DIY : water bottle labels

August 12th, 2010
personalized water bottle

personalized water bottle

My husband and I have been helping out with my brother-in-law’s wedding lately. This is our latest project: custom water bottle labels. Since the majority of their guests are coming from out of town, the bride’s mother wanted to welcome everyone with a little gift bag for all the guests staying at the designated wedding hotel. Most of the contents in this bag is a mystery to me but I do know there will be bottles of water.  The bride had asked me to design and make some custom labels for the water bottles. I was really happy with how these came out. They were not only easy to make but going to add a special touch to the welcome bags.

printed labels

To do these yourself. You will need an image editing software (I used adobe photoshop), a color printer, 8.5×11 paper, water bottles, scissors, and glue stick. First measure out the size of the existing label of your water bottles, then use these dimensions to put together a layout on photoshop. Once you have the labels designed, printed, and cropped. Remove existing labels and adhere new ones with a little dab of glue.

finished bottles

bridal shower invitation with pink cupcakes and pink pretzels

My brother-in-law is getting married in August! Yay! I have the wonderful privilege to be a part of their wedding as a bridesmaid. As some of you may already know, I love weddings and what I love most about weddings are the paper goods. For the bridal shower, the bride picked out a cute invitation from weddingpaperdivas, who were a pleasure to work with. The turnaround for the proof and the actual invites was so quick and seamless.

recipe card

For the shower, the bridesmaids wanted to do a recipe box for the bride. Since I was in charge of sending out the invites, I wanted to send these cards with the invitation so that the guests would be able to fill them out before the shower. First, I scanned the invite pattern to create the cards (with Adobe photoshop), so that it would match the invitation. I found a cute recipe box from Hallmark so that it would be convenient for the bride to take home.

Hallmark recipe box

Other than sending out the invitations, I was also put in charge of some of the games. For one of the games, I took the same invite pattern and made blank cards for the “who am I?” game. When the guests arrived, they were instructed to write out a memory they have shared with the bride without including their name. Later on, we had the bride read the cards aloud and guess who each was written by. Imagine the nostalgic atmosphere it created. The cards made a lovely keepsake for the bride.

cards for "who am I?"

Another game we played was the buzz word game. To begin, choose a “buzz word” such as bride, groom, wedding, etc. To go along with the invitation pattern, I made flowers out of felt and put them on bobby pins to use for this game. When each guests comes into the party, we handed them each with a felt flower. Then, if someone hears another person saying any of the “buzz words,” they get to take that person’s flower. The person with the most flowers at the end of the party wins.

handmade felt flowers

This is also posted on madebymelis.

A Deep South Wedding

June 1st, 2010

Congratulations to Christina and Chris!

This is our first time in Northern Alabama. We were there for a wedding of GT’s high school classmate, Christina. She and her now husband, Chris, both live and work in New York City. However, they decided to have their wedding in Florence, Alabama at Christina’s grandparents’ lake house in memory of her grandfather. Since it was a bit of a travel for most of the guests, they chose a holiday weekend. And it was an eventful weekend, with rehearsal dinner on Friday night, a boat outing on Saturday followed by a cocktail party, pre-wedding breakfast and (finally!) the wedding on Sunday.

Welcome Bag

Welcome Bag

On Saturday. we were welcomed with a gift bag when we first checked into our hotel room at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa. The bag was filled with snacks, maps, and a schedule. It was so helpful.

Lakeside Wedding

The morning of the wedding was raining cats and dogs. We really didn’t know what to expect knowing that the wedding was going to be outside. But once we got outside to wait for the shuttle about an hour before the wedding, the sun was out and the roads were drying up. Yay! Let’s have a wedding. The shuttle took us through some windy roads, ending at a little wooden cabin by the lake. It was surrounded by some table-clothed tables, pitched tents, and draping lights and lanterns. With the sun peaking through the trees, it was such a perfect setting for a May wedding.

Christina and Chris's Wedding

Christina and Chris's Wedding

GT and I have been to over a dozen weddings in the past few years but this was the first of many things. It was our first time witnessing a Greek Orthodox ceremony with a bit of Roman Catholic twist. It was so sweet. It was the first wedding we went to with a live band, Simply Irresistible, which really got the party started. People were dancing non-stop the whole night. It was the first wedding with a fireworks show! So much fun!

