Color Trends Part Two - Our Predictions for 2014

We hope you enjoyed our tribute to 2013's Pantone color of the year.  We have truly been inspired by emerald and look forward to seeing it used throughout the remainder of the year.  With 2014 right around the corner, we'd like to turn our attention to next year's newly predicted color trends.  No one can know what the future will bring, but we've taken a stab at what we expect to see in the color world for the coming year.

As far as weddings go, pastels are here to stay; however, we expect to see more brights and metallics continue to be added to the mix in 2014.  Over the past few years, many of our couples have decided to incorporate bold colors (both solids and patterns) into their wedding decor and we expect to see that increase over the next few years.  Jewel tones have been very popular over the past few years and we expect this trend to continue.  In 2014, we believe couples will continue to think outside the box and use vivid hues mixed in with the more traditional pastel wedding colors.

Pantone hasn't named the 2014 color of the year, but they have given us a few ideas. According to their Fashion Report from the recent NY Fall Fashion Week, ten colors have been identified as most prevalent in designers' current collections.  They are a mix of neutrals, pastels and exotic brights.

If you go to their website, you can vote for your favorite!

Neutrals are timeless and will always be appropriate at weddings; however, we are constantly finding ways to reinvent the neutral palette by adding bold or even subtle contrasts to it.  This year we did so with mint and various hues of blue, with blush and mixed metallics, and with cream with pops of fushia and fun prints.  We expect this to continue in 2014.  A few of the Sterling Engagements Team Members decided to make a few predictions of what they expect to see in 2014.  Here they are!

Predictions From our Team...

Alexandra Rembac, Principal & Creative Director: "I'm thinking Cayenne.  It's bold, exciting, completely interchangeable with a broad variety of other color hues and I can already see myself pairing it with certain weddings we are designing for 2014!"

Ana Vargas, Office & Production Manager: "I'm absolutely in love with Dazzling Blue.  Although I agree that Pastels are here to stay in the wedding world, I also see couples adding splashes of bright colors to make their color schemes pop.  This Dazzling Blue can complement all pastels, both in wedding decor and in our closets and I can already see it used along with softer choices."

Star Hansen, Director of Wedding Planning & Sr. Associate Planner: I believe Violet Tulip is going to be the color we see most of in 2014.  It is such a stunning shade of purple... bolder than lavender, but not over the top.  I see our couples pairing it with various shades of purple and combining it with traditional wedding neutrals.

What color do you think we will see the most of in 2014?

Bling Wipes - Where Have These Been All Our Lives?!

We hope you are all having a great start to your week.  Today we want to share with you something that might make your Monday a little... sparklier!  Bling Wipes!  This amazing new product was created by a husband and wife team for those moments when you are on the go and notice that your bling isn't as blingy as it could be.  Bling Wipes are individually packaged, lint free, disposable towelettes that are perfect for convenient on the go jewelry cleaning.  Their unique solution restores jewelry's natural brilliance by removing oil, make-up, lotion and other residue.

Isn't the retro packaging just so cute?!

These are the perfect gift for a bride to be or just about anyone who likes to wear diamonds and prefers that when they do, they sparkle like they should!  These wipes don't just work on diamonds, they also work wonders on gold, silver, gemstones and even men's watches (although they are not intended for use on emeralds or pearls).  They can be purchased on the Bling Wipes' website.  A pack of ten individual wipes costs $12.00.  We are not affiliated with Bling Wipes, we just love this product!

Photos courtesy of Bling Wipes

Love,

The Sterling Team

Star's Favorite Things: Photo Booth Fun!

Photo booths have become quite popular at weddings, and for good reason!  Whether portable, digital, or no walls studio style, photo booths add fun and excitement to your big day.  Guests welcome the opportunity to interact and be silly so consider providing props such as boas, hats, wigs and mustaches (most photo booth companies include these props in their packages).  Guests love being able to take their photos home which makes them double as a favor!  Request multiple copies of each photo then ask guests to place a copy of each picture in a scrap book with a note.  Or, ask them to hang their photos on a wall or along a clothesline for decoration during your reception.  Many photo booth companies will also provide you with a CD of all of the photos taken at your event which is a great way for you to have a picture of each of the guests present at your wedding.

