Event Decor- Winter Wonderland Style

 In our town a yearly benefit for the Dickinson State University is held.  Each year a different country is highlighted, this year being Norway.  Guests enjoy a happy hour and then are ushered into different rooms to enjoy a meal and entertainment. After the meal, everyone then goes into the ball room for some dancing and an auction.

The host couples of the event asked me decorate  their room and I am super excited to help out.  We wanted to stay away from the traditional Christmas colors and create a 'wintery feeling' instead.  The look we decided on: silver, white, and blues with a modern, glam, clean look.  No fluffy snowflakes here.  

The following photos serve as my inspiration...

Love all the candlelight.

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Pops of blue everywhere.  I'd like to incorporate Christmas ornaments somehow.

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Manzanita trees with hanging crystals. I love how tall centerpieces add height to rooms.

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To tie in the theme, blue cocktails will tie in the color scheme perfectly.

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Sparkly votives at the tables. Who doesn't like glittery things?

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Any other ideas to create a winter wonderland?

This weekend I will be working on the centerpieces for the event.

Can't wait to share the after photos with you!

My Exciting News!- Life of the Party

Entertaining, decorating for weddings, and staging parties has always been a hobby of mine.  This is why I am so excited to announce that I have turned my hobby into an official side business!  This past September I took over Life of the Party, an event decorating company.

The two previous owners (who happen to be friends of mine) found themselves too busy with their full-time jobs and families to continue. They mainly decorated for weddings, but I am hoping to decorate and coordinate other events such as birthday parties, company events, and holiday parties.

With the new business came my brand new website that was just launched last week!  Kelly Hicks, the talented designer who also designed numerous items for my wedding and blog header worked hard to finish my site just in time for a bridal show last week. I didn't have much information to give her (yet) so the site looks a little sparse... but it's a great start :)
Go check it out!

Coming to North Dakota from a large city really made me realize the need for a person to encourage brides and other party-throwers to break away from the 'norm' and step out of the box when it comes to decor and traditions.  I want to be that person :)

I am thrilled to start in this new journey and put my twist on events.  No more cookie cutter weddings or parties here!

I got a little package in the mail...

A medium sized box greeted me at my doorstep when I got home from work.  I opened it up and inside were not one, but TWO bottles of wine staring back at me.  On the front of the wine bottle was a photo of me and one of my best friends, Annie, who recently got engaged.

It reads  "Another question has to be popped...will you be my bridesmaid?"

On the back of the bottle it described the wine. The name- "Grandma's House Wines" (Annie's nickname for me is Grandma). It then goes on to describe when the wine was made (when our friendship began), where it was bottled (our address where we lived as roomies for years), and little inside jokes between the two of us (the contents of this bottle may result in excessive cleaning).

What an awesome, creative way to ask someone to be their bridesmaid!  I am beyond excited for them, pumped to be a part of their day, and ECSTATIC to start helping her plan her wedding :) 

And if you are wondering why I only took a photo of one of the bottles, it's because my sweet little friend put a horribly embarrassing photo on the other bottle.

You might find me linking up to...

Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design

No Minimalist Here

Tales of a Bloggeritaville

The Shabby Chic Cottage

At the Picket Fence

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

The DIY Showoff

Yesterday on Tuesday

French Country Cottage

Creative Kristi

2805

Wedding Projects

This Wednesday, my sister and her fiance are getting married on the gorgeous shore of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN.

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Then on Saturday, the reception is goin' down at my parent's house in the Twin Cities.  I have lots of decor and DIY projects planned, one being a photo table filled with pictures of my sister, her fiance, and their daughter.

 At mine and Dustin's wedding, we paid tribute to our parents and grandparents through a honorarium table.  Everyone loved the concept and it is a great way to personalize any event.

 I made these by cutting the photos to size, inserting them in a mason jars, and filling each jar with vegetable oil to give the photos an aged look.

Unlike my 'colorful vintage' style at our wedding, my sister's wedding is going to be modern with white, blue, and fuchsia as her colors... so obviously the oil isn't going to fit the bill.  Luckily, I do have some ideas up my sleeve to preserve the general idea but give it a modern, fresh feel. 

Can't wait to share the full day and all the DIY projects/entertaining ideas that go with it.

 Have a great week!

A Look Back- Our Wedding

One year ago today, I married my love surrounded by 140 of our closets friends and family.  The day was wonderful- full of personal touches, creative elments, and emotion.

Planning our wedding was one of the most challenging but fun things I've ever done.  (I don't think it would have been so challenging if I wasn't dealing with finishing school, buying a house, getting a new job, and moving 8 hours away to plan it long-distance)   

The overall style of my wedding was 'colorful vintage'- a mix between bright colors with vintage pieces. I accented it with peacock feathers, burlap, buttons, and tons of mismatched flowers in bottles. When I say bottles, I mean A LOT of them. Over our 13 month engagement I collected over 400 mason jars, milk bottles, bud vases, antique pieces, and other random jars.

Inspiration Board

Here are the highlights from our gorgeous day.

 

 

 Deven Nelson was not only my florist but my day of coordinator.  Words can't describe how much I loved working with her.  We had meeting after meeting to go over the look I wanted... and guess what? She made it come together perfectly and seamlessly.  Note to future brides: hire a day of coordinator, you won't be sorry!

The wonderfully talented Kelly Hicks designed my invitations, programs, and sign-in 'movie poster'.  Her work is affordable, amazing, and were some of my favorite elements from the entire day!

I had this made for Dustin because he loves movies and I wanted something besides a sign-in book.



Here are some of my other favorite details...

Almost everything was DIY. Table numbers, centerpieces, honorarium table, photos of us, alter, 'cardbox', outfits, jewelry, boutonnieres, some of flowers, etc.

 Michelle Morse made the most incredible highlight video ever! I didn't want a videographer but because it was the ONE thing Dustin wanted, I went with it. I hate to admit it, but it was the best thing he's ever done (besides marry me of course!) Haha...I kid (kind of). 

I will credit Dana Schoppe, our incredible photographer, for all the photos. As you can tell, she did wonderful work and was so fun to work with. 

Thank you so much for reliving our wedding day with me!

And Dustin, I am so sorry I can't spend our first anniversary together with you. I am wishing you a Happy Anniversary 1,294.4 miles away (seriously).

I love you.

Linking up to...

Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design

No Minimalist Here

Tales of a Bloggeritaville

The Shabby Chic Cottage

At the Picket Fence

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Ladybird Ln

Thrifty Decorating