Ashley + Andrew :: Old Town Alexandria Part 2

Part 2 :: Ashley + Andrew

Seriously Ashley You Are Gorgeous

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Last Summer Hooray :: Labor Day Celebrations

As summer comes to an end and school starts back up, it is time for the last summer BBQ. Make it a memorable one with these cute ideas that everyone will be talking about. These are great for company picnics and Labor Day weekend weddings. Enjoy!

cynthia ross affairs
bestparty-ideas.com
blog.tinyprints

Micky + Keith :: Real Wedding

On a peaceful, sightly rainy day in May, Micky and Keith tied the knot in front of a beautiful rock waterfall at 2491 Restaurant. The day started a little crazy, but everything came together and the ceremony and reception were perfect. Leis were combined into the ceremony and both Micky and Keith gave there parents leis to celebrate Micky's Hawaiian heritage. Micky made some amazing flower cones filled with fresh rose petals for guests to throw as the bride and groom walked down the aisle as husband and wife for the first time. The cocktail hour was moved inside due to the rain and combined with the reception, yet guests still enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and drinks into the night. Instead of a traditional cake, cupcakes were on a tiered display with a bride and groom cake topper. The day was amazing and beautiful despite the rain. Congratulations to Micky and Keith! 

Venue:  2941 Restaurant (2941.com)
Photographer: Photo Bisou (photobisou.com)
Cupcakes: For All Cupcakes (freeforallcupcakes.com)
All paper products (menus, signs, programs, invitations, photo cards, flower cones): DIY by the bride

Testimonial From the Bride:
"We planned a small scale wedding at a high-end restaurant in Falls Church, VA called 2941.  With all of our DIY elements, we knew we would need help setting up on the day.  Kristina was such a delight to work with, very professional, and well organized as our wedding "day of coordinator".  From the minute we first met with her, Kristina was helpful in the months leading up to our wedding and I was very confident that she understood my "vision" for the day.  She had done her own research of our venue so that she would be comfortable with the layout and know the flow for our event.  Despite a few weather glitches, Kristina coordinated with the venue staff and set up every detail for our ceremony outside on the terrace.  She also managed all our ceremony music using iTunes on our laptop.  Furthermore, Kristina helped set up our centerpieces and cupcakes for the reception and transitioned elements from the ceremony outside to the reception space inside.  Overall, Kristina's wedding day services are a great value for the price and matched perfectly with our intimate modern wedding.  We would recommend Kristina to anyone who needs wedding day or other private events services."

Winter in July (well June) :: Rustic + Cranberries

Although it is only June, we are already starting to plan parties and weddings for the winter season. I absolutly love the use of cranberries! A lot of these items are DIY and you can make as a centerpiece at home or at your wedding or event. What a great way to decorate your office for the holiday season then with some fresh cranberries and some birch? Here is a taste of some of the great winter inspiration coming your way as summer winds down... Enjoy!

{ I don't know where the pics are from since it was made at work. Credit due to anyone who took this great photos }

Manspired Drinks

Some men may think that women are the ones that make all the decisions, but there is at least one area the man can make an important decision... the BAR. Here are some great man-inspired drinks that will make for an amazing groom or male cocktail at the bar.  These are  a mix of some hard liquor and beer drinks, so grab a glass and make a manspired drink {women you can enjoy these too}.


Sidecar

Juice of ¼ Lemon
1 oz. Triple Sec (Curacao, Grand Marnier or Cointreau are also acceptable)
1 oz. Brandy or Cognac

How to make it: Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass


Old-Fashioned

2 oz. Blended Whisky
2 dashes Bitters
1 tsp. Sugar
Splash of Soda
1 strip Orange Peel
1 strip Lemon Peel

How to make it: Muddle the sugar and bitters together in an old-fashioned cocktail glass. Add some ice, soda, and whisky. Stir and garnish with the orange and lemon peels


A Hole In One

1 1/2 oz Johnnie Walker Red Label
1 tbsp honey
3 oz unsweetened tea
1 lemon wedge

How to prepare it: Add the Johnnie Walker Red Label, honey and unsweetened tea in a glass; stir it and serve over ice. Garnish the drink with a lemon wedge


Black Velvet

3/4 pint Guinness
1/4 pint champagne

How to prepare it: Pour Guinness in a tall glass and top it off with champagne

Black and Tan

1/2 pint Smithwick's Ale
1/2 pint Guinness Draught

How to prepare it: Add the Smithwick's Ale to a pint glass, and then add the Guinness by pouring it over the back of a spoon





Manhattan (Dry version)

¾ oz. Dry Vermouth
1½ oz. Blended Whisky

How to make it: Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Serve with an olive








Caipirinha

1 lime 2 ounces of cachaça sugar to taste ice cubes Wash the lime and roll it on the board to loosen the juices. Cut the lime into pieces and place them in a glass. Sprinkle with the sugar and crush the pieces (pulp side up) with a pestle. (We have a long, wooden one from Brazil, made specifically for this purpose.) Just enough to release the juice, otherwise it'll get bitter. Add the cachaça and stir to mix. Add the ice and stir again

Recipes and Photos from:
Ask Men
ciderworks
dc-cdn.virtacore
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2419/1927971789_dc9c6f582f.jpg
The Bar

Summer Drinks

Now that the pools open this weekend and the sun is shining all I can think about are some of the great drinks I will have this summer. There are great ideas to make at home for a BBQ or have as a specialty cocktail at your event or wedding. Come up with some cute names and put it in a nice glass and you have some wonderful cocktails! Ask your caterer about serving these specialty drinks at your event and make sure they have the recipe you want to use!

