Planning a bachelorette bash? Why not add a personalized element in the form of cookies! These would also be great favors, baked with love by the incredible i am baker. Future bride Beth is a fan of Facebook, which was incorporated into these sugary treats!

 Recipe for i am baker, aka Amanda’s, Amazing Sugar Cookies

• 1-½ cup Butter
• 2 cups Sugar
• 2 whole Eggs
• 2 whole Eggs Yolks
• 4 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 2 teaspoons Almond Extract
• 4 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder

In a mixer, beat butter and sugar until well combined, about 2 minutes.

Add in 2 eggs and 2 egg yolks and mix until combined.

Add in vanilla and almond extract; mix until combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly (about a cup at a time) add flour to butter mixture and combine. You can use a mixer or not, just depends on how strong you are.

Mix ingredients until they are combined, if you over mix this dough it may get tough.

Put dough in some Saran wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. When you are ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough out, cut out cookies, and bake for 6-8 minutes.

Amanda’s Awesome Icing

• 1 cup Confectioners Sugar (powder dugar)
• 1 Tablespoon Milk
• 1 drop Lemon Juice (fresh Or Processed)
• 1 Tablespoon Light Corn Syrup

Combine powder sugar, corn syrup, and lemon juice in a bowl.

This next step is important: If you need a thicker frosting, say for outlining your cookies, add LESS milk.

Just a drop at a time. If you have already outlined your cookies and need a to fill in or ‘spill’ your cookies, you can add more milk (as much as you would need) to make your frosting very runny.

If you are using food coloring, be sure to use LESS milk. Most food colorings are liquid and can make your frosting more runny. If you are using a gel food coloring, your milk quantity can remain the same.

If you want more shine, use more corn syrup and less milk. This frosting will stay good for days in the fridge.

Recipe/images courtesy of i am baker

We covered a buffet table with a simple white tablecloth and stocked it with champagne and sweet treats.  To keep the look cohesive, we chose food with a similar color palette (pink, gold, and green).  Goodies like chocolate, shortbread cookies, fruit, tarts, and small pastries are easy for guests to eat using only a cocktail napkin, so silverware and plates are optional.

Strawberries poked with flag-topped bamboo skewers make fun drink stirrers, and tying name tags to each champagne flute ensures that guests won’t misplace their glass during the party.

And with a spread this pretty, there’s no need for fussy florals — we finished off the table simply by filling three vases with single-stem tulips, for a look that’s both simple and fresh.

Images courtesy: Mary Swenson

As a bride-to-be, you probably understand the importance of your wedding hairstyle. Many brides begin planning this months in advance to be sure they look their best on the big day. Updos are one of the most popular wedding hairstyles and for good reason – they are elegant, charming and work well with most wedding themes. Here are 5 bridal updos that will never go out of style.

1. The Classic Ballet Bun Updo

Ballet buns are beautiful. In this hairstyle, medium-length and long tresses are pulled back to create a perfectly formed bun at the back of the head. Because the look is very simple and chic, these updos look great with accessories, such as flowers, wedding headpieces and veils.

2. The Classic French Twist Updo

Another beautiful and timeless classic, the French twist, is a wonderful option for the wedding day hairstyle. With this hairstyle, tresses are swept back and secured with pins into a charming twist at the back of the head. This works perfectly with medium hairstyles and can be dressed up a bit to look breathtaking. Decorative pins, flowers and tiaras are perfect with the classic French twist.

3. Prom Style Updo with Curls

This look is gorgeous whether you will be wearing a headpiece, veil or something else. Medium and longer-length hair is swept back and secured at the crown of the head. Then, the excess hair is curled and pinned to create a perfectly controlled but sophisticated look. To take this classic ‘prom style’ look and make it more mature and classy, sweep longer bangs over your forehead to one side and pin. This look can be worn with accessories, but stands alone quite beautifully.

