I can't believe it, but it's time once again for another round of the monthly Wedding Vendor Challenges and each of the vendors have gone above and beyond with SPECTACULAR DESIGNS this month. You are going to love what you will be seeing today, tomorrow and Friday. Today, Pam of Party Starters and Maria of Studio Sister Photography teamed up with an amazing group of vendors to put together this lovely phoot shoot. Pam wrote that she used lots of white with pops of pinks, purples and grey to create an elegant and refreshing bridal shower. The shoot was photographed outside on the deck in the afternoon sun. I love the addition of the sheer drapes to soften the sun's rays.

DIY GOODIE: Pam has created this butterfly template. The small butterflies were used on the table as confetti. The medium sized could be used on place cards and the large could be attached to bakers twine and hung to create a banner or other ceiling decoration. Download here.

Wedding Vendors:

A Blissful Nest: "Mod Wedding" printable collection
(banner, menu, place card, straw flags, cupcake toppers & favor tags)

Milk and Cookeez: Cupcake shaped soaps (favors)

Firefly Confections: Sugar Cookies

Fancy That: Candy Tubes (favors)

The Pastry Pedestal: Pastry Pedestals (cupcake pedestals)

Party Starters: Favor Boxes
(Mini Cupcake Boxes with monograms & candy shaped boxes)

Pamela Smerker & Dawn Rumin: Party Styling

Studio Sister Photography: Photographer

It's time for another wedding vendor challenge in aqua blue, red and butter yellow this morning. For today, Chris of Celebrations At Home came up with a spectacular bridal shower tablescape {although these ideas can easily be applied to a wedding}. Wait until you see the place card and menu combo. LOVE IT. The photographs are by Laura Gordon Photography.

Chris describes her ideas behind the design . . . "Once I found the event space and was given the "ok" to use it, I was inspired by the brick walls that felt rustic, but modern at the same time. With that in mind, I set out to design a bridal shower with the same feel. The colors were a bit challenging as I experimented with different combinations, finally deciding on the aqua and yellow as the main colors with red being a bold accent."

Chris continues . . . "The tabletop is sleek and simple with rattan chargers, layered fabric & ribbon runner, a floral centerpiece coverd by a rustic cloche, and vases from IKEA used as drink bottles. A favor for each guest is also placed at each setting. These are large match boxes wrapped with custom paper designed by Delovely Designs. The size is great for filling with a small trinket, candy, or a small baked good."

"The place card trio is a fun idea I like to use for showers & dinner parties as it combines a name card, a menu card, and a conversation starter or trivia card relating to the guest of honor."

Chris explains her ideas for a great dessert table . . . "For most of my dessert tables, I am a big fan of choosing 1 or 2 designer or specialty desserts, and filling in with candy or homemade treats. In this case, the cake pops from Candy Valley are the star of the table, as they are dipped in our main colors of aqua and yellow and topped with candy pearls. The brick wall is the main backdrop with the addition of a frame and rustic shutter draped with a fabric swag. The swag is an easy DIY project that you can use in so many areas to add a pop of color to the space. Also part of the table are note cards for each guest to write down words of advice for the bride."

DIY GOODIE: Fabric Swag

You will need:

Household string/twine

3 or 4 coordinating swatches of fabric, cut into thin strips about 41/2 inches long.

1. Tie a piece of twine between 2 points to make it easier to work with. 

2. Fold fabric strip in half and place in front of twine.

3. Bring the 2 tail ends up behind the twine and loop it through the fabric so they hang forward.

4. Repeat with more fabric strips until you have a length suitable for your project.

Use your creative imagination and drape a fabric swag any place that needs a pop of interest or color.

Vendors:

Styling - Chris Nease - Celebrations At Home

Photographer - Laura Gordon Photography

Paper Items - Delovely Designs

Cake Pops - Candy Valley Cake Co.

Event Space - Studio 418

It's Day two of the June Wedding Vendor Challenge features. Today's beautiful outdoor photo shoot took place at the amazing Belle Isle in Detroit, MI. Lisa of Gabbi Grace Events wanted to plan an outdoor shoot with a beautiful backdrop and immediately knew of the perfect place . . . the gardens at the Anna Sripps Whitcomb Conservatory located on the beautiful Belle Isle, one of Detroit's many gems. Both Lisa and Kim of Something Floral, utilized the use of crystals and glass to capture the elegance and stunning backdrop of fountains, water, the Glass Conservatory itself and the beautiful Detroit city skyline.

