5 Christmas Party Theme Ideas

Want to have an unique and awesome Christmas party but don't have any ideas? Here are five that'll set yours apart:

1. Reverse Christmas in July. Many people choose summer's hottest month to pretend it's Christmas. You can flip this tradition by having a beach-themed soiree in the middle of winter! Consider including mojitos (or other summery beverages), beach balls and bottles of sunscreen.
2. Trim the tree party. Since putting up your first Christmas tree as an adult is kind of a big deal, you could have a "tree-trimming ribbon-cutting of sorts." Set up your tree with garland and lights, and ask guests to bring an ornament to hang on your tree. When the final one is hung, put on the tree topper, and plug in the lights.
3. Christmas cookie swap. What says holidays more than homemade cookies shaped like gingerbread men and Christmas trees? Host a cookie swap, and have guests bring their homemade specialty like oatmeal raisin cookies or even fudge brownies.
4. Holiday movie marathon. Gather a group of friends to watch movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf or Miracle on 34th Street just to name a few. However, be sure that you watch no more than five-- you want to prevent "merry movie fatigue."
5. Christmas carol karaoke night. Go to a karaoke bar with private rooms, or buy/borrow a home karaoke set, and "rock out" to the holiday's best songs. To keep this from going on all night, consider using a theme.

For more ideas, check out our source, 12 Christmas Party Themes You Haven't Thought Of Yet.

Mikaza Home Christmas Sale

Our good friends at Mikaza Home are having a great sale that may have been organized by Saint-Nick himself because the deals are that great.

For those of you that don't know, Mikaza Home http://www.mikazahome.com/index.php?page=home specialize in supplying modern furniture, lighting and decor for residential, commercial and event markets. They have supplied some of the luxurious lounge furniture (and reception chairs) you have seen in some of our wedding 'galleries'.

So, we told them we'd be happy to pass along their sale information to our blog readers since a lot of you have contacted us asking where we got the furniture for some of the weddings we've organized because you would love a particular couch for your living room for example.

More good news- Mikaza Home is one of our featured vendors for Engage so if you join us at Engage, you can meet Mihran and Katia in person. They are as sweet as can be.

The sale is taking place Thursday December 2 from 5-9pm. Visit their website for more details and their location, but we're including the pdf flyer here for you to check out: http://www.mikazahome.com/Mikaza_Santa.pdf

Happy shopping !

From,
The Marry Me Elves

'Photographers got Talent' Contest is Now Open

Afternoon lovelies !

We hope you haven't forgotten about our exciting contest that we need your help with ! Months ago, we told you that we'd email our fav photographers to ask them for some of their most drool-worthy shots of weddings we've worked on together. They did not disappoint. It was hard enough to narrow it down to the 15 we're about to showcase to you.
The point of this contest is that we always like our Marry Me website http://www.marrymeproductions.ca/ to have rotating images of our weddings on our homepage. We have always chosen the pictures ourselves but we thought it'd be fun for a change to have the public choose our images instead.

The voting will be done on our Facebook Fan page (you have to be a fan to vote). You can just add your vote by 'liking' the photo. Comments will be counted as votes too if the comment is obviously gushing about the photo. You can 'like' as many photos as you want. The 3 photos with the most 'likes' will be deemed the winners.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=425409404413&set=a.425409399413.215436.220989599413#!/pages/Ottawa-ON/Marry-Me-Productions/220989599413

The photos will not be credited (until the contest is over) because we want to ensure the photos that have the most votes are chosen because of their pure beauty and not because the voter knows the photographer.

Contest closes December 31 2010 at midnight. You can vote as many times as you like.

Here is a sneak peak of the contenders.....

It's in your hands now people .... may the best photographer win !

