Holiday Entertaining ~ Christmas Party Table Decorations

Next up on our tip list for Holiday Entertaining at home: You need great party table decorations. 

When your guest arrive to your home, you want them to fill festive once they enter. Set your table decorations & Christmas decorations in general with a specific color scheme and let that be your focus.  You don't always have to do the traditional red and white or red, white and green.  Mix it up. Nothing is off limit! If your favorite color is purple or blue. Let that be your guide.  Times have truly changed today, Christmas decorations come in all colors now, so that makes is so fun.  

Check out our inspiration board which display different color schemes.
Enjoy the view!

What colors are your decorating your home and/or Christmas party with for the season?

Happy Planning!

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Holiday Entertaining ~ Holidays Cocktails

For the next week I'm going to give you some great tips on Holiday Entertaining at your home.  When you're trying to host a Christmas party at your home, there are some key elements that you have to include.  1st off what's a great party without festive cocktails (or mocktails)?  Below you will find some of our favorites with recipes.

Recipes

1.  Lemon Drop Cocktail

1-1/2 ounces citrus vodka
1 teaspoon super-fine sugar
1/2 lemon
sugar
lemon twist

2. The Drunken Elf

1 oz Bacardi Golden Rum

Pink Lemonade

Serve with a candy cane hanging off the rim of a tall slender glass

3.  The Apple Jack Rabbit

 1/2 oz Zaya Rum

 1 oz Apple Brandy

 3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

 2 oz Fresh Orange Juice

 1/2 oz Maple Syrup

 Mint Sprig and Apple Slices for garnish

What's your favorite cocktail for the holiday?

Happy Planning

De’Vonda J. Manning

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2013 Pantone Fall Colors

Here are the 2013 Pantone Fall Colors! Are you including any of these into your wedding or special event color palette?

Happy Planning

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Friday's Fantastic Find ~ Photo Booth Prop Signs

While on the prowl for Friday's Fantastic Find I happened upon these Photo Booth Prop Signs via Etsy.

If you're planning a photo booth at your wedding then props are a must. This set contains 24 thought and speech bubbles with chalkboard text. 

What you get: 
Mr, Mrs, Bride, Groom, I do, I did, I love -> I love <-, just married, we did it, hitched, me too, thank you, ... and they lived happily ever after, xoxo, amor, all you need is..., love, hooray!, yipee!, yay!, whoo-hoo!, wedding crasher and help!

Plenty of ideas to keep guests entertained and make some fabulously fun photos.

Image Credit:  Etsy

Happy Planning

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Music Monday ~ All Of Me

All Of Me by John Legend

By far the wedding song of 2013!!

Happy Planning

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Friday's Fantastic Find ~ Custom Engraved Flasks

Are you looking for a great Groomsmen Gift? Well look no further. 
I found the perfect gift on Etsy today. It is a Personalized, Custom Engraved Flask and it makes for an excellent wedding favor keepsake! 

Each Personalized Flask Design is carefully cut with a laser beam for a permanent stainless steel design.  The listing includes a black powder coated stainless steel flasks which arrives individually packaged in white boxes. It indeed is the perfect favor/gift for the best man, groomsmen, fathers, ushers, and much more! 

Image Credit: Etsy

Happy Planning

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend

Ask any female right now what her dream wedding ring looks like and I promise you, she can describe it to tee.  Every woman has her favorite cut of diamond. If you're a groom to be coming across this post you need to familiarize yourself with the basics of ring cuts and shapes.  

Ring Images:  via google

1. Pear Cut Ring: Resembles it name

2. Oval Cut Ring: An elongated shape that will accentuate the hands to creater a slender look

3. Marquise Cut Ring: Is an oval with pointed ends

4. Round Cut Ring: A classic diamond shape, it has the most sparkle

5. Radiant Cut Ring: Combines the geometrical lines of the emerald shape with the sparkling of the round cut. 

6. Cushion Cut Ring: A cross between a rectangle and an oval, it has a pillow shape

7. Asscher Cut Ring: Similar to emerald cut but is square instead

8. Emerald Cut Ring: Rectangular with cropped corners and long stair-step-like facets

9. Princess Cut Ring: Square stone

10. Heart Cut Ring: Resembles its name

Happy Planning!

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Quote of the day!

Happy Planning!

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Simply Lavish Real Wedding: Malinda & Nevada @Events at Newton Square

Malinda and Nevada were married this past June in Raleigh, NC at the 

Events at Newton Square.  When this couple came to me they were only sure about two things for their vision.  The bride said, “I just want my wedding to be purple (she is obsessed with the color I must say) & the groom says “Give Malinda what ever she wants as long as it stays within budget.”  I knew then we were in for a fun ride.

