5 Top Wedding Trends for 2013

Posted by: Gina on Jan 21, 2013

Tagged in: wedding trends

1) Patterns – We expect to see event designers combining patterns and textures. Brides are stepping out of their comfort zone by mixing colors and patterns making their wedding more memorable and original. The above photo (right) is a mixture of black & white damask linen with a different pattern in yellow on the menu and escort cards.

2) Fun Factor – Snow cone machines, old fashioned popcorn carts, corn hole, bocce ball- these things do not exactly come to mind when you think wedding. But Christina, from Intimate Weddings, predicts that just might change in 2013.

Visit Best Rentals, an Indianapolis party rental company, for more games!

3) Return to Elegance – Inspired by the upcoming movie release of Great Gatsby, Sarah, from Burnett’s Boards, predicts a shift from DIY trends to old world cinematic elegance. DIY, shabby chic, and rustic themes have dominated the wedding scene for the past two years, but as wedding divas like David Tutera flood the mainstream media airways, brides are exposed to more elaborate and glamorous table settings changing their idea of their dream wedding. Designer, Preston Bailey, tends to step outside of the normal Indianapolis bride’s budget, but there are ways create an elegant wedding in Indianapolis without spending six figures.

4) Unusual Venues – Traditional wedding venues are a great option and are very economical. We will never see a full shift away from ballrooms, hotels, or traditional venues.
However, the past few years, barn and farm weddings grew in popularity. This year, I predict warehouse and other non-traditional venues will be a popular choice among brides and event planners. Using pipe and drape, lounge furniture, and lighting, any venue can be transformed into the bride’s dream. In the above picture (left), The Crane Bay, one of Indy’s newest concert and event venue’s, is one of the most unique choices a bride can make in Indianapolis for her wedding.

5) Glamping – Think grown up summer camp. Stay with me here. Ultra luxe safari-style wedding tents with liners, heaters/AC, lighting, and greenery are highly popular right now with celebrities and brides. If you still can’t picture it, think camping meets glamorous. Visit this link to view pictures of a “Glamping” themed Lake Tahoe Estate wedding.

3 Tips for Hosting a Holiday Party

Posted by: Gina on Dec 18, 2012

The holidays can be a stressful time of year. There are gifts to buy, gifts to wrap, parties to attend, cooking, planning… a never ending list of to-dos. If you are hosting this holiday season, follow these 3 holiday hosting tips to help make your party a success!

1) Rent the Tabletop: Renting china, stemware, flatware, and linens creates a cohesive style that will make your home and table setting look like you spent hours decorating. I like to compare it to throwing flour on yourself to pretend you spent hours pining in the kitchen (hehe). Renting the tabletop also means more room in your dishwasher for pots, pans, and other dishes. It’s easy, just scrape and rinse then put the rental items back in their crates and send them to the garage. No mess, no hassle, and you just impressed a room full of people with your beautiful table setting. After all, preparing a holiday meal often takes days and only minutes to eat. Why not dine in style after you spent so much time cooking and laboring over the meal?!

You will need to rent: silver band china and chargers, arco crystal cut stemware, Croydon Flatware, camel crush napkins, and mahogany chiavari chairs.

2) Keep it Simple: It’s easy to go overboard when preparing for the holidays and stress about the details that only you will notice. You can still impress your guests with simple, tasteful decor that will keep you stress-free. The middle table setting (pictured above) is basic white china and general glassware. The white linen napkin is tied with a ribbon and has a gift tag laid above it. Dim the lighting and add a votive candle and you’ve created a classy table with elegant ambiance.

You will need to rent: castle white china, general glassware, chateau flatware, white poly napkins, gold chiavari chairs, votive candles.

You will need to purchase: ribbon, gift tags, and small votive candles.

3) Offer a specialty drink: I’m all about easy if you haven’t noticed. Specialty drinks are a great way to add a bit of fun to any party. One, guests will have fun making the drink and two, people love drinking out of martini glasses, highballs, and even irish coffee mugs. If you have a crowd that enjoys alcoholic beverages, the highball glass (pictured to the right above) with a pom pom stir stick is festive! If you prefer a non-alcoholic specialty drink, try hot chocolate with toppings (whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and marshmallows) with a chocolate stick.

You will need to rent: Glassware (highballs, old fashions, Irish coffee mugs, or martini glasses)

You will need to purchase: Ingredients for chosen drink.

Cranberry Spice Cocktail Recipe: Follow the link for more specialty drink recipes!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by: Gina on Nov 21, 2012

Design by: David Reilich

Wishing all a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Hours of Operation:

Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday & Friday: Closed
Saturday: 8 a.m. to Noon

Regular business hours will resume Monday, November 26th.

