Savvy Wedded Wednesday!

Photos from Special Events & Voila Catering

The newest trend for wedding dining is unexpected and fresh. Here are a few of the things you’ll be seeing more of in the future:

•Home-spun and self-selected meals by the couple: If food means something to you, why not make it a key element of the wedding? If he’s Caribbean and you’re Italian, make your menu a fanciful tribute to both. If you’re a foodie, let the selections reflect your epicurean self.


•A focus on heritage and traditional often served family style. Nothing is better than sharing fresh baked rolls made from your grandmother’s recipe, family- favorite salads, and hearty meat trays. This always turns basics foods into ‘wow’ factors!


•The dinner party reception, where the focus is on intimate, laid back socialization. Take the pressure off of having a ‘show,’ and allow your guests to just kick back and get to know each other.

•Small, edible cocktail-hour bites infused with liquor and shooters: Shake up the traditional ‘passed appetizers’ by offering a little zest in each one. Consider doing cocktail flights (think flights of wine but only with signature cocktail drinks instead) along with your sassy beginnings.


•Food Trucks: Who doesn’t love the Ice Cream Man? Have ice cream, hot dogs, or tacos served from a food truck that can be stationed anywhere outside at your event. It’s a great way to liven up any party!

Savvy Co-ed Baby Showers!

Photos from Linen Effects, Photo Home, Hullabaloo Maternity, & Flickr

When it comes to baby showers, it's time to think outside the box! No longer reserved for afternoon teas with only the mom-to-be's gal pals in attendance, baby showers can be chic and modern, without being complicated. Follow these easy tips to make your next shower fun, fabulous, and co-ed!

• The future parents are spending their last few months together without kids. To make this party meaningful, focus on the personalities of the couple. Use their style to guide the theme of the shower.
• The invitation sets the tone and should inspire/excite your guests. Look for one that fits the theme. Since it's a co-ed party, skip the invitations that have a direct reference to babies in the design and instead let your creative wording deliver the message.
• Sometimes it can be difficult to find just the right linen to go with your color scheme. Here's one tip that takes the 'shower' theme to a whole new level. Us a shower curtain as your table topper. Run ribbons through the grommets to dress it up and give the curtain a finished look.
• To enhance the decor and punch up the personalized factor, frame black and white childhood photos of the parents-to-be in bright colored frames that coordinate with the theme. This is a great way to honor both parents, not just the expecting mother.
• Since babies don't arrive with an owner's manual, ask guests to provide the first time parents with a little sage advice. Place colorful note cards and pens in a glass bowl next to the guest book so friends can easily leave a short message.
• Boys will be boys...keep in mind that the men might not enjoy watching the unwrapping of all the gifts, so set up activities for them to do while the girls open presents. Some examples include horseshoes in the backyard, a Guitar Hero tournament or simply put them in charge of the grilling.
• The mother-to-be deserves a little TLC, so bring in a mobile spa to give mini manicures and pedicures to the party-goers. If this option is too expensive, then give each lady a pedicure set as their party favor.
• Co-ed baby showers should be fun for everyone. If you're serving alcohol, make sure to include a signature Mommy Mocktail, a cocktail minus the alcohol, in addition to the cocktails you offer the guests.
• Let your table decor do double duty. Fill bell jars with everyday baby items such as pacifiers, yellow rubber ducks, and link rings to use as your centerpieces. When the shower is over, bag them up and give them to the expecting parents.
• It's the small details that make the difference. Personalize the cocktail napkins with the name of the mother-to-be and her expected due date.

Savvy Cheese Tasting!

Photos from Airways Mag & The Cheese Web

For those of you who dream in Bleu, Roquefort, and Aged Cheddar, have we got the perfect event for you! A cheese-lovers paradise is coming to Central Market on Wednesday, March 24^th from 2-4pm. The Master’s Cheese Class is open to the public and features Juliet Harbutt, one of the world’s most respected cheese experts.

Juliet founded the Jeroboams Wine and Cheese Shop in Britain and created the British Cheese Awards. And though she won’t be making any cheese at the event, she has licensed her name to a new line of cheese that will soon be available at Central Market.

So come and try some new cheeses, get a copy her book and share in the meet & greet with Juliet in the cheese department. With as much of a cheese-indulgent as I am, I won’t be missing this one!

Savvy Grooms Keepsake!

Photos from Deanna Cochran Jewelry

What kind of flowers? What colors? How many boutonnières?

There are so many things to consider when outfitting the groom for the big day. And it’s hard to get him thrilled about anything involving delicate scents and floral embellishments. We think we’ve found just the trick to pull him into the planning process and make his ensemble stand the test of time.

Deanna Cochran Jewelry (Dallas, TX) has designed the sophisticated answer to both following traditions and maintaining masculinity. Her fine silver boutonniere holders are delicately hand-carved using reclaimed metals. The florist can simply insert the flowers into the silver holder that can be a keepsake heirloom for years to come. Debbie’s ‘green’ jewelry line is not only eco-friendly but it’s also charitable. She donates a portion of all sales to help local children’s charities.

