Repost: Hair and Dancing!

Photo Courtesy of Anda Marie Photography

I just found this great article about coordinating your hair do with your wedding entertainment! 


These are the types of details that can really make your celebration "pop".

Check out this article from Gigmasters.

Wedding Hair Wedding Planning

2011's Hottest Sustainable Wedding Trends

If you're at all interested in having a sustainable wedding (and who isn't?), this is a great article from RecycledBride where brides buy and sell gently used wedding dresses. Fire and Ice by Planned Spontaneity Many of my clients have helped set these trends! How are you creating a sustainable celebration? Are you using any of these ideas? Do you have other ideas you're using? Please share your ideas in the comment section at the bottom of this blog. At Planned Spontaneity, we specialize in creating celebrations that fit with your personal values. We've used many of these ideas and more to produce beautiful, fun, sustainable celebrations. As public awareness grows about sustainability, the wedding market is seeing dramatic shifts in the values and purchasing habits of brides, grooms, and their guests. Excessive spending and wasteful extravagance are out, while eco-friendly choices like paperless invitations, cocktail-length wedding dresses, and locally sourced menus and gifts are in. Weddings in 2011 are all about simple elegance, creative DIY projects, and attire and decorations that can be used again after the big day. "A sustainable wedding is one that includes elements which have a positive social and environmental impact. It's incredibly exciting to be at the forefront of sustainable wedding trends and to observe how couples all over the world are making beautiful, ethical choices for their celebrations," says Tracy DiNunzio, founder and CEO of Recycled Bride. "This year's sustainable wedding trends are going mainstream, with more couples than ever incorporating eco-friendly elements into their weddings." Eleven Sustainable Wedding Trends for 2011 Moonstone Engagement Ring Turtle Love Committee 1. Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend: Inspired by the sapphire ring that Prince William gave to Kate Middleton, alternative gemstones are all the rage for engagements in 2011. Brides will express their individual style -- and avoid conflict diamonds -- with rings made of colored stones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, and sparkly diamond alternatives like moissonite and synthetic diamonds. 2. Chalkboard chic: Stylish slate signs will take the place of paper wedding programs, seating cards, and menus. Chalkboard signs can be made to look elegant and fancy or sweet and rustic, and can be created inexpensively at home using scavenged picture frames, chalkboard paint, and a little creativity. Reducing paper waste at your wedding never looked so stylish! Nutshell Catering 3. Weddings go local: Farmer's market menus and locally sourced favors and gifts are hip as can be this year. By doing their wedding shopping locally, couples minimize their carbon footprint, support their local economy, and delight guests with unique details they won't find elsewhere. This trend caught fire after Chelsea Clinton's locally lovely wedding in Rhinebeck, New York, and will continue well into 2011. 4. The "staycation-moon": The popular staycation trend meets the honeymoon as couples skip the expense and carbon footprint associated with honeymoon travel in favor of romantic hometown adventures. Picture a week of museum visits, local theater and sporting events, park picnics, bucket-list adventures, and romantic dining -- no luggage required! 5. Intimate weddings: Weddings with small guest lists create less waste, offer more warmth, and give couples tons of flexibility when choosing a location. Intimate wedding celebrations range from elegant multi-course dinners in hotel penthouses to backyard barbecues featuring local bands and brews. 6. Cocktail wedding dresses: Short wedding dresses are all the rage, and just about every major bridal designer has debuted a knee-length collection for 2011. A cocktail-length dress can be worn again, and many are just as formal and elegant as a long gown. Look for tons of short and sweet styles for sale on Recycled Bride right now. 7. Paperless Invitations: Electronic wedding communication is easier and prettier than ever, with companies like Glo offering stunning, interactive online save-the-dates, reply cards, invitations, and more. E-mail invites are less expensive than paper and help to reduce wedding waste. Tea Length Wedding Dress by Recycled Bride   8. Greener Gifting: Registries have gone green, with tons of new options for brides and grooms who want to receive ethically-made gifts and support the sustainable economy. Two of our faves are the Green Bride Guide Shop and The Knot's Gift Registry 360, which lets couples create one centralized registry with products from any online retailer they choose. And green donation gifts, like Bluebell Giving Cards, will be popular as both wedding presents and guest favors. 9. Face Forward: Long veils are sitting on the sidelines this year, as brides forgo them in favor of birdcage styles and unique hair accessories that can be worn again. Expect to see 2011's brides in headbands, vintage hair clips, flowers, and chic tiaras. 10. Flexitarian Feasts: Another trend inspired by Chelsea Clinton's veggie-conscious wedding is reducing the amount of meat on the menu. This year, more couples will offer vegetable- and grain-based meal options for their guests in an effort to save money and save the Earth.   11. Wedding Recycling: More brides, grooms, bridesmaids and guests than ever are shopping and selling on sites like RecycledBride.com. Smart users enjoy the financial, environmental, and social benefits of wedding recycling, and discover the joy of sharing, saving, and passing on treasured wedding items to other happy couples.