Holiday Table Setting for Kids

Posted by: Gina on Nov 8, 2012

Tagged in: Holiday Ideas, Holiday Tablescapes, Thanksgiving

Photo Courtesy of: Mom’s By Heart

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, you can certainly find plenty of tablescape ideas on Pinterest (visit our Thanksgiving board here) and you will find napkin rings, linen options, decorations, full table settings, and more.

Thanksgiving tablescapes are always beautiful because of the rich colors and rustic decor, but if you want something that parents will really enjoy, the above tablescape idea is brilliant and easy! First, find butcher paper at an arts and craft supply store like Michael’s or Joanne Fabrics. You can also find it online at POSPaper.com for $16.95/roll. Next, you can purchase small flower pots for the crayons or use a container you have at home and voila, you have a perfect kid’s table for the holidays that will keep the children entertained while the parents enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles

Posted by: Gina on Oct 29, 2012

Tagged in: Holiday recipes, Thanksgiving

I found this recipe on Pinterest and had to share for our Thanksgiving featured recipe! I used Whole Food’s recipe, but you can try Erin’s Food Blog for a slightly different version (she uses almond bark instead of white chocolate).

Since presentation is half the taste, you will want to make sure you have a nice tray to serve them with. I suggest a tiered ceramic tray or a clear glass tray like the one in Erin’s Food Blog.

For more Thanksgiving inspiration, visit our Pinterest Thanksgiving board.

Whole Foods Recipe:

Ingredients:
2 1/2 white chocolate chunks
1/3 cup gingersnap cookie crumbs, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of fine salt
2 ounces cream cheese, softened

more…

Rental Table Styles and Choices

Posted by: Gina on Sep 28, 2012

Tagged in: rental chairs, rental tables, weddings

Table seating arrangements is an important element to consider when planning your wedding or event. Not only do you need to choose the shape (round, square, or rectangular), you will have to decide how many people you would like to seat at each table.

Square Tables- Square tables work well as accent tables for larger events and weddings. If you have more than 15 round tables, using square tables will help to break the room up and allow you to design a slightly different look for those tables. Check out the Indiana Roof Ballroom’s Wedding Photo Gallery to see how square tables can add an extra dimension to a large room and layout.

Round Tables- Round tables come in several different sizes: 30 in., 3 ft., 4 ft., 5 ft. and 6 ft. Five foot rounds are popular because they can accommodate up to 10 guests maximizing space in your venue and let’s face it, less tables means less centerpieces, which equals less money! Also, the size is manageable from a function standpoint. You can speak to everyone at the table, whereas the six foot rounds are so large that you can only talk to the people next to you.

I would recommend the 3 ft. and 4 ft. tables for cocktail parties or smaller events at a residence.

Rectangular/Banquet Tables- Banquet rental tables are most popular for outdoor events and less formal occasions like reunions and festivals. You can seat up to 10 people at an 8′ banquet table allowing you to maximize space. Rectangular tables are also more popular than ever before at weddings. Brides are attracted to a casual, family style setting, making banquet tables a perfect choice.

There is not a right or wrong when choosing your rental tables, but you must consider your space size, budget, and style of event.

Good Luck!

Fall Wedding Themes: Rustic, Autumn & Country

Posted by: Gina on Aug 8, 2012

Some helpful tips for planning a Fall wedding…

By: Whitney Brand

The most crucial element to the planning process is choosing a location. One of the main perks to having a wedding in the Fall is the weather, not too hot, but also not too cold. However, the Fall is very unpredictable, considering rain or wind can pick up at any given moment. Therefore, locking down a location is the foundation on which you can build the perfect wedding.

It’s up to you whether or not you want a more formal classy appearance or a casual atmosphere. There are many different venues to cater to your given Fall theme, but the most popular, and my favorite, is a barn or old church setting that have been remodeled to be used as venues. Both examples are perfect for weddings in the fall because there are normally two designated areas- one being outside where it’s open or underneath a tent and the other inside the venue.

A wedding I attended last fall was in a barn, but there was also a tent set up outside the sliding barn doors. The ceremony itself took place outside in the grass. The tables and chairs were set up inside the barn, where all the main events of the wedding took place… dinner, cutting of the cake, etc. Also included inside, was a small area set aside for all the “first” dances. Then the tent set up outside the barn contained a dance floor and d.j. so the guests can feel free to get their groove on. I loved the arrangement this particular venue allowed because it created an inexpensive way to plan a beautiful, fun Fall wedding.

