Recycle. Reduce. Re-WED?

Save the environment & your wedding budget.  Not sure what you're going to do with those 100 mason jars you picked up for your wedding???  We've got you covered!  Glass jars are a wonderful blank canvas for the creative mind!  With a vast reach from household decor to weddings, they can be perfect for every scene!  Check out some of our favorite uses!

Something old, new, borrowed & whatever color you'd like! =)  You can use this technique with any glass container, so get creative.  Mason jars, milk glasses, even votives and bowls!  Sheryn will show you how to paint your own glasses Here.

Feeling frisky?  Take is one step further with these elegant designs!  Indoor/Outdoor lanterns are a great addition to your next get together.......

We love these bathroom organizers!  Elegantly detailed, both beautiful and useful!

Add a soft pop of color with glitter!  Yes, I said it, GLITTER!  Everything in moderation and that's no exception here!  Just make sure you paint the side that will be dry so the water doesn't remove your new effect!

And a shout out for our creative bakers out there, a new test on individuals deserts!  For great recipes, check out our favorite baker and new blogger JEWELS.

For the home.  Though too crafty for an assortment of roses, this flower and twine look pairs perfectly with sprigs of wheat for a down home, country vibe!

Outdoor lanterns, or with the same look..... Kitchen utensil storage.  Install a set of simple coat hooks and hang the jars from the long arm.... You may need a longer wire for this depending on what you want to fill the jars with.

Need some more jars?  Put your friends and family on recycle alert and request that they save their spaghetti sauce jars for your upcoming project!  Soak them in soapy warm water for a couple of hours and use a scour pad to remove the label.  One run through the dishwasher and you have a shiny, label-less jar ready for decorating!

Happy crafting!

Wonderful Brides and Wedding Wire alike, we thank you!

We have been very blessed to have the sweetest clients around and as it turns out, they kinda like us too!!  We just received Wedding Wire's Brides Choice Award for 2012.  This is an absolute honor and a testament to the power of online reviews!


The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry.  And most importantly, this award is based on reviews of the people who know us best, YOU! 


A big thank you to all who voted and best of luck to you in 2012!


Love & Wishes,
Meg West & the Events by M and M team

Vera Wang has a new collection for you

If you haven't been able to afford a Vera Wang wedding gown in the past, your luck may be changing!  David's Bridal has released a line of gowns by the ever-changing, but always time-less designer, Vera Wang.

Those of us who are huge fans of the 2009 Movie Bride Wars, know that Miss Vera Wang designed the beautiful gowns donned by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway!  Her elegance exudes romance with every line and it's obvious that this holds true in her new line with David's Bridal.

Vera Wang's 2011 David's Bridal Collection

2009 Bride Wars

 

And you thought THAT was the good news......

David's Bridal is giving away gowns to the lucky winners of their 2011 sweepstakes.  When selected, you'll receive one of the following:

1) a bridal gown chosen from the current season's David's Bridal bridal gowns, or 

2) up to five (5) dresses including bridesmaids and mother-of-the-bride dresses chosen from the current season's David's Bridal gowns.

How do I win, you ask?  Enter here.  They will be selecting 1 U.S. winner every month, until their sponsors tell them to stop!!  So good luck to you all!

Love and Happy Weddings,

DIY Weddings

Do-It-Yourself Weddings are not only cost effective, but super fun!  And all it takes is a little inspiration and usually some glue!  One of my brides was looking for a shabby chic garden theme, but was having her reception indoors in a less than shabby chic venue, so she wanted to balance the two without losing the theme's personality.  We came up with some really fun ideas!

We started with an assignment board.  If you use your imagination, you can use almost any square or rectangular surface as your backing.  I've even seen old fashioned wood shutters with rows of escort cards placed on every few panels...... but for this, we found a beautiful, shabby chic frame for $15 at a local thrift store.  When it comes to one of a kind items, don't be afraid to look at your local thrift shops (in fact I recommend it).  We removed the glass and covered the cardboard panel with our fabric color of choice.  From there we added the ribbon, which is secured in the back and hung the table assignments with small clothespins.  This could truly be done in any color combination or style to match your theme.

Next, we decided to create something special for the tables.  In addition to regular votives, we created these one of a kind votive pails.  We used them as accent pieces on the table, but you could use them as favors for your guests to take home.  Again, something that can be done in any color.  Once you have your pails, all you need is Raffia Ribbon, Paper Flowers, Sand, Votives and a glue gun.  Meg's tip: Stuff white paper around the votives before adding the sand.  You'll use less sand this way!

And here's a front shot of the finished product!!

Inspiration is the only thing you need for creation (and glue).  If you can envision it, you can create it.  Break any idea down into small steps and start building the reality, in reality!!  Good luck and have fun!  

Love and happy weddings!

Let's Give 'em Something to Talk About

Traditionally, a wedding favor is provided as a thank you to your guests for attending and sharing your big day!  It could be as simple as a tasty treat or as unique as a personalized ornament.  Either way, you want a memento that speaks to you and your new life as husband and wife!

Looking for some ideas?  Here are some fantastic favors:

A new/elegant twist on bubbles!  Make the Grand Entrance to your reception in a room full of hand blown bubbles.  Each piece is designed to look like an 

authentic champagne bottle.  Bubbly anyone?

http://www.topweddingfavors.com/Bubbly-Champagne-Bubbles-Set-of-12.html

Pour toujours et à jamais: "Forever and for always"

Add the language of love to your romantic celebration with these beautiful Eiffel Tower place-card holders.

http://www.myweddingfavors.com/evening-in-paris-eiffel-tower-silverfinish.html

The gift that keeps on giving.  This beautiful wine stopper is a great/functional reminder of the day you were married.  An elegant way to say "thank you and enjoy!"

http://www.topweddingfavors.com/product.php?productid=16460&cat=0&page=1

All of your friends and family will remember your beautiful day at the beach with this beautiful piece.  Delicate enough for a woman, with a tool mentality for men!

http://www.topweddingfavors.com/Shore-Memories-Sea-Shell-Bottle-Opener.html

Have fun with this "green" crowd pleaser.  Send your guests home with fresh tea leaves in a personalized, eco-friendly display.  Fun, unique and definitely something to talk about.

http://www.beau-coup.com/tea_sachets.htm

Win Your Dream Wedding

Crate & Barrel is having a fabulous new contest for you engaged couples when you register for your wedding!  If you've already registered at Crate & Barrel, there's still a chance for you too!  Enter by clicking the link below to have a chance at one of these fabulous prizes:

Grand Prize

The Ultimate Wedding - with a whopping $100,000 budget - to one lucky couple

2nd Prize

One winner will receive a $7500 Crate and Barrel Shop Card.

Most Votes

One winner will receive a $7500 Crate and Barrel Shop Card.

3rd Prize

One winner will receive a $2500 Crate and Barrel Shop Card.

Honorable Mentions

Fifteen winners will receive a $1000 Crate and Barrel Shop Card.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/UltimateWedding/

Good luck!  And happy shopping!! 

KODAK Wedding Contest, Win Big!

Get Married Magazine is offering a chance for one of you beautiful brides to win a KODAK Professional Collections Album and a Kodak Easyshare M590 Digital Camera (valued up to $1700).  Post your personal love story here and you could win a KODAK Professional Collections Album and a KODAK EASYSHARE M590 Digital Camera for the honeymoon!