About Recycled Bride: RecycledBride.com is the world's largest wedding marketplace. Members buy and sell everything from designer wedding gowns to reception decorations, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, and wedding gifts. Reselling new and gently used wedding items on Recycled Bride lets users minimize their carbon footprint and maximize their budgets. Recycled Bride is owned byRecycled Media, Inc. and was founded in 2009 by Tracy DiNunzio in Santa Monica, California. An eco-conscious business, Recycled Bride donates a portion of its advertising revenue to Global Green USA.

Chocolate Spotlight: TerraSource Chocolates

One of the coolest businesses I know of is TerraSource Chocolates, owned by Josie Pradella.  Terrasouce offers organic, vegan, fair trade chocolates using locally produced fruits and spirits. Terrasource is one of those businesses that's founded on the principle of doing well by doing good.  

Two-piece favor boxes are perfect for weddings.  They are made from specialty paper containing native prairie seeds grown and harvested in the midwest. Your wedding guests get to enjoy handcrafted vegan dark chocolates sourced with local, organic and fair trade ingredients, then plant the box paper to plant a native prairie garden appropriate to the midwest bioregion.

Another fabulous product Terrasouce offers is "Share Squares" which are used to raise funds for Solar Cookers International. Through the Share Squares program, Terrasource Chocolates was able to send 60 solar ovens to Haiti in 2010.  These solar cookers are not only used to prepare food, but also to purify water. The Share squares are packaged in compostable cellophane and the tags are produced from high recycled-content paper.  Share Squares are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and delicious. 

Finally, Josie  is a co-founder of Dane Buy Local which is a network of locally owned businesses, who support one another and our community. She works to engage other businesses to find common areas that they can work together. 

Here are a few testimonials.

"These are bold, new chocolates with great "local" flavors. I love them!"
- Rick Richards

"Dark chocolate is good for your health - these chocolates are good for your soul."
- Sara Richards

Here are some specs:

Phone: 608-221-0588 or toll-free (877) 808-9217
Email: josie@terrasourcechocolates.com 

Website: TerraSourcechocolates.com

Business Associations Green America Greener Business certified member, co-founder of Dane Buy Local,

Good Works: Share Squares Solar Cookers for Haiti, TerraSource is also uses organic ingredients, eco-friendly packaging and uses fair-trade practices

Address: TerraSource Chocolates LLC, P.O. Box 14114, Madison, WI 53708-0114
Pricing: Check out the online catalog for pricing on the various products.

Real Weddings: Claire & John

Anda Marie Photography

Claire and John's wedding in October was inspiring in more ways than one! Not only was it beautiful and creative, but they also went out of their way to include their community and friends.  Every person at the reception felt special and loved! 

'62 Thunderbird
Anda Marie Photography

Motif Painting by Debbie Sisko
Anda Marie Photography

Claire and John both have a passion for classic cars.  Check out the '62 T-Bird that was their sweet ride after the ceremony! 

