Full Circle Eventi – Making Imagination A Reality

As promised, part two of the Lavender Imagination board by request. I’ve loved working on these boards, and I am so excited to continue working on others boards in the future. Again if you’d like your own spark of imagination created for your upcoming event, contact me, and we can project your dreams and images into a full imagination board.

(satin bow dress, stripped tie, lavender bridesmaid, ruche dress, purple boutonnière, green bridesmaids, hydrangeas, boutonnière, bride, rose purple bridesmaids, sage boutonnière, bride, bouquet)

(stripe tie, bridesmaid bouquet, brides bouquet, green shoe, green dress, green tie, groom, groomsman, flower girl sachets, suit, mother of bride, mother of groom, bouquet, flower girl, purple tie, skirt, corsage)

I recently receive a request via submissions to create an imagination board for someone’s upcoming outdoor, barn style wedding. Colors selected for the outdoor wedding are lavender and sage and the bride also wanted to incorporate her favorite flowers – hydrangeas and lavender. The couple selected a cute historic location for their wedding, with the ceremony taking place outside under a large tree in the yard. Their cocktail reception encourages their guest to experience the quaintness of the historic site while they run off to snap a few photos. And the full reception is planned indoors in the rustic quarters of the ancient barn.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did putting it together. I’m delivering this to you in two parts, since the bride also requested some assistance with her overall appearance for the bridal party as well as the wedding itself. So be sure to tune in again tomorrow and check out the lavender romance wardrobe.

(tree, couple, door wreath, lavender rice, white streamers, cones, flower ball, ceremony)

(centerpiece, interior draping, entrance draping, centerpiece, lavender favor/place setting, head table flowers, green centerpiece, lavender place cards, pink rose centerpiece, head table swag)

Show your spirit with gold, silver and bronze shades

Oh yes you can be inspired by the gold, silver and bronze medal beauties! I absolutely loved the eye shadow Lindsey Vonn wore while accepting her gold medal for downhill! And yes, again I’ve gone searching to show you the natural beauty she displayed with makeup that enhanced her beauty rather than covered it up. Silver medalist Julie Mancuso also subscribed to the same natural beauty style (and girls, you’ve got to love the tiara, Princess Julie to you!).

Vancouver website

That’s what bridal beauty is all about ladies – accentuating your natural beauty, not a day to pile on false eyelashes (although, I certainly cannot live without them?), loads of shadow, blush, and bronze before you walk down the aisle. So today we’ll focus on subtle bridal beauty.

Photo by iStockphoto.com

And I’m not the only one inspired by the Olympic spirit. DormRoomDivas posted her instructional bronze, silver and gold Olympic looks on Youtube. Lija Kresowaty also wrote a great article in creating the Olympic look, so why reinvent the wheel – here are her tips.

As the Olympic Games roll into Vancouver this February, you can channel your inner athlete with makeup that takes inspiration from gold, silver and bronze medals. Going metallic is the perfect way to jazz up your mid-winter makeup routine, plus there’s a shade to match every complexion. Scared of sparkle? Read on for tips on how to rock a metallic look for day or night.

How to do metallic right:

1. Unless you want to look like you’re heading to a costume party, always keep metallic shades to just one area of the face. (And that includes nail polish!)

2. Use makeup brushes (not the sponge applicators you find in compacts) for greater precision, especially when using loose powder or glitter formulas.

3. If you think you’ve gone overboard, tone your shimmer down by smudging it with a cotton swab and layering over it with a corresponding matte shade (taupe for gold, light grey for silver, and brown for bronze).

Here’s how to rock a gold, silver or bronze shade:

Gold Rush

Best for: All skin tones.

Day-time gold: A sheer wash of gold – or champagne-coloured powder eye shadow, worn all the way up to the brow bone, will brighten up your face and bring out any eye colour.

Night-time gold: Wear a more concentrated gold cream shadow on your lids (from the lash line to the crease). Pair it with black eyeliner and mascara on your top and bottom lashes for a smoking-hot gaze. Tip: for better staying power, layer some gold powder shadow over the cream shadow.

Silver Sparkle

Best for: Dark skin tones.

Day-time silver: A simple line of silver liquid eyeliner will add some shine to your eyes without going too disco. Leave the rest of your lids bare to keep the look laidback.

