Is your wedding at a location that doesn't allow any kind of material to be tossed, and perhaps no bubbles, either? Then consider ribbon wands as a fun alternative. Your exit pictures will have the look of flying streamers without the mess.

Guests each receive a ribbon wand, and wave the ribbons as you make your departure from the ceremony or reception. The ribbons can be coordinated with your wedding colors, and personalized with your names, date, or other phrase. You can purchase them pre-made, or easily go the DIY route.

We found a few resources for both purchasing them pre-made as well as creating your own:

Pre-made in white, no options: Wilton Ribbon Wands
Customized, color & imprint: My Wedding Favors Ribbon Wands
Custom printed ribbons, for DIY use: Print MY Ribbon
DIY Instructions: Polka Dot Bride Blog (it's an Australian site, so be advised that the measurements are in metric)

{These are just a few quick examples; there are many more sources on the web. Search for "Ribbon Wands" and see what catches your fancy.}

Cheers!
Heather

The perfect bridal shower can become the best gift the bride and/or groom-to-be receives.  Start off by setting a date and making a guest list. Be sure to check with the bride (or groom and bride’s mother) so the guest or guests of honor don’t get any unexpected “surprises.” 

Planning a themed bridal shower can really turn this event into a party so think about some things that the guest of honor likes.  Some good ideas for women-only showers include Hawaiian Luau, Pajama Party, and Under the Sea. For co-ed showers, some examples are Casino Night, James Bond, and Favorite Movie. For a full out theme party, decoration can really make the difference. Even if it’s a non-theme party, decorations can say a lot. Get lights, remove family portraits, “color” the walls, bring in a fountain: do whatever you can to transform the room. 

Food is another important element that can take the shower up to a high or down to a low.  Though it is not necessary to have extravagant foods, adding a few lemons here and there or creatively arranging the pieces will add a little style.  Playing games is always on the list of to dos and the clothespin game is still a classic.  Even though some games are old, adding a few twists to them can make them “modern.” 

Last but not least, the party favors. They can range from chocolate high heels to music CDs to gift certificates.  But just like everything else listed above, favors should complement the shower or guest of honor.

Check back another time for more ideas on how to plan a bridal shower!

Photo Credit: abridalshower.com
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For the first in our new Wednesday series on creative and unique proposals, we feature the very first "Grouposal," or proposal made through the deal-sharing site, Groupon. This groom-to-be took note of his intended's love of Groupon, and made his proposal the "Deal of the Day" just for her.

Read the full story here: http://mashable.com/2011/01/05/groupon-proposal/

Pretty creative! How would you like to be proposed to (real or imagined)?

L'Evento was recently honored to be awarded First Place in the Arts & Design District's holiday window decorating contest! We're so pleased with how the windows look this year, and we're even more pleased to be recognized for the effort and creativity. Take a look at the gallery below, or better yet, stop by to see them for yourself!

Ladies & Gents, please tell everyone you know about our Spring Intern Search! We have teamed up with Circle City Planners to find four great interns for next semester. It's difficult to find good talent in this industry so we are opening our doors up wide. The four positions that will be needed are an Events Intern for CCP, Sales/Marketing Intern for CCP, Floral Design/Decor Intern for CCD, & Sales/Marketing Intern for l'Evento. If you have any friends, family members or acquaintances who are looking to get a foot in the door in the events industry, this is the perfect opportunity! We appreciate all your support and hope you will help us get some great people to attend the search! For more details or info on the positions, please visit the event listing on the CCP Facebook page.

The search will be held on Monday, Dec. 6th, at 7 p.m. SHARP, hosted at l'Evento Resource Boutique in Carmel. (Address: 21 S Rangeline Rd, Carmel, IN, 46032.) All potential interns must bring their resumes, portfolio if possible, and of course, dress to impress! We can't wait!

P.S. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are so thankful to have such supportive friends and fans!

Today I attended the ISES Indiana luncheon at Indy's newest (and highest) event venue, D'Amore. It's a beautiful space with amazing views, perfect for all kinds of events, especially the bride seeking something new and unique with a modern feel.