Motif Painting by Debbie Sisko
Anda Marie Photography

They used a

gorgeous hand-painted motif throughout their celebration!
Their coolest DIY project was the centerpieces! The mother of the bride created silk arrangements to go into the pumpkins carved and glittered the week before the wedding!

Anda Marie Photography

They even had a traditional Greek wedding dance!

Anda Marie Photography

Anda Marie Photography

Roster of resources and professionals:
Wedding Coordination: Planned Spontaneity (of course!)
Photography: Anda Marie Photography

Ceremony Venue: St. John Vianney Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Best Events Banquet Hall in Janesville, WI
Ceremony Music: Fran Preyer

Anda Marie Photography

Cake: Buttercups
DJ: Dave Drake of Complete Music
Motif painting: Debbie Sisko

  

Anda Marie Photography

 

Green Spotlight: Paolo Verde Consulting Services

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Paul Abramson "Green Paul" of Paolo Verde Consulting Services at a Dane Buy Local event.  Paul has a passion for working with event planners to reduce the waste footprint of their event!  He offers solutions for people who care enough to "walk the sustainability talk" every day.  He's written this article on "Green event plans" I'd like to share with you.  

Here's Paul:

Kermit The Frog put it best - “It’s not easy being green.”  As you plan your celebration, you are empowered to make choices that you believe in, and in the end, one of the joys of your wedding will be the memory and the impression you make on your guests and family

Marilee Karamanski, of Planned Spontaneity Event Planning and Consultation, told this story:  A wedding couple intended to keep their reception’s waste footprint small by using washable serving ware.  Using a rental service they priced rental of reusable plates and cutlery. 

Guess what? The cost was so high throwaways were the only affordable choice even though reusables truly fit their desire for a greener event!  What a disappointment. 

Solving this challenge is where Paolo Verde Event Waste Reduction Planning comes in.  When considering Green Options keep these 3 things in mind (2 out of 3 begin with “THINK” :

1)      THINK: A “green reality” requires thinking outside-the-box in addition to your clever event ideas.  To reduce waste, consider one area of your event you would consider doing differently from a glammed up, story-book wedding party.  Decline to use throw away trimmings.

2)     THINK of Budget Trades:  This is where you decrease the amount you spend in one area, so you can spend more in another area. If your love of outdoors and wildlife tops your priority list, and you want to work for a pollution-free world, you can trade the money you'd spend on on such things as rental china.  Borrow service ware from a church, and use the money you would have spent on rentals or nice disposables to hire a well-dressed person to wash borrowed dishes. 

3)     GREEN EVENTS are a new way of throwing parties.  If you seek the alternative to a wasteful gathering get specialized help.

Breaking it Down:
• Consumer society programs us to expect immediate, low-cost solutions to every need.

• Reducing waste generated at a party is a goal.  

• Getting there takes learning of what we truly can do to achieve it. 

• On average the cost of doing the “green thing” is 15-percent higher than going with more convenient, non-renewable solutions.

Info:

Company: Paolo Verde is Madison, Wisconsin’s Zero-Waste Event / Event Waste Reduction Specialist. 

Phone: 608.279.8339  

E-mail: phabramson@gmail.com

Guest blog by celebration specialist Marilee Karamanski | Cha Cha Tea

Guest blog by celebration specialist Marilee Karamanski | Cha Cha Tea

I recently got to sit with Maleah Moskoff of Cha Cha Tea and discuss the juxtaposition of our two businesses, and of course… what makes a great tea party! 

Usually, when you make a lovely cup of tea for yourself or yourself and a friend, it’s all about the sitting and relaxing! Tea does not have to be “fussy”, it just is.

