Let Them Eat...

...something other than cake! While the wedding cake is beautiful tradition, we like taking tradition to the next level. Use your imagination and be creative. I am in love with this cake-shaped donut display (from Martha Stewart), used as a table centerpiece. Not only is it simply adorable, but it also looks quite tasty. Your guests' mouths will be watering at first sight.

Shaped like the traditional wedding cake, these dessert displays will attract attention and show beautifully at your reception. You can tier any bite-sized dessert to wow your guests: brownies, tarts, cheesecake, or any other dessert your heart desires.

Rebecca Thus, You and Your Wedding, and Manolo Brides, respectively

One of my favorite dessert ideas is the creation of "Sweet Shots" at Chili's. These little pleasures would be absolutely divine arranged on a tiered platter.

Salmon and Gold

This week, I am featuring two colors that look regal together. Fancy and majestic, these colors are current yet refined. Have a color scheme you want featured? Tell us! We are happy to put together some inspiration for you.

Glasses: Alexander Homestead

Dress: Flickr

Shoes: Endless

Centerpiece: JZ Rose

Cake: Wedding Cakes by Design

Table: Confetti

Summer Treats

In honor of the approaching warm weather and my incredible excitement for it to finally arrive, I've decided to post about some fun summer reception ideas.

How about providing drink stations for guests, instead of having them passed or requiring them to go to the bar for a drink? By setting up several stations around your reception area, guests can easily help themselves to a refreshing beverage. I love the drink dispenser (from Pottery Barn) and tub (from High Camp Home) below.

Bring the natural beauty of nature's finest to your reception by featuring in-season fruits. Presented as an option during the cocktail hour, your guests will love the escape from the traditional hors d'oeuvre selection. Alternatively, give them to your guests as favors. Pen (or stamp, or sticker) these individual size baskets with your guests' names to create an instant place card and favor combination.

Berries: Greeble Monkey

Cherries: Flickr

Light Up Your Night

There are an endless number of options for ceremony and reception lighting. Lighting has the powerful ability to set the stage for the event you want to create. Going for island chic? Contemporary? Rustic? The right lighting can work wonders in helping you achieve the right mood for your wedding.

Find these and other great lighting options at the following locations (from top, left to right):

World Market, Olde Glory, Wholesale Flowers and Supplies, Country Light Candle, Illuminations , Garden Gifts and Things, This Next, and Forget Me Not

Vibrant Green

This week, I am featuring vibrant, bold green for inspiration. This color presents natural beauty for a wedding, bringing the best of the outdoors into any setting. Combine several different shades of this color to create layers and depth in your decor.



Purse: theknot
Cake: Jan Kish / Simon Yao Studio
Shoes: The Bride's Cafe
Bouquet: Flower Design St Annes
Earrings: Elegant Jewelry & Watches
Invitations: Abby Jean Press
Mojitos: Wedding Wire
Place Setting: Flower Design St Annes
Tie: 1st Choice Cufflinks

Shooters

If you are hosting a cocktail hour complete with hors d'oeuvres at your reception, consider serving the hors d'oeuvres shooter-style. Aside from displaying exquisitely, these fun shooters are easy and fuss-free. Guests can enjoy them without worrying about creating a mess.

Sweet Potato: Domino Mag

Gazpacho: Southern Living

Shrimp: Southern Living

Accessorize with Phenomenal Shoes

Looking for some amazing shoes to complete your wedding day look? Pop on over to Piperlime, where you can find the perfect accessory for your dress. I am in love with these shoes from Emilio Pucci, Lilly Pulitzer, and Pierre Dumas, respectively.

Colors of Romance

Choosing a soft color palette is the perfect way to create a romantic affair. This week, I am featuring peach and white. These delicate colors create a picturesque, enchanting evening fit for a fairytale.

Bouquet: Flickr

Favors: My Wedding Favors

Cupcakes: Sugar Bloom Cupcakes

Wreath: Ideate Create

Dress: Jim Hjelm

Earrings: Dominion Jewelers

The New Face of My Business

I am now up and running with my new name! (At least for the most part.) My new email is not yet functioning, so please continue to use this email address to contact me. Here is a little teaser of my new look. Please head to my website to see the changes.

Exciting News

I am thrilled to announce an exciting change in the works for my business. After careful thought for several weeks, I have decided that my business will be receiving a facelift: Le Jour Parfait is transitioning to the name White Dress Events.

Why the change?

1. White Dress Events is a strictly weddings event planning firm, and we wanted our name to reflect that focus. We dedicate 100% of our time and energy on creating the day our brides have dreamed of.

2. Simply put, I love what the name conveys. The search for the classically white wedding dress is a sacred event reserved only for brides-to-be. The moment a bride finds the dress she'll be wearing when she is united as one with her husband is a once-in-a-lifetime event. We wanted our name to capture the significance of this monumental time in a bride's life.

There are a few important changes to note:

My website will be moving to the following domain: http://www.thewhitedressevent.com/. I will post a blog update when this change has taken effect. A few days following the change, my blog domain will also be updated. It will be moved to the following address: http://www.thewhitedressevent.blogspot.com/. Please make sure to bookmark these new domains.

Without further ado, my new logo...

Personal Favors

I am in love with these favor bags that are simple and fun to customize. Thanks to custom stamp makers, you can have a stamp personalized with your names and wedding date. Have a wedding monogram you would prefer to use? Simon’s Stamps will turn your own design into a stamp. Once you have your personalized wedding stamp, head to your nearest craft store to pick up a decorative accent stamp that complements your wedding décor. Then, unleash your artistry onto simple paper bags. The result? An inexpensive, visually appealing favor-holder your guests will be eager to dig into.



Photo from Martha Stewart

Orange and Pink

Bright and bold, these colors make for a party! They are cheerful and fun, creating a festive, fun atmosphere for your day.

Dresses: Lula Kate Bridal

Sorbet: Recipe Tips

Bouquet: Brian Wedge Photography

Aisle: Wedding Paper Divas

Rock Candy: Oh Nuts

Earrings: Nordstrom

Shoes: Endless

Invitation: Wedding Paper Divas

Lanterns: Brides

Favor Boxes: Budget Dream Weddings

Guest Book? Guest Platter

Last week I went to a new paint-your-own-pottery place in Kalamazoo called Art Bayou. Never having done pottery before, I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out, it's a blast! I tapped into my inner artist and made a pretty rockin' vase.
While at Art Bayou, I discovered a fantastic alternative to the guest book. These platters are designed by artist Patricia Moerman, who will paint exactly what you want. At your ceremony and/or reception, guests use special pens to sign and leave messages. After the event, you simply take it home, pop it in the oven, and voila! You've baked your very own guest platter pottery for display. Brilliant.



Here are a couple other platters Patricia has created for her brides. Interested in having her create a platter for your wedding? She can be contacted here.

Tiffany and Indigo

This week, I am featuring two shades of blue that look spledid together: tiffany and indigo. Feminine, refined, classy, and bold, these are two of my favorite colors. Added to a wedding, they look simply divine.



Cake: Pink Cake Box
China: Replacements
Centerpiece: Amazonia Flowers
Sweetheart Table: iWeddings
Shoes: Nine West
Lanterns: Luna Bazaar
Menu: Custom Programs