What a Wonderful Year!

Happy New Year! We are so excited to ring in 2020 this month, but are grateful for 2019 – an amazing end to our decade! We are excited to announce that we were selected to be a part of WeddingWire’s …

Bridal Shower Invitations (And Beyond!)

One of the most exciting parts for this design-minded girl (Breck) was dreaming up and creating all the pieces for my wedding, shower, and website. I’m pretty picky, so I knew exactly what I wanted, how I wanted it to …

Summer Hacks

We’re all about making life easier because let’s face it, it’s hard to get things done when you’re busy! Here are 5 DIY hacks you can use this summer to make your life simpler so you can focus more on …

How to Host an Exceptional Event

A perfect party. Is there any such thing? Maybe not, but we believe that you can get pretty close to throwing the most spectacular shindig with these handy tips and tricks! Consider this post your key to going down in …

Raising the Bar

Every good party is memorable. Whether it’s the people or the food or the decorations, there’s just something about a good event that sticks with you. Lucky for you, we have the secret to an awesome bash. What is it? A …

September Style

Fall is upon us and we couldn’t be more ready for the cooler temperatures and changing leaves. Exceptional Events has all the tips and ideas you need to make your autumn event stand out!

Stylish Drinks

The great thing about fall is the options it offers you when it comes to planning an event. One great opportunity to lace some warm tones into your event is through the drinks. Whether you want to go with the typical seasonal approach and do warm ciders or add a little spice and choose a more themed drink, you can find just about anything that will match your taste as well as your attendee’s.

Photo: Courtesy of thekitchn.com

Comfort Food

When it comes to this time of the year, we all start thinking about Thanksgiving. The food, fellowship, and fun that comes along with the holiday can be brought out a little early though when it comes to food. Serving appetizers like warm cranberry muffins or delicious pumpkin flavored treats will be a hit with guests. In addition to that, there’s nothing more seasonal than a nice cinnamon cake. It makes our mouths water just thinking about it!

Photo: Courtesy of recipegirl.com

Warm Decor

We believe that this time of year should be dedicated to comfy sweaters and candlelight evenings. Your event can easily live up to that! By incorporating natural elements to your decorations, your venue will be transformed into a fall wonderland. Think warm colors and soft lighting. Candles are a great way to add mystique to the setting and branches and leaves will give it the perfect autumn touch. Play with colors, accents, and set-ups to find your happy place. It might just amaze you to see what a few little touches can do for an event.

Photo: Courtesy of robbiewalden.com

Ga-Ga for Garlands!

Garlands are becoming a staple at weddings and other special events.  The long strands really wow the guests with their high visual impact. They are also a great way to incorporate your colors and theme of the event.  Garlands can be used in a variety of ways to spice up your decor and can be made out of fabric, flowers, or paper.  Below are a few ways we like to implement them:

Ceremony:

Garlands can be added along structures such as fences, walls, or gates to soften the ceremony space. Putting garlands down the aisle is a great way to not only decorate the space, but they’re also a way to let guests know that the aisle is reserved for the wedding party or family.

Photo: Courtesy etsy.com

Photo: Courtesy greenweddingshoes.com

Tables:

Get the most out of your floral by keeping it low and flowing. Add candles for height and this romantic look will be sure to get endless “oohs” and “awes.”  Another thrifty and sparkly way to add color is to hang a paper or fabric garland to the front of the table. This helps add interest and texture to your decor.

Photo: Courtesy http://www.southboundbride.com

Photo: Courtesy greenweddingshoes.com

Chairs:

Add swag to your chairs! This not only makes for beautiful pictures, but it also allows you to quickly identify your seats. Having a glamorous party or event? Add beads and faux pearls for a little extra sparkle to your chairs.

Photo: Courtesy elizabethannedesigns.com

Photo: Courtesy bridalmusings.com

When it comes to garland, you can buy it, rent it, or make your own. There are plenty of choices to decide from! One thing is for sure though, garlands will definitely add that extra bit of pop to any wedding or event.

