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Category Archives: Decorating
Walk down the aisle in personal style!
Want to make your walk down the aisle at your wedding ceremony even more special and more personal?
Make that walk on one of my NEW Personalized Aisle Runners! Choose a monogram aisle runner or a heart design aisle runner — each printed in your choice of color to make it match your wedding colors.
Enjoy walking down that aisle in style!
Posted in Decorating, Wedding Ceremony
Tagged wedding aisle runner, wedding ceremony
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Introducing and accenting your rustic wedding theme
Looking for ideas for making your rustic wedding unique? Use canning jars as decorations! See how fun this look is?
Canning jars make great candle holders and vases. They’re economical, too! And my Canning Jar Glasses make your refreshments fun.
A great way to introduce your rustic wedding theme? My Jar Lantern Save the Date and Jar Lantern Wedding Invitation. Find matching Jar Lantern items on our site too!
Enjoy creating your rustic wedding theme!
Posted in Decorating, Wedding Trends
Tagged canning jar trend, mason jars, rustic wedding
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Earth Day inspiration: beautiful fruit centerpieces!
Happy Earth Day! Are you planning a green wedding? Getting ready to host outdoor summer parties? Earth Day is the perfect time to let nature inspire you in how you decorate for them. Using natural elements in your décor is not only beautiful, it’s also easy on the planet because those decorations can be eaten, recycled, reused, repurposed or composted after the party.
Second to flowers, nature’s most colorful and intriguing display is in the bounty of fruit it provides us. So why not incorporate fruit along with other natural elements into your wedding centerpieces or party décor – the result will be delightful AND delicious!
• Mix flowers and fruit in a variety of colors in low bowls and you’ll create a bright, fresh and abundant look for your celebration.
• Create a fruit pyramid overflowing with sweetness – and use hollowed-out melon and pineapple shells to serve dips.
• Go with a tone-on-tone look with different fruits in the same color – it’s a soft look that will have your guests’ mouths watering.
• Float pieces of fruit in tall cylinders or vases and add a floating candle at the top for natural centerpieces.
• Tuck in greenery, berries and branches and add a few candles to your fruit centerpieces and you’ll create a natural, welcoming glow for your wedding.
After the wedding or party, encourage guests to take the fruit centerpieces home to enjoy. Reuse the vases, candles and cylinders in your decorating throughout your home for fun memories all year.
Enjoy the “green” decorating ideas!
Posted in Decorating, Green Wedding Ideas
Tagged centerpiece ideas, green wedding, wedding decorating
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Top 12 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding – Part II
I’m back with even MORE ways to add personal touches to your wedding. If you haven’t already, read up on the first six tips in Monday’s post and then read on here for great ideas.
7. Place cards
For place cards, decorate with a theme that fits your event, whether it be a sunset-colored palette that corresponds with your beach photos as table numbers, or mini envelopes designed to match your menus perfectly.
8. Custom lighting or lettering
Add a custom monogram for your dance floor or love poem to temporarily place over the fireplace mantle in your ballroom. Use floral motifs on the walls of your reception venue or your initials on the dance floor. The lighting options are endless and enhance the environment of your event with that extra personal touch.
9. Invite right
When designing your wedding invitations, it’s important to keep in mind the formality of your event. If you’re hosting a black tie affair, lots of bold color in your invitation might not be right, so spice it up instead with a custom wedding map to guide guests to the ceremony site. Use icons to represent places of importance to you and invite them to share in your experiences. If your event allows for a more playful invitation, design accordingly! Be colorful, be creative, and be unique. Choose layers, designs, pockets, colorful envelopes and more to state your style right.
10. Ceremony service
Writing your own vows will no doubt involve your guests in your experience. But if you’re not comfortable with this, that’s okay too. Bring in a creative element that causes you to interact in other ways. A song sung by your best friend, painting two sides of a heart to connect one another, having each of your bridesmaids and groomsmen light a candle or add to a floral arrangement. Anything that breaks up the formality of a ceremony can bring guests back into the moment and make for an unforgettable experience for the two of you.
11. Accessorize
A little wedding fashion flair can make a bold statement at your event. Opt for a pair of powder blue shoes under that beautiful ball gown or a purple sash on your dress. Perhaps a monogrammed umbrella, a splash of color somewhere, a hint of personality, or an added unexpected accessory for you or your bridal party. Any of these elements can spice up your event and stand out in the crowd.
12. Entertain while you dine
Photo montages are a popular way to entertain your guests during dinner. Project photos of your courtship, your entire lives, or even a video montage of your travels together. Consider having some fun with it and involve your bridal parties in the taping of such footage, and share the planning process with your loved ones. No matter what you screen, your guests will appreciate that extra something during a sometimes otherwise dull dinner hour.
Are you brimming with creativity now? Good! Start creating your unique wedding, and be sure to tell us all about it with a comment on this post or on our Facebook page.
Enjoy!
Jean M makes it easy to accessorize your wedding!
