Holiday Party Planning with Morgantown Event Rentals

So, it's finally here! The air is crisp, the leaves are crunchy, and every restaurant in town has packed up the last outdoor table. November brings the start of the holiday planning season. Pumpkin or apple? Cornbread or biscuits? Do we invite everyone? Again? Really-do we have to? And while Sweet Water Event Rentals might not be able to advise you whether or not to invite "that side" of the family (Don't act so high and mighty-Everyone has a crazy Aunt Edna who always insults your cooking but brings Krispy Kreme donuts in a masquerade act of bread pudding. Not everything Paula Dean makes is edible, my friends). But I digress. While we can't tell you who to invite, we can tell you where you will put them all. On our lovely Chiavari chairs of course! Rather than dragging all of those rusty folding chairs out of storage, try a table full of gold or silver chiavari chairs. Undecorated they are stunning. However, you could put a wide ribbon across the rungs in the back, or tie a cluster of acorns, chestnuts-any of the above. Flowers-stunning. While I adore Style Me Pretty for all of their amazing wedding inspiration, their ideas are fabulous for any gathering. Check out a few of these adorable gatherings that used Chiavari chairs-there's no limit to what you could do. Aunt Edna will be so proud!

Much love and happy planning!

Amazing Wedding Favors!///Morgantown Wedding Planner

I love love love the wedding favors that Chad & Leanne gave to the guests at their September wedding.  The colors from their special day were black and white with apple green accents.  As luck would have it My Jones sodas come in a green apple flavor. These sodas are the perfect way to personalize your special day!  Simply upload your favorite images.  Chad and Leanne used an engagement photo taken by our very own Candice Elaine Photography and placed a custom message for their guest.  So, you not only get a great favor but this is the perfect way to also showcase those engagement photos.  A 12 pack with custom labels is only $29.99 + shipping and they come in a variety of flavors.  They definitely have numerous colors to accent any wedding.  The only problem is they are soo cute that I still cannot bring myself to drink it.

Etsy...How We Love Thee...

So, dear readers,

Let's play a game. It's called...What's My Favorite Thing to Do While I Drink My Coffee in The Morning? For those of you who said "Eat a big slice of chocolate cake leftover from the night before", you may quietly keep the truth to yourself. For those of you who said "Check Etsy because there is something new on there every minute and you might miss something amazing!"-you would be correct. Candice and I are Etsy addicts. And the best part? They have a wedding highlight category. For all the brides who can't stand the thought of a veil, check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/UntamedPetals. They have a beautiful variety of head bands, fascinators, and flowers that will wow you every time. For those of you who need a vessel to hold your rings as your adorable (and ALWAYS well behaved!) nephew walks down the aisle, check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/palomasnest. She makes sweet bowls imprinted with sayings such as "Be Glad for This Moment" and "To Have and To Hold". They even have tiny ties. And think-now your rings have a safe haven atop your dresser. Love it! And from the same seller, check out the wooden bangles that can be custom imprinted with anything at all. I'm thinking bridesmaids gifts, ladies. Perhaps the one word that describes each one best? The city in which you met her? I could go on... And here is my last and final fave for the time being. Just Married Banners. Totally underutilized ladies! Hold it for a few pictures with your groom, hold it for a few pics with your entire wedding party behind you. Hang it on the front of your couples table. And please, please, please...politely ask your ever willing bridal attendants to give it a quick tie to the back of your getaway vehicle. (I hope you bought them those fabulous bangles!) Check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/victorianstation as a great source.

We're sure you will enjoy it as much as we do! Happy Planning!

Vendor Highlight - Blooms

So I'm sure that you all are as amazed with these beautiful images as we are. We are just loving Cara Ewald from Blooms, located in Bridgeport.  All that she does-from flowers, to linens to invitations, is fresh and modern. (Are you noticing a theme yet?) We have met Kara on several occasions at wedding shows, and we were just blown away by the flowers she did for a wedding at Lambert's Winery in Weston, WV. Cara started in the floral industry four years ago in Pittsburgh, Pa. Since moving to West Virginia, she has expanded her business to include linen and chair cover rentals, as well as invitations and planning services. Currently located at 103 W. Main Street in Bridgeport, Cara will soon be expanding to a larger location in order to accommodate a larger inventory, meeting space and a space for developing tablescapes and concepts. Those planning events will be able to set tables with a variety of linens and centerpieces to gain a visual image of what their wedding day will really look like.

