It’s hard to believe that the beautiful pages of Martha Stewart Weddings have been inspiring brides for 15 years now! We had the great pleasure of attending their amazing anniversary party this past Monday night at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Ballroom at The Plaza

Many of the wedding industry greats were at the event to celebrate with the Martha Stewart Weddings Team which is a true testament to the magazine’s power and influence.

Here are a few images from the event.  And, in true Martha Stewart Weddings fashion, no detail was overlooked. It was a perfectly planned party!

Thanks for the inspiration. Here’s to the next 15 years!

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While perusing the WeddingWire Forums, I found this fun quiz for all you brides-to-be! It will just take a moment of your time. You will have so much fun reading what other people had to say, you won’t be able to resist taking the quiz yourself! Click here to see the full post.

Be sure to visit the WeddingWire Forums regularly to find answers to your questions from other brides, newlyweds, and wedding vendors or to simply to chat with other brides across the country.  Weddings bring us all together!

Photo Credits: The Puff Lounge, The Sigaro Bar, megphoto.com, Beekman Bar and Books

One of my absolute favorite new trends in wedding receptions is the Cigar Bar. This is such a great way to add a unique touch to your reception, and to have something for the men! There are several different ways you can create a cigar bar to suite your budget and your space.

DIY Bar – The cheapest and least space consuming method is to go to your local cigar shop and buy a variety of cigars by the box to set out on a table. Add some old books and a bowl of matches from some of your favorite places. You could also create some custom match books with your names and wedding date. For an extra touch add a bottle or two of brandy or scotch with some glasses.

Cigar Bar Service – There are also cigar bar companies, such as The Puff Lounge that will come out with humidors, cigars, etc and set up a cigar bar for you. This takes some of the work away from you, and gives you a more cohesive look.

Hand Rolled Cigars – I would love to be able to incorporate a cigar roller into my reception! Although this may be one of the pricier options, this is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests! CF Dominicana Cigar Catering is a company which has trained cigar rollers available for your wedding. They offer their services in a variety of cities nationwide, and thier prices are reasonable.

The Mens Lounge – If space and budget permit, why not create a men’s lounge? In order to prevent separating the men and women for too long, only have it open during a portion of your event, keep the area small as to only accomodate a small number of men at a time, and keep it easily accessed from the main reception area.

Are you thinking of including a cigar bar at your wedding?

-Lauryn

For all the bridesmaids out there who have been charged with planning a bridal shower, this post is for you!

To be cheesy or not to be cheesy, that is the question. There is a fine line between super cheesy games and fun activites and depending on your guests, it’s up to you to determine which side of the line you will be on! Bridal Shower Games has some cute ideas if you choose the game route.

I also read a great post on Bridal Party Blog today offering a few alternative ideas like,

• Plant the Kiss on the Hunk. Actually, to be specific, it’s plant the kiss on the poster of the (naked?) hunk. This game was definitely entertaining the last time I played it. This game is especially appropriate for a young group. It’s perfect if the bride has a celebrity crush that’s well known to the attendees (LL Cool J would be mine, for instance). There are other options for mixed audiences and special circumstances, though.

Alternate play: When the guest list is mostly composed of aunts and grandmothers, make sure the hunk is clothed. And if the bride’s fiancé is likely to catch a glimpse of the damage—try getting a poster of Lance Bass, Screech Powers/Dustin Diamond, or a similarly nonthreatening male.

Whatever you choose, have fun!

Crate and Barrel

Are you looking for a fun idea for an engagement party or couples shower? How about a Stock the Bar Party! The goal is to have a fully stocked bar at the conclusion of the evening. This includes glassware (wine glasses, martini glasses, rocks glasses, etc.); bar accessories (shaker, strainer, tray, wine carafe, ice bucket, etc.); and of course the beverages (wine, liquor, mixers, etc.).

It’s always nice to have a themed party so your guests know exactly what to bring. Many of these items will be on your wedding registry which also makes gift giving a bit easier.

Tip: Be sure to buy wine and liquor for the party itslef so you don’t have to open any of the gifts right away!

Martha Stewart Weddings

Upgrade your passed hors d’ oeuvres with color and texture! I saw this image in the Fall 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings and thought it was a great idea. Do this at home to wow the guests at your next party (maybe Thanksgiving or Holiday Party). Here, they have used cucumber strips, coarse salt, and chives to decorate the plate. The background color adds so much, I can’t even imagine a plain white platter anymore!

Do you have any other entertaining tips?

Thanks to a few of my co-workers, I have discovered The Macbeth Collection and now I’m slightly obsessed! This collection of home accessories and storage containers is absolutely adorable. From vases, to bins, to office accessories, you can add some style and flair to your life with these fun and unique patterns. They would even be perfect as reception accents. If you are having a more casual or outdoor wedding reception, these bins would be great to hold favors, beverages, or use them on a candy buffet to compliment your color scheme. You may also want to use a smaller bucket for your welcome gift to out of town guests. So many options!