baci designer stationery + events

Happy Birthday, Jami Lee!!

2012-02-10T11:28:00.000-05:00

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY from all of us here at baci (especially Morris - he's pondering what to get his Aunt Jami for her 25th!) to the best sister, friend, co-worker and blog-i-nista any one could ever ask for :o) We love you - have a great day, Sister!!

My Birthday Wish List

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

As every woman approaches the fast growing age (of 25) she begins to ponder what things she could possibly need (besides more shoes). She could ask for something mature (like an alarm clock for her big girl job--but she won't) or maybe even something for her happily married self (like a new blender, but what's the chances of using that).

So as this girl turns 25 today, she will ask for more items she does't necessarily need but TOTALLY wants :)

1) Under Armour Fleece Capri's from Finishline- $34.99 - I have been on a huge kick with checking out Under Armour on Finishline's site and I love everything!!!

2) Nikon Coolpix Camera from Best Buy- $229.99 - I want a good, small camera that I can take to concerts or the bars. I have heard good things about this camera, so hopefully it won't let me down.

3)Apple ipod touch from Best Buy - $189.99 - A new and improved ipod would be lovely, especially for lunch breaks at work, I could listen or play on my ipod.

4) Under Armour Full Zip Jacket from Finishline - $55.99 - I love Under Armour, nothing more to say :)

Remembering Who Your Day is Really About

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Image by Brandy J Photography

Being in the wedding industry, I've seen a lot of reasons why couple's choose not to do something, "It's out of our price range" or "That's not my style", but when I hear, "My mom doesn't like it" or "Daddy's footing the bill" as an excuse it always makes me sad. Truly, madly, deeply sad. Your wedding, whether to your high school sweetheart or a person you've known for just three months, whether a man to a woman or a man to another man, should always reflect you and who you are as a couple. End of story. Understandably, the person wielding the check book always gets a say, but I so, so, so wish that person would realize who the wedding day is all about - YOU, the actual person getting married!

Recently, I met with a bride for a design consultation and she proceed to tell me price would ultimately decide what kind of stationery she would get because her father felt price was the only decision-making criteria and he was paying for everything. I was obviously taken aback by this. . .but when she continued to say that a certain shade of blue is and has always been her favorite color and that she was only allowed to incorporate accents of it because her mother hated it, I was crushed. She proceeded to say, "My mother says this is her wedding because her own mother planned hers. . . she says I'll be the same when I have a daughter." I wanted to cry for her (and for her future daughter for that matter).

It's things like this that perpetuate the cycle of weddings not being about the couple, but instead about the parents and it has to stop - let it stop with you. If you want to get married in a wet suite at the local aquarium, but wouldn't think of it because your nanna wants you to have a traditional church wedding - do it anyway! Nanna will be happy when she sees how happy you are :o) Do whatever it is that your heart desires because you only get one chance (and remember it's not ok to hijack your children's weddings just because you didn't get to have your wedding your own way). You have one chance as bride and groom or bride and bride to walk down that aisle knowing every guest left knowing you a little bit more. As kindly as possible, tell the haters that it's not their day, it's yours and enjoy every single minute of your beautiful, unique and oh-so-you event (and then send us pictures!!)!! And if your parents decide to close their check books, then so be it. Take the money you do have and make each and every penny count towards making your wedding day ALL about you ;o)

Wedding Wednesday | Event Design Course with The University of Akron

2012-02-08T13:37:00.000-05:00

Image by Shannon Kelley Photography

Last week I announced the DIY "I Do!" Workshop I'll be teaching at the Akron Art Museum on Saturday, March 3rd (Haven't signed up yet? Go here before the course fills up!) . . . and now I'm announcing another seriously awesome class in collaboration with The University of Akron's Workforce Development and Continuing Education Department - Event Design!!

The Event Design Course is perfect for those of you who already love planning parties and hosting events. We'll focus on what makes a great event and learn how to spice up the details for social affairs like dinner parties, baby showers, weddings, corporate events and more!

The course will be help at the Quirk Cultural Center here in Cuyahoga Falls each Tuesday starting on March 6th until March 27th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. So head on over to the University's Course Catalog Listing and sign up - we'd love to see you there :o)

baci's baking | Bailey's Chocolate Mousse

2012-02-07T11:38:00.002-05:00

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I wanted to give everyone a great recipe to make for a night of cuddling with your sweetie. :)

{Source | Food.com}

Bailey's Chocolate Mousse
Recipe via Food.com

(Printer Friendly Link)

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients:
16 ounces semisweet chocolate
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup Bailey's Irish Cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons of brewed espresso or coffee

Sugar Syrup:
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons water
1/2 cup egg white (about 4 eggs)
1 quart heavy cream
3/4 cup sugar

Directions:
1. Melt chocolate, Irish cream, and espresso over low heat.
2. In a separate pan, simmer sugar until temperature on a candy thermometer reaches 224 - 230 degrees F. (Remove from heat at 224 degrees F.; mixture will begin to caramelize at 232 degrees F.
3. Whip egg whites until still and glossy. Add sugar syrup to whites and continue to whip about 8 minutes until eggs have increased in volume and mixture has cooled; fold into chocolate mixture.
4. Whip heavy cream and sugar until stiff peaks form. Mix with chocolate mixture/eggs/sugar syrup mixture.
5. Pour mousse into molds or serving dish. Allow to set in fridge. Garnish with chocolate shavings or fresh seasonal berries.

Handpicked | Valentine's Day Ladies Gift Guide

2012-02-06T17:41:00.001-05:00

Can you believe Valentine's Day is right around the corner? As a personal Valentine's Day lover, I wanted to share a website that I always use for both gifts I want, and ones to give others. It's gifts.com and a great idea starter!

Here's some of my favorite Valentine's Day gifts...

1) Heart in Sand Framed Print from PersonalCreations.com - $34.99 - This is so cute and a fun way to remember a great vacation or event.

2) Valentine Ad Mug from PersonalCreations.com - $12.99 - This is a personalized mug that will go great with your favorite hot chocolate or coffee with your sweetie. :)

3) Teleflora's XOXO Bouquet with Red Roses from Teleflora - $59.46 - Who wouldn't love a beautiful bouquet of red roses to show off to their co-workers? :)

4) 15 pc. Valentine's Day Heart Gift Box from Godiva - $25.00 - Godiva says it all. He can't mess up with chocolate.

5) Charm Bracelet from Victoria's Secret - $44.50 - Jewelry is always another easy gift for him to get that we all know we'll love and wear everyday.

6) Pretty in Pink Chocolate Dipped Strawberries from 1800baskets.com - $44.99 - Chocolate covered strawberries are a personal favorite delicacy of mine, and pink happens to be my favorite color. Perfect.

7) A Taste Adventure...Napa Valley Trailblazers from Tasting Room - $34.99 - For all the wine lovers out there, here's a great gift that let's you sample 6 different wines of your choice from Napa Valley, CA.

8) Candlelight Bubble Bath Spa Gift Basket from GourmetGiftBaskets.com - $69.99 - He can't go wrong with anything related to a spa. It's just what any girl needs to relax with her love. :)

9) Sterling Silver Two-Tone Couples Name and Birthstone Necklace from Limoges' Jewelry - $59.99 - A very cute, simple necklace for everyday life or a special occasion.

Handpicked | Valentine's Day Gentlemen Gift Guide

2012-02-06T17:16:00.003-05:00

I LOVE Valentine's Day even though it's not a loved holiday by men, ha. But as a lady, I love doing creative things for my husband. I picked out nine different Valentine's Day gifts, it can be handmade or bought at a store---I am sure he will love it either way!!

1) Heart Shape Candy Box from marthastewart.com - Very cute, you can make (or purchase) a candy box and fill it with HIS favorite candy---Eric's would be filled with Reese's :)

2) Homemade Dinner from (Jami's mind.com--haha) - Set up a menu with 2 or 3 different choices for an appetizer, main course, and dessert and let him choose what he wants for Valentine's Day--be sure to have all ingredients on hand though.

3) Personalized Vintage Baseball sign from gifts.redenvelope.com - $79.95 - If your husband is a huge baseball fan, this would be perfect!!

4) Romantic Fortune Cookies from gifts.redenvelope.com - $29.99 - If you want something simple, yet fun, fortune cookies would be a good gift, who doesn't love fortune cookies :)

5) Boylan Assorted Soda Pop Glasses from giftinggrace.com - $30 - I actually really like these, and I think my brother-in-law (cough, Amanda, cough) might just like these, too!!

6) Handwritten Valentine's Day Cupcakes from marthastewart.com - You can make any type of dessert for your significant other, but I chose Chocolate Cupcakes---add any message on the top to personalize them.

7) iPhone Hard Case and Bottle Opener from amazon.com - $12.89 - How neat is that, your phone is a bottle opener!

8) Optimus Prime MIMOBOT from mimoco.com - $22.95 - If your husband loves Transformers, this flash drive will be perfect for him!

9) Around the World Beer bucket from gourmetgiftbaskets.com - $89.99 - A gift basket full of everything your husband loves would also be a perfect gift...what more could he ask for.

Sunday Funday, #22

2012-02-05T15:02:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone is excited for the Superbowl tonight! Here's a fun idea for any die-hard football fans that need inspiration for fun wedding ideas and picture poses ;)

{Source | Ryan Smith Photography}

baci Featured on Love Like Oceans | Styled Beach Shoot Stationery

2012-02-02T12:13:00.000-05:00

Last Fall I was blessed with the opportunity to design and craft stationery for a Styled Beach Shoot the incredibly talented Shannon of Shannon Kelley Photography and the super creative Mayra of In Flight Ideas were collaborating on!

This was so amazing for me for several reasons - first, this was the first styled shoot I was participating in (Yay!) and second, I essentially had complete creative freedom (not something that happens too often in the custom stationery world). Of course I jumped at the chance and designed some incredibly unique and detailed designs that included not only a complete invitation suite, but a table number, place cards and a menu-napkin ring combination. To check out the entire post head on over to the awesome Love Like Oceans Blog!

Wedding Wednesday | Happy Birthday to baci Winner + A DIY "I Do!" Workshop

2012-02-01T22:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Wedding Wednesday!!!

A big thank you to all that entered our Happy Birthday to baci Giveaway and for all your kind words :o) You all really are so sweet!!

Without further delay, the winner of all three shirley | edith Birthday Card Designs is. . . . Julie! Congratulations, Lady - if you'll email me {amanda@bacidesigner.com} with your mailing address I'll send the cards out to you. . . and since we love our fans so much I'll throw in the card you chose as your favorite!

Now for some more seriously exciting news - I, in collaboration with the University of Akron's Workforce Development & Continuing Education Department and the Akron Art Museum, will be offering a one day workshop for newly engaged couples and others involved in the wedding planning process (think bridesmaids and moms!) called A DIY "I Do!"!! With topics focusing on staying calm throughout the planning process to putting together a day-of timeline, this course will help you stay on track until the big day!

Here's a little sneak peek at a few of the other topic titles we'll be touching on throughout the day:

YAY - I’m ENGAGED!!!! OMG, What Do I Do Now?!?!?

Learn the steps to take first and what comes next after saying, “Yes!”.

Does Tangerine go with Mocha?

How to choose a color palette for your big day – the rules and regulations.

Mason Jars and Vintage Cars

The Internet and Bridal Magazines are chocked full of inspiration – learn the best way to utilize them!

You Charge How Much?!?!

Learn what ballpark prices to expect from vendors and why they deserve it.

Do I Get Printing Rights with That?

Get the right questions to ask possible vendors; learn what you can expect from them and what they expect from you!

I’m Freaking Out Here!!!!

Professionals carry their title for a reason – when in doubt, hire one!

The course will be held in one of the most beautiful local reception venues - the Akron Art Museum - on Saturday, March 3rd from 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Lunch and a cake tasting will be provided. . . plus we'll have a beautiful tablescape set up to get your creative juices flowing! You'll get a head start on planning with information on all of the amazing vendors we utilize for the workshop, too!

Excited yet?!?! Head on over to the University's Course Catalog Listing to sign up - we hope to see you in March!!

Vera Wang meets "Gossip Girl"

2012-01-31T14:44:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! The famous Vera Wang featured some of her beautiful designs of both wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses on the newest episode of Gossip Girl. It was the 100th episode of the drama-inducing show, and the producers wanted to celebrate the accomplishment with a bang... or Wang :)

Here are some images from last night's show - aren't the gowns gorgeous!?!?

