Picture Ideas: Weddings

One of my favorite things to do is look at pictures... even if I don't know anyone in the shot. I think photography is such an incredible art and wish I had the talent for it. So instead, I will just honor some great shots that I find, and maybe they'll inspire you like they do for me. These are also great to show your photographer as well, to give him/her an idea of what kind of shots you want taken. I will be adding to this series throughout my blogging adventures so be sure to be on the lookout for more pictures. Enjoy these for now!

I love this shot! Its a great way to show the anticipation of the bride and groom before the wedding. You can also try different poses on either side of the door- this would be a fun idea to play around with!
From BHG: Real Weddings

Love this effect. The world keeps turning, but for that moment, its all about their love. Priceless!
From http://www.momentville.com/

Jumping pictures are always fun and they always turn out so different, portraying everyone's personality. Cute!

From: http://www.theweddingsource.com/

That's one happy guy! Another cute jumping shot.

Not sure who to credit for this one... found on google images.

More to come!

FREE Invites!

It's amazing how expensive invites can be these days. And even worse to think that more than likely, they will just be thrown away after the event (or sometimes even before!). Sometimes a lot of hard work and creativity goes into these invites, I feel like I should frame some of them.

This is why this website is so AMAZING!

Anna Skye over at Downloadandprint.com has posted lots of BEAUTIFUL and very creative invites, save the dates, envelope liners, RSVP cards, and stationary templates... ALL FOR FREE!

Just pick which design you want and download it. The template will then open up in your editing software (like Microsoft Word) and you can add all your event info. Then just print and voila! You have incredible, professional-looking invites... for FREE! (Well you will have to pay for paper and printer ink, but that's minimal compared to hiring someone to make these designs and print them for you!)

You can also subscribe to her blog and be updated on any new designs she posts. I'm sure you could also email her to ask about doing custom invites as well (although I'm sure there would be a fee involved with custom invites). But with all her great designs already posted, I'm sure you would be able to find something great... for FREE! I'm sorry about what a great find! I love FREE stuff!

Make sure to visit downloadandprint.com!!! Did I mention the templates are FREE!?!? :)

15 Ways to Wow your Guests

I saw this article on TheKnot.com and had to share!



Yours won't be just another cookie-cutter wedding -- here are our top ideas to make it a standout celebration.

Allover Lighting
Revolutionize your venue with creative lighting. Project falling leaves or snow to add drama to a boring, beige wall; add a funky geometric pattern or your monogram to the dance floor; or get basic up-lighting for the perimeter of the room to instantly transform the space. Your guests won't be able to stop staring (in a good way!).

A Decked-Out Entryway
We're not saying you should spend a gazillion dollars on a 20-foot-tall floral arrangement, but first impressions are important, so take time to think out the entrance to your reception. Add a couple flower arrangements to the escort card table or have your stationer create a stylish seating chart display. A table topped with your engagement photos, your parents' wedding albums, and any other from-the-family artifacts would make meaningful additions.

A Showstopping Ceremony Exit
If you play it right, your ceremony exit will be one of the most heavily photographed moments of your wedding -- so forget the rose petals and birdseed. Jazz up your exit by passing out small bags of colorful confetti, paper airplanes, mini beach balls, or even lavender buds for everyone to toss your way. Even better: Stage your own mini parade by passing out noisemakers and asking your guests to escort you to your getaway car.

Unexpected Wedding Music
Sure, a string quartet is nice, but you'll blow guests away with a jazz trio or a Spanish guitar player. To get the party going during the cocktail hour, look into hiring a mariachi band, a bluegrass group, or even a barbershop quartet for some seriously memorable melodies.

A Wedding Dress Change
All eyes will be on you, so it'll be a huge shocker when you go from a classic wedding dress for the ceremony to a shorter, flirtier dress at the reception. Whether it's a cocktail dress you bought (but couldn't find an excuse to wear) or a sparkly, white dress that's just too short for the aisle, have fun with it! If you honestly can't imagine changing out of your wedding dress, make other changes: Let down your hair, switch your shoes, or add a few new pieces of jewelry.

Cocktails Served Differently
Grab guests' attention as soon as they arrive at the cocktail hour by having drinks and hors d'oeuvres displayed on colorful trays or even placed along the shelves of a makeshift bookcase-turned-bar. Or, have a fleet of waiters standing at the entrance, drink trays in hand, ready to greet guests at the door. The message will be clear: It's time to par-tay.

