Fun Ideas | Dallas, New York, and Seattle Wedding Planners

Father’s Day Gifts

June 13, 2013 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

Posted by: Natalie Chapman

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and you’re still scrambling to figure out the perfect gift for your own father, or your hubby/new father. You don’t want to do the same old same old, but can’t quite come up with something new and fun. Well, let us help you! We’ve got some great ideas that will leave an impression on whoever the special man is!

For the most part guys love cigars, beer, and grilling so you could never go wrong following those leads. But instead of just wrapping up an average gift, try to give it a little bit of a twist!

{Source: Cloak and Dapper}

This ultimate Fathers Day gift from Cloak and Dapper is a perfect gift for any guy! They have an array of gifts for dads, but this one is the ultimate package!

{Source: afire}

Another great idea for any guy would be some specialty and gourmet rubs for grilling like the ones at afire! You could even get really creative and put together a grilling gift basket with different rubs, utensils, and anything else your guy would need!

For your own father try some of these unique gifts.

{Source: Oh Happy Day}

This super cute “hero box” from Oh Happy Day is absolutely adorable! It’s a DIY project so you can pick out all of his favorites and order the cute labels the way you want them. Every dad needs a good reminder that he’s still his little girl’s hero!

{Source: Beer of the Month Club}

Another great idea for your own father would be a membership to the Beer of the Month Club! What dad wouldn’t appreciate this gift?!

If you’re a new family and you want to do something special for your hubby from the kiddos, try some of these adorable gifts!

{Source: Indulgy}

A fill-in-the-blank sheet for your child’s dad is a special way to capture your kids’ love of their dad. Try framing it too so that your hubby will always have it either on his desk, or hanging somewhere!

{Source: [en]frame photography}

This is a great DIY for your hubby that he will really cherish! Ask your child what they love about their dad and either use a whiteboard or chalkboard to photograph them with their answers. Frame it so that their father can always have it, it’ll be great to look back on when they’re older!

I hope these ideas inspire you to show the most important guy in your life a great Father’s Day!

Filed Under: Father's Day, Fun Ideas, Gifts, Holidays Tagged With: Dads, DIY, Father's Day, Gift Ideas, Guys, Kids, Men

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him

February 7, 2013 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

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Whether you and your fiance are the type of people to go out or stay in on Valentine’s Day, it’s always a great way to remind each other of the love that has brought you together, especially if you are planning a wedding! There are some great ways to remind your groom-to-be that in the midst of the planning, you haven’t forgotten about him. Some of these might even be great for your wedding day gift, if you choose! Check out some ideas below:

I’m not sure if you follow Emily of Jones Design Company, but it’s probably one of my favorite blogs to follow. She posted a great Valentine’s Month DIY “love banner” that I actually am doing myself this month (mine doesn’t look as great as hers, but has been a fun project!) You can download the templates here and do a “Valentine’s Week” if you are feeling crafty! It’s a great way to remind the man in your life what exactly you love about him!

Jones Design Company “Love Banner”

What about cuff links that he can wear to the wedding? Etsy has an overwhelming amount of cuff links for basically any interest for any type of man.

Etsy Cuff Links with initials and wedding date

Write a Love Letter or have an old one re-written in beautiful hand writing

Custom Love Letter

Are you ready for your First Dance? If not you might consider finding a dance lesson to take together! Check out your local listings for places that might offer special lessons for brides and grooms.

Another idea would be to take a cooking class together – I know The Institute of Culinary Education in NYC has some great “Couples Cooking Classes” but you could check out Sur La Table in your city as well!

I hope some of these might be helpful as you plan a great Valentine’s Day with your fiance!

xoxo
Happy Valentine’s Week
from your Sweet Pea Events Team

Filed Under: Engaged, Fun Ideas

Downton Abbey Styled Wedding (1920s)

January 22, 2013 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

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I’m not sure about you, but I have found myself enthralled with the Crawley Family and Downton Abbey. If you aren’t familiar with this show, it won’t take you long to catch up with the PBS Masterpiece Classic and I highly recommend it. I was able to spend the long weekend catching up on Season 3 which had not one but two weddings (I won’t do any spoilers because that just wouldn’t be fair!)

It’s so interesting how a show or movie can have such an effect on how brides will plan a wedding. With the release of The Great Gatsby in May and the love for Downton Abbey, it’s likely that there will be hints of the 1920′s trending in the 2013/2014 Wedding Season.

See my tips below on how you can incorporate a Downton Abbey wedding look on your Wedding Day!

