Spotlight - My Little Peony

We have teamed up with @MyLittlePeony to secure our readers 10% off all bookings made before 30th August 2016 PLUS You get to hire 6 x Free Lawn Games! Mention The Events Blogger before the promo expires to take advantage of this great offer. 

Image @ Alana Taylor 

 Why do we love My Little Peony?

This super chic Caravan provides you with

- Interior & Exterior photo backdrop

- All glassware for your party so you're not sourcing it or using plastic!

- Saw horse trestle table for you to use (think drinks table / cake table!)

- Cold Water Station & garnish

- Giant "LOVE" / "BAR" signs to use as props

- Interior decor

- Ipod dock for tunes

- 2 x bar fridges

Image @ Alana Taylor

Image @ Alana Taylor

You can have a BYO package and include the ice, drink garnish & RSA qualified staff. This will leave you to focus on the Food & Fun! Tegan is a qualified florist come entrepreneur and we love her style. You can even order your props & view all packages online!

Image @ Alana Taylor

Planning a baby shower? My Little Peony have non-alcoholic drink packages!

All you need is a lawn & power and you're ready to transform your event at home! 

My Little Peony also offer:

- Dessert Tables
- Grazing Tables
- Cocktails
- Floral arrangements
- Garden party lawn games

All you need to provide is the ground & the power and you're ready to raise the bar on your baby shower, kitchen tea, wedding, cocktail party or birthday!

All yours from AUD$250 + GST per hour, 3 hour minimum

http://mylittlepeony.com.au/

hello@mylittlepeony.com.au

I'm in Love with a Flamingo Pic @mylittlepeony

Navy, Ombre Pink & Grey Wedding

Image @nolimitpictures Flowers @LuxuriouseventsbyDee Hair @hairbymariam

It's great to have a rough idea of what you would like your wedding to look like. I originally wanted coral bridesmaids dresses but couldn't find any that didn't look like cream puffs.

I took the girls shopping, because I couldn't order anything online that I knew would suit them all. We found a navy elastic satin convertible dress that all the girls loved! I found the same dresses online for 1/3 of the price and ordered them #sosavvy.

@elegantweddinginivites

The dresses then determined the pops of colour throughout the wedding as follows

- Navy Dresses
- Navy Groomsmen ties
- Blue Wedding Shoes (something blue!)
- Navy Based Invitations, which I loved way better than coral anyway!

Image @nolimitpictures Shoes @Badgley Mischka

Filling in the gaps was easy. I looked up floral arrangements that I liked and used my florist to match the below.

List of Items to Request From Florist:
- Cake table
- Main table vases & flowers
- Entry table
- Flower girl headpieces
- Rose petals for flower girl's baskets
- Wrist corsage for mother of bride & groom
- Buttonholes for groomsmen, bride & groom's fathers and immediate family should you choose to.
- Bouquets!
- Wedding Cake (tip - always use your florist and not the cake makers. They're the experts on fresh floral after all!
She did a great job and took it all from pictures I had sent her.

Brides Bouquet @Luxuriouseventsbydee Image @nolimitpictures

Buttonholes @bunchesflorist Image @nolimitpictures

 Wedding Reception:

I used the centrepieces included in my wedding package because they were beautiful on their own. We had 30 tables so I preferred to spend money on the things getting photographed! 

Introducing - the bridal table:

1 Layer of hanging Wisteria - @ Fleur Events

Mirrors & Candles - @ Fleur Events

Floral Vases - @ Luxuerious Events By Dee

Cake Table - @ Elegant Tea Time 

Venue - @ Doltone House Sylvania Waters

Entry Table:
Wishing Well - @ Doltone House Sylvania Waters

French Dresser - @ Elegant Tea Time

Flower Wall - @ the_flowerwall

Vases & Flowers - @ Luxurious Events by Dee

dresser @elegantteatime image @nolimitpictures

cake @thecakestudio wisteria @fleurevents table @elegantteatime

wedding dress @luvbridal image @nolimitpictures

groom - mine :), image @nolimitpictures suits @bonnanos

image @nolimit pictures flower girl dress @allthingsdollcake shoes @badgleymischka

Pictured:

@nolimitpictures - images
@luxuriouseventsbydee - floral
@doltonehouse - reception venue
@badgleymischka - bride's shoes
@allthingsdollcake - flower girl dresses
@thecakestudio - wedding cake
@bunchesflorist - buttonholes
@luvbridal - wedding dress
@miasolano - wedding dress brand, 2016 collection customised by bride
@hairbymariam - bridesmaids & brides hair
@bonannos_menswear - groom & groomsmen suits
@elegantweddinginvites - wedding invitations
@lightinthebox - bridesmaids dresses

Photoshoot location - Cape Solander Look Out Kurnell

Cocktail Recipes - Jars & Jugs

Easy Cocktail Recipes

What's the secret? An element of each of the below

- Spirits

- Liquor

- Juice or Soda Water

- Fresh Fruit

- Ice

Add more or less of the above to get your desired taste

My three favourites below! 

1. Guava Bellini

Great for Weddings, Birthdays, Hens, Dinners, Bridal Showers, Mondays, Wednesdays and any days!