A bride came to me with a dilemma. She and her fiancé wanted to accent their wedding with heart designs AND their monogram, but she didn’t know if they could combine the two for an elegant look.
What a great question – and a fun decorating challenge! My answer was, of course, that you definitely can combine design elements when you’re planning your wedding décor. You just need to be sure you’re using the elements in subtle ways and not creating an overwhelming mash-up of items.
Coordinated Wedding Accessories
I advise choosing a very clean and simple color scheme – like pure white with a touch of fresh turquoise blue, like the photo inspiration above. When your colors and your design elements are in the same tone, they’ll create that important overall blend rather than a clash.
To set the tone, we chose white linens, white china and silver serving. For the blue, we brought in turquoise satin ribbon on the cake, added in blue candies for sweetness and mixed and matched the lids and bottoms of our Teal Lidded Favor Boxes and Silver Shimmer Lidded Favor Boxes.
Now for the hearts and monograms – clearly stylish! We opted for clear glass and acrylic accessories to provide unity to the two design elements. Our Elegant Monogram Acrylic Cake Top is engraved in white, as is the large glass cylinder of our Two Hearts Sand Ceremony Set - we used the set to hold treats for a fun and unique centerpiece idea. Sparkling hearts accent our Precious Hearts Toasting Flutes and we added a simple monogram initial to the favor boxes and personalized napkins.
See what an impact simple and elegant can make? Now get inspired to create YOUR unique wedding look with Jean M accessories!
Enjoy!
P.S. – Don’t forget to enter the Michael’s Customize Your Wedding 2012 Bride Contest for a chance to win a Grand Prize worth $5000! We can’t wait to hear about your unique wedding plans!
Wedding Reception Decorating 102
Change up your wedding and create a memorable event. Do something novel and different at your reception with these ideas:
▪ Make table cards using names of cities you love or hobbies you both share instead of numbers. Just make sure your names correspond with your wedding theme. Naming a table “Las Vegas” when your wedding theme is nautical could be a bit strange.
▪ Write your guests’ names on stones taken from a favorite spot or from your home and use them as place cards.
▪ Place your favors in decorative favor bags or boxes then tie them to your guests’ chairs at the reception. This makes for a clever and attractive decoration.
▪ Use small, individual wedding cakes to place as centerpieces at each table. This beautiful centerpiece is convenient for both you and the guests. Be sure to serve the meal in a timely manner. If guests become impatient, the cake is vulnerable to attack!
For additional inspiration, check out our idea board:
- Suspend colorful orbs from a grid or tree branches to carry your reception color scheme up, creating an outdoor room.
- A new take on a guest book! Have guests write a message to you and your groom, sign it and post it on a message board for you to enjoy later.
- Honor loved ones with a Memorial Tree, decorated with framed photos, candles and flowers.
- Carry out a garden theme using watering cans and clay pots to hold your flower arrangements. Paint the clay pots with chalkboard paint and label with table numbers.
Enjoy the inspiration!
P.S. – Don’t forget to enter the Michael’s Customize Your Wedding 2012 Bride Contest for a chance to win a Grand Prize worth $5000! We can’t wait to hear about your unique wedding plans!
Wedding Reception Decorating 101
Tired of seeing the same old, boring looks at wedding receptions? Take a quick look at these decorating ideas for a fresh, new outlook to help you plan your reception!
- Set a romantic glow by suspending white lights from the ceiling for an airy, magical look.
- Place greens or plants of your choice at various spots throughout the reception room or church. This simple touch of nature adds life to any room.
- Use your bridesmaids’ bouquets as floral centerpieces at the head table to create a beautiful accent.
- Gather different flowers of the same color as centerpieces for the tables. Since each flower has a different meaning, you can attach a printed tag explaining their meanings for a great conversation starter.
- Fresh flowers can be tied to each chair (or aisle-side pew at the wedding) for a delicate touch of decoration.
For some additional ideas, check out our idea board!
- Bring the outdoors in using topiaries and fresh flowers, grounded by bright green tablecloths for a fresh, natural look.
- An outdoor reception gets dressed up with blue damask tablecloths and bright yellow sunflowers.
- Create an elegant, soothing look with a monochromatic scheme of blush pink and ivory.
- Flaunt your newly married status with giant-sized monogram initials and a fluttering banner.
Enjoy the inspiration!
P.S. – Don’t forget to enter the Michael’s Customize Your Wedding 2012 Bride Contest for a chance to win a Grand Prize worth $5000! We can’t wait to hear about your unique wedding plans!
Jean M’s creative ideas for a fun Super Bowl party!
The big game is almost here and we’ve got a few quick tips to make your Super Bowl party a winning event!
At a party, everyone huddles around the food -
- Serve food in a variety of pieces styled around your football theme. A football-shaped plastic dish is perfect for serving munchies. Hot dogs and color coordinating napkins are perfect served in portable plastic baskets. A football helmet is a bold focal point in a large chip basket lined with colorful napkins.
- Small galvanized buckets purchased at your local garden or discount store are great for snacks, candy and raw veggies. You can also use them to hold utensils and napkins in the team colors.
