Source

Ribbons are great – go with a little, go with a lot. Match your color scheme or just go crazy!

Source

For the sports loving couple out there, pom-poms and pennants are perfect! Make them match your favorite team or just you two as a couple!

Source

Bubbles, a classic, fun choice. Who doesn’t love bubbles – they make you feel like a little kid all over again!

Source

Ok this send off is my favorite! Handkerchiefs, just like in the old days?! Precious! And the handkerchiefs can double as a favor for your guests – brilliant!

Source

I like how whimsical these balloons looks – again, great for many color choices and super easy to distribute and clean up!

Source

These sweet pennants are an easy DIY and super cute – use whatever wordage you want to give it a personal feel. I’m partial to “Yippeeeee!”

Source

Ok this, I love! Fun little fuzzy balls are a creative and exciting thing to be showered with – just imagine how vibrant the pictures will be! Don’t forget a broom and dustpan though…

Source

Ah, perhaps not the easiest to do, but if you’ve ever seen a bunch of these released at once, they’re magical. If timed right, pictures of the bride and groom standing underneath these will be just. perfect.

]]> http://alexanevents.com/blog/index.php/2012/05/16/creative-send-off-alternatives/feed/ 0 http://alexanevents.com/blog/index.php/2012/05/15/honeymoon-destination-mauritius/ http://alexanevents.com/blog/index.php/2012/05/15/honeymoon-destination-mauritius/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 00:59:33 +0000 alexanevents http://alexanevents.com/blog/?p=6776 Before joining the Alexan Events team, I was fortunate enough to have the perfect right-out-of-college job that allowed me to do a bit of traveling. Granted, I was totally fine keeping my traveling in continental Europe, but somehow I managed to make it below the Equator not once, but twice to this little gem of an island in the Indian Ocean called Mauritius.

Source

I had never even heard of it before crossing the Atlantic but after seeing a picture like the one above, I couldn’t wait to get there. And I can say with confidence Mauritius (pronounced MAUR-ee-tee-us) is a place I think and hope everyone should get the chance to see.

Source 1 // Source 2 // Source 3

It is a lovers paradise. Tourism is the island’s main industry – but not just tourism, exclusive, luxurious, romantic tourism. Resorts sprinkle the island so it may seem hard to pick one. Yet when you’re on your resort, you forget there is anything else on the island. Top resort industry leaders have hotels, villas, and bungalows there for your relaxation pleasure. Whether you simply want to lay beachside or poolside, get a massage (or massages), waterski, snorkel or embark on some local activities, Mauritius offers it all. Here are a few of Five Star Alliance’s recommended resorts…

The Oberoi

Source

This resort sits on 20 acres of land and boasts 600 meters of beachfront. Voted one of the top 10 African, Middle East and Indian Ocean resorts by Conde Nast in 2010, this hotel is aaaamazing. Perfect for the couples who like to split their time between beach lounging and fun recreational activities.

Le Touessrok

Source

A member of Leading Hotels of the World, this resort is pure class. It combines modern elegance with Mauritius’s rich culture and nature to carry you off to another place, mentally and physically. Additionally, Le Touessrok boasts one of the top golf courses on the island.

The St. Regis

Source

Known for its service and luxury, the St. Regis on Mauritius also has one of the island’s top spas. Geared toward a more mature crowd, relaxation and pampering is at the top of this exceptional service resort.

The Four Seasons at Anahita

Source

While I was not lucky enough to stay at this incredible resort, I did have the opportunity to eat here. And wander. And be taken to a whole new world. Total luxury. Amenities out-of-control. You want it, they’ve got it. And the food is amazing. As their website says, it boasts everything modern, natural and rustic. You can sail, play golf, nap and simply enjoy where you are: paradise.

So if you’re unsure about where to go on your honeymoon, do a bit of research about Mauritius – it has something for ever and is sure to never disappoint!

Source

In an outdoor space it’s nice to let the natural elements act as the backdrop and frame for your photographs. If you have a beautiful tree let it highlight your special memories! What a statement piece!

Clockwise- source 1// source 2// source 3 

For a more modern feel check out balancing your pictures with pieces of mirror. This hanging treatment looks A-mazing in front of a window, but could also jazz-up a plain wall or pillar!

Otto Schulze for Alexan Events

Table numbers are a great way for your guests to be up-close and personal with your favorite shots. Aside from this being a nice display option, it also adds variety and gives a unique twist to your table top decor.

source 1// source 2// source 3 & 4

If you’re looking to make your wedding a little more country chic, then of course I am going to suggest using close pins and twine! Hanging these portraits  in such a manner really adds to your theme. How adorable do these pictures look? This treatment looks awesome almost anywhere.

