Donate vs. Trash the Dress April 30, 2009

Brides search high and low for the perfect dress for their wedding day and on average will spend approximately $1,500 to wear it only once. Instead of partaking in the latest craze of trashing the trash, consider making someone else’s dreams come true.

“Brides Against Breast CancerTM, Nationwide Tour of Gowns” are in need of contemporary gown styles, slips and veils dating from 2000 until the present day. Each gown is carefully prepared for their upcoming sale which the proceeds enable Making Memories to grant final wishes to women and men suffering from terminal breast cancer.

They also accept other wedding related items (i.e. bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride dresses and flower girl dresses, veils, shoes, purses, slips, bras, etc….)

For more information about Brides Against Breast Cancer, visit: www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org

In the Know: Daily Candy Weddings April 29, 2009

We have been loyal followers of Daily Candy for years to stay in touch with the latest and greastest info and tidbits on fashion, style and entertainemnt in our favorite metro areas. This great resource has just launched Daily Candy Weddings, devoted to “dresses, dancing, drinking, and more…”.  Check out Daily Candy Weddings now to receive your daily dose.

Simply Happy Hour: Pop Frosty Champagne! April 29, 2009

With summer just around the corner, offer your guests one of these delicious cool beverages that is beyond ordinary.
Courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess

Champagne Freezes, Darling
Ingredients
4 scoops lemon sorbet
2 ounces chilled vodka, citrus vodka or limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur)
2 ounces prosecco or other sparkling wine or Champagne
2 sprigs fresh mint

Preparation
Blend lemon sorbet on low speed and pour in vodka or lemon liqueur in a slow stream. Add prosecco or Champagne. Pour cocktails into a chilled martini glass and serve, garnished with a sprig of mint.

 

 

Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry & Champagne Granita with Sugared Strawberries
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
3/4 cup water
1 cup small strawberries, hulled (about 6 ounces)
3/4 cup fresh pink or ruby grapefruit juice
2 1/4 cups chilled brut Champagne

1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
9 teaspoons mascarpone cheese*
18 whole small strawberries

Preparation
Stir 3/4 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water in large saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Cool. Puree 1 cup strawberries in processor. Whisk 1/2 cup puree into sugar syrup. Mix in grapefruit juice, then Champagne. Pour mixture into 8-inch square metal baking pan. Freeze mixture until firm, stirring every 2 hours, about 6 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; keep frozen.)

Mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar and lemon peel in pie plate. Spread 1/2 teaspoon mascarpone around pointed tip half of each whole strawberry. Dip in lemon sugar to coat mascarpone.

Moisten rims of 6 Martini glasses with water; dip rims into remaining lemon sugar. Scrape fork across surface of granita to form ice shavings. Mound granita in glasses. Garnish with sugared berries and serve immediately.

*Available at Italian markets and some supermarkets.

 

White Peach, Cassis & Champagne Floats
Ingredients
6 medium-size white peaches, halved, pitted, each half cut into 4 wedges
2 pints peach ice cream
3/4 cup crème de cassis (black-currant liqueur) plus additional for drizzling
2 cups chilled brut Champagne or sparkling wine

Preparation
Place 3 peach wedges in bottom of each of 6 tall glasses. Top with 1 scoop ice cream, then another 3 peach wedges. Add second scoop ice cream and top with 2 more peach wedges. Drizzle each with 2 tablespoons crème de cassis. Pour 1/3 cup Champagne into each glass. Top with 1 scoop ice cream, drizzle with additional crème de cassis, and serve.

SJE Loves…Designology Ink April 13, 2009

Wedding Invitaion Ensemble

I have had the great pleasure to work with Kelli at Designology Ink on creating custom invitations and thank you cards for my clients. She is intuitive, creative and listens to what the client wants. Her promptness, attention to detail and reliability are traits you need from a graphic designer in such a high pressure industry. You will be extremely pleased by hiring Kelli at Designology Ink.

SJE Featured on The Smart Planner™ April 13, 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009

Meet the Planners :: Heather Hamilton-Sims

 

Name: Heather Hamilton-Sims

Location: Houston, Texas

Company Name: Simply Jubilee Events, Inc.

Number of Years in Business: 4

Website: simplyjubilee.com

Blog: simplymanage.wordpress.com

How did you get started in wedding planning?
After planning corporate events for 10 years for a telecommunications company, I started designing, planning and coordinating weddings and social events for close family and friends. Once mergers and acquisitions resulted in the elimination of my position in the corporate world, my family encouraged me to take that leap of faith and establish my own event planning firm. Simply Jubilee Events was created in 2005 and has grown to design, plan and manage events in Texas and Louisiana.

If you had to start over what one thing would you do differently? 
If I had to start over and do one thing differently, I would most likely make better marketing decisions and not be talked into things I didn’t need. When I first started I posted my website on every outlet possible and accepted any and every event. I would be more selective on how I promote my company.

What’s your favorite item in your emergency kit?
My favorite item in my emergency kit is eye lash glue. You never know when a teary bride will cause her eyelashes to fall off.

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?
Create a company that can be run successfully in your absence and create a brand that is recognized.

Which two people (past or present) would you have as guests at a dinner party and why?
I would like to have Candice Olsen from HGTV’s Devine Designs and Oprah Winfrey. Candice creates breath taking interior designs that are beyond the ordinary. Her color palettes are trendsetting and I would love to brainstorm with her on how to translate those palettes into impeccable wedding. Oprah would be my other dinner guest, simply because she is Oprah. But really, I would like to discuss her best practices in creating, maintaining and expanding her empire.

What are your three favorite blogs besides thesmartplanner.com?
LotusHaus, Simple and Modern Weddings, and Dynamite Weddings.