Beachy with Class!

A big shout out goes to Brit who was married last Saturday in Las Caletas! We did a whole set of things for her, as you will see - all super fun!

INSPIRATION

Brit did send us her invites but told me she didn't really want something based off the invites (other than the colors) - after discussing it a bit as to what she would like to see, I remembered an invite that I loved which was very colorful but super kewl - Brittloved it too and, thus, started our inspiration for her wedding sets!

Maracas

The first thing Brit ordered were the maracas. She wanted the colors of yellow, orange and an orchid/fuschia color. We decided to put the white tiger lily on it for the biggest effect and this is how they turned out!

MARACA TAGS & NAMES/DATE/LOCATION

The bride really wanted to have the names/date/location on the maracas but it was a little over her budget - so, instead, we offered to do tags on some and she decided to do the print on others. The inspiration for these tags (and, as you will see, the place cards as well) came as I was struggling to find something that would be beachy but not too "beachy" - I wanted something artistic, yet also classical when I ran across this graphic image and realized it was perfect! On the other side of the tags I put a tiger lilly water color and I really like the effect. Also taking oodles of time was the font - I must have looked at over 100 different fonts before deciding this was IT! And you thought picking a dress was hard! :)

PLACE CARDS

When I asked Brit how she would like her place cards she was really laid back and basically told me to just do something kewl!! So, I thought place cards on the forks would look nice (and as I knew the wedding was outside at Las Caletas, I thought that would ensure that they wouldn't blow away). I really liked how they came out - as I was playing with font colors I accidentally did the two-tone and decided there was some kewl factor there!

HAND PAINTED FANS

We were just going to do sandalwood fans with ribbon and accents but, when we went to order the fans, it turns out that they are stuck in Mexican customs right now and nobody in Vallarta had any! So, we had to do some quick thunking and we suggested to Brit that we could do some fans based on the same theme as the maracas with a slight twist and she agreed! I'm actually glad it turned out this way because I think they turned out awesome - actually a product of my husband, rather than Omar!

Next week we have Megan's maracas to share ... we've been so busy and I promise I've been scouting the web for ideas - but they have mostly been for my bride's weddings and, of course, must keep those under wraps until we unveil! If you are eager for me to get back to cool decor ideas I will be back to that at the end of April when we have a little break before we go into May and are oodles busy!

2 Pesos - Stamps Can be Marvelous Things!

A big shout out goes to K8 who tied the knot last Friday! I wanted to go but I had a teething baby to contend with and, just like the rest of you, must wait for wedding photos.... but, meanwhile, here is a little preview of a few little goodies we put together for her....

Kate wanted something that was romantic but distinctive to go along with her aqua/red motif so I went searching the internet for inspiration and I gave Kate her choice of various designs. This is the one she chose...

Kate's Design Inspiration

As fate would have it, she had a girlfriend who actually owned this stamp! So, she was able to have her friend make welcome bag tags and ceremony programs using the stamp motif. They looked like this:

Stamped Ceremony Programs and Tags

(not done by us but super kewl anyway!)

I had the task of making the stamp into a useable graphic which was a fun challenge! I erased and colored away and put touches of the stamp into her menus, place cards and shake me tags for her maracas. They looked like this...

Menus

Place Cards

Shake Me Tags!

And, finallly, Omar and I discussed what would look best and came-up with the following design which I think really takes the cake! He's so crazy talented!!

Maracas

Next week will be a full on blog on the color scheme of red, orange and teal, submitted by a BDW bride!

TwitterPated...Tweet Tweet!

I first stumbled across this a while back and thought it was a great idea - but must admit that I would prefer to take it a little less literal. But, anyways, this is where the inspiration for Love Birds came from - these two great collages. The first from Best Wedding Sites and the second from Tastefully Entertaining.

INSPIRATIONS

PRINT

Let's start with print, a very good place to start ;). I love this first design, even if I'm not terribly enamored with the colors which was found at MindyWagner. Underneath it we have this beautiful 3-D invite (Letterperfect) and next to it a very organic/artistic invite found at Wedding Bee. Underneath that we have a more 1930's place card approach (Wedding Bee), this beautiful red/gold rendition from H2Cards and last but not least this more scrapbook crafty appeal from Shazanne Crafts.

TABLES AND THINGS

I love love this floral, organic centerpiece which I stumbled across at June Bug Weddings. Underneath it we have this ornate birdcage surrounded by flowers found at Joyful Weddings and Events as well as this fun, playful place setting also found there in the middle up top. Down below a very Autumn/nature feel at Wedding Bee and what Love Bird wedding would be complete without it's share of nests! From top to bottom: Joyful Weddings and Events, Isn't She Lovely and Here Comes the Guide.

ODDS 'N ENDS

I also heart heart this pink lovebird up top from The Handcrafted Wedding. There's just something sweet yet sassy about her! Up top we have these fun bird napkin rings (Kaboodle), down below this fun bird mint tin (Wedding Things) and wooden birds ordaining the ceremony aisle (IStockPhoto). Love bird garter (Etsy - a Pete Rene Design), birdcage down below and very large (almost larger than the flower girl!) flower girl basket (Wedding Bee) .

