Proposal
Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Reception
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Please Don't Stop The Music
We believe that music and laughter are integral parts of any relationship. From your first joke and "your song" to your funny toasts and first dance as a married couple (and for many years after), you will listen and laugh together. The folks below were not satisfied with the separation of the two life-giving activities and brought them together to create these magic videos. Watch and be inspired!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Sashes for your Seat
Our champagne chiavari chairs are gorgeous, and we think they look delightful with any decor. However, there is always room for improvement, and these Pinterest post makeovers are to die for!
If you're as excited as we are about this stunning chair decor, impress your guests with sashes, signs, ribbons, and florals.
Monday, September 9, 2013
DIY Decor for Crafty Brides
The Center is a blank canvas space that allows for all the creativity in the world! That means you can decorate this place any way you see fit. Have you ever considered creating your own wedding decor? We know, as if you don't already have enough to think about! Still, if you find DIY projects relaxing and have a few helping hands, you might enjoy some of these do-it-yourself ideas.
1) Have an old window and some glass paint? This DIY project will leave your guests' creative sides and mouths watering!
2) Picture frames + Paper + Sticky Numbers = adorable table numbers that your guests sitting at each table can sign with a paint pen. We have 30 tables at The Center, so get crafting!
3) With a paper photography backdrop and large markers/paintbrushes, you and your fiance can scribble the lyrics to your favorite song, or your vows. There's a whole room in The Center, out of the way of guests, that you could use to set up this type of backdrop. It makes for beautifully personal photos!
4) Get together with your fiance and create a short, fill-in-the-blank story for each of your guests. We've even had a bride and groom put together a clever Madlib for their guests! At the end of the night, have a designated groomsmen/bridesmaid gather them and put them into a binder for a booklet of memories you can read through later!
5) With a little string, a little patience, and a pack of colored paper, you could create these gorgeous flower poms for your wedding/reception. They would look gorgeous hanging from the ceiling of The Center! Click here for a step-by-step guide to making these paper decorations. Thanks to The Frugal Girls for this amazing tutorial!
1) Have an old window and some glass paint? This DIY project will leave your guests' creative sides and mouths watering!
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| DIY Menu Window |
2) Picture frames + Paper + Sticky Numbers = adorable table numbers that your guests sitting at each table can sign with a paint pen. We have 30 tables at The Center, so get crafting!
 |
| DIY Table Numbers |
4) Get together with your fiance and create a short, fill-in-the-blank story for each of your guests. We've even had a bride and groom put together a clever Madlib for their guests! At the end of the night, have a designated groomsmen/bridesmaid gather them and put them into a binder for a booklet of memories you can read through later!
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| DIY Questionnaire for Guests |
5) With a little string, a little patience, and a pack of colored paper, you could create these gorgeous flower poms for your wedding/reception. They would look gorgeous hanging from the ceiling of The Center! Click here for a step-by-step guide to making these paper decorations. Thanks to The Frugal Girls for this amazing tutorial!
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| DIY Paper Flower Poms |
Are you enamoured with any DIY ideas not featured here? We would love to hear them! Comment below to share your tips and tutorials with fellow brides!
Friday, September 6, 2013
Corporate Holiday Parties
The only thing more exciting than the transition from a booming year in business to a promising new term is celebrating that turn of the calendar with the people responsible for all that success.
However, hosting a holiday party can be overwhelming if you're starting from scratch. Here are a few tips and inspirational blips to get your creative wheels turning.
When picking a venue, you need a space you can fully customize (we know one!). That way, if your headcount or theme changes at the last minute, it's an easy transition. You're not stuck at a haunted mansion with 80 sugar plum fairy decorations. This part should be easy peasy....
Now that you have your venue, let's talk theme...
You have hundreds of motifs from which to choose. Everything from Winter Wonderland to Nightmare before Christmas is on the table. The first thing to do is read your audience. Are they generally a more comical crowd? Do they appreciate simple decadence? This is easier to do if you have a small office crowd. Still, don't despair if 300+ people RSVP to your company celebration. There are some themes you can successfully use, regardless of the crowd.
1) The Classic
2) The Contemporary
If your office party looks like it's going to be very popular, you may need to divide everyone into groups for this one! Split your party into teams and organize a scavenger hunt within your office the week before your holiday party.
Whether you want your teams to hit the Internet or hit the streets in search of their answers, this is a fun way to build new relationships at the end of the year or reinforce old ones.
At the end of the hunt, have the last (very obvious) clue lead everyone to The Center for a well-deserved end of the year party with a treasure hunt motif!
However, hosting a holiday party can be overwhelming if you're starting from scratch. Here are a few tips and inspirational blips to get your creative wheels turning.
When picking a venue, you need a space you can fully customize (we know one!). That way, if your headcount or theme changes at the last minute, it's an easy transition. You're not stuck at a haunted mansion with 80 sugar plum fairy decorations. This part should be easy peasy....
- The Center is a blank canvas, ready for any theme you can throw at it. Also, we accept floor plans up to the week of the event, and as long as you and your vendors can work out a set-up for your holiday shindig, we can make it happen.
Now that you have your venue, let's talk theme...
