ANDREW + HEATHER

WOW! We have been busy here at My Sugar Events! Unfortunately our blogging has suffered through the process but have no fear, we have much to share! We have had wedding, parties, and showers galore! Even our very own Sugar Mama, Marielle, is getting married! Much MUCH more to come on that. We can't wait to show you all our fun ideas for her wedding! Here are a few photos that we took from a wedding we did a couple weekends ago.

***DISCLAIMER*** Photos were taken by Marielle and Jennifer, who in no way claim to be a photographer of any kind :)


Here is a glimps of the wedding of Andrew and Heather Millard. It was a beautiful day for the beautiful couple!


Andrew and Heather had their wedding in a beautiful barn Waterloo area. They chose Pink Black and white as their wedding colours which made for a beautiful, clean and fun look. Because the reception took place in a barn we did have a few restrictions. We couldn't have any open flame, we couldn't touch the twinkle lights, and the antiques had to stay put. I think that we did a pretty good job at incorporating all those restrictions!

Table Setting!

Drinks!

Cake!

The Beautiful Couple!

There will definitely be more photos to come! Thank you Andrew and Heather for allowing us to be apart of your amazing day!

SUGAR FIX TIP - USE THE WEB!

Want to save a little money on your wedding? Why not replace RSVP mailed cards with a wedding website where guests can reply online! This is a fast, easy, environmentally friendly and cheap way to allow your guests to say YES! to your special day. Some websites are totally free of charge, while some have a minimal fee associated. Browse through some of the sites below to see if any templates match your unique wedding style. Happy browsing!

Delicious Beginings!

Everybody loves good food, am I right? Food can make or break an event in my opinion... however, why wait to have delicious food served only for your main entree when you can wow your guests with delicious appetizers!

I have been recently dreaming up new and creative 'bites' that we can begin to offer in our catering repertoire, and have gone on a hunt to get some inspiration. There are so many different little items you can make to get your guests taste buds dancing! Here are some of my favorite food items that I plan on testing out, and hopefully making part of our menu.
I hope you're hungry!

Mini Whole Wheat Pancakes

These can be easily made on a griddle with your favorite pancake batter. Top it off with fresh seasonal fruit and maybe even some brown sugar for a delicious mid afternoon treat!

Photo from Yumsugar.com

Slider Burgers

A BBQ classic, but with a twist! Get your guests excited for the meal ahead with a small sampling from the grill! Slider patties are purchasable almost anywhere, including the small buns. All you need to do is top it off with your favorite garnishes and prepare for the compliments.

Photo from Eatwellonline

Beet & Goat Cheese Chips

The name says it all! This delicious starter is made with unique beet chips. Although I'm sure you can find them in stores, consider making them yourself. All you need to do is slice the beet thinly, salt, and fry until crunchy. Top it off with a dollop of tangy goat cheese and fresh greens pre-tossed in a light vinaigrette. The combination of flavors will keep your guests coming for more.

Photos from Martha Stewart

Mini Scoops

This item is the perfect solution to serving ice cream without the mess! You can make little waffle cones that house tiny scoops of ice cream. Its the perfect no mess way to enjoy a refreshing dessert in the summer.

A spoon full of Pesto

This is perhaps my favorite item yet. All you need is some pesto, a fresh tomatoe slice, topped with perfectly aged parmesan or mozzarella and some fresh basil. Talk about FRESH and delicious.

Photo from The Nibble.com

Bacon & Eggs

Here's a twist on the classic bacon & eggs! Make a cripy procuitto cup by baking the fresh procuitto in that shape. Fill it with a perfectly baked quail egg and a side of rye toast. This item is ideal for a post wedding brunch or a brial party luncheon.

The possibilities are endless! So have fun in the kitchen - and don't be afraid to try new and crazy things!

SUGAR FIX TIP - GET INSPIRED!

One of the things I like to do to pass time is read blogs. Not only are they interesting and fun to read but they also help me to stay inspired and current. If you are in the process of planning an event, make sure to check out all the wonderful blogs out there.

Here are a few of my favourites!

www.mysugarevents.blogspot.com

www.hostessblog.com



www.thepartydress.net

Have fun browsing these amazing and creative blogs!

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Let's face it. Sometimes weddings can be extremely boring to attend. Although a wedding is supposed to be a time of celebration totally unique to the bride and groom, they tend to start to look the same.

Most brides think that once they have chosen their colours, booked the venue, signed the vendor contracts, and rented the largest and longest vehicle they could find, they have a wedding that is different from all others. But it takes so much more than that to create a unique and special wedding. Since there is no cookie cutter recipe on how a wedding should look, it is your opportunity to be creative. So have fun with it!!

