April Foster Events - Blog

Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book

April Foster — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:22 +0000

We are so honored to have been hand-picked and invited to be a Little Black Book Member at Style Me Pretty!! The Little Black Book is, according to the website, "...a highly edited collection of wedding service providers – from mom and pop boutiques to A-Listers. Bottom line, these vendors are the best of the best." It’s so exciting to be listed among talented vendors that are considered ‘the best of the best’.

DIY Wedding Photo Booth

April Foster — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:30:38 +0000

It’s true—photobooths are becoming more and more popular among weddings. But, did you know that setting up a wedding photobooth of your own can be done in just a few simple steps? Wedding photobooths create a unique experience for your guests and captures some of the best moments at the reception. If you choose not to go with a rental photobooth, here’s a simple DIY on setting up your own.

Photo by My Inspired Wedding

Set up in a quiet corner.

This will minimize the possibility of the photobooth activities interfering with the other details of the wedding. The line for the photobooth should be kept out of the way of the service staff and dance floor as well.

Find your backdrop.

The easiest way to go, in many cases, is using an actual photobooth backdrop stand. You can also use a plain fabric backdrop as well, using a clothes line and curtain clips to keep them in place. Decorate as needed. You can hang garland, multiple fabric strips, or large picture frames. Or, if you like to get really creative, create a ribbon wall to use as your photo backdrop.

Photo by Brittany Legette

Take a few test shots.

Depending on your camera, set up a tripod anywhere from 8 to 10 feet in front of the background and take a few test shots. Change the setting, lights, and backdrop accordingly to make sure everything you need is within the viewfinder. Make sure you leave enough room to accommodate for your shortest and tallest guests. Place an X on the ground with tape so they know where to stand.

If possible, get a wireless shutter release.

This way, the guests can be in control without interfering with the camera settings. Make sure you get one that works with the make and model of your camera.

Photo by MrandMrsAdams.com

Everything in its place.

Place your basket of props next to the backdrop for your guests to use. Include hats, masks, fake mustaches and the like. Then, place a sign telling your guests to grab a prop and the remote and snap away!

Photo by Ruffled blog

Vintage Wedding Rentals: Violet Vintage

April Foster — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:30:33 +0000

Violet Vintage began with a love of all things pretty.

Violet Vintage is a vintage wedding and event decor rental company located in Indianapolis that specializes in vintage tablescapes, décor, and furniture. Using her passion for color and pattern, owner Vanessa stresses her passion for beautiful event décor. It comes with some pretty sweet benefits as well.

Pictured above: Mismatched china available for rent from Violet Vintage. Photo by Anne Buskirk Photography.

Q: How did you come about your antique pieces?

It's quite the treasure hunt. We find our items everywhere; garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores, auctions, on street corners, small towns, or friends call and tell us they have great aunt Sally's desk in the attic. We're in the process of working with some dealers we have relationships with who can also help with specific items.

Q: What do you usually recommend for brides who are thinking about renting?

Every bride has their own individual style. I always try to get a good idea of their personality and what it is they're looking for, and make recommendations based on that.

Pictured above: A vintage frame availble for rent at Violet Vintage. Photography by Ellen Hacker

Q: What are a few environmental benefits of using your rentals?

Traditional rental shops get their items from wholesale businesses where the items are more than likely made overseas. Violet Vintage items are truly unique because we don’t order them overseas. By renting with us, you're reducing your carbon footprint. We breathe life back into forgotten pieces by giving some of them makeovers or utilizing them in different ways. Further, the milk paint we use to makeover our pieces are all-natural and will not harm the environment.

Q: Is there anything else you think we should know about Violet Vintage?

"Vintage" has many different looks so there are style options for every personality. Violet Vintage is more sassy then other rental options. We give people permission to think outside the box. There are so many beautiful and unique items already in existence and it's our job to make it easy for people to find and use them.

Pictured above: Mismatched china available for rent from Violet Vintage. Photography by Ellen Hacker.

All vintage rentals are delivered and picked-up by violet vintage. To see more of the goodies in Vanessa's inventory includeing mismatched vintage china, vintage furnature, mason jars and more, visit their website. Please note that her website is not all inclusive of her inventory. Be sure to ask if you are looking for something specific.

