This gorgeous winery-inspired event by Beth Helmstetter features pretty florals in rich shades of burgandy/orange/coral, rustic elements like wooden wine boxes and barrels, and a mouth-watering spread of wines & cheeses (of course!)… all displayed in a gorgeous outdoor setting.

These images are great inspiration for a fall or winery-inspired wedding… and I also think the centerpieces would be lovely on a Thanksgiving table!

Read on for lots of pretty pics and party details, as told by Beth herself…

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“For this event we had over 150 people traveling from the east coast to Southern California. We decided to welcome them to the area by hosting a winery themed party with everything from a wine and cheese pairing during cocktail hour to a rustic family style dinner accompanied by classical guitars.

For the wine and cheese stations, we choose three regions from California including Central Coast, Sonoma and Napa. From there we selected a red and a white from each region and paired it with an appropriate cheese, crusty breads, spanish olives and dried fruits.

To add to the winery aesthetic we chose to serve the cheese in the full rounds rather than in bite sized pieces. This raw presentation was not only fun for the guests to dig into but it was also a beautiful way to add to the design of the event.

In lieu of traditional cocktail tables, we used wine barrels which were a hit!

For dinner everyone sat down to long, family style wood tables under a sky of raw Italian lights.

The centerpieces were created in wine boxes which I secured from the fine people at Costco and then had a carpenter cut them down to appropriate table sizes.

All in all, the event was meant to be a comfortable and approachable way to welcome guests all while introducing them to an experience that is regional to the state.”

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Gorgeous party, Beth! Thanks for sharing!

Resources & Credits:
Photographer: Steve Steinhardt
Location: Westlake Village Inn
Florals: Holly Flora
Furniture: Town & Country Event Rentals

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P.S. Love this style? Check out our other real party features by Beth:
• Cowboy Themed Baby Shower
• Eclectic Baby Shower
• Natural & Organic Wedding Reception

Maddy from Inspired Bride and Amanda from Bake It Pretty recently put together this absolutely stunning “Winter Wonderland” themed dessert buffet… seriously, how gorgeous is this?!

Better yet, they’ve broken the buffet down into a series of detailed DIY posts for each individual element – from the winter wonderland cupcakes (pictured below) to the dessert treat bags, so that holiday hostesses & brides-to-be can recreate this exact look at home!

I’m especially loving the winter wonderland centerpiece… check out this close up of the adorable white birds perched on the white branches:

The white & aqua blue color palette looks so pretty together and would also work nicely for a Tiffany-themed wedding or bridal shower…

Leigh Wells of Ink Wells Calligraphy also provided the fantastic hand lettering on the set of downloadable table signs and favor bag labels.

Pictured above: marshmallow pops are always a fun, surprisingly easy treat that makes for an impressive display.

Dessert buffet treat bags make for very pretty party favors, especially when filled with winter wonderland brownie pops:

Can’t resist including one more shot of fabulous centerpiece!

Thanks so much to Maddy for sending this over! For complete details, check out the DIY category over at InspiredBride.net.

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CREDITS:
Photography: Michael Haug
Prop Styling: Kirki Schultz
Food Styling: Maddy Hague of the Inspired Bride
Calligraphy: Leigh Wells
Selected Featured Products: courtesy of Bake It Pretty

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Love this concept? Check out our entire archive of candy/dessert buffet ideas.

These cut paper place cards / drink tags from Etsy shop JonNI Paper and Decorative Art are such a fun, creative way to dress up glasses and bottles!

The “LOVE” (available in Leaf, Bird, or Heart) and XOXO designs (pictured below) are perfect for weddings, bridal/engagement showers and Valentine’s Day… how cute would the bird version be for a Love Birds theme?!

Hosting friends & family for Thanksgiving? Check out these fantastic Turkey Place Cards:

Or maybe a New Year’s party is more your style? How about some cool & contemporary “2010″ Tags… perfect for bottles or party favors!

Seal it with a kiss… and a hug! Hugs & Kisses favor/bottle tags:

CHEERS!

You might remember the B is for Baby Shower party that the girls from Lollipop Events & Designs created earlier this year. I’m a huge fan of their modern-meets-whimsical style, and they’re back with another fabulous party theme to share!

This colorful “Alice in Wonderlandia” design is like your own personal fairy tale… charming, stylish, and perfect for everything from baby & bridal showers to birthday parties or a ladies lunch.

I’m especially loving the clever tea cup centerpiece and eclectic mix of vintage patterns & textiles! Read on for all the DIY tips for this setting, as told by the Lollipop girls…

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Table:
“Start by draping the table with a bold and bright floral table linen. For multiple tables, use the same patterned linen on each table or feel free to mix in other patterned linens to create an eclectic garden feel. Next, use colorful patterned kitchen aprons and tie them around each chair to create customized chair covers!

Centerpieces:
For the main centerpiece, take vintage teacups in any size, shape or pattern and simply glue them on top each other using a glue gun. You can make the centerpiece as tall or short as you would like, just make sure it’s sturdy, so that it does not topple over! To top off the teacup centerpiece add a ball of pretty pink or white garden roses and an artificial butterfly.