The wedding food really reflected the couple, Southern belle bride and a Greek groom. For cocktails, the wait staff pasted around spanakopita and watermelon with feta. And during the reception, there was a generous Southern spread consisting of pulled pork, shrimp and grits, and bbq coleslaw just to start. And for our sweet endings, there was wedding cake, of course, and baklava. It was all so delicious!

And here’s a happy photo of the Montgomery Academy classmates!

The bride with GT

This is a continuation from one of my previous posts: Part I & Part II.

We got the digital photos! Just a couple of days ago, GT and I had our third wedding reception. It was held here in Taichung, Taiwan. Although it was just a small intimate lunch reception with just relatives, we still observed a few traditions. I changed into 4 different outfits, 3 of which were lent by Masa LiLi (included in our photo package).  They also included the dress for the flower girl and a little boy, who walked in with us during our grand entrance.

Scene 1

After our first entrance, GT’s eldest uncle made a speech. After the speech, changed into a different outfit, we made our grand entrance for the second time. This time, we danced in along to ‘Poker Face’ with four of GT’s cousins. It was so much fun! We then played a game which consisted of red envelopes, followed with more speeches from uncles and then grandma. We then went around to room to each table to thank the guests.

Scene 2

Scene 2

Before I knew it, I was in outfit number 3 (qi pao) standing behind two Chinese lion dancers making our grand entrance for the third time to Chinese New Year’s music. It is lucky to give the lions red envelopes. So of course, GT and I each gave one of the lions a red envelope. Afterward, GT’s dad gave a speech.

Scene 3

Finally, I was in my last outfit for the feast. The MC made an announcement that the reception is coming to an end. She directed people towards the back of the room. The room had a stage at the back which was beautifully decorated with floral, greens, and branches. (I’ll have to post photos when we get them from the photographer.) One after another, the guests took turns taking photos with GT and I, who stood there like wax museum figures.

Scene 4

After two and half hours, all the guests were gone. I was amazed even though the MC had advised beforehand, it would take no more than 2 1/2 hours for everything we had planned. It went by like a light breeze.

Scene 5

Scene 5

And now, we are finally able to go on our honeymoon! We are off to Bali!!

This is a continuation from one of my previous posts: Part I

The contract prohibited us to bring our own cameras and we have not gotten the digitals yet, so I won’t be able to post any pictures until we get them from the photographer. Photos below are some more from Masa Li Li’s website.

From Masa Li Li

Selecting a photo studio and scheduling a shooting date was just the beginning. The night before our photo shoot, we got a text message to arrive at 10am at the studio after eating a full breakfast. We were also given some other specific instructions, which included to get a good night’s rest and to drink less water the day before. The full breakfast was because we were not going have much time for lunch, however the studio did provide a light snack mid-day. 

Our one-day package had 5 outfits, which meant 5 different shoots. The first three were destinations were exteriors: old abandoned estate, flower garden, and beach/seashore. Our last two were indoor-studio shoots. 

From Masa Li li

10am: We arrived at the studio. Immediately, we were sent into makeup & hair for both bride and groom. (Yes! Even the groom had to wear makeup.) Got dressed into outfit no.1. The makeup artist discussed with me how my hair was going to be done for the second and third outfits, since she doesn’t come along with us for the exterior shoots.

11:30am: Photographer, his assistant, bride and groom were put in a van. We were off! Our first stop was fairly close by, about a 20 minute drive, an old abandoned estate. Cool! This estate had an interior courtyard with a fountain in the middle (no longer working). Vines and grass were overgrown all over the place. Although much of the floors inside the building were collapsed, the columns and steps on the exterior were great backdrops. The first shoot lasted about 30 minutes or so. Before we got started, the photographer instructed us to not smile for this shoot.  

12:30pm: Back at the van with the windows covered, GT helped me change into outfit no.2. The photographer and his assistant helped reapplied my makeup and changed my hairstyle to match the outfit. We immediately departed for our second destination, which was about 30 minutes away.

