Pro’s & Con’s of using Pintrest to plan your wedding

Pro’s

1. Gives you tons of wedding décor ideas
2. Many different ideas from catering, décor, specialty drinks, centerpieces and much more to give you inspiration.
3. Can assist you in creating an overall vision
4. Once you come up with your overall vision for your event or wedding, try to limit your searching for event and wedding pic’s and instead use Pintrest for clothes, home décor, recipes, specialty drinks etc.

Con’s; Is Pintrest the devil?  Thanks - Water Boy, the movie.

1. Overwhelming amount of options that you can use.  What happens?  Many times brides will fall in love with several different photo’s that they want to re-create for their wedding day, however, the pictures will be different concepts that usually do not blend well together.  Result.  Hot mess.  But it doesn’t have to go that way. 
1. If you work with your event designer, your different ideas and concepts from Pintrest can be blended to work with your over-all vision and create a unique look that is custom made for you.
2. Will end up costing you much more. Why?  The pic’s on display are created to look the best possible which means more product, more expense.  To accomplish the exact same look in each table, décor piece, and display just flat out costs more. 
3. With so many choices, options and concepts it can be confusing.  It’s hard to make a decision and decide on one vision for your big day.

 Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event

St. Patty's Day Dessert

 

Looking for the perfect dessert to go with your green beer at this year's St. Patrick's Day Party? These cupcakes have Guinness chocolate cake, Irish whiskey ganache filling and Bailey's Irish cream frosting. Don't they look delicious?

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
For the Whiskey Ganache Filling:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Irish whiskey
For the Baileys Frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons Bailey's Irish Cream

Directions:

1. To Make the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to combine. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat briefly. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter until completely combined. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.
3. To Make the Whiskey Ganache Filling: Finely chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then, using a rubber spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped.
4. To Fill the Cupcakes: Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping back with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.
5. To Make the Baileys Frosting: Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated. Add the Baileys, increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.
6. Using your favorite decorating tip, or an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.

(Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

Cathedral Wedding

Weddings with Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event

Downtown Cathedral Wedding

Recently we have been revisiting the weddings from over the past years, and there always seems to be one that jumps out and reminds us what are focus as a company is. That wedding is Kristen and Franco’s, from the get go they wanted high end glamour, in a luxurious and elegant manor; all while keeping the reception fun and entertaining.

Colorado weddings with Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event

With the stunning backdrop of the cathedral in downtown Denver, it set the day off with the perfect romantic feel. Everyone in the room could feel the love and commitment the two had for each other.

 

Kristen and Franco chose a purple motif for their special day. Keeping with that color scheme the bridesmaids dresses were a beautiful, rich, plum color; as were the accents in their floral bouquets. Searching for that excitement and energetic reception LED lights were brought in to capture the ambiance of the day; highlighting the entire hall in a purple blanket of lights

Avoid major disappointments on your wedding day!

You can have the wedding of your dreams

Get your 80 page wedding planning guide, worksheets, workbook, how to videos and more. For a limited time at just $49.99 here!

2013 Cake trends

Vintage accents

 Vintage is in!!!

We took this picture up close and personal to be able to show off the detail work in the icing as well as the vintage pearls, brooch and bow.

Usually you want to pick no more than 3 flavors to incorporate into your cake.  Why...too many choices can overwhelm your guests.

 The candy buffet started to become big a few years ago, however, it has been expanded to include desserts - remember to stay within your theme to make the biggest impact.

Peach, green and white themed event

 Much smaller but elaborate weddings are becoming more popular because of the huge savings.

Popular Wedding Trends in 2013

                   

 

 

 

Rustic, natural style weddings are very trendy for 2013! Whether your wedding is country themed, or outdoorsy themed you should have no problem finding accesories for your big day.  This website offers lots of great ideas for how to personalize your wedding theme.  And if these themes aren't what you're looking for, but you're still hoping for a trendy wedding, this website has a list of some other popular trends for weddings in 2013! http://3d-memoirs.com/category/weddings-2/10-hot-wedding-trends-for-2013/#axzz2J1sFkB9e

 

                            

            

Disco Themed Events

Disco and other themed events have been making a huge comeback.  What theme do you have in mind?

