Real Wedding: William + Kate

Nothing is more inspiring and motivating than watching the William and Kate wedding movie on my DVR to get me brainstorming about how I would plan their wedding. For the wedding, there are so many possibilities I think I’d be 50 by the time I got through them all! However, I do have a fabulous idea for the bridal luncheon and tea. When I studied abroad in Oxford, I unfortunately didn’t see William but I did visit Windsor Castle and it was absolutely breathtaking.

This is the one good picture I've ever taken!

I would plan for the luncheon to be out in the garden by the pond for the Queen, Kate and all her bridesmaids, and of course the MOB. The garden is full of multicolored flowers, so the possibilities are endless and it does not need much. I have to imagine that the wedding receptions will be rather stuffy (I know this because I’m always hanging out with royalty…), so this would be the perfect opportunity for Kate to get away and semi-relax before the whole world is seriously watching her every move.

For the tables I would do long, plank tables, with vintage doily table runners with mint julep cups with large, silver vases mixed in. It would only be appropriate to use the Johnson Brothers pink, castle china.

Picture from Re-Nest.com

Picture from Dk Designs Hawaii

Picture from Little French Garden House

To stick with the simple, relaxing atmosphere I would keep the menu light.

Beverage Station

Mint Strawberry Lemonade

Passed Hors D’oeuvres

Mini Crab Cakes

Served on a Baked Saltine

Mini Cucumber Sandwiches

Cantaloupe Gazpacho

The Entree

Janice’s Chicken Salad on Mini Croissants

Crepes with Goat Cheese & Salmon

Deviled Eggs with Prosciutto

Watermelon & Feta Salsa with Homemade Tortilla Chips

Broccoli Salad

After-Lunch Tea

Earl Grey Tea

Chocolate Sponge Cake

Assorted Petit Fours

And of course, SCONES! 

I am looking forward to tomorrow, and hope I can sleep tonight. I wish William + Kate many years of happiness and love!

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Easter Inspired Weddings

Easter can be very inspiring for your Spring Wedding – the pastel colors, egg cups, tulips, baskets, painted eggs, vintage inspired pieces, fresh grass and flowers. I love this time of year, and I’m happy to share this inspiration with you!

Picture from Weddings in Iowa

You can create centerpieces using painted eggs in tall, cylinder glass vases.

Picture from danischwab.blogspot.com

For your rehearsal dinner or seated wedding reception, you can treat guests to bagged chocolate eggs on your vintage plate settings.

Picture from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Mix and Match these dresses for your bridesmaids or wear one to your rehearsal dinner!

Picture from Martha Stewart

This Sunny Style Board inspiration is obvious!

Picture from 4thewedding.com

This bouquet is the quintessential Easter/Spring inspired floral mix.

Picture from Wedding Flower Ideas

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Homecookin Recipes: Eddie’s Boiled Peanuts

Not only is our new Chef de Cuisine, Eddie Russell, famously known for the FourCoursemen dinners, his boiled peanut recipe will knock your socks off. Since Eddie unfortunately does not have a stand on Highway 441 selling his boiled peanuts; he is pleased to share with you one of his favorite things to cook, AND give you the secret ingredients.

Eddie’s boiled peanuts:

5 pounds green Georgia peanuts

4 cups Coca Cola

4 cups light beer (Edward: I prefer PBR, I know, I know… so indie rock)

3 cloves garlic

1 pod star anise

2 tablespoons coarse ground pepper

2 tablespoons chili flakes

1/2 cup salt to begin – season to taste

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 bouquet garni of thyme, bay leaf and parsley

2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock

Add Coca-Cola, beer and all aromatics except bouquet in lager stock pot. Bring to a boil then remove from heat. Add peanuts and bouquet, cover with inverted plate large enough to hold everything down inside pot. Fill rest of pot with water until 3/4 full. Return to medium heat, simmer for at least 5 hours, but the slower the better. Check the liquid level occasionally, when it gets low add stock to keep the peanuts covered. Check after 5 hours, tasting for seasoning. Adjust seasoning to taste. When peanuts are finished, let cool and chill in liquid overnight (totally better the next day). To serve, return to medium high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer. I like serving them in bowls with some of the liquid. Enjoy!

