Savvy N' Coole!

Tis’ the season for festive drinks! A winter wedding or a holiday event wouldn’t be complete without the unique and frothy appeal of Coole Swan dairy cream liqueur. A blank palette for drinks this season, you can turn any cocktail into it’s own little winter wonderland. Light and refreshing, Coole Swan redefines cocktails into chic, buzz-worthy ornaments in the hand. Here’s my favorite way to drink this moonlight treat:

Coole & Dreamy


1 oz Coole Swan


2/3 oz vanilla vodka


1/3 oz Frangelico 



Garnish: Strawberry and dark chocolate shavings. 
 


Combine all ingredients together in a shaker with plenty of ice. Shake well and strain into chilled martini glass. 
 Garnish with a fresh strawberry and shavings of dark chocolate.

Savvy In-House Engagement!

Photos taken by Dixie Dixon

Nothing is more comforting as a bride than knowing that you aren’t alone in the journey…and what better way to step alongside you for your experience than to have our in-house bride-to-be walk you through her own planning?

My name is Katelin, and I’m the newest addition to the Tara Wilson Events team. I’m also newly engaged and ready to share my walk (and sometimes run) toward the aisle with you. Stay posted as I will be guest blogging to give you a window into my design and planning process so we can all learn, laugh, and have fun with the numbered days we have left as 'single girls!'

For starters, I wanted to share these beautiful engagement pictures taken by one of the most talented girls I know, Dixie Dixon. Someone once recommended to me to look for images that really captivated me and then to find out who took those pictures; that's how you know who your photographer should be. My wedding-in-the-works has a vintage yet classic feel, and I knew exactly what I wanted. I've always been entranced in those old Ralph Lauren Romance advertisements, and here was my chance to be the girl I'd always envied. It's never to early to start your own fairytale--why not with your engagement pictures? And if you're looking for someone local, Dixie knows all about making it happen!

Savvy Halloween Tips!

Photos by TomKat Studio

This Halloween, spook your guests with creative and eye-catching ideas:

1. Devilish Drink Station: Stock your station with both creepy cocktails and monster mocktails. My favorite Halloween cocktail is the Chambord Liqueur Royal de France blood-red martini; this extravagant black raspberry liquor gives the potion a red tint. Top it off with some gummy eyeballs to give it a Halloween twist. And in keeping with the hit movie, Twilight, try a 'Shape-Shifter' mocktail. For these recipes & more, check out more Cocktails and Mocktails!

2. Trick or Savvy Treats: Offer your trick-or-treaters the sweet dessert-scape of their dreams. Make your entryway a spookily inviting atmosphere of wrapped orange cupcakes, giant swirly lollipops, packaged candies in giant apothecary jars, and miniature boxes of candy corn. Don't forget to dress the items up with festive tags. We love Tom Kat Studio's tags(featured above)!

3. A Ghostly Entrance: Make your front door scream Halloween. Buy white pumkins and paint your favorite Halloween silhouette (bats, ravens, or witches) in black on the outside. Pick up fall garlands at your closest craft store, put up bewitching signs, and make your guests as fearfully excited as they can be to enter your 'haunted' house!

4. Eerie Invites: Set the spooky tone with invitations to die for! Box invitations up and include cauldron-esque items like a black rabbits foot, a locket of hair, a skeleton bone, and a glass eyeball (use a large marble). Set the tone with a rhyme or poem that gives the details for the deadly delight.

5. Light Fright: Change your party pad into a darkened den by covering each can light with tissue paper. Just measure the circumference of the can light and then draw out a circle that will fit over the opening. AFfix the tissue paper to the base of the light with double-sided tape to cast a ghoul-like glow. Try blood red, burnt orange, or midnight black.

Savvy Dressing!

Designs by Yves Saint Laurent

What's a girl to do when she has a special event to attend and feels a little less than "Little Black Dress" worthy? You know what I'm talking about ladies...when you feel as if there's nothing in your closet that fits or looks good? What do you wear then? I have a savvy standby...the dressy black tuxedo. It's perfect for any evening event and the jacket hides all my flaws when I'm feeling a bit, well you know, bloated!

With the tux you can glam it up (wear a sequin top and bold jewelry) or keep it classic (think black cami and pears). To really punch it up, invest in great pair of high heels that make a statement such as red satin or bright patterned pumps.

Having a "go to" outfit makes getting dressed for a special event so much easier. And knowing you look fabulous allows you to focus on what's really important...having fun!

Savvy Soft Palettes!

Images from www.style.com

With the season for winter whites on its way, it’s time to pay attention to the new showstopper of the chilly wedding season. Nudes are the new neutral; everything from camel and beige to champagne and blush create a monochromatic palette for a rich and flavorful dress.

There are several places to incorporate these barely-there shades into your big day—from the undergarments you wear to the dress that you walk out in, you’re sure to feel fresh-faced and current. One of my favorite bridal down designers, Vera Wang, showcased the gorgeous hues for next year's collection. Nude and ivory tones look best on women with fair skin. If you’re very pale, consider using one of these colors to compliment the color of your skin and add some warmth to your look. Always check to see if a dress you love comes in both white an ivory or nude—you might be surprised to find which one looks better on you!

Savvy PAMA-Tini's

Photos by TheKitchn

Tonight is another night for a party in the life of an event designer, and now we're adding an interesting twist. We're showcasing a hip 'green' party--with everything from organic invitations to the beautiful setting of the great outdoors. This is sure to be a fabulous dinner and cocktail soiree on the lawn, with plenty of fun to go around.

Keeping with the theme, we're serving organic wines, micro brew beers, and all-natural cocktails. We're most excited about the PAMA-tini's we'll be making with PAMA Liqueur as tonight's signature drink. All natural and made in California, PAMA Liqueur is the perfect compliment to any drink--it's sweet yet tart--and it's sure to make a statement. Here's how we're making the signature PAMA-Tini's tonight, so you can join in the 'all natural' celebration yourself:

1 1/2 oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
1 1/2 oz Vodka
1/4 oz Orange Liqueur

Shake and strain.
Garnish with orange wedge and pomegranate seeds.
Enjoy!

Savvy Girls Love the 80’s

It’s undeniable that fashion, style, and space design is cyclical. So here we are today, in 2009, with the highly controversial statements of the 1980’s at our helm. Bold shoulders, cinched waists, neon pops of color, leather, blinding lip hues, and mega statement jewelry. But this version carries a sophistication of it’s own, if you use it to your advantage!

How to Wear it: Who doesn’t need a suit these days? For both work and play, the blazer is the best of all worlds. Check out Chanel’s hot shades of fuschia or pink-orange lips to add a pop to your outfit, and don’t be afraid to mix and match. Pull out your favorite one-shoulder gown or micro-mini bodycon, and get ready to be in touch with your feminine side all over again!

How to Create it: If the 1980’s did something right, it was that they knew how to party! Give your party or reception a fun kick with a mirrored disco ball, some cheeky cocktails adorned with neon straws, GoBo’s of sexy and angular silhouettes (this is cute for couples!), and graphic prints on invitations. Statement jewelry as party favors or screen-printed tees of iconic bands make for a great kickback to the era!