Michael Peychich Photography

Kim of Something Floral explains about the primary table centerpiece . . . "Full size roses (Corazon and Gold Strike varieties) and 3 types of foliage: Italian Ruscus, Salal, and Pittsoporum were used. The primary centerpiece sat atop a 28" tall, glass, Roman Doric-style column and featured crystal chandelier-style candleholders and drop crystals. Since the shoot took place during the day, I filled the candleholders with cut roses rather than candles. The primary table centerpiece was flanked by two smaller, handtied bouquets of Corazon roses in a water-filled vases that were placed inside tall crystal candleholders (one cylinder, one rectangle)."

Left: Michael Peychich Photography, Right: Urban Fire Studio

Urban Fire Studio

Urban Fire Studio

Urban Fire Studio

Michael Peychich Photography

Urban Fire Studio

Michael Peychich Photography

Urban Fire Studio

Michael Peychich Photography

Kim selected Corazon, a newer variety of rose, for it's large, multipetaled blooms in a deep, true red and velvety texture. As Kim writes, "because yellow can photograph very light, particularly in bright sunlight, I chose Gold Strike roses for their rich, deep, golden yellow color."

Flowers/foliage in the primary dessert table arrangement: Full size roses (Corazon and Gold Strike varieties), sweetheart roses (Sacha variety), spray roses (Red Mikado variety), and 2 types of foliage: Italian Ruscus and Salal.

Michael Peychich Photography

Michael Peychich Photography

Michael Peychich Photography

Urban Fire Studio

For an extra pop of color and atmosphere of elegance, drop crystals and crystal candleholders containing Corazon roses were tied with yellow ribbon and suspended from the conservatory's wrought-iron garden gazebo. Wouldn't it be beautiful to marry under these crystals?

Vendors:
Venue: Belle Isle (Beautiful Island) • Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory Detroit, MI
Belle Isle is located in the heart of Detroit and it is the largest Island
Park in the Unites States. The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory is open
year round and home to the largest collection of Orchids in the Country. The beautiful gardens and Conservatory are available for weddings 10 AM - 5 PM including holidays.
Planning, Styling & Rentals: Gabbi Grace Events
Chivari Chairs & Round Table, Linens (Table linens, Napkins, Chair Sashes),
Crystal & Glassware for Sweets Table, Red Chargers, Cut Glass Plates
Cake Bites: My Cake Bite Delights (Yolanda & Marissa) Southfield, MI & Chicago, IL
Photographers: Michael Peychich Photography and Urban Fire Studio
Floral Design, Arrangements and Rentals: Something Floral
Crystal & Glassware (Floral Arrangements, Sweets table and Gazebo):
Fresh Fruit-Covered Cake and Meringue Cookies: Angela Bakery, Sterling Heights, MI
Stationery: T. Evenire (Invitations, Menu Cards, place cards, favor boxes) Atlanta, GA

I can't believe it - but it's time again for the start of the monthly wedding vendor challenges. This month - the color palette is aqua blue, red and butter yellow. Some of you are probably already familiar with these monthly features, but let me recap for just a sec for all my new readers. Each month I have vendor teams from across the US and even Canada {hoping to even go international in a future one} come together to organize a photo shoot of a bridal shower tablescape with a dessert display. Oh, and each team must provide me with at least one DIY - it can either be downloadable or re-created from a list of supplies. For today, Madeline’s Weddings & Events came up with a gorgeous display on Delta Winnipeg’s Rooftop Pool Area. What an amazing view of the city {wait until you see the night shots - it features Madeline's signature lighting effects}. The photographs are by Michelle Zerr Photography.

Madeline says they had to contend with crazy winds on the rooftop which made it hard for the linens to stay put and definitely wouldn't allow the candles to stay lit. I have to say, I can't even tell there was any wind. It's just amazing.

For the seating area Madeline's used pinched red linens with soft ivory satin chair covers, aqua satin table runners and aqua napkins. Each table was lined with pillar candle centerpieces, red and ivory rose petals, yellow gerbera daisies and votive candles in red and blue votive holders. There was even aqua sugar cookies for favours at each setting.

For stationery Madeline's created a Bride’s Sign that was hung off her chair, menu cards, place cards, 2 signature drink signs, candy cards for the dessert bar as well as "Love is Sweet” letters.   

The dessert bar featured pinched aqua linens and red satin table runners with all sorts of goodies including fudge, french macaroons, mini cookies, mini brownies, a cotton candy tree, cakettes, cupcakes, and candy corn. There was even a cocktail table of cold milk – because as Madeline asks . . . "who doesn’t want some milk with all these desserts?"

