Archive for the 'Decorating' Category
Thursday, June 12th, 2008
The actual physical location of your ceremony and reception will largely be determined by where you live and what you can afford. With that said; determination, imagination and some creative tricks can go a long way in minimizing both location and money obstacles.
One of my brides wanted to marry in Hawaii but for several reasons that was not possible. An evening wedding was planned for the backyard of the bride’s parent’s 1960’s ranch style home for about 75 guests.
The bride and groom decided they still wanted an island wedding and so I began to create a tropical setting right smack in the middle of landlocked suburbia.
The first thing was to was rule out all the old cliques; wooden tiki god statues, coconut cups, volcanoes with flowing lava, grass skirts, plastic of any kind and of course the thatched roof bar. This was a wedding not a clam bake. The bride and groom wanted a casual but somewhat sophisticated look and feel and this is how they got it.
The emphasis was on creating an illusion. When planning a theme don’t try to recreate an exact replica, it’s impossible especially when it’s a location theme. What you want to do is create a mood, an illusion really, an abstract much like what is done for a theatrical stage production. The human imagination is an incredible thing which when the senses are teased with sound, sight, taste and scent the mind begins to fill in the blanks and an illusion becomes an experience.
I began by renting an assortment tropical trees and plants of varying sizes and textures. Garden burlap was draped over and around the plant containers and brushed with floor adhesive and covered with sand creating what looked like small sand dunes. The look was completed by adding stems of tropical flowers that had been inserted in water tubes and placed randomly throughout the display, rocks, bunches of bear grass and both Spanish and sheet moss were also used. And a focus area was created for where the actual ceremony would take place and where the cake would be setup later.
Tiki torches and up-lighting defined and accented the area for the ceremony and the reception; the wedding took place at early dusk and two sound systems were used, one for the music and the other for an ocean soundtrack that played softly and continuously throughout the evening. This is very important; if you are going to have a location soundtrack (ocean, rain forest, etc.) it needs to be unobtrusive. It is subliminal background noise and should be soft and continuous just as it would be if you were actually at a beach house in Hawaii. Place the speakers around the perimeter or in the trees or shrubbery. It is better to have several small speakers than a huge pair of speakers blasting away, save the huge speakers for another time.
The reception featured Hawaiian music and light jazz; the buffet consisted of roast pork, vegetables, assortment of tropical fruits and breads, sushi, jasmine rice and a tropical signature drink available with or without alcohol. The guests were asked to dress for an evening in Paradise. Round picnic tables were used instead of the traditional luau seating (on the ground) out of consideration for the older guests and the table umbrellas were lined with lights. Tiki torches were originally planned but did not provide adequate light. The umbrella pole and table opening were covered with Spanish moss, sand, tea-lights, and flower petals extending out about 8 inches in diameter create a tropical centerpiece.
The bride kept personal flowers to a minimum, there were no corsages or boutonnières, attendants carried one stem of orchids and the bride carried only a small casual bouquet of orchids and gardenias and wore an orchid lei and the groom wore a traditional Hawaiian Maile Lei.
The slab style patio was used for the dance floor. Tropical plants were again used and placed around the patio highlighted with up lighting. The buffet table was lit using string lights underneath the table skirting and with small tiki torches that were inserted into the three large tropical arrangements placed on the three buffet tables setup in corner style. Silverware and cloth napkins were already on the reception tables, making it easier for guest to maneuver food and beverage.
This wedding turned out to be one of my all time favorites. The lighting, the mood, the music, the food… it was all perfect. So many small details made this wedding great. Lighting and audio played such a major role and because of that electrical cords posed a real problem. To eliminate the trip hazard posed by the cords I created a pattern using twine and stakes by positioning the tables and other traffic areas that required lighting; then the using a flat shovel the sod was cut at an angle along the pattern and threading the outdoor electrical extension cords through PVC pipe, the pipe was then slipped into the cuts and the sod flattened over the top. Writing this it seems so easy but it actually took a great deal of time to create a workable pattern, threading and connecting the pipe and making safe connections but this small detail made an enormous difference.
