Guest Post: Michelle Pino~Signature Drinks!

Hello Ruffles & Rouge Friends!

I received a sweet email from a gal who loves event planning, entertaining, and all the fun things that go along with it!  Her name is Michelle Pino and she is looking to start a blog of her own.  So in good practice, here is a guest blog post from her~and she was even nice enough to share a yummy "Signature Drink Recipe".  Thanks Michelle!

Hope you all enjoy.

Happy Planning!

Shanna

Signature Cocktails Add A Splash Of Festivity

Creativity and personal expression are two of the best benefits of featuring signature cocktails at weddings or special events. Every bride and groom can feel free to express their unique one-of-a-kind personality by thoughtfully choosing a special signature drink that perfectly characterizes them. Fun and flirty, frivolous and free-thinking or serious and studious are all personalities that can be expressed through the creation of special, festive signature drinks.

Brides and grooms do not have to be limited to one signature drink either. There can be two drinks featured, one specially created for each of them. One big benefit of serving a signature drink, with or without choices of beer and wine, is the savings seen by purchasing larger quantities of alcohol. It offers a great option in lieu of having an open bar, which is more expensive. It's always most thoughtful to include a variety of soft drinks for non-drinkers, children and others who simply prefer non-alcoholic choices.

Color themes of the wedding itself can be a basis for drink choices, both alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic ones. A delightful raspberry or other flavored iced tea is wonderfully refreshing and can be made in a variety of special, custom crafted flavors. The theme of the alcoholic drinks can be carried over to the "mock-tails" as well by using decorative elements like tiny umbrella's, creatively designed fruit garnishes and colored sugars on the rims of glasses.

I attended a gorgeous wedding at the Turning Stone Resort Central New York wedding venue.  Where they served a signature drink chosen by the bride.  They were delicious.  I thought the idea was so creative and a way to add some personality to the wedding.  The cocktail was a Blue Bird Martini, and couldn’t fit the theme of a spring wedding more perfectly.  Here is the recipe to try at home:

Gender Reveal!

 Hello Friends!

I wanted to share this fun little party that we hosted this past weekend for our dear friends Heather and Tighe, who are expecting their first baby in August!  It was an honor to get to be part of such a special and personal day.  Heather (the mommy) was not too keen on the idea of having to wait 2 days after her ultrasound to find out the gender of their baby, but when she mentioned the party to Tighe (the dad)~he loved it and so it was on!  The weather couldn't have been better and the outcome was AMAZING... 

A special shout out to The Sweetery for keeping the secret from us ALL!  The cake was delicious. 

 Hope you enjoy the details. 

Happy Planning~

Shanna

Pinwheel themed sweets bar!

Some Old Wives Tales & Such... Also some really cute party guests.

The Parents-to-Be cutting the cake!

Somebody is obviously HAPPY with the outcome!  

PS:  Look at my cute husband in the background~he's happy too!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Fresh Looks for 2013

Hello Y'all!

As promised, here are a few new and exciting things going on over here at Ruffles & Rouge Events! First up, we had the Pink Bridal Show on the 13th of January. It was a blast! We met a lot of super awesome brides and talked 2013 weddings and trends. It was also a time when we introduced our new logo to the world! Thanks to my friend Erin Haines of Be True Designs for perfectly capturing our new vision. Here's a sneak peak of my new business card.  I love the combo of the new logo and botanical print~which are both one-of-a-kind creations for R&R.  We are transitioning all media in the coming month.  Exciting!!!

I also wanted to include a few pictures from the Pink Bridal Show.  This was an inspiration area that I was asked to create to show brides some new and interesting looks for the coming year.  This display mixes a little bit of rustic with a whole lot of glam.  It was such a fun collaboration with some truly talented vendors.  A special thanks to Lisa Huber of Be Still My Heart for the lovely photos!

A special heart felt thank you to all of the participants:

Melissa Timm Designs~Flowers

A Perfect Ending Cakes~Wedding Cake

Luxe Catering & Events~Sweet Treats

All Occasions Party Rentals

Be True Designs

I loved working with each and every one of you!

Happy Planning~

Shanna

New Year, New Look, New Attitude

Hello Friends!

Happy New Year!  2012 was good to the Jestice household, but I'm happy to see a clean slate ahead.  I've learned so many things this year from balancing work and play to the most important balancing act, motherhood.  We have so many wonderful things on the horizon, starting this January, which makes me particularly happy during such a dreary month.  First up a big bridal show on the 13th where Ruffles & Rouge Events will reveal its new logo and branding.  Second~the national publication of a fun inspiration shoot on the 25th (details to come).  And third~a Minnie Mouse 1st birthday party for sweet Chandler.  I promise to post many, many details as they unfold.

 

With all these things in the very near future, my resolution for 2013 is to BE PRESENT.  Enjoy what I am doing and what I've been blessed with and soak in these moments as the happen.  Thanks for following us through the years.  We have some NEW fun events and creative additions coming this spring~so until then we shall continue to plug along.  And you do the same:)

Happy Planning~

Shanna

 

P.S.....  A little New Year's humor.