Photo via Huffington Post

Photo via InStyle

Oscar Party Inspiration

2012-01-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

As you already know we (the people at baci) love to throw parties, so why not throw one to watch the Oscars on February 26th! It is being hosted by the amazing Billy Crystal on ABC.

1st Step is to buy a beautiful dress and what better way then to look like Audrey Hepburn, any woman's idol!! This dress is from ModCloth for $52.99.

2nd Step--Send out Invitations. Clearly you would call us for this :) BUT, since baci has never designed an invitation for an Oscar party (but many other parties, ha) this simple, yet elegant invitation would be wonderful for an Oscar party.

3rd step--Prepare Food!!! How delicious do these Oscar cookies look!! And what makes them even better is they have cards with "awards" on them, such as: Best Motion Picture.

4th step--Add a fun factor. Why not make up a ballot for all the people who are up for all of the Oscars and check off who you think will win. And for every one they got right, they get a prize (or just one big prize for the person who wins the most). Maybe an Oscar cookie for that category, bag of popcorn, or a bottle of wine. Your choice--make it fun but elegant!!!

Hope you enjoy the helpful hints to throwing an Oscar party, Enjoy!! Be sure to send us your photos of your Oscar party - we'd love to see them :o)

Sunday Funday, #21

2012-01-29T19:25:00.002-05:00

Sunday Funday -- Beautiful Black & White Wedding Photo

Source: The Image is Found

Happy 4th Birthday to baci!! {And a New Release AND a Giveaway - Today ROCKS!!!}

2012-01-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

January 2012 (seriously, how is it 2012??) marks the fourth year in business for this lovely little company I get to call my own. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to have a job that I love where I get to make the world a little prettier each day. Sometimes I forget that I used to work for a bank for God's sake. And sometimes I forget to change out of my pajamas. . . but that is neither here nor there ;o) It's times like this - baci's 4th birthday - that remind me how great life is and how far I've come, all because of people like you!

Never in a million years did I imagine baci would become the company it is now - growing from a small, part-time custom stationery business to what is now not only a full-time custom stationery boutique, but a planning and event styling studio as well. It's amazing where life takes you and I feel very blessed to have my husband, my sister and a very special friend by my side every step of baci's way :o) If it wasn't for Ilario, Jami and Caroline I would have lost my mind a very long time ago!

We have a lot of amazing things planned for 2012 and we're happy you're all on this journey with us! Stay tuned this year for awesome announcements and maybe even a new look for baci this year :o)

In the meantime, we're pleased to release our newest shirley | edith occasions card - "heppy berf dey"!! This comical happy birthday card, along with all of the cards in the shirley | edith couture kraft occasions line, is made from 100% recycled brown bag paper. The card comes with matching 100% recycled brown bag envelope. {Each Card Size is 3.5" x 5" with 4 Bar Envelope}

Purchase our new "heppy berf dey" card (or any other design from our current listings!) from our shirley | edith Etsy Shop before the end of the month and receive Free Shipping (on all orders - both domestic and international) with code HB2BACI!!

2010 shirley | edith birthday card - "birthday defined"

2011 shirley | edith birthday card - "birthday cake"

And there's more :o) Receive not only our new "heppy berf day" card, but both of our previous Birthday Card designs from 2010 and 2011 when you enter our Happy Birthday to baci Giveaway!! The contest will be a quick one - with a deadline of 11:59 PM EST Tuesday, January 31st.

Here's how to enter:
1} Visit our shirley | edith Etsy Shop then come back here and comment about your favorite s | e card!

Bonus Entries for (Please leave a comment below for each entry!):
1} Becoming a follower of baci's blog
2} Liking baci's Facebook Page
3} Following baci on Twitter

Good luck!! A winner will be chosen at random and announced here on baci's blog Wednesday, February 1st! And thank you again for making it possible for us to celebrate baci's fourth year - it's going to be a good one :o)

baci designs | Branding + Blog Work

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Before the New Year I was lucky enough to do some design work for two of my fellow TWIPS - Stephanie of Stephanie Saul Photography and Shannon of Shannon Kelley Photography!

Stephanie has an incredible lifestyle blog called Fab You Bliss (you must check it out!!) and I had the pleasure of working with her to create a new logo for it! We also designed new social media buttons and her "As Seen On" Badge. I love the way everything turned out :o)

Shannon and her family recently moved to Haiti to do mission work (they truly are an amazing inspiration!) so she decided she needed a little update to her blog and logo. We edited her logo to include not only her beautiful photography, but her mission work as well. Then we designed her new blog header around the gorgeous photos of her family and a map that included her new home :o) I adore how the new sidebars look, too!!

We love re-branding and designing new logos for our friends in the wedding industry - drop us a line if you'd like to work with us {info@bacidesigner.com}!!

Wedding Wednesday | Tangerine Tango, Aquamarine + Burnt Orange Inspiration

2012-01-25T11:02:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! Tangerine Tango is the 2012 Color of the Year from Pantone! I've put together an Inspiration Board for you all to start getting some great ideas for colors for your upcoming wedding!

{Row 1}: via The Ray & The Ro, The Knot, Power to Personalize Your Wedding

{Row 2}: via The Garter Girl, Popular Grove, Ashallan, One Fine Day Events

{Row 3}: via New England Fine Living, rhondajewelry

{Row 4}: via Karen Tran Florals, One Fine Day Events

baci's baking | Ritz Cracker Fluff

2012-01-24T11:26:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I’m Brittany, baci’s new intern, and I wanted to jump at the opportunity to provide you all with one of my favorite recipes for my first blog post! :) My Aunt Mary gave me the recipe for Ritz Cracker Fluff, which besides being absolutely delicious is a great dessert for any occasion! It’s super easy to make too!

Ritz Cracker Fluff

(Printer Friendly Link)

Ingredients:
2 Rolls of Ritz Crackers
1 Stick of Margarine (melted)
¾ Tablespoon of Sugar
2 Small Boxes of Vanilla Instant Pudding
1 Cup of Milk
1 Quart of Vanilla Ice Cream
1 Tub (8 oz) of Cool Whip

Directions:
1. Crumble Ritz Cracker rolls and put into a 13 x 9 pan. Be sure to save a small amount of the crumbled Ritz Crackers to sprinkle on top at the end.
2. Add the sugar and margarine and mix into the crumbled crackers.
3. Make the instant vanilla pudding, but instead of the 2 cups of milk specified on the pudding box, use 1 cup of milk and the quart of ice cream. Mix together the vanilla pudding mix, milk and ice cream. (You may have to soften the ice cream to mix.)
4. Spread the pudding onto of the crumbled Ritz Cracker in the pan.
5. Once you spread the pudding, put the Cool Whip on top of the pudding. Spread the Cool Whip evenly over the entire pan.
6. Sprinkle the remaining crumbled Ritz Crackers you had left over on top of the Cool Whip.

And you’re all done! :) You can serve it right away, however I recommend refrigerating it at least an hour before serving. This will allow the pudding to thicken up and everything to settle. The dish must be kept in the refrigerator when not being served.

I hope you enjoy Ritz Cracker Fluff as much as I do, and I look forward to future blog posts for you all!

Handpicked | Bridesmaid Dresses

2012-01-23T16:15:00.003-05:00

In honor of two of my best friends recently getting engaged (and being in the wedding mood), I am picking out nine different bridesmaid dresses for today's Handpicked!

1) Dessy Collection Style 2856 from Dessy.

2) After Six Bridesmaid Style 6639 from Dessy.

3) Organza Dress with Draped Bodice and Bubble Skirt from David's Bridal - Vera Wang, enough said.

4) Strapless Ruched Satin Ball Gown from David's Bridal.

5) Satin Strapless Ball Gown with Sweetheart Neckline from David's Bridal - I actually wore this for one of my best friend's wedding, it was so comfy and had pockets (very nice, so I could carry around my camera at the reception).

6) Claudia halter dress in silk chiffon by J Crew - All I can say is Stunning.

7) Alexia Designs #4056 by Alexia Designs.

8) Alexia Couture #872 by Alexia Designs - I know this is a little different, but I love the black and white together in this dress.

9) Silk Dupioni Strapless Bridesmaid Dress by Ann Taylor.

Sunday Funday, #20

2012-01-22T19:03:00.002-05:00

This beautiful Save the Date is one of my most favorite recent finds! Check out the rest of the invitation suite and the amazing wedding details on Oh Lovely Day!!

WeddingLovely.com's New Wedding Planning Email Newsletter

2012-01-20T15:45:00.000-05:00

Tracy, the genius behind Wedding Invite Love and Wedding Planner Love, has done it again! She's launched an incredible tool that will help brides with their planning timeline - WeddingLovely.com, an email newsletter system to inform couple's of what they should be planning and when, is now available! Simply sign up with your email address and enter your wedding date (even if you haven't solidified it, a guesstimate works, too!) and you'll start receiving emails full of tips and recommendations based on where you should be in your planning timeline. Seriously awesome!!

Post-wedding True Brides {Fred + Meghan}

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mathews are back to answer some post wedding questions for us!

The Bridal Party

Describe your wedding ceremony:

It was very classic and elegant. Fall-themed colored.

Describe your wedding reception:

It was very energetic and rustic looking!

What was the most special part of your wedding day?

Right before walking down the aisle :o)

The Beautiful Couple!!

What was the most stressful part about your wedding day?

Getting all the gifts together at the end of the reception.

Who was your favorite wedding vendor and why?

Big Ear Entertainment with Nick Duve because he is a close friend and made the reception amazing!

Did you plan a honeymoon and if so, where?

We did not plan one yet… might go to California!

Anything else you would like to share about your wedding day?

We coordinated our first dance to the song "Shake It" by Metro Station and after we led with Tim McGraw's "My Best Friend". It was amazing!

The Bridal Party

A BIG CONGRATS to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mathews!!!

All Images by Mandy Coy Photography

baci's baking | Cake Pops

2012-01-17T16:51:00.003-05:00

A few weeks back on baci's baking | baby shower food I talked about cake pops. Cake pops are becoming more popular and more people are wanting to know how to make them. I found the perfect article that gives you step by step instructions and pictures to make these delicious cake pops. They are perfect for any get together, birthday, holiday, or to just have as a dessert at home!

Cake Pops on Love from the Oven

Enjoy these tastefully treats!!

and P.S. there are MANY more great ideas on the website!!

Handpicked | Wedding Dresses

2012-01-16T15:23:00.001-05:00

I enjoyed looking for wedding dresses when it came to my big day, so I loved getting to find nine beautiful dresses to share with all of you!

1) Corsage One-Shoulder Gown from Ann Taylor - $450 - I love it, elegant and beautiful. Perfect for a beach wedding.

2) Ball Gown with Asymmetrically Draped Bodice Style from David's Bridal - $1,028 - If you have the money, please buy this gorgeous dress by Vera Wang.

3) Strapless Faille with Sweetheart Draped Bodice Style from David's Bridal - ON SALE, $349 - I know I have talked about this dress before, but I still like it. I like the fact that it's short in the front, so you can wear with a pair of stunning color shoes.

4) Bernadette by Maggie Sottero - Amazing dress with lace all over and a keyhole back.

5) Carissa by Maggie Sottero - Beautiful ball gown with a crystal belt that finishes off the wedding gown.

6) Style Bevan from Wtoo by Watters - I enjoy all the tulle on this dress.

7) Style 2244 from Alfred Angelo - Short dress with a flower pattern, perfect for a small wedding.

8) Style 6724 by Mori Lee - Beautiful!! I would have worn this for my wedding!

9) After Six Bridal Style 1034 from Dessy- $510 - A Greek, Goddess feeling and I love it!

Sunday Funday, #19

2012-01-15T18:38:00.007-05:00

Can you imagine how beautiful the button bouquet looks since the "button-iere" is absolutely amazing? I'm in love! :)

{source}

Jess' Baby Shower Brunch | 07.03.10

2012-01-13T12:18:00.001-05:00

I'm not really sure how I let this little beauty slip past the blog, but it is most certainly better shared late than never!

You might remember Jess from the other life events baci has been a part of, starting with the engagement party Ilario and I hosted at our home for her and Glenn, their 2009 wedding held at Goodale Park and even their holiday card from last year :o) Well right in the midst of all that wonderfulness, I, along with her sister and two sister-in-laws hosted a Chic Black, White and Yellow Baby Shower Brunch for her - right here in baci's back yard :o)

It all started with the incredibly unique paper and fabric invitations I designed and printed in-house. They were finished off with a hand-stamped dahlia and machine sewed to a coordinating dahlia print fabric.

