We’ve received a Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award!

Yeah!  We are pleased and honored to announce that we have been chosen to receive the Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award!

The 2009 HOPE WON Presidential Inauguration Gala

Pour Etre Joli is proud to be a part of producing The 2009 HOPE WON Presidential Inauguration Gala being held at the Westin Annapolis.  This event promises to be one of the history making events of the new year!  Tickets may be purchased at :  www.hopewon.eventbrite.com  Early bird tickets are $150.00 per person and after December 15, 2008, if available, will be available for $175.00 per person.  Hope to see you there!!!

 

Another Level of Flower Design

Once again, looking through different sites and floral designers work, leads me to a wonderful San Fransisco Floral Designer MATTHEW JUHO MATSUYAMA.  I will not only call him a designer, but an Artist in the true sense of the word.  Check out his work on:  http://www.pbase.com/gatolisto

 

He calls this green:

 

He calls this Fall Topiary:

 

Check out his flower girl bouquet:

Awesome Florist Blog found!

Bella Studios is an awesome florist!  I say that without reservation.  She has eye catching bouquets that you don’t see everywhere.  I wish she was located in Maryland, but she’s in Kansas.  Kansas brides are lucky to have her. 

Well, here’s her blog: http://belladesignstudio.blogspot.com/ and her website is: http://www.belladesignstudio.net/

Vinyl Wall Monograms and Decals

I love all things monogram.  Monograms can go anywhere.  They can be projected using gobo lights as well as using vinyl lettering.  These can be placed on the ground, on walls, practically anywhere!  Here are a few places for ordering:  www.mywalldecals.com, and www.momentsofelegance.com

 

 

 

Or check out this etsy seller:  www.BadassCustomDecals.etsy.com

the last image is from the etsy seller.

How to Design a Candy Buffet

This article was featured on http://simplystated.realsimple.com/celebrations/2008/07/candy-buffet.html

Candy buffets are always a welcome treat at parties and weddings, and they seem to instantly bring about that wonderful “kid in a candy store” feeling, no matter what your age! As much a party decoration as they are an edible treat, you’ll quickly discover that there’s definitely a right and wrong way to do candy buffets. Here are some guidelines to help make sure you end up with a display that looks as sweet as it tastes!
You’ll need:
• Several glass containers in a variety of shapes and sizes (bowls, jars, vases, canisters, pedestal servers)
• Candy
• Candy Scoops
• Small cellophane bags or mini boxes for guests to fill with candy
• Ribbon, labels, and other embellishments to decorate the jars

How much candy do you need?
The number one thing to keep in mind when creating a candy buffet? Don’t skimp! Instead of thinking in terms of how much candy each guest will actually eat, it’s best to think of your candy buffet as a decorative element and focus on creating a display that looks visually stunning, just as you would do with flower arrangements or other “regular” party decor.

For Large parties or weddings:
8-10 types of candy / 15-20 pounds each

For smaller parties or occasion showers:
7-10 types of candy / 6-10 pounds each

The quantities above are a general guideline, but the more abundant and full the candy buffet looks, the better!

Tips & Tricks:

To help create a full look to your buffet when you’re on a tight budget, use other decorative “filler” items on the table around the candy jars. Paper lanterns, flowers, flower petals, and picture frames are great “filler” elements. You can even sneak in some jars of inexpensive, coordinating cookies to help fill space and create a decadent, abundant look to the buffet.

Use a variety of types of candies – individually wrapped, unwrapped with a hard candy shell (i.e. m&m’s, skittles), hard candies, gummy candies, lollipops, old-fashioned candy sticks, etc.

Purchase candy at bulk candy stores – either local or online (see Resources below). If it’s possible for you to buy bulk candy locally, bring your containers into the store with you to make sure you purchase the correct amount.

If you’re ordering candy online, be sure to place your order well in advance so that you have time to stage the buffet at home before the party and order more candy if necessary. You also want to avoid rush shipping fees, as bulk candy can be very heavy!

Consider your environment. For example, if you’re having an outdoor wedding in the summer, you may want to avoid chocolate, yogurt-covered malt balls, and other types of candy that can melt in the heat.

To narrow down the wide selection of candies available, which can be overwhelming when you’re deciding on the candy “menu”, focus on creating a buffet that matches your party colors and/or theme.

Use different shapes, sizes, and heights of containers, and make sure their mouths are wide enough for guests to scoop candy from. Cylinder vases and apothecary jars are widely available in home/craft stores (Target, IKEA, Michael’s, etc.) and online, and it’s also great to check discount stores like Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Marshalls.

Embellish containers with ribbon, custom labels, and other decorative embellishments.

***

Shopping Resources:

Bulk Candy:
www.sweetfactory.com
www.candywarehouse.com
www.candyfavorites.com
www.blaircandy.com
www.groovycandies.com
www.oldtimecandy.com

Containers & Candy Scoops:
www.amazon.com
www.save-on-crafts.com
www.target.com
www.jamaligarden.com
www.ablekitchen.com
www.acemart.com

An Etsy find…Clay Bouquet

I don’t know if you all have heard of Etsy.  It is full of the most original items a bride could want for her not so ‘regular’ wedding…Check this clay bouquet out:

dkdesignshawaii

Click on the link to see the other wonderful creations!

 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=13731012

Another Fake Cake

Here’s a fake cake that we also did.

Alternative Guest Book Solutions and Ideas

Awesome Guestbook Idea!
March 24, 2008 by Chrys
Okay – LOVE THIS!!! One Love Photo shared this recently as part of their Sweet Things series: unique things that people have done to make their weddings more personal. This couple had a canvas prepared with a pencil outline and divided into squares. Then, each guest gets a chance to paint in one square. This would be an awesome activity to set up at the reception, perfect for the couple with an artistic flair.

This could also be a VERY affordable option – canvas and paints are fairly affordable at Micheals or other craft stores.

Source: http://budgetdreamweddings.com/1591/awesome-guestbook-idea/

Buying Bridesmaids dresses online

Check out www.houseofbrides.com for their bridesmaids dresses.  They have an awesome selection.  We recently had an order with them completed and filled perfectly.  They received the order and contacted us via email to let us know that they were working on the order and an estimated time for delivery.  Then a few weeks later, we received another email letting us know that the order was shipped.  We received the dresses in less time than they estimated!