Magnolia Bakery hits Chicago!
Posted by Tamara Sims | Filed under News and Updates, Wedding Reception Ideas
Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes
If you follow my Blog you already know about my obsession with desserts…especially cupcakes! A cupcake is one of the most perfect desserts. Not only are they delicious, but they are the perfect hand held treat for wedding receptions. I have been a long time fan of Magnolia Bakery since we began traveling to New York City back in 1997, and I was so excited when they finally opened here in Chicago this month. Yes, they have amazing cupcakes, but my absolute favorite treat at Magnolia is their Banana Pudding. If you have never had banana pudding you must try it. Delicious vanilla pudding layered with fresh bananas and vanilla wafers…so simple but so incredibly good. I have waited in line many times for this in New York and will happily do the same here in Chicago. It’s just that good!
Magnolia Bakery Chicago is located at 108 N. State Street at Block 37. www.magnoliabakery.com Enjoy!
Enjoying Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery finally opens in Chicago!
Tags: Magnolia Bakery
Fall Wedding Trends We Love
Posted by Tamara Sims | Filed under Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Resources
Beautiful Fall Wedding Colors
Well I think Fall has finally arrived here in Chicago! We have had some amazing warm weather this October and it almost felt like weren’t going to have a Fall…but alas the weather is becoming cooler and the leaves are falling, so it is time for our beautiful Fall wedding season. And thanks to The Knot, I am sharing some of their favorite fall wedding trends with you…of course with our own twist.
Fall Wedding Colors Golds, Browns and Purples make for a gorgeous color palette for your Fall Wedding. Two of my favorite combinations for fall are Orange/Brown & Hot Pink/Brown. Use these colors for Flowers, Linens or Decor to create a dramatic backdrop.
Fall Food Trends For me Fall means comfort food! Think pumpkin soup, mac and cheese, mulled wine, and anything that includes apples. Consider mini-apple cobblers or apple pies for your dessert station accompanied by warm apple cider.
Fall Wedding Cake Trends For many of our brides it’s all about the cake! Think about all of the amazing fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Carrot Cake or Pumpkin Spice Cake with cream cheese frosting says Fall all the way! You can decorate your cake with gorgeous fall accents like branches and leaves.
Enjoying some yummy Pumpkin Soup this Fall!
Tags: knot.com
Top 5 Tips for a Fun Wedding Reception
Posted by Tamara Sims | Filed under Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Resources
Wedding guests dancing the night away!
The knot.com recently shared fun tips for wedding receptions, so I thought I would adapt a few of theirs and add our own Something 2 Dance 2 spin on how you can have a fun wedding reception.
Be Creative with your First Dance! Your first dance is a great opportunity to “set the tone” for your wedding reception. Don’t feel that you have to dance to a traditional slow song. If you love to swing dance, select a jazzy version of a classic. Or feel free to bust a move after you have danced to a few minutes of a slow song. This will be a fun and welcome surprise for your guests.
Plan Interactive Food Stations! Great food makes great celebrations, but customizable and creative food choices are even better. A mashed potato bar, made to order pasta, or grilled cheese stations where people can choose their own toppings and sauces will leave you with happy, well-fed guests ready to have a good time.
Play Danceable Music! If you want to keep the dance floor packed, plan a playlist of songs that will please the crowd, not just you two. Remember, you will have guests at your wedding ranging from age 8 to 89! You may love obscure rap music, but now isn’t the time to show off your discerning taste in music. People love dancing to Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, and Madonna–so let them!
Give out Party Favors! Don’t forget that a reception is a party! Let your guests know that is ok to let loose after a formal ceremony by handing out fun party favors at your reception. Our clients enjoy glow necklaces, hats for the guys and feather boas for the girls. It also makes for great photos on the dance floor!
Late Night Snacks! If you want to ensure an all-night crowd arrange for your caterer to bring out trays of late-night snacks like Gene & Jude’s Hot Dogs, cheeseburgers and fries, mini pizzas, mac & cheese or warm donuts. If you stick with yummy comfort foods your guests will wish the party would never end! One of our favorite events had a Cupcake Truck waiting outside as guests were leaving..a perfect way to end a party! I recently ran into a bride who was married in 2009, and she told me her friends still comment on how much they enjoyed having cheeseburgers and fries at her reception!
A Cupcake Truck waiting for guests as they leave your wedding reception.
Tags: Colin Lyons Photography, Gene & Judes, knot.com, More Cupcakes, Something 2 Dance 2
Southern Wedding Traditions
Posted by Tamara Sims | Filed under Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Resources
Sweet Tea & Lemonade for your Southern Themed Wedding
After recently visiting Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, I thought it would be fun to share some Southern Wedding traditions with my readers.
Savannah has become a huge destination for weddings, especially with couples from New York who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city for their wedding. Many couples rent out one of the beautiful “squares” in Savannah for an outdoor ceremony followed by a reception at one of the historic mansions.
One of the mansions that Jay & I visited was The Olde Pink House, which was built in 1771. We were lucky enough to eat dinner in the Grand Ballroom where most of their wedding receptions take place, but for larger parties, you can rent the entire mansion which holds up to 400 guests! The hospitality we received from the staff was as amazing as the food and we learned that in the south it is bad luck to say “Congratulations” to the bride and groom…instead you say “Best Wishes.”
The city is truly a walking city, but taking a horse drawn carriage ride is the most romantic way to see Savannah and all of its historic sites. And of course this is a very popular form of transportation for Brides & Grooms. Carriage Tours of Savannah specializes in weddings and special events, and our horse “Miss April” took great care of us as we toured the city.
Of course a staple in the south is “Sweet Tea,” which is basically the most delicious iced tea I have ever tasted! In addition to a traditional Cocktail Hour, and since the heat in Savannah can be pretty steamy, many weddings also have a “Sweet Tea & Lemonade” station set up for their guests in addition to the open bar. What a charming idea for our brides here in Chicago during our hot & humid summers.
And of course we cannot forget that just like me, they love their sweets in the South. Pecan Pralines, Red Velvet Cake, Peach Cobbler, Banana Pudding and Moon Pies are easy to find. And of course, during my trip I tried them all! If you are planning a ‘Southern Themed” wedding reception, pecan pralines or Moon Pies would be a great favor to give to your guests. Our favorite pralines were found at River Street Sweets in Savannah, where you can watch the pralines being made fresh day or night. And for a truly unique Southern delicacy, we cannot forget the famous Moon Pie. For only sixty-eight cents each, your guests will love this yummy graham cracker and marshmallow treat that we enjoyed in Charleston, South Carolina.
Well Y’all, I hope you enjoyed my trip to the South, and hope you found some helpful tips and ideas when planning your Southern Themed Wedding!
The Moon Pie is a yummy southern treat that is the perfect favor for your guests
One of the 22 beautiful public squares in Savannah. A perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony.
A horse & carriage is a great way to enhance your southern themed wedding.
Tags: Carriage Tours of Savannah, Charleston, Moon Pie, Savannah, The Olde Pink House
