Here are a few suggestions…

Choose food, but skip the standard small box of truffles.

One delicious (and large) macaroon is the perfect two-bite treat.

A “make your own smore’s kit” is cute and creative.

Fill a mason jar with hot chocolate ingredients for a favor that’s yummy, easy to take home and adorably packaged.

Choose fun, but make sure it’s really usable.

Your guests will actually use this deck of playing cards and think of you every time they pull them out to play.

“To Have and to Hold and to Keep your Drinks Cold” Clever right? This is another favor that your guests will actually use.

Guests will be able to use sunglasses immediately if you’re having a spring or summer daytime wedding.

Choose function, if you have the time.

Fill a book with your favorite recipes and/or ask guests, months before the big day, to send you their favorites.

A potted plant is eco-friendly, decorative and can also serve as a place card holder.

Olive oil is a highly used ingredient that everyone can appreciate.

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Courtney use the black and white striped theme all the way thru from her table runners, accents on her centerpieces, the ribbons to hold her napkins, the ribbon that secured her favor boxes, her invitations, her programs, cocktail table linens, drink stirrerts, food picks, her bar menu, and even the plates in which her cake was served (genius!). I do not thnk there was a single item which was not adorned with such a lovely pattern. We loved it!

Here is more black and white striped inspiration with a little bit of something for everyone… enjoy the overload!

As much as we loved instagramming our dessert bar that day, we had the Ultimate Girls Day Out by teaming up with Gloss Salon, Nicole J Boutique, and Kelly Hockenberry of Stella & Dot. We learned a sock bun demo from Bethany at Gloss, shopped the racks of Nicole J, and tried and purchased fabulous pieces from Kelly of Stella & Dot. It was so much watching the girls style the guests for facebook profile pictures… who doesnt love trying on clothes and donning stunning pieces of jewelry? I did a lot of mingling and chatting amongst guests, but my favorite guest of all was Lauren Ashley Golt of the Social Stylate (and contributor to LovelyGirls Events blog posts from time-to-time!). When things started winding down we were able to sit around and enjoy glasses of champagne and bask in chatter… all in all, a succesful event for the participants of Flirt XoXo!

Enjoy the photos of the dessert bar from LovelyGirls Events as seen through the lens of Amber Shader Photography!

Nicole of LG, Kelly of Stella&Dot, Nicole from Nicole J Boutique, and Bethany from Gloss Salon

You can find out more about Flirt XoXo http://flirtxoxo.com/about/!

Embrace the Snow and the Holiday Season

Snow is a beautiful, clean backdrop for photos. The atmosphere creates the perfect opportunity to snuggle under a brightly colored blanket, have a playful snow ball fight or just cuddle for warmth. Remember to incorporate some color, whether in your clothing or the blanket you bring. It’s a great contrast against the snow. We recommend Rockford Park (Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, DE), Brandywine State Creek Park (Adams Dam Road in Wilmington, DE) and Valley Garden Park (Campbell Road in Wilmington, DE). Our favorite Christmas tree farm is Schmidts in Landenberg PA with their rows of winterberry and christmas trees, hot chocolate, spiced wines, and reindeer!

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Go Indoors

Many couples love outdoor engagement pictures, and they’re gorgeous, but indoor photos can be just as beautiful. Why not have the shoot in your favorite restaurant or coffee shop? Better yet, have the photos taken in your home. The photographer will capture the two of you relaxed, comfortable and in your element.  We love this simple, intimate photo; just a couple reading the paper together.

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 An Opportunity for Privacy

Think about locations that are packed with people in the warmer months and are most likely deserted now. Take advantage of the beach, a vineyard or a cool resort while the visitors are less frequent. We recommend any of the beaches in Lewes and Bethany, Grace Winery (Sweetwater Road in Glen Mills, PA) Va La Vineyards (Newport Gap Pike in Avondale, PA) and the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort (Heron Boulevard in Cambridge, MD).

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Include Your Hobbies

Into trains, planes, and automobiles? Then your in luck! The best museums are just an hour (or less!) from Wilmington, DE… thing the Air Mobility Command Museum just south in our state capitol of Dover, Delaware. If you head to our north west, then you can enjoy intimate train rides on the Strasburg Railroad (call for limited availability during the winter season) and then head on over to the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. Once your all finished sneak back into the historic town of Strasburg to enjoy the creamery, deli, and candy shoppe all in one great location. It will also give you some of those great intimate photogaphy opportunities through the window of the shoppe. Into a little bit of vroom, vroom, then head over to the Philadelphia Auto Show the third week of January each year. Maybe your a book worm and love curling up with a great book? If so, head on over to your local library and sneak around… just like in highschool!