The plain white invitation envelope was spiced up with another hand-stamped dahlia and gorgeous abstract postage. The menu for the day was also designed and printed in-house by baci.

The event decor continued with the black, white and yellow color scheme - we even added a pop of zebra, which Jess adores!

The menu for the day went as follows and it certainly didn't disappoint!

Appetizers

Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches

Fresh Fruit Kabobs Served with Marshmallow Dip

Main Course

Schtone

Rosemary Potatoes

Herb Roasted Bacon

Spinach, Apple and Walnut Salad

Cinnamon Toast with Blueberry Compote

Dessert

Madeleine Cookies

Beverages

Mimosa

Lime Sherbet Punch

Canada Dry Ginger Ale

San Pellegrino Sparkling Water

Dark Roast or House Blend Coffee

Even the gifts for the shower games matched the decor!

The favors were Homemade Lemon Iced Sugar Cookies, using my Grandmother's Recipe, of course!

We even grabbed a photo of all the ladies at the end of the event! Though the heat was definitely intense that day we all had a wonderful time :o)

A special thank you to:

Brandy J Photography for the amazing photos of the custom designed stationery

Alexis Moore and Klaus Rothe for the wonderful event photos

Sitting Pretty Linens for the beautiful napkin rentals

Benny of Tallmadge Tents for the perfect white chairs

And of course, Ilario Cursaro, Alexis Moore, Laurinda Moore, Allison Rothe and Carolyn Moore for making this event possible!

baci's babies | Harris Family Photo Shoot

2012-01-12T14:39:00.003-05:00

The Harris Family Photo Shoot

My best friend, Brittany, asked me to take some pictures of her family, which included the adorable, little, Rose! I was thrilled she asked me and didn't hesitate to say YES!!!

Look at that adorable face!!

She looks so innocent by the "Time Out" chair and in a tutu :)

She just loves kisses from Daddy!

Rose made it so easy to take photos!

A woman's best friend, her daughter :)

This has to be my favorite picture of Rose!!!!

I was so happy Brittany asked me to take pictures of Rose!! I hope you enjoy them, too :)

baci designs | Antonio's Baptism Stationery

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Much like yesterday's post, today's event, my handsome little nephew's baptism, was shared with you before. Today you get to see the baci designed stationery in all its glory with beautiful photos by Brandy J Photography!

Custom Designed Crossword Puzzle

Favor Bag

shirley | edith spottings and new releases!!

2012-01-11T14:27:00.002-05:00

Now for a quick break from baci's babies week :o)

We've spotted our shirley | edith cards several times on the web these past few weeks - each time I get goosebumps, I swear!!

First, it was the lovely folks from I Love Handmade with our Happy New Years Card. . .

. . . then it was the lovely Shari of Spearmint Baby with our Baby Bump Card. . .

. . . and over the holidays our cards were featured in tons of awesome Etsy Treasuries like this one featuring our Happy Hanukkah Card!

A big thanks for spreading the shirley | edith love!! Have you spotted shirley | edith on the web? We'd love for your send us a link - info@bacidesigner.com!

And now for the super exciting part - new releases from shirley | edith! First up our our new Recycled Brown Bag Valentine's Day Card for 2012 - available for $4.00 or as a package of 10 for $32.00. Caroline's cheesy take on sweet, sweet love is one of my favorite cards we currently have available :o)

We've also re-released our Valentine's Day Card from last year - "Bee" Mine! "Bee" Mine is also available as a single card or as a package of 10.

We're also excited to announce that our Abbey Rose Gift Sets are now available in three sizes! We've added a Mini (6 cards) and a Deluxe (14 cards) option :o) Prices range from $60.00 to $100.00 and you can choose what cards come in each set! Remember a portion of the proceeds from each Gift Set supports The Abbey Rose Fund. They make perfect gifts!!

baci designs | Kristen's Baby Shower Stationery

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Many moons ago I shared Kristen's Baby Shower with you all and honestly, it is still one of the most fun events I've ever created!! Today you get to enjoy the eye candy that is the beautiful photos by Brandy J Photography of all the baci designed shower stationery :o)

Shower Favor

Invitation

Coordinating Thank You

Mad Lib Style Advice Cards

baci's baby shower food

2012-01-10T17:16:00.001-05:00

Baby Shower Food---Or shall I say Baby Shower Desserts :)

I have never had so much fun putting together a post, I found so many fabulous dessert ideas!!!

*These hand decorated sugar cookies are from Etsy and they sell for $45.00 for a dozen of them. These would be perfect for any themed baby shower and are absolutely adorable!!!*

*Cake Pops -- best desserts ever!!! If you wish to purchase them, these cake pops are also from Esty and sell for $19.20 for a dozen. If you are up for the challenge, you can purchase Cake Pops by Angie Dudley online from overstock.com for $12.79. This would be a fun thing to do with family a few days before the baby shower.*

*I have never seen anything like these cupcake rattles before and I LOVE them!!! I found these on Bake for You. Again, these can be made for boys or girls. I might have to try these out for my pregnant friends out there :) *

*Only because I LOVE the cake pop idea's, I picked one more. I found these online at Sweet Lauren Cakes.*

I hope out of these four desserts, you enjoy at least one of them :)

baci's babies week!

2012-01-09T17:29:00.000-05:00

While we tend to focus on weddings here at baci, we do love switching things up and working on stationery and events for other fun occasions life brings along. Our favorite - anything to do with babies!!! So we're dedicating this week to all things baby - up today are some super fun and creative stationery we've had the joy of creating for some of our favorite clients. Enjoy all the chubby cheeks and giggles this week!!

P.S. We will interrupt once this week with an awesome announcement - stay tuned!!

Baby Shower Invitations

Birth Announcements

Birthday Invitations

All Images by Brandy J Photography

The People's Choice Awards - Who do YOU think will win?

2012-01-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

The People's Choice Awards are coming up shortly on January 11th, hosted by the beautiful Kaley Cuoco (actress on The Big Bang Theory). I believe she will be an amazing host for the upcoming award show.

I thought it would be fun to have people vote. I will pick out 7 categories and predict who is going to win, feel free to comment and let me know who you think will win!!!

{source}

1) Favorite New TV Comedy
2 Broke Girls
Last Man Standing
New Girl
Suburgatory
Up All Night
**Winner is 2 Broke Girls --- There is not a moment I STOP laughing while watching this show, it is hilarious!! The actresses are PERFECT for this comedy!

{source}

2) Favorite Country Artist
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Taylor Swift
**Winner is Taylor Swift --- Only because she is such a huge hit! I enjoy listening to her CDs, not so much her singing live. . . BUT it seems as if everyone loves her, young and old, so I will guess her as the winner this year.

{source}

3) Favorite Movie Actress
Anne Hathaway
Emma Stone
Jennifer Aniston
Julia Roberts
Reese Witherspoon
**Winner is Emma Stone ---- This was a hard category because all of these actresses are amazing, Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone are fairly new to the screen but the other three are wonderful, talented actresses that have been around for years and have starred in MANY movies. But I'm going to still go with Emma Stone because she is becoming bigger and I feel like her roles in The Help and Crazy, Stupid, Love were amazing!!

{source}

4) Favorite Network TV Comedy
Big Bang Theory
Modern Family
Two and a Half Men
Glee
How I Met Your Mother
**Winner is Glee --- I'm not a big fan of this show at all, but I hear EVERYONE talk about how awesome it is and how they always re-do songs and make them sound so cool. I think all of the other shows are better, especially Big Bang Theory but since it's up to "the people" I think it will be Glee.

{source}

5) Favorite Comedic Movie Actress
Natalie Portman
Mila Kunis
Jennifer Aniston
Emma Stone
Cameron Diaz
**Winner is Jennifer Aniston -- -She played in two amazing movies this year, Just Go with It and Horrible Bosses. I believe all the other actresses are amazing as well, but I think it was a big year for Jennifer Aniston.

{source}

6) Album of the Year
Adele - 21
Beyonce - 4
Lady Antebellum - Own the Night
Britney Spears - Femme Fatale
Lady GaGa - Born The Way
**Winner is Lady GaGa ---- My two reasons are because she has made it big this year and her songs have been on a lot of shows and movies!

{source}

7) Favorite Animated Movie Voice
Anne Hathaway as Jewel, Rio
Jack Black as Po, Kung Fu Panda 2
Johnny Depp as Rango, Rango
Katy Perry as Smurfette, The Smurfs
Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Cars 2
**Winner is Katy Perry --- I think a lot of people loved this movie this year! I enjoyed it and she did really well.

Leave a comment and let baci know what you think about my choices. Or feel free to add another category :)

baci's book club | December 2011 - The Girls from Ames

2012-01-05T17:39:00.002-05:00

Happy Thursday!! This week is seriously flying by. . . 2011 went way too quickly so please, 2012, SLOW DOWN ALREADY!

Anyway, before the holidays we met for Book Club on December 15th and read The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow, the co-author of The Last Lecture.

{source}

A little introduction from the book's site: "Meet the Ames Girls: eleven childhood friends who formed a special bond growing up in Ames, Iowa. As young women, they moved to eight different states, yet managed to maintain an enduring friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, a child’s illness and the mysterious death of one member of their group." . . . "The Girls from Ames is a testament to the deep bonds of women as they experience life’s joys and challenges — and the power of friendship to triumph over heartbreak and unexpected tragedy."

Sounds great, right? Well, we really didn't think so. . .

WARNING, the following discussions may act as a SPOILER!

The book starts off wonderfully - the ladies are now in their forties and the author has accompanied them at their most recent Ames Girls Reunion held at one of their homes. The first chapter includes a brief introduction coupled with photos (our favorite part of the book!) and recollections from all the ladies.

The next four chapters dive closer into four of the ladies' lives - Marilyn, Karla, Sheila and Kelly. . . why only these four I'm not sure, but it probably has something to do with the fact that most of these women are simple and ordinary people just like us and don't have enough to talk about for one chapter. This is the major problem we all had with this book - it could have been written about any group of women. In fact, we joked about a book surrounding my sister-in-law and her close-knit group of friends (most of whom are in baci's book club) called The Ladies of Tallmadge - lol! There just wasn't enough excitement, so about half-way through The Girls from Ames we grew bored. . . and confused. Trying to differentiate between eleven women you've just met in person is one thing - trying to figure out who's who when you're simply reading about them is downright impossible. Thankfully there is a guide at the beginning of the book with childhood photos, high school graduation photos and a little snipper about each girl. . . but flipping back every 30 seconds proved to be exhausting and honestly not that helpful.

So all in all, we wouldn't really recommend The Girls from Ames - it wasn't all bad, but it certainly wasn't one of our favorites.

{source}

For next month we've chosen Tayari Jones' Silver Sparrow - a book about a a bigamist and his two families. Honestly, I've already finished it because I couldn't put it down - love! We'll have to see what the rest of the ladies say :o) We'll be meeting Thursday, January 19th - see you then!

Wedding Wednesday | Engagement Session with The Future Mr. & Mrs. Hancock

2012-01-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

Amanda here stealing a quick moment before Jami's beautiful photos to wish all of our readers a very Happy New Year with our first post of 2012! This year is already off to a great start - our 2012 clients have already proved to be so amazing and we look forward to all the fun things to come!!

We also want to send a big congratulations to all of the newly engaged couples (we would LOVE to hear your holiday engagement stories!!)! Remember, baci not only offers custom stationery, but event design and planning as well! We'd love to hear from you and help make your big day everything you've ever dreamed of!

Thinking of planning your wedding all on your own? If you're in the Akron area, we highly recommend signing up for the University of Akron's new course - A DIY "I Do!". You'll learn what steps to take and what to expect from your vendors (and what they expect from you)!

Cheers to a wonderful 2012 and Jami's fabulous post!!

xoxo-

amanda @ baci

I would like to introduce The Future Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Hancock :)

I had the wonderful opportunity to take engagement pictures of my cousin, Nicole, and her fiancé, Brandon. I am no where near a professional, so I felt honored to have them ask me to take their photos. She wanted some Fall pictures done, so on a Sunday afternoon, we strolled around Bryan, Ohio to find some of the best places to take pictures.

To start the session out, we did a couple family shots with Brandon's kids, Skyler and Braeden.

They are going to be one happy family!!!

We started our couple's session at Garver Park in Bryan.

Then we moved to an alley, which was perfect for many pictures.

Look at these serious looks, Nicky looks gorgeous and Brandon looks handsome.

How am I related to her---AMAZING!!

And we ended our session near the movie theater :)

Hope you enjoyed!!

Check back later for some more engagement pictures----when the snow begins to fall!!!!