Ryan Timm//Source-top right// source-bottom right

Finally-the mason jar option! I am a huge fan of showing off black and white family shots. Mason jars or any jars you can collet will act as a frame that looks simply stunning! I don’t know about you, but I suddenly have the urge to go searching through my photographs. Good luck finding a beautiful display that portrays your personality and highlights these ever-so-specail memories!

source 1// source 2// source 3

via Modern Day Design 

Building your bouquet out of olive branches will give it a look that no one has ever seen. Its tough nature will allow for a long lasting bouquet or boutonniere, too.

top left // top right // mid left // mid right // bottom left // bottom right 

I love the natural look you can achieve with a majority of greenery in your arrangements, especially in a natural vessel or urn.

via Punam Bean Photography

top 3 // bottom left // bottom right 

source // source

All in all, adorning any details with Olive branches never fails. Simple sprigs or large arrangements, a twig on your plate to add a little something to the table or a wreath on the cake go a long way AND is cost effective! The best of both worlds.

top // bottom left // bottom right 

left // top right // bottom right 

source // source 

Clearly we love flowers, BUT don’t count out the leafy greenery as a main element in your design plan. It gives an uber natural feel that people won’t see at every other wedding and save you money.

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you on Monday!

When it comes to centerpieces, you can use a mirrored look in different height levels or in vases. By using a raised mirrored base that adds some height and interest to the centerpieces, you achieve a much more up to date look than the flat version.

source

source // source 

source // source

A grander place to use the multi leveled look is in  a large grouping like the one below. The mirrors disappear into the landscape and add a chic-modern look that would be perfect to frame out a ceremony, aisle or bar.

source

Another spot on your table tops that will allow for a fashionable mirror addition is in silver chargers that can give the allusion of a mirror or just jazz it up a little. You can also use a mirror in  your table tops as a whole! We all know mirrors make a space look bigger.

source // source

Mirrored furniture used in subtle applications is the perfect addition to a sleek and sexy lounge area. It’s the perfect amount of bling that won’t overpower the space.

source // source 

And lastly, little details are always welcome to a fun addition like mirrored garland. We accentuated a picture display with mirrored garland to bounce off the light in the windows and it was the perfect look for a modern wedding at the Denver Art Museum.

via Otto Schulze for Alexan Events

Nothing is off limits if you use it in the right application.

We’ll start with three of my favorite leading ladies: Kristen Wiig, Eva Mendez and Jennifer Goodwin, who all decided to go the orangey, coral route. And they. nailed. it.

Kristin – Eva – Jennifer // Bouquet

Moving on to Miss SJP. Sticking with her iconic Carrie Bradshaw role, SJP definitely took a risk on the red carpet. Yet, I still love it – it’s sweet, feminine and is so perfectly floral, it was hard to pick one bouquet that this dress parallels! If only Mr. Valentino had a boutonniere…

SJP // Bouquet

Scarlett. Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett. I LOVE IT. I have a love-hate with Miss Johansson, mostly because she married one of my two boyfriends, Ryan Reynolds, (my other is that stud of a man, Ryan Gosling – thank goodness they’re both named Ryan, they’ll never know!). But this gown carries so perfectly into a bouquet filled with soft pink ranunculas, creamy garden roses, helleborus and a splash of soft yellow.

Scarlett // Bouquet

Would Lisbeth Salander ever be caught dead with a bouquet of flowers in her hands? I’m going to go with probably not. But Rooney Mara’s dress is so elegant and feminine, it’s hard to imagine her being that amazing, strong, tattooed heroine that we all secretly wish to be. So this gown must represent a darker femininity and anemones seem to do the trick!

Bouquet // Rooney

Isabeli Fontana – I don’t know who you are but I’m positively obsessed with your gown. The risk! The sequins! The sleeves! AH! I just love it all. And I think I found its bouquet counterpart, loaded with something else I’m obsessed with – PEONIES!

Isabeli // Bouquet

Caroline Sieber – this is magical. Unique and I love the embellishments. They make me think of silver brunia berry – which look ever so lovely in this bouquet, paired with roses and anemones. Simply so sweet.

Caroline // Bouquet

This bouquet is probably one of my all time favorite bouquets, simply because it’s loaded with my all time favorite flower, ranunculas. Pale pinks are at the top of my list of favorite colors right now, so throw ALL this together, with some gorgeous ladies and we’ve got pure gorgeousness, on the red carpet and down the aisle!

Amber – Paula – Leslie // Bouquet

Sofia Vergara and Camilla Belle went the metallic route and I couldn’t love it more. Sofia, rocking those curves, and Camilla just being so sultry. Metallic doesn’t have to be flashy, and when brought to life in a bouquet, antique hued roses and dahlias gives just enough rawness while still keeping its elegance.

