Gilson's Engraving

We had a great time meeting Gilson's Engraving when they came to visit!

They specialize in distinguished and affordable baby, bridal, corporate, and graduation gifts. If you're looking for a timeless award to give away at your next social gathering, look no further than Gilson's Engraving. If your a bride in search of bridesmaids gifts, Gilson's has everything from personalized champagne flutes to pewter jewelry boxes.

Join them in their showroom and explore endless gift options for those in your life with exceptional taste!  

Gilson Engraving
7116 Miami Ave
Madeira, OH 45243

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Blogger Dawn McCoy calls this concoction the "loveliest punch for Labor Day," and we're inclined to agree! It's fresh and fruity, serves a crowd, and still fantastic without the mixers if you're having little ones at your Labor Day get-together this Monday.

 

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

64 oz. Blackberry Crush Juice
1 bottle Blackberry Pomegranate Soda
1/2 gallon Limeade
2 – 2 Liter Ginger Ale
2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
Blackberries & Mint Sprigs to garnish
Combine all in a punch bowl/pitcher/server.
Garnish mixed punch with mint and blackberries. Set aside some to garnish glasses.
Serve each glass with mint and blackberry
And, if a cocktail is desired, add a bottle of bourbon to the mix. Or, if entertaining all ages, put the bourbon, as an add-in, on the side.

Photos and recipe from http://www.beautyfrosting.com

Please Don't Stop The Music

Nothing gets your guests moving like a well-known and well-loved line dance. Whether it's the Cupid Shuffle or the YMCA, people are sure to push back their chairs and rush to the dance floor. Here are a few classic choices to keep everyone shaking their groove thangs!

 

Footloose by Kenny Loggins

 

 

 

 

Cha-cha Slide by DJ Casper

 

 

 

 

Wobble Baby - V.I.C

Show Some Skin!

At the Bridal Expo last weekend, we got to see vendors from all over the industry spectrum! One of the wonderful folks we met was Tricia Re. She is a registered nurse and also does work with Arbonne, a company dedicated to simplicity and purity when it comes to all types of well-being. Their products are botanically based, hypoallergenic using European standards, and are certified vegan.  We were lucky enough to score some talk time with her and she offered some phenomenal tips for health and skincare on the week before your wedding!

 

"Make sure you get adequate sleep and drink plenty of water.  Be sure to do your skin care regimen both in the morning and before bed!  Choose a skin care brand that formulates without harmful, cancer causing ingredients.  Many harmful ingredients contribute to skin irritation and breakouts." 

 

 

"I truly believe people want to make healthier decisions but often let price be the determining factor, rather than ingredients.  Your skin is your largest organ & acts as a delivery system to the rest of your body.  According to the EPA, 26 seconds after exposure to a chemical, traces can be found in every organ of your body." 

 According to Tricia, some ingredients to avoid in your health care products include:

"Parabens, GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms), synthetic dyes and fragrances, Petroleum derived ingredients like Mineral oil or Petrolatum, Phthalates & Propopylene Glycol to name a few."

 

"I recommend having a salicylic acid based spot treatment and a good concealer on hand for a quick fix in case the bride is caught off guard by a surprise the day before her wedding!

"My best piece of advice would be what my dad told me before we walked down the isle, 'I know you planned this day for a long time, but if anything isn't exactly how you planned you are the only one who will notice.'  Relax and enjoy your day!!!"



- TRICIA RE, RN

ARBONNE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT/AREA MANAGER

Tricia included that she would love to answer any further questions and offer free samples of Arbonne products to interested brides! You may get in contact with her at (513)708-7854 or triciare44@gmail.com. 

 

Photos from www.pinterest.com



Why A Wedding Website is a Great Idea

Yesterday, The Center had the pleasure of attending an Ohio Bridal Expo in the Horseshoe Casino’s beautiful, new ballroom. During our time at our booth, we asked engaged couples who approached, “Have you decided upon a venue yet?” Some had chosen, some were considering places, but an overwhelming number of brides-to-be laughed and said, “We haven’t chosen anything yet!” as friends packed their bags with flyers.

