Friday Pretties ~ Help Yourself

Happy Friday and Happy October!  Can you believe we’re already in the tenth month of the year?! I love this month though – we are firmly out of summer but winter is still far enough away that I don’t dread it yet.  Leaves are changing and falling, everyone is chattering about Halloween costumes, and I can safely make chili and pumpkin bread again without hearing “It’s still too hot!” from the Peanut Gallery (read: my husband). 

It’s also my favorite month for weddings.  In a parallel universe I would have been an October bride…. sigh.  Oh well. I will live joyously through all the brides that exist in this universe!  And today, in their honor, we’re going to focus on the theme of “helping yourself”.  I have to admit I’m a little bit in love with myself today because I love ALL THIS STUFF!  There was so much more to add, too, but I don’t like to get too carried away with blog posts. 

But…it may have happened anyway.  So let’s get started.

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To your wedding guests: Help yourself to the….

“Cupcake Bar!”

As seen on: Style Me Pretty / Floral: Poppies & Posies / Catering: Stuart & Welch and Swirl Events / Event Design: Poppies & Posies and Merci New York / Photography: Jen Huang Photography

“Sundae Bar!”

Eat Drink Chic 

 “Candy Apple Bar!”

My DIY Wedding Day

“Mashed Potato Bar!” {my fave}

Imperials Catering

I love stations set up like this at a wedding – it’s a good ice breaker and social motivator. Instead of guests just sitting in their seats the whole night, they are forced to get up and mingle with other guests …well, if they want that sweet or potato they are!

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 Any space can be easily and instantly transformed with candle light.  It sets a mood better than any other decor item you might have in your arsenal. 
So brides….help yourself by trying this easy DIY lantern project:

Tea Light Lanterns:

 

SUPPLIES:

a. Battery operated tea light, do not use conventional tea lights (app. $1 each)
b. 2 brads ($3.00 for 100)
c. Ribbon, several inches in length
d. Strip of vellum 2.5″ by 5.25″; trim one of the long sides with decorative scissors if desired ($10.00 for 50 sheets – each sheet will easily make 5 lanterns)
e. Double stick tape

Basic Directions:
1. Wrap strip of vellum around battery operated tea light, adhering with double stick tape.
2. Using brads attach length of ribbon to “lantern” to form a handle from which to hang.

Optional Embellishments:
Pinhole Monogram: Before assembling lantern, use a pin and a printed letter as a guide to punch a monogram in the vellum strip.
Flowered handle: After the lantern is assembled use a needle and thread to tack paper flowers to ribbon handle.

Awesome tutorial from Project Wedding.

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Last but not least… and I may be jumping the gun on this one… Halloween Weddings!  Since it’s the first day of October I had to bring it up.  My favorite Halloween weddings are those that do not go to extremes (think costumes, creepy or gross centerpieces, and a coffin in the corner), but rather incorporate the theme with tasteful, beautiful touches.

A few examples:

Halloween weddings must include candy!
{Photos: Entwined Studio}

{Photos: Jill Johnson Photography}

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There you have it! The first post of October. What do you think? Did I go overboard? Do you like the “help yourself” food stations? Will you give the tea light lanterns a go? I think they’re cute and would be a fun project to do with your bridesmaids! And if you dig costumes and creepy centerpieces at a wedding….no offense! To each their own. 🙂

HAVE A HAPPY WEEKEND!