Utterly Chic Treat Cones from Utterly Engaged!

This incredible cones are a fabulous way to make popcorn (or any treat of your choice) elegant!
Utterly Engaged has just featured a popcorn bar, complete with these gorgeous cones. The cones were created by simply printing this elegant design on a transparency & forming into a cone. This display was completed with different toppings in crystal bowls (cheese, caramel, etc.) and additional items to mix in with the popcorn (M&Ms, Peanuts, etc.). Guests can take a cone & dress it up however they choose! It's beautiful and unique and your guests are sure to love it!

See our recent post on Treat Cones for other ways of creating this delicious display.

Finishing Touch Loves Utterly Engaged

This fabulous new E-magazine is a must read for any bride-to-be out there! Simply sign up on their website to receive emails when a new Utterly Engaged issue is released. It's full of fabulous inspiration and information and best of all, it's FREE!
Here's a little sneak peak from their 3rd issue, just released:
A stunning gown from a "real weddings" feature in this issue:
A beautiful modern salsa bar! Perfect for all of those couples getting married in Mexico & celebrating with a reception back home.
Cultural ideas: this section designs an entire wedding around the Lotus & Asian beliefs about the lotus bloom. Sign up to receive your Utterly Engaged issue today!

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Williams!

Lindsey & Bryan were married last month on the beach in Cancun, Mexico in front of their closest family and friends.
They spent their money wisely & invested in Dale and Meredith Benfield of Benfield photography to document their wedding day.
Lindsey's Trash the Dress session was done in an underwater cave! And the results are incredible:

Lindsey handled the wedding entirely on her own. Finishing Touch was brought in to coordinate the reception back home in Arkansas. The reception will be the featured in the next blog post.

"Snap Station": Awesome Alternative to the Ever Popular PhotoBooth!

Looking for a creative alternative to the photo booth? This fabulous DIY idea has me absolutely head over heels!

Set up a "Snap Station" for your wedding using a variety of different cameras: Polaroid, Old Fashioned, Throw Away (for the kids), etc. Using several different cameras will give you a variety of different looks for your photos from the obvious polaroid photo to a grainy antique look.

This is perfect if you're on a tight budget - simply borrow the cameras from friends and relatives. Who knows, your grandmother could have several old cameras in her attic! Search thrift stores for anything you cannot borrow and use ebay and other online sources to find the right type of film for each camera you decide to use.

Make sure to include a sign giving instructions to your guest. This is especially necessary if you do not have someone there operating the Snap Station. For brides with a little more in their budget, I would definitely suggest hiring a photography student (put a post on Craig's List or Facebook) to handle to more obscure or expensive cameras. If you're on a tighter budget, ask a friend to handle it for an hour or so.
Also include signs for each camera, so guests will know the differences in the resulting photos.

Thanks to Bride's Cafe for the photos & fabulous idea!

Additional suggestions from Finishing Touch:

If you would like to use this Snap Station for your guestbook as well, I would suggest bringing in a chalk board so that guests can write a message to you and hold it in the photos. A great way to kill 2 birds with one stone!
Imagine this for an elegant wedding with a velvet or damask background, a lush sofa or chair, and a small table with candles. Gorgeous!

You'll also want to include a box of some kind for the polaroid photos and the film once a roll is finished. I adore these "guestbook boxes" from Cut The Cake Designs:

They come in any style and color to match your wedding perfectly.

To all of the brides out there considering a "Snap Station," please send me photos!!!

Wedding Photos Posted for Mr. & Mrs. Walburn!

I've just posted the beautiful photos from Kelly & Waylon's amazing July wedding! You can see the full gallery on our website. Here are just a few of my favorites from Stephen Thetford Photography:

And some of the fabulous details:

top, left: custom programs by Finishing Touch with the wedding logo that we repeated throughout the printed ensemble.
top, right: Kelly's incredible bouquet of white and pink garden roses was designed and created by Finishing Touch and wrapped in satin fabric monogrammed with the couples logo.
center, left: the beautiful 5 tiered wedding cake was created by Shelby Lynn's Cake Shoppe of Springdale, Arkansas.
center, right: the modern escort card table was covered with stunning submerged arrangements.
bottom, left: the adorable "classic candy" Candy Bar was filled with Hershey's Bars, Skittles, M&Ms, and much much more.
bottom, right: the escort cards by Finishing Touch featured the wedding logo and were displayed in clear acrylic boxes filled with white sand.

Thank you to Stephen Thetford for the beautiful images. And to all of the fabulous vendors who helped to make Kelly & Waylon's wedding day absolutely perfect:
Ceremony Venue - Chapel on the Creeks, Rogers, AR
Reception Venue - Doubletree Hotel, Bentonville, AR
Photographer - Stephen Thetford, Fayetteville, AR
DJ - Groove Productions, Fayetteville, AR
Bakery - Shelby Lynn's Cake Shoppe, Springdale, AR
Photo Booth - Dancenhance Entertainment, Fayetteville, AR
Wedding Coordinator/Florist - Finishing Touch Event Design, Little Rock, AR

Congratulations again to Kelly & Waylon Walburn! I hope you are settling into your new home in Ohio. Keep in touch!