1. MAKE IT PERSONAL

What represents the two of you? If you both have a love for music then make sure it is a key component in your ceremony and reception.

Perhaps you would like to feature your family in your special day. Why not frame pictures of their wedding day and display them proudly as elements in your wedding decor?


2. SURPRISE AND DELIGHT YOUR GUESTS

At my wedding, instead of handing out plain programs with boring details, I decided to make little booklets for each guest to enjoy while waiting for the ceremony to begin. The booklets contained information on our family members, our wedding party, those who were unable to be there (such as great-grandparents, out-of-country aunts and uncles etc.) and thank-you's. Our guests truly enjoyed reading these while waiting for the ceremony to begin...and many have told us what a special keep-sake this little booklet has become.


3. SWITCH IT UP!

There is no wedding rule stating that you must have 300 guests with a sit down dinner in a grand ball room. Check out these pictures of lovely picnic and outdoor weddings. They are definitely not your typical weddings but they are absolutely adorable and unique. I love it! Have fun with your wedding day and think outside the box. You and your guests will love you for it!

Be creative! Be Personal! Be You!

HAVE A SEAT!

Have you ever arrived at a formal event and wondered where specifically you should sit? I certainly have - and it's a little awkward in my opinion! An easy way to avoid guests standing around negotiating what table they should sit at, and with whom, is to have a detailed seating chart, or escort cards directing people where to go. There are plenty of creative ideas out there to make your seating chart as unique and special as your event! These ideas can be used for weddings, galas, fundraisers or any event you choose to host! Enjoy!


To make your wedding seating chart uniquely personal, have a picture of yourself or your fiancee at the age of your table number! So for table 5, have a picture of you at 5 years old.

Have your seating charts resemble chairs!

Anchor your outdoor seating chart with beautiful sheer ribbon for an extra touch of colour.

Have personalized buttons made that your guests can take with them as a fun keepsake of the special event. Plus, it looks pretty neat!



Add a touch of elegance by mounting your seating chart in frames on a wall. Its beautiful to look at, and completely unique.


Flowers always add a beautiful touch. Place your seating cards on a bed of carnations like shown below, and your guests will be blown away.

Photos provided by Martha Stewart

The ideas are endless! So have some fun with this added element to your event! Your guests will love the opportunity to experience something new and fun while finding their seat!

SUGAR FIX TIP - A Twist!

Ever wanted to try something different to end your dinner party? Why not try this delicious twist on a late night treat for your guests!

Serve the donuts skewered on spoons or set nicely on a platter. Either way, everyone will love a nice warm drink with a delicious unexpected treat!

*Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

TOP OF THE POPS!

I truly believe everything is cuter when placed on a lollipop stick! Well, maybe not everything. But this whole idea has become one of my favourites. The thought of eating a piece of cake or a cookie like a lollipop is very whimsical in my mind. Call me crazy. Most people do!

Take a look at these adorable pictures and get inspired! Easter is around the corner and this just may be the treat to bring to your family dinner!

COOKIE POP!

PIE POP!

BROWNIE POP!

CHEESECAKE POP!

CAKE POP!
www.bakerella.com

The last picture is from an extremely talented woman. Check out her blog at www.bakerella.com. Her work is so detailed and imaginative! To me, SHE is the Queen of Pops! Take the time to look at all her work. You will be inspired!

I have a dream that this week will be my week to attempt the cheesecake pop. I will let you know how it goes! Wish me luck and don't forget to stay tuned!

SUGAR FIX TIP- INVITATIONS

Are you planning a party and need to find the perfect invitation? Well I have a place for you!

www.etsy.com

I know. This does kind of sound like an infomercial but it's not. Etsy has quickly become one of my favourite websites. Not only can you find beautiful handmade invitations but also a million other beautiful handmade products! I encourage you to find some spare time (and you need time) to look through this amazing website. You won't regret it!

Enjoy!

BALLOONS!

Recently, we were asked to plan a conference closing dinner, with little money and little time! So we put our heads together, and thought up an idea we weren't expecting. "What if we used balloons?!" What a novel idea! Our clients wanted this dinner to be lively, airy, and celebratory. Balloons made perfect sense! Take a look at our final creation!