Wish List | Things I Didn't Get For Christmas

2011-12-30T16:11:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!! I was very blessed this Christmas with wonderful friends and family. The presents I received were wonderful, especially a beautiful piece of jewelry from my husband from Stambaugh Jewelers (our favorite place to shop, ha, or maybe just mine!!).

I am putting together my Wish List of things I always want, but never have enough money to buy :)

1) Green Amethyst Bangle Bracelet from Stambaugh Jewelers - Most beautiful piece of jewelry, but I would get it with all white gold.

2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i from Best Buy - $899.99 - I wanted this camera 2 years ago and I'm still hoping for it one day.

3) Women's Muroc Jacket from Under Armour - $129.99 - Wonderful coat for working out when outside, not too heavy but not too light. Perfect.

4) Nike Free Run from Nike - $90 - Shoes, Shoes, Shoes....I love them, need I say more!!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!!

Happy 30th Birthday to Ilario!!

2011-12-29T14:14:00.002-05:00

Today is very special because it is the hubby's 30th birthday!!! I'm incredibly excited to celebrate with him, our families and a few of our close friends tonight in a little shin dig I'm hosting at a local venue (photos to come!). Since his birthday is smack dab in the middle of Christmas and New Year's it always seems to get lost in the hustle and bustle, so I am making sure his 30th has complete and utter dedication to him! I can't wait to watch him enjoy everything tonight :o) In the meantime, here are some ridiculously adorable and fun photos of my love throughout the past 30 years - I feel so blessed to have been a part of the last seven and all the many, many more to come!

Ilario in Momma C's belly - 1981.

Seriously, he couldn't be cuter!

Oh, wait, he just did!!

His love for cars started very early. . .

. . . as did his affection for snacks and naps ;o)

Ilario in Italy - 1997.

Ilario's Senior Picture

On our way to Charleston to get engaged - August 2006

Testing the lighting for our family photo - Christmas 2009.

And I leave you with one of the many infamous "Punch Yourself in the Face" Photos :o)

Happy Birthday, Baby - I love you!!

Wedding Wednesday | Marriage Proposals in the Holiday Season

2011-12-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

I just found THE cutest post about Marriage Proposals!!

10 Holiday & New Year's Eve Ideas on The Knot

It's that time of year when the world falls in love, every song you hear seems to say, "Will you marry me?" For a marriage proposal that will wow her, review this list of our favorite holiday and New Year's Eve marriage proposal ideas.

Play Santa

Ask a local department store to let you play Santa for a day. Have one of your love's friends take her shopping and convince her to sit on Santa's lap. Once she's in position, give her the ultimate Christmas gift.

Dazzle Her

Commemorate special moments in your relationship by writing or illustrating each event on a Christmas ornament with paint pens. Decorate the tree with all the special moments. On the tree topper -- which you should wait to put in place -- write, "Will you marry me?"

Make Every Day Count

Make an Advent calendar. Each door she opens should reveal a sentimental memory or a reason you love her (or him). Hide your proposal behind the door for December 25. If you're Jewish, use this idea for Hanukkah gifts, with each day's gift building up to the most important gift of all.

Spell It Out

Write out your proposal with roses in the snow or in Christmas lights on your house.

Enlist Help

Attach plastic antlers and a red nose to your (cooperative, selfless) dog. Then put the ring on a ribbon around the dog's neck and send the mutt to wake your beloved. If you have two dogs, attach a "Marry me" sign to the second and send them in together. She'll never forget this Christmas morning! (And then include your dog in the wedding!)

Get Crafty

Make two time capsules. Put souvenirs and snapshots from your relationship into the capsule for the year that's ending. Put only a ring box into the second, signifying a new beginning in all senses of the word.

Count Down

If you're at a party, work your proposal into the crowd's big countdown to the new year. Right before everyone starts screaming, "10, 9, 8..." say, "I want to tell you why I love you so much." After each number the crowd yells, quickly tell your sweetie a reason (you'll have to rehearse exactly what you want to say). When the new year arrives and everyone is hooting, simply whisper, "Will you marry me?"

Stay Home

Bah, humbug! If you detest parties and Times Square-sized crowds, plan the ultimate at-home cocoon (no Netflix allowed). Whatever you like, do it to the extreme. If you're foodies, don't settle for wine and cheese -- think caviar and champagne, the best you can afford. Don't sleep on your bed -- instead, decorate your living room to look like a boudoir, or make a cave out of couch cushions. At the stroke of midnight or when the moment is right, ask.

Take the Cake

Invite your nearest and dearest to a party to celebrate Father Time's birthday -- the beginning of a new year (and a new engagement)! Get or make a life-sized cake. Tell your sweetie you're going to surprise your friends, and tell your friends you're going to propose -- top secret! At the stroke of midnight, jump out of the cake with a big sign around your neck that says, "(Name), will you marry me?"

Say It With Chocolate

Make reservations at an elegant restaurant and arrange for the waitstaff to bring out two covered desserts. Under your lid will be a heart-shaped cake in her favorite flavor; under hers, a ring box nestled in a bed of rose petals. Once revealed, instruct the waiters to bring over a bottle of bubbly.

*I just LOVE all of these ideas, they are so cute and romantic. Any lady would be ecstatic to get asked this way*

HAPPY HOLIDAY'S!!!

Wedding Wednesday | New Year's Eve Wedding Advice and Inspiration

2011-12-28T10:35:00.001-05:00

It's New Year's Eve and it's your big day, how beautiful of a setting that is!!!

I stumbled upon a short article that talks about things to consider when planning a New Year's Eve wedding. New Year's Eve Wedding 101: Start Planning Already was found on blog.ourweddingday.com.

New Year's Eve Wedding 101: Start Planning Already!

What’s more romantic than starting out a new year as a newly married couple? More and more couples are choosing to have a New Year's Eve wedding because it’s fun, romantic, and offers a fantastic event for all of their loved ones to attend on the biggest party night of the year. There are some logistics to cover when planning a New Year's Eve wedding that aren’t necessary for traditional weddings. Keep the following tips in mind when planning your New Year's Eve wedding bash.

1. You’ll need to secure your wedding venue far in advance since most venues will fill up quickly with New Year's Eve parties. A lot of companies throw New Year's Eve parties for their employees and tend to choose hotels as venues, which are also prime wedding venues. A safe time frame would be to start looking a year and a half in advance.

2. Have an evening wedding that begins around 7 or 8pm. Since your guests will stay until past midnight you won’t want them to run out of steam before the countdown.

3. Plan your wedding style around the fact that this is not only your wedding, but also a New Year's Eve event. Out of the countless elegant wedding dresses you have to choose from, go with the one that is the most festive, fun, and lets not forget sexy! New Year's Eve is always a great excuse to wear a form-fitting number that shows off your figure. Try on different sultry styles such as a strapless or backless wedding dress. A black and white affair would be New Year's Eve appropriate.

4. As soon as you have the venue and date set send out your save the dates. This will give your guests ample time to mark it on their calendar before they obligate themselves to another NYE event.

I also found this amazing Inspiration Board---what better way to ring in the New Year with a short, sexy gown with beautiful gold wedding accessories!

{Source: Eleven Magnolia Lane}

If you're having a New Year's Eve Wedding---Congrats!!!!

Best of baci's baking | 2011

2011-12-27T14:34:00.005-05:00

Another year-end wrap up today with some of my favorite baci's baking recipes from 2011!

Avocado Pesto-Stuffed Tomatoes - This is a must have recipe for our annual New Year's Eve party and this year is no exception :o)

The Perfect Valentine's Day Meal - 2011 was the first time I did a full Valentine's Day menu and it was a huge hit (especially since I had Chocoholic Torte as a dessert) so I think it will become a yearly baci's baking tradition!

Top Five Ways to Kick Up Store-bought Mac'n'cheese - I love macaroni and cheese, but I don't always have time to make it from scratch so making some fun tweaks to store bought spices thing up perfectly!

Flank Steak with Salsa Verde - A best of list wouldn't be complete without this favorite of Ilario's.

Chipotle Pork Loin with Italian Simmered Rice - We make this yummy meal at least once every few weeks.

Penne a la Betsy - This is probably one of my favorite finds for the year. . . partly because you can drink the extra vino while you're cooking - lol!

Grilled Cupcakes - The cuteness factor here is through the roof!

Baked Brie - I can't tell you how many people have asked me for this recipe - it's easy and delicious!

Roasted Red Peppers with Feta - I love this recipe because it's an original of mine that I threw together last minute one night that turned out great!

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups - This post is one of my favorites because Caroline and I had so much fun shooting the photos (and eating the cookies!!).

Did you have a favorite recipe from 2011? We'd love to know what you tried out!

My Favorite Posts of the Year

2011-12-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

Here are FIVE of my favorite posts from this past year :

baci's baking Special Edition : : Crock Pot Cook Off Contest Contenders

I loved this post my sister did because it really gave a lot of interaction with us and our readers. It was a huge success and it was truly up to our readers of who won the contest. Hopefully we get to do a few more of these in the future!!

True Brides {Amanda + Luke}

This was MY FIRST True Brides post and I LOVED getting to do it. It's fun when you get to "interview" friends and get wedding input :) When my sister asked me to start doing these posts, I wasn't sure how I could do it since I haven't interacted with clients, but I'm telling you that I love getting to email and talk to people about their wedding day, it's one of my favorite things I do for baci!!

One Day in December {I Feel Lucky}

I LOVE the fact that my sister shared this year's story with all of her readers. I envy her for the courage and strength she has to accomplish as much as she has this past year!

True Brides {Eric + Jami}

I'm a little biased on this one because it was my post and about me :) BUT, I loved it! As I stated in the previous few sentences, my sister shared this year's story with all of you, and this was my "this year story". Getting married was a big step in Eric and I's life and I wouldn't change anything for that! I got to marry the one I loved and got to share the "wedding process" with all of you.

Handpicked | A Man's Wishlist

I love that on baci we got to hear a "man's point of view". I like that when Ilario writes out the wishlist, he adds helpful information to each product, the perfect wishlist!!

We have had a great year for baci!! And these are just my favorite five, I could have picked a lot more but I had a limit :) I hope next year is ever more fabulous for us!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!!

My Favorite Posts of the Year

2011-12-26T11:14:00.001-05:00

As the holiday bustle slows down and the year comes to a close, we thought we'd take the time to take a quick look back at some of our favorite posts throughout the year. Kind of a year in review through blog posts :o)

My Top Five Posts

Join baci's book club!!
The start of baci's book club was a really exciting adventure to begin - I love this post because it started it all and has a list of some really fabulous books!

Sunday Funday, #1
Once again, this post was the beginning of a wonderful weekly feature that we all truly enjoy writing. Sunday Funday is now on post #18!!

Four Years!! {The Bride + Groom}
Though it was difficult to decide which of the "Four Years!!" posts to choose as one of my top five, the photos of Ilario and I are some of my favorites that I'll cherish forever. I loved sharing these photos with all of you :o)

New shirley | edith Holiday Cards Available!!
The launch of our new shirley | edith cards and the new s | e landing page was a huge step for baci!

One Day in December {I Feel Lucky}
Reliving 2011, the good and the bad, was a really therapeutic way to share my accomplishments, joys and sorrows with all of you, a community that has grown throughout the past years and I feel so lucky to be a part of. It's also a wonderful reminder to be thankful for all that you are blessed with.

I hope you enjoyed looking back today - we'd love to hear what your favorite baci's blog posts were, too!

Sunday Funday, #18

2011-12-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!! I hope you're all enjoying a fabulous day full of love and family!!

Enjoy this beautiful Wedding Invitation Christmas Ornament and check out the DIY tutorial here :)

Striped and Scented Holiday Home Decor

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm always on the lookout for fun and unique ways to decorate, especially for the holidays. That coupled with my Pinterest addiction was the inspiration for this post :o) All of theses holiday decorating ideas use either candy canes or another form of red and white striped peppermint - the combination of affordability and amazing scents make these ideas incredible!!

Candy Cane Table Centerpiece {Source}

Candy Cane Mantle Decor {Source}

Peppermint Table Decor {Source}

Peppermint Stick Display {Source}

Peppermint Candy Wreath {Source}

Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas

2011-12-22T14:23:00.001-05:00

The ordinary holiday wrapping can sometimes get a little boring, so here are some awesome ideas to spice it up! People won't want to mess up your beautiful masterpieces! :)

1. Furochic, fabric gift wrap designed by Jenn Playford, has great ideas for taking clothing and fabric and making them into beautiful wraps. The shirt idea is great and can be part of the gift as well!