Occasionally, however, one wants more flair! Rather than a quiet cup of tea, you’re looking for a tea party- with emphasis on the “party”. I have some suggestions for three different tea party themes! Having a theme for your gathering will give your guests a much more memorable experience if it’s done well.  You can invite your guests to share more of an experience with you.  It’s a little like stepping into a work of art or into a beautiful story. Entice your guests through all their senses.  Below, I’ll offer some elements for hosting three distinct parties. You’ll get some décor ideas, menus and of course suggestions for the perfect tea to complement each theme!

1.  Elegant Garden Tea Party

This is an understated elegant affair.  Inspired by the traditional Afternoon Tea in the British tradition.

Start with the anticipation and the tactile pleasure of Inviting your guests using floral or doily Stationery. Before they arrive, set the stage. Pull out the crocheted tablecloth.  If you don’t have one, a floral print or a pastel solid that coordinates with your tea set will be perfect.  Play ballet music or Chopin on your CD Player.  Arrange your best garden flowers or market flowers in a more natural/ loose arrangement. This is your opportunity to use your grandmother’s tea set, or that great china tea set you got fort your wedding.

Menu: Choose from some traditional afternoon tea selections.  I always like to combine sweets and savories. Here are some suggestions.  Tea Sandwiches, very small savory sandwiches ranging in flavor from cucumber to sardine, Scones, or Tea Cakes, which may include most any pastry.

Tea

Earl Gray is wonderful and elegant, or Cha Cha's Breakfast. Malty with notes of chocolate and raisin are both perfect complements for our elegant garden tea party!

2. Asian Tea Party

Invite people with lovely cards printed with Japanese artwork or images of the Japanese tea set.   Set the stage using any of the following: rice paper screens, hanging lanterns, origami or parasols. Decorate your table with a small bonsai tree or lucky bamboo.  Use a lovely Japanese tea pot with handle less cups on a Low table with cushions If you don’t happen to own a traditional low table, you can create one by using a folded up card table or other appropriate size boards put up on blocks. Be sure to give your guests comfortable cushions to sit on!

Menu: Choose an assortment of dim-sum type delicacies like the following: Gyōza  are a very popular dish in Japan. They can be served boiled as pot stickers or even deep-fried. Spring Rolls are like lovely fresh egg rolls- usually served cold or room temperature. Edamame, steamed baby soybeans have a lovely nutty flavor.  Mochi Is a fun dessert.  You can find mochi ice cream in some grocery stores, but click the picture for some recipes!

Tea

Ma-cha is elegant and unique.

Bancha is a green tea that is organic, herbacious, spring like and affordable

My personal favorite tea is Pu-erh

3. Mad Tea Party

This one’s inspired by the mad hatter’s un-birthday tea party in Wonderland.  It’s bright and playful!  Decorations are key here.  The bolder the better.  Use bright colors and giant flowers for the most impact.  Use an image from Alice or a deck of playing cards on your invitations.  Before guests arrive, put on fun wonderland inspired music.  Set the stage with the brightest tablecloth you can find!  A bright solid like fuchsia, lime or turquoise would be great!  If you’ve got a crazy teapot, first make sure it’s food safe by modern standards before you use it.  If you’re not sure, use it in your centerpiece as décor!  After your repast, invite your guests for a game of croquet!

Menu: Create a feast for the eye as well as the tongue with a selection of locally made cupcakes. Make tea sandwiches in the shapes of clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds.  For a whimsical effect add, “eat me” and “drink me” tags to your food and drink!

Tea:

Choose a fun tea like Cha-Cha’s Vanilla Coconut or Red Rooibos.

Once you’ve chosen your theme and planned your party, the most important thing is to remember to relax.  If it’s not done 30 minutes before your guests are due to arrive, let it go.  Your guests will have a lovely time if you are relaxed and you remember to enjoy the people you’ve invited to your table.  If you’d like help pulling it all together, Planned Spontaneity can help!

Signature Drinks: Tea Cocktails!