Newlywed Advice: Choosing Where to Go for the Holidays

The holidays are stressful for most everyone, but they can be even more so for newlyweds who now have to decide where and which side of the family to visit and create the standard for future holidays. This issue should be resolved with the three C's: compassion, communication and compromise. Here are some solutions to common situations:

If you live a long distance from both sides of the family. You both may have family all over and find yourselves at a total loss during the holidays. You want to visit everyone, but it may be too expensive to travel; and depending on the distance, it might even be physically impossible to get from one place to another. In this situation, many couples switch up where they go every year. So, for instance, this year, you could visit your family in California for Christmas and your spouse's family in New York next year. Or, if you enjoy having guests from out of town, you can invite both sets of parents and siblings to come to you for the holidays.

One other option: You can choose to have a romantic holiday at home with just you two. This can be a great idea if there's tension between your spouse and the in-laws or if you're saving up for the future.

If you reside in the same city or town as one side of the family, but the other is far away. This could be a situation where one side of the family controls the couple's life. If this is the case, the spouse whose family is always around should do his or her best to accommodate the other spouse's desires during the holidays. So, if your parents are at your house a lot, you should visit your in-laws to celebrate Christmas-- it's only fair.

Another option: Ask family who live far away to stay at your home as guests. And if everyone gets along, have the "in-city family" join you for dinner, and you can celebrate the holidays together.

You live close to both sides of the family. When everyone lives close to each other, deciding where to visit can be very hard. Family on both sides likely feel you should choose their side because it's convenient. If both sides are amicable, having a joint get-together is a good idea. If not, one idea is to spend Christmas morning with one side and Christmas night with the other.

Another option: If you're expecting or have a newborn, think about establishing your own traditions. For example, invite all the grandparents to come over on Christmas morning to see the baby receive his/her gifts.

Source

Wedding Cake Alternatives

Don't want a traditional wedding cake? You don't have to. Here are a few wedding cake alternatives:

Having a dessert bar is an awesome way for your guests to get a taste of some sweet treats. Want something less traditional? Consider having a tray of bite-sized treats passed around rather than a buffet. This is more formal and allows guests to feel as if they're being pampered. A few ideas: bite-sized cupcakes, bite-sized ice cream sandwiches and donut holes. Also, think about providing more decadent treats like mini creme brulee in finger-sized dishes with petit spoons.

If you're having a heavy meal, and the cake is your central focus, let your cake be a gift that guests can take away. Give each guest a small, empty baked-goods box, and place a tag on it with an explanation (that guests can take extra cake home).

One other idea is to place baked goods at the valet. You can make this poplar trend more creative by using carnival treats like a cotton candy machine or a kettle corn stand.

Any of these ideas are a sweet way to thank your guests!

Source; Photo Credit

Nicole and Regan's Simple, Elegant and oh-so Pretty Affair

Nicole and Regan were married on September 25 2010 in an affair that was a perfect balance of elegance and simplicity.

Nicole and Regan, not only work in politics but met in politics so the regal members-only Rideau Club in the heart of downtown served as the perfect venue to host their family and friends after an intimate ceremony at Blessed Sacrament Church in the Glebe.

Although their wedding took place during the fall, Nicole and Regan opted to forgo the standard ‘autumn wedding’ colours such as reds, oranges and browns. Instead, Nicole smartly played off the understated elegance of the Rideau Club’s main dining room. Ivory, white, grey and blush gave the room a soft & romantic glow by sunset. The room’s backdrop was the city lights of Ottawa and the Parliament Buildings that were clearly visible since we were 15 floors above the city. The entire room was enough to take your breath away.

Nicole also paid close attention to the small details for her reception but didn’t overdo them which were the strings that pulled her elegant but light-hearted affair together. Case in point, take a look at her card box- a vintage hat box delicately wrapped with a light grey silk bow and fashioned with a diamond broach. Her ‘wishing area’ was a glass apothecary jar filled with card stock in ivory, grey and blush wishing the couple well. So simple right, but oh-so pretty.

For this simple but classy couple, the 'less is more' theme suited them perfectly. The only thing that wasn’t ‘simple’ was the love they had for each other that day- they were absolutely inspiring to be around.

All the best Nicole and Regan !

