Every wedding should have signature drinks. Something that speaks to your personalities or will keep your guests going back to the bar. Make them fun and festive and try to do a non-alcoholic version as well as vegan so all of your guests can enjoy something special.

If your looking for something extra special look into Wedding Cocktail Design. They can design a signature drink especially for you on your wedding day that you can enjoy for years to come. They will give you all of the ingredients and a non-alcoholic version. Your signature wedding cocktail will be based on your personality and the style of your wedding and will have its own unique name.

Bailey’s Minty Mistletoe

A delicious mix of Baileys Irish Cream and peppermint schnapps will be perfect for a winter wonderland wedding.

Viennese Coffee Float

Your guests will go crazy over this Viennese treat. Served on its own or with wedding cake this drink will be talked about for years to come.

Pomegranate Champagne

Lavender Whiskey Sour

You can make your own Lavender Sour Syrup to make this signature cocktail a favorite.

Lavender Whiskey Sour (adapted from Martha Stewart Weddings)

Makes 1 cocktail

• Ice Cubes
• 2 ounces of Whiskey
• 1 Tablespoon Lavender Sour Syrup
• Fresh lavender sprig, for garnish

We went to high school together. Jim was the captain of the football team and I was a cheerleader. It wasn’t until September 11, 2007 that we reconnected and sparks flew. We went to a baseball game and sat next to each other and our lives changed that night!

My wedding dress was my high school graduation dress! Fortunately Jim was older than me so he never saw it before!

My dad passed away 3 years ago. We had a bouquet of forget-me-nots on the seat next to my mom to honor him. And we also had a moment of silence where the bagpiper played Amazing Grace.

Our flowers were a variety of wildflowers. I didn’t want one color to dominate. People often ask “what was your color” and I say all of the colors of wild flowers!

What was your favorite design element of your big day?

The Red Tail Hawk ring bearer, the bag piper, the bridesmaids cowboy boots, the pashmina’s on the bridesmaids, and the little country flower girls.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake we had pies from the famous Cowboy Café in Dubois.

Flowers : Lily and Co.

Photography : Taylor Glenn Photography

Videography : Andy Bardon & Weston Knobloch

Venue & Catering : Brooks Lake Lodge

Pies: Cowboy Cafe

Photo booth: The Fotobox

Today I am inspired by Ann Frances and pinecones. Between pinecone bouquets and favors you’ll have a beautiful winter inspired wedding. Romantic candles and twinkle lights are a must to give your wedding a fairy tale look.

What I love about pinecones is that it provides different elements to your wedding, so don’t be shy to add splashes of winter color into your design. From deep purples to baby blues, you can find the perfect color palette for your wedding.

Photos courtesy of Ann Frances via Brides.com, Brides.com, Indie Fixx, Lindsay MacDonald Photography, Jennifer Lindberg Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Wedding 53, Libby James.

The Holiday season inspires us to cheat and indulge in comfort foods and desserts. But if your attending a wedding chances are there will be a dessert table and everyone will stop at it!

Depending on the theme each table will be different, one thing is for sure this season… the dessert tables will be filled with Holiday treats.

Embrace the Holiday season and give your guests something special to remember. Every dessert table has a list of MUST haves! What’s on yours?

You will need some sugar cookies! If your having a winter wedding make sure you have snowflakes, snowmen, and snow hats!

Make sure you include cake pops on your list. If its a Holiday party have some fun with your cake pops and have Frosty the snowman or Christmas trees. For your wedding decorate them like snowflakes, candy canes, and ornaments.

Every dessert table has to have cupcakes! Get inspired and think outside of the box. Not only will the cupcakes stand out on the dessert table your guests will LOVE them.

Of course you don’t want to forget your candy! Every dessert table looks even better with plain colored M&M’s complementing the table. Have fun with your dessert table and don’t forget little bags or boxes for your guests to take some desserts home with them.

Photos courtesy of Seaside Creative, Rolling Pin Productions, Little Miss Holly, Cupcake Goddess, Edible Crafts.

I’ll be honest… Martha Stewart rocks my socks off. One of my favorite recipes from her cookbook The Martha Stewart Cookbook: Collected Recipes for Every Day is her sugar cookie recipe. Its very simple and very easy to get creative with.

If your looking for a great Do-It-Yourself project, look no further, Martha has a GREAT Sugar Cookie Cakes Recipe from Martha Stewart Weddings. This recipe is perfect for edible favors for your wedding guests. You can get super creative and make sugar cookie wedding cakes! Not only will your guest be impressed with your baking skills they will love the thought you put into making mini wedding cakes.

Sugar Cookie Cakes (from Martha Stewart Weddings, Winter 2006)

Makes 64 cookies, enough for 8 cakes

• 8 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 4 tsp vanilla extract
• Small store-bought gum-paste or icing flowers (3/4 inch each)
  

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Divide dough into 4 pieces; flatten each into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 325°, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Let 1 disk of dough stand at room temperature just until soft enough to roll, about 10 minutes. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to 1/4 inch thick, adding more flour as needed to keep dough from sticking. Using cookie cutters, cut out 2 dozen 3 1/2-inch rounds, 2 dozen 2 3/4-inch rounds, and sixteen 2-inch rounds. Transfer to baking sheets lined with parchment paper as you work, keeping rounds of the same size on the same sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Chill in freezer until very firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake until edges turn golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks; let cool completely. Transfer icing to a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip (such as Ateco #6). Pipe around top edges of each cookie, about 1/4 inch from edge; fill in with a thin layer of icing. Smooth with a small offset spatula. (Reserve about 1/4 cup icing for assembling cookie cakes.) Let set, at least 6 hours (or overnight).

Stack 3 large cookies, securing with dabs of icing in between. Repeat, stacking 3 medium cookies and 2 small cookies on top. Secure a gum-paste flower on top of each cookie cake using a small amount of icing. Repeat with remaining cookies and icing. Let stand until set, at least 30 minutes, before packaging.

Royal Icing (from Martha Stewart Weddings, Spring 2004)

Makes 2 cups

• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar
• 5 tablespoons meringue powder

Happy Baking!

As you know I’m a big fan of Minted. The last time I blogged about Minted’s Holiday cards I briefly mentioned their Photo Calendars. In November, Minted launched an assortment of photo calendars just in time for the holiday season.

They are printed on luxurious matte paper and finished with die cut corners. Let me tell you these calendars are sure to make the perfect gift for your loved ones!

I had the opportunity to see the process first hand and I have to say that Minted’s Photo Calendars should be on the top of your list of things to get for the new year!

The designing is easy,  just upload the photos you want in their pre-designed layouts. This calendar provided by Adam & Imthiaz Photography features the Aquarelle Photo Calendar with a variety of layouts. Each month was a different design alternating Minted’s one photo, two photo, and three photo layouts.

Another cool feature Minted provides on their Photo Calendars is paper craft ideas. You can take the backer on one of the months and cut out bookmarks. Just another way to reuse your paper products.

The print quality on Minted’s Photo Calendars is superb. Its the perfect gift to show off family photos, engagement sessions, and of course your wedding photos.

There are a few things to keep in mind when ordering your Minted Photo Calendar. First, make sure you love the design because once you order it you will not get a proof. And make sure you pick the right design to show off your photos. You don’t want your photos covered up by the design.

Don’t worry though, during the design process you get your preview right away and can make as many changes as you need. Once its ordered don’t worry about waiting on pins and needles, because chances are Minted will deliver your product before their set delivery date! Don’t you just love companies like that?

You can check out more of Minted’s Photo Calendars by visiting their website. Happy designing!