Hey Mr. DJ!

There are so many elements that are taken into consideration when planning an event or glorious Martha's Vineyard wedding.  Each talented professional surely thinks that their expertise is what makes it or breaks it and you know what?  They are all right.  What's a wedding without timeless pictures taken by a photographer that makes you shine?  Or flowers from that floral stylist-extraordinaire that adorn the table, and are hanging over the arbor....or that single bud sitting beautifully in your hair?  Every detail is important and may surely be noticed if its missing or simply forgotten.  But how about the music?  Music moves the soul and the soul moves those two left soles too, and everyone remembers that!

Hey Mr. DJ...yeah I'm talking to you!  Thank you for keeping the party going.  Thank you for entertaining our guests.  Thank you for setting the mood and playing some oldies to help us remember the good ol' days.  Our guests are surely raving all about you. Their clothes are soaking wet from sweat, their feet are hurting from those high heels or maybe their feet are a little crusty because those heels didn't stand a chance and they went barefoot all night long.

 DJ's DC Rose and Smooth B of R&B Entertainment know how to keep that music going.  Playing to any and every crowd.....every age group and genre and two handsome fellas who know how to work a crowd, you can't go wrong hiring these guys for your next big bash!

Good times unlimited, that's what you want at your Martha's Vineyard wedding right?  Yup.  Dave Solimine and Good Times Unlimited, Inc. know how it's done!  And look at that smile, how can you resist that?  Need a little uplighting while you're at it?  Check that off your list and give them a call asap!

When was the last time you saw this at a party?  Good Times Unlimited made this happen....hey, this could be you! (smile)

The Art of Flower Making!

Tonight I attended a fabulous collaboration of an event at Juliska in Vineyard Haven, who teamed up with the cool gals at MV Florist...showing us their fancy tips and tricks of flower arranging.  If you're not familiar with Juliska on Martha's Vineyard, you should definitely become acquainted!  Their fancy tableware will have you ooohing and aaahhing all day long.  They are a beautiful store for a bridal registry and they were a fantastic host for this event.  My Wedding Studio gals, Marisa and Jessica, also attended the event with me and we had an absolute blast!

Our first demo used lots of beautiful roses...in this gorgeous white Juliska vase.

The middle arrangement was beautifully and simply done....in a classic and clear Juliska vase.

Some Tips We Learned Tonight (thank you Marisa for taking notes!):

*Arrangement's height should coincide with the container's height

*Use straight stems in the center and let the bent ones flow over the sides

*Start the arrangement with green filler, so that it can hold all the flowers in place

*Remember to turn the vase as you arrange and to look at the floral arrangement from a seated position if its for a table top

 

 

Our fabulous Juliska and MV Florist hosts, thank you for a great evening!

We had some time to browse after the demo and before we made our own flower arrangements...love this crystal gem and the decorative flags, just screamed Olympics!

I'm a sucker for books....especially when they have "Sweet" and "Cake" in the titles!

Welcome to Martha's Vineyard.

Okay, listen to me closely!!!  You need to pick up one of these numbers at MV Florist's retail shop in Edgartown immediately!  Well, at least during store hours of course!  This little jar contains candied hibiscus flowers, that are delicious!  They served them to us in the bottom of a champagne glass...poured the champagne over it and it was gorgeous!  Gave the champagne a pink tint, added a little sweetness and it was elegant and delish'!  For only $8, you need to go stock up and then have your friends over for a glass.

Get very familiar with these friendly faces!  My staff of two...and event professionals in their own right, I'd be lost and overwhelmed without them!  Jessica Barker on the left and Marisa Walsh on the right....are now seasoned florists!(Well, almost!)

 

 

 

 

This was my very own flower arranging creation and I love it!  I may be an amateur, but it sure looked good to me!

 Good times on the Vineyard....A great time for Martha's Vineyard Wedding Studio gals.

Pink and Green Party!

When I think of some of my favorite color combinations, pink and green is definitely a favorite. My daughter just turned four, so I turned her pretty in pink Hello Kitty party, into a pink and green soiree!  With lots of family in town, I made a full buffet of yummy goodness and topped it off with strawberry filled and cookie dough cupcakes.  We had a pink and green party blast!

Birthday girl playing with her new doll!

Hello Kitty and Pink and Green really are a great match....

I try not to drink my calories (because I like to eat them) but I love Izzes!

Pink Polka Dot Love....

A pink party without pink lemonade?  I think not!  It's Crystal Light....sssshhh.

So easy and so cute...love the personalized water bottles...

Pink strawberry filled cupcakes and the big hit was the cookie dough cupcakes!

Green lanterns from Ikea!