Extra Signage
If it's an outdoor wedding, create rustic, wooden signs in your wedding colors as pointers for guests ("this way to the cocktail hour" or "wedding this way!"). For a more formal wedding, make beautifully scripted table numbers, monogrammed cocktail napkins, and even bathroom-door labels that read "ladies" and "gents."

A Photo Booth (Rented or Handmade)
Having a photo booth is a surefire way to capture memories a photographer might miss. For an extra-special touch, outfit your booth with themed props (snorkel gear and an under-the-sea backdrop for a summer wedding, opera masks and monocles for a formal affair, etc.) to get your guests in the mood; then be sure to send them a copy of their photo in your thank-you note.

Wedding Favors With Entertainment Value
Think of your wedding favors as an accessory to your reception. Want a packed dance floor? Distribute kazoos, maracas, or even rally towels for a good time that just won't quit. Or use wedding favors as a way to up your guests' comfort level. Set out baskets of comfy flip-flops for guests who love to shut down the dance floor, or cozy wraps to fend off the chill of a seaside wedding.

A (Really) Creative Groom's Cake
How could your guests not take a picture of that? Find the right cake baker and go nuts with your groom's cake for a unique photo op. We've seen everything from elaborate guitars to football stadiums to armadillos to library book cakes. Other non-cake ideas: a table decked out in donuts, an ice cream bar, or a giant Rice Krispies Treat cake.

A (Surprise) Choreographed Dance
Take a few dance lessons before your wedding, but instead of the standard waltz, kick it up a notch by learning a sultry tango or a high-energy swing routine, and then surprise everyone during your first dance. For an unexpected surprise, get your dad or even your grandpa in on the act. Imagine the looks on your guests' faces when you and your pops break into a hip-hop routine mid-father-daughter dance. (Bonus points if he can do the worm!)

A Luxe Reception Lounge
Give guests a place to mingle between dance breaks by creating a lounge area at your reception. Fill the space with couches or chairs and plenty of pillows to sink into. It's the perfect way to keep everyone in on the party even when they're resting. Really want to wow 'em? Close off the area with curtains to create a VIP vibe.

Killer Midnight Snacks
Just when everyone thinks the fun is winding down, liven up the party with late-night nibbles that will leave everyone ready for an after-party. Think about it: crinkle French fries, fresh chocolate chip cookies and milk shooters, a fully loaded taco bar, or even a waffle truck!

Decked-out Transportation
Come up with a transportation plan that'll get guests talking. Maybe your car-obsessed uncle would be willing to play driver for the night in exchange for showing off his ridiculously cool Mustang. Your oversized clunker from high school might actually look pretty cool decked out with streamers and a "just married" sign. Even your bicycles -- tied off with fresh flowers -- would create a memorable exit.

A Genius Wedding Website
Start the party long before your wedding day with a brilliant wedding website (computer science degree not required). Upload vlogs (aka video blogs) of your bridal party, poll guests on the reception music, add animated elements, or even create a "wedding guest of the week" spotlight column. Start your web page on (ahem) TheKnot.com or get the souped-up version on WeddingTracker.com ($30, but so worth it!).

Photo Booths

I personally LOVE this new trend. I love photos, I love personalization, and I absolutely love combining the two for lasting memories! I want to throw a party just so I can have a photo booth for my guests to have fun with. Now that I have expressed my love for photo booths, lets take a closer look at them...

If you are thinking about a photo booth at your wedding or event, here are a few things to consider:

• How many hours can you rent the photo booth and how long will you really need it?


• Does the company offer unlimited prints or what are your printing options?


• Will there be a knowledgeable attendant from the company present at all times to help?


• Are there any graphics or personal messages you can add to the photos?


• Can you change the backgrounds or have props for your guests to use?


• Does the company offer a web gallery to post the pics on so you and your guests can view them past the wedding date?


• Does the company give you a disc of all the pictures taken?


• Does the company offer a scrapbook/photo guest book for your guests to write something under their pictures?


• How does the company deliver, setup and tear down the photo booth?


• Does the company have any references and have the appropriate licenses?


• Does the company charge for travel time or charge extra for any distance traveled?
  