Night-time silver: Up the glam factor by applying a silver cream shadow from lash line to crease. Top it off with a light dusting of a loose powder glitter product. Tip: Make sure to do this before you put on the rest of your makeup for easier clean-up in case some glitter goes astray.

Bronze Goddess

Best for: Light to medium skin tones.

Day-time bronze: Apply some bronze eye shadow on top of your regular brown eye shadow, concentrating it in the crease to really make blue or green eyes pop.

Night-time bronze: Re-create the classic smoky eye by trading in black for bronze. Start with a darker shade of bronze or brown liner along the top and bottom lash lines, and then use a shimmery bronze shadow to gradually build more colour around the eye.

Be that natural beauty on the biggest day of your life . . .

Or . . . just go for the gold, a bit extreme!

“Something old, something new, Something borrowed, Something blue, And a silver sixpence in your shoe”.

This well known little rhyme originated during Victorian times and is still commonly practiced for good luck. In America, this is a very commonly upheld tradition.

Traditionally, the “old” would have been the garter of a happily married woman, with the thought being that her good fortune would be passed down along with it.

Of course today, there are so many sources for garters, be a simple one you caught at someone else’s wedding, or having it custom made to match your colors. Speaking of which, there is a fantastic garter maker who hand makes special garters for brides around the country. Julianna Smith makes premade garters or any custom garter to suit your needs. Be they your sweethearts college school colors, your wedding colors, or just a special surprise for your sweetie when he’s searching, Julianna’s got a garter for you!

The “new” stood for the couple’s new bright and happy future together.

What is traditionally new? Of course your dress is new, jewelry is often new, and undergarments . . . those are almost always new! Sexy or practical, always the question of the day! While sexy always makes you feel amazing, knowing you have a naughty little secret awaiting your groom under your gown of purity, structure to hold you in place could prevent any wardrobe malfunctions during the day.

Angelica
- a 100% silk garter with ivory silk ribbon and bow. £19 from Myla Lingerie; Love
- a cream coloured frilly lace garter with blue silk ribbon and bow £25 from Agent Provocateur; Alborea
- a luxury lace garter with satin trim and adjustable side-ties. Embellished with a Swarovski crystal and blue satin bow. £19 from Valisere Lingerie; Betsy
- silk satin knickers and matching garter with a lace ruffle and opulent bow. £49 from Myla Lingerie

boudiche

“Something borrowed” was usually a much valued item from the bride’s family. It symbolized prosperity within the new union, but would bring that good fortune only if it was returned to the family.

Clearly something borrowed can come from anyone, but it means the most when it comes from those closest to you.

“Something blue” came from an ancient tradition in which the bride would wear a blue ribbon in her hair as a symbol for fidelity.

Updo Princess

Placing a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe was to ensure wealth in the couple’s life. Today brides often slip a penny inside their shoe before the ceremony in place of the difficult to acquire silver sixpence. As such, the rhyme is often adapted to “…And a lucky penny in your shoe”

Looking for a way to hold on to that penny you lugged around in your shoe all day, check out Belle Merce’s Soulmate necklace. They can stamp the date of your wedding into the penny and create a special necklace to cherish, and possibly pass down in the future!

I have searched high and low and all around the internet to find a good picture of the stunning necklace Sarah McLachlan worn during the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics with no success. The necklace was highly talked about all over the internet in blogs and in people’s play by play on the ceremonies. One girl even said the necklace was more striking than Sarah herself. Goes to show that the right accessories can certainly steal the show!

I managed to create an image of the necklace from video; so of course, it does the necklace no justice at all. To catch a better glimpse of the necklace in action, check out the video from ABC. Navigate to 15 minutes (runs until about 19) into the video clip and watch the sparkly magic from there.

While we never want to have our accessories drawing attention away from the beautiful bride on her day, this is the day every little girl has dreamed of wearing the most elaborate jewels, crowns, necklaces, and earrings. We all played bridal dress up—right? Be they dramatic or over the top, accessories are a MUST for the wedding day, and while I like the traditional, I am all about the audacious, hence I want Sarah’s necklace for my personal collection!

So time for a little bridal bling, or should I say a lot of wedding sparkle!

For you earring gals:

Tenjani

Tiger Lily Jewelry

Need some draping around the neck and wrist? Maybe a hair piece or two?

