#TuesdayTips :: Creative Catering & Bar Ideas

I always like to pay extra attention when planning the catering portion of an event. First of all, it's a significant portion of the budget. Beyond that, there are so many different options available to research and compare in order to decide exactly what you want. Here are some catering ideas so you can break the creative barrier and have a delicious spread without breaking the bank! 


Dessert Displays
While the traditional wedding cake is still prevalent, dessert stations are extremely popular as well. You can serve your guests anything sweet for the after dinner treat; pies, cheesecakes, cookies, donuts, chocolates, tarts, cultural desserts, cookies & milk, a S'mores station, or even have ice cream made to order right there on site! Mix and match, pick your faves, and display them in a manner that makes your guests go ooh and aah!

Photo by David Loi Studios

Grazing Stations
I'm always a fan of something that kills two birds with one stone. Creative food stations not only feed your guests, but also provide entertainment and eye-catching setup displays. Guests can serve themselves buffet style from a series of different food stations. Make a fun side station with tons of toppings - mac-n-cheese, grits, mashed potatoes. Make a taco station where guests choose their ingredients. Get creative! 


Food Trucks
Having one of these is an exciting addition to any event. It can be a late night surprise food truck for late night snacks, or a dessert or ice cream truck to arrive and serve after dinner. Both kids and adults alike love it when they are at the window of the food truck getting a yummy treat!

Penguin Perry's Ice Cream Sandwich Truck

Espresso Bar
You can always have a coffee pot with cream and sugar available. Take it farther by getting a full espresso bar. You can have a barista, flavor options available, and even personalized coffee cups and sleeves!


Signature Cocktails
Create a creative signature cocktail to match your event. If it's a summer soiree, serve popsicle cocktails or have a hard lemonade stand. For winter events, spiked hot chocolate and cider are always a fave! Find a delicious cocktail personal to you, give it a fancy name, a creative display, and create a sign letting guests know your personal signature cocktail to order!

Champagne Supply Co.

#petalitforward :: Bringing smiles to those who need them....

I'll be 40 soon, and to be honest life isn't what I thought it would be when I was 40. The older I get, the more I learn about life. It's just not fair. Bad things happen to good people. The news is always negative and depressing. It's harder to make a living these days. It's hard to keep your head up when things go wrong. I remember being younger and not knowing what I know now....and it seems that smiles were a lot more prevalent back then.

My goal is to spread smiles. I want to bring more smiles to myself, those I know, and others out there who need a smile. With this world the way it is today, everyone out there could use an unconditional gift and a smile to brighten their day. I know that when I receive flowers from someone, they bring me smiles for days. It's one of my favorite things....a spot of simple beauty in the chaos around me. I've decided the world needs more smiles, and I'm going to do what I can to spread those smiles to others.

I can bring smiles by participating in the #petalitforward idea. Every time you order a fresh floral arrangement from Michell Events....whether it's for your home dinner party, business office, Valentine's, congrats, Mother's Day, birthday, or just because....we'll create and deliver another arrangement to someone in need of a smile. 

Small Arrangements $39

Medium Arrangements $59

Large Arrangements $79-$99

Includes delivery.

To order: info@michellevents.com

or (469) 475-7089

#petalitforward

#payitforward

#shareasmile

One for you......

And one for someone else who needs a smile.....

#SignatureSaturdays :: Apple & Pumpkin Beer Cocktail

Ingredients

• 8 ounces good-quality bourbon
• 9 ounces apple cider
• 2 1/2 ounces lemon juice
• 12 ounces pumpkin ale
• ice
• cinnamon sticks and cranberries for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, shake together the bourbon, apple cider and lemon juice. Pour into 4 glasses filled with ice.
2. Pour the beer evenly into each glass.
3. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and cranberries. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Cocktail from cookingandbeer.com.

#FloralFriday :: Feather Accents in your Florals

I'm a huge fan of feathers! So many colors, so many styles, so many sizes, and they all add an element of whimsy to any arrangement! I used them in my own wedding, and ever since then I've been in love with them! They make great accents for centerpieces, bouquets, alter arrangements and other table arrangements. Check out some of the ways we've used them in the past!

Ostrich feather centerpiece by Michell Events.

Photo by Cheryl Lynn Photography.

Peacock feather accents in the bride's bouquet!

Bouquet by Michell Events.

Photo by Becky's Photography.

Peacock feather and fern

alter arrangements by Michell Events.

Ostrick feathers accent the bride's bouquet!

Bouquet by Michell Events.