When you're looking at how to serve drinks to your guests, you have choices.  The two most common choices at weddings are either to serve beer and wine, or to offer a hosted bar.  If you're looking for more elegance than beer and wine, but less expense than a hosted bar, a fabulous alternative is to offer a signature drink!  I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Maleah Moskoff of Cha Cha Tea, LLC.  She sells wonderful organic fair-trade teas.  Once you've tasted her teas, you'll never go back to grocery store bagged teas!  Not only does Cha Cha offer packaged teas as favors for guests, but she also can help you create a wonderful tea cocktail.  Here are some of her suggestions!

Tea Cocktails by Maleah Moskoff, owner of Cha Cha Tea, LLC.

Tea is a simple drink yet has complex flavors and a rich history steeped in traditions and culture. We at Cha Cha Tea like to honor the ancient beverage by educating consumers, but also playing with modern combinations and bringing tea beyond the tearoom and into the party. Experiment and have fun!

One approach to a tea cocktail is to simply add alcohol and other ingredients to brewed tea. It's a time-honored practice dating back to 19th century America, when iced tea would be combined with fruit juices and spirits to create festive bowls of punch. More recent cocktails of the same type include the Royal Tea and the Blueberry Tea. The former is a chilled drink of equal parts brewed Earl Grey tea and gin with lemon juice and sugar; the latter is a blend of Grand Marnier, Amaretto and hot black tea. Another method that produces a more intriguing result is to steep the tea in the alcohol directly.

Serving a large party? Try cold brewing.

Hot steeping can extract too much of the harsh tannins too quickly, leaving the alcohol bitter. Infusing alcohol in advance is a twofold boon for service. Drinks can be made faster, and with more consistent results.  Do all the fussiness beforehand and do not burden your staff at service time. To do this, add 3-6 tsp. of loose tea to a good quality spirit and let infuse for 1-3 days.

1. Signature cocktail-Pretty in Pink

 As tea lovers we often take a back seat to other caffeinated drinks, but if you want to stand out above the rest offer a special cocktail that is simple, sweet and affordable.

Ingredients:

3 tsp. loose Strawberry Oolong

750 ml good quality Vodka like Death’s Door Vodka

2 bottles of Strawberry Juice from Trader Joe’s

*Optional- Club Soda

Sugar to rim glass

Strawberries to garnish

Directions:

Put the loose oolong in the vodka for 1 day. Leaves can remain in the bottle. Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full of ice and add 1 oz strawberry infusion,  4 oz.juice. Shake for approximately 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with the sugar. Add the strawberry. Enjoy!

2. Classic Cocktail-Earl Grey MarTEAni

Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world second only to water so why change a classic? Let’s just update an oldie, but a goodie. After all change can be good.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces Earl Grey Gin Infusion

* 1/4 cup loose Earl Grey tea leaves

1 liter Tanqueray gin. Infuse for 3 HOURS only and decant or strain the leaves.

3/4-ounce fresh lemon juice

1-ounce simple syrup

1 lemon twist, for garnish

Lemon Zest Sugar, for garnish

*Mixed zested lemon rind with sugar

 Directions:

Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds full of ice and add the gin infusion, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake for approximately 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with the Lemon Zest Sugar. Add the twist.

3. Iced Tea jubilee-Non-alcoholic

85% of the tea Americans drink is iced. So many flavors to quench your thirst and so very versatile and affordable.

Ingredients:

1 pouch of Blueberry Bliss Iced Tea (caffeine free)-makes 1 gallon

* ½ gallon of concentrate, ½ gallon for ice cubes

1 liter Club Soda

*Optional: ½ liter of Blueberry Stoli Vodka

1-pint Fresh blueberries for garnish

*Ice cubes can be made with the tea ahead of time

¼ c. agave nectar

Directions:

Make iced tea. 5 minutes to steep, add agave, cool for a couple of hours or overnight. Once cooled, add club soda. Add ice cubes to a glass, tea and garnish with blueberries. They can float on top or spear a few on a toothpick.