Reception Music: Getting Started - TheKnot.com

Reception Music: Getting Started - TheKnot.com: If it’s done right, music will energize your celebration, heighten romance, and inspire guests to get down on the dance floor. "If music be the food of love, play on...." So said Shakespeare, and we echo his sentiment wholeheartedly. Here are eight notes to keep in mind.

Finding Your Muse

The best way to find the perfect band or DJ for your reception? Firsthand knowledge. Have you been to a wedding where the band kept the guests grooving all night long? Were you all smiles until the very last dance? Get the band's name and contact info. Alternatively, poll your recently married friends: Did they love their wedding band or DJ? Have they been to an event with great music? Word of mouth is still the best way to get the best musicians.

Cool Down After Your Beach Wedding With This Creative Idea

As I've mentioned before on this blog, I absolutely love ideas for unique and non-traditional food and drinks, decorations, and fun touches at any wedding. So when I came across this great idea for serving gourmet popsicles at your wedding, I couldn't imagine anything better for a group of hot wedding guests out on the beach than this delicious cool-down treat! 

This idea, originally from Celebrity Wedding Planner Preston Bailey, was featured by Tanja Walsh and struck my fancy in a big way!

Check out Pop Bar for more inspiration on delicious (and aesthetically pleasing) gourmet popsicles!

Wedding Inspiration from Rancho la Puerta (via Bridal Bubbly)

Anyone who has seen my blissed out state for the past week knows that I just returned from Rancho la Puerta. And anyone who has been to Rancho la Puerta knows what a beautiful and amazing place it is. Located in Baja, the resort sits at the base of Mount Kuchamaa and features traditional Mexican architecture and stunning gardens.

 I was completely captivated by the rustic charm of the buildings and the natural beauty of the herbs and cactus which cover the grounds. Walkways are lined with rosemary and lavender bushes, making strolling around the property a heady experience. After spending a week in this little bit of Mexican paradise and getting truly rejuvenated, I thought I'd share some inspiration for a Rancho la Puerta style wedding.

I was in heaven with the amazing cuisine at Rancho la Puerta. Since they have their own enormous organic garden, the meals were so healthy and delicious. Lots of fruit used in creative ways like an avocado sorbet served with mango and a lemon tiramisu with papaya. And, of course, bowls and bowls of papayas, mangoes, and melons. Exotic fruits are perfect to incorporate into a summer wedding, whether in a display or desserts. I am a huge fan of fruity desserts and find fruit in general so refreshing during the heat of July and August. ... Read More

via Bridal Bubbly

Wedding Inspiration Board: Pretty Pinwheels | Wedding Ideas and Inspiration Blog

Pinwheels are such happy things. Seriously, just try to be in a grumpy mood holding a pinwheel. Impossible. But if you are worried that your wedding might start to look to much like a circus or a child’s birthday party if you use pinwheels, here are a few fun ways to incoporate them into your decor. Use them on your invitations to give your guests a hint of all the fun they are going to have, and send them off in boxes, rather than traditional envelopes (because crushed pinwheels are not happy). Instead of flowers, use them to decorate a lawn aisle or make the pinwheels out of interesting paper, such as maps (perhaps to where you are headed on your honeymoon), and use in place of floral arrangements on the guest book table. Pinwheels also make cheery cake toppers, whether you have a traditional wedding cake or cupcakes (bonus points for matching the pinwheels to the cupcake liners). ... Read More. 

Wedding Inspiration Board: Pretty Pinwheels | Wedding Ideas and Inspiration Blog