Sofia // Bouquet // Camilla

Could Marion Cotillard be any prettier? Don’t think so – which is why her dress can only be an insanely pretty bouquet of mini tinted and seeded eucalyptus, artichokes and beauty berry!

Marion // Bouquet

THIS is Phil Collins’ daughter?! Can I borrow that dress please? Or at least have this to-die-for bouquet that is the dress brought to floral life? Dahlias, roses, dusty miller – insanely charming, lovely and elegant!

Lily // Bouquet – source unknown

Jessica Chastain, you easily played one of my favorite characters in any movie (Celia Foote in The Help). You nailed your Oscar dress, and you NAILED the color on this dress! I can’t think of a better color combination for her hair color. AND it carries over SO nicely into a bouquet of subtle orange roses, dusty miller, cream spray roses, chocolate cosmos, nigella flower and helleborus.

Jessica // Bouquet

Constance Jablonski, you’re a super model for a reason. My goodness, I don’t know many people who can pull off this color combination and look totally amazing! The complimentary colors look perfect when paired with purples in a orchid and delphinium bouquet.

Bouquet // Constance

I hope that Emma Roberts and Lily Collins are BFF because they are seriously the cutest EVER and I would happily nominate them for best-dressed at the Met Gala – gasp! This yellow is so perfect and age appropriate and is always a fun flower color – just like in this Billy Ball, Ranunclus and cotton bouquet.

Emma // Bouquet

Allison Williams and Dee Ocleppo – fantastic color choice! Bright pinks and fuschias are a bold but always lovely and perhaps one of the easiest to transfer to a bouquet loaded with roses, tulips and, of course, peonies!

Allison // Bouquet // Dee

Is it crazy that I actually stressed about picking a bouquet for Anna Wintour? I don’t even know the lady and her Devil-Wears-Prada reputation permeates EVERYWHERE. What does the queen of high fashion look like in a bouquet? Well, I believe that behind that bob and those bangs, there’s a lovely, playful, vibrant lady who adores something as fresh, clean and sweet as this bouquet overflowing with fritelleria, dahlias, sweat peas and pieris japonica.

Anna // Bouquet

Best. Couple. Ever. I would love to have dinner with them. I would also love Christine Taylor’s dress. Because it’s gorgeous, just like this bouquet loaded with dahlias, roses, pink stonecrop sedum and trachelium.

Bouquet // Christine

I felt a lot of pressure picking out the perfect bouquet for this little lady. I mean, in only a few months she’ll be carrying one down the aisle herself! I love this dress – so feminine, yet not too matronly. So I award her with ranunculas – are you surprised? And of course, we can’t just pass this by without mentioning how STINKING cute JT is. Swoon!

Jessica // Bouquet

January Jones, you may have dated Ashton for awhile, but you are one person and one person only to me – Betty Draper. Yet you seem so different from your Mad Men character in this picture – fun, colorful, cherry, sweet! I hope this is a parallel of what’s going to happen to dear Betty on Mad Men. In the meantime, a killer bouquet, full of burnia berries, billy balls, mums, tulips and dusty miller will be the perfect representation of your Met Ball appearance. I love it!

Bouquet // January

Another gown that was high pressure. Can anything really match up to THE Beyonce gown? Purple and black are hard to get in a bouquet, so shades of purple, in only THE best flowers shall represent the woman who some are saying was THE best dressed on Tuesday night. Sweet smelling stock, lysanthus, orchid and lysimachia.

Bouquet // Beyonce

Back to the metallics, Leighton, Jessica, you nailed it. I love gold. Period. Amen. Add some lace, make it one shoulder. I’ll take both of these gowns, thanks. And one of my favorite colors to pair with gold? Light blue of course! This bouquet of roses, painted lotus pods, mums and dusty miller is the most magical representation of these magical dresses.

Leighton – Jessica // Bouquet

Orange scares me, but clearly not Kristen Bell and Katharine McPhee – both NAILED it on the red carpet and set a high standard for all future orange-wearers. And my goodness, which flower just so happens to also NAIL the orange hue? Ranunculas of course!

Kristen – Katharine // Bouquet

And now we’re getting into the final two. My favorite two. Rachel Zoe’s is my favorite because it looks like something I would wear myself. It’s hippie, it’s free, it’s still unbelievably amazingly glam. And this bouquet of olive leaves, Queen Anne’s Lace and little wild daisies is pure earthy awesomeness.

Rachel // Bouquet

And. The Best. For Last. I’m not even a huge purple fan but this dress is so off-the-charts gorgeous I can hardly stand it! The loose waist! The feathers! Diane! Wait, where’s your date? I would like to see him too! Her bouquet must be as jaw-dropping and this combination of lysanthis, roses, lilac and sweat peas just brings it all together. In the words of Miss Zoe – I die.

