This is one party theme that is perfect anytime of the year and for any type of social occasion. From the invitations and décor to the wine and cheeses here is everything that you need to know to put together the perfect wine and cheese party. Happy sipping!!

You don’t need much when it comes to decorating and preparing for a wine and cheese party. If you want to get a little crafty you can create your own chalkboard platter with a tray from the Dollar Tree and some chalkboard paint. You can then place your cheeses and wines on the tray and write what each item is and what it pairs well with. For more instructions you can check out this DIY tutorial from LaurenConrad.com.

Another creative option is decorating with wine corks. If you don’t have enough of your own corks you can usually go to any cork collection station (find one near you on reCork) and ask to use some for a project. I love putting them in hurricanes like this centerpiece below from Two Tenty One and for using them as place card holders for each of your wine and cheese displays like these from It's Not You, It's Brie.

Now comes the important part of the part, buying the wine and cheeses!! My favorite place to buy wines is Trader Joes and Whole Foods. You can find an amazing variety and the staff at each place is very knowledgeable about what wines go great with different foods. You can also find a wide variety of cheese choices at each of these stores. You can learn the basics pairing with this chart below or find a great app on iTunes like Hello Vino (Free) iPairings ($0.99) or Cheese & Wine ($1.99). 

What is your favorite wine and cheese pairing? I am a huge fan of baked brie with a fruity wine or red wine (depending on my mood). You will never need an excuse for this occasion as everyday is a good day for a wine and cheese party!!

xoxo
Megan

You might also like…

No matter who you decide to hire for your wedding reception it is always a smart idea to go and see the person or group perform before you decide to book them for your own event. You can see how they interact with a group and get a feeling for the type of music they play. And for those on a super tight budget you can now find people being their own DJ at their reception. The couple will rent a sound system and hook up their own iPod of their tunes. 

Which would you prefer at your event?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like…

Last year I did a post on the events trends that you would see in 2012. Well now it is a new year and with that comes new trends. Last week I share with you the 2013 Pantone Colors for Spring and this week I have the start of a two week post that will share with you the top event trends that you are sure to see this year. A lot of these directly have to do with weddings, but the trends are easily transferable to any other type of event.

1. Patterns & Prints. From gingham and stripes to paisley and chevron you will start to see prints and patterns popping up all over the place at events this year. These prints will be seen in the apparel, linens and décor at events. Just make sure you don’t go prints crazy, less is more when it comes to incorporating patterns and prints into the event.

2. Reception Lounge. Just need a little time away from the buffet and dance floor during the reception. The reception lounge is the perfect solution! Have a bar, some plush furniture and maybe a photo booth setup in a separate room for the perfect break away from the craziness an event can be.

3. Technology Driven. More and more events are being driven by technology. You can see this with the use of a live Twitter feed, Instagram hash tags, and custom event apps at every type of event.

4. Lace. Lace has always been a part of the wedding world, but you will see a lot more of it this year especially in the décor. Ever since the Royal Wedding dress made its appearance lace has come back into the event industry in full force! Check out these amazing lace inspired wedding cakes for some lace inspired inspiration.

5. Less is More. More couples and event planners are moving toward a less is more attitude when it comes to the event. The want the wedding or party to have more focus on the couple or having a fun time than extravagant decorations and over the top entertainment.

6. Virtual Guests. With the availability of wifi and hot spots just about everywhere there is now the ability to have a live broadcast of your event for those that are not able to attend in person. Most people do not realize that this is an option until someone else suggests it.

7. The Fun Factor. From artistic food stations, creative cocktails and reception games people are adding a “fun factor” to their event this year. You will see more people adding creative aspects to their event to give it that extra special originality touch that sets them apart from everyone else. How about some carnival games and food at your next party?

8. Extended Wedding Receptions. In 2012 a lot of events saw the addition of the after party to an event’s schedule. Instead of a separate party this year you will see the extended party. For weddings this means that you will still have the traditional cocktail hour and dinner reception, but once the traditional wedding activities are over (bouquet toss, first dance, etc.) grandma and grandpa can head home and you and your friends can continue to party.

9. Wedding Dresses…with Pockets. For the girls out there who have bought a dress for the sole purpose of having pockets you will love this trend. More designers have incorporated the dress pocket into their wedding dress designs that are coming out this spring. Now you can carry your own tissues and lip gloss with you for wedding day touchups.

10. The Roaring Twenties. This is a theme that will be popping up in event this year. For weddings the 20’s offer a romantic vibe using pastels and lots of pearls. For other events they will be drawing inspiration from the hit TV show Downtown Abbey and the soon to be released remake of the classic The Great Gatsby. The 20’s are truly here to stay!


What trend are you looking forward to see in 2013? Don’t forget to check back next week for part 2. I can’t wait to start seeing some of these

xoxo
Megan

Have an idea you would like me to do a post about? Let me know! Share what event topic or party idea you would like to see me blog about in the comments section below. You never know what might show up in 2013!!

You might also like…

Even though it is winter that doesn’t mean all your events have to take place inside. For those that live in the north there are so many different winter activities you can take part in. From ice skating, snow tubing, skiing, snowboarding and more you can create an entire outdoor party for you and your friends. 

For this winter outdoor party the first thing you will need is snow. After that send out a fun invite to all your friends so that they can prepare for the outdoor get together. There are plenty of great sites like Punchbowl and Paperless Post that offer a wide variety of free electronic initiations that are perfect for a last minute party (as you never know when you will get snow).

The great part about an outdoor party like this? No need for decorations! Let the great outdoors create a fun winter white setting for your get together. 