This has to be the most genius dessert display I've ever seen - cotton candy on tree branches. Looks just like cotton bolls which are quite popular in rustic wedding bouquets.

Madeline's also set up a Signature Drink Table with "Something Blue" and a "Sunny Future".

And, now it's time for taking the party into the night with Madeline's signature lighting and a beautiful view of the city skyline . . .

DIY GOODIE: Cupcake Flags
Madeline found this fabulous little project on www.lovelydesign.com {download the file here} and writes, "there was a download available for this project and we were thrilled with just how cute these turned out".

Supplies:
Good-quality paper or cardstock
toothpicks or mini-dowels

Tools:
Ink jet printer
Sharp exacto knife
Cutting map
Ruler
Glue stick

Instructions:
Print. Cut out flags. Lightly fold, matching the triangle points together. Glue the entire backside of each flag, and wrapping around a toothpick, pressing to set. Done! 

Vendors:
Linens & Decor: Madeline’s Weddings & Events
Photographer: Michelle Zerr Photography
Location: Delta Winnipeg Rooftop Pool Area
Dessert Bar: Designed & put together by Madeline’s Weddings & Events
Desserts on display provided by: Cake-ology, Kernals Popcorn & Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Sugar Cookie Favours: Cake-ology
Stationery: Madeline’s Weddings & Events
Spotlighting: Madeline’s Weddings & Events

Where has this week gone? It's time for our last Wedding Vendor Challenge for May already. The past 3 days have featured amazing inspiration for you to use at bridal showers, weddings or any other party you have planned. This months color palette was periwinkle blue, mango orange and lemon yellow. And, like last month, I asked vendors to create a bridal shower tablescape with a dessert display and just like the other challenges, there will be at least one DIY provided. Today I have two DIY downloads for you :) After all it is Friday - why not end it with a little something extra?

This elegant bridal shower photo shoot was styled by Lisa of Gabbi Grace Events and photographed by Jackie of Jacqart at Longacre House in Farmington Hills, MI. The gorgeous florals were designed by Kim of Something Floral. And, I lent a hand in creating all of the paper goodies :) Plus, many etsy artists came on board to provide the perfect little details.

Flowers and faux butterflies were used on the top two tiers of the ivory, antique-look, three-tier stand while mango favor boxes tied with periwinkle satin ribbon rested on large, light yellow chrysanthemums on the bottom tier. Flowers consisted of Spray roses (Babe and Mambo varieties), Hydrangea, Tulips, Parrot tulips, Godetia, Yarrow, Chrysanthemums, and Pittosporum foliage.

The lemons for name tags added an unexpected burst of lemon scent to the air.

Kim placed the florals for the dessert table in a white china teapot with Iris', Tulips, Parrot Tulips and Tulip foliage.

To save on cost and go a little green, Lisa went to the fruit market and purchased 4 small lemons and had the names pinned into the lemons with sterilized pins and used the lemons afterwards to make lemonade. Instead of going out and purchasing a pre-made fruit salad (saving almost $10), Lisa purchased 1 cantaloupe, 1 Kiwi, 2 mangoes, 1 pineapple and chopped them up. A small pack of blueberries was mixed with the fruit and then added to a decorative bowl and stacked onto a cake plate. To add a burst of color,  3 oranges were sliced and arranged on the small cake plate underneath. Lisa writes, "It saved money, its easy to do and looks and tastes delicious!"

DIY DOWNLOAD FREEBIE: Today, I have a download for you with both the "It's time for tea" cupcake toppers and "Drink Tea and Keep Calm" decorative flags. Simply trim the flags out using the border as a guide and then fold in half and glue around drink stirrers. For the cupcake toppers I used a scallop punch and then adhered them to decorative paper before gluing them on the lollipop stick.

Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Jackie of Jacqart
Venue: Longacre House
Florals: Something Floral
Styling: Gabbi Grace Events
Mango Textured Favor Boxes: Notable Notions
Cupcake Stands: Wedding Things
Paper Goodies {invitation, favor tags, place cards, garland, cupcake wrappers, cupcake toppers, decorative flags}: Brenda of Wedding Girl
Fresh Lemon Italian Biscotti Cookies: Biscotti Queen
French Lemon Macarons: J'adore les Macarons
Lemon Sugar Roses: Le Chic Bakery Boutique
Sweets {floral candy lollipops, colorful sprinkle tea cookies, orange sherbet and periwinkle (island punch) Jelly Belly jellybeans}: Sweetheart Bakery
Chair Covers & Linens: Linen Hero
Lemon Supreme Cake : Sweet Dreams Bakery
Cupcakes: Just Baked