Below are the three popular themes: rustic, Autumn and country. Each theme offers different ideas and examples to help ensure every bride’s dream for a Fall wedding come true.

A rustic theme includes a lot of browns and oranges in an upscale manner. Locations that provide for a rustic theme are barns or old and worn down venues; both are perfect because they cater to the theme, while still remaining classy. Gold accents all throughout suit rustic themes well, from the >china, to the flowers, finishing with the centerpieces. Lastly, a gold, orange, or brown work well as the linen colors.

Autumn makes for a beautiful Fall wedding theme because of the colors that are incorporated. All of the different reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and browns that appear on the leaves throughout the fall season are gorgeous and provide numerous color schemes for a bride to mix match. For table variances, mix-matching linen throughout tables is a unique idea and will add character. Almost any color a bride chooses for her linens, mahagony chaivari chairs will finish the look . A good tip for a centerpiece are vases with leaves or floating candles within and in some cases, even mini trees can flow well as centerpieces adding height to your tables.

A country wedding in Fall enhances an all-natural appearance by using a neutral color scheme. Incorporating varied neutral colored flowers, sticks in the center pieces, and freshly cut grass gives a wedding a perfect backdrop. Also, using lanterns along the aisles or dispensing them from the ceiling are both clever ways to brighten the decor. As for centerpieces, cowboy boots or hats, can give the wedding a casual western theme. Many brides will decide on the use of mason jars as the glassware, which can work as a centerpiece as well. Taking designated pictures within a country atmosphere is a great way of making your theme something physical you can treasure for a life time. Lastly, the flower girls or ring bearers riding down the aisle in a decorated wagon will be something guests will LOVE.

Tent Rental Styles in Indianapolis

Posted by: Gina on Jun 26, 2012

Tagged in: tent parties, wedding tents, weddings

For some tented events, the tent style choice can be straightforward. You may be trying to fit as many guest as possible under a tent while working within a limited budget, if so, the choice is simple. The renter will probably recommend a pole tent. Other times, a bride may have her heart set on a clear top tent with crystal chandeliers hanging from each peak. If this is the case, the selection may be more complex.

A Peaked Pole Tent is an elegant and budget friendly option for any event. Traditionally, pole tents cover more area for less money so they are often a popular choice for larger events such as festivals and for brides whose guest count is too high for her budget.

Frame Tents are more versatile in a defined space because of the “framed” structure of the tent. They can be set up against buildings or decks and do not require as much space around the tent to stake and require less staking in general. In addition, if needed, ballasts (weighted cement blocks) can be used if staking into the ground is not an option. Frame tents are desirable because the center poles are eliminated allowing guests to mingle and the event to be designed without the obstructive nature of the poles. Although mostly advantageous, frame tents tend to cost more because more man labor is required to set up the tent. Another disadvantage is that metal skeletons line the upper inside of the tent. If the event is a formal wedding, fabric liners are an easy solution and pole drapes can also be used to create a more intimate setting. Mike Lubas, CERP with Vermont Tent, suggests using earth tones in the decor to create a current look if the white tent draping is too presidential for your style or event.

“Diamond Series” or Century Pole Tents create a dynamic impression. Inside the tent is a smooth flowing, seemingly endless space. Outside the tent are futuristic curves and peaks that create a modern look for brides and event planners. Century Pole Tents are larger than regular pole tents, starting at a 40×40 and are recommended for festival or large corporate type events.

Clear Span Tent structures are designed to create an outdoor temporary structure that does not resemble a tent or canvas structure, but instead an actual building. These tents can accommodate larger crowds and range in size from a 30×30 to 66′x131′. Designers and renters have flexibility with the design, decoration, and effects with clear span tents because they do not have interior support columns that interfere with stages, tables, or other equipment inside the tent. The rafters can handle complex lighting and AV systems as well. Most clear span tents are “staked” into the ground with long steel tent stakes and therefore, do not require the ropes you typically see with pole tents. These large building like structures are designed to withstand up to 70 mph wind, heavy rain, and other adverse weather conditions.
If adverse weather should occur, track side walls are used instead of the flapping side walls used with pole and frame tents, which provide more effective heating and cooling needs.

There are several cons to renting a clear span tent. They are more expensive than pole and frame tents, ranging from $600 to $14,000 because extra man labor and heavy machinery is often necessary to help with set up. While the industrial appearance of the tents can be advantageous, it is not warm or intimate.

As there are several different styles of tents, most rental companies will recommend a tent within your budget and that suites your event needs. If you are still unsure as to which style will work best for you, do your homework! Below are a few links that will help you get started…

Tent Rental Checklist and Guide

Additional Tent Information

Pole Tent vs. Frame Tent