Get Creative with the Groom's Cake

April Foster — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:30:46 +0000

If you’ve been to a wedding with more than one cake displayed, you’ve likely taken part in the timeless tradition of the groom’s cake.

Photo by Style Me Pretty

The groom’s cake is, simply, a second, smaller wedding cake as a gift from the bride to her groom. The groom’s cake can either be the dessert at the rehearsal dinner or serve as an alternative choice to the bridal cake at the reception. The groom’s cake can be displayed next to the bridal cake or brought out (as a surprise) at a specific moment during the reception. If there’s extra cake at the end of the night, it’s traditional to have someone cut up the groom’s cake and hand them out to guests at the end of the night.

Photo by Intimate Weddings

Many brides take the opportunity of the groom’s cake to be creative, playing off of the groom’s personal tastes, hobbies, or favorite sports team.

If you’re unsure about what to do about your groom’s cake, talk to your baker. More than likely, they will have a portfolio of past groom’s cakes and you can play off of their creativity.

If you want to see more examples of groom’s cakes, check out this gallery from The Knot.

Photo by Delish Cakes

Wedding Accessories: Great things come in Pairs

April Foster — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:30:35 +0000

It's a fact: great things come in pairs. And wedding accessories are no exception. A pair of earrings, for example, can express a range of design, color, texture, and mood.

Photo by Anthropologie

In addition, a pair of wedding gloves preserves the more timeless theme of vintage-style weddings. These popular gloves takes a traditional pair of fashion gloves and gives it a more romantic, modern twist.

Photo by BHLDN

A pair of shoe clips is a fantastic way to customize your favorite pair of heels. Using thier varieties of style, color and size, mix and match with your wedding shoes until you find your winning match.

Photo by Lemonring

And let's not forget about our men. Cuff links expresses a dressed-up, sophisticated feel that we just can't overlook. Have your groom pick out his favorite pair, or consider customizing a pair of cuff links as a wedding gift.

Photo by The Vintage Pearl

5 Hidden Wedding Costs (and how to avoid them)

April Foster — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:30:32 +0000

In addition to the big budgets that come with planning a wedding, there little fees that tend to build up without notice. Well, these hidden wedding costs don't have to remain hidden. With some preparation, these extras can easily be accounted for. Here are a list of five common hidden wedding costs and how to avoid them.

Vendors

When reviewing the contracts with your vendors, watch out for phrases such as “additional costs may be applied” and “plus the cost of setup and delivery.” You should discuss exactly what additional fees you will be charged, such as fees for food, service, gratuity, and taxes.

And don’t forget about the cost of overtime. Many photographers and caterers will charge large fees for going over the allotted hours. But these fees can be avoided if you allow a little extra room in your itinerary and stick to your schedule.

Cake Cutting

If you’re working with a baker not provided by your reception hall, expect additional fees for cake cutting and service. Ask if your reception hall charges extra for cake cutting, and if so, consider working with the reception hall’s baker.

Photo by Maggie Austin Cakes

Gown

Sizing doesn’t have to be perfect when shopping for your wedding gown. However, bridal shops may charge large fees for fittings and alterations. Having your dress hemmed by an independent tailor may save you money in the long run. Do some price comparing by asking the bridal shop what they charge for these services.

Photo by Style me Pretty

Postage Stamps

When making your save-the-dates, couples often forget about the cost of shipping. The use of postage stamps increase with the bulkiness of the envelope, so, remember to make room in the budget for postage and shipping costs.

Photo by B Dunlap

Licensing Fees

A lot of couples don’t consider the fees involved with getting a marriage license, which will vary depending on the state you live in. In addition, a person who changes their last name will require several copies of their marriage certificate, which will cost anywhere from $5 to $20. Prepare yourself by doing research: make a visit or call your state clerk’s office.

Photo by Percy and Bloom

Here are a few sites I find to be helpful in case you need some extra info:

The Knot

Smart Money: Weddings

Something Blue Book

Valentine's Day Inspired Paper Products for Your Wedding

April Foster — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:30:26 +0000

Yes, as Valentine's Day approaches, brides may find the search for wedding decor to be a little easier. Etsy in particular is a treasure trove of Valentine's Day inspired paper products that can be used for weddings.

Etsy sellers 3 Girls and a Goat features Valentine's Day inspired garland, all handmade. Their online shop also offers cards, gift tags, stickers and mobiles.