After our initial consultation my main takeaway was that this couple was a bit non-traditional. They wanted a unique venue but one where their ceremony and reception can both be held and yes keep them within budget. I knew the perfect place (but would they love it?)

A venue tour was scheduled for them and they immediately fell in love, but what was there not to love;  flexible space, outside catering option (allowed staying within budget easier),  rich hard wood floors, outdoor patio area (to be utilized during cocktail hour), 62 ft horseshoe bar as the centerpiece of the room, and mahogany chiavari chairs.

In the photos below, you will see the emotions flow as their wedding day was one of the best days of their life.  You will see how we pulled off their overall vision of modern elegance with a hint of bling. Nevada’s children played a part in the wedding too as the flower girls and Jr. Groomsman. 

Thank you Malinda & Nevada for allowing Simply Lavish to help plan this gorgeous wedding!          

Here are some of our favorite details of the day.  Thank you One Vision Photography for capturing these beautiful images!

Enjoy the view!

Wedding Programs & Invitation Suite

Bridal Gown by Maggie Sottero (Karena Royale)

Couple posing with their dog Jazzy

A huge THANK YOU to these amazing vendors:

Venue: Events at Newton Square

Planner/Floral/Décor: Simply Lavish Weddings & Events   

Photographer: OneVision Photography

Videographer:  Island Sound & Video

Cake:  Cakes by Caren

Candy Buffet: Simply Lavish Weddings & Events

Music: DJ Baron Graves

Event Rentals: American Party Rentals

Linen:  Selections Entertainment Weddings

Make-up artist:  Tiwa Lawrence

Wedding Stationery:  Wiregrass Weddings

Happy Planning!

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Celebrity News: Kelly Clarkson Married

Well her wedding day finally arrived on October 20, 2013, and Kelly Clarkson married her fiance Brandon Blackstock at Blackberry Farms in Walland, Tennessee. Based on photos that have surfaced, the loving coupled settled on a romantic but laid-back rustic feel wedding.

On her wedding day, Kelly took the time to tweet several photos and that where we see her wearing a beautiful long-sleeved lace dress by Temperley London. She wore a loose romantic hairstyle which was adorned with a sparkly headband.

Enjoy the  view!

Happy Planning!

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Malinda + Nevada | Engagement Session |Simply Lavish Images | Raleigh, NC

Engaged & Excited!

Happy Wedding Wednesday!

We are a tad late with this post, but on today, we're proud to share a few of one of our favorite couple's engagement photos, courtesy of our very own Simply Lavish Team. Malinda and Nevada are such a sweet couple, truly a wonderful pair, and we're so excited for them. Each and every one of their 220 guests are prepared to be swept off their feet! We had a three location shoot at: North Hills Midtown, Downtown Raleigh, & Historic Yates Mill Pond Park.

Enjoy!

d

Happy Planning!

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Friday's Fantastic Find ~ Personalized Wedding Hanger

Today's fantastic find is a Personalized Wooden Wedding Hanger with Arm Inscription.

If you're looking for a personalized and unique gift for your bridal attendants to hang their dresses while they are standing by you during bridal prep on your special day, these wooden hangers would be just perfect.  It's a gift that your girls will treasure for years to come and can continue to use after your wedding.

The hangers can be personalized with their names, your wedding date as well as their wedding role inscribed on the arm of the hanger.

Image Credit:  Etsy

Happy Planning

De’Vonda J. Manning

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Simply Lavish Real Wedding: Natasha & Shawn @JC Raulston Arboretum Wedding

When this couple decided to get engaged, the bride Natasha knew exactly where their wedding would take place.  She says to me, "I don't really have a vision for my wedding other than my venue. I know I want an outdoor wedding at the beautiful JC Raulston Arboretum with a gazebo".  So we had our starting point.

Natasha chose a bold color palette of Oasis Blue & Sangria. The wedding ceremony aisle was outlined with parasols. For the reception we bought the outside in by using manzanita branches as the centerpieces. Our bride also had one last details she new wanted incorporated into her decor, she wanted popcorn some how given as favors to the guest. So we had custom popcorn sleeves created and placed at each guest seating.

 

The Team:
Wedding Planner/ Floral: Simply Lavish Weddings & Events
Gown:  David's Bridal
Photographer:  Davids Bridal
Reception Venue:  The Royal Banquet & Conference Center
Wedding Venue:  JC Raulston Arboretum
Catering:  McCalls Bar-B-Q & Seafood
DJ:  Light the Fuse Productions
Event Rentals:  Party Reflections
Photo Booth:  Laugh Out Loud Photo Booth
Cake:  Sweet Memories Bakery
Bridal Makeup:  In God's Image Makeup Artistry
Stationery:  Wiregrass Weddings

Happy Planning

De’Vonda J. Manning

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