What’s a party without some fun outdoor activities! Meet at an outdoor skate rink or somewhere with great sledding hills. There are also quite a few locations in the north that organize local ice carving and snow sculpture contests. If you live somewhere that hosts one of those events signup your whole group to participate. Even if you are not a world renowned winter sculpture you can still have fun with all your friends trying! Depending on what activity don't forget to let your guests know if they need to bring skates or a sled.

Once you have enjoyed some fun in the snow have all your friends over to enjoy a nice outdoor fit pit happy hour. Use the snow to keep all your drinks chilled and pull out those drink koozies so no fingers get too cold holding onto a drink. Have a Crockpot filled with something warm and delicious for everyone to enjoy while sitting by the fire. This is something you can easily have cooking while you are out having fun. You can also fill some snack bags with pretzels and other snack foods for the guests to nibble on when they arrive as they will probably be hungry after the fun filled day.

I am not a huge fan of the cold, but with a party like this I would gladly brave a day out into the cold. Just make sure you have a few extra blankets on hand for those guests that may need an extra layer or two.  What is your favorite outdoor winter activity to take part in?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like…

Congrats, you are engaged!! Now what do you do? One of the first things to do once you get engaged is to book a venue for your ceremony and reception. Here are some great tips to keep in mind when booking your venue for your big day.

Location
Where would you like to get married? Most couples choose to get married in the bride’s home town or where the two of them currently live. You also want to consider location if you are having multiple venues during your wedding day. If you are getting married at a church it is pretty smart to find a reception site within a reasonable walking or driving distance. You don’t want your guests getting lost between the two sites because they are 45-60 minutes away from each other.

Size
How many guests do you plan on inviting to your wedding? You can either find a location you love and then base your guest list off of their venue capacity or you can create your tentative guest list and find a location that will hold that many. One of the biggest problems people encounter when it comes to venues is size. So be prepared when visiting venues in knowing how much space you will approximately need. A great tool that I use is the event space calculator. You can pick your desired room setup and number of guests and it will generate a number of approximate square footage you will need.

Budget
What is your wedding budget? Besides the venue size, this is the biggest limiting factor when it comes to choosing your venue location. If you fall in love with a location but the price is out of the questions ask about their discounts for having the wedding on a Friday or Sunday instead. There is also the “off-season” pricing that many venues offer during the winter months. Depending on how you distribute your wedding budget you will probably be looking to spend between 10-20% of your total wedding budget on the venue. Most wedding budgets will have you reserve 40-50% for the entire reception which includes site, catering, bar, cake, and rentals. So budget accordingly!!

Theme/Style
This is one small detail to consider when looking at different venues. Some venues limit the amount of decorations that you are allowed at the venue. Don’t choose a museum or historical venue if you want a more modern wedding theme or style. Choose a venue that is similar to your style and will complement your wedding theme. If the site is similar to the theme you want then you don’t have to spend as much on decorations.

Of course there are other factors to consider when choosing a venue, but I could probably write a short novel covering all of them. No matter where you choose to have your wedding, just make sure that you are 100% happy with your decision. You want to be able to enjoy your wedding day without worrying about anything else. 


What other tips or suggestions do you have when it comes to choosing a venue?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like…

I am just loving the muted shades that are going to be out this spring and cannot wait to see some events that use these colors. They are already everywhere in the 2013 spring fashion trend so it is only a matter of time before they start appearing in the event color palettes. What is your favorite color for spring events?

xoxo
Megan

Have an idea you would like me to do a post about? Let me know! Share what event topic or party idea you would like to see me blog about in the comments section below. You never know what might show up in 2013!!

You might also like…

What did you do last week to ring in the New Year? And for those who are keeping up with the New Year’s resolutions keep it up!! Just like when you are planning a party, make sure you write your resolutions on a list that you will see every day. When you accomplish one of your resolutions you can cross it off! The sense of accomplishing that one resolution will keep you motivated to keep working on the rest of your list.

xoxo
Megan

Have an idea you would like me to do a post about? Let me know! Share what event topic or party idea you would like to see me blog about in the comments section below. You never know what might show up in 2013!!

You might also like…

While January may bring cold weather with the possibility of snow you don’t have to wait around to enjoy these fun snowmen snacks. Here are 3 fun snowmen treats that you can enjoy any time of the year!


Melted Snowmen Cookies

My friend Emily made these last year. They were so adorable to look at that I didn’t want to eat one (we did anyway!). To make these melted snowmen cookies you will need sugar cookies, marshmallows and icing. Take a cookie and pour the icing onto the cookie to create the “melted snowman” look. Next, while the icing is still warm, stick half of a large marshmallow onto the cookie to create the head. To finish pipe on a face, buttons, arms and other decorations with different colors of icing.


Donut Snowmen

This snowman treat could not be any easier to make. All you need are powdered donuts, candy corn for the nose, and black icing or melted chocolate to create the eyes and mouth. Breakfast is served!


Oreo Snowmen Pops

This is the perfect snowman treat that you can put in baggies to give to friends or use to make a cute dessert display. To make these you will need candy sticks, oreos (double stuff works best), white chocolate, and decorating icing. First insert the candy stick into each oreo. Next melt the white chocolate. Once melted dip each oreo into the chocolate and lay on a piece of wax paper to dry. Once dry you are ready to decorate your snowmen.

And don’t forget about those snowmen pancakes from the Snow Day post! There are just too many great ideas on creating your own edible snowman treat. Which snowman themed treat is your favorite?  

xoxo
Megan

Have an idea you would like me to do a post about? Let me know! Share what event topic or party idea you would like to see me blog about in the comments section below. You never know what might show up in 2013!!

You might also like…