Studio R Creations

I'll let you in on a secret. I love small businesses! I believe that some of the best creations come from people who have a passion for what they do and want to share their gifts with the world. So it will come as no surprise that my new favorite company for handmade gifts is a small business called Studio R Creations! It's a brand spanking new company but the artist has been working on her craft for 14 years. Her talents range from stained glass to jewelry to ceramics. For her business however, she is focusing on customizable gifts for any occasion or just because :) Here are some examples of what you can order from her store:
Here are some of her necklaces

Here are some of her coasters

Here are some examples of home decor

If you like what you see or have any questions feel free to contact Rachael at 4StudioRC@gmail.com. You can also check out her Facebook page for more information and examples of her work at www.facebook.com/studiorcreations
I predict that 2015 is going to be an amazing year for this company and I hope you will be a part of its success!

Holiday Party Time!!!

Planning a holiday get together at you house can be a daunting task form the cleaning to the decor to the food. Where do you start?? Well, fear not. I have some wary to follow tips and tricks to make your holiday party a success!

• Make sure invitations are sent out in advance and that you get RSVPs.
• Festive-up the house
• Lights and candles will go a long way in creating a glow for your party room. Place any candles out of the way so that they don’t get knocked over.
• Don't forget about music! It absolutely sets the tone for the party.
• Choose suitable dishes that work with the feel of the gathering.
• Take time to study a food plan.
• You'll want to serve finger foods-nothing you have to cut or have trouble eating or that is messy and can get all over you. There's nothing worse than standing there with a plate, silverware and a glass of wine! Make it easy 
• Keep the kids happy with kid-friendly bites and special area where the little ones can play.
• Be prepared for extra food in case a friend decides to bring her famous gingerbread cookies!
• Welcome guests with refreshments. Set up a drink station close to the entryway.
• If applicable, Hire a presentable neighborhood teenager and put her or him in charge of refreshing the food.
• Enjoy!

Preston Residential College Reunion Follow-up!

So, it happened!! The Preston Residential College reunion went off without a hitch! Although the weather was wet and dreary we still had an fantastic turn out. The staff at Preston were an amazing help and the Preston Ambassadors who helped with set up were invaluable. The guests were an amazing mix of past and current Prestonites. In total, about 90-100 were in attendance. Bob Roller gave a lovely speech and presented a dedication plaque to Jay Jackson's family.

 Most people mingled and chit-chatted as they enjoyed the delicious food provided by Carolina Catering.

The Preston Ambassadors were ready and willing to give tours of the building to former residents to highlight some of the changes that have taken place. While the alumni reminisced on past activities, events, and even which rooms they had lived in.

 At the end of the reception a group of remaining guests decided to take a group picture on their beloved couch "Zelda." (The couch was designed by Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife)

 All in all the reunion was a success! And I am looking forward to planning Preston's 75th Anniversary this Fall.

Preston Residential College Reunion

In less then a week it will be Homecoming for The University of South Carolina. It is also the weekend for USC's Preston Residential College 5(ish) year reunion. I lived in Preston throughout my college career and was thrilled when they asked me to plan it.

I'm fairly certain, with only 3 sentences, I've managed to confuse you a bit. How can a college be in a university? Well, Preston is a living learning community modeled after the Oxford/Cambridge model of residential colleges. Think Hogwarts without the magic...sadly. The students live together, eat together 5 times a week, there are classes offered within the building, and there is even a faculty member who lives in house that is called the Principal. Sounds a little funny, but it is a truly great community. 90% of the friends I have to this day are people I met during my time in Preston. 

So, It's reunion time! There will be 55 people coming from 4 states. Some Alumni will be bringing spouses and kids and the festivities will begin right after the Homecoming Parade. The event is being catered by Carolina Catering. They will be serving up some good mingling appetizers and then  a throwback favorite of chicken fingers and curly fries. (We had them every Wednesday and, surprisingly, they never got old.) There will also be a few words spoken about some Prestonites that we have lost. And if the weather permits, there are some old scores in frisbee golf that needs to be settled. Some alumni sent in old pictures that will be used as table centerpieces or on a memory wall by the food tables. After the reunion, I will write a follow up piece and post some pictures! 

Making it work

Scenario: You walk into a potential event space and the first thought that crosses your mind is.... Man, that carpet is ugly. And instead of seeing any promise in the space you just keep thinking.... Why would someone do that?
If this has happened to you, you aren't alone. There is almost always something that might deter you from choosing an event space. It could be harsh lighting, irremovable decor, or a ridiculously placed column or two. Perfection is hard to find and typically isn't in the average bride's budget. But, luckily there are ways to hide some of the more unsightly features of a room.
Do you love the local Country Club but HATE the wall paper? Pipe and Drape will be your new best friend! Cover the walls in you favorite color fabric or sheer.

