Holiday Entertaining Tips

The party is at THE BUZZ today where I am delighted to be doing a guest post on holiday entertaining. Please do visit one of my favorite blogs and leave a comment.

Photo: Carolyn Roehm

Holiday Gift Guide

Truth be told...I love Christmas! I am done with my shopping, my Christmas Cards are ready to be addressed over Thanksgiving and I am almost done wrapping. 

But if you are still in need of some gifts for a holiday hostess or to put under the tree, please pop over to one of my favorite blogs THE ENCHANTED HOME where I share a few gift ideas. And more holiday fun will be coming in the next few weeks. Merry! Merry!

Photo: Bourbon and Pearls

I Do II: Everything LEB

This is the final installment in the I Do II Series. I may have saved the best for last! Lindsay of EVERYTHING LEB is a fellow Boston blogger with impeccable style. Be sure to check out her blog if you are not yet a reader.

Lindsay admits she is wedding obsessed. She is a bridesmaid in a good friend's wedding and sends the bride-to-be about ten "idea" emails a day.

If Lindsay got to do her wedding all over again she would add a few details.

Late Night Snacks

Perfect after a late night of drinking and dancing. And cute to boot!

Long Rectangular Tables

Lindsay's reception was in a barn and due to space constraints, she had to use round tables. 

If she could do it all over again, she would have a space that could fit one long dramatic table. Stunning and great for photos! 

Old School Photo Booths

Photo booths continue to be all the rage for weddings and parties. Lindsay would like a classic booth with no props just a camera. She would love to have the old school images of her family and friends.

Dramatic Exit

Lindsay loves Father of the Bride (don't we all!) and would plan an exit like the movie with a guests lining the way with sparklers. 

Thanks Lindsay for all of your great ideas!

Photos: Amy and Stuart, Brides of North Texas, Style Me Pretty, Veranda, Bride Pop, Amy and Stuart, Martha Stewart Weddings

I Do II: Barefoot in Boston

A warm welcome to my next guest in this fun series - Courtney of BAREFOOT IN BOSTON (via Houston). Courtney is a Bostonian transplanted in Houston (with her hubby) for work. Be sure to check out her blog! 

Courtney loved her first wedding and wouldn't change her groom! Below is a photo of them on their wedding day. Adorable!

But if Courtney did get to do it all over again (with the same groom of course), she would have a large wedding with a white palette, black tie formal and Frank Sinatra playing in the background.

Ceremony

Bouquet

Her

Charming Idea for Shoes

Him

Table settings

Centerpieces

Cake

And favors to take home - macaroons

Courtney - I love all your picks! Thanks for joining the party.

Photos: stylemepretty, frolic-blog, southernpiphi.tumblr, pinterest, pinkchampagneprep.blogspot, prettypeachpeonies.tumblr,pamcakes-pastelesfondant.blogspot

I Do II: Emma of Capers Catering

Twenty-one years ago, Emma (who owns CAPERS CATERING here in Boston) married her high school sweet-heart in a classic country club wedding. The setting was gorgeous, but the wedding was large and formal. After decades of catering the gamut of weddings at Capers, Emma prefers smaller casual affairs.

Emma's "take two" would be a party outside with lots of creative lighting 

With a short wedding dress

The menu would include hand-crafted local and seasonal foods with lots of passed hors d'ouevres

A selection of signature cocktails

Creative dessert displays

And any casual party should have grass on bare feet and family dogs!

One thing Emma wouldn't change is her pick of grooms.

Thanks so much for joining this series Emma!

Photos: Chatty Brides, Martha Stewart, Peter Callahan, Chefs Market, Cottage Cheese Vintage Blog, Bippityboppityboo, Josevilla, Style Me Pretty

I Do II: Pretty Pink Tulips

My next guest in the series is the talented and fun Elizabeth of PRETTY PINK TULIPS. Elizabeth was the first blogger I "met" when I launched my blog (we have mutual friends) and I have been an avid fan of hers (and her blog) ever since. 

When Kate invited me to share what I what do if I got to redo my "I dos"...I thought what a great idea!! Planning a wedding is an overwhelming task and even though I had 11 months to plan mine, there are things I would definitely change.

First, I would shorten my engagement. 6 months would have been perfect, but that would have meant I was marrying in July. Not a great idea if you live in Dallas, TX, as I did at the time. So, my fantasy location would be moved to Napa Valley.

Next, I would hire the most amazing wedding planner (Kate's mom of PARTY RESOURCES) to help with all the details that take an event to the next level. I was working full time and pursuing my MBA in the evenings. Carving out time to make all the appointments and decisions was hard and this was in the day before blogs and Pinterest! I got married in a church, in the evening and had a fairly formal wedding and reception with over 300 people. In my "redo", I would get married outside overlooking the Napa Valley, have a small guest list and have the wedding during the late afternoon. I would have a sit down dinner under a gorgeous tent and dance the night away. Grant and I would leave under a halo of sparklers.

Finally, one little thing I wish I had done. Flower girls. Just the name alone makes me smile. There are three darling girls who are now teenagers that I wish I had invited to be my flower girls. I was talked out of having any as they always "steal the show". But, if they bring beauty and levity to a serious day....why not? I was a flower girl when I was about 5 years old. And, I remember how special I felt.

Luckily, I would keep the groom. Which, in the end.....is all that really matters.

Photos: Pinterest, Catherine Hall, Alish + Brook Photographers, Laurelyn Dexter and Tara Geurard

I Do II: Design Chic

A warm welcome to my next guests in the series - Kristy and Beth. This mother-daughter duo have impeccable taste and are the force behind DESIGN CHIC.

Kristy and Beth have to admit it: They wouldn't change one thing about their weddings, as they hold such perfect memories. When I asked them to think about a wedding day "redo" they weren't sure what they would do! But it was such a tempting offer that they couldn't help but let their minds wander...

A beach wedding redo? Yes please!

Since the first weddings were large, Kristy and Beth would like this one to be an intimate, seated affair, overlooking a sparkling blue shore, with perfect weather, of course. Since Kristy and her hubby honeymooned in the British Virgin Islands. Why not have everyone fly down and celebrate before the vacation?

Big or small, casual or formal, place cards in perfect calligraphy are are a must!

A makeshift aisle, beach style.

Everyone has a different element that, to them, "makes" an event. For these style mavens, it's flowers. For a wedding surrounded by natural beauty, keep the flowers simple, yet plentiful to coordinate with the other outdoor elements.

Snowtinis were the signature cocktail at the real wedding, but mint juleps in sterling, monogrammed julep cups are such a requirement for a southern, summer bride.

Strings then, strings now. These ladies still have to walk down the aisle to Trumpets Voluntaire. That burst of brass gives them chills!

Dinner should be surf -- fresh caught, of course -- and turf with a touch of the exotic. These orchids are a stunning addition.

The best part of any meal is dessert. Cake is great, but why not savor many different flavors?

Coral and shells make this cake fun and whimsical but still elegant -- all the things this wedding should be!

Thanks to all the readers for RSVPing the Design Chic seaside wedding redo! And thank you to Kristy and Beth for such a stylish post.