Planning Your Winter Wedding

A Winter Wedding has the unique possibility of becoming one of the most magical and enchanting events that anyone ever attends. There is something about the backdrop of snow, the whites and crystals we expect in the Winter landscape, the accessories and hues of warmth, furs and feathers, and the deep, fiery colors that lend themselves to weddings fit for a fairy tale. The Winter Wedding can be as simplistic or dramatic as you can imagine, and the spectrum of color is never restricted to Christmas Red! Think colors as cool as Aqua to as deep as Eggplant. Truly anything goes in the Winter…the cooler the hue, the icier the feel and the warmer the hue, the cozier. Either way, the Winter season can be played up and dramatized as much as you desire. And since you’re getting married in a season as dramatic and gorgeous as Winter, we say, go all the way…

Aqua and White

White drapery billows against Aqua lighting. White and Powder Blue linen works softly against the Brighter Aqua creating a very “icy” reception.

A pale color spectrum shows the evolution of Winter White to a warmer Rose. All are perfect shades for creating a soft Winter wedding palette without Spring Pastels.

Pale Rose, White, and Deep Purple become a gorgeous Winter combination when surrounded by the glint of Gold. The arrangement is elegant and warm…perfect for the Winter Event that doesn’t want to hint at Reds, Greens, and Blues.

Pure White against the deep woods of chivari chairs and a bare table offers a magical, snowy feel. Perfectly bridal and anything but plain, a pure white scheme can become a beautiful solution to creating a wedding that doesn’t feel too “Christmasy”.

Creamy florals, Golden chairs, and the natural element of sticks creates a surprisingly formal feel for a Winter Wedding. The look is timeless…a classic scheme that will never be challenged by trends in color.

The possibilities are endless for designing a Winter event that is seasonal without being defined by the Holidays. As always, take your cues from the natural landscape and let your imagination wander.

Happy Planning!

~ Casey Sigler

New Hues for Christmas

We recently had a guest visit our showroom looking for a fresh take on Christmas colors for an upcoming banquet. We poured over swatches and tried to imagine what Christmas would look like in jewel tones but it’s difficult to inspire your confidence that Christmas can look like Christmas without the Cranberry red and Hunter green we all know so well. You know it can be done…you probably have a varied selection of glass ornaments in a rainbow of colors up in your attic right now. But here are some visuals to help you put your finger on exactly what you are wanting your Christmas event to look like this year. Pick out something unusual, unexpected, and simply gorgeous to deck the halls and reinvent the festivities of the season!

Some Vintage glam…this Christmas look would be perfect for a Ladies’ Ornament Swap or a Children’s Holiday Party.

Both natural and soft, Light Olive and Silver is a beautiful combination for a comfortable twist on tradition. This look could go formal or casual and may even be the perfect theme for a New Year’s celebration or a January reception.

For a jolt of Holiday hue, use bright blue or softer periwinkle with stark white. Bring in slate or charcoal to vary the shades.

Reds and Lime…a lighter, funkier take on tradition. And bright lime green ornaments will pop against your evergreen tree!

Something very different! Think cameos and old fashioned Greeting Cards.
Cool and Bright…Turquoise and Aqua make a fun and cheery look. You can easily add a pop of red if you just can’t do away with tradition altogether.

Thankfulness & Color

I am a sucker for seasons. I look forward to the changing of the weather, the transitioning of wardrobes, the coming holidays, and the appropriately scented candles of all four, glorious seasons. The anticipation of something new never fails to excite me. I cannot fathom living in an area of the world where life is the same for twelve months out of the year. Maybe I’ll visit California one day but for every day living, give me the Mid-South…a place where I can revel in everything I love about Southern culture but also get a few decent snowfalls every February or March.

That being said, I really really love Fall. Even with highs in the upper 70s, I’ll throw a fall wreath on any door and order a Pumpkin Spice Latte even if I’m sweating all the way through it. And fall table scapes are some of my favorites. Pulling together something warm, natural, and rustic is so easy with the organic rusts, oranges, creamy browns, and sage-y greens we get from the autumn landscape. Add a pop of deep eggplant or rich cranberry and the scheme is perfect. Creating a memorable harvest table might be as simple as positioning a long piece of natural wood on your table top, dotting it with short ivory pillar candles and lacing the entire thing with some berries or “whispies” (my talk for natural or silk branches with small buds or leaves). If you have some baby pumpkins in orange and white and some pine cones from your yard, you possibly can’t do any better.

Great swatch card for inspiration.