Louboutin Love...

This shoe is so beautiful that it makes me a little light headed...

FYI: They're now half off at Bergdorf's.

This feminine, flirty shoe would make any girl feel beautiful! And every bride deserves to feel special on their wedding day.

I could design an entire wedding around this shoe and I just might....stay tuned for the Louboutin inspiration board!

Beautiful Garden Arrangements by Bella Weddings & Events

Molti Bellissimi fiori! I am crazy about these bright, beautiful floral arrangements by Bella Wedding & Events. They are cheerful, elegant, and fresh all at the same time. Gorgeous!

See more photos from this garden wedding at Flights of Fancy.

Color Inspiration: Plum, Rose, and Gray

I adore this color palette from Flights of Fancy.
This could be used in any season, for any wedding style. It could be vintage or modern, soft or edgy. It's absolutely beautiful!

In the Movies: The Time Traveler's Wife

I've been waiting for this movie for months! Sadly, I still have not seen it (I'm waiting to watch it with my sister). But, I absolutely love the dress they've chosen for the wedding scene. It's a simple, elegant, strapless gown by Lea-Ann Belter. If you've read the book, you'll know that this dress perfectly fits the personality & character of The Time Traveler's Wife - it keeps the focus on the importance of the wedding and not on a fancy gown.

The beautiful strapless gown chosen for Rachel McAdams is the Cecelia from Lea-Ann Belter's 2008 collection.

Here is a selection of gorgeous gowns from Belter's 2009 collection:

I love the flowing skirt of this gown!

Thanks to Martha Stewart for the photo from the movie.

Sunny Inspiration!

If this sunflower inspiration board from Project Wedding doesn't make you happy nothing will!

I adore the escort card display! (see bottom, left)

Orange Inspiration

I'm in love with this beautiful inspiration board by Wedding Cabaret! It's casual chic personified! Plus there's a definite southern influence to it all. Gorgeous!!

Kudos!

We have worked with some incredible vendors recently and many of them had the nicest things to say about Finishing Touch. Here are just a couple of incredibly wonderful blog mentions we've received from those vendors:

May, 2009 - one of the best things you can do is visit the website of an incredible event planner that I have worked with...Jessica Kersey at Finishing Touch Event Design. I think that often, the initial thought of having an Event Planner would be increased cost, however, it is very obvious after seeing her and her team in action, of the savings she can bring your way. Her packages have a wide range for any budget. But, even more apparent - what she can add is priceless...a smooth and seamless day despite all of the unexpected occurences taht tend to happen; unbelievable, beautiful details that you and your guests will always remember; and just the joy of working with her, as she is incredible! - Shannon Walker, Photographer, A Moment Captured.Shannon, from A Moment Captured Photography, is amazing! I cannot say enough wonderful words about her work and her prices. She is extremely talented and is an absolute pleasure to work with.

June, 2009 - Kari and Greyson....were married at The Kerr Conference Center in Poteau....One of the best wedding coordinators I have ever worked with was Jessica Kersey of Finishing Touch Event Design....Congratulations Kari and Greyson on a beautiful wedding and wishing you a happy life together! - Melissa Claborn, PhotographerMelissa Claborn is an incredible photographer from McAlester, OK. Her unique eye captures those most important moments of your big day!

Vintage Glam Tree House Wedding

This event is awe-inspiring! The easy vintage inspired details are gorgeous and create a subtly elegant and beautiful wedding. It just feels comfortable! And I adore that.
See more photos and details about this wedding on Vintage Glam's blog. Thanks for the gorgeous inspiration!

Wedding Gown Sunday: Sarah Seven

Sarah Seven creates some of the most gorgeous, ethereal gowns out there. I love how they flow and the details are incredible! Imagine having a gown made just for you that is actually affordable....here they are:

With All My Love dress, $1,210.

A Peaceful Afternoon dress, $515.
Perfect for a "short dress" bride!

A Peaceful Afternoon Gown, $1,400.

Tulip dress, $475.
What a beautiful dress for a non-traditional bride! I love the soft shade of blue.

Gotta Love a Southern Wedding!

Thanks to Southern Weddings Magazine for highlighting this beautiful wedding! So inspiring...

Incredible Cake Table!

This stunning table scape gave me chills. It is absolutely fabulous! The perfect spring or summer display and the purple and green are truly gorgeous. I will definitely be using this as inspiration for future weddings.

via Style Me Pretty

Amazing Wedding Cupcakes

As always Martha Stewart has given us some amazing new ideas. These wedding cupcakes are incredible! They won't save be less expensive than a cake, but they're beautifully done and are something your guests will love.
Check out her other cupcake designs.