Consider a Horse Drawn Carriage for your arrival and/or departure
What girl down’t want to have her princess moment in a horse drawn carriage?

Photo taken from NYC Wedding Carriage

Use Candelabras
Since these are used during every Downton dinner,
I can only imagine how they are used in a Wedding Reception. They are elegant and timeless

Photo from Etsy

Incorporate White Lace Bunting
Of course you can do your wedding colors,
but the classic white is truly a Downton Abbey must!

Photo taken from Etsy

Photo taken from Etsy

Dresses inspired by Downton Abbey
Any dress that has a dropped waist, lace finish, high neck or
sheer longsleeves would also make the case for a Downton Abbey Wedding Dress

BHLDN Dress

Get the headpiece
Enchanted Atelier has some beautiful headpieces that are perfect for the look

Anastasia Comb from Enchanted Atelier

Enchanted Atelier Lady Mary Crown

Gabriella Halo From Enchanted Atelier

Bridesmaid Dresses

These can continue with the sleeves, beaded and dropped waist as well

Photo taken from Nordstrom

Photo taken from Nordstrom

Use Wedding Crackers as Favors

Go Crackers Wedding Crackers

Last but not least, host your wedding at Highclere Castle

This is not ‘on the cheap’ but of course, what could compare but to have your
special day take place at Highclere Castle (or as we know it, Downton Abbey)

Highclere Castle

There are so many other ways to incorporate Downton Abbey to your wedding day, but these are a few that came to my mind. Of course, if some of these are not possible, you might consider a High Tea for your bridal shower as an option as well. We’ve seen it happen when a great show or a great movie does truly inspire our every day lives! I wonder if any of you had something that inspired your wedding day, if you did please share!

Filed Under: Fun Ideas Tagged With: 1920s wedding, Downton Abbey, Flapper Wedding, The Great Gatsby Wedding, Trending Wedding Ideas

Guest Book Inspiration

December 18, 2012 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

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I loved every aspect of my wedding, but if I could go back in time and change one tiny detail, I’d definitely do something more creative with my guest book. As I browse the pages of Pinterest and other fabulous wedding blogs, I am so inspired by the creativity that’s out there!

So for all of you brides who want to go out on a limb and create a guest book that’s a bit outside of the box, check out some of my favorite finds!

{source}

Signature Wine Bottles

This guest book idea is so simple: grab a magnum bottle of a special wine – or even a couple bottles of your favorite and designate each bottle for a special anniversary – and leave a note for your guests to write a message or cute thought for the newlyweds.

{source}

Photo Book or Polaroid Pictures

Whether it’s with Polaroids or a traditional photo booth pictures, what better way to remember your guests than by seeing their lovely faces?! Spruce it up and provide your them with fun props to make the photos even more creative.

{source}

Signature Map

For the travel enthusiasts, I just love this idea! Have your guests use pushpins to mark the location from which they’d traveled, and write well wishes to the bride and groom. What a cool, artistic piece to hang in your future home some day!

{source}

Thumbprints Print

This idea is so sweet and whimsical. Nothing leaves a lasting impression quite like a fingerprint. Again, what a great piece of art to treasure and have on display for years to come.

{source}

Madlibs

If you’re a child of the 90’s, who could forget Madlibs? Countless hours of giggling over the most ridiculous stories! Have your guests put their knowledge of adjectives, nouns and verbs to the test with this fun and interactive game.

{source}

Postcards

Who doesn’t love getting mail? Guests write their well wishes on a pre-stamped and addressed post card and then either they mail it to the couple, or someone gathers all of them and sends them throughout the year. There are so many types of post cards out there, and it would be fun finding ones to perfectly fit the theme of your wedding!

Hope this inspires some of you brides to showcase your personality and style at your wedding (while creating a memorable keepsake to last a lifetime)!

Happy holidays!

Filed Under: Fun Ideas Tagged With: guest book, inspiration, Planning

Wedding Day Keepsakes

November 30, 2012 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

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After your highly anticipated, “best day of your life” is over, the question you might be asking yourself is what do I have to remember my wedding day? Well, besides that new husband of yours, you have the wonderful memories, a lot of photos, a dress and perhaps some leftover favors. There are some traditional ways to remember your wedding, like preserving your bouquet or your dress. Here are a few other unique ways to preserve your special day!

#1: Live-Event Painter

While it might have a touch of old-fashioned artifact to it, the idea of having someone paint your wedding day (whether it’s the ceremony or the reception), a canvased painting is something that will last forever. The New York Times recently posted an article about Live-Event Painting and how it can be used to capture and remember any part of your wedding day.