Photo courtesy of Scott Langley Photographer 

If you decide on a studio style photo booth and your budget allows for it, consider having a custom backdrop created. This adds a personal touch to the photos and allows your wedding concept to shine.

Here at Sterling Engagements, we happen to be big fans of studio style photo booths because they allow for uniqueness and creativity; however, we also love the nostalgic aspect of portable photo booths.  We've worked with some amazing photo booth and custom backdrop design vendors! 

We love this custom backdrop which has been designed to look like a giant chalk board.

Photo courtesy of My Modern Met

We love how these couples utlized picture frames.  So fun!



Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Photo courtesy of Angel In The North

Photo Courtesy of Belle The Magazine

This custom background of red poppies is stunning and so elegant.



Photo courtesy of The Wedding Planners

If you are a DIY bride, you may want to create your own background.  We love the texture and romace of these DIY backgrounds.

Photo courtesy of Ruche

Photo courtesy of Ruche

This photo illustarates how the photos can be used as decor throughout the reception. Doesn't it look fantastic?!

Photo courtesy of The Wedding Galleria

Check out one of our Bride's photo booths in action.  We absolutely LOVED her custom background which was created by Shawna Yamamoto Event Design!

Photo courtesy of Callaway Gable

As I mentioned, props are a great way to add fun and humor to the photos.  You can go big with hats, glasses and boas, or you can go a bit simpler and go with the mustaches, lips and glasses shown below.

Photo courtesy of EPLove Photography

We came across these photos and had to share them with you because they are so unique and fun!  This Bride and Groom had life size cut outs of themselves in their wedding attire made and had them avaialble for guests to take photos with.  It gave every guest the opportunity to take a photo with the Bride and Groom.  Such a silly and creative idea and they look pretty life like in my opinion!  The photo on the left is of the Bride and Groom with their cut outs.

XOXO,

Star

Shoe Shot Sunday: Myesha + Craig

Myesha and Craig were married at Cafe Pinot in front of the historic Los Angeles Public Library on Saturday, September 29th, 2012.  Their wedding was modern and chic yet playful.  Myesha's shoes were absolutely stunning - no other word could describe their beauty!  These Loubis just melt our hearts and might have to be the most perfect wedding shoe ever!

Photos courtesy of Adrienne Gunde Photography

Adrienne Gunde did a stellar job of documenting these lovely shoes, along with all of the wedding day details.  We can't wait to share many more images from Myesha and Craig's wedding with you, stay tuned!  

Star's Favorite Things: Welcome Bags & Packages

Your out of town guests are thrilled to be spending the weekend celebrating your day of matrimony; however, even with a blocked room rate, booking a hotel room for the wedding weekend can be costly.  On top of hotel costs, when you include the wedding and bridal shower gifts as well as the new cocktail dress they may have purchased just for your wedding, your guests may feel like they've forked out quite a chunk of change.  We all know they are happy to do it but wouldn't it be nice to give those out of town guests a little something extra to say "thank you"?  Consider surprising them with a welcome package!  It can be waiting for them in their hotel room or at check-in and is a great way welcome your guests and let them know you appreciate their presence.  It is also a chance to set the mood for the weekend ahead and give guests an idea of what they can expect.  A welcome package is a great way to tie your wedding theme in right from the beginning, as well as give your guests an opportunity to get excited about the upcoming festivities.

Start with something to hold the goodies in.  A reusable bag is a great option as guests can reuse them and will think of your wedding every time they pull it out.  If you are a DIY bride, you can purchase inexpensive canvas bags (Oriental Trading has them for less than a two dollars a piece) and stamp or iron your initials, monogram or message on the front.

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty

I happen to think the stamped option, shown above, is just beautiful and is the easiest DIY option.  Simply choose a rubber stamp (Paper Source has gorgeous options), colored ink and have at it!  

