October « 2011 « Better Together Events

October, 2011

Our Biggest Little Event of the Year: Bridget Elizabeth’s Vintage Sunshine 1st Birthday Party

On October 28th, our beautiful Bridget turned 1; on October 29th, we celebrated with a fabulous (if I don’t say so myself) vintage sunshine party.

I went DIY crazy for this one, and there are more posts to come with details on how to make some of the items you’ll see below.

The theme was vintage sunshine. What does this mean? I was inspired by the song I’ve been singing to my sweet girl since the day she came home: You are My Sunshine. Being a Fall baby, I didn’t want to go crazy with the summer sunshine thing, so I warmed it up a bit with vintage details. Think lots of lace, pastels, and soft details with a splash of hot pink.

I worked with The Paper Perfectionist and White Tulip (Etsy) on the invitations. Multiple stamps were used to add a vintage flair to the invitations, and I used a whimsical font in addressing them.

Love the Day (Etsy) did the graphic design on the favor tags, party rounds garland, outdoor signs, and the Happy Birthday sign. Everything else from the poms to the floral arrangements to the party hats and beyond, the one woman creative force at Better Together Events made with love for a certain very inspirational birthday girl. :)

Hand made Party Hats, Better Together Events

CD Holders and Labels, Better Together Events

Hand-Made Pinwheels that actually spun! Better Together Events

Poms Poms Everywhere! Poms by Better Together Events

Printables by Love The Day

Hand made Table Ribbon Garland, Better Together Events

High Chair Ribbon Garland, You are My Sunshine Sign, Better Together Events

Gift Table

Capsule Details, Better Together Events

Personalized First Birthday Ornament, Sunshine Ceramics Etsy

Water Bottle Printables, Love The Day

Rochester’s own Premier Pastry made the gorgeous cakes. Wegman’s catering took charge of the food platters.

One….

Today my heart turns ONE… Why, how did this even happen?

Oh My Bridget, so many things to say, but I just want to leave you with this very important thought: This year you’ve learned to dance, to take steps, to laugh, to talk, to roll, to giggle, to eat, to cry… you’ve learned to write your own song and to make your own dance and all the while I’ve had the privilege to watch your eyes as you discovered things extraordinarily beautiful and extraordinarily terrible. Seeing the world through your bright, blue, brilliant eyes has been nothing sort of miraculous. I hold your first year in my heart as you carry my heart with you.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Peach.

sassy shoes — No Comments
25
Oct 11

Tuesday Shoesday, Vendor Spotlight: Hilary Argentieri Photography

All season long, my fabulous Event Assistant Rachel and I oo’ed and awe’ed over this seasons hottest shoe trend: the nude pump.

Thanks to Hilary Argentieri Photography for sharing these gorgeous images showcasing a twist on the nude pump with a peep-toe and a wood heel. For a similar pair, click here.

bridal gowns / fabulous frocks — No Comments
21
Oct 11

Elizabeth Fillmore’s Spring 2012 Collection

I’m obsessing over Elizabeth Fillmore’s 2012 Bridal Collection. It’s filled with lace, organza, and all sorts of feminine details.

Love Love Love

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18
Oct 11

Tuesday Shoesday, Vendor Spotlight: Lora Ann Photography

This week’s shoesday is getting us ready to dress up later this month! There may be no place like home, but if you are going to be stuck in Oz, it mind as well be in a pair of sassy ruby slippers. Thanks to Lora Ann Photgraphy for these fabulous images. For a similar pair, click here.

bridal gowns / fabulous frocks — No Comments
14
Oct 11

Oh, Happy Day: Anthro’s Short Gowns

I am loving these two short gowns from Anthropologie’s BHLDN line of gowns.

And if my Bridget’s Vintage Sunshine First Birthday party had a wedding gown inspiration or two, these might be it.

Floral Artwork Dress, $1,500

Tulle Era Dress, $2,600

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11
Oct 11

Tuesday Shoesday

Romantic, Fluffy, Fun – these shoes have it all.

I couldn’t find anything similar, but it looks like the bride took a pair of ivory peep-toes and added a shoe clip which you can find on Etsy.

Photo courtesy of LA based Sarah Yates Photography.

birthday parties / DIY-inspired — No Comments
7
Oct 11

Friday Etsy Finds

Without giving TOO much away regarding Miss Bridget’s 1st Bday Extravaganza, I have been Etsy-ING up a storm and been SO VERY happy with all my purchases.

I’ve learned through my years of wedding and event planning that designing and implementing your vision requires delegating when necessary, and Etsy provides a great place to accomplish this. If you have a very specific idea in mind – odds are you won’t find exactly what you are looking for – but if you find the artisan that can most likely implement your design, that’s all you need.

I’m still a huge fan of DIY, and right now my dining room table is appropriately covered in ribbon scraps, card stock, tape, hot glue gun pieces, etc. And a lot of times I get inspired by what people are selling on Etsy.

Check out what I’m digging now…

Personalized First Birthday Ornament, $13, SunshineCeramics

Personalized Trick or Treat Bag, $8.95, SewBlessedStitches

Harry Potter Golden Snitch Locket, $16, Leslie Shields

You Are My Sunshine Personalized Dish, $25, SunshineCeramics

I’ll finish this post with a related pet peeve. A lot of times crafty people are falsely accused of “having too much free time on their hands.” Are people who jog for fun accused of this? How about people who bake? I get my crafts out at the end of a long day. It’s cathartic for me – I love being surrounded by bits of lace with scissors in one hand, glue pieces stuck to my fingers. My final products aren’t always so hot, but I’ve had fun doing something creative for someone I love. So just because you don’t like to craft, lay off the people who do. Yea we’re a little bit crazy about our hobby – but isn’t that the point??

sassy shoes — 1 Comment
4
Oct 11

Tuesday Shoesday

If I came back as a shoe, it just might be these purple suede Kate Spades with a glitter tuxedo bow. All photos courtesy of Sarah Rhoads Photography based out of Seattle. How chic is this entire wedding!?