The speaker at today's meeting was Tim Lundy, CSEP, owner of Distinctive Design Events in Atlanta, GA and Otto, NC.

He gave us an overview of the current trends in catering and table-top design, and I'd like to share a few of the catering ideas he mentioned with you.

• Tapas-style/Small-bite hors d'oeuvres & desserts
  
• Unique serving methods, plating & presentation
• Deconstructed salads
• Uncommon ingredients
• Pasta
• Nostalgic foods, including comfort foods & childhood favorites
• Cupcakes & Candy
• Colorful cakes
• Cookies - alongside or instead of the cake
• Architectural food

When planning your event and consulting with your caterer, consider some unique elements that might easily be brought into your food. Simply by switching a plate, garnish or ingredient, you can take something that is also-ran to WOW! Don't be afraid to get creative and ask!

Cheers,
Heather

So, would you get married at McDonald's? Sure, there are  occasional stories of quirky weddings - skydiving, waterslides, etc. - but is McDonald's really the new wedding venue of choice?

According to this MSNBC Today article, that may just be on the horizon. Three McDonald's restaurants in Hong Kong have already begun accepting wedding bookings. As commenter Bertrand S. below the article states, "The truth is, when you truly love someone, you do not care what the rest of the world thinks, as long as the location does make them happy, that is the only thing that matters."

I agree - getting married technically requires nothing more than a judge or officiant and two witnesses. However, with the continuing relaxation of formality in weddings, could this really be next as a mainstream, rather than fringe, option? Do we really want weddings to become another option on the menu?

Please, share your thoughts.

Cheers,
Heather

For our 1 Year Anniversary Celebration last week (photos coming soon!), I re-decorated the windows at L'Evento, with great success. Many compliments were received for the fun and lovely tissue paper pom-poms, so I decided to share the instructions for these simple decorations. They are easily adapted to different situations and styles - changes in color, size and end-cut can create a totally different effect. Prepare to experiment a little with the number of layers needed if you are working with a paper size other than indicated in the instructions.

(Instructions and images from Martha Stewart Weddings.)

How to make the hanging pom-poms
You'll need tissue paper and 24-gauge white cloth-covered floral wire.

1. Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inch wide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.
2. Fold and 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over the center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.
3. Separate layer, pulling away from center one at a time.
4. Tie a length of monofilament (fishing line) to floral wire for hanging.

by Cornelia Powell

Sometimes it’s hard not to lose yourself when planning your wedding. There are so many distractions vying for your attention that not only can it become rather daunting—making you a bit dizzy—but you can also lose your connection to your relationship. So how do you keep your cool, your heart open, and your attention on what really matters?

Before you look “out there” at the smorgasbord of choices when planning your wedding, look inside to help soothe any frayed edges and get centered again. Here’s a tip: Slow down and put attention on your breathing.

Try this now as you’re reading: Begin taking deep, slow inhales and long, gentle exhales—breathing through your nose for even more relaxation. Let your body relax (drop your shoulders, unclench your jaw, soften your focus) and imagine your breaths going in and out of your heart. Soft, easy, flowing breaths.

Just slowing down and taking some deep, easy breaths for a few minutes each day—especially when you feel the busy swirl coming on—will bring you some much needed calm and ease. This helps your heart stay open and your attention stay on your relationship!

Now, breathing deeply into your heart, look inside to find yourself. And do you know what you’ll find? A more relaxed bride is a more beautiful bride and more deeply connected to love. Breathtaking!

[Cornelia Powell, known as “the bride’s sage” for over 25 years, is the author of the Amazon best selling book, The Bride’s Ritual Guide: Look Inside To Find Yourself (http://www.weddingsofgrace.com/store/TBRGSpecialOffer.php) that is full of ways to be a beautiful bride! See her popular online magazine, Weddings of Grace, (www.WeddingsOfGrace.com) for a special offer: order a copy of the book and receive free gifts you’ll love!]