Below is an example of an ironed on monogram.  It is beautiful but requires a bit more work.  Martha Stewart provides a step by step iron on tutorial on her website.

Photo courtesy of The Knot

The above DIY customization is fairly simple ; however, if you are not the creative type and still want to go all out on the bag, there are tons adorable custom bag options out there.  These are some of my favorites...

Photos courtesy of Wedding Chicks

Photos courtesy of Zazzle

If you'd prefer to go the simpler route, boxes, baskets or paper bags are also great goodie holders.  They can be personalized with stamps, ribbons, stickers and/or paper tags and can also save you a few dollars.

Photo courtesy of Ring of Yes

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Once you've chosen your packaging, its time for the fun part... filling it with goodies!  Below are some things you may want to include:

• -A letter from the two of you - This is your chance to welcome guests to your wedding weekend and to thank them for participating in your celebration.  This letter can be short and sweet or detailed with sentiments.
• -Information about your wedding festivities - If your wedding weekend is full of events, a weekend itinerary is a nice extra to include.  If you are hosting a post wedding brunch or offering a shuttle service to and from the wedding site, this would be the ideal place to provide guests with these details.  Even if you've referenced this on your wedding website, it's always helpful to reiterate it for those guests who may have missed it initially.  
• -Information about the area - Since the majority of guests staying at your hotel of choice are not from the area, it is also nice to include a list of restaurants, activities, and fun facts about the area.
• -Snacks and beverages - It is nice to provide some treats for your guests to indulge in when they check into their hotel room or when they need a late night snack after a night of dancing at your wedding!  You can keep things simple by including things like chips, granola bars, candy and bottled waters, or you can go all out with a bottle of Champagne, gourmet nuts or olives, and truffles.
• -Additional items - You may want to include items to make your guest's hotel stay more comfortable.  These items may include a candle for the room, cozy socks or specialty body washes and lotions.  It's also fun to include an item representative of your location.  Things like mugs, shot glasses, stationary, or even specialty treats from the local area are perfect additions.  This could be something like wine for Napa or kona coffee in Hawaii or even a local sport's team token item or souvenir which is always a favorite for the sport's lovers out there.  If your wedding is expected to get wild, you may also want to include recovery items too, such as Advil or Tylenol and a sleep mask :)

Again, these are just ideas to get you started - the possibilities are truly endless!  Remember, this is your opportunity to welcome your guests and set the mood for your wedding weekend.  Your welcome package can be silly and quirky, location specific (e.g. beach wedding), or elegant and luxurious.  Sit down with your love and put some real thought into what you will include and have fun!  If you met at a baseball game, include a bag of peanuts; if he proposed at Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco, include a few mini Ghiradelli chocolate squares; if you are going to Fiji on your Honeymoon, include a bottle or two of Fiji water.  Remember include a note explaining why each item is relevant to your relationship is a nice touch too so they understand why you choose the items you did. 

Below are some of my favorite welcome packages...

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo courtesy of The Bride's Cafe

Photo courtesy of Brides Blogs

Photo courtesy of Real Simple

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty

And something kind of fun to include for the party animals...

Photo courtesy of Intimate Weddings

If a complete welcome package is not in your budget, you can still provide out of town guests with a thoughtful welcome.  Consider something like this...

A tiny flower arrangement and welcome note hanging from their hotel room door.

 
Photo courtesy of Think Garnish

A small package including the morning paper, a pastry and coffee, delivered to their hotel room the morning after your wedding.

Photo courtesy of Think Garnish

Whether your budget is large or small, there are many ways you can give your out of town guests a special welcome.  This gesture will truly make their stay because who doesn't like a little surprise gift?!

Best,  

Star

Star's Favorite Things: "Buttered-Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae" recipe

Hello All.  I've been on a popcorn kick lately and recently tried the Buttered-Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae recipe I came across in a few months ago in my Bon Appetit magazine.  It was absolutely fabulous - the perfect combination of sweet and salty!  If you are a popcorn/carmel corn/kettle corn fan, this recipe is a must try.  The ice cream is flavored with real buttered popcorn and topped with carmel sauce, whipped cream and chocolate covered kettle corn!