A photo booth could cost you anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 depending on location, time, package, company, etc. Make sure you shop around and get a package that serves all your needs and budget.

Also, make sure you have space at your venue to put the photo booth. It needs to be out of the way from all the guest and service traffic, yet a popular place so that your guests will be able to find it. You also want to be sure the booth is out of the background of any of your professional pictures (like the dance floor, cutting the cake, etc).

Here are a few companies in Texas that specialize in photo booth rentals:

Lasting Images Online

Your Own Photo Booth

I realize that having a photo booth may seem like too big of a splurge for a one time event, but there are other, more affordable options:

Do-it-yourself!

Making your own photo booth is really simple. Find a space for your booth and hang some sort of curtains marking off the area for your guests. Make sure to hang a sign that lets them know its a photo booth. You can coordinate the background to match your themed colors and props are always fun to have on hand (like silly glasses, wigs, hats, a dry erase board they can write messages on, etc--be creative!) Setup a tripod with a camera, checking to be sure the camera is the right height and distance from the designated spot. If you don't have a remote for your camera or automatic timer, you could always put someone in charge to take these pictures (or sign up good friends or family in shifts). You may have a laptop that is capable of taking pictures as well. I think Mac users even have a program called Photobooth- PC users can get a program called SeeMonkey, which is just about the same type thing. You can opt to have a printer there to print out pictures for your guests immediately or just email/mail the pictures out at a later date (be sure to have a sign up sheet for your guests to leave their email/addresses).

Another option is to hire a photographer to take photo booth type pictures. A lot of photographers are jumping on this new trend and offering their own take on the photo booth. Basically they can set up in a room (or if a room is not available designate a more private area of the venue for them). They usually put up a simple background, like all white, all black, or a solid color of your choice and guests pose just like they would in a photo booth- silly, candid, and comfortable (but more than likely standing unless you have chairs or other props). These photos turn out adorable as well, sometimes better than what you would get if the photographer were out and about at the wedding.

Photo booths add a great 'wow' factor to your event. Your guests will have fun with it and have the photos as lasting memories. Its always fun to look at all the photos as well to see how your crazy guests posed and used their creativity. Some of the best shots I have of myself came from a photo booth!

If you have any photos from a photo booth party, please share them!

Be a Thrifty Bride!

A lot of time and money often goes into a wedding. A lot of the items get used once then either stored away or even thrown away. Well, there is now a growing trend for brides and even the wedding party: Recycle! Its not only more affordable but you can score some great deals on items you know have only been used once. :) And once you've said "I do," and the party is over, head on over to sell all your stuff to a bride in need. Why not go into your marriage with a little cash on hand? It's a win/win situation for everyone!

Here are some great sites to start with, either buying or selling:

Of course Craigslist, its free and millions of people know about and use it.

Ebay is also great. If you are selling and want to reach all Ebay users (which means more customers), then you will have to pay to post your ad. And if you are buying, its nice to have a wider selection from all over instead of just locally (but shipping charges may make it more expensive unless you find the right deal). If you want to just post a local ad (like Craigslist) they now offer a FREE classified section as well.

Here are some wedding specific websites:

Recycled Bride

Wore It Once

Bravo Bride

Local Wedding Classifieds (This one is still a small site that is similar to Craigslist, and only has a few cities listed for now)

Another great place to look is your local newspaper classifieds.

You can also check your local thrift/resale stores. Garage sales may also have items you are looking for. Or if you must go to the bridal stores, make sure you ask about their sales/clearance/specials- it is possible to find a good deal for brand new items as well!

Also, always ask friends or family for any items they may have. You never know who might have some decorations, dresses, fabric, candles, shoes, etc laying around just waiting to be borrowed or bought!
You can always post what you're looking for on Facebook/Myspace/Twitter. It's amazing how much free stuff you can score from just your friends and family!

Don't be ashamed either! Lots of people do it, and if anything it makes you look smart by saving money on a one-time event. Besides, people won't even be able to tell you paid cheap or not at all for the items. Unless of course you want to brag about it! I know I would! :)

Party Favors: Koozies!

In need of a fun yet useful party favor? Try koozies!

Koozies can start anywhere from .35 cents a piece on up, which really isn't too bad for a personalized party favor. You can get them to match your party theme colors and have them say or show whatever you would like.

