CasaSugar

Cool Idea: A Haunted Wedding

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:29 -0700

After I wrote my post about California haunted houses, one of my Sugar friends emailed me to say that she'd actually gotten married in one of them!

She writes, "I got married at Madrona Manor in Healdsburg. It’s such a beautiful old house, and the grounds are absolutely breathtaking. The main house is the part that’s supposed to be haunted, and I have to admit, it is a little creepy. It’s charming and old-fashioned, full of gorgeous antiques, but it absolutely feels like a haunted house. We held our ceremony in the gardens, our reception on the patio, and stayed in a carriage house behind the main building, so we pretty much avoided the potentially haunted areas entirely (and that wasn’t an accident)!"

Have you ever attended a wedding in a haunted home, or someplace that was rumored to house spirits? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

Photo courtesy Kristyn Stroble Photography

Jamie's Antique-Boho Wedding

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:23 -0700

Textile artist and Wisconsin girl Jamie recently tied the knot with her long-time sweetheart and fellow artist, Joe. Jamie imbued the backyard wedding with great vintage touches and lots of beautiful ideas, noting that, "Our entire day was an epic collaboration of friends, family, grandmas and grandpas,neighbors, and friends of friends who were all so generous in offering helping hands." Check out some photos from the wedding to explore her unique, lovely style.
Photos by James Stukenberg

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How To: Decorate With Paper Flowers

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:56 -0700

I recently ran across these gorgeous paper flowers from stylist Zoe Bradley. Zoe's paper creations have been seen everywhere, from the McQueen runway to the windows of Louis Vuitton and Donna Karan. While many of us will always prefer fresh flowers to paper ones, carefully crafted and displayed paper blooms, such as Zoe's, can make a huge visual impact. Imagine displaying them at a birthday party, baby shower, or even an outdoor wedding. I can see them hanging from trees, clustered in modern vases, or even tucked in party goers' chignons. Want to make some for your next soiree? See some of my favorite paper flowers.
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Cool Idea: A Bouquet of Water Flowers

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:00:01 -0700

I'm so impressed with this beautiful bouquet of water flowers. While I would never advocate picking flowers out of a freshwater lake (especially if it's a rare plant), if you have a backyard pond or fountain, it would be wise to cultivate some water flowers to use for an unusual bouquet or arrangement. Can you imagine how stunning a bouquet of water flowers would look at a lakeside wedding?

Have you ever made an arrangement with water lilies and water hyacinth? Do you have a backyard pond where you grow these flowers?

Source: Flickr User molajen

Etsy Find: Table Talk Napkin Rings

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:28 -0700

If you were tempted by the customized wedding ring bowl from artist Paloma's Nest, chances are that you'll also fall for these Table Talk Napkin Rings ($48 for four). Made from reclaimed wood, the rings are stamped with a message of your choice. Need a wedding present for a newlywed couple? These, stamped with their wedding date, would be a great choice. Want to commemorate a special occasion or gathering? These rings can do just that. Since each ring is only two inches in diameter, the text is limited to 30 characters and spaces. The text is printed in uppercase letters in black ink, and the wood is sanded to a smooth finish to accommodate your favorite linens.

Are You Cut Out For a Destination Wedding?

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:00:30 -0700

Have you been considering a destination wedding? To help you make your decision, Alison Hotchkiss, the creative director of Alison Events and the author of Destination Wedding Planner, shares a quiz from her book. Find out if a destination wedding is the right type of wedding for you and your fiancé when you take this quiz!

To get started on the quiz, click here.
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When it comes to travel:

I can take it or leave it; I usually just travel for work or to visit my parents.

It’s a lot of trouble, but it's almost always worth it.

I’ll go anywhere, anytime. What’s life if not an adventure?

When it comes to my wedding, I want:

Perfection over adventure; everything should go off without a hitch.

Something more unique, even if it means sacrificing control.

An event that people will remember forever - a real adventure!

When I picture who will be at my wedding:

It’s my special day, and I want to be surrounded by tons of friends, family, and co-workers.

I have a list of must-have guests, and the rest are just icing on the wedding cake.

I want a small, intimate wedding with a select group of people we’re closest to.

My family and my fiancé’s family:

Get along great and live in the same state or even town.

Have met before and live in the same approximate part of the country.

Don’t really know each other and live a million miles apart.

Which of the following describes your feelings:

It's important to follow tradition if you want your wedding to be meaningful.

It's important to strike the right balance of respecting tradition while doing your own thing.

It's important to be unique if you want your wedding to be memorable.

I want my wedding to be:

A one- or two-day event where I can visit with people at the reception, then get on with my honeymoon.

A several-day event where I can have more than one opportunity to visit with my guests.

A group vacation where everyone can really get to know each other and I can spend quality time with everyone.

For my honeymoon, I’d rather:

Sneak away where no one has any idea where we are or how to find us.

Have the option of seeing other people if we want.

Hang out with my friends and family and still be able to sneak off at the end of the day.

My guest list is made up of:

People who are elderly, don’t like to travel, are on a fixed income, and have to be there or my day will be ruined.

A lot of friends, but also a lot of people whose feelings I don’t want to hurt.

People who will come no matter where I have the wedding.

When things go wrong:

It ruins everything, including my day.

I’m pretty good with rolling with the punches.

I think, “This will make a great story someday!”

Cool Idea: A Bouquet of Macarons

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:00:55 -0700

There's a reason Sofia Coppola keyed the palette of her film Marie Antoinette around a box of French macarons: the feminine pastel tones are simply chic and utterly delightful.

So, why not think inside the box and forgo a traditional bouquet for your flower girls in favor of an arrangement of macarons? Your little flower girls will be engaged by the sweet pastries, and your guests intrigued. Though the meringue-like domes are light, the sum of them may be heavy, so make sure to reinforce the bouquet sleeve - perhaps by starching a piece of lace or other fabric. You may even want to superglue the pastries to keep them looking nice; it's all about the illusion. Just save extras for your macaron girls to eat themselves!
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8 Reasons to Tie the Knot at a National Park

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:00:39 -0700

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the "Organic Act," creating the National Park Service, the new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior protecting the 35 national parks and monuments then managed by the department. Now, the United States' national parks are made up of nearly 400 natural, cultural, and recreational sites across the country, including massive parks like Yellowstone, and historical sites like the Statue of Liberty. Besides showcasing national historic and environmental treasures, many of these parks are also available for wedding ceremonies. Check out my top reasons for getting hitched at a national park.
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Romeo and Juliet Balcony Hosts First Wedding

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:07:31 -0700

Back in March, I told you about a balcony in Verona that's supposedly the 14th-century Casa di Giulietta (home of Juliet of Romeo and Juliet fame) in Verona, Italy. While evidence confirming the home's identity is sketchy at best, romantic brides and grooms can live the fantasy -hopefully without the tragedy of the Shakespeare play - for a fee of 1,000 euros. And if you're non-European, you'll pay an additional 300 euros for the opportunity. This payment ensures your rental of the house (and balcony), but the ceremony must be performed inside the home.

The first couple to take advantage of the historic home and balcony tied the knot in romantic fashion today. Hellas Verona footballer Luca Ceccarelli and his wife Irene Lanforti took their vows at Juliet's home and then posed on the balcony for pictures.

Interested in getting married at Juliet's home? You can contact the Verona Tourist Center for all the details.

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How-To: 10 Cool Ways to Display Photographs at Your Wedding

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:00:38 -0700

If you want to display photos of the happy couple at your wedding, you don't have to stick to a boring photo album. Get creative with these ideas for displaying photos during your big day.
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