- Guava Juice

- Champagne

Serve in Champagne Glass or as a mimosa bar (see blog 1) 

2. White Wine Sangria

Build the below in a glass, jar, jug, 20L dispenser orrrr bathtub! Versatile!

- 1 x bottle White Wine 

(anything but moscato - it's weak and sweet. If you use it, don't add sugar)

- 2 x shots of rum or vodka

- Dash of caster sugar / or melted honey  (I skipped this part - I don't like sweet) 

- Soda Water

Garnish with sliced oranges, lemons, fresh strawberries, raspberries, herbs and a bit of guava juice for extra jujj.

TASTE TEST

Image Via Recipe Girl - Beach Cosmos

3. Cosmopolitan  

What's better than a cosmo? A jug of it of course! 

Normal Cosmopolitan:

Ratio: 

- 1 x shots of vodka

- 1/2 x shots cointreau (or triple sec but not as good) 

- 2 x shots cranberry juice

- 1/2 a lime

Party Size Cosmopolitan:

How to make it for many? Do approx. 5 x shots of vodka per 1L and follow ratio above

- Add soda water

- Lots of ice

-  Too strong? Add guava / pineapple juice - the universal perfect cocktail mixer!

-Mix all ingredients in jug

-Serve in martini glass with slice of lime

The possibilities are endless. I found this wonderful supplier at the beginning of her journey and I am so excited to share the wonderful things they have created - @drinkstationandhire

@drinkstationandhire

@drinkstationandhire

@drinkstationandhire

Love, 

The Events Blogger

@theeventsblogger

DIY Garden Party Inspo

Before

1. Your Event Space
Consider your event space carefully. Cater to your crowd. This event was for a bridal shower so I wanted
- Easy parking
- Undercover possible wind and rain
- Even ground for those wearing heels.
- Everyone to have a seat, a drink and food in their hands as soon as they walk in. This catered for all ages too.
- Seating - which ties in the next point

After

2. Food
A. Buffet
Consider the below on the station:
- Levels (can use gift boxes)
- Bamboo spoons, forks & knives in tea cups
- Enough plates for some people to come back twice
- Tongs, spoons & knives for serving
B. Seated
All of the below must be on the table - essentially your guest shouldn't have to get up
- Cups
- Water
- Wine
- Side plate (and main plate if not moving to buffet style for the main event)
- Fork, spoon, knife and napkin per person, with spares on the buffet if mains are served there. Must have enough on the table and enough on the buffet for everyone


C. Stations
The possibilities are endless - more blogs to come!
All of the above in B. should be available on the stations, if your food is not pre-portioned in grab & go sizes.

3. Drinks
A. Water 
One bottle of water per person and there were no leftovers! H2o should be stocked up and easy to access, if not pre-set on each setting.
B. The Good Stuff - Make it easy. Don't bother having a make your own cocktail section - it's not going to happen. Think pre-made and / or portioned. See first blog for Mimosa Bar.
C. Tea & Coffee Station. It's so easy to get creative!
Set out everything you need and use the fool proof method of making your own coffee to see if you have everything.
- Teaspoons
- Scrap bowl
- Coffee cups
- Sugar
- Coffee
- Tea box (popular - english breakfast, peppermint, earl grey, green)
- Boiling water
- Soy, skim & full cream milk (I labelled cute clear jugs and put them in a bucket)

4. More Drinks.. Just Kidding!
   
Signage & Props
A. Think Welcome Sign (I used a posted from Vista Print)
B. Party favours - I got chocolates wrapped in the same design from Barilliant
C. Labels
D. Menus
E. Place cards (can match with B)
F. Have them all match your invitations, envelope & seal

Props - I used teapots, astro-turf and fresh floral in vases!

5. Cake Table
The most foolproof way is to pick a nice table! You can hire or buy a wine barrel, timber table, use pallets or a white garden table.
Make sure it's sitting in front of a blank wall or something nice with clean lines. Take a test photo and you will be the best judge of where it should go. Cake it up and you're good to go!

Suppliers:
- Party favours - www.barilliant.com.au
- Signage - www.vistaprint.com
- Floral - Bunches Wollongong
- White labels on chalkboards - ebay - stickersite
- Cake stands, gift boxes, watering can, - Kmart
- Cake table - Luxe Event Decor Wollongong
- Individual chocolate mousse & cheesecake - New York Cakes
- Astroturf - www.bunnings.com.au
- Naked cake - creative_cake_designs

Wedding Week Checklist

Wedding Stress comes in waves.

The week of your wedding will come (and go) and an eery sense of calm will set in. This is happening.

As I organised myself, I took notes of everything I did so I could share this moment again, and remember the little details forever.

1. Prep a Bride and Bridesmaid Survival Kit

I bought those clear travel kit packs from kmart, emptied them out of all the empty travel bottles and filled one for each girl.

My survival kits included (in order of items used the most)

- Gel Party feet 

- Seamless undies (stocked up on these)

- Cleansing wipes 

- Chewing Gum

- Tissues

- Panadol

- Bandaids

- Paw paw ointment

- Bandaids

- Deodorant

- Socks

- Mouthwash

- Bobby pins

I also had a white robe for each girl.