2. Say Yes to Hoboken took cupcake liners and made them into flowers! They look perfect! :)

3. A Creative Mint lace, ribbon, button and tag ideas are great! They look so vintage, I love it!

4. The Creative Mama used a mason jar to make a gift card holding snow globe for her daughter's teacher!

5. Pinterest user, Rose Grant Cubero, pinned a perfect idea for a female gift. Since scarves are so in right now, wrap the gift with them!

6. Good Housekeeping made a great Candyland touch on gift wrapping! I mean what's better than a present wrapped in candy? :)

7. What a great way to label "to" and "from" with alphabet beads! {source}

8. Pinterest user, Shelly Swanson, uses brooches and satin ribbons around her gifts creating a vintage feel.... beautiful!! :)

9. Heart of Light, in their "a little less paper" post has different takes on felt gift wrapping that you just have to check out!

Wedding Wednesday | TWIPS Holiday Card Exchange

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

I know you're all probably tired of hearing me talk about how lucky I am to be a part of TWIPS, but joining this spectacular group of women in the wedding industry has truly been life-changing and you get to hear one more amazing thing I was able to be a part of because of this group :o)

One of the fun things I participated in early this December was a TWIPS Holiday Card Exchange. It truly brightened my day each time I received one of beautiful and unique holiday cards in the mail! A big thank you to Jessica of Two Wedding Belles (who also organize the trade - THANK YOU, LADY!!), Becca of The Studio B Photography (Loved her "checking" system at the top of the card), Kate from Modernly Wed (Who has seriously the most beautiful handwriting I've ever seen!), Nicole of Bella Vista Wedding & Events (She had me at sparkly!!) and Alicia of The Charity Wedding (Can you say GLAM with that beautiful gold wreath and pearls!!). That's cards from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Colorado and Arizona - fun, fun, fun :o)

I hope you all have a very wonderful holiday season and I look forward to working with all of you in the new year!!

I also wanted to take a quick moment to give Caroline a very well deserved THANK YOU for all of her hard work in taking photos over the past semester - most of the new (and fabulous!) photos you've seen in the past few months have been shot by her and I couldn't be more appreciative! You'll be seeing a lot more from her, too, so be prepared in 2012 :o)

baci's baking | Chocolate Cherry Trifle

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for the perfect dessert, this is it!! It looks amazingly delicious!

Chocolate Cherry Trifle

Original Recipe from Food Network

(Printer-friendly Link)

Ingredients:
2 (approximately 12 oz. each) chocolate pound cakes
1/2 cup black cherry jam
1/2 cup cherry brandy
2 cups drained bottled sour cherries (recommended: Morello)

Custard:
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa, chopped
1 1/3 cups plus 1 T. milk
1 1/3 cups plus 1 T. heavy cream
8 egg yolks
1/2 cup plus 1 T. sugar
1/3 cup cocoa

Topping:
3 cups heavy cream
1 oz. bittersweet chocolate

Special Equipment: Large wide trifle bowl

Directions:
1. Slice the chocolate pound cake and make jam sandwiches with the cherry jam, and layer the bottom of a large wide trifle bowl.
2. Pour over the cherry brandy so that the cake soaks it up, and then top with the drained cherries.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and leave to macerate while you make the custard.
4. Melt the chocolate on low to medium heat in the microwave, checking after 2 minutes, though it will probably need 4 minutes. Or you can place it in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once the chocolate is melted, set aside while you get on with the custard.
5. In a saucepan warm the milk and cream.
6. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and cocoa in a large bowl.
7. Pour the warm milk and cream into the bowl whisking it into the yolks and sugar mixture.
8. Stir in the melted chocolate, scraping the sides well with a rubber spatula to get all of it in, and pour the custard back into the rinsed saucepan. Cook over a medium heat until the custard thickens, stirring all the time. Make sure it doesn't boil, as it will split and curdle. Keep a sink full of cold water so that if you get scared you can plunge the bottom of the custard pan into the cold water and whisk like mad, which will avert possible crisis.
9. The custard will get darker as it cooks and the flecks of chocolate will melt once the custard has thickened. And you do need this thick, so don't panic so much that you stop cooking while it is still runny. Admittedly, it continues to thicken as it cools and also when it's chilling in the refrigerator. Once it is ready, pour into a bowl to cool and cover the top of the custard with cling wrap to prevent a skin from forming.
10. When the custard is cold, pour and spread it over the chocolate cake layer in the trifle bowl, and leave in the refrigerator to set, covered in plastic wrap overnight.
11. When you are ready to decorate, softly whip the cream for the topping and spread it gently over the layer of custard. Grate the chocolate over the top.

Sunday Funday # 17

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Remember Funday Sunday #14?
This is from the same wedding!

Beautiful Image from Bobbi + Mike from Mae and Bryan

Lady = Fun Shoes and Hair Accessories

Man = Fun Bow Tie and Shirt :)

shirley | edith - Fast Shipping Offer

2011-12-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Order your shirley | edith holiday cards by Monday the 19th and we'll guarantee their delivery by Wednesday the 21st, just in time for you to pop them in the mail to your friends and family :o) Remember, shirley | edith cards make great gifts, too!

| recycled brown bag happy holidays card |

| recycled brown bag merry christmas card |

| recycled brown bag happy hanukkah card |

| recycled brown bag happy kwanzaa card |

| recycled brown bag happy new years card |

| recycled brown bag let it snow card |

Also, we hope you didn't forget about our new addition available on the shirley | edith Etsy Shop - the Abbey Rose Gift Set.

| Abbey Rose Gift Set |

Holiday Hostess Gift Guide

2011-12-15T10:37:00.000-05:00

Have a lot of parties to attend this holiday season? It's a very kind gesture to bring your host or hostess a gift as a way of saying thanks for throwing the party in their home. We've gathered five great ideas for any host or hostess in your life!

{Yum!}

1) Booze. It truly never disappoints and even if you gift a variety the hostess doesn't end up being a fan of she now has drinks to offer up her guests free of charge. I recommend a bottle of your favorite wine (Try Apothic Red, it's affordable and I've never met a soul who hasn't fallen in love with it!) or something fun like Bailey's or Disaronno (Tip: Mix Disaronno with Ginger Ale and you get a yummy concoction that tastes just like cream soda!). Tie a beautiful ribbon and a gift tag around the neck and wah-lah, a perfect gift!

{source}

2) Sweets - homemade or store bought. Your hostess won't mind indulging in a tasty treat after the party-goers have gone home. Make your grandmother's (or mine!) sugar cookie recipe, tuck a dozen snugly in a pretty box and top with the recipe!

{Natural Cocktail Napkins with White Monogram from Wisteria - Set of 6 for $12}

3) Monogrammed anything. Think dish towels, yummy scented candles or a beautiful engraved wine stopper. It shows you took the time to really think about your hostess and didn't swing by the DDM on your way to her house (I may be an often culprit of that. . . oops!).

{Personalized Stationery from baci}

4) Personalized stationery. If your hostess loves entertaining she probably also has a love for handwritten notes (I might be drawing from my own personal experience here - they go hand in hand!). Plan ahead and order 10 or 20 of these so your hostess can pen a thank you to you later :o)

{Cheese and Olive Gift Set}

5) Grab a beautiful platter or cheese tray and top it with a gorgeous set of serving utensils, cheese knives, appetizer picks, olives, crackers and a no-refrigeration-needed cheese. Wrap the whole package in a clear cellophane and finish with a beautiful bow! It's a yummy and beautiful gift for anyone!

Last Minute Shopping Guide

2011-12-13T20:30:00.001-05:00

For all of you that are last minute shoppers, START EARLIER NEXT YEAR :)

But seriously, I have picked out some of the best places you can go to get the best deals and quick. I also picked out great gifts that are quick and easy to purchase.

IDEA 1

I will start by stating the obvious, you can go to any local store, like Wal-mart, Target, Meijer, or even Dollar General if you are trying to shop on a budget and pick something up.
If you want your gift more personal, make a basket. Making personalized baskets are some of the best gifts, I believe. You can pick up a basket, something FUN and fill it with anything, but pick a theme, such as:

Favorite Foods

Baked Goods (Chocolate Chips, Cookie Mix, Sugar, Flour, Cookie Sheets)

Margaritas (Margarita Mix, Tequila, Margarita Salt)

Wine (Favorite Wine, Crackers, Cheese, Bottle Opener)

Boy (Matchbox Cars, Coloring Book, Crayons)

Girl (Barbie Doll, Barbie Clothes)
Movie Night (Favorite Movie, Popcorn, Movie Pass)

Above image from: online.findgift.com

IDEA 2
Gift Cards are always great last minute gifts, but make sure to put thought into where the recipient would like to shop or eat. Parents always put their kids or spouse in front of them, so this one time it might be nice to get something just for them.
If it's for a:
Lady--try a spa, pedicure, or Victoria's Secret gift card
Girl or Boy--try a Toys'R'US or Gymboree gift card
Men---try a Best Buy or Dick's Sporting Goods gift card

Above Image from: bestbuy.com

IDEA 3
You could also make ANY baked goods. I love homemade food as gifts, it's the best!!!

Cookies in a Jar "for Santa" are always a wonderful idea.

Hope this helps you with your last minute gift buying!!!
Happy Holidays!!!

Wedding Wednesday | Winter Wedding Inspiration

2011-12-13T14:08:00.003-05:00

Remember our Winter Bride post last Wedding Wednesday? And our most recent Sunday Funday? Well we've put together a beautiful Winter Wedding Inspiration Board using some of our beautiful finds - enjoy!

This gown, Satin Faced Organza Gown with Illusion, is part of the White by Vera Wang collection at David's Bridal. It has a removable illusion piece that is great for a bride that would like to stay traditional in the church and look more modern at the wedding. The lace definitely gives a winter feel, especially because of the sleeves.

Elle & Jae Bridal have beautiful wedding sashes for every theme. This sash would be perfect to replace the black bow on the dress. The crystals create a great repetition of the lace on the dress as well as create a glimmer that resembles winter!

This Queen of The Nile bouquet is great for our winter wedding! It creates a warm, rich and vintage feel while matching the bridesmaids dress perfectly.

Cotton and Crumbs' cake is absolutely stunning. It matches our winter bride's lace on the wedding dress along with the flowers in the bouquet.

Bridesmaid's dresses are great for carrying your color throughout your wedding. To unify the rich bronze color, The Dessy Group had the perfect dress. It has just a pinch of lace that matches the brides dress as well as giving the vintage feel.

Ornaments can be great for more than just tree decorations. In our case, they are perfect for centerpieces. Having a combination of gold and bronze continues the elegant and rich theme for our winter wedding. It also creates a repetition with variation from the bouquet. {source: Pinterest Profile}

What better archway into your reception than this? Enough said! {source: Google}

I thought this ideas was super cute and simple at the same time. It repeats the use of color and the look of our ornaments... and who doesn't like chocolate? {source: Pinterest Profile}

baci's baking | Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

2011-12-13T10:52:00.000-05:00

We're trying something a little different today with baci's baking - let us know what you think :o)

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

{printer-friendly recipe}

You can't go wrong with these cookies! You would honestly be crazy if you didn't enjoy them.

When we made them they were so moist, even after a couple days! Enjoy!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

_________________________________________________________________________________

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.

Add sugar....

Add brown sugar...

Add peanut butter...

Add butter...

Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy.

Beat and add the egg...

Add milk....

Add vanilla...

Add the flour mixture; mix well.

Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 7-8 minutes. While baking, unwrap the peanut butter cups (try not to eat them all!!)!

Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball.

Cool and carefully remove from pan.

_________________________________________________________________________________

{source: Six Sisters' Stuff}

One Day in December {I Feel Lucky}

2011-12-12T11:23:00.000-05:00

Design by Cris of Kiss My Tulle

I've been struggling with what to write about for my One Day in December post and seeing the ladies before me (Shannon, Cris and Layla) be so open, honest and strong has made me want to follow suite.

Mr. Deeds was on television last night. If you haven't seen it, it's about a small town guy who receives a large sum of money from his uncle. Towards the end of the movie, Deeds (Adam Sandler) asks a large group of rich investors what they wanted to be when they were little - the answers range from a veterinarian to ping pong champion ;o) It got me thinking back to when I was little. . . I remember drawing a three-paned photo with what I wanted to be when I grew up - a teacher, a mom and a model. I've faced the fact that the last one is pretty far fetched - lol, but I was able to accomplish both of others this year and I feel so truly lucky.