They are great for weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, adult birthday parties, annual trips, sporting event parties, etc. Not only would they be useful at the actual party but your guests can enjoy and use them at home as well. I have several koozies that I pull out every once in awhile. It's neat because when I use them I think back on the fun party, or if its from a wedding, its a nice reminder of their anniversary date as well! We get a lot of great use out of our koozies here! Another great idea is to have everyone bring them to your anniversary parties in the future or recreate them for everyone, then by your 50th anniversary, everyone should have a complete set! :)

Typically people will put the name of the event and date. If its a wedding, usually the bride and groom's name or initials are on there along with the wedding date. Some even put a picture on there. Its fun to think up creative sayings to go along with the event. Here are a couple I've seen on wedding koozies:
"To have and to hold and keep your beer cold!"
"Eat, Drink & Be Married!"
Here is an example from my cousin's wedding:

Here are a few websites where you can customize your own koozies for you special event! (There are a lot out there, these are just a few I found, feel free to search for others)

Discount Favors

My Shop Angel

Custom Ink

Picture Thank You Cards

Here's a quick, affordable and oh so cute idea for thank you cards:

Take pictures at the party of the people you are going to send the card to. If it's a birthday party, take pics of the people having fun, or with the gift they gave, or just of the birthday person. If its a shower/wedding take pics of them with the honoree(s), etc.

Then you can print these pictures out (I usually do 4 x 6 or smaller) and just write your thank you on the back. This way people have a great keepsake from the party and will more than likely hold on to it (or even display it on a fridge or frame at their house), at least longer than they would an actual card.

If you want something a little more formal/traditional, you can glue the picture on some cardstock and fold it in half like a card. Then just write your thank you inside.

Sometimes throwing a party can be a little chaotic. If you forget to take pictures or didn't get a good shot of the person(s) than just use a picture of the person(s) the party was for (even if its not from the party- like a school picture, family photo, or just take a quick pic that day). People always appreciate pictures! Plus it's a little more personal than just a card, and people will appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Fiesta Cupcakes

We recently hosted a couple's wedding shower that had a fiesta theme. We really wanted to do cupcakes as the dessert but were struggling with how to make it look "fiesta." Of course I went to the internet and searched away. I did find these adorable cupcakes:

I love the idea of clay pots as the holder but it wasn't very cost effective for the amount of people we were having. But still a VERY cute idea! You could even personalize each clay pot (with guest name, bride & groom names, wedding date, funny sayings, etc.) so your guests could have them as keepsakes.

We ended up doing something a little more simple yet oh so fiesta! We made each cupcake a bright, bold fiesta color (Lime Green, Orange, Yellow, Red, and a little Purple). We had Margarita cupcakes with lime green frosting, Snickerdoodle cupcakes with orange frosting (and caramel drizzle), Lemon cupcakes with yellow frosting, Strawberry cupcakes with red frosting, and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing and purple icing flowers. We took 3 different sized platters and stacked them using bright decorative holders in between each. The cupcakes looked great all mixed up with the bright colors (or you could make a tier for each color as well). They were a big hit even before people tasted them!

Cupcakes are always great at parties because they are easy to serve and feel more personalized (they are easy to send home with guests as well!) If you aren't a great baker or won't have the time, check out your local cupcakery or bakery. We made the strawberry, lemon and chocolate ones and had Gruene Flour Cupcakery do the Margarita and Snickerdoodle. Yummy! If you are in the San Antonio/New Braunfels/Gruene/San Marcos, TX area, I highly recommend Gruene Flour Cupcakery for a sweet treat!

This idea is really simple and not only is it a great dessert but also a great centerpiece or decoration for your party!
Here are some pictures of our fiesta cupcakes:

Welcome to Party Perks!

Thanks for visiting my site! I created this blog because I have constantly found myself searching the internet for new and innovative party ideas to wow my guests. I thought it would be nice to have one place to put all those ideas- either ones I've found or ones I've developed. I've always had a fascination for party planning and am constantly thinking of new ideas or reinventing old ones to make each party a memorable one. I love going to parties as well to see what great ideas others come up with and would love to hear some of your ideas. I may even feature you on this blog! So thanks for stopping by and I hope you find something that either inspires you and/or gets you motivated to become the hostess with the mostess! Enjoy!