Stylish Events

If you’re like many brides {including me}, you’ve probably collected a stack of bridal magazines while planning your wedding. Two days ago I posted a DIY project regarding how to use those magazines to decorate your favor boxes. Today I’ve got another way for you to use your bridal magazines: make a romantic banner to decorate your engagement party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or wedding.

{Personal Images}

Items Needed: bridal magazines, tissue paper, romance novel {you can pick one up at a used book store or yard sale if you don’t have one}, fabric, tulle, scrapbook paper, glue, two paper circle punches in different sizes, ribbon, hole punch

Step 1: Pick out magazine pages that have coordinating colors that match your color palette for your event. For instance, I used pink, so I pulled out all the magazine pages that had shades of pink on them.

Step 2: Pick out scrapbook paper, tissue paper, fabric, and tulle in different shades of your color.

Step 3: Punch out lots of circles out of your scrapbook paper, romance novel and magazine pages. As you punch out magazine circles, check the back to see what color is on the other side. Separate the circles into two piles: ones that have a coordinating back and ones that don’t. Glue together magazine circles that don’t have coordinating backs, so that only the right-colored sides are showing. Crumple the circles to give them more texture.

Step 4: Cut circles from your fabric, tulle, and tissue paper. They don’t have to be perfect. In fact, it’s prettier if they aren’t.

Step 5: Separate the circles into 10 – 20 piles depending on how long you want the banner to be. Mine is about five feet long and took 11 piles.

Step 6: Cut your ribbon as long as you want your banner.

Step 7: Tie a knot at the bottom of the ribbon.

Step 8: Punch a hole in the middle of your first pile of circles and then thread them onto your ribbon.

Step 9: Tie another knot on the other side of your pile of circles, so they stay where you want them to.

Step 10: Tie another knot about 6 inches down from the last one and thread the next pile of papers onto it. Continue until you’ve completed your romantic banner.

Step 11: Feel good for recycling your bridal magazines!

NOTE: If you don’t have the time to make your own but love this banner, you can purchase this one in my Etsy shop! Enjoy.

1 Comment | In: DIY Wedding Projects | tags: Bridal Shower, decoration, DIY wedding project, engagement party, reheasal dinner, romantic banner, wedding. | #

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

Make your engagement party fun by planning it around a theme. When you decide upon your theme, so many things will probably fall into place such as the favors, décor, and menu. Here are 5 engagement party theme ideas:

1. Cocktail Party: Cut the budget by having a cocktail party with fun drinks and light appetizers. Schedule the party around 4:00 or 5:00, so the guests aren’t expecting a full dinner – and specify on the invitation that it’s a cocktail party. Serve a couple of signature drinks and have a sign at the bar describing each drink. Put umbrellas or another fun embellishment in the drinks. You can host this engagement party at the couple’s favorite hangout or at someone’s home depending on the number of guests.

2. Backyard BBQ: If the couple is laid back and likes casual events, this is a great option. Pick up hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, potato salad, cole slaw, and apple pie to have a budget-friendly, casual engagement party. Ask someone reliable to man the grill and put a couple large buckets of bottled drinks around the party area.

3. Costume Party: If you’re having the engagement party in October, consider making it a costume party. Have music playing when guests arrive and pass around appetizers during the late night bash. For entertainment, hold a costume contest and have guests vote on the best costume for a small prize.

4. Black and White Engagement Party: Send out black and white invitations and encourage guests to wear black and white attire. Decorate the party with black and white balloons and black and white pictures of the engaged couple. Set up a black and white dessert bar with brownies, sugar cookies, Hershey kisses, angel food cake, and chocolate chip cookies. Serve a signature white russian drink to guests as they enter.

5. Mexican Fiesta: This engagement party theme is also budget-friendly. Serve tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole for appetizers and margaritas for the signature drink. Decorate the party area with bright colors and have a piñata for entertainment. The adults will feel like kids again with this childhood favorite.

Related Posts:

8 Budget-Friendly Autumn Engagement Party Decorations

Engagement Shoot: Sara and Ryan

Announcing Your Engagement Guide

No Comments | In: Engagement | tags: budget-friendly engagement party, engagement party, engagement party themes. | #

Copyright © 2009 Leffand Studio

Here are the wedding blog awards for the week of 4/19/09-4/25/09:

The Most Inspiring Blog of the Week: Style Me Pretty

This is not the first (and it won’t be the last) time this wedding blog has won the most inspiring blog of the week. The real weddings are ridiculously amazing and this week isn’t any different: Julia and Mike’s Connecticut Wedding Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, and Part VI; Darcy and Matt Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV. I absolutely love the DIY project posted this week, DIY favor boxes and the silhouette wedding cake.

The Most Creative DIY Project of the Week: With This Ring – Favor Boxes

These favors boxes are adorable, easy-to-make and budget-friendly. Check them out.

The Most Useful Post/Article of the Week: Weddzilla Blog – How to Pick Your Fist Dance Song

I just stumbled across this blog and found A LOT of advice packed wedding planning articles. Read this article if you haven’t chosen your first dance song. This article has suggestions for the traditionalist couple, the jesters, the hipsters, the hopeless romantics, the rebels, the shrinking violets, and the smooth operators. Basically, it includes song options for every type of couple.

The Most Stunning Real Wedding of the Week: The Southern Weddings Daily Blog – Leanie and Neil

Wow! This intimate and romantic wedding took place in a town in South Africa. I love the bride’s dress, bouquet, clutch and the beautiful centerpieces.  

The Best Budget-Friendly Idea of the Week: Hostess with the Mostess – Bling, Bling Tabletop…Bargain Style

This tabletop design is budget-friendly and perfect for a dinner or engagement party.

2 Comments | In: Wedding Blog Awards | tags: budget friendly wedding, budget friendly wedding ideas, dinner party, DIY wedding projects, engagement party, first wedding song, real wedding, stylish events, stylish wedding, stylish weddings, wedding blog, Wedding Blog Awards. | #

Instead of sending out paper engagement announcements, take the time to call friends and family to give them the good news.

No Comments | In: Budget Friendly Ideas, Eco-Friendly Wedding, Tip of the Day | tags: eco-chic engagement, eco-chic weddings, Eco-Friendly Wedding, engagement party, engagment announcements, enviornmentally friendly wedding, environmentally friendly engagement, green wedding, green wedding ideas, green wedding motif, green wedding theme, stylish events, stylish wedding, wedding blog. | #