It's amazing what you can do with a little helium! (or in this case, lots of helium!) I wanted to take the time to encourage you to not be afraid to use balloons in whatever event you may be hosting. Your local party store can make this happen easily for you.
If you want your balloons to fly high, helium tanks can be rented or purchased, depending on the amount of balloons you want to blow up. Here is an easy breakdown to help you decide what you may need:

• For 45-50 medium sized balloons, you can purchase disposable helium tanks for around $40. These tanks are recyclable and come ready to be used
• For up to 100 large sized balloons, you can rent a small helium tank for around $65.
• For up to 200 large balloons, you should rent a medium tank for around $75. Keep in mind, you will most likely need to put down a deposit for rented tanks in case of damage, but you do get it back upon the tanks return. (Deposits are usually $100 - and fully refundable.
  

To inspire you, take a look at some creations people have done! You'll be amazed at what balloons can do to any event!

( Pictures from: Martha Stewart Weddings, Balloonacy, Jimmy Jay Entertainment, Adventures In Fun)

SUGAR FIX TIP - Spilled Candle Wax!

Valentines Day is upon us, and we all know how romantic and special candles make a room. In my opinion, every event deserves beautiful candles to make the atmosphere special! But sometimes, candle wax ends up spilling on carpet or fabric. But fear not! There is an easy way to get it out!

Here are a few steps to help you get rid of those annoying candle blobs.

1. Get a clean cloth and an iron.
2. Put the cloth over the wax and gently warm up the cloth with the iron.
3. The wax will eventually melt into the cloth and lift completely off the surface it was on!

You may need to apply the above process a couple of times but with a little care and patience the wax always comes straight off.
Its amazingly easy – so go ahead! Enjoy some special candle light!

VALENTINE'S DAY!

A lot of people think that Valentine's Day is just another silly holiday but I think it's a great excuse to share some love! It doesn't matter if you are married, dating, or single, Valentine's Day should be about spending time with the people you truly care about.

Here are a few ways to spread the love...

1. MAKE VALENTINE CARDS!

When I was younger I always looked forward to receiving Valentine Cards. Every year my classmates and I would walk around and place a Valentine Card in each of our homemade "mailboxes." No matter who it was from, you still felt special for receiving it. I'm not quite sure when we stopped sending cards to each other but there is no better time than the present to start up again.

This Valentine's Day send your closest friends and loved ones a card sharing your love for them. It doesn't have to be big or fancy. They will feel special just knowing you care about them!

2. BAKE CUPCAKES!
Everybody loves a good cupcake! This is a great activity to do with someone special, a friend, or even with kids. Martha Stewart has some great Valentine cupcake designs. Here are a few from her must-have book (pictured below).

3. HOST A PARTY!

This has to be my favourite idea of all! I love planning and having parties and welcome any excuse to create a great event for the special people in my life. Here are 4 things to think about when planning your party.

i) Invitations
Your invitation indicates to your guest what kind of party they will be attending. It's important that you pick something that will reflect what your party is all about. If you are planning on having a few friends over then choose something fun and nothing too serious. If you are having more of a romantic party then chose an invitation that is more on the flirty side.

Here are a few invitation ideas.

ii) Decor
When I think of Valentine's Day I think red and pink. This is one of my most favourite colour combinations. Using a colour palette for decor is much easier then using a theme. Even though the theme is Valentine's Day, stay away from the cheap shiny paper hearts, etc. that you would find at the dollarstore. Instead look for items in reds, pinks and whites. Use feather boas, candles, and beautiful fresh flowers.


iii) Food
In order to decide what you would like to serve at your event, you first need to figure out what kind of party you are having. If you are planning on having a sit down meal, and preparing the food yourself, choose something that you feel comfortable with and can be done ahead of time. You don't want to miss out on your own party. If you still want to have large amounts of food but don't want a sit down meal, choose to do a buffet. This will allow your guest to mix and mingle while eating a full meal. For a lighter affair have a cocktail party. Pick food items that can be done the night before and easily displayed. Your stress levels will thank you for being so prepared! And for dessert, Chocolate Strawberries are ALWAYS a Valentine favourite!



iv) Music
Your selection of tunes can make or break your party's atmosphere. Be conscious of the volume - as the number of your guests increases and their conversations get louder, turn it up. If you're setting an intimate dinner party for a few friends, keep the music at a level that doesn't require you to shout across the table. Obviously, the style of music you select also has a bearing on your party's atmosphere. If all else fails, resort to jazz. You typically won't offend anyone, and you'll look cultured in the process! Still stuck for a good melody? Stick on the Buble. He's smooth, fun, young, and Canadian to boot. His latest album, Crazy Love, is ideal for the Valentine season.