On each side of the teacup centerpiece add small glass bud vases with seasonal garden flowers. To add an extra eclectic flair, find ceramic pots with a floral design and top them off with basic moss balls, which can be reused for future parties. Moss balls will save you time since you won’t to arrange flowers! The moss balls can also serve as décor in your home after the event!

Table Settings:
Any vintage patterned dinnerware will suffice! It does not need to match the table linens or the aprons perfectly. Look at our table! We used over four different patterns but opted to keep the colors of the dinnerware and centerpieces in the same pink palette. Feel free to use anything from your grandmother’s old china, patterned melamine plates or even floral paper plates. It all depends on the time and the mood of the event.

Each guest received their own hot pink galvanized watering can at their place setting, filled with ice and small bright blue bottles of champagne. This allowed guests to keep their champagne chilled on the hot summer day and also served as a party favor!

Paper Candy:
Personalized monogrammed tea bags with each guest’s initials on them were strategically placed at each setting in the teacups. This is a creative way to add a customized touch to the event while doubling as a place card.

We also added a whimsical “Alice in Wonderland” flair to the table by placing playful blue and white menus to the side of each plate. Please see the paper candy section on our website to purchase semi-custom menus and monograms similar to these.”

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I’m just loving this khaki & blue party that Noel Culbertson put together to celebrate her husband’s birthday and recent promotion! The color palette is so crisp & chic… this look would also be gorgeous for a wedding or engagement party, or any nautically-themed celebration.

Read on for all the details, as told by Noel…

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“My husband went through the grueling six week induction process upon being promoted to Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy. The process culminated just before his birthday, it seemed only natural to celebrate both.

I went with a khaki theme for the party since all of his new working uniforms are now khaki. I used the B is for Baby Shower party on HWTM as a springboard. For a fun touch I ordered custom fortune cookies, which started me on the road to filling these apothecary jars along with several milk glass jars from local antique stores with khaki goodies.

I picked up khaki table cloths and mini paper bags at Target, and found fabric for the table runner at Joann’s. With so much khaki on hand, I ordered some blue candies to throw a little color in the mix.

To speed up cupcake baking I ordered these wrappers that you can set on a cookie sheet and bake as is. I printed and cut the flags then glued them to lollipop sticks I picked up at Michaels. The rest of the goodies came from Costco, which helped keep costs down.

I designed the jar labels, flags and party “logo” in Photoshop and printed it off for the party favor bags, frame, and a large vinyl “congratulations” sign i had made for the house.

I also hung sepia-tone pictures of the induction process in rustic wood frames behind the table to show off the process and to keep the look unified.”

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Thanks for the inspiration, Noel!

Creative place cards are always a great way to play up your party or wedding theme, and Etsy shop Timeless Paper offers countless – and extremely stylish! – ways to do just that.

These intricate place card designs cost about $1 each and range from peacocks and butterflies to nautical, flora, and more. You can even have a completely custom shape created for a $30 fee.

Pictured above: Peacock, Suitcase, and Airplane place cards.  More favorites are pictured below, starting with the lovely Butterfly, Butterfly (tent-style), and Love Bird (tent style) designs…

Pictured below: whimsical Dragonfly and nautically-themed Anchor designs…

And last but not least, these Autumn Mix Leaves and pretty Pumpkin Place Cards would be an elegant addition to fall-themed weddings or Thanksgiving tables!

(Note: The pumpkin set is listed as 280 pieces, but you can message the seller if you need more or less.)

Sometimes when you’re browsing the web for ideas, that magic moment happens when you stumble on something that you just absolutely LOVE. I experienced such moment when a recent search for something completely unrelated landed me on this stunning, almost “magical” East Meets Guest reception theme from Brides. Honestly don’t you just want to jump right into the party?

This look would be also be gorgeous for a bridal shower or milestone birthday…

The eclectic mix of textiles – boasting Indian, Indonesian, AND Japanese- inspired prints – give such a rich, artistic feel to the tabletop. I also love paper fans cinched with button mums… and the use of thin tubular vases for the tall portion of the centerpieces – a great way to add height & drama to the design without discouraging cross-table conversation!

Chic red bamboo chairs definitely enhance the tabletop design – especially when draped with garlands of button mums!

The 3-tier cake dons a playful, unique design too… I’m loving the fun, contemporary-looking topper! And lucky bamboo bundled with ribbon doubles as a thoughtful, long-lasting favor for guests, as well as a pretty – and quite appropriate – decorative accent for the party!

For complete details, visit Brides.com.

{Photography by Richard Jung}

Florist websites are such a great place to look for centerpiece inspiration – especially when they’re as creative and visionary as Floral Art! This Los Angeles-based company has an impressive events & weddings portfolio, but my favorite part of their website is The Flower Bar….