The biggest highlight of our lives came on Valentine's Day this year when I found out I was pregnant. We just knew this was going to be one ornery baby because it was due on our four-year anniversary and had been conceived during one of the worst snow storms we had ever lived through. . . we envisioned telling our little man or lady all about it as they grew up. Then the worst moment of our lives happened just two weeks later - I began bleeding. After two more weeks of many up and down emotions, our fears were confirmed on March 10th - our baby would not be born.

Miscarrying is such a traumatic experience and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, not even my worst enemy. But you want to know what got me through it all? First my amazing husband who put his arm around me at the doctor's office that day only for me to say that his being nice was going to make me cry. . . so he removed it and punched me in the arm! It was ridiculously hysterical and exactly what we needed at that very moment. He was so supportive, loving and caring throughout the whole process and I could never thank him enough for being my rock. I also took comfort in the amazing stories from women who had been there. Miscarriage is a very taboo thing most people don't discuss, but I truly think sharing your emotions and stories is the best way to heal. It's such a common occurrence and if people discussed it more openly and honestly I feel that it would be incredibly beneficial to women everywhere. The third thing that got me through the months of blood tests (my hormones stuck around until early May - not cool!) and incredible emotional and physical pain? Pretty Little Liars. I may have watched the entire first season (24 episodes!) during those few months - it was the perfect show to get my mind off things.

I realized throughout all of this that God really has it figured out because as soon as I was back at it and healthy again my business exploded - one of the best highlights you could ask for as a small business owner ;o) In 2011, I designed stationery suites for 12 weddings (including my first letterpress job - yay!) and was lucky enough to coordinate 5 of those as well. These numbers far surpassed anything I had done in the few years prior and it kept me incredibly busy. I also was so blessed to become a member of TWIPS - something that I truly feel has changed me both personally and professionally for the better! I have become close with so many amazing and inspiring women from all over the world. I've even been lucky enough to work with several of them throughout the year :o)

Centerpiece from the Dennis Wedding this September {Image by Ace of Images}

This September I was also able to fulfill another dream - teaching. I facilitated a Wedding and Event Planning class at a local university to other aspiring planners. In doing so, I met another great group of women and they light up my life on a very regular basis! It is so amazing to give back and I plan to continue on this path because it's incredibly rewarding. The month of September also brought along something (actually someone) that I never could have imagined - I put out a call for interns and it generated a lot of interest. It was seriously strange to think people wanted to work for me - very surreal, lol! I was lucky enough to find hands down the best intern a girl could ask for - Caroline! We always joke that we're the same person - we design the same, think the same and share a serious love for cheese ;o) I'm very happy to announce that after her graduation (at the end of this week - Congrats, Lady!!) she will officially be joining the baci team as an Assistant Designer!

Me with the ladies of my Wedding and Event Planning Class!

One of the best things I got to be a part of this year was watching my baby sister get married! Helping her plan her big day and watching her write about the process here on baci's blog was amazing. She's grown up to be a truly wonderful young woman and I feel so proud to call her my sister. I honestly can't wait to share all the gorgeous photos and fabulous moments during their wedding. . . that will have to wait for later though ;o)

So throughout this year, I've become a mother, even if just for a short while I was able to feel the presence of our little one and experience the joy of pregnancy. No matter what the future brings, I can take comfort in knowing I was blessed with those two months. I also grew my business, became a part of a wonderful organization, fulfilled a dream of teaching, gained an intern (and a great friend!) and welcomed a new brother into our family. . . I couldn't possibly feel anything other than lucky!

Be sure to check out Layla's (Simply Savannah Events) One Day in December post from yesterday and be on the lookout for Allie's (Honey Bee Invites) tomorrow!!

Sunday Funday, #16

2011-12-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

How beautiful and elegant is this bridesmaid dress? Just had to share, and it's available in many different colors too – Cappuccino is my favorite!

{source: Dessy Collection}

One Day in December

2011-12-09T18:19:00.001-05:00

{Design by Cris of Kiss My Tulle}

From Orly Lyndon: We just can’t help ourselves, one good idea, 50 emails and plenty of thoughts later, we came up with our very own version of an advent calendar. Who is we? Well we are 23 Wedding Businesses from around the world who are run by inspirational people always willing to help, support and educate. We all met on the TWIPS site and it grew from there, regularly visiting each other's blogs to offer encouragement, support and friendship.

The best part about being part of something like this is that in a world thats full of doom and gloom and cynicism, where everyone is out for themselves (especially in the wedding business where competitiveness has over taken common decency and quality), its a refreshing change to find such a positive collective of people from all over the world looking to do their level best to create a supportive network of friendship and education. Starting from the 9th December you will be able to read a post from each of us right through to the 31st December, not in a wahoo look at us but in a if we can then you can too kind of way. If you visit one of the blogs and you are touched by what you have read, then please comment, tweet or share in any way that you can and if you’d like to be part of the TWIPS then just click here . Acquaintances come and go but a true friendship can last a lifetime.

I feel so blessed to be a part of such a great group of women! The incredible Shannon Kelley of Shannon Kelley Photography started us off with an amazing post full of love :o) Be sure to follow along through the end of December and a big thank you to Orly for putting all of this together!

One Day In December Honor Roll

{12.09} Shannon of Shannon Kelley Photography

{12.10} Cris of Kiss My Tulle

{12.11} Layla of Simply Savannah Events

{12.12} Amanda of Baci Designer

{12.13} Allie of Honey Bee Invites

{12.14} Jen of Blush Printables

{12.15} Colleen of Soundtrack to I Do

{12.16} Shaffone of Making your Event Special

{12.17} Wendy of Wendy Ramos Photography

{12.18} Louise of Bijoux Bride

{12.19} Chandra of Oh Lovely Day

{12.20} Emma of Aphrodite's Wedding

{12.21} Lisshan of Wrapper Couture

{12.22} Ilse of Secret Jewel

{12.23} Jessica of Two Wedding Belles

{12.24} Krissy of Make Believen

{12.25} Alicia of The Charity Wedding

{12.26} Orly of Intimate Wedding Photography

{12.27} Adrienne of Ruffles and Tweed

{12.28} Sandra of The White Library

{12.29} Tara of Cut the Cake Designs

{12.30} Laura of Laura Lavender

{12.31} Kewain of NolaBelles Soirees

Holiday Fashion Guide | 2011

2011-12-08T15:12:00.001-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year. . . to get dressed up!! There isn't a better excuse to treat yourself to something pretty than for a holiday get together - so I've put together four perfect party outfits for this holiday season! BONUS - each piece is under $100 :o)

The holiday season is the best time to spice up your wardrobe with a little red! Pair it with warm gold and brown accessories for that perfect candlelight glow.

Where to wear it: Your Holiday Work Party

1 {source}, 2 {source}, 3 {source}, 4 {source}, 5 {source}

You can't miss by combining sequins and textured tights with this perfect little black dress! Save yourself a little cash and use a LBD that's already in your closet :o)

Where to wear it: A Holiday Out on the Town

1 {source}, 2 {source}, 3 {source}, 4 {source}

Pairing gorgeous pops of blue with different black textures (we've used velvet in the top, sequins in the skirt and suede in the shoes!) will make you feel oh-so-sexy this season!

Where to wear it: Your Friend's New Year's Eve Fête

1 {source}, 2 {source}, 3 {source}, 4 {source}, 5 {source}, 6 {source}

The simplicity of the soft ivory top and wide-leg pants is the perfect opportunity to top it off with a fur vest, a spot of color in an accessory and sparkly shoes!
Where to wear it: Your Family Christmas Dinner

1 {source}, 2 {source}, 3 {source}, 4 {source}, 5 {source}

What will you be wearing this holiday season?!?!

True Brides {Kyle + Katy}

2011-12-08T10:25:00.001-05:00

Remember the Beautiful Engagement Pictures for Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Richards? Well, Katy is back to give us a True Bride Report!

Katy and Kyle are getting married on New Years Eve at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio. (I think it's so romantic to get married on a fun holiday such as New Years Eve!! What better way to ring in the new year!). Their gorgeous winter colors are red, black, and white.

Engagement Picture Taken By Mirage Graphics and Designs.

Engagement Questions

What was one of the first things (wedding wise) you did when you got engaged?

True to my nature, the first thing I did was stress over the small details. Of course, come to find out although the details are important, it isn’t necessary to stress out over every small one, such as favors.

Did you know the engagement was coming or were you surprised?

I had known he had the ring, but had no idea the engagement was going to come so soon! I thought he would wait until my birthday (in March), but he surprised me Jan. 22, 2011 with a proposal at Stoney Ridge Winery in Bryan, Ohio.

The Night Katy and Kyle got engaged at Stoney Ridge Winery (Which is an amazing place, I might add, ha).

Wedding Questions

One thing you were worried about when planning your wedding?

Money. The biggest thing was money because, aside from some gracious help with food and beverages from our parents, we paid for the wedding ourselves, which isn’t easy on a tight budget! But I think we will be able to pull it off thanks to some creative DIY J

What was the easiest vendor to book?

Haha, in reality, none of our vendors were exactly easy to book seeing as how nothing was going to work out for our original date of Sept. 8, 2012, which was a big reason we moved the wedding up!

What was the hardest vendor to book?

See above haha

Is there anything special that has been done for your wedding?

With us moving up the date so drastically, the most special thing that’s been done for our wedding is having our amazing wedding party be so willing to do whatever it takes to still be involved on such short notice!

How was wedding dress shopping?

Easy peasy! I went with one of my bridesmaids the weekend after Kyle proposed to “look” at dresses, thinking I would just get an idea of what I liked and then do the serious shopping later. Well, I wound up finding a dress I absolutely loved that day and bought it then and there! (Insert shameless plug for Bridal Elegance in Defiance here. Lol)

What’s been the most stressful part about the wedding?

What was most stressful was not having anything work out for our original date as planned and having to adjust our date.

What’s been the best part about the wedding?

The love and support that we have received from so many people. The whole planning process has been crazy, but so many people have offered to help and have offered advice that its very heart-warming.

Was choosing your wedding party hard or easy?

That part was pretty easy for us since Kyle and I both have really close sets of friends.

Have things gotten any easier as the wedding day approaches?

It isn’t as if things have gotten difficult, but it definitely feels like we’re racing a clock to get things finished in time while both of us work two jobs!

I can't wait to see all the wonderful pictures from their December wedding. Be on the look out for Kyle and Katy to share there post wedding experience with us :)

Congrats to the Future Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Richards!!

Wedding Wednesday | The Winter Bride

2011-12-07T15:09:00.001-05:00

While grabbing inspiration for a future Winter Wedding blog post, we decided to focus on the winter bride first. Weddings are usually themed around the bride's decisions and especially the feel of her dress, from vintage to modern. The winter bridal look I put together is very vintage from the lace sleeves to the diamond and pearl drop earrings. Picking ivory over white creates a warm feel, which is great for winter!

I fell in love with this braided hair style by Keiko Lynn as soon as I saw it! This hairstyle would be best with the dress because it wouldn't hide the great details of the lace. The braid is awesome too because it is subtle and doesn't cause any distraction.

Haute Bride has the most amazing bridal accessories! The petite freshwater pearl chandelier earrings continue the vintage feel and not to mention how great they will look with the hair style!

Due to the amazing details of the dress, sash and earrings, I would look for simple ivory shoes.

{source: Calvin Klein}

For makeup I would keep it to neutral colors, this color creates such a warm, natural and vintage feel. Perfect for our winter bride! {source: care n' style}

baci's baking | Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Every time I log into Pinterest I find another tasty recipe that I must try - yesterday was no exception! I found these Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites and I plan on making them this holiday season :o) Enjoy!

Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites

Original Recipe from Created by Diane

(Printer-friendly Link)

1 30 oz. package Pillsbury Gingerbread Cookie Dough (refrigerated section)
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

1) Roll two teaspoons of cookie dough into a ball for each cookie.
2) Place balls of dough into paper lined mini muffin pans.
3) Make an indentation into each ball of dough with a flour dipped mini rolling pin or the back of a teaspoon.
4) Beat room temperature cream cheese with powdered sugar. Stir in vanilla. Place filling into a piping bag, cut off edge of bag.
5) Place one teaspoon of filling into each cookie dough. Don't over fill the cookies or filling as they will rise when baked.
6) Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes or until cookie tested with tooth pick comes out almost clean. Let cool before removing from cupcake pan.

Handpicked | Must Have Items for Your Registry

2011-12-05T14:21:00.000-05:00

Attention Brides-to-be: Have you been contemplating what to put on your bridal registry?