And to top it off.....for the adults, I made Sangria.  Oh and that's a rum cake to the right. Keeps the parents happy while those munchkins play and run around until they drop!

Frosted Pink Weddings...

There's a reason why Martha's Vineyard is one of the top destination wedding locations in the country.  It's not because we're a playground for the rich and famous or because Presidents vacation here.  I swear, it's not...seriously.  Our beautiful brides get married here because of our breath taking coastal landscape, the beautiful lighthouses that shine upon us at night...our juicy lobster rolls, clam chowder and the friendly faces that always greet them with a smile.  They marry here because romance is awaiting, at every corner and first time memories turn into life long family traditions.

Speaking of Island romance! I recently had the opportunity to meet a wonderful woman who has this insane and creative ability to make bride's dreams come true in truly amazing ways.  She's an accomplished destination wedding planner and her name is Kelly Karli, owner of Frosted Pink Weddings by Kelly.  Even her name is magical isn't it?  After a wonderful conversation and some hearty laughs about weddings, the industry and our young families, I just knew I wanted her as part of my Wedding Studio family (also known as a preferred vendor, but we're all family here!).

For all my lovely Vineyard brides and future brides, I think it's time to take a second and say hello Kelly.  When you hear her friendly voice, she will ease that wedding planning stress and tell you all the reasons why you deserve a Frosted Pink Wedding of your own.

And guess what?  You can always call or email me for an appointment to check out Kelly's amazing photo book and get those Martha's Vineyard wedding plans rolling!

Call me to take a look at some of her most recent weddings in her amazing album!

I'm a sucker for that pretty pink twine! Check out Kelly's website immediately @ www.frostedpinkweddings.com

Welcome Kelly Karli to the Martha's Vineyard Wedding Studio family!

Celebrations Everywhere...

Oh yes, it's been too long!  Busy as a bee I've been, but I'm happy to share with all that's been going on around my house lately!  Easter was wonderful and I felt honored and blessed to play hostess, having our first Easter in our new and very own home.  My food spread was delicious and put everyone in a coma (that's what's supposed to happen, right?) and the kids had a wonderful day....it's really all about them anyway.

Those flowers were totally colored, but I loved them.  Bunny pinata ended up in pieces after the kids got a hold of him after brunch!

Sausage egg scramble, cranberry scones, fried chicken, Portuguese pastries, pasta salad...oh my!

Creme Brulee French Toast...A recipe given to me by my favorite Inn in the Berkshires, the Brook Farm Inn.  The caramel sauce is on the bottom!

The yummy Portuguese pastries that my grandmother brought!

And so Easter came to an end.....and the planning of my daughter's 4th "Pretty In Pink" birthday party in June 2012 continued!  The Save The Dates went out and we did a little photo shoot in the back yard for her party invitations and collage for the day-of!  We're going pink and green...with a little Hello Kitty in between.  Here's my little soon-to-be birthday girl!

Picked up this cute Pink and Green Hello Kitty number on Etsy! 

Good times....and better times ahead!

White Weddings and Parties

This week I asked everyone for some color ideas for my 2014 Vow Renewal Celebration.  When I got married, I knew what I wanted....how I wanted it and what color scheme I'd be using.  For my Renewal Celebration, I am starting early and with a clean slate.  I loved planning my wedding and I love helping others plan theirs.  But for this occasion, I want input....and I want lots of it!  I want to be influenced and I want to be inspired.  I'm even giving away $50 gift certificates for fabulous ideas!  My first gift certificate goes out to Ayasha T. from Florida!  She gave me three awesome theme ideas, and although I liked them all, the one I liked the most was "The White Party".  If you are not familiar with what that is, it is when everyone, all guests included, dress in white.  The decor and accents are white and there are many, many directions and additions to go with it!  So, I'm making it official.  The Vow Renewal Celebration will be a "White Party", now give me some great ideas to put it all together and make it sparkle!!  Romantic, chic, stylish and sexy....

Love the white furniture and bling I found on Love Your Place!

White flowers?  Endless possibilities indeed...

What is a White Party?
A White Party is a theme party where everyone wears ALL White.

The idea is that guests come dressed all in white, within a white environment, creating a sense of unity. There's always great music and the strong identification of the guests with each other and their surroundings has made the White Party one of the most popular entertainment events in the US today.

My Martha's Vineyard Wedding...

It's official, I just set a date for the renewal of my vows!  Every five years I "vowed" that I (or should I say we?") will renew our vows and have a celebration of love to keep the fire burning and celebrate with family, old and new friends...and well, it's also a great excuse for a party!  I can buy a new dress, switch up my colors, flowers, new trends and take lots of pictures along the way to share for a lifetime.  I may never do it as big as I did the first time (weddings can be expensive!) but I'll do it a different way each time, that I can guarantee.  As I start planning my June 2014 renewal party, I'll be sure to keep you posted and share all of my ideas and inspiration along the way.  Meanwhile...here's a little recap from my wedding day....along with the fabulous resources I was lucky enough to have!  My colors were Aqua (also my business color) white and chocolate brown.