4. Elegant Side Updo with Flowers or Accessories

Another very simple yet sophisticated and stunning look is the elegant side updo. Medium or long hair is smoothed to one side at the nape of the neck and secured with pins into a beautiful roll or bun. Bangs can be swept to the side as well, creating a more sophisticated look. This hairstyle is absolutely gorgeous with several small flowers or one large flower tucked in at the top of the roll. This is an especially beautiful hairstyle which complements bridal jewelry – although, it’s best to avoid a veil with this updo.

5. Messy but Chic Updo

For this hairstyle, the hair is brought back in sections starting with the top of the head. It is then secured with pins, yet wispy strands of hair are left sticking out. The look is continued all the way down the back of the head, creating a messy and very modern-chic look. This is a wonderful look for the modern bride who will not be wearing a veil. Headpieces look stunning with this updo and so does the bride!

Updos are classic and are always in style – no matter the season or theme of the wedding. Use these 5 wedding updo ideas to help get your creative juices flowing so you can decide on your own wedding hairstyle.

On a limited budget, you might use string lights or simple pinspots (small bright spotlights directed on the tables to highlight centerpieces).  Paper lanterns and candles are also quite romantic and inexpensive. While they sound simple, in the hands of a talented designer these small elements can pack a lot of pow.

Brides can opt for a more exciting installation of colored washes or break-up patterns —stationary lights that are fitted with a gobo, a disk cut with a specific pattern that becomes the projection. This kind of lighting is set in an elevated position on freestanding trusses or metal columns that are provided and installed by the lighting company. Some venues have rigging points, allowing lighting vendors to hang lights without a truss.

While gorgeous, break-up projections don’t necessarily break the bank. If a couple wants to save money, a break-up over reception tables or a lounge or cocktail area will be less expensive than pinspotting each table because it involves many fewer fixtures. Less fixtures = less labor = less money.

Washes are perfect for tented weddings—the white ceiling and walls act as a canvas, and the tent structure is ideal for hanging lights. The dramatic results can be breathtaking. Even without anything else in this tent, the beautiful vibrant orange lighting has created a dramatic party atmosphere.

With a different fixture, light projections can even be set to move and dance around the space. This is ideal for a dance area, and a savvy bride might maximize her budget by keeping the cocktail and dinner lighting simple while spending a bit to make the dance floor fantastic. The space below has it all: a wash of light and color on the tables and through-out the space, and moving projections on the dance floor.

In addition to adding color and design, lighting can also be cleverly used to accentuate or de-emphasize parts of a space. Simple colored uplights that project colored light onto a wall are a quick way to add color while also highlighting architectural elements like gothic stone arches or the beams in this barn. Pattern washes can be projected in nearly any direction – even to decorate an otherwise plain ceiling.

If you are planning to have an outdoor reception, don’t make the mistake of thinking that lighting is not important. The same kinds of lighting—everything from string lights to luminaria to professional installations—are even more exquisite and romantic in a natural setting.

If you don’t have the budget for a separate lighting package, look to the venue or wedding hall. Oftentimes, venues that specialize in weddings or events have some ability to customize the lighting in a space. They might even have an in-house system of pinspots or something similar.

At the very least, check with the venue to see which lights in the space can be dimmed. In a hotel ballroom, for example, you might find that the overheads can be dimmed while the perimeter lights or decorative wall sconces stay bright. Dimming automatically sets a party tone, and it is essential if you are using candles on your tables. With a little creativity you can take full advantage of a room’s lighting options to customize a mood.

At the end of the day, wedding lighting can truly set the entire tone of the event, and it should not be disregarded. As with any vendor, professional planners often stick with lighting designers that understand their vision and requirements, and brides can benefit greatly from that relationship. If you go it alone, take the lighting as seriously as you do your invitations, cake, attire, catering, and so forth. You will not regret it!

Total cost: .10 cents each!

