Ornate Splendor

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Ireland Themed Rehearsal Dinner

Wouldn't it be lovely to go to Ireland for your honeymoon? This lovely wedding couple chose Ireland for their Honeymoon. So when the mother of the groom needed a theme for the Wedding Rehearsal Dinner, she asked me to come up with something on the elegant side rather than the kitchy St. Patrick's Day side.....And she asked if I had any pretty whiskey bottles that I could decorate.

Whiskey bottles? Yes, I've got that!! I decorated them in a combination of tatting, laces, beaded trims, and -- of course-- vintage jewelry! :) See the little "J" and "T" in the photos above? The bride's and groom's initials! I searched through my stash of letters, and I had the right ones - Woo Hoo!

Several centerpieces were needed, of course.... On this one, I wrapped part of a belt around the whiskey bottle for added texture and an Irish pub-like feel.

Silver trays were a pretty way to contain the mosses, rocks and bottles into a cohesive centerpiece.

I added in the bottle toppers too!

Mosses....seems like Ireland is filled with moss and green-green grass. Every photo I found of Ireland on Pinterest was mossy green! So I thought this combination would capture the look and feel of Ireland.

Not many flowers can fit in the small tops of the whiskey bottles. So a simple arrangement with mostly green leaves and one white rose worked perfectly.

Tallow berries with a bit of moss fit right in with the green and white theme.

On this one, I put a mesh champagne bottle cover - hey, why not? Champagne...Whiskey....whatever...it fits on the bottle!!

The Groom's mother had rented a house/cottage/hunting lodge for the rehearsal dinner. But the lodge called her ahead of time and told her that (gasp!) the road to the lodge was closed due to flooding and high water blocking the road!! She had to come up with a plan B very quickly to have the rehearsal dinner somewhere else!!! It was a small Texas town, and the hotel near the wedding did not have a meeting room big enough for the rehearsal dinner party. They ended up squeezing in to another lodge where the groomsmen were staying for the wedding. It all worked out, and they had a great time! It's either drought or flood here in Texas!!

Cheers! Catherine

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

Vintage Inspiration Party at My Salvaged Treasures

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farm House

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

You're Gonna Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Vintage Inspiration Party (Tuesday) at My Salvaged Treasures

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Whimsy Wednesday at Simply Designing

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Link Party Palooza at Tater Tots and Jello

Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Silver & Lavender Couples Shower

It's a couples shower! Silver and Lavender are the wedding colors for this couple. A pretty combination!

Since it was a couples shower, I didn't want to decorate too girly. So I kept it neutral with the silver, black and white banners. Floating candles inside cylinder vases adorn the mantle.
Guests were greeted at the front door with a wreath that I made from vintage wedding gowns and white silk beaded evening gowns.

Once inside, I placed an embellished floating candle arrangement on the foyer table.

I wrapped the glass vase in rhinestone mesh that I embellished even MORE with bridal lace, beaded trim, metal ribbon, crystals, and a brooch! Then I placed the vase on this embellished white pedestal that is just dripping with crystals!

As guests turned to the right, here's what they saw next....

Then comes the buffet table!

I wrapped this two-tiered serving tray in rhinestone mesh

I made little monogrammed cupcake/food toppers with the initials of the bride and groom.

Even the Sushi got little monogrammed food toppers!

Here are the little wedding bells that I made to hang from the chandelier over the buffet table.

I made them with paper mache ornaments that were meant to be Christmas ornaments. Just covered them in silk beaded bridal fabric - little wedding bells - I love them!!

Even the water bottles were decorated!

On to the gift table....

I painted and embellished this lamp base to be the base for this sign.

Want to see a close up of this mantle?

So there you have it! A couples shower where everyone had a great time with great food! (I can take no credit for the food....only the decor and buffet set up/decor.) The food was beautiful, and looked quite tasty! Hope this inspires you for your next party!

Cheers! Catherine

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

Vintage Inspiration Party at My Salvaged Treasures

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farm House

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

You're Gonna Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Vintage Inspiration Party (Tuesday) at My Salvaged Treasures

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Whimsy Wednesday at Simply Designing

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Link Party Palooza at Tater Tots and Jello

Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events

Friday, January 16, 2015

All you need is LOVE!

All you need is love, love....love is all you need!

Happy Saint Valentine's Day to you!

Ever wonder about the real history of Valentine's Day?

Valentinus was a Roman priest during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine." For even more information, you can click here.

Here are my own creations in honor of St. Valentine's Day.

Antique book covers are the sweet beginning for these banners. I chose deep reds, pinks and creamy layers of lace for this project. The book covers and the laces are beautifully aged and tattered. I added silver glittery letters, vintage rhinestone jewelry, silk chiffon roses (that I make on long car trips), and pieces of vintage beaded gowns. I found lots of rhinestone hearts -- and even a rhinestone bow and arrow - straight from Cupid himself!!