American Wedding Style in 2013

Elegant                     Romantic                             Vintage

So many times brides will call me and say that they want soft, romantic and vintage style, or they say I want modern lines.  These types of descriptions are so vague because they mean different things to different people.  How do we get around the vague description.  Bring your inspiration pictures to your appointment with the planner and other vendors such as florist, dress.

Soft pink, white and candlelight formal wedding

Elegant
Brides usually desire to have sophisticated I do's - so there is nothing new there.  Its not everyday you get to throw a glamorous gala for 100+ guests. For those who fantasize about having a formal fanfare... this years is going back to black and white with crystals and pops of diamond bling with lots of candle light.

The new formal allows for more personalization i.e. chic and not stuffy.

bright pops of color

Romantic
No surprise here, what bride doesn't think of her day as romantic, after-all, shot gun weddings are a thing of the past. The day should be a reflection of the couple and their love for each other. Its usually intimate, The rose is the flower of love, however, depending upon the time of year can be expensive ... talk to your planner and florist about other options to save you money.


Vintage
Has made a huge comeback for 2013, mason jars, apothecary bottles are here to stay.  However, burlap and lace is huge too.  Additional good 'ol day items, bird cages, bird cage veils with feather facinators, 1940's hair styles, photo booths with flapper headbands, displaying black and white photos in antique frames of loved ones in the cocktail area.

Vintage Victorican hat with veil

Burlap and lace - chair bows

Burlap and ruffle tablecloths.  Use as accents considering they are over $100 each.

Real Colorado Country Theme Weddings

Real Colorado Country Weddings

Out side weddings should have a short train as pictured

Make sure to take formal pics before the ceremony so you can join in the wedding day fun with your guests

Don't forget to get pic's of you alone. After all you're the star of the day, with your groom - of course.

Add some fun pictures too. You'll remember them fondly for years.

Specialty drinks are a fun addition

Add fun elements too

Baby's breath is making a huge comeback when done elegantly as pictured.

Colorful country flowers adds to the theme

Want to schedule a time to talk about your event or wedding?  Check us out here. www.amemorylaneevent.com Call, text or email.

How to save on the bar

Saving on the bar, doesn't have to be as tricky as some brides and clients make it.

1.   Creating a specialty drink can stretch pricey liquors.  The same bottle of Vodka can make 50 martini's, but only 25 Vodka tonics, which though taste good, are not as festive or fun. Make sure to create a virgin look a like for your younger guests and non-drinkers so they can participate too.  Distinguish with the garnish.  Specialty drinks are the best, why, the bar tenders can make a big batch and just pour them into the individual glasses when they are needed.

2.  Trim the cost of a full bar by skimping, using a less expensive maker of (or even foregoing) on the least requested spirits such as scotch,  bourbon, rum or tequila. If you have lots of older guests, skipping the scotch or bourbon is not a good idea.

3.   Instead of a champagne toast, have guests toast using whatever they are drinking.

4.  Ditch hard liquor altogether and just have beer and wine.  Select regional wines and some local ales.

5.  You can get away with using cheaper wines by serving sangria.  The trick??? For red wine: use apples, plums, grapes and citrus fruits with brandy, and triple sec.  For white wines: green grapes, kiwi, green melon, pears, and triple sec.

6.  Shrink your rental bill by using all purpose glass ware such as stemless wine glasses for all beverages.

7.  Tell staff to ask before re-filling glasses or clearing 1/2 consumed beverages.

8.  Consider the handiest communal method: the punch bowl.  Its retro and cheap, but can get your guests into a lot of trouble.   

 The choco/coconut Mounds Specialty  Drink

individual drink:  equal parts of the following into a martini shaker.  Shake and pour over blue sugar rimmed glass.

coconut vodka
white chocolate liqueur
Blue Curacao liqueur

each glass can have up to 3 dry ice pellets.  Add the dry ice into a dry ice stir stick called a Mysti-stick.   Yes it's safe in small quantities.  Do Not Touch the ice using your fingers.   Dry ice pellets melt fast.  Get 3-4 times the amount you think you need. i.e. 50 people, get 35 pounds, in the winter and 50 pounds in the summer. Additionally, you'll have to store in a freezer.

Dessert Bar trends in 2013

Memory Wedding bouquets

Memory Wedding bouquets

Is there a special someone or a lost loved one that can’t be at your wedding? Use this idea to keep them close to you as you take the big walk down the aisle. You take their pictures and put them in mini frames and attach them to the ribbon on the stems of your flowers. This will keep the people that are close to you, close to your heart. This way they will be watching over you no matter where they are.