Tiger Lily Jewelry

Tenjani

And for you outrageous, unique, one of a kind brides looking for truly extreme hair pieces, check out these stunners from celebrity designer Alberto Rodriguez. You have to be a bold and beautiful bride to carry these with conviction!

And a little ethnic flair . . .

Utsav

In the spirit of the Olympics, I wanted to find another way to tie in influences into your wedding. So today is all about Favors! Everybody’s got them, everybody wants them, and nobody knows what to do! So here are a few medal winning ideas.

Often your place card setting can serve dual function as your favor as well as the reception guide for seating your guest. Others select edible favors as a choice. I think it’s one of the best since there are not trinkets for guest to forget or lug home. But if you want to ensure your edible favors have a stunning presence, the favor box is just as important as the delectable flavors inside.

There are also numerous adorable ideas to express love in the air. Cute heart shaped whisks and measuring spoons can be a great gift for the party. And then there are numerous whimsical and fun favors, like the grater, salad tongs, travel suitcase, shakers, and monitor dusters.

The Gold, the Silver, and the Bronze—winners base on uniqueness, originality, and fun. And just as subjective as most artistic events are in the Olympics, these are the winners, well at least for today!

(purple box, gold medal, gold key, gold box, treasure chest, pink and aqua box, lanterns, asian boxes, heart whisk)

(silver medal, wine cork, measuring spoons, grater, suitcase, salad tongs, white box, asian wine cork, diamond, shaker)

(brownie bites, jars, bronze medal, golf balls, box, bamboo chest, monitor dusters, fortune cookies, pink and black box)

. . . just a few thoughts and ideas for you to ponder. For even more ideas and savings on favors, check out Beau-Coup, one of our favorite spots to shop!

There is absolutely no way I can cover the Olympic Opening ceremony inspiration without including the incredible Northern Lights! I was absolutely astounded at the imagery they were able to recreate with light. The Northern Lights are one of the great wonders of the world, and the interpretation for the ceremonies is certainly right up there.

Yesterday I covered the less colorful side, but as I said before, I love, love love, color; so this imagination board was a ton of fun! And this makes two multicolored boards now – whoever would have thought!

Chairs inspired by First Nation Traditional Costume?

Continuing my imaginative inspiration from last week’s opening ceremonies, I created two neutral color board, which if you know me, it a bit more of a challenge. I love, love, love color. Take the color away and I am left with a neutral palate that I am still mastering. So here’s a glimpse at the more subtle earthly combinations. With a splash of color – but it’s really in the mix – check out the First Nation’s logo!

(Couple, kaftan, mosaic table, bridesmaid, dragon fly hairpin, umbrellas, antler table, shoes, Inukshuk favor, red door)

While the images are beautiful, I cannot forget to share with you cultural knowledge within the boards. The rock formations, which you’ve seen on as the template for the Vancouver Olympic Games, draw their history from the aboriginal inhabitants of Canada. These people-like figures of rock are called Inukshuk. The Inukshuk, which means “likeness of person,” was first used by the Inuit People to mark trails, indicate caches of food, and locate nearby settlements as well as good places to hunt or fish. Most of the Canadian arctic is dominated year round by permafrost and only has a few natural landmarks which could be used for orientation, that’s why Inukshuk are used as directional marker.

The rock Inukshuk embodies the spirit and persistence of the Inuit who live and flourish in Northern Canada, one of the world harshest environments. Inukshuk’s represent strength, leadership and motivation. The Inukshuk makes a fantastic favor as a homage to the First Nation people of Canada.

(bride, First Nation logo, place setting, cakes, centerpiece, table numbers, Inukshuks, rock table setting, bridesmaids, flowers, shoe, bride)

I was inspired by the opening ceremonies Friday in Vancouver. What an amazing spectacle and event! Isn’t it amazing how much can be done with lighting and fabric. Ok, so there are a lot of other things involved. I also love the incorporation of the First Nation cultural elements into the ceremony.

Jack Poole, the Vancouver Olympic Committee Board Chairman, said “If it hadn’t been for the full support of the Four Host First Nations in our bid, we likely wouldn’t be talking about Vancouver 2010 today.” So of course the four Host First Nations — a group that represents the four bands whose traditional lands are home to the Vancouver Olympics — were asked to play a prominent part in the opening ceremony on Friday. And more inspiration will follow from that this week!