If you’re going the rustic route, tie your napkins with raffia or twine. If you’re having a more elegant dinner, snatch up some gold or copper mercury glass and place votive candles inside. I’ve discovered some really pretty, simple copper colored cording at my local craft store. It’s the perfect shade to craft with and it seems to jump off of any other color combination. My favorite thing about fall decor? Even the most formal table design (your best china, the nice tablecloth, etc.) can be perfectly blended with wicker baskets and mason jars and some leaves from your very own yard. Blend the best of what you’ve got with the every day items in your life to find the charm of the season. And most importantly, of course, be thankful for all of it.

I am in love with mercury glass…

White pumpkins add some pizzazz.

Perfectly Tabled

You are mapping out your reception venue and the classic issue comes up…how many people can you squeeze in there at one time? We thought we’d help out with a short list of items to consider when it comes to seating!

1. Dinner or Dancing or Both?
Here’s the thing: Unless you are having a sit down dinner with preset tables and a wait staff, you may very well not need to seat every one of your guests at the same time. Every party is different, of course, but if you’re having more of a heavy hors d’oeuvres kind of menu, you may want to create a space that encourages guests to mingle rather than sit. You may also consider having high bistro tables scattered throughout the venue to keep people up on their feet while still providing a place for their drinks, plates, or purses. Bistros are especially helpful when you have dancing. They can help “create” the dancing area if you place them on the corners or around the edges of the dance floor and they will keep guests up on their feet, hence encouraging that inevitable Electric Slide…

2. Rounds or Rectangles?
There are benefits to both types of tables. Rounds allow guests to mingle with 6 or 8 other guests at one time. They can be staggered to create a visually full looking space and they can provide a formality that you may just have your heart set on. Rectangles, however, when used in long rows end to end, can give your reception a whimsical, sometimes more informal feel.

3. Spacial Restrictions
Rules of thumb:
a. A standard 60” round table needs at least 5′ of space all the way around it to allow guests to comfortably pull out their chairs without bumping into the next table.
b. 60” tables will seat between 8 and 10 guests, but 10 is tight, so if you’re having a full sit down meal, you may want to allow your guests more elbow space and seat 8 per table.
c. Standard 6′ rectangular tables will seat 6 guests…3 on each side. 8′ tables will seat 8 guests.
d. If you are using rectangular tables in a long row, end to end, you may consider using short linens. Lap length linens can still look formal, especially with the use of elegant centerpieces, and guests won’t need to fuss with the fabric around their legs. Once the chairs are placed around the tables, you may not even notice that the linen doesn’t drop to the floor.
e. Whenever you are considering your allotted space, remember to include plenty of room for your cake tables, gift table, dance floor, buffet tables, or food stations. Create a blueprint and make sure your area won’t feel too cramped. You’d rather have a little too much space than not enough. Guests will fill the area quickly and chances are, the room will not feel bare.

We’re very visual. And we think you probably are too. Here are some pics to inspire your own fantastic seating arrangements.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! This space feels almost Medieval and we love that.

Two rectangular tables set side by side and then end to end. Great way to create a huge tabletop with plenty of room for multiple courses.

Colorful banquet tables feel perfectly inviting for guests.

Aisle Posies

Perhaps nothing says “outdoor wedding” quite like dozens of white wooden chairs set out in crisp, long lines. White woods are classic, no fuss, and perfect for the most formal of outdoor soirees to the simplest of ceremonies. Looking for a way to spruce up your aisle of white woods? We’ve borrowed some inspiration from our friends at The Knot and Simply Blue Weddings. And you needn’t fuss with Shepherd’s Hooks…white woods can hold their own when it comes to flowers, starfish, or any thing else you might fancy!

Ballooning

What would we not love about brightly colored globes floating high up to the ceiling? The magic is undeniable. It’s the pop of color, the long curling ribbon and the overall festiveness of a single, a bunch, or a thousand balloons that strikes our fancy. Here are some guidelines to deciding if balloons are perfect for your occasion.

1. Are they allowed? Make sure your venue doesn’t just allow but also likes the use of balloons. Otherwise, they may not be worth the expense, the time, and the clean up. Know the guidelines and work well within them.

2. How will they work best in your space? A small room may be a great opportunity to do gobs and gobs of single balloons with long streamers falling at eye level for a vibrant and wild kind of celebration. A banquet hall will be best served from tall staggered weighted bouquets, arches, or columns. Think height. Don’t stump your balloons by tying them too low to the ground…this is good a rule of thumb no matter what ceiling height you are working with.