On The Flower Bar, you can search the most artistic & gorgeous flower arrangements by style, type of flowers, or color. Planning a sunny yellow wedding? Want to see some cool ideas for getting creative with hydrangea? Browse away! Here’s a screenshot:

I love Floral Art’s use of creative containers too – like these oversize brandy glass and zen bowl arrangements… lovely ideas for low table centerpieces.

The vision glass arrangements are very cool too… interesting florals are displayed almost like works of art:

A few more personal favorites pictured below (clockwise from top left): Wave Glass Arrangement, Lemon Kiss (featuring a vintage wallpaper-wrapped vase), Simply White, and Bed of Bamboo.

Feel inspired yet? I sure do! …especially by the gorgeous Autumn Trough Arrangement (3rd arrangement, top pic, above). How pretty would something like that be on a modern Thanksgiving table?! Hmmm….

P.S. All of The Flower Bar arrangements are also available for purchase & delivery to the LA area.

Amy Atlas has done it again! Her recent Moroccan-Inspired Dessert Buffet is quite possibly one of my favorite dessert buffets she’s created yet… not only because of the fabulous pattern that is incorporated throughout the entire thing – but also due to the vibrant aqua and orange color palette. Yum! It’s ultra-contemporary, yet warm & inviting all at the same time.

The work of some other very talented creatives went into this visual feast as well…

The gorgeous custom pattern (and inspiration for the entire buffet) was created by Erica Bohanon Miller of Thoughtful Day, and the Moroccan mum centerpieces are by Jessie Weidinger of Rountree. 

Orange flower macarons, creamsicle pannacotta, and orange cream filled meringues by Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille, and the fabulous Moroccan cake and cupcakes are by Archana Rao of Love Street Cakes.

Ali Kantor of Papery and Cakery created a traditional moroccan cookie called kaab el ghazal, which served as a favor for the guests to take home in goodie bags.

All of these lovely photos are courtesy of Karen Mordechai Photography and Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille.

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Take-home tips for creating a dessert buffet like this:

1. Start with a great color palette and pattern that can serve as the “inspiration piece” for your buffet. It’s even better if you can find a few different patterns that all coordinate well (such as 3 different designs from a scrapbook or gift wrap collection) – so that you have a few different prints to incorporate into the buffet.

2. When it comes to your large serving trays & dishes, stick with all-white for a clean, modern look. Line serving trays with your patterned paper and embellish cake stands and tiered servers with color-coordinating ribbon.

3. Bring some of your key pattern into the decoration ON the dessert if possible – just like how the cake & mini cupcakes pictured above boast some of the chic Moroccan-inspired pattern detail.

4. Embellish the table with a little non-edible decor – just make sure to stick with the overall colors & theme of the buffet. Floral elements such as the Moroccan mum trees pictured here are a perfect example, but you can also opt for things like framed photos or prints, wrapped gift boxes done up with fun bows, unique vases & home accessories, or even toys! This is actually one of the easiest ways to help play up your theme!

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For more great eye-candy from Amy, check out her online portfolio.

Today’s expert tips come from Michelle Pattee, an amazing photographer that I had the good fortune of meeting at a Brides.com event in San Francisco earlier this year! You can check out more from Michelle at her portfolio website and wedding photography blog.

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How to Put Your Best Face Forward for Your Wedding Photographs
by Michelle Pattee

I have been shooting weddings for almost fifteen years and have stared down many, many brides through my lens. Here I offer a few tips on creating wedding day images that will make you smile for years to come.

1. Get some rest, and plenty of it.
The night before your wedding will probably be a party, but make every effort possible to get eight hours of sleep. It is the best beauty treatment out there and it does not cost a cent. Try to pack in the sleep hours the week before your wedding also – it will definitely make a difference. If you are feeling overwhelmed with tasks, then delegate, delegate, delegate, so you can hit the hay!

2. Don’t get your first facial the week of your wedding.
If you have never been to an aesthetician, then pace yourself and schedule your treatments in advance. Your skin may react unpleasantly and you need a window of time for it to calm down. Skin treatments are more effective in a series, and should begin at least six months before your Big Day.

3. Drink water.
I know you have heard this plenty before, but it plumps the skin. Plus, it ranks as another FREE beauty treatment and we like those. Eat something too. You may be too nervous for food on your wedding day, but you must eat, especially breakfast. You need the fuel food provides to get you through the party (and the photo session).

4. Put your faith in yourself.
Go with your gut when you hire your photographer. She or he will be in very close proximity to you on a day in your life that is like no other. Listen to your instincts when you are interviewing prospective shooters and ask yourself these questions: Can I be comfortable around this person, even in my bathrobe? Will my family and friends be comfortable with this person? You will be relaxed and confident, and that will translate though to the photographs, if you are at ease with your photographer.

5. Put your faith in your photographer.
Once you have hired your photo soul mate, hand over the reins and let them fly. Tell them in advance of your wedding day, about any insecurities or opinions you have when it comes to being photographed. Once that is covered, don’t give it another thought.  On the day of your wedding, let the photographer direct you and try not to second guess their instructions.

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www.michellepattee.com