CAKES

Ahhhh - ceramic love bird topper (Wedding Resources) followed by a yellow/brown love bird cake (Joyful Weddings and Events). Birds nest with roses (1812 Hitching Post) and my FAV this beautiful cake which was a take on the invites found at Pink Cake Box. I also like this very artistic take with the bright blue and bird accents from Isn't She Lovely.

That's all she wrote folks - I have oodles of ideas for next month's blog but not sure which one I've settled on yet, so it will be a surprise to me too!

2 Pesos - Place setting Clutter- HELP!

Fun fun! First bride question of 2 Pesos and here it is:

"I like 2 Pesos Tuesday because one of my signature lines is "Only on Tuesdays!" So it works! So here is my question. I was wondering how to make a place setting with all of the pieces not look cluttered. I keep thinking in my head.... plate, flatware, napkin, place card, menu... and then to try to add maracas? I am still wanting to have you guys make custom maracas for me... I just don't know how to make them look good. And I am on a budget. What do you think?????" - bride kate

I can see why you would be confused! So many things, it seems like ... but, when you actually see all the pieces in action, I promise it starts to make sense. I have a variety of different advice so here goes!

When you say "you are on a budget" the first thing I think is "consolidate." In your case, I think there are several ways to do that. Here are some of my suggestions:

1. One of my first thoughts would be to either a) combine your menu and place card together and there would be many ways to do that - by placing the name at the top, for example, or on the side. My other thought would be to b) really personalize your maracas with the names of your guests right on the maraca and have it set at each place setting.

2. If you combine your menu and place card setting you could place the combination inside the napkin on a plate (Quizilla), or on the plate and have the napkin placed in the water or wine glasses OR you could have menus that stand-up and have them set at the head of each plate (2941). Oodles of options!

Napkins in Water Glasses

Inside the Napkin on a Plate

Menu at Top

3. Depending on where you decide to place the menus and/or menu/place card combinations, the maracas could go where the plate would be, at the top of the plate, or hanging on a chair tied with pretty ribbon! I think the maracas are also fun at the ceremony on each chair or passed out during a fun dance number (if you have a group that dances!).

On Ceremony Chairs

Back of Dinner Chairs

4. Keep in mind that usually the plates aren't on the table before dinner, as they are brought out with the food. So, you should have a space on the table for the plates which would be a great place for either the menu or maraca!

Plates not set

Plates Set

Knowing what I do re: your full table set-up, if it were me, in lieu of having your names, date and location painted on the maraca, I would aim for a simple design with the first name of your guest (in case of double names, as in two Sams, with the first initial of their last name). I would set the menu at the head of the plate, the maraca where the plate will go with the guest's name facing-up and the napkin under the fork.

Any questions about wedding design, decor, etiquette or anything re: PV, ask away and Two Pesos Tuesdayish it is (I'm on Mexican time, eh!) - either PM me if you see this at Best Destination Wedding or email me at amishkadesigns@yahoo.com and put "two pesos" in the subject line!

Enjoying Placecards and Tablemarkers!

Well, I know I WAS going to talk about black being "in" and such, but I had to do some research on place cards and table markers for an upcoming event and ran across some things I just had to share!

I think table markers, escort cards and place cards are the perfect places to put creative and unique touches about the bride and groom - be it that they love seashells or had something really special in their invitations which would be great to tie-in or they're into hearts, butterflies - whatever! But, even though I base my ideas on the bride and groom themselves, I always need fresh perspectives on how to display, format and graphic design them! This is what I found this time around...

TABLE MARKERS

Here's a chocolate brown, turquoise option I found over the The Knot. I love the modern, yet elegant approach.

Some other great Knot finds were these Photo Luminaries - the idea behind this was that the table was named after a landmark with a photo of the couple and then each side had something re: the town where the wedding was held - fact, history, pictures. I think, for the right couple, this idea would translate well here in Vallarta as we get so many out-of-town visitors who really know very little about Vallarta, Jalisco and Mexico in general.

Photos of the couple aren't exactly a new idea, but this one also had little details about the couple as well, which I thought was really smart and gave an old idea a new twist.

It makes sense that a lot of our couples love to travel - I've used photographs before and names of cities the couple have loved, but I found this postcard idea with the reason WHY that place was so special to the couple incredibly inspiring.

And, lastly also from The Knot, I liked the use of ribbon, the photograph and the graphic design - really sharp!

PLACE CARDS

For some reason, I find Table Markers a lot easier to do than place cards - I think some of that is because place cards generally have such a small printing area. But these ideas should definitely help!

I think these place card votive ideas from The Wedding Bee are beautiful, classic and functional! The added ribbon just gives it a little added romantic touch.

I also loved this whimsical cake along with the flower place cards holder, which we found at Get Married. Great way to combine a place card with a favor.

These buttons, found over at Martha Stewart, can be ordered in all sorts of styles, names and icons. For just the right couple, I think this touch could be really impressive!

And lastly, but certainly not least as you know I love to save the best for last!, here is a place card tree found over at Style Me Pretty. I absolutely LOVE this place card display with the ribbons and the beads in a willow tree. Absolutely perfect!

Well, that's all for May Mid-Month - I promise to get around to the black and white inspirations as well as sharing some fabulous new centerpiece ideas really soon! And, as always, if there is something you need ideas for or are curious about, let me know and I'll see what I can find for upcoming blogs!