3. Color Control. Sure, you can haphazardly throw some multicolored balloons together. Sometimes you pull it off. To me, it seems that the sheer mass of the balloons is the key. The more balloons, the crazier your color combinations can be. If you are using just a few dozen balloons, stick with no more than 3 colors. The silver and canary balloon image is a perfect example.

4. Time/Temp/Locale
a. Is it possible to get the balloons to your location in a timely manner? Do you need to use Hi-Float solution to keep your balloons up for 48 hours or more?
b. It is absolutely necessary to have your balloons in comfortable room temperature. If it is one million (or even 100) degrees outside, you may want to throw out the idea altogether unless you are blowing up your own balloons inside of the party venue. Transportation of balloons in the mid-afternoon Southern heat makes for a wilting, matted bunch of the most depressing balloons you’ve ever seen.
c. Using balloons out of doors is risky business. Always have a Plan B whenever you are throwing any kind of party (or ceremony, for goodness sakes) outside! And if you are planning to use single balloons or staggered, weighted bouquets, know that a breeze may make them less than gorgeous and more like a tangled mess. We have sturdier options available…balloon columns or arches flanked by columns may make for pretty décor that will stay put. <

5. Size and Style. Most of our orders call for standard 11’’ latex balloons. They work great for most of the designs we create and they are typically the most economical variety. But every now and then we get to employ larger sizes and we love using them! 16’’ latex balloons are significantly larger and really draw your attention. 3’ balloons are absolutely gorgeous and will add a splash of whimsy to your event. They also make fabulous props for photos. Think bride or child holding onto a single or trio of enormous, colorful balloons.

Parties on the Fly

It’s been an awfully long time since I’ve blogged. Spring and Summer don’t typically make for long peaceful hours of reflection around here. From the moment we unlock the front door in the morning until the time we slide the Closed sign down, we are answering phones and taking orders and meeting clients and inspecting linens. It makes for a pretty fast workday.
Hence my Wednesday afternoon thought:
What do you do for fast inspiration when it comes to event planning?
Whether you are a caterer, wedding coordinator, or just an everyday guy or gal who throws the occasional soiree, all of us have those moments in life where there needs to be a celebration – FAST. Something snuck up on us or we suddenly got thrown the reigns and in one month, two weeks, or five hours, there will be festivities that we will be responsible for hosting. What is your go to solution? Is it finding the perfect combination of colors for linens, flowers and the like? Is it the perfect food and drink that everyone will love? Is it a location or a time tested theme that always charms? Are you the kind that already has closets chock full of glass plates…?
We hope that whenever you get into those unavoidable party planning time crunches, Party Connection will be the first Go To on your list. We promise to always do our best to outfit your space, your rooms, and your tables with the most beautiful products at the most reasonable rates.
Give us a call and let us see how we can help. And don’t waste another minute about it.

The Royal Wedding & Why We Do (& don’t) Care

I haven’t thought one little iota about The Royal Wedding.

Until this week.

And then there was a lively discussion on a radio morning show about it and I found myself day dreaming. What will be Kate’s “colors”? What will her gown look like? What will they serve at the luncheon and the dinner? And why does it all matter?
Well, technically, it really doesn’t.
This wedding will not affect my life or the lives of my friends and family or just about anybody, in fact. It does not symbolize the peace of nations. It does not herald the coming of a new age. It is not even a fantastic love story. But it is a Royal Wedding and that is something we don’t get to experience everyday. The fanfare, the vast wealth, and perhaps to Americans most of all, the ancient ritual of how a prince marries his princess is something that we (or at least some of us) cannot help but want to see. I’m sure that their colors, their flowers, the cut of her dress will set a trend for the coming months and so for that reason, some of us are deeply interested.
But I think that it’s the Procession through London streets, the long walk down aisle of Westminister Abbey and the solemnity of spoken vows transforming a commoner into royalty that will be most transfixing…the sudden conversion of a girl with no title receiving a ring and a crown and a kingdom.
It’s something that I can’t help but look forward to.

Inspired

We are busy busy busy.

But every now and then we can take a moment and get inspired. Sometimes it’s because someone comes in with a great color scheme idea (Lemon, Pumpkin, and Light Blue for a child’s table at a reception? Funky and summery! Can’t wait to see how it turns out!). Sometimes it’s because we run across a blog we like or see some new photos uploaded on Facebook. Sometimes it’s just because after walking by linens hanging side by side on a rack for the thousandth time, we see a color combination that just pops!

As we browse blogs and photography sites, we’re picking up on a laid back, country feel for this year’s weddings. Love love love the simple white linens and tousled wildflower arrangements in mason jars.
Here are some images that are full of theme/feel/color inspiration…enjoy!