1:00pm: We arrived at a plant/flower garden with clear skies and lots of sunshine. It was absolutely beautiful, I’ve never seen anything like it before. Not only were there other couples dressed up like us with photographers trailing after them, there were a lot of  spectators as well.  Being shy was not an option. There were people taking pictures of us with their cellphones. This shoot took a lot longer, since we had to walk around to the different fields of flowers. For this shoot, we were to smile as much as possible.  

2:30pm: Back at the van with the windows covered again, I changed into outfit no.3. For the beach, my hair was to be natural and flowing. The photographer sprayed my head down with water and I brushed through all the curls and hairspray on our way to the coastline. By the time we reached the shore, the sun was replaced with layers of clouds and a bit of drizzle. We continued on. This was the toughest one, in my opinion. Not only was it cold and wet, but the corset of the dress was jabbed into my ribs. I have to admit, the photos from the beach were worth the temporary discomfort.

4:00pm: Packed up and on our way back to the studio. Phew! Three down two more to go!

From Masa Li Li

5:30pm: Back in the makeup artist’s station, I was getting my hair recurled, makeup redone. Shoot no. 4 and 5 were done indoors. Other than the sales office, the studio had a few other locations on that same street set up for interior studio shots.

9:00pm: Finally! The day was done.

Two days later, we were back at the studio picking 30 images out of 175. This was not an easy task! These 30 images were to be printed on little cards, bookmarks, and postcards for our guests, as well as placed in an album.

From Masa Li Li

We’re getting the digital images this week. So I’ll post them soon, so keep an eye out for them!

tying the knot

January 31st, 2010

There are many many stories and cultures that have contributed to the term “tying the knot”.  Whatever it may mean or where ever it may have come from, it has stuck to be associated to mean “getting married” in today’s society.  Here are few cute examples of this term used {literally} in save-the-dates.

from cardstore.com

from cardstore.com

from www.lovelyinvitations.co.uk

image from www.i-do-it-yourself.com

image from www.i-do-it-yourself.com

from eestationary.com

from eestationary.com

How to tie a knot card

from mygoodgreetings.com

from mygoodgreetings.com

from minted.com

from www.polkadotbride.com

from Masa Li Li

My hubby and I were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get to take many photos together on our wedding day due to the rain. So there was a suggestion for us to take some “hun sha” photos in Taiwan since we were there for a few months. So when we arrived, GT’s relatives sent us a few studios’ websites. Masa Lili, which was one of them, was supposedly one of the best. Unfortunately, everything is in chinese but the photos are beautiful.

from Masa Li Li

Last week, I went with GT and his cousins to Masa Li Li. The service is absolutely like nothing I’ve ever seen in the States. The studio provides all the outfits for the bride (wedding gowns and evening gowns), hair, makeup, accessories, and props, as well as outfits for the groom (if needed). The package also includes albums, framed prints, as well as little printed cards for the bride and groom to pass out to family and friends. These cards can vary in size and shape as the couple chooses.

from Masa Li Li

I realize what the unique thing is about taking these photos in Taiwan is the backdrop. Within one day, we will be able to access the sea shore, the forest, the botanical gardens, and an old estate (now a historical landmark for tourists). That is basically our agenda tomorrow.

from Masa Li Li

After we agreed on the terms a few days later, we returned to the studio to pick out my outfits and discuss with the photographer what we wanted. They have an amazing collection of dresses, which range from traditional qi paos to edgy evening wear. I had a great time trying out all the different dresses. The assistant also helps you pick and choose the right dresses for the environments/backdrops the couple had discussed with the photographer. All the components that make for a special picture is well thought out.  For a similar service and product, we are only paying a fraction of the price in the States.

from Masa Li Li

So tomorrow is going to be the shoot. I will follow up with another post about the day. To be continued…

Recently the question, “what is a charger?” has been brought up frequently in conversations in regards to table settings. I’ve seen a variety of table setting at weddings, from informal to formal. Depending on your wedding venue or caterer, you may need to supply some, if not all the items needed to host your wedding reception and serve your guests. Every venue/caterer is different, so you be sure to clarify with the representative which items are provided and which you must provide.

