Creative Food Presentation: Lolli-Pies

I have been doing some research lately on creative, fun and interesting food presentations and I came across this article from Catersource Magazine. What a fun treat Lolli-Pies!

Not only is this an interesting presentation, but what a handy way to serve. When planning your events you want to consider how your guests will be dining... Sit Down Dinner... Action Stations... Cocktail Reception...

If you are having cocktails and hors d'oeuvres then you definitely want to make sure that the menu includes items that are easy to handle, they are bite sized and definitely not too messy! I remember attending a networking meeting and the menu offerings were not the easiest to handle, one of my first bites resulted in a dollop of goo all over the front of me! Gggrrrr! Off to the ladies room and to think, me without my emergency kit... Needless to say, I didn't partake of any more hors d'oeuvres that evening and I was not a happy camper!

When most people think of pie, they only think of sweet morsels of fruity goodness, BUT this presentation could also be used for a savory hors d'oeuvres... Think down home comfort foods, like chicken pot pie or how about a little pot roast... Mmmm! My advice, just ask your caterer to make sure the gravy is nice and thick, otherwise, you may have a not so happy guest!

Of course, these lolli-pies can also be used as a favor. Just invite your bridal party and the moms over for a few hours of baking, place in cellophone bag and wrap with a little color coordinated ribbon. Voila! A tasty treat for your guests to take home! I see these as favors for a bride that loves to bake or how about a southern/country themed wedding... Edibles are always your best option, after all you don't want to end up with a handful of trinkets afterwards, Lord knows I pick up enough of these at the end of quite a few weddings!

If you'd like some more ideas for infusing some interest into your event menu, take a look at this article, featuring an extremely creative caterer's commitment to making a healthcare event truly a culinary experience.

The moral of the story, delight your guests and make food fun and interesting to eat!

All the best & 'til next time,

C & A - Decor & Details

We recently helped an amazing couple with their "at home" wedding. Although the festivities took place in the bride's parents' backyard, I hesitate to call it a backyard wedding. I think the stigma surrounding a "backyard wedding" really doesn't do this wedding & reception any justice at all! Now, the bride and groom are a very private couple and asked that we respect their privacy and remain anonymous, so there aren't any photos of the happy couple (sorry a pic of their hands, is about all your gonna get!), just the decor and details.

With only about 12 weeks to the wedding, this extremely busy and slighly overwhelmed couple needed some assistance. They had a vision, a venue and the bride's gown and that was just about it. The bride had thrown plenty of parties at her parent's home, lots of celebrations at the country club that she grew up in, but she definitely wanted something different to WOW her family and friends. So, we got to work and here are the results.

Getting Ready...



As the ceremony time approaches, the groom sends over a gift for his bride...

The simple, chic lounge setting and an all white dance floor complete with a gobo reflecting the custom monogram all provided by TriRentals...

The absolutely amazing cakes were created by Barb from Let Them Eat Cake AND, in case you were wondering the life-size fireman's helmet is the groom's cake... Barb always does such a great job! Oh and they taste good too...

All of the floral arrangements and bouquets were all designed by William Pailey from Artististic Surroundings

The stationery and custom monogram was designed by Erin with Be In Love Designs...

To see a few additional photos from this fabulous wedding and others, visit our photo albums page on Facebook.

In case you missed a few of the links and references above, here is a listing of all of the wonderful vendors. I'd like to thank each and every vendor that put their unique touch on this fabulous wedding, without their expertise, I couldn't do, what I do and that is... make your day as stress free and enjoyable as possible.

Photography - Reeves Photography

Cake - Let Them Eat Cake

Caterer - All About Catering

DJ - Citron Sound

Floral - Artistic Surroundings

Stylist - Michael Spears

Make Up Artist - Kensington Makeup

Officiant - Scott Carter

Rentals - Tri Rentals

Stationery - Be in Love Designs

Transportation - Mariposa Limousine

Valet - American Valet

Videography - Reeves Photography

All the best & 'til next time,

In the Media - "Bring Your Man into the Plan"

I am really excited, I just received the newest Arizona's Finest Wedding Sites & Services Magazine and once again, we're in the media.

If you've picked up the magazine, check out page 85, "Bring Your Man into the Plan". The articles speaks to the changing role of the groom in the wedding planning process. In the last several years, I have seen a huge increase in the guys getting involved, attending vendor meetings, speaking up about what they want and simply put, having a much larger impact on the wedding celebration.

Have you noticed the trend? I'd love to know your take on the guys and their involvement.

All the best & 'til next time,

Feeling the Love from Jennifer & Mike

Meet Jennifer & Mike Dow, married on April 10th in an intimate ceremony.

At our first meeting, I learned that Jen & Mike had recently moved to Phoenix from Michigan, not having any family locally and not being familiar with the area, Jen needed the assistance of a wedding planner.

At first I thought this would be tough, you see Jen & Mike were only expecting 16-18 close family members all flying in from Michigan & North Carolina, my concern was a small group feeling lost at a hotel or resort. When I asked her what she envisioned, she mentioned a Morning Ceremony... Brunch Reception... Garden Setting... Trees... Gazebo... Natural Beauty... and when I asked her to tell me what she wanted it to "feel" like, she said "...like I'm getting married in my Grandmother's backyard".

Done! I had THE venue in mind, but only one date would do, 4/10/10, they would not budge... Inside, I was anxious as I called to check on their availability, Woo Hoo! Virginia's House was available! We made an appointment for the tour a couple days later.