That unified feeling of having a week to do a year’s work inspired us share a quick tip to keep the stress levels down and the creativity turned up.

Where are you registered? How do we get to the venue? What’s the address for the hotel? What can we do while we’re in town? When is the rehearsal dinner and where’s the restaurant?

Brides-and-grooms-to-be: Questions like these are bound to become part of your theme music over the next year. One quick, cost-effective way to field all of these questions is to create a personal wedding website. From having guests hail from out of town, to having your rehearsal dinner at your favorite hole-in –the-wall that’s hard to find, creating a wedding website is the perfect remedy to both yours and your guests’ detail-related worries.

Here are some examples and ideas of how to get started:

 

So Many Choices! Okay, so there is one more choice you have to make, but we promise that it will save you time in the long run. There are many outstanding wedding website services, ranging from roughly $40-$80/year, and some allow a personalized web address, without including the company name.  If you have a more specific idea in mind, there are even independent website developers who will work with you (sometimes at a greater cost) to create the perfect site.  However, there is a quicker, more cost-effective option...

Freedom from worry: Wedding Jojo is a free wedding website that allows you to customize your website to fit a color scheme in keeping with your wedding décor and personalize your page with photos and stories.

 

Wedding Jojo directs you through the entire setup process, allowing you to create and customize options like:

• An Events page (where your guests can RSVP by simply clicking a button)
• A link to your online gift registry
• Maps to the venue/parking lots/rehearsal dinner location, etc.
• They also have a privacy setting that you can elect to activate, ensuring that only those with a password can access your amazing site.

Save the Date....and Site: It’s a good idea to set up the website as early in the planning as you possibly can. That way, you can send out the personal URL to your guests on save-the-date cards and update the site with information as you go!

 

 

Photos from http://www.jamesallen.com/, http://www.weddingjojo.com, www.pinterest.com

Sources include: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/, http://www.weddingjojo.com

Picking Your Petals

Floral arrangements are an integral part of any wedding ceremony and reception. From the corsages to the center pieces, the flowers you choose will help to set the tone of your wedding. So how do you go about picking your petals? Here are five timeless flower options that appear more often in wedding ceremonies than their counterparts.

1) Romance

The Rose

 

Though appearing in literature as a symbol of beauty and love for hundreds of years, the rose is far from worn-out!  There are over three thousand varieties of roses and they can be tipped, striped, and any color you can imagine (even bi-colored). You can choose from splendidly scented bouquets or elect from more modestly fragranced buds. According to The Knot – here are the three types most likely to appear in your wedding decor.




Hybrid Tea Rose

Spray Rose

Garden Rose

 

2) Modernity

 

 

Calla Lillies

 

This majestic, trumpet-like flower originally hails from Africa. Contrary to the complex, ancient appeal our first flower, the calla lilly features a more sleek, simplistic beauty. It comes in two sizes, one perfect for bouquets and the other for boutonnieres.

 



 

Though the soft, cream color is most commonly featured in weddings, the calla lily also comes in a sunshine yellow, deep pink, dark purple, and fiery orange. If you're a more modern couple, the calla lilly might be the flower for you.

 

 

3) Fairytale

 

 

Hydrangeas

 

The abundantly-blossomed hydrangea is native to Southeast Asia. Ranging from vibrant to muted shades of pink, blue, green, and white, it's become a wedding favorite for its buds' ability to fill out a gorgeous centerpiece and spruce up a groom's lapel. If you're looking for a Victorian or fairytale feel on your wedding day, hydrangeas are an ideal blossom.