Credit: Posta Bella

#2: Ketubah

While this is typically a Jewish Tradition, a Ketubah (pronounced KA-TOOB-A) is a beautiful piece of art that encompasses the vows you are taking as husband and wife. They can be done in so many different formats to accommodate any style of wedding.

#3: Using Perfume
A dear friend of mine used this years ago and I have always remembered it. They say that smell is the sense that is most connected to your memory. Her and her husband selected a perfume and cologne to use just for their wedding than to use on anniversaries for the years to come. What a great way to remember your special day, not to mention a new perfume!

#4 Raindrops/Sand/Dirt Jar
Wherever you get married, there is bound to be some sort of element of nature nearby. It might be some dirt from outside the church or sand from the beach. If its a rainy day, have a bridesmaid or family member put out a jar to collect the raindrops for you to keep.

#5 Unique Guest Book
The traditional guest book has become a thing of the past. There are so many ways to collect the words of love and affirmation from your guests, whether it’s a mad lib, wishing tree, fingerprint, coffee table book from your city or a scrap book of photo booth pictures. You will cherish these for years to come!

What other ways do you have to remember the day of your wedding after its all said and done? We would love to hear your ideas!

Filed Under: Engaged, Fun Ideas, Helpful Info

Your Perfect Bridal Accessories

November 19, 2012 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

Posted by:

“Wedzu is all about weddings. Especially indie, handmade, awesome weddings.” I couldn’t have said it better myself! Wedzu.com just happens to be my absolute favorite one-stop shop for all things bridal. Whether you’re looking for the perfect accessory to complete your bridal “look”, or hoping to add a whimsical, calligrapher-ed flair to your invitations, this is the place for you!

Check out some of my most favorite finds:

For the hair: simple and timeless, these classic hairpins are made from upcycled vintage jewelry parts

For the dress: embellish even the simplest gown with this extraordinarily beautiful rhinestone bridal sash

For the groom: pay homage to his home state, his favorite pastime, or just remind him how great he is with these awesome nostalgic cufflinks

For the bridesmaids: jewelry is an ever-popular gift for your best gals, but why not surprise them with something out of the ordinary? I’m loving this layered silk dupioni “bloom” clutch, customizable with over 200 colors.

For the groomsmen: in honor of the “movember” mustache movement, what guy wouldn’t love to get his hands on this cleverly crafted mustache flask?

Happy shopping, friends!

Filed Under: Fun Ideas Tagged With: Accessories, Bridal Gifts, Fashion

Pinterest and Wedding Planning

November 15, 2012 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

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Have you heard of Pinterest? Ha, I’m only kidding. Pinterest has revolutionized Wedding Planning in so many ways, but the question is, how do you use it in a way that you don’t spend every hour obsessing about what new trend you can incorporate into your wedding? Don’t get me wrong, my Pinterest page is anything but sparse, but I think there are some ways that you can utilize this site in a way that helps you but doesn’t drive you crazy.

#1: Stick to your Wedding Theme

If you are having an indoor wedding, don’t get stuck looking at all the beach wedding ideas that you might come across. It’s great to get ideas if you aren’t set on anything yet, but if you already know your theme (Classy, Modern, Traditional, Shabby Chic) then stick to searching for those ideas.

#2 Avoid Browsing the Wedding Section

Try to avoid just browsing and use the search bar. This will help you only look for the ideas that you need, instead of spending hours looking at every dream wedding you could come across. If you need lighting ideas, then search for those instead of every possible wedding idea there is.

#3 Split up your Boards

They have different boards for a reason and don’t be afraid to use them! Instead of having one Wedding Board, do an Invitation Board, Favors Board, Lighting Board and so on)

#4 Use Secret Boards

Recently, Pinterest just started doing Secret Boards! You can use these for the ideas you may not want everyone to know about or outside voices telling you about what they did for their wedding.

#5 Follow Less People/Businesses

Be picky about who you follow on Pinterest, especially if they don’t fit with the theme of your wedding. You can always follow more people after the wedding is over!

Photo taken from SomeEcards.com

Try not to let this site overwhelm you, instead, try to use it to your advantage for a wedding that is exactly what you want it to be! Happy Pinning and Happy Wedding Planning! If you want to check out the rest of the Sweet Pea Event Planners Pinterest Pages, check them out below!