Another detail that made a big difference was using burlap as an under-liner for the all the sand used and it made clean up a lot easier as did the fact that the tropical plants used were for the most part rented and kept in their original containers. Let us not forget the parking which is always a major concern for home weddings. This particular home was located in a cul de sac which offered very limited parking. In this case a nearby church was contacted and the family was given permission to have their guests use the church parking lot and a shuttle was provided to and from.
In short, never dismiss your dream and never overlook the details.
Posted in Decorating, Reception | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
You can add a sophisticated and an elegant personal touch by using crystallized edible flowers on your desserts, salads, ice cubes and garnishes. Here is how you can create these lovely edibles all you need is time, space and patience. Just a note, although inexpensive, creating crystallized (candied) flowers can be messy and very time consuming.
To create crystallized (candied) flowers, flower petals are prepared and then covered with a meringue paste and completely coated with super fine sugar. If you decide this is a project you’d like to try, make sure you have plenty of wire racks and lots of counter or table space for drying the flowers. If you have experienced a problem with ants or roaches you may want to reconsider the project. Flowers can take from 12 to 36 hours to completely dry. It’s not just the meringue paste and sugar that is drying it is the moisture within the flower and trying to speed up the drying process with a hair dryer or fan does not work. It will however coat everything in the room with a fine film of sugar that takes forever to clean up. Yes, this is the voice of experience speaking!
I do not recommend this project for young children or for those lacking in patience. Each individual petal must be completely painted on both sides with the meringue paste using an artist’s brush. (Fresh meringue should not be used because of salmonella bacteria.) The limp coated petals are then positioned or arranged on the drying rack. Using a rack with too much space between the wires will cause your petals to fall through and you will need to redo the entire process. A rack for barbecuing fish seams to work well. You can also buy window screening. Be sure to wash and dry the screening first and then you can lay it on top of the racks. Although the end result can be very lovely and wonderful the process can be a real headache.
So for all you brave hearted souls who wish to venture on and do it yourself, here are a few basic rules of crystallizing editable flowers.
1. Check with your local County Extension Service to make sure the flowers you want to use are edible. Not all flowers are editable some are quite poisonous.
2. Make sure that flowers have not been sprayed with insecticides, pesticides or other chemicals. If fertilizer has been used it should be approved for vegetable gardens. Of course the ideal situation is to grow the flowers yourself, preferably in an area that is protected from animals.
3. Do not pick flowers from the side of the road, flowers that have been exposed to animal wastes, or trash or vehicle emissions.
4. Do not use flowers from a florist or commercial grower. Chemicals are used to preserve and extend the life of cut flowers.
5. Know how the flower tastes. Just because it’s editable doesn’t mean it is going to taste good, some flowers just taste awful no matter how much sugar you put on them..
6. Pick flowers early in the morning before the sun has warmed the petals.
7. Remove the stem, all leaves and the stamen just before coating and dipping in sugar
8. Allow an entire day for this project and have all your supplies at hand.
9. Allow 12 to 36 hours for crystallized flowers to dry. (Do not use a fan or hair dryer unless you want sugar everywhere.)
10. Make a list of the editable flowers used and have it available at the reception just in case a guest has an allergic reaction. (How many of us know if we have a food allergy to pansies.)
11. Wait until the last minute to put crystallized blooms on a cake they will absorb moisture from the cake and become soggy.
12. Don’t try to use regular sugar it doesn’t work. (I tried it.) You must use super fine. (Super fine sugar is just that and it goes everywhere if there is the slightest breeze.)
13. Crystallized flowers can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 6 months, or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
RECIPE:
Crystallized /Candied Flowers
Prepared blooms - Commonly used flowers are violets, pansies, Johnny-jump-ups, rose petals, lilac, scented geraniums
Meringue paste (Use powdered egg whites to avoid salmonella, available in craft stores. Price $4 - $7 )
100 proof vodka (optional, used to help the flowers dry faster)
Superfine granulated sugar (from the baking section of your supermarket)
Artist’s paintbrush (fine)
Drying racks
Prepare the meringue paste beating until frothy. Add a few of drops of vodka to help the flowers dry faster. Paint each flower on both sides with meringue paste using the artist’s paintbrush. Be sure the entire surface of both sides of the flower is completely coated, or your petal will be ruined.