Savvy St. Patrick's Day Trivia!

Images from Baby Boomer Talk Radio & Blogs TRB

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! We thought it’d be fun to just kick back, sip on a green martini or some dyed champagne and try out a little trivia from the festive Brownie Locks. Always great for games at parties, it will test how true you are to your Irish roots. So take a look below and see just how much you know from our trivia sample. Want the answers? Visit Brownie Locks for the full 75 puzzling questions and answers! May the luck o’ the Irish be with you!

1. Saint Patrick wasn’t really Irish at all! True or False?

2. Irish farmers in the spring would do this to each member of their family as they said, “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

a) Pull the leaves off of a shamrock

b) Give a toast with beer to each member

c) Mark a cross on their arm with ash from a burnt stick

d) Hang a cross over their beds

3. St. Patrick changed Ireland’s national color to green. True or False?

4. What is Ireland’s nickname?

5. St. Patrick loved to listen to Irish tales. So much so he declared that they all must be told in poetic verse from then on. True or False?

Savvy 'Sarah-Berry!'

Photos courtesy of Orange Spot Pink Nose

Last fall the amazing Leanne Sutton of Orange Spot Pink Nose, threw her daughter Sarah the chicest one-year-old birthday party that I’ve ever seen. The details of this birthday bash are so well thought out...truly a party after my own heart! The inspiration for her strawberry themed party came from her cute nickname, 'Sarah-berry."

Leanne began by designing an adorable pink and red invitation with accents of green. Shipped in a pink envelope the strawberry accented invite certainly set the tone for the fun-filled afternoon.

The back lawn was spotted with long banquet tables covered in red cloths topped with pink and white gingham runners that echoed the design of the invitation. Never one to leave a detail to chance, Leanne created strawberry topiaries that flanked the wheat grass centerpieces. But these weren't ordinary centerpieces. Hidden in the wheat grass were pink, red and white cake pops created by MYLA Concepts, just one of the desserts that kids were treated to that afternoon!

Leanne has a real talent for turning ordinary into extraordinary...just look at the basic white plastic chairs that she jazzed up by hanging each guest's name on the back and attaching them with color coordinating ribbon. Red plastic cups filled with crayons beckoned the party goers to join in the creative process themselves, right on the table, where they were each given a custom coloring sheet turned place mat! What a great idea!

The cake table included homespun cupcakes and a mini strawberry-shaped smash cake. And again, Leanne carried the design elements through by adorning the tabletop with colorful ribbons in deep red and pink hues. What a perfect way to celebrate ‘Sarah-Berry’s’ first birthday! And what a great job Leanne did pulling all these fun elements together!

Savvy Saint Patrick's Day Parties!

Photos from The TomKat Studio

"Green" is in the air, and not necessarily the eco-conscious kind we've been featuring lately. It's almost Saint Patrick's Day and we think there's just too much fun to be had planning a party to miss out. We believe the best target audience can often be the always-surprised and always-excitable kids who love to don green and celebrate anything and everything! Here are Tara Wilson's tips for throwing a bash that any kid would be lucky to attend:

• Kick off the party right with kelly green tablecloths and centerpieces constructed from giant 'pots of gold.' Black cauldrons spray-painted in the bronzy color will do the trick.


• Arrange for a mouth-watering selection of sweets in the pop colors of green and white. Include cupcakes (don't forget the fun candy tags from TomKat), shamrock-shaped cookies, jellybeans, marshmallows, popcorn, and Hershey's kisses with custom sticker tags on the bottom. We like the ones from Posh Pixel Design Studio, so you can actually print the files from your home computer!


• Serve up a drink that's 'Magically Delicious' and top with drink flags created by The TomKat Studio. (We LOVE them!) The night before the party, freeze ice cubes with green food dye in them. When you serve the kids Sprite, add the ice cubes and they will magically turn the drink green right before your eyes!


• Host several enticing activities such as a scavenger hunt for a pot of gold. Clues written on paper cutout shamrocks can lead the kids to the treasure. Next, play pin the shamrock on the leprechaun and get the whole group moving!


• When it's the end of the rainbow and time to go home, send kids away with pop-up favor boxes filled with clappers, pop rocks, shamrock sunglasses, and various other trinkets. Label the favor tag 'Lucky Charms' for an added touch.

Savvy Quotes in Special Event!

Photos from Kristin Vinson

Lisa Hurley, Editor for Special Events Magazine, recently reached out to us for our take on bridal budgeting when it comes to planners. With a wealth of answers to send her way, she was more than excited to use our honest feedback in this weeks ‘Eventline Newsletter.’ Lisa noted that we are ‘very quotable,’ and we’re flattered to have the press.

