuned for more ideas from the bride to be herself-including destination-themed inspiration.  Thanks in advance Nicole, for your amazing sense of style and willingness to contribute! 

facebook love

From fashion to function and everything in between, our facebook page has some great suggestions for your next event.  So whether you are on the hunt for some frugal finds or in search of a way to make the time pass before some Friday fun, check us out:
In Any Event MN on Facebook
...and just in case you don't have an entire day to devote to perusing fun sites, here is a sampling of what we can provide for your next fete:

We have SO many ideas for every event detail that the possibilities are overwhelming.  With wedding season just around the corner, it would appear that I am getting married (stop laughing-I'm not) if one were to check my browser history, or heaven forbid, my mailbox.  Eeeeee!

a penny saved is a penny earned

Saving time and saving money do not always go hand in hand-where you save on one, you often splurge on the other.  I might suggest however, that for some things, the compromise is well worth it, depending on what is more valuable to you.  If it is money that you seek to save, there are a lot of DIY ideas out there, some of which utilize your God-given talents and do not require you to purchase many materials, if any.  Take, for example, writing your own invitations, or at least addressing them...while the time commitment is relatively large, the money you can save on a calligrapher, etc., can make it well worth your while.
Don't like your handwriting?  The alternative is to ask friend or relative who's handwriting is particularly neat or unique to write the invitations for you-either at a less-expensive rate, or in exhange for your undying gratitude (I prefer the latter).  Recently a good friend of mine asked me to address her wedding invitations and I gladly accepted.  Even though she and her fiancee had a large number of invitees, I found time on my lunch breaks, while watching television in the evenings, on weekends while sipping coffee (oh so carefully around the envelopes, of course) and intermittently during slow times at work-and before I knew it, they were done!  I took pride in knowing that I had saved my friends some money and that they would choose me to be a part of this important piece of correspondence.  Additionally, the process became part of my wedding gift to them; they valued my time and effort, and that gift is more memorable than any serving dish I might have picked out the day before (as is my style).

creative cupcakes

Did someone say "cupcake"?  I hope so!  Are you looking for a fun alternative to the more traditional wedding cake?  Or are you entertaining a varied crowd with different tastes but want to provide a savory treat?  This cupcake idea is something that is growing in popularity, and is, in my opinion, a fabulous option.  Do you ever find that you are stuck eating some dry, over-iced slice of sheet cake to wrap up an otherwise-above-average meal?  Or have you ever gone light on dinner in anticipation of a tasty sweet, but been too embarrassed to grab two slices and instead accidentally overindulged in the vino?  Cupcakes are the perfect alternative to cake.  Not only can you provide an abundance of flavor options (marble, lemon, strawberry, chocolate, etc.), but you can get creative with the individual cupcake decoration as well. 

Divination Cupcakes

I think that this is one of the cuter ideas that I have ever seen.  These cupcakes answer yes or no questions.  Simply ask, select a cupcake, and open the sealed banner for a reply.  Not a believer?  Oh well, you can still enjoy the tasty confection (and come back for another if you so desire). 

As with cake, there are a multitude of options, but cupcakes allow you to mix it up a bit.  Do you have a favorite pistachio cake recipe from when you were young, but fear that it may not go over so well with all of your guests?  Offer the pistachio as one of the options but provide some others as well.  This way, bride, groom, guests and picky eaters are satisfied-and like I said, don't be afraid to try them all.

see blue, save green

Brides to be: are you in search of your "something blue"?  You are in luck.  This month a collection of Edina stores that refers to themselves as 'the Brides of 50th and France' are offering blue goodies to help you complete your wedding repetoire.  For example, Bluebird Boutique has a Hanky Panky bridal thong, Bumbershute carries blue shirts for the groom to be and Live-Laugh-Love is offering a dree blue snap with the purchase of a pair of Lindsay Phillips ballet flats.
Check out the website for the Brides of 50th and France to find new specials each month.  February is beauty month, March - dresses; April is devoted to financial planning and May, the groom.