How did the carnation get such a terrible reputation as a flower? Maybe all those grocery store bunches gave them a bad rap (especially the green and blue ones that are clearly dyed unnaturally) But let’s give them another chance!!! From now on, let’s use their scientific name- Dianthus

See how a simple Dianthus bunch can be made into a simple and creative bouquet? Change the color, add some bling, wrap with a gorgeous ribbon and….. a more subtle, traditional feel with a tad of bling and sparkle! ( I would TOTALLY load this up with a TON more bling, but you get the idea!)

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This is just about the coolest way to OMG your wedding! I want a pair!!!

Meet Figgie Shoes from Everything Wedding on Vimeo.

Shoes are one of the most magical items in a woman’s wardrobe. They have the power to transform her into many different versions of herself, from mountain climber to beach beauty to sexy siren.

Shoes are personal. Figgie shoes are ridiculously personal—their purpose is to try and explain, in picture and personality, who YOU are, to anyone who happens to be looking.

It has been said that good shoes will take you to good places—our hope for you is that these will be the best pair of shoes you’ve ever owned.

Do I really need a wedding planner when my venue contact/catering director says they can handle it for me?

“This is a great question because some wedding vendors, when selling their services, mention that they can help you do it all and that you don’t need to hire an outside wedding coordinator. However, wouldn’t you prefer that the professionals you’ve hired focus on what they do best? By utilizing a wedding planner, you allow the venue catering director to spend their time handling the food, service and staff. Making sure that the food is out in a timely manner, that your guests are being taken care of, and that the room setup is the way you planned doesn’t leave much time for anything else. They may also have more than one event taking place on the evening of your reception, so their time may be divided. A wedding planner/coordinator (there IS a difference) is there just for you for the entire length of your party. We are there to serve as the “umbrella” over all the vendors you have put in place, making sure everyone in the loop as to what is happening minute-to-minute, so everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Have you hired a wedding planner/coordinator

Hiring a  wedding coordinator allows your other vendors to focus on their specialties — entertainment, photography, and so on. The photographer will not miss out on getting some candid shots of guests because he or she is trying to locate the wedding party for a group photo. And the DJ can focus on getting the sound system ready for the toasts instead of trying to locate champagne for the bride and groom. The vendors we work with realize the value of having a planner involved and encourage it! Bringing in a planner makes everyone’s life easier in the months leading up to the wedding as well as the day of— not just that of the bride, groom and their families, but also the venue and vendors.”

Magically OBSESSED with Macarons……. Not to be confused with the coconut kind (which I love too!!!!!!!) But these amazing little treats that are all the rage.

There are a few places I have found them to be amazing:

Chocolate Provocateur (Orlando) http://www.chocolateprovocateur.com/ (oh and the amazing variety of other fresh baked yummy items will have you swooning!!!)

Crazy about Macarons (South Florida) http://crazyaboutmacarons.com (they ship too!!!)

But if you are like me, and LOVE to bake, check out the easy recipe below!!!!!! There are so many delicious combinations but this one is to DIE FOR!!!!!!!!

Look how cute they are as favors

Packaging like this is 2×2 so should you decide to make these as DIY favors, you might want to order a sample before baking to ensure the perfect fit.

http://www.gandgwebstore.com/2×2-cylinder-box-clear-pkg-6-en.html

Vanilla Bean Macarons with Dulce de Leche Buttercream
Makes 18-20 Macarons

Ingredients:

Macarons Shells:
115 Grams Almond Meal
180 Grams Confectioners’ Sugar
100 Grams Egg Whites, aged at room temperature for 24 hours
25 Grams Granulated Sugar
Seeds from 1/2 Vanilla Bean Pod

Dulce de Leche Buttercream:
1 to 2 Cups Confectioners Sugar, sifted
½ Cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
3 to 4 Tablespoons Dulce de Leche (they sell it in a can so you don’t have to boil the cans anymore!!! Woo Hoo)

In a large bowl sift together almond meal and confectioners’ sugar to remove any lumps. Set aside.

In a mixing stand, whisk egg whites until frothy. Add vanilla beans and slowly add granulated sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks are formed. Carefully begin incorporating dry mixture into the meringue—gently folding until all items have been integrated. This should take no more than 50 strokes.

Using a piping bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe small rounds of the mixture onto Silpat lined baking sheets. Rounds should be about 1½ inches in diameter. Once baking sheets are filled, tap the sheet carefully but firmly on the counter to remove any possible air pockets. Let baking sheets sit on the counter for 45 minutes to harden the outer shell before baking.

Bake at 280 degrees for 16-18 minutes. Transfer the pans to cooling rack and cool completely before removing shells from mats.

While shells are cooling, prepare the buttercream. In a large mixer bowl, whip the butter for several minutes until very light and fluffy. Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar until the butter becomes thicker and stiff. Add the Dulce de Leche and whip until combined. If needed, add a few more spoons of confectioner’s sugar until desired consistency is reached.

Transfer buttercream to a piping bag. Fill a macaron shell with the buttercream and sandwich with another shell. Macarons can be stored in airtight containers for 3 to 4 days.

Note: The buttercream is on the sweeter side so I would suggest filling only a minimal amount (yeah right lol)

Trends, trends, trends! In the wedding industry there is always “something new” to go with your something old. The latest buzz has mini-pies and pie pops to be the trend for 2011. Here are two options that caught my eye. Even easy enough for a DIY bride because they can be frozen! I even found some Pies in a jar………. What do you think? Will this trend catch on?

See all the Details here!