A big thank you goes out to all of our clients, who’ve taught us indirectly what helps you to understand bridal budgeting, and consequently allowing us to become experts on the topic. We know that it’s hard to understand where all the money goes in the planning process, but we always love to break it down and share every detail so you’re confident about each decision you make along the way.

Feel free to check out our two newest features on Special Events here and here.

Savvy Searches for Great Dessert-Scapes!

Photos from Life, The Chocolate Bar NYC, & Made in Colorado

We’ve told you all about our fabulous Savvy Sweets tables, now it’s time to tell you about some of our favorite new and very unique sweets vendors. With the right ingredients (and a little extra sugar), you can make your own sweets table come to life. Here are a few candy stops and shops that we think deserve a second serving:

The Candy Store: If you’re in the bay area, this is your one-stop-shop for a fun candy buffet. Over twenty jars filled with delectable treats including malt balls, candy-coated almonds, and dutch mints on a retro cart let your guests scoop out their favorites.

Rock Candy: If you’ve got a natural and adventurous feel to your wedding, count on this candy to round out your theme. Display them in wooden bowls on varying levels and let your guests get a personal taste of the great outdoors!

Chocolate Truffles: Simply stated by Alison Nelson herself, her ‘bon bons are simply cosmopolitan.’ They are hand-packed to order and display beautifully (think printed, colorful, and classy). An NYC treat upgrades any display of sweets.

Savvy Handle & Spout!

Photos from Handle & Spout

While we’re always out looking for the next fun things, we stumbled upon Handle & Spout, a creative duo who offer the world their fanciful trinkets and collectible pieces at great prices!

Are you looking for the perfect jewelry or hair accessory? In today’s market, it’s pretty hard to find things that are unique, and things that will make your friends and acquaintances ask ‘where did you get that awesome….!”

With floral hairpins starting at $20 a piece, there isn’t any reason why you should hold out longer! The girls offer everything from leather link jewelry, floral accessories, and even hand-painted nesting dolls. With trendy earrings displayed on cheeky mustache-cards, they’re definitely a niche to be discovered.

Savvy 2010 Wedding Trends!

Photos from Special Events, Prim & Pixie, Weddingo, and Beautiful Paper

With all the wedding trends hitting the press this year, it’s hard to decipher which ones are the real winners—the ones you’ll look back on with pride for years to come. At Tara Wilson Events, we’ve got a pretty good handle on our favorites, and ones we think are worth your time, even if you think you’ve got it all ‘planned!’ Here are a few things we cannot do without this year:

Invitation Suites: A stylish composition of invitations including personalized monograms, custom envelope liners, and bold colors. We love the newly popularized color of peach!

Cocktail Flights: The new ‘signature drink,’ cocktail flights offer more variety but still keep the expenses low. Serve your guests smaller sizes of different drinks for sampling!

Tuxedo’s & Gowns: The newest trend in apparel is pocket squares for men (replacing boutonnieres for some men) and runway-inspired designs for bridal gowns using laser-cut organza accents and jeweled embellishments.

A Big Thanks: Favors are nothing new for weddings, but brides are savvier about what they’re giving. Some of my favorite personalized items include homemade gifts such as black-eyed peas.

Video-Doc: Every bride and groom should feel like the center of attention on their wedding day. Documentary-styled videography is just another way to make them feel like a celebrity.

Home-style Flowers: Homespun glamour continues to rise in popularity and it is no more apparent than in floral designs! Garden-inspired creations are uncontrived and gorgeous in their own right.

Savvy Vendor Gift!

Photo by Tiffany & Co.

I don't know one savvy girl who doesn't LOVE the little robin's egg blue box (and anything nestled inside) from Tiffany's...including myself. So image in my delight when I arrived for lunch today with the amazingly talented (and fashionable...she was decked out in J.Crew) Stacy Reeves and found the iconic blue box perched on my place setting!

Photos by Tiffany & Co.

It seems Stacy decided that I needed a bit of bling as a thank you gift for some recent referrals. I was beyond speechless and only able to utter, "oh my goodness" over and over again as I quickly placed the Frank Gehry Torque pendant around my neck! Talk about making a statement. This is by far the savviest referral gift I've ever received. I'm still looking for the right words to express my gratitude for such a generous gesture. Until then...Stacy, you're the best! Thank you for such a lovely gift!

Savvy Ring Pillows!

Photos from Bklyn Pillow

So maybe he isn’t your main man walking down the aisle, but the ring bearer still deserves the attention to detail that you’ve worked so hard to employ throughout the rest of your wedding. The ring bearer’s pillow is an often overlooked item that can turn into a standout item with the right touch.

We tend to fall for the handmade pillows that each have their own unique touch, like the ones made by Bklyn Pillow. Each is inspired by something we know and love, such as West Elm’s cozy textiles or a fun art deco print. They come customized to your color preferences and are always changing up their design scene.

Can’t find exactly what you want on their site? Try perusing Etsy for the savviest one-of-a-kind crafts—it’s amazing what you can find these days to outfit your little man.