I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day! Here is a new menu for your Labor Day gatherings:
Mix up a some cocktails for your end of summer gathering with this new batch of drink recipes. Cheers!
Today's post was inspired by this stunning place setting which features a sparkling gold, turquoise and red plate, a turquoise fortune place card, turquoise votives and a white floral centerpiece. The other elements in this theme include:
The following three readers have won the prize pack shown above which includes a Vera Bradley stationery set, Boatman Geller note pad, Bubbles n' Bows thank you note set and a Cross-My-Heart recipe card and note pad set...
For those of you with blogs, Kati will contact you to collect your mailing address. If you do not have a blog (just a profile), please email me or Kati with your address to collect your prize. If you decline your prize, please let us know so we can draw another winner. Please see the official contest rules for more information.
- My first (and probably favorite) selection was this reception decor featuring patterned and plan floral balls floating in the pool. In the distance of this beautiful outdoor setting you can see tables draped in pink linens with brown chairs. [via Tapestry Flowers]
Today's post features a blue and green striped baby shower. Though the blue and green palette lends itself for a boy, simply switch out the blue for pink and you'll have a great theme for a girl.
Today's wedding theme combines bold hues of navy, purple and green into a dashing event scheme. My inspiration came from a post on Faye and Greer that featured both the bridesmaid dresses from J. Crew as well as this beautiful table centerpiece from The Knot. To these two perfect theme elements, I added a navy invitation with matching envelope from FineStationery.com, a lush green bridal bouquet, chocolate lavender shortbread cookies for dessert and a deep purple favor box adorned with raffia.
Don't forget to enter to win 1 of 6 prize packs filled with note cards, recipe cards, notepads and more! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on any post from 8/20/08 before 5 pm EST on 8/25! It's that easy so enter soon! Good luck!
Today's post shows some miscellaneous inspiration for a bright and multi-colored wedding or party. I love to see when a a event scheme uses a larger color palette as it makes things more interesting and provides more options for finding just the right elements. Above you'll see some ideas for a combination of pink, orange green and tan. 
Have you created an inspiration board for today's party? Leave a comment here to let me know or email your board to me at rebecca [at] tastefullyentertaining.com!
Three will win Prize Pack 1:
Something Blue…
For an evening affair held outdoors, elegant with just a touch of casual flair
Invitation , Brooch: Etsy seller Adrienne Designs , Bouquet: Martha Stewart , Dress: Thread Design, Lanterns: Z Gallerie , Cake: Martha Stewart , Hairpiece: ban.do , Favors: theknot.com , Invitation: FineStationery.com
Additional reader and blogger inspiration boards can be found over at The Finer Things! Plus, we'll both be posting more boards throughout the day, as well as linking to other blogs who are joining in on our celebration! And do not miss the chance to enter to win a fabulous 'party favor' prize! So stay tuned for details on how you can win!
Each month I select a new color and plan a birthday dinner around said color. August's color is purple! My first inspiration came from this purple place setting. With white uniquely shaped plates, lilac napkins, a lavender tablecloth, purple beaded garland, lilac pouch favor and purple striped votives this place setting has purple down to every detail yet the inclusion of multiple hues does make it an overdose of purple. For a centerpiece, combine clear square vases of varying heights and fill with water dyed purple. Place a white floating candle in each vase. Arrange vases space out and place river rocks in between (as shown) or place next to each other in a neat pattern. Invite guests with this ecru fold over card from FineStationery.com adorned with a deep purple ribbon. For a sweet ending, make a batch of these champagne cupcakes with white chocolate and cream cheese frosting topped with an edible flower, pearl and glitter [via Cupcakes Take the Cake].
Today's yellow and brown wedding was inspired entirely by this ceremony/reception photo from Faye & Greer. I am in love with every detail- the cream and yellow wedding dress, the bridal party attire in a mix of browns, goldenrod and creams, the lush greenery of the garden, the closeness of the guests to the ceremony, the cream patio umbrellas and the white paper lanterns - everything works so well together! Since this one photo shows so much there are very few other elements left to include! For the invitation, consider Sunshine by Thistleberry Press for a luxurious letterpress presentation with yellow florals [via]. A bridal bouquet cream calla lilies and pale yellow freesia would be lovely. And lastly, a beautiful 5-tier cream/yellow wedding cake alternating lattice-esc bands and flowers [via Rebecca Thuss].
The weather is lovely and warm so why not plan a picnic with your family or friends? Here is a delectable menu to get you started:
The weather has been so delightful here lately - what I'd consider the perfect summer. So I felt it was time (and certainly not too late) for a pool party! My inspiration came from this cute navy and white swim ring with pink anchor design [via At Home with Kim Vallee]. To invite guests, consider this fun pink, navy and white stripe invitation from FineStationery.com. As this party is aimed for adults I had to include a summer drink and this Strawberry Watermelon Mojito fits the bill perfectly. It's pink, fruit-filled and just right for a warm summer day. For an incredibly useful (and important) favor, hand out customized bottles of sunscreen. Create a matching poolside by making use of these navy and white lounge chairs [via Domino magazine]. Lastly, offer your guests a cupcake with cute themed adornments - a navy and white sailboat and a pink and white life ring [via flickr user cupcakenouuveau].
Today I was inspired by this bright and beautiful multi-color table setting. I love the bold blue tablecloth, black candelabra, purple and gold table cards and fresh flowers in hues of purple, yellow, pink, red, orange, lilac and cream. This would make a lovely dinner party scheme for any occasion. For the other elements in this theme, I wanted to pick up all of the colors. So, I begin with a purple and green invitation from FineStationery.com. You could try to find one with all the colors included but since I couldn't find one I think this is a nice alternative. Next, I selected vibrant yellow place settings that will just pop against the bright blue linens. Consider finding glassware such as this multi-color set where the stems pick up a variety of theme colors. Lastly, bring all the colors into your favors by packaging sweet treats in boxes finished off in contrasting wrap and ribbon.
It's time for another dose of delicious desserts! Try out one of these recipes today!
- Dark wood and glowing orange lights set the theme in this rustic reception locale [via SocialDesign]
My inspiration for today's green fall wedding was this 3-tier white cake with maple leaves in hues of green and tan. The other elements that create this event are:
Today's Oh Baby! feature was requested by Nicole. She's planning a September couple's baby shower with a blue and green color scheme combined with a sports theme. Here are my inspiration picks for Nicole:
Happy August! It's time for another batch of summer cocktails! Hopefully you can mix up some of these this weekend to beat the heat. Cheers!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License
Images contained within inspiration boards on this blog are the property of their respective companies. Please see the
individual post for details and links. If you represent one of these companies and prefer your images not be used
and/or be removed from this site please contact me immediately at rebecca [at] tastefullyentertaining.com.