{Wine Smoothies}

Wine smoothie consists of a fruity wine, like rose, blended with ice and fruits of your choice. Garnished with a couple of berries or fruit slices

{Mojito}

Mint leaves, crushed ice, Dark Rum, Sugar and Lime Juice, all muddled together and topped with some soda water. Top it off with a piece sugar cane! Add some muddled fruit and you can make many varieties of mojiots!

{Margarita}

Salt the rim of a glass, then mix tequila, orange-flavored liquor and lemon juice. Squeeze a fresh lime and you got yourself Summer in a Glass! You can also blend the mixture together and have a Frozen Margarita!

{Sangria}

You can make both Red and White Sangria using either a red or white wine. For both add in wine, some sugar, typically orange and lime juice and other fruit cut up/sliced and stuck in the mixture. Afterwards eat the fruit and delicious!

{Fruit + Gin}

Gin Bucket is a yummy summer tradition from my college years, but it makes for a refreshing and light summer drink, perfect for BBQ's and concerts since you make a ton at a time! 

Gin, Limeade concentrate and Orange Concentrate let thaw in the gin, Any lemon-Lime soda and lots of cut up fruit. Just like the Sangria, after the fruit has sat in the mixture for a while it is so good to eat! 

Pictures/Information From:

The Knot 

iFood 

mojito-recipes 

Seduction Meals 

Insiders Passport 

Lillyella 

Mason Jars :: Southern Rustic Charm

Now that summer is right around the corner and it is inevitable I will be spending more time outside, I keep thinking about mason jars. Drinking out of them, playing games with them, putting candles in them; there are so many uses for the mason jar at either a rustic spring or summer wedding. Enjoy some of the great picks and even if you are not using them at a wedding or event make a mojito, put it in a mason jar and sit outside and relax!

Pictures From:
http://www.lovelifeimages.com/
http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog
http://simplyperfectweddings.blogspot.com
www.theknot.com
http://www.athousandmasonjars.com
http://fromlorinskitchen.blogspot.com
http://summerliving11.blogspot.com
http://www.re-nest.com
http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com
http://www.weddingbee.com

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone. I have never been the advocate for Valentines Day since I think it is somewhat over hyped, yet I love the idea of couples spending time together and showing each other how much they truly love one another. If you are like me you don't have a lot of money to spend on a large gift or an expensive dinner. Here are some great ideas you can do with your better half that wont break the bank.

If you can, bring our girlfriend or boyfriend a "picnic" at work. Surprise them with some of their favorite foods that they may not always have or just bring some sandwiches and cupcakes. You can go and eat at their work or go somewhere else, just spend the time together.
If you cannot get to your better half's work or have lunch with them, put a sweet card in their bag or briefcase for a surprise when they get to work.
If you are like me and not a great cook, surprise your better half with a home cooked meal, or better yet cook a meal together. Make something you don't always have and make a cake or dessert together as well. It will be nice to spend the time together and take time to do something together as well.
If you cannot do anything special on the actual day, set time apart another day or the next weekend to spend time together, go to a movie, or just spend time together.
Valentines day is all about love and it should not be commercialized.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Picture From: http://tain-con.com/website/events/Work/happy_valentines_day.jpg

Lemons and Limes and Everything Nice

With spring so close I cannot stop thinking about all the bright and amazing colors that spring brings. I love  the great fruits and vegetables that come with spring as well. fruit is a great way to bring in great color to a wedding or event. Use fruit as a accent to your centerpieces and flowers or as the main attraction. You are not just stuck with yellow and greens, you can add in reds, pinks, oranges and blues! Below is an inspiration board for all you waiting for spring to come and fruit to be in season!

Pictures are From:
www.theknot.com
http://bios.weddingbee.com
http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/thanksgiving-table-1107
http://libbyjames.wordpress.com
http://www.weddingwindow.com
http://www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com/wedding-reception-centerpieces.html
http://www.sageberrydesigns.com

Bring the Indoors Out

I had a wedding tasting with a bride today that had the most, cute, rustic idea... to bring the indoors outside. I love the rustic theme and adore the idea of using older indoor items for an outdoor wedding. Using window panes and doors as your decor for the outdoors is such as  great idea and pretty easy to do. Looking at antique shops and old buildings that are being torn down is a great way to get some older rustic windows and doors that you wont have to do anything with. Use the windows and window paint to put up guests tables or have guests sign a large window you like as the guest book and display it in your house afterwards.
Also use other items that belong indoors such as drawers and coffee tables or anything you think of to decorate and display food or other items. The bride  found a great idea to use a drawer to serve drinks. You can also find rustic and old vases and glasses to display flowers or use to serve drinks. I also love using a dresser to serve dessert on.

pictures from:
http://jackandjillwedding.com
http://mysimpledetails.blogspot.com/
http://postcardsandpretties.blogspot.com/2010/08/friday-faves-old-doors.html
http://gordongossip.blogspot.com/
http://ruffledblog.com

Love Me Some Birch

 I am in love with the birch look this winter season! I love it for any season really since it is versatile and looks great with some many natural colors. I found a great DIY to make birch center pieces! I found some great birch vases made with a glass vase and a birch sleeve bought at a flower market, then take anything you have around the house or can find at the craft store to decorate the vases, like jewels and earrings and fabric flowers.

I love the green and natural look of birch and the simplicity of it! You can also buy birch branches at the flower market or a local craft store and use them alone or in a flower arrangement. You can also paint the birch piece or use sticks you find from around your yard and paint them. If you want a green wedding this is a great way to go since it is inexpensive and natural.

Birch can go a long way and can be used in many different ways. Use it in the winter or in the spring! Birch is also great to use within the house as well, make your own birch candle holders or throughout your home!

Good luck making your centerpieces and enjoy the holidays!

Found From: Elizabeth Anne Designs and edytaszyszlo