Featured Vendor: Christine's Floral Touch

Jaclyn Elizabeth Events works with a variety of vendors in the Twin Cities area and to show how much we appreciate their work, we are going to feature a new local vendor each week. We see it as a great way to show you, our readers, which vendors are great to work with for your next event, as well as showing other small businesses some love!

To kick off this new feature, we interviewed Christine Anderson from Christine's Floral Touch. Jaclyn Elizabeth Events worked with Christine on a past wedding, and boy, does she do impressive work! If you are looking for a florist for your upcoming wedding or event, she's definitely a great person to work with!

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Christine's career in florals began when she was in high school where she worked at a floral shop part-time. During her college years, she returned during breaks to help out whenever she could. She graduated with a degree in Music Education, but soon realized that working with flowers was more her passion. As she put it, she is not a very artistic person, but working with flowers lets her be creative.

Over the past seven years she has created floral arrangements for many friends and family members weddings and events, and recently opened her own business - which continues to keep growing and growing! In 2009 she worked on 82 weddings! Christine prides herself on making sure each bride and groom know they aren't "just another wedding", as some corporate flower shops can make it seem. Because she's a one-woman business, she makes sure each wedding has its own personal touch - and that no two weddings are ever the same.

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As a florist for weddings, Christine works a lot with centerpieces, which can add drama and variety to any room. Christine suggests having 2-3 centerpieces or one more extravagant and one not-as extravagant centerpiece mixed within the room. She also suggests mixing up sizes - including tall, medium and low centerpieces. Check out the photographs below to see some of the work Christine has done - she's included a variety of heights and sizes.

Here's an example of a low centerpiece. This is a rose and hydrangea arrangement in a small square vase. A nice centerpiece option for guests to bring home.

This would be considered a centerpiece of medium height. This centerpiece uses a vase with purple hydrangea and sliced limes. Placed next to it is a cylinder vase with lily grass wrapped inside with a floating candle added on top.

This is an example of a tall centerpiece. Here is a 24" cylinder vase with branches, larkspur, dendrobium orchids, bear grass and hanging votives. This is a great centerpiece for venues with tall ceilings.

Flowers are always a nice touch to any cake. Here's an example of a centerpiece cake with a small arrangement of roses, berries and greenery. For a less expensive options, Christine suggests using a single flower, such as roses, dahlias or a gerbera daisy.

Another example of medium height centerpieces. Christine used a trio of cylinder vases that are of different heights and filled them with rose petals and a floating candle.

This is a great centerpiece for a garden-themed wedding (or any garden-themed event!). Here she used a watering can and filled it with white and yellow daisies.

Another example of a tall centerpiece, Christine used a 22" Eiffel tower vase with orange and white Asiatic lilies and bear grass. This is a great way to add height to your tables without spending a ton of money.

Another option for a low centerpiece is floating stargazer lily in a lily bowl. Other options could be floating river rocks or glass gems with orchid blossoms, roses or dahlias.

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As you can see, flowers can really make a wedding or event. Centerpieces are a great way to personalize your wedding and add dimension to your venue, as well as have something pleasing for your guests to look at. The size and layout of your venue can also be taken into consideration when choosing your centerpieces - venues with taller ceilings work well with taller centerpieces because it adds height and drama to the room.

Christine's worked with a variety venues and would suggest the following to anyone still looking for their ceremony/reception site.

- Downtown St. Paul: Landmark Center

- Downtown Minneapolis: Five Event Center

- Outdoor: Black Bear Crossing (part of Como Park)

- Suburbs: Eagan Community Center

If you are interested in contacting Christine for your next event, please contact her! She does great work, is super knowledgeable and will help make your floral visions a reality!

Christine's Floral Touch

952.210.6412

christine@christinesfloraltouch.com

www.christinesfloraltouch.com

Wonderful Rustic Wedding

I wish I could say Jaclyn Elizabeth Events could take credit for helping plan this BEAUTIFUL rustic wedding... but we can't! This wedding was featured on Green Wedding Shoes by a California wedding planner.

The details of this wedding were exquisite and so well put together. I think a wedding like this would work beautifully in Minnesota - especially in Northern Minnesota. All the nature elements pulled together so nicely - from the centerpieces to the table numbers, favors and other decor. This is definitely a definition of a "green" wedding - perfect for an eco-conscience couple, or couples who are very into being outdoors.

My two words to describe this wedding: Simply. Gorgeous.

I hope you enjoy viewing this wedding as much as we did. To view more photos and read more information about this wedding, click here.

Beachy Favor Love

The Jaclyn Elizabeth Events team is working on a destination wedding that will take place in Mexico this November. Because we're so beach-involved, we wanted to share with you some beach wedding favors. Also, what a better way to get you thinking summer (or spring) than with beach-themed ideas!

Destination weddings can be tough to plan - but definitely a good time. Some couples prefer to celebrate the whole event with just a small group of friends and family at the destination of their choice; others choose to celebrate with a destination ceremony and hometown reception. Either of these choices are great - but one thing to keep in mind: Make sure you show the guests who attend your destination wedding how much you appreciate them taking time out of their lives to spend days with you and your hubby or wife-to-be. Just as you should for those guests who travel across states to celebrate.

Here are some favors that your guests can enjoy for your destination beach wedding!

Love these sailboat place card holders - which double as a nice keepsake for your guests! Photo via Beau-Coup

These are adorable for a beach wedding! Something your guests can enjoy long after the wedding! Photo via Wedding Favors-Smart

Another creative Martha Stewart idea! These little pails are so cute...