Photos by 3 Girls and a Goat

If you're thinking about Valentine's Day inspired wedding stationary, Fiddleheads for Fiona repurposes old book pages for cardstock that is both sentimental and creative.

Photos by Fiddleheads for Fiona

Paper banners and hanging embellishments are easily incorporated into wedding decor. Esty seller Paper Altar has banners, hanging ornaments and decorations all inspired by Valentine's Day.

Photos by Paper Altar

Remember to check out Etsy to find some of your favorite paper products!

Personalized Embossers for your Wedding

April Foster — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:30:17 +0000

On Tuesday we discussed some of the ways we can upgrade your stationary through your own personal calligraphy art. Today, let's look at another fantastic way to upgrade your wedding paper products, a personalized embosser by Williams-Sonoma.

Photos by Williams-Sonoma

Their embossers add your own monogram, name or address to book pages, gift tags, letters and more. This set includes the embosser, an embosser stand and your choice of personalized plate.

So, let's look at some of the fun ways we can use embossers.

Embossing adds a personal touch to your books, stationary, gift tags, recipe cards and more!

For more information, visit their product page. They've got some great gift ideas as well as some creative uses for the embosser.

Enjoy!

How to Fake Beautiful Calligraphy for your Wedding Stationery

April Foster — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:16:36 +0000

While I have yet to hold a calligraphy pen, I love the essence of the script. It’s the perfect font for wedding invitations, letters, and stationary.

A recent blog post from the Jones Design Company recognizes the importance of calligraphy but, admittedly, understands that not everybody owns a calligraphy kit. And, like them, we would love to be able to imitate this art for ourselves without learning a whole new system of lettering.

Photo by Decor8

And so, I suggest that we fake it.

You don’t necessarily need a calligraphy kit to create calligraphy script for your wedding. And this post shows you how to do it just like that. First, find a good fine tip ink pen. You can buy them at your local office supply store.

Next, pick a letter, any letter. You can either practice with pencil first or just try it out freehand.

To give your letter that calligraphy flair, fill out the strokes and thickness of the lines. For example, when the pen stroke draws in a downward direction, draw an adjacent line and fill it in.

Great! Let’s look at another example, the word, ‘love.’

And now with the downward strokes filled:

That's it!

Keep practicing with the rest of the alphabet, keeping in mind what letters you will be using for your own purposes. Make sure you have adequate practice time before you write on your formal paper. Remember, your calligraphy doesn't require an exact formula for perfection. Make sure your lettering reflects your own personality and flair. Enjoy experimenting with different strokes and lines.

Once you've mastered the art of faux calligraphy, let’s take a look at a few of the ways we can use it for your wedding:

Invitations, letters, and stationary

Photos by Betsy Dunlap

Table numbers and place cards

Photo by Plurabelle Calligraphy

Personalized name tags

Photo by Plurabelle Calligraphy

Chalkboard art and menus

Photo by Plurabelle Calligraphy

And there you have it. Wedding calligraphy script without the kit.

Wedding Trends 2012: Mixed Metals

April Foster — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:30:19 +0000

Have you ever been told never to mix metals in your wardrobe?

It's an age-old myth that does not apply to the rules of fashion or even decor. In fact, using mixed metals as part of your wedding decor is a great way to add modernity and flair to your event. Let's look at a few of the ways you can use mixed metals.

Servewear

One of the easiest ways of applying mixed metals is through your serveware. Buying seperate pieces and using them together brings a lot of texture to your table.

Photo by West Elm

Photo by Vintage Shelf and Wall

Cake

Using textured gold and silver edible paint can bring mixed metals into your cake as well. Depending on your style, your cake can carry an eclectic charm or be bold and industrial.

Photo by Belle the Magazine

Photo by Post Cards and Pretties

Lighting

Mixing metals in your lighting will add layers of texture to your decor. Consider mixing metals in your candle votives, chandeliers or hanging lights.

Photo by West Elm

Accessories

Don't think I would forget about accessorizing. Depending on the style of your dress, choose each piece carefully to make sure the selection looks deliberate. Here are a few metals to keep in mind when choosing your accessories: antique gold, bronze, sterling silver, brushed nickel, and copper.

Photo by Anthropologie

Photo by Style Me Pretty

Enjoy mixing those metals!