When thoroughly coated, cover with fine sugar and place on the drying racks for 12 to 36 hours.
Flowers are dry when stiff and brittle to the touch.
Flowers can be stored in an airtight container and put in the freezer for up to 6 months or refrigerated in an airtight container up to a month.
If you decide this project isn’t your piece of cake but still want candied flowers, they can be purchased from the Internet and are sold by the package. Packages can vary in size anywhere from 20 to 100 depending on the flower chosen. Flowers range in price from fifty cents to a dollar each depending on the size and type of flower ordered and expect to pay additional fees for shipping and handling.
Posted in Decorating, Reception | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 28th, 2008
Pearl studded candles look and are expensive to buy but they really add a touch of elegance to any event. Fortunately, studded candles are very easy to make and require only a pair of good wire cutters and box a of boutonniere pins. I prefer the white pearl head pins but the pins are available in various colors and sizes and usually come 144 to a box.
You can create any pattern you like but if you’re not terribly artistic it’s probably best to stick with something simple. A diamond pattern for example is easy and has a very elegant look. For a unity candle using a pair of decorative edged scissors a photo of the pride and groom can be trimmed and placed on the candle using decorative pins or studs to frame and hold it in place.
The Diamond Pattern - Cut the pins ¼ inch to a ½ an inch long and you may even have to go shorter when cutting for a taper. Trying to insert a 2 inch pin into a candle is not easy and will usually result in a damaged candle and a bent pin.
Tapers can usually handle 4 pins in the 1st row and 3 in the second. A taper that is ¾ of an inch in diameter will measure 2 ¾ around. A standard 15 inch taper leaving 1 inch at the top and bottom will need 92 pins following the 4 - 3, inch between rows design.
The number of pins used is up to you but spacing too close in a taper (long skinny candles) can damage the integrity of the candle.
Pillar candles come in so many different sizes it’s hard to give an exact formula. I think the best way to determine the number of pins needed is to measure the distance (circumference) around the candle. On a pillar candle that is 3″ in diameter the distance around the candle is 10 ½ inches. Placing the pins ¾ of an inch apart, the first row will take 14 pins and to create a diamond the second row will take 13 pins. You will need approximately 122 pins to cover a candle 10 inches tall and 3 inches wide if you are leaving 1 inch between rows.
If you’re afraid your pins will be all over the place take a piece of tape and put a dot every ¾ inch and tape it just below where you want your 1st row to start and use it as a guide, do the same for the second row making sure the dots are between the pins in the first row.
Unity candles are expensive and quite frankly, after the wedding become dust catchers if left out and or they are tucked into a drawer never to be seen again.
Here are just a few ideas for a Unity Candle you can make for a fraction of the cost. All the designs were created in MS Word and printed using cling type of window decal sheet found at the computer store. The small circles used in the designs represent pearl head boutonniere pins.
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Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
Summer weddings are often outdoors and when a couple wants to include a unity candle to the ceremony they are often faced with how to keep the candle lit. Sometime ago I experimented with various candles and wicks and finally came up with a trick. I’ve used this little trick for many years, and it’s never failed.
The trick is a wick exchange. Replace the existing wick in your unity candle with the wick of a trick birthday candle, the kind you can’t blow out.
Take a very fine drill bit and bore out the the unity candle wick. Remove the wax from the trick candle wick by just breaking the candle in half and sliding the wax off of the wick. The wax on the trick candle has nothing to do with the candle reigniting; it’s a small thread of magnesium in the wick that burns at a low temperature that causes the wick to ignite even after it’s been blown out.
You don’t have to remove all of the existing wick, simply go down far enough, about an inch to 2 inches and insert the trick wick, leaving about an inch of wick at the top of the candle to light. This works very well in pillar size candles. If the hole you have bored in the unity candle is too large for the new wick, simply dip the trick wick in melted wax before inserting.
Changing out wicks can be done several months ahead of time and it is a very good idea to practice on an old candle first. The smaller in diameter the candle is the more difficult it will be to change out wicks. With a little practice you’ll have a unity candle that will stay lit no matter how windy. Have fun!
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Beaches, parks, meadows, backyards and campgrounds are all popular choices for weddings. If you are one the many couples who have chosen an outdoor location for your special day. Here’s a tip to make things a little easier and more comfortable.