You will need:

Chocolate candies in gold wrapping
Unbleached parchment paper
Rayon trimming ribbon (available here: http://www.custompaper.com/Shop/Ribbon/midori_rayon_trimming.html )
Double stick tape

1. Wrap the candies in parchment paper and secure with double stick tape.
2. Wrap with rayon trimming ribbon.
3. Line them up to display or place one on each napkin.

Enjoy!

The colors you choose for your big day reflect your personality and style. You can create a sophisticated environment or a whimsical escape. Colors can influence moods and exude sensuality, coziness, earthiness and youthfulness. With tasteful variations from vibrant to pastel and shimmery to matte, your wedding day colors speak volumes about you and what you hold dear. Whether you choose your favorite colors for your wedding or select hues to complement the current season, we have compiled a list of some wedding color choices and what they say about you.

Black: A conservative choice, black complements almost any color, especially lighter hues. Dignified and mysterious, black denotes sexiness and sophistication with a modern twist. Black is classic, never trendy, alluding to a modern bride. As an opulent choice, black is timelessly elegant.

White: Symbolic of purity and innocence, white has strong connotations of youth and perfection. White aficionados seek excellence and enlightenment, as simplicity and recognition are constant ventures. White is a glorious hue (or lack thereof) that denotes a clean palette or fresh start for those who seek serenity and peace.

Red: A passionate, romantic choice, red is impulsive and outgoing. Depicted as zealous and ambitious, red symbolizes love and rage. Whether it denotes joy, celebration, happiness or prosperity, red elicits a dramatic response from both sides of the emotional spectrum. Red lovers tend to be restless and optimistic and go along with people with uncomplicated natures. A powerful selection, red is sure to represent a fiery hostess with ‘look at me’ flair.

Pink: A softer, girlish choice, pink is the sweeter side of red. A delicate hue, pink represents a sensitive heart that is affectionate and nurturing. The bride surrounded with pink has a maternal grace and compassion and a desire for protection or shelter. The rosy hue fan may also have a strong personality, but one that is willing to share.

Orange: Spontaneous and daring, brides who choose orange are bold. Because orange is a happy and trendy hue, orange enthusiasts tend to be popular, have excessive energy and are part of a large social circle. From a bright and happy backdrop to an exotic, spicy richness, brides who prefer orange tend to be fearless and curious, with a zest for life.

Yellow: The color of a sunny day, yellow denotes happiness and hope. Exuding warmth and vitality and usually possessing a great sense of humor, people who love yellow have cheerful spirits and optimistic values. You tend to look forward to the future and are intellectual, creative and idealistic. Yellow represents enlightenment and spirituality, lending itself as a great color on your day of matrimony.

Green: Green shades symbolize life, freshness, nature and fertility. A common choice for eco-friendly brides, green shows that you value your health and the environment. A harmonized and balanced color, green is a mixture of warm yellow and cool blue, just like its admirers. A calming and tranquil hue, brides who select green are affectionate, frank and responsible. You seek stability and balance, yet remain fiercely principled and refined.

Blue: Soothing, compassionate and cool, blue is the color of tranquility and royalty. Blue belles are deliberate, introspective, conservative and patient, tending to be sensitive and wise. Serene and cool, blue denotes cautious partners who are faithful but require a calm and harmonious existence. From watery aqua to a deep shade of midnight, blue can be soft and sweet or strong and bold.

Purple: Often associated with both royalty and luxury, purple is a passionate color. Choosing purple symbolizes dignity, tolerance and value. Violet lovers tend to be unconventional and observant, with a multifaceted personality. Tolerant and witty, purple devotees are likely to achieve authoritative positions. From light lavender and lilac buffs, who tend to be charming, witty and cultured, to deep eggplant lovers, who are creative and talented, purple can be provocative or sweet.

Brown: A natural, neutral color of the earth, brown represents wholesomeness and dependability. Symbolizing comfort and contentment, brown represents honesty. Just right for your wedding day, brown is substantial, steady and responsible. From rich chocolate and dark coffee to cream and soft beige, this earthy shade can be intense or pale, dramatic or modest.

