Fruit and Vintage Floral Porch Party!

I received an email from Darcy, of Pretty Girl Designs(so cute, go check it out), who throws these great Porch Parties with the girls at her home in Wisconsin. I have never been to a porch party, or heard of one(not too many of us have porches here in the NW, wish I did!), but love the idea. She found this great recipe for Strawberries with Basil Granita(so cute!) and I kind of took that as inspiration and found some great party/food/drink pics for the porch party. The Eat.Drink.Chic blog had some great Vintage Floral Gift Tag downloads that would be perfect tied to some bottled homemade strawberry lemonade for guests to take home. You could use the same recipe to make a large batch for the party, with and w/o a little vodka for a kick. Decorate the porch with some floral pennants, stacked cake stand for a centerpiece filled with fruit/flowers, or votives, and mason jars with lit candles scattered around the porch once the sunsets. I also loved the little galvanized pail planted with a red flower tied to a post. Super cute!
One of my go-to appetizers is a Giada created Bruschetta topped with Gorgonzola, toasted chopped walnuts, and drizzled with honey once it is out of the oven. Serve some refreshing Boozy Fruit with it and enjoy your girls night in! See recipes below. Yum!

Vintage Floral Gift Tags - Eat.Drink.Chic
Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberries with Basil Granita
Bruschetta with Grogonzola Cheese and Honey
Boozy Fruit-Photo from Sunday Suppers

I admit, I'm kind of a big fan!

I admit it, I'm a long time fan of 90210. The original, and well yes I watch the new one too! Also, love to watch Tori and Dean and have read her first two books(great by the pool). I also am a big fan of her home design and events. Especially fell in love with their vow renewal color scheme bright yellow, gray and white. So many great yellow props and fun yellow/gray modern details. Found a few pics online from Elizabeth Messina, but you must see the show to get the full effect. I love this color scheme, even though its been quite popular, I just never tire of seeing it!!
Another great yellow, gray, white grand opening event over at Bash Eco Events Blog, awhile ago.

Images: Elizabeth Messina via Kiss the Groom

Romantic Garden Party

©JessicaHillPhotography.com


I had the opportunity to work on a concept shoot with all these fabulous Portland event ladies a couple weeks ago. The concept began with Dani's(WeddingsFresh) vision for a Romantic Garden Wedding, I was able to style a dessert table to go with the lovely wedding table with LOTS of help from Lisa of Studio del Fiore(gorgeous floral, how about that peony topiary?) (died when I saw those Anemones!), Amber of Le Cookie Monkey(thank you for all those beautiful and yummy desserts), and Megan of Hi, Friend for that fabulous Menu (check out their fun site and fabulous wedding and social stationery)! What did I do? Well, I moved things around and nodded my head a lot, brought some plates, and taste tested(hee, hee).

Ready to take a bite out of that tart? You can blame Jessica of Jessica Hill Photography for that. Amazing shots of the dessert bar and the mini treats! Thank you Jessica!

You can check out more shots of the garden party here,(table) here(floral), or here(paper goods)


Garden Party Gals L to R: Me, Dani, Jessica, Lisa, Megan

CREDITS:
Wedding concept design and production: Weddings Fresh
Photography: Jessica Hill Photography
Floral design: Studio del Fiore
Invitation suite and paper design: Hi, Friend!
Tablescape rentals and dessert table styling: Swanky Tables
Desserts: Le Cookie Monkey

Real Soirées Week: Bake Sale

This lovely Bake Sale by Jill of the Bird and the Berry Blog was for Bake for Hope back in May. Love all the great details, especially the Cowgirl Cookie Jars and those great Bake Sale Signs. I think this would be a great jumping off point for a kids party! Thanks Jill for the inspiration and what a fabulous cause to support! Thank you!
For more details visit Jill's blog post on the bake sale.

Images: The Bird and the Berry

Smitten by this Summer Table

In love with this table designed by Eddie Ross for the A Date with a Plate Event. The Ikat fabric and those chairs with the blue goblets. Fabulous. For more details on how this whole table came together, check out the post on the Eddie Ross blog, and for more table inspiration check out the gallery of past events on the A Date with a Plate Event site.

Image: Eddie Ross

Real Soirées Week: Sweet Bird Baby Shower

I'm spending some time in Central Oregon this week so I thought it would finally be a great time to do a Real Soirées Week submitted by all you fabulous readers! Thanks so much everyone for submitting your party it always inspires me!

Lets kick off the week with a good one! Kaysi Fox of FABU weddings & events sent in this sweet Bird Baby Shower she planned. Love the color scheme and that cake and dessert table. Lots of fun details you can be inspired by. For more details on the event vist Kaysi's blog post on this shower at FABU weddings & events Blog. Thanks Kaysi!

Cookie Bar on a Sunny Day!

I had the opportunity to put a little cookie bar together for a Kate Kelly Photography
mini session in April. Yes, it was actually sunny back in April, unlike June right now.
The yummy cookies were from local baker, Kimberly of Truly Scrumptious. If its warm and sunny in your party of the world, please send some the Pacific Northwest, we are desperate!!

Images: Kate Kelly Photography

Sunday Suppers - New Site!

One of my favorite blogs, Sunday Suppers, has a brand new site! Great food, gorgeous photos, and amazing event inspiration. I mean, check out this Martini Bar! Head on over for some
eye candy!

Image: Karen Mordechai

Rock Candy Cosmo

CANDY + COSMO = My kind of combo. Cheers!
Ingredients:

1 oz. vodka
1/2 oz. triple sec
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. Cranberry juice
Garnish with pink rock candy on a stick
Pink sugar rim (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice to the shaker and shake vigorously.

2. Strain into the glass, garnish with the rock candy, and serve.

Image and Recipe: InStyle Weddings

Giveaway on Simply Chic Weddings

I'm doing a little Stella & Dot giveaway over on local Portland Wedding Blog, Simply Chic Weddings. Stella & Dot just launched a bridal boutique, so thought it would be fun for people to win some of the new jewels! We just realized you are not able to comment, so sorry if you tried to enter before. Head on over to Simply Chic Weddings to see the giveaway and go ahead and come back to Swanky Tables to leave a comment so you can be entered to win a gift certificate. Thanks so much!!

Festive Stir Sticks

Cheers to the little details....
Working on some stir sticks for an event tomorrow. Fun stuff!

YUM Stir Sticks - Syle Me Pretty
Owl Stir Sticks - Hostess with the Mostess
Lollipop Stir Sticks - Martha Stewart

Madly Stylish Soirée

You know there are some fabulous soirées happening in New Orleans. This "Madly Stylish",(can I say that again?"Madly Stylish"( love that phrase) party is definitely one of my favorites featured on Food & Wine. Hosted by actor Bryan Batt from Mad Men fame, this party was highlighted by great drinks, a yummy menu(like the crab rolls pictured), and fabulous decor. Check out the whole party here.

If you are a fan of stella & dot jewels go enter the giveaway on the Simply Chic Weddings Blog. Ends on the 12th!

Images: Paul Costello

Inkspot Workshop Custom Party Packs

Are you dying? How cute are these Custom Party Packs from InkSpot Workshop? Stacy has done it again. I've always been a big fan of her shop and blog, and love that she is now offering party goods. You can contact her to plan your super cute party invites and paper goods HERE. For custom stationery, gift tags, and labels visit her store . Don't miss her iCandy posts, too!

Images: Inkspot Workshop