A classic country affair

In my first blog I mentioned that one of the "must do's" of planning any event or celebration is to have a theme. So I thought I would give some ideas and inspiration on different themes that are popular or trending at the moment.

Today we look at a Country Classic look and feel. The best thing about a theme like this is the whimsical fun that you can have with it. It is also more cost effective as you get to use a lot of old bottles and lace and raffia to create an easy at-home feel. What I also love about the Country Classic theme is the free flowing and easy feeling that it portrays- elegant is great, but can be a bit stifling and structured. With a Country Classic theme, you get to let your hair down, use pastel colours and take the day easy.

Here are some guidelines...

Good country classic colours: Think vintage- dusty pink, any pastels, light gold and silver, browns and greens.

Materials: Lots of natural materials, glass, tin, silver and gold, lace, raffia, hessian and canvas.

Flowers: Think garden picked- carnations, sunflowers, daisies, lillies, sweet peas, hypericum, roses and pansies

Little extras: Bantings, cardboard name tags, wooden pegs, wooden logs, picnic signs, simple but striking topography and lots of candles.

Have a look at the pic's and get the creative juices flowing. Enjoy!!

Wedding favors, to be or not to be?

With all the stress that goes into a wedding, or any celebration/ event for that matter, comes the added stress that you now have to give your guests a thank you gift.

So here's my advice, or at least my take on the subject...

I have been to many weddings and received many thank you gifts- some edible, some personalized and some really expensive. The sad truth is that most of the time, the favor ends up in the dustbin.

How is one suppose to find a gift that suits all your friends and family's? It's near impossible!

I think the best and most special favors are those that are personal and show the character, almost ethos, of the couple getting married.

Give your gift the personal touch, let it be the last word on your celebration day as your guests take it home as a momento of an amazing day spent with family and friends.

Some Do's and Don'ts when planning your event

Here are just a few guidelines when planning your day. From a 1st Birthday to a 50th, a wedding to a baby shower- These essential, simple and yet vital tips that will help your day to be perfect!

 # 1: DO have a budget. It's very important from the get-go to know how much you have available and how much you want to spend on your event. Once you have your budget, stick to it! Nothings ruins a great day more than bankruptcy!

#2: DO give yourself enough time. Don't plan you event in 2 weeks- the more time you have, the more time will be available for the "optional extra's" that will give your day the WOW factor.

#3: DO have a checklist. This will ensure that you don't forget anything and end up doing last minute stressful shopping.

#4: DO have a theme. Research on the internet and in magazines and get a good idea of how you want everything to look and what colour scheme you want. This will ensure that everything from the invites to the table decor flows elegantly.

#5: DO plan the timing of your actual day. Have a general but flexible plan of how the day will proceed. This will ensure nothing is left out or rushed on the day. 

#6: DON'T leave people of your guest list. The heart of every great day is the people you share it with. Don't regret not having someone at your event, rather find other places to cut costs.

#7: DON'T forget about the kids! If you are having children at your event, ensure you have something fun and entertaining planned to keep them occupied. The last thing you need is bored kid's getting up to mischief!

#8: DON'T stress! This day is a day to celebrate- not get yourself so worked up that you need a bottle of wine to calm down! Be creative, have fun and know that something will go wrong (something always does). So take the day as it comes, fix whatever breaks and remember to ENJOY yourself. It is a celebration after all!