Me and the love of my life...all photos by one of Martha's Vineyard's best photographers Nicole Friedler Photography!

Perhaps regarded as the most romantic Inn on Martha's Vineyard, I wouldn't have wanted to marry anywhere else!

Lambert's Cove Inn will always have a place in my heart.  Everyone awaiting my walk down the garden aisle.

The Jon Bates Band kept my entire guest list moving and shaking and smiling all day and night long.

Umbrellas, just for the girls....and just for the pictures, loved them!

Escort cards were attached to tiny branches in coffee beans....love me some coffee and they smelled heavenly!

My half eaten candy bar, which was also our wedding favors.  In Aqua, white and chocolate of course!

In love with these NAPKINS! One of my favorite elements for sure.  This table we named after our favorite show Seinfeld!

NOW what?  Now I have a lot of planning to do for my next celebration!!  And I want everyone's ideas and help!  I'll be making another "formal" announcement later, but what I want is everyone's input....ideas you love, pictures from your own wedding perhaps, a Pinterest pin that you adore, something out of a magazine...lots of inspiration for my Renewal Celebration!  I'm looking for all the details...colors, flowers, favors, stationary....you name it.  Every month from now until June 2014, I will be giving away a $50 gift certificate for services from a Wedding Studio vendor or any Martha's Vineyard business of my choice to ANYONE who makes a suggestion or gives an idea that I decide I WILL use for my next Big Day!  Just leave a message on my blog or on the Wedding Studio Facebook Page and email me your email address....that's it!  I'm so excited!! ~~  www.mvweddingstudio.com ~~

Coco Locos, Cookies For Grown Ups...

If you didn't know already, I've got a thing for "blue".  Aqua especially.  I see an aqua lamp shade, a throw pillow or tinted wine glasses and I can hardly contain myself.  Yesterday I was grocery shopping with my 3 year old little girl and while awaiting my deli cheese order (I love cheese more than life itself) my daughter picks up a box of cookies and asked "Can we get these Mama"?  I took one look at this little blue package and then looked down at her and told her "Absolutely"!  She was so excited she jumped up and down and said "yayyyy".  With all the treats and goodies around her, she picked the little blue package....as if she already knew I would never say no to blue.

Not only were these buttery, almost shortbread like coconut cookies delicious, but they would be fantastic as a favor or an added treat in a gift basket for an aqua and pink Martha's Vineyard wedding!

Read the ingredients and description, NOT the nutrition facts!

Perhaps the "Hint of Rum" part added some extra excitement to my purchase...however, as wonderful as these little cookies are...the rum flavor didn't really come through for me....but that didn't bother me one bit! 

Dinner At The Grill On Main...

Last night I attended a wonderful private party dinner at The Grill On Main in Edgartown, MA.  I've had the pleasure of eating there a few times before and I knew it wouldn't disappoint.  I always get the pan seared duck, but it wasn't on the private party's menu.  So, I chose the pork chop with a raspberry glaze that came with their delicious and infamous scalloped cheesy potatoes.  It was also served with a nice side of turnip and carrots.  It was wonderful!

 

 Then I washed it down with a little (okay, maybe a lot) of white wine.

AND...I won a $25 gift certificate for Sharky's Cantina with this winning raffle ticket!  Awesome.

And last but not least, I wrapped a great night up with this warm chocolate bread pudding.  Fantastic!

Oh Sure, I Can Make That...

Who doesn't watch Ace of Cakes or Cupcake Wars?  Ever feel like you could be the next rising star?  OH, I watch and love both baking shows, amongst many others....but you're NOT going to see a cake shaped into anything but the pan it came out of from me!  I'm a big Looney Toons fan (especially Bugsy) and love this Taz cake from Moments That Shine!

Got A Sweet Tooth...

You know how it goes, you always want something sweet when you're not supposed to have it.  Oh, but life is too short! If you can't eat it (right now) then at least admire the art of a fabulous cupcake every once in a while...and to well, maybe just keep it bookmarked for when that moment strikes.

What a simple recipe with outstanding results!  The best of both worlds, really!?  A cupcake cookie combo?  Take me now, I tell ya'.  I know you want the recipe and you won't believe how easy it is...because it's kind of like one of those Sandra Lee recipes....it's Semi-Homemade!  A box mix, a little of this and a little of that and you've got this!  Find the recipe with great tips over at Playing With Sugar.