 

 

4) Modesty

 

 

Peonies

 

 The peony, found in blushing shades of red, yellow, and white, was synonymous with bashfulness during the Victorian Era. Today, brides prefer to associate the peony with modest grace, arranging the buds in bunches for centerpieces and other ceremony/reception decor. Choose peonies to add a delicate touch to your wedding day festivities.

 

 

5) Classic

  

Stephanotis

 

This blossom, meaning "marital happiness," is an classic selection for wedding day decor. It's simple white buds are famous for their duets in wedding bouquets.

 

 

Stephanotis flowers often accompany roses and calla lillies and are small enough to be the solo act in boutonnieres. If you find that your ideal wedding is going to be a classic, formal affair, stephanotis flowers would be a perfect choice for your big day.

 

Photos from www.vogueflowers.com, www.bonitaflowershop.com, www.pinterest.com

Sources include: http://www.theknot.com/, http://www.bridalguide.com

Blue Raspberry Spiked Lemonade

Photo and recipe from http://rock-ur-party.tablespoon.com/

With September just around the corner, schedules are filling up and the weather is changing. This Blue Raspberry Spiked Lemonade is the perfect drink for saying farewell to summer. It's incredibly simple to make at the end of a busy day and the bright colors and flavors are reminiscent of those stress-free summer evenings.

Mix fresh lemon juice, water, and sugar to your liking.
Fill a glass with ice
Pour the lemonade till the glass is 3/4 full
Add 1 ounce of vodka
Add 3/4 of an ounce of blue raspberry vodka on top
Stirring is optional
Garnish with a lemon slice and fresh mint and enjoy!

Meet Haley!

Q: How did you become part of The Center?

After graduating from college and moving to Cincinnati last July, I started a small photography business.  While I loved almost everything about my work, from coordinating with clients to posting about shoots online, teamwork was an integral part of my upbringing and education and I truly missed being part of a team. So, I started investigating other avenues and came across a job posting for The Center. It sounded like a perfect fit! I got to meet and speak with Carly, Alana, and Courtney and the more I heard about the position, the more I fell in love with it. When I finally saw the space, I was so excited about the opportunity; I couldn’t wait to get started.

Haley with her friend, Becky

Q: Tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in Southern Louisiana and graduated in 2012 from Hollins University in Virginia with a degree in English and Creative Writing. I love to travel and to learn and both of those interests lead me to Cincinnati last summer. I fell in love with the city and haven’t looked back!

Q: What are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to providing new clients with an outstanding experience during their time at The Center. I think knowing that someone has had a successful event and that I’ve played a part in that will be an amazing feeling.  Also, I cannot wait to meet with vendors and develop lasting relationships with local businesses.

Haley with her younger sister, Emily

 

Q: What are your hobbies or non-work related activities?

When I’m not working, I love to write and take photographs, dance, run, and if I’m feeling lazy, nothing beats having coffee with friends on the porch.

Q: Are there any trends that you would absolutely love or would love to see brides leave behind?

I am moved when couples incorporate important parts of themselves into their ceremonies. The best weddings I’ve ever been to have been simple and personal. I don’t know if there’s anything I’d like to see brides leave behind, but I’d love to see more couples bring evidence of what makes their connection unique to their ceremonies.

Haley with her friend, Kelly

Q: Tell us 10 random facts about yourself.

·         I’m left-handed.

·         I love to hear stories about people's lives.

 

·         I lived in England for a little while.

·         I named my car Robin (like Batman’s sidekick)

·         I am very scared of spiders.

·         I’m an out-of-towner who likes Skyline Chili.

·         My family is incredibly important to me.

·         I love to be outdoors, even when it’s raining.

·         I love having discussions with people on trains and airplanes.

·         My favorite food is, and will always be, tacos.

The Porch Swing

Sadly, summer is nearing its end, so we'll have to post a few final "summery" signature cocktail recipes before moving on to ciders and other fall specialties.