From the moment Jen & Mike walked in, they were in love with the venue and Jen was absolutely giddy! I knew it was the perfect location, everything that Jen mentioned was checked off the list, and to my delight, their guests wouldn't feel lost...

Jen & Mike were so pleased with the outcome this is what they had to say about me (blushing...):


"The services provided by Sherri made our vision of the perfect wedding come true. Sherri helped us choose the perfect location for our wedding and found vendors that would suit our needs on our wedding day. Sherri was always flexible with meetings, willing to offer suggestions and help fill in the blanks with wonderful, creative and budget friendly ideas. I'm so glad that we found Sherri, our day wouldn't have been the same without her!"


I'm so happy for Jen & Mike, they are the most adorable couple, they will hold a special place in my heart for years to come!

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Dow!

All the best & 'til next time,

Happy St. Patty's Day - DIY Project

In honor of St. Patrick's Day I went in search of some wedding inspiration. I wanted to find something along the lines of green, whether it be the color green or eco friendly "green", didn't really matter I was on the lookout... Anyway, I came across this DIY Project on Style Me Pretty. Oh, how I can get lost on this blog for hours, upon hours, upon hours... Oops, oh yes back to it!

Anyway... When it comes to wedding favors, the absolute best option would be an edible favor and this little gift of Irish Cream would be perfect for the St. Patrick's Day wedding or if you wanted to infuse a little of your Irish culture into your wedding... you know add some personality!

So check out all the deets courtesy of Style Me Pretty...

Have fun and wishing you the luck of the Irish!

All the best & 'til next time,

Bridal Bouquet - What style is right for you?

Bouquets just like the bride's gown come in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes, each having it's own personality. As a bride you need to think of your bouquet is an accessory to your wedding day attire. When visiting with your floral designer be sure to keep your wedding gown's style, color and embellishments in mind when speaking about the design of your bouquet. If you have a favorite flower, mention that to your florist, consider bringing along photos clipped from a magazine for design inspiration. If possible, be sure to bring along a photo and fabric swatch of your gown to your first consultation, this will give the florist a clearer picture of your personal style.

Classic Hand-Tied Bouquet - This style bouquet is by far one of the most popular types of bridal bouquets. Consisting of either a single flower variety for impact or a grouping of flowers arranged for a more "just picked from the garden" feel, the stems are stripped of all foliage and tied with a ribbon, leaving the stems exposed. The advantage to this type of bouquet for brides here in Arizona is the extreme heat can quickly ruin the most beautiful bouquet. With the stems exposed your bouquet can be left in a vase of water, keeping your flowers hydrated for as long as possible.

With hand-tieds being the most popular bouquet, if you would like to add a little flair, speak with your florist about adding some interest to your bouquet by adding feathers, crystals, a unique stem wrap, brooch or buckle to your stems as showcased in this head turner created by Tamara at Petal Pushers. Isn't it gorgeous!

Cascade Bouquet - This style bouquet may also be referred to as a waterfall, teardrop or trail bouquet. The flowers are arranged in a hand held base, rounder at the

top and gracefully "spilling" out over the bride's hands and downward to a point.

Made popular in the 1920's these bouquets could be quite large! Fortunately, today's cascade bouquets have taken on a more sophisticated and stylized version.

This cascade bouquet was designed by Jacque Dearing, owner of Endearing Floral Design. Consisting of a variety of colors, the flowers along with that touch of ivy, gave our bride the traditional bouquet she dreamed of.

Arm Sheaf or Presentation Bouquet - Typically seen in a more modern styled wedding, this type of bouquet is comprised of long stemmed flowers and is cradled in the arm. The most popular flower for a presentation bouquet, would be the very elegant Calla Lily as seen here in this beautiful bouquet designed by Shawna & Kevin Reed of Your Event Florist. This bouquet paired with a sheath gown, chandelier earrings and you have an absolutely stunning ensemble!

Posy Bouquet - A small, rounded bouquet, that can easily be held in one hand. The posy typically consists of smaller flowers that can be wired or tied tightly together by their stems and then wrapped with a ribbon.

This simple, yet elegant bouquet of Lily of the Valley was created by Artistic Surroundings. If Lily of the Valley is one of your favorites, this is the perfect bouquet style for you. This flower is very fragrant and somewhat on the pricey side. But you know what they say about good things come in small packages!

Although, this style of bouquet is not quite as popular for the bride, it is gaining in popularity for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom, who do not want to wear a corsage.

We've only talked about a few of the different styles of wedding bouquets, if you are wanting something different from the norm, ask your floral designer about a beidermeier or a crescent bouquet, if you are having a winter wedding, check into a muff bouquet or for the princess bride ask about a sceptor bouquet.

Whatever your choice, be sure your bridal bouquet not only complements your gown but be sure it reflects your personality.

What style bouquet are you incorporating into your wedding day ensemble?

All the best & 'til next time,

Wedding Inspiration Board: Purple Passion

One of the hottest colors for 2010 is purple, its a color that can be used no matter what the season. In the spring and summer use shades of lilac and lavender, in the fall and winter use the deeper, more regal tones of eggplant, plum, and royal purple. Compliment that with silver tones and you have a winning color combination.

Now the trick to using any of the cool colors such as purples and blues is to have plenty of lighting. In low light situations, the eye has difficulty distinguishing the colors and your deeper purples may appear black and the lighter tones may appear gray, so be sure to include a professional lighting package to your decor budget.

What colors are you incorporating into your wedding?

All the best & 'til next time,