Outdoor weddings are wonderful but can pose unique challenges. One important challenge is lighting. Lucky for you there are now several choices available in solar lighting and though the initial cost may be a little high. Considering the multi-use options for holidays, backyard parties, camping and beach trips the long term value makes solar lighting a great buy. And here’s another tip: lighting can define your space which makes decorating an outdoor area much easier, after all how do you compete with mother nature?
You may think that with solar lights the sun will have to shine or you’ll be in the dark but that is no longer true. Many of the solar lights are not only solar “charged” but come with a battery back up. These little wonders will stay lit for several hours and since they use LED lights, the lighting is more than adequate.
I recently decorated an area at the beach using solar lighting and here is what I did…
Using several 10″ bamboo poles I drilled pilot holes for hooks which were screwed in at the top of the pole to hold the lights and fabric. The poles were driven into the sand using a hammer and a flat piece of wood placed on top of the pole to protect it while hammering. I then placed the poles about 5 to 6 feet apart and making sure they where at least 2 feet into the sand (for greater stability you can fill the hollow of the pole with sand).
To the hook I added chiffon streamers in the brides colors which had been threaded through rings and secured. I was careful with the length of the streamers so they weren’t blowing into fire-pits or candles. The lights were then strung from pole to pole in a drapped fashion and secured to the hooks with mini electrical ties. A series of smaller poles were placed with lighting as a lit walkway to the bathrooms and parking lot. Because the use of floral was kept at a minimum, only the bride, groom and their attendants had flowers, hand charged flashlights along with a pair of thongs were given to guests as favors.
I loved this wedding, the elegance was in the simplicity and the fact they did not try to compete with the location. They embraced the wind, sand and twilight and in the end they and their guests were left with a beautiful experience and wonderful memories.
There are several sites that sell solar string lights and it’s certainly worth the effort to take an afternoon and do a search. Happy surfing!
© 2008 Mary Spies All rights Reserved
Posted in Decorating | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
I subscribe to many wedding magazines and one in particular has the most wonderful favors, bouquets and hors d’oeuvres. Unfortunately, all the wonderful favors, bouquets and hors d’oeuvres tend to be very expensive to purchase and extremely time consuming and costly to make yourself.
I recently came across a wonderful article in a magazine for decorating chairs with bows. After doing a little research it turned out the ribbon used to make the bows was an expensive French silk that had to be a special ordered because of the width and retailed for around $76 a 10 yard bolt and each bow required 5 - 6 yards (15 to 18 feet). A wedding with just fifty chairs would cost a minimum of $380… for chair bows! Of course you can use substitutes but be careful, go too cheap or sway to far from the size of ribbon and the look is lost and even worse your attempt at an elegant look will end up looking cheap and pitiful.
In my experience the best ribbon is stiff and the width size is 71/2 – 8 inches. This type of ribbon is not usually available in craft stores and when it is the price tends to be rather high. I have found several sites on the internet that specialize in ribbon and carry the extra wide widths. It’s worth the trouble to do a few searches before buying at a local craft store.
It is so important to remember that the pictures seen in magazines are staged for the photographer and are not necessarily practical or safe for real weddings. However, you can achieve the same effects if you are willing to think outside of the box.
I once had a bride ask that I decorate her cake and buffet table the same way as a picture she had found in a wedding magazine. The bottom of the cake and buffet tables were outlined with tealight candles. The picture had been taken at twilight and the setting was quite beautiful and very romantic. I had to explain to her that we could decorate that way but it might prove dangerous for anyone in slacks, longs skirts or a wedding gown, not to mention the table linens if the tealight candles were bumped or there was a breeze. We compromised, creating small florets of light by using mini cluster lights. secured with electrical ties to gutter nails. The nails were pushed into the ground to keep the lights in place, the clusters where then covered with small glass floral bowls. The effect was lovely and we achieved the same romantic feeling without creating a fire hazard.
I guess the point is, you can achive just about anything if you stay open to everything. Only you can limit the possibilities available. Stay open, stay healthy and smile, you’re getting married!
© 2008 Mary Spies All rights Reserved
Posted in Decorating | 4 Comments »