DFW Bridal Shows

   The past few weekends my awesome interns and I had the pleasure of attending both the Star-Telegram Bridal Show in Fort Worth and the Dallas Bridal Show at Market Hall. Both shows were beautiful and featured fantastic vendors from all across the DFW Area. Here are a few of our favorites!

The Brooks at Weatherford: The Brooks at Weatherford is a brand new venue opening in Weatherford, Texas where rustic beauty meets classic elegance with a breathtaking open-air concept. The owners, Steve and Tricia Heflin, moved here recently from the San Antonio area to be closer to their kids and grandkids and to embark on this new journey. Steve is also the architect and designer and has done a beautiful job creating this new and unique venue. 

A Woman with a Brush: Sanah Brown is the woman with the brush, and she spends her days making fully customizable and original art work. She hand paints everything from anniversary portraits, seating floor plans and alternative guest sign-in books for your reception, as well as decorative art for your home. Sanah can paint practically anything you request, and she will make it beautiful. 

European Wax Center: One of the biggest hits of the Dallas Bridal Show was the booth that was put together by European Wax Center, where they offered free eyebrow waxes all day long. My intern, Alyson, had the opportunity to get one, and she said it was truly an experience. For someone who needs their eyebrows waxed on a regular basis, she is used to the pain and day-long redness that comes with having perfectly groomed eyebrows. However, European Wax Center uses a wax imported from Paris that is kind on the skin and a redness soothing serum afterwards that eliminates the embarrassing lobster skin that follows a good waxing. 

Donnie Brown: This beautiful floral peacock statue was put together by Donnie Brown Weddings and Events, a full service wedding and event planning and decor company. Their booth was breathtaking and spoke worlds of the exquisite floral design this company offers, as well as it’s award-winning Event Planning.    

Melanie Hill, Owner/Executive Event Planner
Exceptional Events
214-803-2374
info@exceptionaleventstexas.com

Summer Drink Recipes

Stay cool at your next summer bash with these refreshing summer drink recipes!

Raspberry Lemonade Smoothie

Ingredients:
-1 can lemonade concentrate {frozen or thawed – doesn’t matter}
-1 & 1/2 cans water
-2 cups frozen raspberries
-1/4 cup sugar
-4 cups ice {more or less depending on how runny you like it}
-Fresh lemons {optional}

Directions:
-Mix first 5 ingredients in a blender and mix until no more chunks exist.
-Garnish with fresh lemons.

*For an alcohol version of this yummy drink, try adding raspberry flavored vodka!

 Watermelon Green Tea

Ingredients:
-1/4 cup pureed watermelon (strained)

-1 cup sweet green tea

Directions:
-Puree your watermelon and strain through a mesh strainer until you have 1/4 cup of juice.
-Add to 1 cup of sweetened green tea
-Stir and enjoy!

Frozen Coconut Limeade

Ingredients:
-5-1/2 cups ice
-5/8 cup Coco Lopez cream of coconut (can be found in most grocery stores near the mixed drinks section)
-4-5 Tbsp. frozen limeade concentrate
-1/8 cup water

Directions:
-Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

(Pictures and Recipes courtesy of High Heels & Grills and Country Chic Cottage)

Photo Wall at a birthday party

Are you always looking for a good place to take pictures with friends at a party? Is the lighting good? Are there too many distractions behind you that will take away from your photo? Are there windows everywhere that will have a glare in your photos? So many questions!

Add a photo wall to your party! Choose a location with plenty if space, for larger groups of people and one that has enough space for someone to take the photo without standing in front of other guests who are dancing, watching a TV or slide show, etc, and with good lighting. Then you’ll want to have a back drop. Something that makes a good photo background, not too busy or generic.

Be sure to kick the photo process off yourself with a few guests so that people know what the back drop is for. Also, set up your own Instagram (or similar) account and put signage around the party so your guests can upload their own photos and everyone can see all the photos!