The aforementioned color synopses are not strict rules or character definitions, but rather are designed as an indicator of what is important to you. Whether you select a spicy orange to match the falling autumn leaves or a peony pink simply because it is your favorite color, choose what looks and feels good to you. Your natural selection is indicative of your true self and innate style.

Supplies:

shoes

clear thread

18mm rhinestone letter charms

3mm round flatback crystals

tweezers

strong glue (I used Aleene’s Ok to Wash it Glue because that’s what I had on hand)

Directions:

To attach the “I DO” letter charms to the front of your shoes you just need to showcase some creative sewing.  Position your letter charms in the center of the shoe front.  The letter charms have a slider bar behind the letter because they are meant to go on kitty or doggie collars. So if your shoes are like mine, you can just sew around the top part of the slider bar and then the bottom to secure them in place.  If you have another type of shoe that makes the last step difficult you will have to physically sew the charms onto the shoe.  Voila!

To create the blinging heel, all you need a very strong adhesive, some tweezers and some 3mm flat back rhinestones.  Start by spreading a thin line of glue horizontally along the bottom of the heel.  Then you’ll have to work fast to ensure strongest adhesion.  Pick up one rhinestone at a time with your tweezers and place it on the glue line.  Continue this until you have created your first line of bling.  Then simply continue those steps as you work your way up the heel until it’s completely covered.  Once you’ve finished both heels, allow them 1-2 days to completely air dry.

The shoes before:

The shoes after:

If you’re prepared for it, a small incident can be averted from being a huge disaster. Enlist the help of your bridesmaids and family members and pack a day of emergency kit to solve any pesky problems that could arise.

A wedding day kit may sound corny but even if you don’t use any item in it, you’ll feel comfortable knowing it’s there if you need it—and if you do need it, the kit could just become your best accessory.

Be a Good Girl Scout

One of the most important tips to remember is not to leave making the kit to the last minute. The few weeks before your wedding you’ll be busy putting together the big event, the emergency kit is something that can be done almost as soon as you start planning your wedding. None of the items expire or need to be refrigerated so it’s the perfect task to get done early and cross off the list.

Before you start gathering supplies, think about what type of wedding your having: is it indoors or outdoors, large or small, formal or casual? This could determine what items you’ll have in your kit and how much of each item.

Think of the Dress

For most brides, the most expensive (and beautiful) aspect of your big day is probably your wedding dress. Be sure to include a needle and thread to match your dress, a lint brush, baby powder, a safety pin and fabric wipes or a piece of chalk in your emergency kit. These items are inexpensive to purchase and the perfect solution to a stain or rip in the dress.

Think of your Health

On the day of, the stress of it all may begin to take it’s toll. Recent bride Michelle Feduska says the stress of planning the wedding and the importance of the big day could make for an upset stomach or a headache. “Pack an antacid and aspirin in the bag just in case.”

Think of your Hair

Although most brides enlist the help of a hair stylist to create the perfect wedding day hair, unless you’ve paid the person to stay on for your reception you’ll need to make sure you have a brush, comb, bobby pins and hairspray for any touch-ups you’ll need throughout the night.

Think of your Make-Up

To keep your make-up perfectly intact, pack a straw to sip any pre-wedding beverages from and keep lipstick in place; tissues and eye drops to get rid of the aftermath any joyful tears; and a nail file for any pesky manicure issues.

Think of the Extras

Other easy to pack items include earring backs, band-aids (think blisters), breath mints and an extra pair of pantyhose. One of the most overlooked but essential pieces is a list of vendor phone numbers in the unusual case that the florist or officiant doesn’t show up.

Don’t let packing your emergency kit stress you out over the problems that could arise on your wedding, revel in the fact that you’ll be prepared for anything and nothing can ruin your day!

Light up your evening wedding with romantic candle light!  We found these darling mini lanterns and couldn’t resist adding a pretty ribbon and name tag to use them as escort cards.

