Pre-wedding Dates

We know that planning a wedding can sometimes be overwhelming! But, it's important not to lose sight of what's really important, and that's celebrating the love and life of two people just beginning their journey together. In honor of a lifetime of great memories to come, here are a few fun ways to spend quality time with your beau or belle while preparing for your wedding day:



Take a cooking class together

Committing a couple of hours to cooking with someone you love is a great way to relax and enjoy each other's company, while learning something you can take forward with you into your life together.

Check out The Glendalia's Cooking Class Calendar, The Learning Kitchen, and Jungle Jim's for openings!

Do-It-Yourselves Project

Working on something together is a great way to remind you both of what you love about your fiancé. Little projects can help showcase your partner's strengths and create sweet memories. There's only one rule: whether it's painting a bird house or planting a tree in the front yard, make sure to take pictures of your work and send them to us at The Center! ;)


Play "Tourists" in your own town

Whether you were both born and raised in the place you call home, or you're new to town, it can be a lot of fun to let your city surprise you! Pick out a couple of "attractions," pack a bag, and set out to explore and take tons of cheesy photos for an afternoon.

Find Water

If you're like us and you live in Cincinnati, this shouldn't be too difficult! Find a body of water, natural or man-made and spend an afternoon fishing, sunbathing, swimming, or kayaking with your fiancé!


Train for a Race Together

Cincinnati is home to some of the most amazing walks and races! You can sign up for anything from a 5K to a full marathon, and training together is the perfect way to make sure you both look your very best when you're posing for pics at The Center on your wedding day.

Write A Song

Maybe, even as you read this, a love ballad has already started to write itself in your mind. Or...maybe a parody of a popular song is more your speed! Either way, write a song with your fiancé; whether you keep it to yourselves, dance to it in your kitchen, or sing it at your wedding, music is a fun, free way to bring you closer and get you laughing.

Wine & Whiskers

The Center was happy to be a part of the Wine & Whiskers event held by The League for Animal Welfare this past weekend. In addition to a fantastic wine tasting and an auction, a few furry guests made appearances and everyone had a roaring good time. It's such a rare gift when we, as an event venue, get to host organizations like LFAW in our space. The big-hearted staff and volunteers really worked hard to raise money for their shelter and the night seemed to be a great success!

A Little About The League...



"Founded in 1949, the League for Animal Welfare (the League) is a privately funded, nonprofit organization providing much-needed care for unwanted, lost and neglected cats and dogs in our community. As the oldest and one of the largest no-kill shelters in the area, the League serves the Greater Cincinnati area through initiatives to reduce the number of homeless animals and to help people better care for their pets. Using the resources of its dedicated staff, supporters, and volunteers, the League provides the medical care, behavioral training and socialization needed to match homeless animals with lifelong homes. The League’s shelter has the capacity to care for approximately 40 dogs and 100 cats with the goal of permanent placement in appropriate, screened, loving homes. Volunteers foster additional dogs and cats and bottle feed kittens and puppies in their own homes (http://www.lfaw.org/about-us/)."

Want to lend a paw? Click here to learn more about how you can help LFAW give the pets they take in a great second chance!

Root Beer Float Cocktail

This creamy cocktail is as easy to make as it is to drink. The Root Beer Float Cocktail takes on an old soda shop classic and brings it new life with a touch of vodka. At first glance, we thought of summer when we saw this tasty treat. But, what could be more delightful than an out-of-season surprise this weekend to remind you of warmer weather?!

Ingredients
Root Beer
1 oz Heavy Cream
1/2 oz Vanilla drink syrup (in the coffee aisle)
1 oz Vodka
Whipped Cream

Directions
Fill a glass with ice. Add heavy cream and vanilla syrup. Top with vodka and root beer.

Photo and Recipe from http://thatswhatwesaid.net/

According to The Center: Wedding Scene Winners

One of the most enduring examples of love and mayhem on the silver screen is the wedding, and consequently, the reception. Here, at The Center, we are lucky enough to see beautiful wedding and reception moments all the time. Today, The Center staff was asked to describe their favorite wedding/reception scene from a film. Here are the responses:

 

Alana:

 

Alana's favorite wedding scene of all time hails from one of the best holiday films around (in this blogger's opinion). This scene, from Love, Actually opens at the pronouncement of the newly married couple and develops into a full-on surprise rendition of "All You Need Is Love," complete with a brass band and chorus. Alana politely requests that, in the future, all of you with musical inclinations attend her wedding undercover and reenact this for her.

 

 

 



Courtney:

Courtney's favorite wedding scene is from a little movie called 27 Dresses. It's the scene where Kevin sees Jane for the first time on their wedding day. Courtney says she loves the scene because of "the look." You know the one James Marsden gives as he sees Jane approaching the alter? Swoon.

 

 

We couldn't find a clip of just the moment,

but turn down the volume and fast-forward to 2:17 for the scene!

 

 

Haley:

Haley couldn't settle on a romantic favorite, but added that one scene that never failed to make her smile was the Wedding Crasher's "Sailing Through The Vows" scene, where John grins as he watches Claire stifle laughter through her friends' nautical vows.

 

 

 

 



Peach, Honey and Cardamom Wine Cordial

Ingredients

• 5 large, ripe peaches, peeled
• 1 bottle dry white wine
• 8 cardamom pods
• 1/2 cup italian honey
• 2/3 cup vodka

Directions

Place the whole peaches in a large glass jar. Add the wine and cardamom pods; the wine should cover the peaches fully. Cover the jar and let stand at room temperature overnight, then refrigerate for 4 days.

Strain the wine into a nonaluminum saucepan. Place over low heat, add the honey and stir just until the honey dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Stir in the vodka.

Ladle the liqueur into a clean glass bottle or jar. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. Serve chilled. The liqueur will keep for up to 1 month in the refrigerator.

Serves 6 to 8.

 

 

Recipe and photograph from http://www.williams-sonoma.com

Please Don't Stop The Music - Recessional Songs

Last week, we delved into the topic of classical song choices for wedding ceremonies. And, just as the recessional song follows the processional song (and the procession), so have we decided to follow the classical music post from last week with a selection of celebratory tunes to play you out of your ceremony! Without further ado, please enjoy these three cheery choices for recessional tunes.

Katrina and The Waves - Walking on Sunshine

 

All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

 

I'm a Believer - Smashmouth

A Year In Numbers

 

The Center turns two years old today! To celebrate, we've compiled a list of fantastic, "two"-themed happenings and fun fact from the past couple of years!

 

1) The Center Staff visited the zoo (which rhymes perfectly with "two") for an ISES event this year. They followed up their bout of monkeying aroud with this stellar interview.

 

2) Two years ago, The Center Bloggers began their love affair with lists, alphabetized and otherwise. The advent of "The A-B-C's of All Things Wedding" blog series ended just as The Center turned 1!

 

3) Two new hires joined The Center family.Courtney and Haley joined the coordinator team, this year!

 

4) April brought with it the addition of two beautiful signs for our building. One to cheer on The Reds and the other for The Center!

5) Finally, two of our lovely ladies are currently two thousand miles away learning everything they can about the event business in order to take your event and make it an even more spectacular experience.

 

Two more things...

 

                                1. We are so happy about the past two years, and excited for the years

                                    to come!

 

                                2. We're in the celebration business, and our birthday is no
                                    exception, so dont be shy, wish us a happy birthday, have a peice of
                                    cake for us! Wear a party hat! Have a happy Tuesday :)