All the gorgeous photography is thanks to our friends (and new neighbours!) at Photolux Studio http://www.photoluxstudio.com/

What You Should Know About Escort Cards

1. Escort cards are sometimes confused with place cards; they designate guests' table assignments. Place cards tell guests exactly where to sit.
2. They are sometimes referred to as "table-assignment cards" or "seating cards." Whichever term you use is fine.
3. Place escort cards in alphabetical order according to guests' last names. Put them near the entrance to the cocktail-hour location (not by the door) or in the middle of the venue, so guests can come from all sides.
4. One escort card will work for a couple since they'll sit at the same table. Otherwise, write out a card for each guest.
5. Use titles like "Mr. John Doe" or "Dr. Jane Doe" at formal weddings. If the wedding is casual, use first and last names only like "John Doe."
   

Source: Brides magazine, June 2010; Photo Credit

Marry Me Productions on You Tube

Thanks to the A-Channel loading their news segments onto You Tube, we were able to compile Stacey's recent appearances for you in one place.
Stacey makes many appearances on the A-Channel, most done over 'Wedding Week' in late October. Stacey is also the wedding planner for The A-Channel's annual live on-air wedding done at the end of 'Wedding Week' again, in late October-early November.

We'll load all of Marry Me's appearance's on our blog here for future reference.

This video features Stacey giving her top tips to make your wedding day perfect.
Original airdate: November 5 2010.




This video has Stacey getting back into her wedding dress to promote the second annual Something White for Something Right, a gala fundraiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Original airdate: October 25 2010




This video shows Stacey explaining how to stay on budget when planning your big day.
Original airdate: October 20 2010

True Romance Couple Figurine Wedding Cake Topper

True Romance Couple Figurine Wedding Cake Topper by Weddingstar
Stylishly dressed for both the classicist or modernist this adoring couple perfectly represent "completely in love". Hand painted porcelain.The couple is 14.5 cm Tall

Presently the Bride and Groom Cake Toppers are available with skin tones and hair colors only as shown. Sorry that there are no other options for brunettes, redheads, and girls with black hair.

Size: 2" Long, 5.75" Tall, Weight: 5.6 oz

Sale price: $20.99 plus shipping

True Romance Couple Figurine Wedding Cake Topper

Visit us at http://www.supergiftplace.com

How to throw a fabulous Christmas party

The holiday season is right around the corner, and you may be considering hosting a Christmas party at your home this year. When it comes to throwing a successful party, planning is very important. And planning ahead will save you time and headaches. Here are some tips for planning a fabulous Christmas party both you and your guests will remember for years to come:

Since the holiday season is full of parties, you should send out invitations three weeks in advance. Why? The earlier you send them out, the less likely it is that your guests will have committed to another event. The invitation should include the start and end time of your party, what food you're serving and directions to your home.

When deciding on a menu, choose items that can be made in advance, like certain appetizers and desserts that can be made and frozen weeks ahead of time. Other recipes can be created a few days before and kept in the refrigerator-- you can just bake and complete on the day of the party. Keep in mind that parties are not the time to try a new recipe. Try a new item before the party, or stick with recipes that work.

By serving heavy finger foods instead of recipes that need dinnerware, you'll keep the risk of spills down and lessen the amount of dishes you'll have to wash later. But if you do serve food that requires dinnerware, be sure you have table seating for guests to sit down-- it'll be easier on you. And if you really don't want to clean, use nice plasticware that can be thrown out.

Think about traffic flow. Put your bar near the ice and drinks, place dishes of finger foods on side tables and buffets throughout the entertaining area; supply enough chairs so at least half of your guests can sit at one time; place several trash cans discreetly near food tables and the bar to avoid plate pileups and kitchen traffic jams.

Set the atmosphere with holiday music in the background and/or by lighting candles throughout the house. Some other ideas: Personalize the event with a special activity; ask guests to write a holiday wish in a guestbook; or invite them to join you for caroling. Small details like these will help make your party an event everyone will remember.

Finally, remember that guests love party favors! You can send them home with homemade cookies or a small ornament.

By following these tips, you're sure to have a holiday party that's fun for everyone!