It brings sense of uniformity to the space and can tie in to your event's color scheme. For spaces that are really large (maybe a little too large), draping the room can bring the room in and visibly make it smaller.

Did you find a great event space but the 'high school cafeteria lights' are making you cringe? Uplight the room and turn the

fluorescents off! Uplighting can be used to accent architectural features  such as columns, fireplaces, or walls, as well as under objects and spaces to create a “glowing” effect. Uplighting can  customize any space to create the mood or atmosphere you desire. I am a huge fan of lighting a room regardless of the on site lighting situation. It makes the room  look so much more dynamic and interesting.

And what about that not-so-lovely carpet?? Removable event flooring is the best way to take care of that. Most venues allow you to bring in a dance floor. Just think of it as an extra large dance floor. It can even match the style or theme of your event.

When I went to hear David Turera speak at Disney's Fairytale Wedding's Bridal Showcase back in February he was asked a question by a bride regarding his experience with working with undesirable aspects of  reception spaces. His reply was, "If you notice the carpet, I'm not doing my job!" So finding your dream event space is not very likely..... but CREATING it is!

Magnolia Plantation Venue Visit

Amanda and Morgan decided that they wanted an outdoor reception. After reviewing some possibilities with both of them they decided that they wanted to visit Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, SC. So last week Amanda, Morgan, myself, and Morgan's sister (and Maid of Honor) Karri went down for a site visit.

Magnolia Plantation has 3 main venue options: The Veranda, The Carriage House, and The Conservatory. I was immediately drawn to The Carriage House for them. It has both indoor and outdoor areas, a lovely view of the Ashley River, and it has a small fire pit that would be a great way to tie in the fact that they met at a summer camp by having a Smore bar!

Carriage House is the original carriage house for the plantation and dates back to 1840.  It is surrounded by ancient Live Oaks, sweeping lawns, torches that line the river. Both outdoor and indoor areas were set up for a wedding that was taking place that evening so we got to see a bit of what it's potential could be.

The Event Manager Jessica was fantastic. She gave us all the information we needed and even let us slip into the adorable bridal suite before that evening's bride arrived. It was a quick visit but we got all we needed. Amanda was practically sold on the place. Not that I blame her. It is pretty spectacular!

I have a feeling this is the one they are going to go for BUT we will still do a little shopping around first. 

Afterwards, we took a walk through the gardens and up to the plantation. It was really a treat to see all Magnolia Plantation had to offer. If we don't have Amanda and Morgan's reception here I will definitely look here as a venue location in the future!

Cheers! pt.2

After my original "Cheers!" post I got some great suggestions and feed back! Michelle from upstate New York supmitted this article and I thought it would be perfect as a follow up story. She also has been kind enough to share the recipe for an exclusive signature drink that you can try at home!

What a Signature Cocktail can do for Your Event

Brides and grooms-to-be alike have pondered the idea of how having a signature cocktail could benefit their gathering. Sure it could bring some added flare to the party, but could this option really have more to offer than what we think? Take a look at some of the benefits and decide for yourself.

• First, this option can save your wallet from the horrid wedding planning debt that everyone has a tendency to fall into. When caught up in how to make sure everyone has their usual on hand, you can spend anywhere from double or more than what you would pay for signature cocktail ingredients to serve the same amount of guests. Buying in bulk is a must when choosing to add alcohol to the beverage list. This will help keep you on budget and avoid excessive debt.

• Second, you can use the cocktail to represent your wedding color(s). Try mixing up a little batch of "Something Blue" for any shade of blue or create a "Wedding March" cocktail and add some decorative white flowers around the bowl. You can add anything to mix it up and show off your personal touches. And you don't have to stick to a single color either. You can have "Shades of Personality" with the same signature cocktail mixed with different colors of sherbet to really show off your style.

• Third, for those who aren't interested in the alcoholic versions, their virgin cousins work well also. Try a mix of sodas with sherbet of different colors to make the color you're really going for here. Don't forget to add some decorations to the bowl to use it as an awe-inspiring and practical centerpiece. You can also use several punch bowls and have them set up at each table so guests don't have to go back for refills.

• Fourth, this option is entirely customizable. You don't have to worry about falling in line with the rest of the crowd because you can really make this your own. With the variety of liquors available, you can mix those, any drink mixers you favor, add one or more of many types of sodas and/or sherbet and come up with some unique ideas. It will also help both the bride and groom to feel more in control and a part of the planning process.

The benefits of having a custom cocktail are nearly endless. From the value in the purchase to the options a couple is presented, you can't get much more bang for your buck!  The following is a signature drink recipe from the renowned Turning Stone luxury resort in Upstate New York.  The resort holds several weddings and major events throughout the year.  Signature drinks have become an exceptionally popular trend for 2013 weddings.  You can experiment at home with different recipes to find the perfect signature drink to match your wedding!

Thanks again Michelle! If anyone else has any recipes that they would like to share feel free to email them to me at 4somethingblue@gmail.com.