Have you been racking your brain for hours coming up with ideas?

Well, I was in the same boat as you not too long ago. There are several different items you can put on your registry, but here are my top nine essentials for a wedding registry :)

One IMPORTANT word to remember when using that wedding "gun".....UPGRADE!!! Don't register for something just because....register for the best and don't be afraid to replace the things you already own with better ones!

And one more thing----make sure to have a variety of prices, there are people who won't go all out and there are "let's get together to get them a wedding gift" people. You want to make sure there is something for everyone.

1) Kitchen Aid from Bloomingdale's - $269.99 - I didn't think I needed one of these, and now I can't stop using mine!! The Kitchen Aid mixer comes in handy for everything from cookies to bread. And they come in SEVERAL different colors!

2) Silpat Silicone Cookie Sheet Liners from Williams-Sonoma - $39.95 - Best thing ever! My mother-in-law has these and uses them any time she makes cookies or biscuits, and nothing sticks to the sheet!! I was so happy when I registered and received them :)

3) Dyson from Sears - $548.95 - Who couldn't use the best vacuum around, might as well register for it (remember you usually get completion discounts on things left un-purchased on your registry)!

4) Calphalon Contemporary 21 Piece Knife Block Set from Bed, Bath and Beyond - $299.99 - It's never a bad idea to put a NICE knife set on your registry.

5) Railroad Station Clock from Bed, Bath and Beyond - $39.99 - Don't be afraid to put what YOU want on your list too. This is one of the things I registered for because I wanted it to put in the kitchen.

6) Simply Vera Vera Wang Pure Luxury Bath Sheet from Kohl's - $29.99 - Upgrade your towels to the nice ones that you don't have to worry about falling apart within a year.

7) Madison Park Dune 7-Piece Comforter Set-King from Kohl's - $179.99 - Eric and I already had a comforter, but we wanted to upgrade. And we used the old one for another bed :)

8) Pyrex Smart Essentials 8-pc Mixing Bowel Set from Target - $20.69 - A variety of bowl sizes with lids, great to take anywhere or store leftovers in the fridge.

9) Elite Cuisine 1.6 qt Mini Slow Cooker from Target - $17.89 - Perfect for warm dips!

As I stated earlier, there are SEVERAL more items you should put on your registry, so I am going to add a quick list of things you might not think of to glance over before making your list :)

Meat Thermometer

Large Cutting Board

Small Decorative Cutting Board

Glass Storage Containers in Different Sizes

Breading Trays

Hand Chopper

Mandoline Slicer

Appetizer Plates

Measuring Spoons

Measuring Cups

Spatulas and Spoonulas
Serving Spoons and Forks

Wooden Spoons

Meat Tenderizer

Pastry Blender
Apple Slicer
Beverage Tub
Bath Mats
Closet Organizers
Throw Pillows and Blankets
New Bed Pillows
Bedside Lamps
Air Mattress
Tent and other camping goods
Sleeping Bags
Shop Vac
Pressure Washer
Basic Tool Set

Let baci know what you think, do you have an essential for a wedding registry? Tell us :o)

REMINDER: Spring 2012 Intern Deadline Monday

2011-12-02T10:41:00.001-05:00

Just a last minute reminder that baci is on the search for a Spring 2012 intern!

We are looking for someone who is fun and easy to work with and has the following traits:
• Organization Nerd
• Social Networking Guru - Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Pinterest - you name it, we use it :)
• Blogger Experience
• Etsy/Wedzu Knowledge
• Photography Skills
• Must LOVE Weddings!!
• And don't forget you'll get to spend a lot of time with this cuddly guy

Here's some basic information:
1} This is an unpaid internship. However, any design work that is done for a paying client by the intern will be compensated. Also the intern will be paid hourly for any day of events they work.
2} This position will require presence in baci's studio (in Cuyahoga Falls, OH) 2 - 3 days a week.
3} We are interested in stationery design or event planning interns - someone interested and talented in both departments would be GREAT!
4} The position will begin in mid January and run until early May.

If you're interested in applying for baci's Spring 2012 Internship - please send your resume and cover letter to intern@bacidesigner.com before Monday, December 5. We'll be interviewing on December 12th and 13th.

If you know someone who would be perfect for the job, please forward on the information to them - post it to your FB wall, retweet it, email it - anything to help us get the word out so we can work with the best of the best is much appreciated!

Any questions or concerns please email Caroline at intern@bacidesigner.com. Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you soon!

baci's book club - October/November 2011 - One Day

2011-12-01T15:34:00.001-05:00

Ok, first off I 100% apologize for the delay in this baci's book club post - not only did I not get a chance to finish the book before our meeting, I feel like I've been running around like a crazy person ever since I did finish it ;o) So, once again, very sorry, but better late than never, right? Lol!

So here goes - we met on October 20th at my home and the book of the month was One Day by David Nicholls.

{source}

Here is a little introduction to the book from Mr. Nicholls' site. . . "15th July 1988. Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year which follows? One Day is a funny/sad love story spanning twenty years, a book about growing up – how we change, how we stay the same."

WARNING, the following discussions may act as a SPOILER!

This one came with incredibly mixed reviews from the group, in fact some of the ladies who finished early recommended the other ladies not even bother reading it! It's been a long time since we've had something so few people liked, but it's bound to happen every now and again. Myself and a few others enjoyed the book, but we wouldn't ever say it was on our favorites list ;o)

I think the lack of interest was a combination of many things - the chapters were long and included a lot of needless information; Dex was incredibly awful and downright disturbing for most of the book; Emma lacked excitement and was sort of boring some of the time; and last but certainly not least, after drudging through all of that, the ending was quite possibly the most shocking and sad thing ever.

The hubby and I have the movie in our queue and I'm hoping the shortened version will be a bit better than the book. . . it didn't get the best reviews either so we'll see. The preview really does look great and the premise behind the whole thing is wonderfully unique, I'm just afraid the characters were a bit too intense for readers. We would love to know what you thought!

{source}

For next month we've chosen The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow - it's a unique story of a group of women and their forty-year friendship! We're meeting on Thursday, December 15th - see you then ;o)

REMINDER: shirley | edith Holiday Cards are Available!!

2011-11-30T18:43:00.001-05:00

In case you forgot because of the holiday craziness, we wanted to remind everyone that the new shirley | edith (click the link to see the new landing page - yay!!) holiday cards are now available for purchase on our Etsy Shop!!!

We're really proud of the unique designs that are perfect for multiple cultures. Click on the card title above each photo to be taken to the Etsy listing.

| recycled brown bag happy holidays card |

| recycled brown bag merry christmas card |

| recycled brown bag happy hanukkah card |

| recycled brown bag happy kwanzaa card |

| recycled brown bag happy new years card |

| recycled brown bag let it snow card |

Also, we hope you didn't forget about our new addition available on the shirley | edith Etsy Shop - the Abbey Rose Gift Set. This handcrafted gift set contains ten cards of your choice from the shirley | edith couture kraft occasions line, made from 100% recycled brown bag paper. Each shirley | edith card is individually wrapped in a cello sleeve then artfully placed to "grow" from the gorgeous planter.

A portion of the proceeds from each Abbey Rose Gift Set will go towards The Abbey Rose Fund - a charity set up to benefit The Kudrin Family who tragically lost their four month old daughter, Abbey Rose. The charity also aims to support families experiencing the same loss, as well as University Hospital's Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital located in Cleveland, Ohio. If you remember, we took part in the Benefit for the Abbey Rose Fund last weekend and it was a wonderful success!

This earth-friendly and good-hearted creation would be the perfect gift for the stationery lover in your family!

| Abbey Rose Gift Set |

All new holiday card designs, as well as the Abbey Rose Gift Set will be available for sale at the Food for Fashion Event this weekend!!

baci's baking | Cranberry Margaritas

2011-11-29T15:45:00.001-05:00

I found this recipe on the Ezra Pound Cake Blog and I want to try this as soon as possible please! It looks absolutely amazing!!

Cranberry Margaritas

(Printer-Friendly Recipe)

Ingredients: (Serves 4)
Wedge of Lime
Sugar
Ice Cubes for Shaking and Serving
1/2 Cup Cranberry Juice or Cranberry Juice Cocktail
1/2 Cup Silver or Other 100% Agave Tequila
1/4 Cup Orange Liqueur (Grand Marnier, Triple Sec or Citronage)
1/4 Cup Fresh Lime Juice
Garnishes: Thinly Sliced Limes or Fresh Cranberries

Directions:
1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, and dip the edge in sugar to coat. Fill glasses with ice. Set aside.
2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all the ingredients, and shake like hell.
3. Strain into ice-filled glasses and serve.

Food for Fashion Event

2011-11-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

Next weekend, baci will be participating in Food for Fashion - a Food Drive Fashion Show!! To join in on the fun, bring at least three canned goods with you on Saturday starting at noon to Blessed Trinity Parish in Akron. All proceeds will go directly to The Blessed Trinity Food Pantry.

We'll be displaying all of our shirley | edith cards, including our new holiday designs, as well as the Abbey Rose Gift Set!! Please join us for a wonderful afternoon, we'd love to see you all there :o) Swag Bags will be given to the First 100 guests through the door!

Details
What: A fun-filled fashion show with beautiful products from Matilda Jane, Rubber City Clothing Company and NOTO; displays from great local vendors; Raffles and a visit from Santa Claus!!
When: Saturday, December 3rd at 12:00 PM - Fashion Show begins at 12:30 PM
Where: Blessed Trinity Parish - 300 East Tallmadge Avenue, Akron
Cost: FREE - just bring along at least three canned goods!

Other great vendor displays from Scentsy, Premier Designs Jewelry, Tastefully Simple, Creative Memories, Mary Kay, Thirty-One Gifts, Miche Bags, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Dusk Till Dawn DJs, Usborne Books and more!!

Raffles with prizes from Scentsy, Premier Designs, Tastefully Simple, Creative Memories, Mary Kay, Thirty-One Gifts, Miche Bags, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Dusk Till Dawn DJs, Usborne Books, Avon, Party Lite, Tupperware, Studio Wish Salon, Salon de Pooch, Cindy's Tutus for Tots, ER Photography, Fiesta Pizza, Rocco's Pizza, Pandora's Cupcakes and Lil' Frog Fashions!

Sunday Funday, #15

2011-11-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Love, love, love the large single protea as the bouquet! Check out the rest of this beautiful DIY Wedding by Danielle Gillett Photography on Love & Lavender!

It's Small Business Saturday!!

2011-11-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today is the second annual Small Business Saturday, when people across the country come out and shop to support their favorite local businesses!! In honor of this wonderful day, we're offering FREE SHIPPING on everything shirley | edith - just enter coupon code SBS2011 during check out. Happy shopping and a very special thank you to all supporting small businesses like baci :o)

Baci's Search for a Spring 2012 Intern

2011-11-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Baci is on the search for a Spring 2012 intern! We are excited to find a new addition to our baci family, could you be the one? Lets see...

We are looking for someone who is fun and easy to work with and has the following traits:
• Organization Nerd
• Social Networking Guru - Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Pinterest - you name it, we use it :)
• Blogger Experience
• Etsy/Wedzu Knowledge
• Photography Skills
• Must LOVE Weddings!!
• And don't forget you'll get to spend a lot of time with Morris – From experience, as the intern, he will pick on you until he realizes you're not going anywhere, then he is a sweetie :)

Here's some basic information:
1} This is an unpaid internship. However, any design work that is done for a paying client by the intern will be compensated. Also the intern will be paid hourly for any day of events they work.
2} This position will require presence in baci's studio (in Cuyahoga Falls, OH) 2 - 3 days a week.
3} We are interested in stationery design or event planning interns - someone interested and talented in both departments would be GREAT!
4} The position will begin in mid January and run until early May.

If you're interested in applying for baci's Spring 2012 Internship - please send your resume and cover letter to intern@bacidesigner.com before Monday, December 5. In return, we'll send along a bit more detailed information on what you can expect from the internship. We'll be interviewing on December 12th & 13th.

If you know someone who would be perfect for the job, please forward on the information to them - post it to your FB wall, retweet it, email it - anything to help us get the word out so we can work with the best of the best is much appreciated!

Any questions or concerns please email Caroline at intern@bacidesigner.com. Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you soon!

{Happy Thanksgiving}

2011-11-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am here with the perfect list of five items you'll need for the holiday :)

1) OXO Silicone Oven Mitt with Magnet from Macy's - $14.99 - It may be a small item, but every household needs an over mitt, especially to get the green bean casserole out of the oven :)

2) 16.75" SS French Roaster from Target - $135.49 - A roaster is an essential, simple as that.