Kelly’s Pinterest Page

Meaghan’s Pinterest Page

Sarah’s Pinterest Page

My Pinterest Page

Filed Under: Fun Ideas, Helpful Info Tagged With: Pinterest, Planning, Wedding Planning, Weddings

Groomsmen Gift Ideas

October 30, 2012 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

Posted by:

Everyone focuses most of their attention on the bride, the bridesmaids, the flowers, and tons of other small details but quickly forget about the sweet groomsmen! Guys are often hard to shop for in general, but its especially difficult to find a gift that is a nice thank you for being such a big part of a guys big day! Here are some awesome gifts that we have found that we feel would be an awesome gesture to the men of the wedding!

A cool flask to carry their favorite beverage. You could even have their name engraved.

Picture taken from BHLDN

An at home beer brew kit, to create their very own beer.

Picture taken from Red Envelope

A masculine iPhone case.

Picture taken from Etsy.com

Customized cuff links for them to wear on the big day.

Picture taken from luulla.com

An iHome, for them to enjoy all the time.

Picture taken from Apple

Filed Under: Fun Ideas, Helpful Info Tagged With: Dallas Wedding Planner, Groom Gifts, Groomsmen Gift Ideas, Groomsmen Gifts, New York City Wedding Planner, Planning For Dudes, Seattle Wedding Planner, What to buy a dude

Planning for Dudes–Our New Brother Company!

October 26, 2012 By Sweetpea Events 1 Comment

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One of my personal goals for a few years now has been to create a branch of our business for guys, helping them to plan their perfect proposal for their girlfriends. One of my friends and colleagues, Nikki from Doodle Dog Advertising, helped to keep me accountable to my goal and created an amazing brand targeted just for dudes…so without further ado, I’m so excited to officially announce Planning for Dudes as our “brother” company to Sweet Pea Events! Check out our website below – pretty sweet, huh? Smile

We are offering Proposal Planning services in Seattle, Dallas, and New York, as that is where we currently have Sweet Pea offices as well. So, if you know any guys in your life who are ready to propose and need a bit of help, tell them to check us out! We Plan, She Brags, You Win!

Filed Under: Fun Ideas, Sweet Pea Events News Tagged With: Dallas Proposals, Doodle Dog Advertising, How Do I Propose, New York Proposals, Planning For Dudes, Proposal Ideas, Proposal Planning, Proposal Planning in Dallas, Proposal Planning in New York, Proposal Planning in Seattle, Seattle Proposals, Shopping For Rings

WedPics: Streamlining The Way We Share Wedding Photos

October 17, 2012 By Sweetpea Events Leave a Comment

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If you’re anything like me, you’re carrying your mobile phone around with you like it’s a third arm. No doubt you’ve used your handy device to document all of life’s memorable moments. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten my big DSLR camera at home – and without missing a beat – have still been able to document my events with a simple touch of the camera on my iPhone.

At nearly every wedding today, guests alike are raising their smartphones to capture that walk down the aisle, the first kiss and that celebratory first dance. So, you’ve captured all these snapshots on your phone – now what?

Thanks to Raleigh, NC-based WedPics, guests are now able to upload those photos directly to an online wedding album set up by the bride and groom, using the WedPics app on your phone.

“We’ve created an app to capture a special ceremony and to make sure the couple getting married can quickly access photos from their wedding and not spend all their time tracking them down,” says CEO and Co-Founder Justin Miller.

WedPics‘ unique digital album also allows wedding guests to upload their photos from their digital cameras, so it isn’t limited to just smartphones. Whether it’s your friend with an iPhone or grandma’s digital camera, everyone will be able to share moments from the big day.

(screenshot of online album)

WedPics is free on the app store for wedding guests, and the bride and groom pay for an access code that allows their guests to log into the secure photo-sharing album of their wedding. The app also allows guests to comment, “love,” and share those same photos, creating a social network for everyone at the wedding.

(love it, tweet it, share it!)

Like what you’re hearing? Check out a sample wedding album by visiting WedPics’ website and entering access code: BM0708.

And thanks to our friends at WedPics, Sweet Pea brides and friends are able to get a 25% discount on WedPics services!

Simply visit WedPics and use the discount code: WEDPICSTY upon check out.

Happy picture-taking!

Filed Under: Fun Ideas Tagged With: Dallas Wedding Planner, Dallas Wedding Planners, Fun Activities for Wedding Guests, iPhone App, New York City Wedding Planner. WedPics, Seattle Wedding Planner, Sweet Pea Events, Wedding Pictures