Click Here for the history of Boiled Peanuts by What's Cooking America

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Featured Venue: The Classic Center

I cannot believe I have not done a featured venue post on the Classic Center yet! The Classic Center is located in downtown Athens on Thomas Street. There are several different locations within the Classic Center to host your big day, it can accommodate anywhere from 75-400 people. They offer a full-service approach, a personalized event planner, a package to suit your individual needs, downtown parking, access to the Epting Events warehouse and floral department and wonderful food from Center Stage Centering. The Classic Center will work with your budget, and plan a wedding of your dreams!

In the Courtyard

In the Firehall

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Real Wedding: Kristin + Darrin

Kristin and Darrin got married March 26, 2011 at Shoulderbone Plantation, kicking off the first of a series of weddings we have there this spring. The couple shined through the rainy day for a stunning, Southern wedding. Our floral department designed all of the personal flowers incorporating an unique brooch on each, and the flowers for the reception. The assorted white and pink roses paired with white and pink ranunculus added an extra pop to the navy bridesmaid dresses.

The Menu…

~Main Buffet~
Moser Salad
Grilled London Broil
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Cheese Grits
Old Fashioned Tomato Bread Pudding
A Comforting & Savory Dish of Tomatoes & Chunks of Bread Baked with Cheddar Cheese, Scallions & spices
Green Beans with Shallot Butter

~Pulled Pork Station~
House Smoked Pulled Pork
Cole Slaw
Sweet Potatoes

~Fried Green Tomato Station~
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Okra
Fried Pickles

The Wedding…

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

Picture This! Photography

The Credits…
::Catering & Cakes:: Epting Events ::Flowers:: Epting Events Floral ::Venue:: Shoulderbone Plantation ::Photography:: Picture This! Photography

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Saving Money 101 at Your Wedding

When you dreamed of your big day as a child, you probably didn’t have a calculator in hand adding up every magical detail and idea. Now you’re planning your wedding and while you want it to be perfect (we want it to be perfect for you!), you may need to compromise in some areas. Hopefully, this post will show you compromising isn’t all that bad and you can still have the best night of your life!

::Cocktail Hours::
While everyone loves a good drink, having guests go to the bar at the reception is perfectly acceptable. You are less likely to run out of alcohol by avoiding the cocktail hour, since once they are at the reception they will have the option of going to through the buffet or to the various stations. This will also reduce your labor costs because you don’t need to have separate bartenders or servers for this area.

::Passed Hors D’oeuvres::
There is no secret that these are expensive. When you think about someone having to prepare each item individual piece. Imagine making 500 bacon wrapped stuffed dates. Our Cocktail Buffet Menu gives you a pick-up station with hors d’oeuvresque type food and your main buffet and sometimes a carving station.

Pick-Up Table

::The Band::
Don’t get me wrong I love a good band, but if it’s not in your budget don’t fret a DJ will do the trick of getting everyone crunk and no one will be the wiser.

::Overlays & Linens::
If you want more than just basic white linens, you can add an overlay. But with an overlay comes an extra price generally starting at $22.50/each. We recommend using a base linen that you like coordinating with your colors. Pintucks and Lamours are great options to add style and color to your event.

Lamour Linens

::Centerpieces::
You can incorporate some large floral arrangements on your buffet to add color. But consider doing alternative center pieces with old books, candles, lanterns, single flower vases. This will still add color and give your party a great look without the cost of grandiose arrangements.

Shannon Bailey Photography

Shannon Bailey Photography

::The Dinner::
Our Cocktail Buffet menus offers tons of options and can be modified to meet your taste buds. This also allows you to get away with only seating half of your guests, that’s right I said half! Now you don’t have to worry about seating cards or the dreaded seating arrangements; and if you’re ex-cousin’s twice removed step-father can’t sit with your best friend’s mother’s nephew, you don’t have to worry about it! Your guests will still have the option of eating three meats and lots of delish sides without the added price of a served entree or dinner buffet.

Main Buffet

::The Bar::
If you like alcohol but don’t want to offer your guests all of your favorite liquors, you can do beer and wine with a specialty drink. Our beer and wine set-ups also include the soft drinks, water and sweet tea. This will suit everyone.

These simple little tricks will let you stick to your budget while having an awesome time, and no one will be the wiser!

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