The last few months have been a whirlwind of booking our venue (!), buying my dress (!!) and not one, but two engagement parties! Both parties were incredible for such different reasons. It's so nice to have an excuse to get all your favorite people together with some tasty food and lots of beer and wine. Without further ado, our Portland Parisian boho chic party, hosted by my amazing friend, Alyssa!
Marry Me! Wedding Inspiration & Theme Ideas
I gathered my entourage this morning encompassing my fiancé, mom and (reluctant but loving) brother and headed to the Marry Me! Wedding Event in Vancouver, WA. The show had gotten mixed reviews from my colleagues, but I couldn't pass up a claim-to-fame like "The Northwest's ONLY Wedding Cake and Tabletop Design Showcase"! And it turned out to be worth dragging everyone out of bed, what a great event! Maybe it wasn't the biggest show in the Greater Portland area, but there were some quality vendors that I really connected with, and who calmed my nerves that you can find a photographer and florist within your budget (which I was having major freakouts about the night before while explaining our budget breakdown to my mom).
Gotta admit, this table display made me realize why succulents and chevron can make great wedding accents. I've never been a fan before, but now I can see how they can be very classic. I apologize for the (way) less than amazing pictures, we were in a hurry this morning!
I've spent lots of energy trying to find a balance between "Renaissance Faire" and "English Garden" (our two different, but potentially similar tastes). These two displays were the closest representation of our style, although for the record he hated the little frills on the green tablecloth above (but isn't the color gorg?!?).
Not our style, but love the little cotton candy shot with a mini Absolut bottle to pour over and make your drink!
Had to finish with this adorable "Up" inspired table. One of the best love stories... makes me tear up just thinking about it!!
It's a Small World After All
I had the honor of throwing a baby shower for the bf's sister this September for Baby G who is due this December! This was a special celebration for all of her family and friends because it was a rare opportunity to spend time with the happy couple. The parents-to-be are currently stationed in Okinawa; she's a Sailor, he's a Marine! You could feel the warmth in the room as everyone celebrated this happy time in their lives.
The theme was "It's a Small World", inspired by the baby clothes collection at Nordstrom. Images from the Disney ride were seen from the invitations through the table decor, all with an international flair. The colors, pink and orange, were an easy pick; they will be the baby room colors!
We played Baby Bingo (the version where you mark off items on your board as they open presents), Midnight Advice (everyone wrote their best piece of parenting advice and daddy-to-be picked his favorite), Guess Mommy's Belly Size (with pink yarn, of course) and Don't Say Baby (with clothespins- it turned quite competitive!).
The whole event turned out wonderful, but I must say, never again will I be the event planner, caterer, cupcake baker & photographer at the same event! I couldn't have done it without the amazing bf, who even ran to Safeway at midnight the day before for JELLO mix (oh yeah, did I mention I made the pink popcorn party favors, too?). Looking back, I must say I had a blast and would do it again in a heartbeat, especially for the amazing parents-to-be who deserve all the best!
A Night of Camp-In
Don't you just love surprises? Yesterday my wonderful boyfriend and I shared our 5 year anniversary of dating. We love to celebrate even the small moments in life, so I wanted to make this a big deal. He has been DYING to go camping, but it just wasn't in the cards this year (since we have no tent, sleeping bags, cooler, etc. and no money to buy them!)
So I had this brilliant idea to recreate a campsite inside our tiny apartment living room. I found some inspiration to make a "love nest" for our fort (but of course we referred to it as Pug Fort, named lovingly after our pug and the ever-famous Dog Fort). Using some rope, chairs and the couch as a backdrop, it was the perfect venue to watch a movie that night.
Read on for details on how to create your own mini camp-in.
The menu included hot dogs, baked beans and canned green beans (his personal favorite). I found a few recipes online for how to make s'mores under your broiler, but we ended up eating the cupcakes that the boyfriend surprised me with. I designed the placecards, banner and invitation in Illustrator. Trail mix is also a nice touch!
Happy Camp-In!