image from gearpatrol.com

Formal dinner

The tableware pieces that make up the setting:

  1. Salad Plate
  2. Charger (Service Plate)
  3. Bread Plate
  4. Dinner Plate

Silverware:

  1. Dinner knife
  2. Dinner fork
  3. Teaspoon
  4. Salad fork
  5. Soup spoon
  6. Bread knife
  7. Cake fork
  8. Dessert spoon

Crystal:

  1. Water glass
  2. Red Wine glass
  3. White Wine glass
  4. Cup and Saucer

image from gearpatrol.com

Informal Setting

At an informal setting, fewer utensils are used and serving dishes are placed on the table.

The tableware pieces that make up the setting:

  1. Dinner Plate

Silverware:

  1. Dinner knife
  2. Dinner fork
  3. Teaspoon
  4. Salad fork
  5. Soup spoon

Crystal:

  1. Water glass
  2. Wine glass

So, to answer our question what is a charger? It is essentially a decorative plate for a well-dressed table.  The charger plate is larger than the dinner plate and salad plate that actually hold the food. In my opinion a charger is unnecessary at most dinners but it is nice to for the eyes to have a placeholder when in between course servings.

So a couple that I know is planning a wedding in Atlanta for next fall.  They have been venue hunting for quite some time now. They’ve seen a few places they absolutely love and a few places that they don’t.  It’s down to three contestants, which they recently shared with me. All three either have a garden adjacent or is within a garden, which was the main aspect they were looking for in a venue.

Pros: Great view of the city, In house catering, Tables chairs & linen provided

Cons: No real outdoor ceremony space, Venue can hold multiple weddings at the same time

piedmont

The Piedmont Room

2. The Atrium:

Pros: Pretty, outdoor ceremony space, In house catering, Tables chairs & linen provided, Great garden view from ballroom

Cons: Not a pretty building exterior

The Atrium

The Atrium

3. Cator Woolford Gardens:

Pros: Beautiful outdoor garden and ceremony area

Cons: Rent own tables chairs & linens, Hire own caterer, Reception hall is minimal and plain (not the couple’s style)

Cator Woolford Garden

Cator Woolford Garden

I came across this picture from the Cator Woolford Garden’s blog and just wanted to share it. I love the color, the sequence, and the energy in this series of photos.

Photo from http://www.cwgardens.blogspot.com/

Photo from http://www.cwgardens.blogspot.com/

Which venue do you like the most? Cast your vote with a comment!

The joining of two flames

December 6th, 2009

Gt and I wanted to incorporate an unity candle ceremony within our wedding as a symbol of love and union. For those who never witnessed a unity candle ceremony, here is a brief description. In the ceremony, close family members (for our wedding, it was GT’s and my mother) will light two taper candles, which represents the bride and groom as individuals. The couple will then each take a taper candle and light the larger candle together to symbolize the love and loyalty to one another created by the union of two hearts. The gesture of this ceremony is very sweet.

Our Unity Candle Ceremony

Our Unity Candle Ceremony

After a bit of shopping around, we realized that these candles were quite an expense for such a short ceremony. Also the majority of candle sets out there were white or ivory. I really wanted a unity candle that matched our color theme and flowers, which was green. So, I decided that I’ll just put together our own set. At the time (about February or March) Crate and Barrel was having a clearance of all their holiday goodies. On the website, I was able to find the tall center candle, which has a texture etched into the pillar with some glitter.

Flicker Pillar Candle from Crate and Barrel

Flicker Pillar Candle from Crate and Barrel

The rest of the supplies (plain ivory taper candles and glass candle holders) I bought from Michael’s. (Tip: most bridal magazines have a 20% off coupon for Michaels with their advertisement). I decorated the candles by tying some bows with ribbon on each. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photograph of the candle set close up. I spent about $15 for everything including the ribbon, which I also used for other things.

In addition, we had bought a few more of the green pillars in different sizes to put on the place-card table. After the ceremony, the unity candle was moved to the place-card table along with the other pillars. It was to reflect the light of love that will continue to glow throughout our lives.

At the place card table

At the place card table

Are you thinking about having an unity candle ceremony? Or if you’re married, did you have one?