You have hundreds of motifs from which to choose. Everything from Winter Wonderland to Nightmare before Christmas is on the table. The first thing to do is read your audience. Are they generally a more comical crowd? Do they appreciate simple decadence? This is easier to do if you have a small office crowd. Still, don't despair if 300+ people RSVP to your company celebration. There are some themes you can successfully use, regardless of the crowd.
1) The Classic
Winter Wonderland
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| 2012 Winter Party at The Center |
Sure, it's been done before, but with good reason! The Winter Wonderland theme steers clear of three important DON'Ts in holiday party planning.
- Don't heavily reference any spiritual group unless your organization is affiliated with a specific religion. It is a great idea to highlight what is important to your employees during the holiday season, but an overriding religious theme might make certain people feel unappreciated. Winter Wonderland leaves room for spirituality without separating folks from their peers.
- Don't choose a pop culture theme that only appeals to a marginal group in your office. For example: "Justin Beiber Loves Christmas" may impress a few folks, but there are bound to be people who pass on the good times because they can't relate to the theme. Winter Wonderland is broad enough that both Justin Beiber and Bing Crosby can make an appearance.
- Don't limit your musical selection. There are hundreds of holiday songs, and chances are, even with Winter Wonderland, you'll end up repeating a few classics over the course of the night. Just be sure that your theme doesn't require a very specific type of music or people will feel compelled to get away from the five-song loop.
2) The Contemporary
Xmas Marks The Spot
If your office party looks like it's going to be very popular, you may need to divide everyone into groups for this one! Split your party into teams and organize a scavenger hunt within your office the week before your holiday party.
Whether you want your teams to hit the Internet or hit the streets in search of their answers, this is a fun way to build new relationships at the end of the year or reinforce old ones.
At the end of the hunt, have the last (very obvious) clue lead everyone to The Center for a well-deserved end of the year party with a treasure hunt motif!
3) The Literary
Narnia
This classic novel, while boasting ties to both religion and popular culture, is an excitingly different look at the holiday season through a magical lens your co-workers will surely enjoy, regardless of their affiliations. Also, because of the descriptive nature of the story, a lot of the guess work is taken away! Serve Turkish Delight, have a sled or wardrobe themed photo booth, opt for snowy white furniture and forest decor, and cover your tables with royal red linens.
4) The Get-away
Ski Vacation
Picture this: White furniture draped with flannel blankets, flame lights scattered around the space, ski and lodge decor on the tables, and the bartenders serving spiked hot cocoa and apple cider to your happy employees as they enjoy their imaginary trip to Aspen. If your crowd has a funny bone, this is the perfect motif for cute company puns. We'll leave those up to you! As far as music goes, you can play everything from Christmas music to country music with this theme, and without any broken legs from the real slopes, you can all dance the night away.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Blackberry Crush
Blackberry Crush
Source :Martha Stewart
Ingredients:
4 blackberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1 1/4 ounces vodka
Seltzer
Ice
Mint sprig
Directions:
Combine blackberries, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
Lightly crush berries to release their juice.
Add ice and vodka; top with seltzer
Stir to combine
Garnish witha mint sprig.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
A Bachelorette Party to Remember
Excited about your bachelorette party but not the monumental hangover and memory loss that comes with a traditional bar crawl? Here are a few alcohol-free ideas for a fun get-together with your bridesmaids.
Spa Day
Gathering your gals for an afternoon at the spa is a sure way to bond with your bridesmaids and de-stress before your wedding day. The laughter, massages, skincare, and manicures will all serve you well on your wedding day and make for a memorable afternoon.
Road Trip
There is no better way to bond with people than to take a journey with them. Why not spend a day traveling somewhere with your bridesmaids and make memories you will take with you to the wedding and keep forever after? There are so many wonderful places right around Cincinnati to explore, and you might even start an annual tradition!
Picnic
Invite each of your bridesmaids to bring their favorite picnic food/drink and choose outdoor decor that matches your wedding palette. Enjoying the sun and fresh air is a great way to slow down and chat with your friends before the excitement of your big day!
DIY Morning
You + your bridesmaids + art supplies + a pot of coffee = the perfect combination for a special wedding-related DIY proejct. Leave one decoration detail open (picture frames, table numbers, etc) and get together to create something wonderful for your wedding day.
Photos from www.pinterest.com
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
From Your Heart to Theirs: Personal Bridesmaid Gift Ideas
Your big day wouldn't be the same without your gals by your side. Show them how much you care by putting a personal touch on the gifts you give them. Here are three bridesmaid gifts your ladies will truly love.
Spotlight Mirrors is a North Carolina-based company specializing in personalized mirrors. There are hundreds of items to choose from with designs to fit every personality and color preference. You can personalize each individul mirror and order them in sets.
The message on the packaging of this simple, classic gift is just as beautiful as the necklace it showcases. These necklaces by Selena L. are all handmade and she will work with clients to customize pieces to fit their needs.
Erin Duncan, owner of WrenBirdArts, hails from Seattle with a sparkling sense of humor. She does custom embroidery on hankerchiefs that bridesmaids can use during your ceremony to dry their happy tears. She even allows you to customize handkerchiefs with your own handwriting and message to your bridesmaids.
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