Cara can will accept up to three weddings per day, depending on the size of the event. For the coming year, 5 dates are already reserved and her calendar is filling up. While some of Cara's favorite event spaces are Lakeview Resort, StoneWall Jackson Resort, the Waterfront, and Hotel Morgan, her designs are showcased around the state. Stop in to be amazed and inspired by her creativity-we always are!

Blooms Florist

Cara Ewald

103 W. Main Street

Bridgeport, WV 26330

(304) 842-3639

www.bloomswv.com

West Virginia Farm Wedding

The girls at Sweet Water are more than just owners-we, as brides, were in the same position four years ago. On Thursday, September 30, my husband and I celebrated our four year anniversary on a cold, rainy day. A rainy day that was an exact recreation of our wedding. Think monsoon. A cold, arctic monsoon. Some of my guests later confessed that they threw their shoes in the trash rather than scrape the mud off of them. Choosing to be married outside on a farm under a tent at the end of September was a risk, but it was one that represented us as a couple. The wedding process is insanity. Stressful, emotional, beautiful insanity. We built our wedding from the ground up because we wanted to be under the changing leaves, down the road from the home in which I grew up. The chairs, tables, dance floor, and every petal on every flower was carted in just for us. And the food? The biggest risk that we took was perhaps the greatest delight. I met Beth through a friend when she came over to teach us how to cook. We bought the groceries and paid her in wine, and she taught us how to sear fish, roast vegetables and make a blood orange vinaigrette. I was in love. Because I knew she had catering experience, and because her passion for food mirrored my own (I once drove to Philadelphia for macaroni and cheese. It was from Delilah's. It was made in front of you. And it was GOOD). I hired Beth on the spot. Risky? Yes. But I knew if it fell through and we ordered 120 pizzas, I would be just as happy on my wedding day. As it turned out, Beth hand pickled crates of vegetables in my kitchen the week before the wedding. She made a macaroni and cheese that I would drive to Los Angeles for. She made the marinade that the shrimp, steak and chicken were prepared with. We saved money, even after hiring wait staff to serve this delicious spread, but we most appreciated showcasing someone's skill and passion in a way that made our day even more special. And more delicious!

Vendor Highlight: Elite Bridal and Events

As many of you know, Sweet Water Event Rentals is fresh on the Morgantown scene. As we were building our inventory and stocking up on fresh bridal trends, we were meeting more and more people in the wedding industry. When we met Leslie at Elite Bridal, we were thrilled to have a new partner in crime. Her extensive inventory of beautiful linens in every color, fabric and size both amazed and inspired us. Leslie also has a terrific variety of invitations-from the engagement party, to the bridal shower, to the wedding. (And be sure to keep her in mind for baby shower invitations down the road!) Leslie has spent her career working in the party and event business. She has previous experience in banquet and catering management.  Thusly, she's also a terrific reference for creating a planning timeline.  She recommends visiting her shop six to eight months before the big day to guarantee linen availability and order invitations. She can help coordinate your choices with your total wedding vision, clarify invitation wording and plan the best RSVP date. From cake toppers to totes for your bridesmaids, it really is true-Elite Bridal has everything but the dress! 

Elite Bridal and Events
Owner- Leslie Propst
Location- 12 Commerce Drive Westover, WV 26501(Big Lots Shopping Center)
Email- lpropst@elitebridalandevents.com
Website- www.elitebridalandevents.com
Phone- 304.292.4020

Lakeview Bridal Show Morgantown WV 2010

Jennifer and I had so much fun meeting all the soon to be brides at the Lakeview Bridal show this Sunday! The vendors were amazing and I can't even begin to describe the numerous yummy pieces of cake we sampled.  Here is a sample of our booth for those of you who couldn't make it.  It is pretty obvious how we are completely obsessed with our black and white damask linens by Elite Bridal, chandeliers and of course apple green!  Don't forget if you book before November 10th you will receive free delivery on any order. Visit our website for more information http://www.sweetwaterwv.com/ we look forward to working with each of you!