Just a quick side note from one of our favorite photographers at Leave It To Me Photography: Make sure that you look into any ticket costs for any of these venues, and also look into if your photographer will require any special permits to be able to shoot. In Delaware, a photography permit to shoot in a Delaware State Park is $150 for the year for a photographer with a Delaware Business License. For out of state photographers, it is $150 each time – and that is a cost that could be passed off to you. I also think its nice to let a restuarant or coffee shop know so that maybe they can tidy up or seat you in a space with some intimacy… *wink, wink – we wont tell!

Sapphires (like Kate Middleton!)

Tanzanite

Aquamarine

Paraiba Tourmaline

Here are some of our favorite places to find bridal jewels!

J.Crew

J.Crew has everything from crystal or pearl studs to the fabulous (and our personal favorite) Lulu Frost collection. I just love how these can also be incorporated as your “something blue”.

Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott has pieces for every style. This is also the best place to go for bridesmaid jewelry. You can order different pieces in the same style and color or the same pieces in different colors. The “color bar” lets you create custom pieces.

Doloris Petunia 

Bold, one-of-a-kind jewels that standout.

Kate Spade

Classic and feminine, you can never go wrong with Kate Spade.

Erica Weiner

Erica Weiner is the queen of vintage-inspired and antique jewelry. Every piece is beautifully crafted. Her jewelry is elegant enough to wear to your wedding and simple enough to wear everyday.

Elizabeth Cole

If you’re looking for glamour, you found it.

BaubleBar

You can’t beat the wide range of price points at BaubleBar.

According to Brides.com the top five wedding dress trends for 2013 are Color, Portrait Backs, Peplums, Lace Nouveau, and Transformers.  We were excited to see that color was such a big trend for next year.  Colors can create a mood and allow you to express your own personal style.  Soft pink, buttercup and mint bring sweetness and bold statements like red, black  and maroon add drama.  You can see from celebrity weddings such a Jessica Biel’s that pink dresses will be a front runner but don’t count out red, blue, and flower patterned dresses.

Cool Colors – Mint, Blue, Aqua

Muted, Understated Colors – Grey, Blush, Beige

Blacks – Patterned and Solid

Bright Bold Colors – Red and Maroon

photos from here

via Life Styled

What to stock on your new classy cart? Well just the essentials to begin with – glasses + stemware, ice bucket, a cocktail shaker, garnishes, and swizzle sticks. Want to spice it up a notch? Think about adding additional items such as fun glassware (our favorite is from Z Gallerie) , a colorful tray (think gold and chevron!) , fun bold printed cocktail napkins (love gold polka dots!) , floral (nothing better than white hydrangea in an ikat bowl), bottle stoppers, and a variety of decanters. Never hurts to add those stripey straws either!

Check out the Matchbook Mags guide to Bar Cart Essentials:

If you are on the prowl for the cart of your dreams, check out www.shopcandelabra.com and www.shopsocietysocial.com.  If you’re on a budget, check out yard sales and flea markets.  You might not find a cart in perfect condition, but you can do a lot with gold spray paint.

Now we’re sure the thought of a doily brings back memories of your grandmother but these are new fresh ways of using them. Doilies are more than just a napkin or decorative mat as listed in their definition.  They can be used as in a unique number of ways to add a pretty and feminine touch to any event.  Below are a few ideas that caught our attention.

In its fabric form, doilies can be shaped or used to create shapes.  If you soak doilies in fabric stiffener or fabric starch and drape over base of bowls or jars until dry, you create bowl shaped designs that are easily used in either home décor or events.  Don’t feel like getting messy with starch?  Wrap a doily tightly around a vase, cut excess material and hand stitch to make a delicate flower vase for any occasion.  If you are feeling really creative you can use a doily to imprint a pattern into clay that can then be shaped into bowls, plates, etc.  Just take a look at the pretty ring bearer dish above and you’ll see how stylish a doily can be.

Paper doilies are a crafter’s dream.  They can used be used in so many ways and so easily.  Some examples include using them as a place card at a table setting, folded around invites to create a chic invitation wrap or curled into a cone shape to hold flower petals or favors.  Love the idea of using them for invites but don’t want the hassle of folding all those doilies?  No problem, simply use a doily design on a printed invitation for instant charm.  Other lovely ideas are to add it to simple kraft paper wrappings as a darling detail or string them together as garland to hang on a mantle.

Edible doilies are also becoming very trendy.  It’s fun to see doily patterned fondant detail on cakes or sweet delicate lacy rosettes that can be added to anything from cookies to hot tea.  Another idea for cookies is to stamp a doily pattern on icing using edible inks.  We’re sure if you use your imagination enough, you can figure out a few more ways to add doilies to your menu.