As each guest finds their lantern and walks to their table, your venue will be cast with a sea of gorgeous light. Double them up as favors and centerpieces too! We suggest you set your tables with larger lanterns so that when your guests set down their mini lanterns, the centerpieces will be complete and your tables will be awash with candlelight! Guests can bring the lanterns home and use them again and again.

A few tips:

- Make sure you use the right size candle for your lantern. If the candle is too big, the handles will heat up. Give them a test run prior to your big day.

- Make sure your venue allows candles.

-As always, be careful with flames. Assign a friend or helper to monitor the lanterns and candlelight.

-Be sure to have your photographer catch the details!

Enjoy!

Scrabble has always been one of my all-time favorite board games. It was a game that we loved to play when my husband and I first became friends, it played a role when he first asked me out, and it even came up again when he finally asked me to marry him. I knew that I wanted Scrabble to show up in our wedding somehow, but in a way that was sweet and meaningful.
 
In the end, I came up with the idea of making Scrabble tile magnet favors. Each favor was a four-letter word related to love (hope, kiss, true, wish, etc.), and our letterpressed favor tags read, “Some parting words of love.”
 
These favors would be perfect for a board game-themed wedding, a wedding based on beautiful words, a poem, or song lyric, or just as an extra charming touch to a simple, DIY wedding. 
 
Materials:
Scrabble tiles (enough for 1 4-letter word per favor)
Strong magnets  (I used these)
Slide top tins, 79mm x 35mm x 10mm (found here)?
Hot glue
Spray adhesive?
Patterned paper?
Scissors
Paper cutter (optional)
Sandpaper
Ribbon
Favor tag
Newspaper

Process:

1. Track down enough scrabble tiles to make one 4-letter word per favor.
I’d suggest purchasing 1/5 more than you need in order to provide yourself with more letter choices.  For 200 favors, I purchased 1000 Scrabble tiles.

2. Take inventory of all the letters to determine how many of each letter you have.

3. Round up your favorite Scrabble buddies.
Make it a game and ask them to come up with as many 4-letter words related to your theme as possible, given the inventory of your Scrabble tiles.  Note of caution: Must love Scrabble to do this or else will feel like homework!

4. Hot glue one magnet to the back of each Scrabble tile. 
Be careful not to put the tiles too closely together when drying.  The magnets are so strong that they can actually detach from the hot glue and attach to another magnet. 

5. Cut out the patterned paper.
Cut your paper using a paper cutter or scissors into rectangles the same size as your slide top tins (about 3 1/8” x 1 3/8”).  Round the edges.

6.  Lay out the newspaper on the ground in a well-ventilated area and lay out 6 tins in a grid pattern.
Make sure you adequately cover every inch of your work surface and floor…my table and floors were sticky for weeks!

7. Spray with spray adhesive.
Holding the spray about 12 inches away from the tins, spray an even coat of adhesive over tins.  Try to spray from the top directly to avoid getting adhesive on the sides of the tins. 

8. Immediately attach patterned paper to all 6 tins.  
You can do more or less than 6 at a time, but I found that 6 was the most I could attach before the adhesive became less sticky. Repeat until all tins are completed.

9. Sand the edges.
After the tins have dried for a few hours, lightly sand the edges for a more polished look.  If you’d like a more vintage look, sand the tops as well. 

10. Fill the tins with Scrabble magnet words.

11. Tie the tins with ribbon and attach any tags that you might want.

*Suggestion: If you’d like to incorporate a raffle/prize in your wedding, you can easily hide special 4-letter words in the favors.  For our wedding, we hid two special words in our favors – “word” and “suns” that stood for things that my husband and I love. “Word” referred to my love for word games and “suns” referred his love for the basketball team, The Phoenix Suns. Our two guests who received these two favors were gifted a Scrabble game and mini basketball. It was our “wish” that each of our guests could take a little piece of us home with them!