Porch Swing

Source: Smittenkitchen.com

 

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces of gin

1.5 ounces of Pimm's No. 1 liqueur

4 ounces of homemade lemonade (recipe below)

7-Up

10 paper-thin half moon slices of cucumber

 

Directions:

Pour gin, lemonade, and Pimm's into a tall Collins glass, then add a few ice cubes and a splash of 7-Up. Top with cucumber slices.

 

Lemonade Ingredients: 

1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 part simple syrup (To make your own, simmer one part water with one part sugar until sugar has dissolved and then let it cool.)

2 parts water

 

 

Optional Final Step:

Enjoy your cocktails and these last few weeks of warm weather outside!

 

 

 

How to Choose your gown for 2014

The fasion industry's top bridal designers arranged elaborate runways to show off their Spring and Summer 2014 collections.

 

 

So, what did we learn?

 

 

A splash of color is easy on the eye

 

Oscar De La Renta Spring 2014 Collection

 

 Oscar De La Renta stunned the audiences with a powder blue and pale pink number. Are you looking to incorporate "Something Blue" or maybe you want to be a "blushing pink bride?" If that's the case, Oscar is the designer for you!

 

 

There's no such thing as too much bling


Kenneth Pool 2014 Spring Collection

 

Jenny Packham Spring 2014 Collection

 

Kenneth Pool and Jenny Packham created jaw dropping gowns with intricate beading and dazzling jewels. These Great Gatsby inspired dresses scream 1920's. Pair it up with an elaborate headpiece and you'll have a Daisy Buchanon look.

 

 

Various shapes are pretty in peplum

 

Reem Acra Spring 2014 Collection

 

Marchesa Spring 2014 Collection

 

Reem Acra and Marchesa pushed the peplum trend to fit every figure! The peplum style is perfect for brides with curves. It will hide trouble areas while accentuating an hourglass figure. Straight bodies, don't be discouraged, it's perfect for your narrow hips too! The peplum will define the waist and add volume to a skinny frame. Whether you want a delicate look, or drama filled fabric, peplum is an exciting choice.

 

Could you imagine walking down the aisle in one of these gorgeous gowns?

 

Neither could we.

Martini - Low Calorie Cocktails

If you're taking the same approach to the summer that we are, you are torn between making healthy choices and satisfying your taste buds. (And you're probably letting those taste buds win!) Why not compromise and do a little of both? Check out this great list of low-calorie drinks from Madame Noire. These drinks include a waist-friendly twist on classic cocktails, some new concoctions, and surprising calorie facts that may set your mind at ease about your love of Guinness.

Perfect for any Bond-inspired event, this week's signature cocktail is the classic Martini! Only 100 calories, olive included.

 

Martini

Source: Madame Noire

 

 

Ingredients:

1 oz gin (or vodka)

1/2 oz dry vermouth (vermouth is optional)

1 green olive (or try a lemon instead)

 

Directions:

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes

Stir for 30 seconds

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with the olive (or lemon)

 

If you're really going for the Bond theme, the drink can by "Shaken, not stirred."



Bridal Spotlight- Jessica St. Clair

 

Check out Jessica's answer below to find out an important planning step to ensure your big day will go out with a bang!

 

 

Photo Courtesty of Kandice Smith Photography

  

After booking The Center, what was the next step in your planning process, such as booking a caterer?

 

After we booked The Center, I knew the next thing I wanted to book was the DJ! I think the DJ can make or break a wedding. You need someone with personality, good taste in music (of course!), and someone who really "gets" what you want to do at your wedding. Party Pleasers DJ definitely exceeded our expectations. Doug made us feel at ease and helped us tremendously in choosing the uplighting and other effects we were going to do. Right after we booked our caterer (Jack's catering). Booking vendors made it really feel "real" and got the ball rolling on the whole planning process.

 

My advice to newly engaged couples is to book the caterer and event location as soon as possible! A year out is not too early and it always put my mind at ease those first few months knowing that the big vendors were taken care of.

 

Jessica, we couldn't have said it better ourselves!