Photo by Courtney Lynn Photography.

Want something a bit less expensive than feathers? Depending what you want them to look like, you can try tree fern! It can be spray painted any color, you can add glitter, and when it's added to arrangements it can give the look of feathers!

Tree fern sprayed with black spray paint and glitter!

Arrangements by Michell Events.

Venue Tour :: The Murchison-Honaker House in Farmersville

I love it when I come across a gem! I was lucky enough to meet Allison through Instagram and was invited out to tour this beautiful home/new event space in downtown Farmersville. This space is absolutely gorgeous and I see so much potential with it! Allison and her husband have done some amazing renovations to this Victorian house built in the 1800's and it is completely charming!

There is a lovely parlor for the ladies, a manly parlor for the gents, plenty of great locations for photos, kitchen space and dining areas, plus plenty of space for workshops, photo shoots, small parties and events! We'll be hosting some events there in early 2019, so stay tuned for the official announcements! For now, check out some of the photos I snapped this morning and visit their pages linked below. Right now it's decorated for the holidays and it's stunning!

Facebook :: The Murchison-Honaker House

Instagram :: @murchisonhonakerhouse

#SignatureSaturdays :: Amaretto Cranberry Kiss

Ingredients

• 16 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
• 8 ounces vodka
• 4 ounces amaretto
• 3 ounces fresh orange juice
• Ice
• Clementines, peeled and separated into segments, for garnish
• Rosemary sprig, for garnish

Instructions

1. Mix cranberry juice, vodka, amaretto and orange juice into a pitcher.
2. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.
3. Fill cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
4. Pour eight ounces of cranberry juice cocktail mixture into a shaker.
5. Cover with lid and shake vigorously.
6. Strain into martini glasses.
7. Garnish each glass with a clementine segment and sprig of fresh rosemary.

You can save yourself time and effort at Christmas dinner or on the day of your party by making the cranberry juice cocktail mixture up to two days in advance. Mix in a pitcher, cover, and keep refrigerated until its party time.


Cocktail from Thanksgiving.com.

5 Trends for 2019 Weddings

Every year, the creativity envelope is pushed farther and farther, and as a planner and designer that is something I absolutely love to see! It's always a challenge to bring something new and different for the guests to experience, and I love seeing the new trends as they're being established! Here are some of the trends we anticipate seeing a lot of in 2019!

Darker, Moody Colors
Personally, I'm ready for "blush" and "rose gold" to fade out! Brides are tuning it down for 2019 with a darker array of color palettes. Navy, emerald, burgundy, gold....make a statement with deep colors!

Penguin Perry's Ice Cream Sandwich Truck

Photo by David Loi Studios

Boleros & Jackets
I have to say, even if I had a summer wedding I'd have a jacket to go with the dress just because I think it's a fantastic fashion accessory! Plus, the personalization of jean jackets and leather jackets with "Mrs." or other sweet words on the back is my absolute fave!

Eco Green Weddings
Stay eco-friendly with your wedding choices is still popular. From the invitations to the food choices to the décor details, make eco-friendly choices that will leave a small footprint. You can discuss the eco-friendly options available with each vendor before you make your choices and book.

Photo by Trump Photography

Grazing Stations & Creative Foods
Giving your guests something both beautiful and delicious is a choice most are quick to jump all over! Creative stations for your guests to mingle around and graze are always a big hit! Ice cream trucks, interactive s'mores stations, dessert displays, and cotton candy spun on-site are all perfect options!

Mobile Bars & Creative CocktailsNot only is it great to come up with a personalized cocktail for your guests, but now there are so many creative ways to display your bar and your beverages as well! Mobile bars are quite popular, and come in so many different styles and options!

Champagne Supply Co.

Glamorous Barn Fall Styled Shoot with a White Horse!

I had the privilege to work with Lucero Cervantes Photography on her styled shoot at Sparrow Creek Ranch last week and it turned out absolutely majestic! The white horse was regal and magical, and the details provided by the talented vendors were just stunning! Here's a sneak peek at my behind the scenes shots. Lucero's final images will blow you away when we're able to post! It was an amazing day and I am so honored to have been a part of it!

Photography: Lucero Cervantes Photography

Venue: Sparrow Creek Ranch

Gowns: Providence Place Bridal Boutique

Hair/MUA: Bridal by Maia

Styling: Michell Events

Cake: Krazy Cakes

Flowers: Joy's Flowers Graham

Rentals: Borrowed Treasures TX

Models: Emily and Shannon

Horse Owner: Emily

  

DIY Bride's Planning Workshop at Brookielynn's Bungalow in Frisco

Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to host a workshop at the lovely Brookielynn's Bungalow in Frisco. We invited brides and vendors to join in for the afternoon of fun! We tasted desserts from vendors, chatted about wedding planning tips and ideas, and had bags of goodies and planning materials for the brides to take home! All in all it was a super fun and informative day!

