Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue...

Valentine's Day is less than 72 hours away and while some of you may have had this holiday planned for weeks we know a lot of you out there are in need a little last-minute help.  Don't panic!  We've got you covered.  No matter how you end up celebrating this annual day of love, flowers are a must.  Whether you'll be celebrating Valentine's Day with a long-time love, a first date or something in between you want make sure the flowers you're gifting are saying what you want them to say.  Here's a cheat-sheet on the meaning behind some popular blooms:

Red Roses: An unmistakable expression of love, these classic flowers convey deep emotion.

Pink Roses: There are a number of variations of the pink rose but overall they convey more gentle emotions such as admiration and appreciation.

Lavender Roses: Light purple roses convey enchantment and express a love-at-first-sight type of feeling.

Delphinium: These vibrant flowers convey a fun, light-heartedness and indicate ardent attachment and appreciation between the giver and receiver.

Bird of Paradise: Symbolizing joyfulness and magnificence, these exotic flowers indicate excitement and wonderful anticipation.

Alstroemeria: The official flower of friendship.

 

 

You Are What You Drink

Serving a signature cocktail inspired by the bride and groom has become commonplace at weddings all across the country.  It's a great way to infuse a little personality into the beverage program of your event.  While your bartender or caterer will help you create something custom it's always good to have an idea of what type of drink you want to be your signature as husband and wife.  Here are some thoughts for your consideration...cheers!

If you're having a springtime wedding somewhere outdoors...
Vodka Soda with Frozen Wildflower Flower Ice Cubes

If you're planning a destination wedding somewhere exotic...
Kiwi Daiquiri

If you're hosting a winter wonderland-theme wedding...
Raspberry Martini (served in a frosted sugar-rimmed martini glass, of course!)

If you're having a casual pool-side reception and want to party...
Peach and Champagne Jello Shots

If you're planning an elegant summertime affair...
Rose-Infused Vodka Collins (served in a Gold Leaf-rimmed glass)

A Night With 007

Regardless of what your cinematic taste is there is one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on: there's no one cooler than James Bond.  Recently we had the opportunity to plan and produce a very cool 007-themed birthday party for a client that was nothing short of spectacular.  Chicago's legendary hotel, The Drake, served as the perfect backdrop for the party, which featured everything from oversized glass centerpieces brimming with fresh red roses to casino and martini-inspired desserts (think dice-shaped cake pops and sweets in the shape of stuffed martini olives.)  Models dressed as James Bond himself and the famously sexy Bond Girls mixed and mingled with the party's 400 guests.  Take a peak at some of our favorite photos from the evening below...

Winter Wonderland Wedding

Temperatures have been hitting record lows all over the country and here in Chicagoland we have definitely been feeling the freeze!  While conventional wisdom would have us believe that all brides prefer to have their weddings during the warm weather months of spring and summer, a number of them actually opt for winter weddings.  Believe it or not there are a number of terrific reasons to celebrate your marriage in December, January or February. 

 

1. Increased Availability: Typically there are far fewer events during these months, meaning you probably won’t have to fight with another couple over your dream venue on the date of your choice.  You’re likely to find more available weekends at hotels, country clubs and other would-be wedding reception locales from January – March.

 

2. Decreased Cost: Simply put, more availability and less event bookings = lower cost and more room to negotiate with vendors.

3. Center of the Season: Opting for a wintertime wedding will ensure that you are one of very few weddings your guests will be attending during that time of year; as opposed to the traditional “wedding season” where people tend to have nuptial-related events every single weekend.

Check out elements of some of our favorite Winter Wonderland-themed weddings (we guarantee you’d be inspired!)

Trend Watch: 2014 Color of The Year

Just last month Pantone, the country's leading authority on color, announced the official hue of 2014 and we couldn't be more excited about it!  The new hue of the New Year is Radiant Orchid, a strikingly beautiful shade of purple with pink and fuchsia undertones.  This gorgeous color is already popping up all over place, including events!  While flowers are  the obvious way to incorporate Radiant Orchid into an upcoming soiree, there are so many ways in which to utilize this surprisingly versatile color.  Here are a few of our favorites to get your creative juices flowing...

How To Create A Great Tablescape

Tablescape (n.) – An artistic arrangement of items gathered into a grouping and placed on a table.  If you’ve ever hosted a party or planned an event you know that knowing what a tablescape is and knowing how to create one are two very different things.  For amateur and seasoned entertainers alike, creating a tablescape that is as beautiful as it is functional can be a daunting task.  Here are some tips on how to get it right:

Don’t Be Afraid of Dimension – A flat, one-dimensional table is exactly that: flat and boring!  Add depth to your table by utilizing items that create varying heights.  Tiered trays, small wooden boxes that are sturdy enough to support the weight of a serving platter are easy, inexpensive ways to accomplish your goal of creating an interesting tablescape with dimensionality.  Lucite containers in a square, circular or rectangular shape are also great options and can be found at retailers all over the country (hint: The Container Store has a vast collection of Lucite containers in varying sizes, shapes and colors.)

Keep The Kids Entertained – As any parent will tell you, keeping kids occupied and in their designated seats is one of the toughest parts of any party or event.  Bypass this problem by creating an interactive tablescape to help keep the kids entertained.  Create a special runner for the kids’ table using a piece of long narrow felt (which can be purchased at Michael’s or any other craft store.)  Scatter small foam shapes all over the table, give each child their own adhesive and let them decorate their own portion of the runner. (Hold The Foam is a no-run, fast dry glue product that’s great for this type of project.)

Leave It To The Experts – Many people are under the misguided impressions that event specialists and party planners are just for weddings, conventions and large scale events.  Not true!  Here at Kensington we regularly take on a variety of holiday projects ranging from creating floral centerpieces for at-home dinners to planning and producing employee parties for major corporations.  

Check out some of the tablescapes we’ve created below…

Tip for the week

Fresh cut flowers live longer when you clean out the vase every 4 days. Each time you change the water make sure to add 3 drops of bleach (yes, bleach) and re-cut the bottoms of the stems in a 90 degree angle if possible. Flower stems drink better that way :)