Source; Photo Credit

Choosing Your Wedding Flowers By Season

When it's time to decide on flowers for your wedding, choosing them by the season is a great idea! Select blooms that grow naturally and locally during the season of your wedding.

While it's possible to find most floral types throughout the year, seasonal blooms are easily accessible, cost less and frequently last longer.

The following are flowers that are in season each season:

Spring

Apple or cherry blossoms

Daffodils

Dogwoods

Forysnthia Branches

Hyacinth

Iris

Larkspur

Lilies

Lilacs

Lily of the Valley

Pansies

Peonies

Sweet Peas

Tulips

Summer

Asters

Calla Lilies

Dahlias

Daisies

Delphinium

Geraniums

Hydrangeas

Iris

Jacob's Ladder

Larkspur

Queen Anne's Lace

Roses

Shasta Daisies

Stock

Sunflowers

Zinnias

Fall

Asters

Chrysanthemums

Gerbera Daisies

Marigolds

Roses

Sunflowers

Zinnias

Winter

Amaryllis

Camellias

Forget-me-nots

Holly

Jasmine

Orchids

Poinsettias

Source. Photo Credit

Quick 'thank you' following Something White for Something Right

We are still basking the afterglow of the huge success of Something White for Something Right... but wanted to quickly pop in and post a huge THANK YOU to all our vendors that were there the day of, our sponsors that were there in spirit and of course our beautiful (and handsome) guests !

We’re going to have a blog post in the near future that will go into greater detail about the event, how much we raised and will feature more photos and a video but for now, we wanted to tease you with this photo.

Love you all !

Are You Up or Down?

Normally, I’m full of energy, happy, and believing I can handle anything that comes up in my life. Last week I had an off day. Followed by another which was followed by yet another. One day, ok, we all have off days. But by the fourth day of being lethargic, no motivation, no apparent creativity flowing through my veins, I started looking at what was wrong with me. I couldn’t figure me out.

Finally, I came across the perfect solution. I was looking in the wrong direction.

Where are you looking when you’re driving a car? You’re looking in front of you, of course. You may check your mirrors and glance from side to side but basically you look straight ahead. You have to concentrate on where you are at the moment, where you are on the road now. Not the street you just pulled out of or the street you drove on yesterday. You plan on where you’re going and drive paying attention to where you are.

When you don’t pay attention to what you are currently doing you may very well be involved in an accident.

When I was having so many off days and accidents, I wasn’t paying attention to not getting enough sleep, for one thing. I forgot how important full nights of sleep were.

When I started searching for what I was doing wrong or neglecting in my life I obliterated what was right; disremembering all the good stuff.

You most probably have heard the saying, “Count your blessings”. That was exactly what the cure was. I started to count, number, and add up all that I have. I’m talking abundance. Profound abundance!

There is plenty of air. I’ll never run out of fresh air. All the faucets work in my house so I have plenty of clean water. The roof over my head is solid, no leaks; walls are tight so no drafts. There is food in the refrigerator, freezer, pantry and cabinets, plus pots to cook in and plates to put the food on when it’s done. Then I can sit on a chair at a table to eat.

I have friends who are like family and family who are friends.

You get the idea. If you woke up on the right side of the grass, you have something to be thankful for. Make your own list and add 5 new items for which you are thankful every day. It’s called a Gratitude Journal.

Practical Purse Hook / Handbag Holder Favors

White Heart Shaped Purse Hook

What woman hasn't struggled with the problem of where to park her purse at restaurants, meetings and other occasions? Sling it over the back of the chair? Too vulnerable. Keep it in your lap? Too awkward. Place it on the floor? Ewwww. Imagine how thrilled the guests at your bridal shower will be when they find you've chosen practical and unique favors for them! There are 3 styles as the following:

White Heart Shaped Purse Hook
Unique Pewter Purse Caddies
Purse Valet Stainless-Steel Handbag Holder

Purse Valet Stainless-Steel Handbag Holder

Visit us at http://www.supergiftplace.com