Thanks to the vendors who participated on the Q&A panel!
Courtney Lynn Photography
Teamvinemama
Michell Events

Our next DIY Bride's Planning Workshop is coming up on November 30th at Sparrow Creek Ranch in Graham. Click here to get your tickets!

  

#SignatureSaturdays :: Cherrytini

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup cherry liqueur/cherry brandy
• 1/3 cup vodka
• 1/3 cup cherry juice
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Pour everything into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
2. Strain into glasses

Cocktail from Sprinkles and Sprouts.

#TuesdayTips :: 8 Tips for the Bride Planning Her Own Wedding

It's busy wedding season right now, and engagement season is upon us as well. A lot of today's brides are foregoing hiring a wedding planner for a number of reasons. Whether it's due to budget restrictions, their love of DIY, or having enough family to assist with all of the tasks, they are taking the reins and handling the planning on their own. During the planning process, some find that it was a much bigger task than they ever anticipated!

To accommodate brides doing it on their own, we've established a series of budget friendly workshops for the DIY Bride. We give all the tools needed so the DIY bride can spearhead planning her own wedding with confidence....an organization binder, checklists, budget worksheets, sample schedules, recommended vendors, tips on DIY projects, and planning tips that will help during the whole process.

Here are a few of the things we discuss with brides, and tips we recommend for any brides planning their own wedding:


1. First and foremost, establish your budget.
Before making any decisions, spending any money, booking any vendors, or getting your hopes set on that huge venue....establish your budget. This is the most important thing because it dictates what you can and should do with every single aspect of your wedding.

2. Take advantage of a long planning time.
Don't rush yourself through the planning process. Create ample time to save for your budget and plenty of time to research options and make decisions. Set a date far enough away that you give yourself plenty of time to slow down, do it right, make educated decisions that are right for you, and enjoy the planning process.

3. Establish your top priorities.
Make a list of the top priorities for your wedding. Maybe the flowers are your #1 love and you have expensive specifics that you want. Maybe food is your passion and you want a top of the line five star served dinner. Maybe you have your heart set on a photographer you've seen but they're way out of your budget. Establish a list of what's most important to you, and then cut back on the other not-so-important aspects in order to bump up the budget for your priorities.

4. Create a preliminary guest list.
Before you look for venues or book vendors, create the first draft of your guest list. Knowing your guest count is imperative when making a lot of your wedding decisions, and that's one of the first questions a lot of your vendors will ask when booking. Create an A list (family, wedding party, must-attend friends), B list (other friends you'd like to attend), C list (co-workers, acquaintances). If you need to cut the guest list due to budget constraints, start with the C list and work your way up.

5. Establish a team.
This isn't a task you'll be able to do on your own, so establish a team of family, friends, and of course your loving fiancé. Delegate tasks that you trust each one of them will be suitable to complete and watch your list get smaller. This will greatly lighten your load! 

6. Get organized.
Keep a binder with all of your wedding planning paperwork and details. Contracts, checklists, vendor contact information, photos or magazine pages, décor and design ideas, details you love, payment receipts, and anything else you need to keep track of for easy access. Take it with you for all of your meetings and you'll always have everything you need.

7. Do your research!
Take the time to research each vendor and compare all the facts before interviewing and booking. Read their reviews, ask them questions, know everything included in the packages, ask about any additional charges up front so there are no surprises later. Compare all of these things before making your decision and sending a deposit.

8. Create a user-friendly wedding website for your guests.
Give guests an easy-to-access location to quickly find out all the details about your wedding. Date, time, location, directions, introduce the bridal party, tell the story of how you met, share engagement photos, list your gift registries and link to it for easy access. There are many free online options as well as paid options, so research what's out there and get started!


Happy wedding planning!

#SignatureSaturdays :: Gingered Ruby

40ml Victoria Pink Gin
25ml Rhubarb & Ginger Liquor
30ml Lemon Juice
10ml Homemade Rhubarb Syrup
10ml Ginger Cordial
Egg White
Rhubarb Bitters
Garnish with Flowers

Cocktail from @whats.marissa.drinking on Instagram.
Visit her page for more fabulous cocktails!