3) Pie Baker from Target - $19.99 - What better way to make a pumpkin for Thanksgiving than in a pretty pie dish!

4) Gravy Boat with stand from Bed, Bath, and Beyond - $39.99 - Need to have something to put that gravy in for those delicious mashed potatoes!

5) Carving Knife set from Cutlery and More - $99.95 - And the last thing on my list would be a good carving knife for that special person that gets the honor to cut the turkey.

I Hope Everyone Has A Wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Handpicked | A Child's Wishlist

2011-11-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

A child can be the easiest or the hardest person on your list to buy for this Christmas! Hopefully, after reading this post they will be the easiest person to buy for. I picked nine wonderful, personalized gifts for your children!!

1) Dinosaur Wall Art on Red Envelope - $79.95 - How cute is this for a newborn, personalized wall art :)
2) Baseball Display Shelf on Lillian Vernon - $19.98
3) Kid's Personalized Cotton PJ's on LTD Commodities - $7.16 per set - How adorable!!!
4) My name is Personalized Book on Freckle Box - I LOVE this!! Only because I am obsessed with books and you can add your child's name into the book!!

5) Outer Space Plate on Ink Garden - $19.99 - Maybe if you get your kid a fun plate like this, he might set the kitchen table more often :)
6) Medium Pink Abigail Jewelry Box on Pottery Barn Kids - $59.90 - Do you have a daughter that loves to wear your old jewelry, why not buy her an adorable jewelry box to put it all in.
7) Canvas Bookcase on Personal Creations - $59.99
8) Pieced Plush Toys on Red Envelope - $39.95
9) Personalized Kids Apron on Etsy - $16.99 - If you have a helper in the kitchen, he will be sure to love this!

Handpicked | A Lady's Wishlist

2011-11-22T11:48:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again, time for christmas shopping! – and time for opening presents of your own too! :) These are just a few ideas I would love to receive and for you to definitely check out. Enjoy!

1. Michael Kors Crocodile-Embossed Watch, Rose Gold/Gray | $180 – This is just beautiful, do I need to say more? :)
2. Lauren by Ralph Lauren Handbag, Promenade Simple Tote | $98 – Animal print accessories are the way to go. They liven up a ordinary outfit!
3. Style Spotting Scarf | $24.99 – Fashion scarves are really in again this season. It's an easy way to dress up an outfit.
4. Angora Boyfriend Cardigan | $59.50 – I just thought this looked really comfy, and of course cute. Any girl will wear a sweater like this around the house, out and about and of course while relaxing.
5. New York Broadway | $59.99 – Amanda and I are seriously obsessed with these vintage signs. Great for the decorator of the family.
6. Faux-Fur Collar Coat | $150 – Being in college, especially in ohio, you really cannot have enough coats. Enough said!
7. Makeup Brush Set | $17 – If you're anything like me and love doing makeup, then you know how fast you can go through brushes whether you lose them or use them entirely too much. This is a nice gift to give because it's something someone will really use.
8. Crystal and Pearl Dome Ring | $34.90 – I am really into big showy rings right now, and Express even has a buy one get one half off deal!
9. Kate Spade New York Larabee Dot Wristlet for iPhone 4 | $69.95 – This wristlet is probably one of the best ideas for a gal that likes to go out to the bars. A wristlet, phone case, and wallet all in one... you just can't go wrong! (and it's a Kate Spade wristlet) :)

Gift Idea | Custom Designed Personalized Stationery

2011-11-22T10:43:00.000-05:00

Looking for a beautiful and unique gift for that special someone? Custom designed personalized stationery by baci is just the perfect solution! Have an idea in mind - just let us know and we can put it on paper. . . don't have a clue, well then let us design something incredible for you!

Below are some designs we've created in the past - to order yours contact us: info {at} bacidesigner {dot} com!!

{Images by Brandy J Photography}

Handpicked | A Man's Wishlist

2011-11-20T19:42:00.001-05:00

Here I am again, letting you all know some of the products that exist out there for the special guy in your life. Some of these products I personally own and others would be nice to have. I have a few things for the handyman, the party-er, and/or the "geek" in your life. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but some of these products may spark additional ideas when Holiday Shopping.

1) Craftsman 154 piece Mechanics Tool Set - $99.99 - I personally own one of these ... received it as a wedding gift from the parents of one of my friends. I LOVE this tool set and use it all the time! This tool set has come in handy so many times when completing work on one of our cars. This tool set has everything organized and makes everything easy to find. Additionally, the set is mobile thanks for the hard case. If your man is not handy on the car, this tool set may spark a new interest in learning.
2) PUMA Pulse Watch - $85.00 - If you have a runner, athlete, or someone who likes to work out in your life, chances are he would be interested in his heart rate when engaged in one of those activities. Teamed up with a smartphone app such as Endomondo or Nike+ your guy will have all the information he needs when working out.
3) Leather Excursion Travel Case - $129.95 - I have a similar case and it has earned its place in my travel bag. This bag will organize of your man's (and your) toiletries while being stylish and small enough to take up little space in your luggage. Additionally, the hook at the top allows him (or you) to take the bag into the restroom to hang without having to take all of the products out of the bag.
4) Cigar Humidor - $89.95 - Does your man smoke cigars? If so, he definitely needs a humidor. He'll love you (even more) for it!
5) Mr. Beer Premium Home Brewery / Wine Making Kit - $49.95 / $179.95 - Have a guy who enjoys having a drink, but is also a 'do-it-yourself-er'? Why not let him do both?
6) DODOCASE iPad Case - $59.95 - I have a DODOCASE for my iPad. It is hand made from a company in California. It is made "using traditional book binding techniques" and I get compliments from everyone who sees it. The company keeps you updated on the progress of your case and let you know when it is ready to be sent to you.
*Note : Case for the iPad 2 will not allow for use of the rear camera when in the case. Explanation here.
7) 6DollarShirts - $6.00/each - The only problem is narrowing down the number of shirts you decide to buy, but they are only $6.00 so go for it!
8) WIRED Magazine - varies - I have had a Wired subscription for over a year now and it is an excellent read throughout. Even Amanda says the magazine has an amazing layout and enjoys reading it, too!
*PS - A print subscription now includes access to the iPad version of the magazine!
9) CRKT Eat'N Tool - $7.99 - An excellent stocking-stuffer for the geek in your life that has everything. Make sure he is prepared for anything with this multi-tool.

I hope that these products have given you some new ideas for your guy. Many of these products could be substituted with other similar brands and may be found for different prices with a little searching. Either way, have fun shopping and enjoy the look of happiness on his face when he opens any of these gifts!

Questions, comments, suggestions? Feel free to contact me: ilario {at} bacidesigner {dot} com or comment on this post.

New shirley | edith Holiday Cards Available!!

2011-11-17T16:17:00.001-05:00

I can't tell you how excited I am to announce that the new shirley | edith (click the link to see the new landing page - yay!!) holiday cards are now available for purchase on our Etsy Shop!!! Caroline and I worked hard to get them all ready before Thanksgiving so you'll all have plenty of time to send out your greetings :o)

We're really proud of the unique designs that are perfect for multiple cultures. Click on the card title above each photo to be taken to the Etsy listing.

| recycled brown bag happy holidays card |

| recycled brown bag merry christmas card |

| recycled brown bag happy hanukkah card |

| recycled brown bag happy kwanzaa card |

| recycled brown bag happy new years card |

| recycled brown bag let it snow card |

We are also very pleased to have another new addition alavailable on the shirley | edith Etsy Shop - the Abbey Rose Gift Set. This handcrafted gift set contains ten cards of your choice from the shirley | edith couture kraft occasions line, made from 100% recycled brown bag paper. Each shirley | edith card is individually wrapped in a cello sleeve then artfully placed to "grow" from the gorgeous planter.

| Abbey Rose Gift Set |

Katie's Summit Bridal Shower | 07.02.11

2011-11-16T11:27:00.001-05:00

Today I'm pleased to share with you Katie's second bridal shower!! I hosted this event with the Maid of Honor and cousin of the bride, Liz - a wine tasting fête held at the bride's mother's home the week before Katie and Kevin's wedding.

Guests received the beautiful wine-colored, linen package tied with black satin ribbon. When untied, the flaps moved to reveal the baci designed invitation asking them to bring along their favorite bottle of vino for the bride and groom.

Upon arrival, each guest was given a glass complete with a personalized name tag to avoid a mix up of glasses. They also received a list of the tasting wines - each sheet provided the name, region and type of grape so they could make notes as they went along. Several cheeses, homemade meats, breads and olives were displayed for the guests to munch on as the shower progressed.

After a fun version of "Don't Forget the Lyrics", guests were sent home with a handmade wine stopper made by the bride's aunts.

Reliving all of this has me craving wine and cheese - lol!!

Post-wedding True Brides {Tiffany + Derek}

2011-11-15T19:14:00.001-05:00

Remember True Brides Derek + Tiffany?
If not--I URGE you to go check out the previous post :) We're incredibly excited to have our second True Brides Feature back to answer some fun post-wedding questions!

Derek and Tiffany got married on 9-10-11 in Albion, Michigan, Derek better remember that wedding date--right Tiffany? :)

Remember how Derek wrote and sang a song to Tiffany and that's how he proposed, well no worries, Derek broke out his guitar again for the wedding. This is what Tiffany had to say about that, "Derek surprised me in the middle of our wedding service by playing his guitar and singing “Your Guardian Angel” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. It was beautiful!"

Now to the Questions :)

Describe your wedding ceremony:
Our wedding ceremony was definitely “us.” There was a lot of love and laughter that everyone shared. We both have a love of music and we both were able to bring a piece of ourselves into the service. Derek’s father, David Cornwell, and our own pastor, Andy Merritt, officiated our wedding. Good friends of ours, Chip Mezo and Jaime Merritt sang a Glee rendition of “Faithfully.” As they got to the choral “ahhhs”, my theatre friends slowly stood up and their voices echoed in the chapel, blending beautifully behind Chip and Jaime’s.

Overall, the wedding was short, sweet and full of life. It was OUR wedding and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Describe your wedding reception:
Our wedding reception was the part of the day that is fuzzy to me. Upon arriving at the reception hall, the food was ready and waiting for us, along with nearly 300 of our family and friends. What little food I ate was absolutely delicious. We had a lot of kids at our reception, so Derek and I were thrilled when our DJ, Matt, had glow-sticks ready for the “kids' toss” before the garter/bouquet toss.

What was the most special part of your wedding day?
Since Derek and I did a “first look,” I believe that moment is the most special. All the stress, any missed photo opportunities didn't matter once I saw his face. That’s what our wedding day was about… joining together two individuals to become one. Nothing else mattered when he turned around and saw me for the first time that day.

What was the most stressful part about your wedding day?
Getting our photos done before the wedding ended up being the most stressful. My parents were running late, and I didn't go with the flow as much as I should have. I ended up sacrificing some photo opportunities in exchange for having the special moment of my mom helping me put on my dress. As sad as I was at first, now, I wouldn’t change it for the world. My mom is my best friend and I would rather have that authentic special moment between her and I over anything else.

Who was your favorite wedding vendor and why?
I think our favorite vendor was unanimous - Metts Photo went above and beyond my expectations for our photographs. They were there at every step of our day, capturing the little things that I would have otherwise overlooked. The way Karina and Michael work together was seamless. Husband and wife teams are the best!

( If you haven't checked out Metts Photo yet, you should! This is the second recommendation from them--head to the website and check out their beautiful photography :)

Did you plan a honeymoon and if so, where?
We planned a small weekend get away to South Haven, that ended up turning into a day trip to Chicago. We have to post pone our honeymoon due to the timing of the wedding with school, but we do have plans next fall to take a trip.

Anything else you would like to share about your wedding day?

We would just love to thank all our friends, family, and professionals who came together to make our day as remarkable as it was. We couldn't have made it half as nice without all of you! Thank you!! Also, a big thank you to Jami and Baci for the opportunity to share our wedding day bliss!

{All Images by Metts Photo}

Baci wants to say a HUGE thanks to Tiffany for sharing her and Derek's wonderful wedding memories with us!!! Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Cornwell!!!

Sunday Funday, # 14

2011-11-15T19:09:00.001-05:00

Err. . . Monday Funday ;o)

I love shoes, style, and BELTS with dresses!!! This photo is taken by the very talented bobbi + mike duo :)

How cute are these mustard yellow dresses!! Each bridesmaid spiced up there own dress!