2. Pack a little clutch for yourself

It needs to have your essentials for when you're in a hurry. Pick from the above, and include your 

- Phone

- ID

- Credit Card

- Toothbrush

- Toothpaste

- Eyeliner

- Face powder

- Blush & brush

- Concealer

- Gum

3. Have a few vital things handy in the morning:

- Scissors (to cut the tags of the 500 things you bought this week)

- White lace robe for yourself

- White bra, white undies and white slip for under your robe

NB: make sure the bra straps are loose so they don't leave marks (if you have a strapless dress) 

4. Have some time out in the morning. 

I have a big greek family, and we had a band downstairs with all of my relatives dancing and waiting for me to be ready. Take your time, let them have fun without you and don't worry about a thing. Have your hairdresser finish your hair off in a separate room to everyone else, just in case this is the last time you get to be alone. Take as much time to yourself as you need. When you are ready, look at yourself in the mirror and get comfortable with the way you look. Take a selfie. Say I look beautiful, and you're ready!

5. Prep your money in envelopes 

Hand them to the below people in the morning / evening as soon as they walk in the door.
- Hairdresser
- Makeup artist
- Band

Make sure everyone else has been paid!

Image via @nolimitpictures

6. Don't forget your letter from your husband / wife to be
If you are exchanging letters. It is a beautiful moment! Also, don't forget to read it in the morning! Image credit @nolimitpictures

7. Gift for maid of honour 
The lead up to the wedding and the whole day is all about you and the groom. Getting a little gift is a token to show the people that did a lot for you that you appreciate it. It's pretty much the only chance you get. Before the wedding, it's too crazy, after the wedding, the moment has passed. The morning of the wedding, in that eery calm, is the time.

8. Items for the church / reception - For the Limo
We had
- Rose petals (silk ones that I totally bought from ebay and filled 3 buckets full with)
- Bamboo cones (for people to scoop the rose petals into)
- Blanket for wedding photos
- FOOD! Between the church and reception - pastisties, pastries, muffins
Have one big bag for the girls to put what they need inside. Inclusive of
- phone chargers
- flat shoes
- their survival kits
Make sure you assign a family member or two to pack the limo with what you need, when it arrives.
Remind the bridesmaids in the morning to put those items in the bag

9. Your overnight bags for the hotel
This is going to sound stupid but, get your new husband to pack a change of clothes for you in his bag, and you do the same for him. Statistically, one of you will forget to pack it or bring it along! (Hint - it wasn't me!). There's nothing more awkward then seeing everyone at the breakfast buffet in your suit from the night before; especially if you partied till you split a hole in your pants.
Pack:
- Make up remover wipes - some hearty ones!
- Cleanser
- Moisturiser
- Bottle of water
- Cups of two minute noodles - trust me.
- Bra (Stupid as it sounds - you probably aren't wearing one under your wedding dress)
- Underwear and socks
- Panadol
- His spare clothes
- Your change of clothes
- A hair tie
- Your toothbrush and toothpaste, if it's not in your little clutch

10. Send the bridal party the list of reception songs
Or have it saved on your phones, so they know which one they are walking in to the reception to. They will ask. You won't remember. They won't remember, even if they had chosen it. Have it ready and be a good sport.

I would have made "pack for honeymoon" number 11, but I packed two weeks before because I'm psycho like that.

Pictured - Maid of Honour Gift, Green Ivy Wall and French Chaise Lounge re: Elegant Tea Time 

DIY Mimosa Bar

Without further adieu, may I present to you - the Ultimate Mimosa Bar!

A few things to consider when putting this together:

1. The Backdrop 
Set your station in front of a nice blank wall - no doors or windows or obstructions behind it. It will make the photos perfect!

2. The Table
I restored an old brown timber table and painted it white (heaps of effort and weeks of white specks in my hair) but you can easily hire a table or use a buffet or dresser. It truly sets the scene
OR
Brown paper gift wrap placed along the table - you can write on it to label the juices

3. The Sign
I used a $4 chalkboard and ordered some stickers in white from stickersite on ebay. The customised sign only cost me a total of $12!

4. The Jars
They must match and be easy to pour - the rest is up to you! You must have guava juice - it is perfect with champagne! I sat mine on a white tray
Match with 4 or 5 bowls for your accompaniments - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, lime, etc.

5.  The Star of the Show - THE CHAMPAGNE!
Have a couple of nice bottles to start with and then for the love of god, don't run out. Stock up on some mid range bottles, pre-plan your bucket, ice and label. I got large ice cube moulds and pre-froze them with raspberries & pomegranate inside. Very cute!

I had to add a bit of colour and decor to achieve my garden party look so I made sure I got some fresh flowers and greenery. The above has

Links / Tags: 
- Mini drawers from The Little Big Company
http://www.tlbc.com.au/

- Green pots from ikea & kmart (we all know the link to these two bad boys)

- White words on signs from Ben at stickersite on ebay: http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/stickersite?euid=8ba8ec3d7e5d418fac62e9a0f2ce4719&cp=1

- Bridal Shower Sign (bottom floral pictured) - Vista Print