Another great, reusable gift for your guests. If you're guest lists is on the smaller side, or you have a rather large budget to spend on favors, personalizing them for your guests would be cute! Photo via The Knot

I love these little beach chair place card holders. Another cute little keepsake! Photo via Beau-Coup

Playing cards - a definite asset to any vacation and destination wedding! I love the floral design and colors of these! Photo via Beau Coup

These are cute for your beach-themed wedding. Photo via Wedding-Veil.com

These are just a few ideas if you're planning a destination wedding. Of course there are SO MANY great ideas for favors out there, we can't feature them all! If you have some favors you'd like us to feature, e-mail them to jaclynelizabethevents@gmail.com.

Bridal Bouquet Ideas

I must have flowers on the brain! Wedding Channel has an array of wedding bouquet ideas on its web site that are gorgeous! Below you'll find some of our favorite's - featuring a selection for weddings in any season!

This bouquet would be great for a variety of color schemes and a wedding in any season. Very versatile!

White flowers are ever-so classic. I would suggest this bouquet for a more traditional wedding, but you can dress it down a bit by adding the accent color for your wedding sporadically throughout the bouquet.

I love how bright and bold this bouquet is - especially against a white dress. This bouquet screams spring and summer wedding!

This would be perfect for a late-fall or winter wedding. This bouquet reminds me of Thanksgiving! The colors go beautifully together and looks so unique!

Another spring-y bouquet! I love all the colors in different types of flowers that were incorporated into this arrangement. It's great for a variety of color schemes!

These purple and blue flowers look great together - so fun! You don't see many arrangements with these two colors, but it will definitely make a bold statement!

While this is still a traditional-looking bouquet, it's not as traditional as the all-white rose arrangement shown above. Calla Lilies are great flowers for weddings because they're "in season" for weddings of all year.

I'm just enamored with this bouquet! I've seriously never seen anything like it before! The dark red calla lilies and wild flowers really make a statement. I totally envision this bouquet in a wedding that's filled with candles, dark lights and deep colors.

What did your wedding bouquet look like? Or what ideas do you have for your bouquet in your upcoming wedding? Send photos to jaclynelizabethevents@gmail.com.

Spring Fling!

Spring is nature's way of saying "Let's Party!" ~ Robin Williams

Robin Williams got it right with that! While it's great to have a party anytime of year, I think spring is one of the best times. You're finally at that point where you can start having guests mingle both inside and outside, you can bring out the ol' grill that's been sitting in the garage (or if you're like me, under a couple of feet of snow!) and feel comfortable without a million layers on! Think of all of the parties you can host during the spring months: Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial day, BBQ's... and many more!

While it's still in the teens and twenties in Minnesota, I'm thinking Spring! I'm so ready for it! Check out some of our favorite spring table centerpieces, place cards and parties... I bet it will get you thinking ahead to spring too!

A beautiful Easter garden table! Photo: Southern Living

Martha Stewart never ceases to amaze me with her table decorating skills!

I love how simple, yet classic, this table setting looks. Great for a Mother's Day brunch! Photo: Country Living

Wouldn't these be cute for a garden party?! Simple DIY favors are the best! Photo: Country Living

A great centerpiece for an Easter dinner! Photo: Martha Stewart

How awesome is this!? Cut-up limes with tulips - now that's what I call spring-y! Photo: Southern Living

I love this kid-friendly Easter table shown on Southern Living

This centerpiece is so versatile, you could use it for any spring-themed party! I love how clean and simple it looks - yet is still the focal point for your table. Photo: Martha Stewart

I must tell you, daisies are by far my favorite flower. I love this place setting not only for its daisy, but because the colors are so bright and cheery. Photo: Country Living

I love how this box stands out against the tablecloth and how it represents spring so much - from the bright blue to the robin-egg candies to the simple white flower. So pretty! Photo: Country Living

I think this would be a tear-jerker for any mother or grandmother receiving it as a gift for Mother's Day. Display some of your kids' drawings and photos, and voila - you've got a special, one of a kind, vase for a very special mom (or grandma). Photo: Country Living

Another simple and creative (and inexpensive!) DIY favor for your guests from Martha Stewart!

What do you vision when you think spring parties?

Greeting Card Giveaway!

What is a better way to start off the Designing Unforgettable Experiences blog than with a giveaway?! We're giving away one set of 10 assorted greeting cards to one of our readers! The contest ends March 5th at 12 midnight (Central time). The winner will be drawn at random. There are multiple ways to win, so be sure to read carefully!

To be entered into the giveaway:

1. Become a follower of this blog (using the 'Follow' button below) and leave a comment giving an idea or suggestion for what you'd like to see featured on Designing Unforgettable Experiences.

Other ways to be entered:

1. Become a fan of us on Facebook and leave a comment on the blog with an idea or suggestion of what you would like to see on Designing Unforgettable Experiences. (If you're already a Facebook fan, please note that in the comment box)

2. Post this giveaway on your blog (Please provide a link to that post in the comment).

3. Provide a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page.

**You can be entered up to FOUR times - once for following the blog, once for becoming a fan on Facebook, once for posting this giveaway on your blog and once for linking this giveaway on your Facebook page. Please be sure to leave a comment for each entry!**

Good Luck!

Welcome to The Whole Shebang!

Thank you for taking the time to check out the Jaclyn Elizabeth Events The Whole Shebang blog. Our goal is to provide you with ideas and information that will inspire you for your own events - be that a wedding, a bridal or baby shower, a milestone birthday party or a party just because! We'll share with you our tips, who we turn to for help, what (and who) inspires us and past events we've worked on. Make sure to check back often as we will be offering giveaways to our readers!

If there is something specific you're interested in learning more about that you haven't seen on the blog, email us at jaclynelizabethevents@gmail.com - we'd love to hear from you!

**Remember - If you are in the Twin Cities area and looking for help on your upcoming event, please contact us to come in for a complimentary consultation - info@jaclynelizabeth.com or 651.291.8150.**