 

Metallic Holidays

Hello Friends!

Happy Holidays from Ruffles & Rouge Events!  I wanted to share a little holiday inspiration to you folks who may still be decorating for Christmas or may be considering a New Year's party.  This year I transitioned my own holiday home decor from super colorful to more subdued with LOTS of metallics.  And the more I look at it, the longer I want it to stay up.  Actually it could transition beautifully into New Year's... if only I was having a party (the hubs would kill me:).  So in keeping with this super festive metallic trend, I wanted to share some of my favorite looks with you. 

 I hope you enjoy!

Merry Merry,

Shanna

  

The House That Lars Built

 I'm starting with this show-stopper! If you have a formal sitting area, or living room, talk about making an impact!

 

 

The Enchanted Home

 One of my favorites~mercury glass.  Try adding some of these beauties to your existing containers to create an inexpensive metallic pop to any area of your home.

 

Better Homes and Gardens

If you are more into the natural look, try combining fresh garland with some metallic pine cones and twigs.  Adding white accents gives the affect of snow and also looks crisp.

 

 

Occasions Online

Another idea for adding some pizazz to your natural style is to simply create a metallic confetti table runner.  Paired with fresh flowers, this is perfect for a New Year's Eve dinner party.

 



Pinterest

Have a champagne and dessert bar!  Trust me, it will make your guests feel extra special.  AND because the champagne bottles are so beautiful, your additional metallic decor can be minimal. 

 

Martha Stewart Weddings

 Last but not least, here is a sweet idea from Martha Stewart.  Incorporate your decor into your wardrobe.  Here are two similar and age-appropriate ways to jazz up your look.  It's always nice to look special when hosting a party or gathering. 

 

2013 Wedding Trend: Patterns, Patterns, Patterns

Hello People!

With an upcoming bridal show on the horizon, I have been researching some of the 2013 wedding trends.  Most of them are very similar to this year's, lace-birds-etc.  But, I was so happy to see that Gabby from South Bound Bride was on-board with my favorite trend, PATTERNS!  Now, we have all seen the beautiful damasks and florals that are typically associated with weddings, but today I wanted to focus on the bold and daring geometric patterns! 

If you are a bride who loves color and pizazz, this trend is for you.  I have picked out a few of my favorite ways to incorporate some of these lovelies into your wedding decor...and even your registry~so you can enjoy them when the "I Do's" are said and done.  As always, I hope you like!

Happy Planning,

Shanna
 

Invitation courtesy of ETSY.com

It all starts with the paper!  If you want to make a style impact that will carry through your entire wedding, introduce it to your guests FIRST THING with your invitations.

Dresses courtesy of  Occasions On-Line

 Keeping the ceremony elegant is important to a lot of brides.  But, you don't want it to seem too separated from your reception.  By incorporating your pattern in the bridesmaids' dresses or even just the flower girl's, you create a nice cohesive link from start to finish.

Cake courtesy of Style Unveiled



Pic courtesy of Ruffled Blog



It's all in the details.  There are SO MANY ways to show your fun style at your reception.  From table linens to the cake~the possibilities are endless.

Dishes courtesy of Babble

 Why let your style stop with the wedding?  Continue your love of bold patterns at home by registering for some of these beauties.  And remember, if you purchase your table linens, those can be used for the many get-togethers you and your new hubs will host in the future. REUSE!

 

White Fall Y'all

Hey Everybody! 

 I hope you are enjoying this wonderful fall weather, no matter where you are in the world.  But it is most definitely the prettiest time of year here in Tennessee!  So, in keeping with the fall spirit, I wanted to share my favorite fall obsession... WHITE PUMPKINS!  I don't know about you guys, but I absolutely love white pumpkins.  Big, small, fat and tall AND if they're not white by nature, I like to paint them with my Annie Sloan chalk paint in "Old White".  Here are some of my favorite pictures and ideas of how to incorporate white pumpkins into your home decor, as well as your next special event this autumn season.  I hope you enjoy!

Happy Planning,

Shanna

 

Mini pumpkins in their purist form.  Cool website for decorating your home with pumpkins.
Click Here

 

Here is a beautiful tablescape mixing white pumpkins and metallics.  My fave!  Courtesy of Divine Distractions.

 

Here is another table top idea.  Hollow out and paint a regular pumpkin white.  Add a flower oasis inside and then fresh florals.  Beautiful  Thanks Pinterest !

 

What a dramatic entrance to your next soiree!  Line the drive with a mixture of pale pumpkins.  Courtesy of  Lolalina.com

 

Add some interest to your refreshment table by once again hollowing and painting a pumpkin.  Line the inside with plastic wrap and fill with ice.  What a gorgeous way to keep the champagne chilled! Style Me Pretty

 

Traditional fall with a twist.  Smart, sophisticated and seasonally appropriate for an autumn wedding! BotanicalBrouhaha

 

Last but certainly not least...Keeping it elegant, that's right, I said ELEGANT with white pumpkins. 
Thanks Simply Bloom Photography!