- Gain a “First Down” when you tape grosgrain ribbon around napkin wrapped utensils and add a football sticker.
- Glass cylinders lined with computer-printed team logos or photos hold suckers and licorice. Or, you can fill the decorated cylinders with water and use as flower vases.
- Did you know you can transform a real football into a candy dish by slitting the side seam, punching in the edges and tucking a dish inside. Who would have thought?
Score a touch down with bonus details -
- Wrap glass cylinders with athletic tape, adhesive bandages and athletic shoestrings and fill with candy or flowers.
- Use plastic football picks in cubes of cheese or sausage for a fun appetizer. They work in cupcakes too!
- Go green and buy wheat grass at your local co-op, garden or grocery store (or use sod) for a great table decoration.
- Place items on the table at different heights to add visual interest.
- Filling the table completely says bountiful. Too few items? Get a smaller table!
- Balloons always add a festive touch to a party. Make a few tall and short bouquets to place around the room.
You’ll get extra points for these party favors -
- Use clear cello bags of football-wrapped chocolates and tie with ribbons in team colors. Add a computer-printed pennant with the team mascot name.
- Water bottles or koozies make a fun favor that can be used during the party. Personalize with the football theme and the date of the game!
- Use high flying pinwheel decorations in team colors to greet guests at the door. When guests leave they can take one home as they’re going out the door.
Have a super party!
Posted in All Occasions, Decorating
Tagged informal party ideas, party favors, super bowl
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Personalized party accessories liven up your engagement celebration!
Now that the ring is on your finger and the date is set, it’s time to plan a memorable party with family and friends to celebrate your engagement! And there’s no better way to get started on your engagement party than to invite and accessorize in style with personalized items from Jean M and MiDesign@Michaels™ Custom Invites!
Engagement Party Accessories
Just look at the colorful, romantic party you can create! And it’s all so simple, really.
First, send a Jean M invitation to set the tone for your party — and remember, any Jean M Mix and Match Invitation or Jean M Designer Invitation can be printed with wording for any occasion, making them perfect for your engagement. (If you want a specific engagement party invitation, check our site on Wednesday under the Occasions heading for brand new designs.)
Next, accessorize!
• Choose colorful, custom balloons (ours are red) and order them printed with a heart design. They’ll make your atmosphere romantic and greet guests with a fun touch.
• Provide personalized napkins for dinner and drinks to match your party’s colors (and to perhaps hint at your future wedding colors!). We feature red napkins printed in white with a heart design to coordinate with our balloons.
• Make toasting your engagement fun with stylish personalized custom cups. They’ll make great mementos for your guests to take home after the party, too. To match our color scheme, we chose white cups personalized in red to match the look of our party.
• Don’t forget to delight guests with a personalized favor! We tucked red-wrapped treats inside our White Peek-a-Boo Heart Favor Boxes for a punch of romance and color.
Now that the scene is set, get ready to welcome guests to the first party you’ll throw as an “official” couple!
Enjoy the celebration!
Posted in Decorating, Engagement Party
Tagged engagement party, party accessories, personalized accessories
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Create a “spooktacular” Halloween party!
Getting ready to celebrate Halloween with an outdoor bash? Here are some of my tips for making it fun and memorable!
Not only will an outdoor party help you lighten your preparation and clean-up time, it will allow you to invite more people. And there are so many easy and inexpensive ways to carry out your theme and reduce the fuss. For instance, use hay bales as backdrops and food-service stations. A simple sheet of plywood or a couple of boards on top provide the stable and flat surface you need. Bales are also great for seating. Transform a hay bale, chair or rough board with colorful fabric swatches in Halloween or harvest colors. It’s a simple way to add drama and give your Halloween crafts and creations a stage to perform on.
Keep the party lively by creating several different food and beverage stations around your yard. This will encourage guests to mingle and move around your party. Have one station with beverages both chilled and hot like cider, one with appetizers, one for sandwiches or your main course, one for salads and sides, and one with desserts and Halloween candy.
Go tubular. Go angular. Break the mold when displaying your food and treats. Use cylinders to hold colorful candies, salty treats, fruits and dips. Dip the rims of flared votive holders in water, then decorative sugar, and fill them with gummy worms or a peanut and candy corn mix. Then add a fun touch with skeleton tongs and vibrant plastic scoops that let party-goers serve themselves – if they dare!
Dress up your snacks and beverages with napkins that match the party, like black, orange and white ones printed with Halloween designs and fun sayings.
Get whimsical and fun with your centerpieces and appeal to kid in everyone! Drill small holes into pumpkins, add grommets to the holes and insert the sucker sticks into the holes. Mix and match sucker types and flavors to get guests talking and mingling.
Don’t forget the party favors to give guests something to remember the bash. Dress up Halloween-themed toys, candies and little take-always to delight your guests.
Enjoy!
Posted in All Occasions, Decorating, Fall Weddings
Tagged halloween napkins, halloween party
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