SO, in the custom of Tradition Tuesday, I researched wedding customs of the Four Host First Nation, or aboriginals of Canada. There are so many original tribes, and similar to the Native American’s of The United State, many traditions cross multiple groups. Here is just the tip of the tundra . . .

Marriage customs involved the groom arriving at the bride’s home at daybreak. He sat at the entrance to the house and was wrapped in a blanket with only his face exposed. The bride’s family ignored him and proceeded with their daily routine. This ritual continued for three days. On the third day, if the bride’s father approved of the match he invited the groom to breakfast. The groom’s father is informed and the wedding ceremony was planned.

Winter was the season for religious ceremonies and celebrations. Religious mediums or shamans performed several rites, including magic against enemies. Both men and women served as shamans, acting in the capacity of spiritual intermediaries and healers. Illness was attributed to wandering souls or to foreign intrusions by an evil spirit. The skill of the shaman depended on his or her ability to rid the sick person of the evil spirit. The shaman presided over periodic fasts that required the participant to abstain from sexual relations and to scrub him or herself with branches in a cleansing ritual. Guardian spirits were prominent and were acquired by individuals during this period of fasting.

Understanding the People

Most First Nations people believe there is a Great Spirit in the universe. This spirit is the source of all life and is embodied in everything. The earth is the Mother of all spirits. The First Nations traditions and culture are greatly influenced by nature.

Here are a few common wedding traditions:

Marriage Requirements
- Pipe Carrier (officiate) determines the responsibilities the couple must perform.
- The bride and groom choose four sponsors. Sponsors – Elders who are well respected and give marital and spiritual guidance to the couple throughout their lives.
- Everyone is invited by word of mouth.
- Bride’s family must make handmade gifts for guests. Gift depends on their talents.

Ceremony

- Ceremonies are preferably outside.
- Water is used as a symbol of purification and cleansing. The bride and groom have a ceremonial washing of hands to wash away past evils and memories of past loves.
- Their commitment is to the Creator. There’s no divorce; if they separate they are still one in the eyes of the Great Spirit.
- Each person makes a declaration they choose to be known as husband and wife, then they smoke from the pipe.
- At the ceremony, the sponsors make a commitment to help the couple.

Wedding Attire

- The bride and groom add rabbit leathers and personal adornments to their traditional skinned attire.
- The bride will wash herself in a body of water (lake, river, ocean, or pond) the morning of her union in order to be blessed by the spirit of the Earth.

Feasting/ Dance

- The food feasted on is indigenous to the location; squirrel, venison, bison, beaver, squash, beans, maize, berries and other fruit.
- The food is blessed symbolizing a happy life together.
- Music is often played by the men. Instruments are water drums, gourd rattles, flutes and whistle

Many of you are aware of my partner Pamela Gibson of Events by Pam. Most of the time we collaborate on projects together, giving clients two perspectives and an impeccable team to manage and coordinate their wedding. For Major News this week, I am happy to feature exciting news happening for Aloha Events by Pam, and Pam herself!

Pam is a fantastic logistics organizer, a detail oriented coordinator, and beloved friend. What a lot of people don’t know about her (she might kill me for this!) . . . she is a third generation Polynesian Dancer! Pam has been dancing hula and other Polynesian styles since she could walk. Having attended numerous conferences in her life and numerous trips to the islands, Pam is a wealth of knowledge on the culture. Her clients find the golden ticket for their Hawaiian and tropical themed events when they book her services!

Mom, Pam, Grandmother | Mom & Pam

Pam Gibson

Recently, Pam was nominated and selected to be the State of Michigan’s Association Representative for the Hula Association of the Midwest. Pam graciously accepted the position and is excited about the opportunity to represent Michigan in upcoming Hula gatherings.

The Hula Association of the Midwest is a non-profit group organized to serve the Hawaii, hula community and businesses throughout the Midwestern States.

Our Purpose is to:

• bring together all of those living in the Midwest who share an interest in hula, Hawaii and the aloha spirit.
  
• promote cultural awareness and education of hula and Hawaii throughout the Midwest.
  
• plan and/or promote various hula Hawaiian related events here in the Midwest.
  
• spread the aloha spirit with some *good fun* get together for all those in the Midwest who love Hawaii.
  

Click here to find out more about the Hula Association of the Midwest!

Check out upcoming events!!

So if you are looking for a Tropical, Hawaiian, or Polynesian themed wedding or events, give us a call. Pam and I would love to assist you!