Diane // Bouquet

So there you have it – our floral interpretation of some of the BEST dresses from Tuesday’s Met Gala. If I didn’t have 4 weddings who needed planning, I would have analyzed every dress. But alas, the real fun calls!

]]> http://alexanevents.com/blog/index.php/2012/05/09/2012-met-gala-fashion-floral-inspiration/feed/ 0 http://alexanevents.com/blog/index.php/2012/05/07/unique-gift-ideas-for-your-bridesmaids/ http://alexanevents.com/blog/index.php/2012/05/07/unique-gift-ideas-for-your-bridesmaids/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 17:01:02 +0000 alexanevents http://alexanevents.com/blog/?p=6688 For me, nothing is better than sipping on a cup of coffee on a rainy morning while browsing some blogs! That being said; today is already perfect. Happy Monday!

This weekend we put on a wedding for a lovely and super fun couple. What I was most astounded by was how close the bride and groom were to their friends who joined them for the celebration. You could honestly feel the love in the room. It got me thinking about how you could honor those who mean most to you as they stand by your side on the biggest day of your life.

Today’s blog is in dedication to bridesmaids. You ladies rock!

Source// etsy.com// etsy.com 2// final source

A great idea that is very popular in the wedding world is gifting your girls with a single-bead necklace to match their dress. What I love most about the pictures above are the initials on each chain which personalize the gift! This is simple, elegant, and completely re-wearable!

If you’re into giving jewelry then you must also check out these rings! Who doesn’t love accessorizing? Besides, doesn’t this bling just scream “fun”?! I think the photograph on the top left is priceless and totally framable.

source 1// source 2// etsy.com// etsy.com 2

The next gift idea will surely have your bridesmaids feeling pampered and adored. Purchasing robes for your girls to wear while preparing for the ceremony really is a nice touch. Aside from keeping everyone relaxed, wearing matching robes allows your photographer to get some very memorable shots. This is an exceptionally sweet gesture.

source 1// Abby Jiu Photography// source 2-bottom left// source 3// Glen Allsop

source 1// source 2// Ila Handbags// final source

If you are looking to take the sensible route for gift giving my suggestion is to purchase a clutch for each of your bridesmaids. This is a perfect way for them to keep their cell phones, lip gloss, and other essentials handy during a night of toasts, dinner, and dancing. Plus it will look super cute with their dress!

Finally, here is a mix of personalized ideas that are sure to make your bridesmaids feel loved and as special as they actually are. Check out the locket below, it definitely has a “wow” factor. Remind your ladies just how great they are and let them know they mean the world to you. As you embark on the next chapter of your life it’s nice to know you have such awesome friends standing by your side and cheering you on! Showing your appreciation during this very important time is simply priceless.

source 1// source 2// final source 

*Please note that many of the gift ideas featured on today’s blog can be found and purchased at Etsy.com!

There’s no way to look at this week’s feature flower and not be happy. It is the Billy Ball and is as bright and cheerful as they come! Whether they’re gathered in a bunch or paired with other lovely blooms for your bouquet, they do not disappoint.

(source)

top left // top right // bottom left // bottom right 

(source)

As for a boutonniere, you cannot find a better floral options than these. Their stems are strong, and they’re not made up of delicate petals they will wither out of water.

top // bottom left // bottom right 

left // right by Red Barn Flowers by Monique Krahn

The only color that Billy Balls, also known Craspedia, only come in the fabulous yellow you see, and they are available in almost every month of the year. And best, they’re meaning is “good health”.

I love the look they give when they’re peeking out of a centerpiece and they, literally, match about anything you pair them with. They are an all around laid back and easy to love flower that are perfect for a modern or rustic wedding, these days.

by April Flowers

top via Sheena Gibson // middle // bottom via April Peet Flowers

top // 2nd row ( 1 )(2) // 3rd row // bottom (1)(2)

(source)

(source)

(s0urce)

Happy Friday and have a sun and fun filled weekend. We’ll see you on Monday!

Danica was dying for a light and etherial atmosphere with peach and white details. The peach flowers made it!

Danica, being the amazing paper talent that she is, carefully crafted all of the papery for her wedding including the invites, favors and programs from below.

When it came time for the nuptials, their guests congregated in the Timber House, overlooking the amazing rustic backdrop, softened up by drapes, lots of greenery and florals while everyone enjoyed apple cider and hot cocoa.

Escort cards were hung from vintage doors which were replaced by personalized polaroids when guests grabbed their cards. The perfect way to double up and get a fun guest book keepsake for afterwards!
And then it was party time! The Broad Axe Barn gives way to a cozy reception space and details included lace and burlap accents, mercury glass and beautiful books, courtesy of Danica’s favorites collection.

Source

Source

Source 1 // Source 2