How to make Spider Lollipop Halloween Party Favors

How to make Spider Lollipop Halloween Party Favors

Need a quick and easy Halloween treat for a Halloween party? This creepy crawly little spider will do the job! All you will need is 4 black pipe cleaners, 2 googly eyes, and your favorite kind of lollipops. You will wrap the pipe cleaners around the lollipops and create four legs on each side. To make the spiders more festive add some orange pipe cleaners as well. All the kids will enjoy their lollipops and their new pet spiders.

 

Favorite videos (playlist)

August Wedding

Outdoor Extravaganza

8/6/2011

Outdoor weddings are to summer as falling leaves are to trees. This past weekend A Memory Lane Events worked hard give Abby & Randy the wedding of their dreams. It was a spectacular event full of love and joy as the happy couple began the journey of sharing their lives together. The celebrations started out late afternoon on Friday, with the rehearsal dinner; it then carried through to the wedding on Saturday, and ended in Sunday brunch.

To me one of the most special things about the wedding was that it took place in the bride’s family backyard. It gave the celebration a much more intimate feel and allowed for a simple elegance to transpire. Which is always key when having an outdoor wedding.

The saying goes; rain on your wedding day will bring you good luck. That is easy to say when you are getting married inside, but when your entire celebration is outside it is hard to think that that is good luck. It feels more like bad luck. But one of the great beauties that accompanies rain storms are the lovely rainbows that follow. For the bride and groom, the day of their rehearsal dinner two full rainbows formed and for the day of the wedding a whole rainbow formed centering over the arch they were married under.  

 AMLE had a fabulous time this weekend and we were all so proud to be apart of the marriage celebration f Abby and Randy. We wish the two of them the best of luck in their future together.

Simply Homemade

~DIY~

(Do it Yourelf)

Times are tough and no one in unaffected by these problems, but that does not mean that you need to skimp on the wedding of your dreams. For those out there who are the ‘do it yourself’ brides I have a few tricks that will add special touches to your wedding at an affordable price to you. There are so many things out there that you can do yourself that don’t require a lot of skill or money. Only a little bit of time and possibly some elbow grease.

One item that many brides can over look is the pillow for the ring bearer. It ends up being a white satin pillow with the same color ribbon attached. With all the craziness surrounding planning a wedding, don’t let any detail become an afterthought. No matter how small it is. If you’re having an outdoor wedding you can play up the pillow a little more, make it bright, fun, and something that will stand out. Go to any home store and you can find hundreds of different styles, colors, shapes, and sizes of pillows. Look for one that is unique, there is no rule out there that says it has to be a square! Try a round shape, or even a funky geometric one. And the colors are limitless, as long as it matches your personality and the personality of the wedding you can t go wrong. All you need to do is add a few touches that will make sure the rings stay in place and your set. And for those the sly is the limit. There are so many options, with ribbon sting, twine, flowers; bows…the list can go on and on. And hey who says it even as to be a pillow?

Another great thing to make your self is the seating arrangements and name cards. It is easy to throw up a simple card with a number on it and give out the usual folded tent cards with a person’s name and table number. But why settle for the usual, why not strive to make it a fabulous and unique part of the reception. Stationary items have come a long way from the fabric covered books; there are now sophisticated stickers that can add a small and simple piece to any name card, or even fun stamps. Look for ones that match the invitations or bring out other aspects of the theme of the wedding. One of the most unique ways I have seen table numbers done was through photos. You can do it many ways; one would be to use the photos from your engagement in black and white; with bright, bold numbers on them so they stand out. Another way to use photos of you and your fiancé could be to use photos from various moments throughout your engagement. It is a great way to show your guest the love you have for each other. If you don’t want to have your face at every table you can chose photos of places or things that are meaningful to you as a couple. Like the place you had your first kiss, where he proposed, places you took vacations, or might have lived; anything that is sentimental. It can be great conversation pieces for your guests; they can guess what it represents or tell stories about it if they know. Don’t feel like you have to get stuck into doing something that everyone else does, bring out yourself in every aspect of the wedding.

www.amemorylaneevent.com 
Event Planning / Wedding Planning / Coordinating / Decor / Invitations

www.amemorylaneevent.com 
Event Planning / Wedding Planning / Coordinating / Decor / Invitations