One thing to note, you do have to have an ice cream maker for this recipe.

Photo courtesy of Bon Appetit

The recipe called for peanut butter-chocolate halvah (the recipe was included); however, I skipped the halvah and topped mine with this delicious Cocoa Drizzled Kettle Corn I'd picked up from Trader Joe's.

Photo courtesy of Trader Joe's

Here is the recipe:

Caramel Sauce Ingredients

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Buttered-Popcorn Ice Cream Ingredients

2 cups popped popcorn

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

2 cups whole milk

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup light corn syrup

5 tablespoons sugar, divided

8 large egg yolks

Caramel Sauce Preparation

Combine sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar, and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and cook without stirring, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until dark amber in color, about 7 minutes.  Remove from heat; immediately add butter and stir until melted. Slowly add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Add vanilla and salt; whisk until smooth. 

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 month ahead. Let cool completely. Cover sauce and chill. Rewarm slightly before using.

Buttered-Popcorn Ice Cream Preparation

Set a strainer over a large bowl; set aside. Place popcorn in another large bowl. Drizzle butter over and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt; toss to coat. Add milk and cream; cover and steep for 10 minutes. Stir in corn syrup and 1 Tbsp. sugar. Working in batches, purée popcorn mixture in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.  Using an electric mixer, beat yolks, remaining 4 Tbsp. sugar, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a large bowl until thick ribbons form. Gradually whisk hot popcorn mixture into yolk mixture. Return to saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until custard is slightly thickened, your finger leaves a path when drawn across the back of a spoon, and an instant-read thermometer registers 175°, 3–4 minutes. Pour through strainer. Cover and chill overnight.  Process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a container, cover, and freeze. 

DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.

Assembly

Spoon some caramel sauce into tall, decorative glasses or serving bowls. Add 2 scoops buttered-popcorn ice cream. Drizzle more caramel sauce over. Sprinkle some Cocoa Covered Kettle Corn (or halvah) over. Top with a spoonful of whipped cream. 

I hope you enjoy!

Best,

Star

DIY With Star: Paper Hearts

I originally learned to make these paper hearts while studying abroad in Denmark almost ten years ago.  I haven't made them in a really long time but thought I would make some to decorate for Valentine's Day.  They are perfect for Valentine's Day, but would also be lovely at a wedding, bridal shower, or birthday party!
This is truly a simple project.  All you need are strips of paper and a stapler!  I used pale pink and cream paper but any color combination would work.  Below is the tutorial to make five paper hearts:

Step 1 - Cut thin strips of paper in the four sizes listed below.  Each paper heart will use one of the longest strips and two of each of the other size strips.

• Five 11inch strips (shown in pink)
• Ten 8 1/2 inch strips (shown in cream)
• Ten 7 1/2 inch strips (show in pink)
• Ten 6 1/2 inch strips (shown in cream)

Step 2 - To make your first heart, fold one of the longest strips in half and place in the middle. Line the strips longest to shortest on either side of the folded strip.

Step 3 - With the fold of the folded strip facing up, add the two longest strips on either side, leaving about an inch or two of the fold sticking out the top.  Continue with the next two sizes on either side.












Continue with the next two sizes on either side.














Staple all of the pieces together at the base.













Step 4 - Starting with the outside strips (the shortest strips), bring each strip down to the lower part of the folded strip.  Once both sides are brought down you will have your first heart shape.  

Continue with the next two sizes.  Staple at the base.



Step 5 - Cut the extra paper off the bottom of the folded piece.

Ta da, your first heart is complete!

Repeat by making four more hearts.  You can then thread ribbon or string through the loop at the top.

I used white twine to string them together and hung them above my kitchen window.  Love them!

I've found these available for sale all over Etsy.  Some sellers have gotten really creative, using bold colors, sheet music and maps... but why buy them when you can make your own?!  Try making your own paper hearts with different types of paper.  Check out some of these ideas.

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Photo courtesy of Etsy

Happy crafting!

-Star