{the blog of Special Moments}
The Original Runner Co. makes personalized aisle runners with monograms, flowers, 
butterflies, quotes, borders, etc. in many different colors. They’re based in NYC. This is a great way to add decor to a church aisle when they do not allow flower petals on the aisle. If you are also worried about a way to dress up that long trip down the aisle.
I put together a little montage of just a few of my favorites (it was hard to choose!):
If you have decided to release butterflies at your wedding, do not wait too long to look for a farmer to purchase your butterflies. It takes approximately 4 to 5 weeks to raise the butterflies. You want to make sure that you are able to purchase the type and quantity of butterflies that you would like. So it is a good idea to start looking at least 3 months or more in advance and to reserve your butterflies, preferably 4 to 6 weeks in advance. Most farmers ask that ½ be paid to reserve the butterflies and the remainder is due approximately 2 weeks before the event.
When you are looking for butterflies, you will find that there are up to 9 different types that the USDA allows to be shipped across state lines. Check with a butterfly farmer to make sure which butterflies can be shipped into your state. Also, if you happen to order butterflies from a farmer within your state, they may raise different butterflies other than what is listed below. Farmers do not need a permit to ship within their state. The 9 types of butterflies that are allowed to be shipped across most state lines are Monarchs, Black Swallowtails, Giant Swallowtails, Painted Ladies, American Painted Ladies, Mourning Cloaks, Red Admirals, Zebra Longwings, and Gulf Fritillaries.
Monarchs – Monarchs are the most popular butterfly used for releases. They probably are the most recognized butterfly also. You will find that most farmers raise this type. It is a lovely 
butterfly with its vivid orange and black markings. It is more expensive than the Painted Lady, but it is a larger butterfly with a wing span of 3 3/8 to 4 7/8”, and makes for a lovely release. Don’t let the price scare you from ordering these butterflies. You will definitely not regret it.
Painted Ladies – Painted Ladies are probably the second most popular butterfly for releases. Its colors are an orange-brown, with black markings along with some white markings on its 
upper wings. They are not as expensive as the Monarch. They also are a smaller butterfly, with a wing span of 2 – 2 7/8 inches. They do work well in displays because of their size and they seem to be happy in smaller areas.
Black Swallowtails – Black Swallowtails are a beautiful butterfly. They have a wing span of about 3 ¼” – 4 ¼”. They are mostly black with males having a yellow band near the edge of their wings. Females have a row of yellow spots and a iridescent blue band. 
They have tails that can be easily broken. Also, if handled too much, their color does come off. These are raised by more butterfly farmers, but still not by a majority of them. You may be able to use these in a mixed release.
Lady. It has less white markings on its upper wings. Not as many farmers raise this type though, and you may have a harder time finding it. Mourning Cloak – The Mourning Cloak appears to be a black butterfly, but is actually a dark maroon with whitish border and violet-blue row of spots on its lower wings. It has a wing span of about 2 ¼ to 4”. This is a lovely butterfly, but caution needs to be taken when doing releases with this butterfly. They like to play dead when 
touched and may not be the most suitable for releases. They may work better for displays. This butterfly is not raised by many butterfly farmers.
are white spots near the apex of the wing. It varies in size, anywhere from 1 ¾ inch to 3 inch wing span. Again, this butterfly is not raised by all farmers.
Zebra Longwings –Zebra Longwings are a medium sized butterfly. They have a 2 – 4 inch wings span. They are mostly black with yellow stripes that run from wing tip to wing tip. The 
underside of the wings are striped the same as the upper side of the wings. The Zebra Longwing tends to hover in flight, slowly and gracefully moving from flower to flower. These are raised and released only in the southern states.
Giant Swallowtails – The Giant Swallowtail is a large butterfly with a wing span of 5 inches or longer. It is brownish black with yellow stripes. Its underside is yellow with brownish black. 
They have tails like the Black Swallowtail butterfly. These can be easily broken. This does not hurt the butterfly’s ability to fly. Since they rest with their wings open, they look lovely in displays.
flower to flower, taking a long time to stop and drink from each bloom. These are raised by a few farmers, but not many.
Jodi Hopper is the owner of Wish Upon A Butterfly
For further information on Butterfly Releases and Wedding Planners that are certified to assist you with Butterfly Releases in your area.
The Association of Butterflies – www.forbutterflies.org
Special Moments is proud to be certified thru this association also to assist you with Butterfly Releases.
Number One: Bouquet/garter toss (no surprise). More couples are ditching this long time tradition for many reasons. For some they know their guest list and the fact that there are more married people attending the reception than singles. For others, they just know how lame this goes. Who catches the bouquet 9 times out of 10? A six year old girl. Whoopeeee! And the dudes? Well AFTER you take 10 minutes of embarrassing them to get them on the dance floor, they stand their like statues with their hands folded, refusing to even get near the tossed garter. After it lands on the floor, who gets it? The 3 year old boy that just rushed in from the side lines.
This tradition is OOUUT!
Number Two: Formal guests books. Yawn. Some of those guests books ask for everything but the guest’s social security number. It takes forever to fill out and backs up the guests out the front door when trying to enter the ceremony site. You’ll never look at this thing again. Instead, look for newer traditions such as; photo books, signed photo mats, small pieces of paper that guests can give advice and then make a scrap book.
This tradition is OOUUT!
Number Three: NOT seeing each other before the wedding. Most important day of your life for the both of you, and you spend HALF that day trying to not see each other. Huh? I love the weddings that my clients start the pictures before the wedding, the vibe is just so cool and much better (but that is for another post). See each other. Do yourself and your guests a favor.
This tradition is OOUUT!
Number Four (finally): Champagne Toasts. I’ve put beer, wine, 7-up, juice, diet coke, punch, and water in the champagne flutes for my clients. Not everyone likes champagne, so don’t waste the money. And certainly, if you are on a budget, cut this out for all the guests. During the toasts they will hold it up to their lips, barely touch it and then set it down. Let them toast with whatever is in front of them. Save your bucks.
This tradition is OOUUT! 
Food stations aren’t just relegated to large weddings. They’re perfect for small weddings too.
Food stations are fun for your wedding guests because they allow guests to sample foods that they otherwise might never have tasted, and they get everyone mixing and mingling.
Although you might not have as many food stations as a large wedding, a smaller guest list will allow you to splurge on foods that might otherwise be out of your budget.
Love seafood? Have a seafood station. Love prime rib? Go for a carving station.
You can also create stations that reflect your ethnicity or your locale.
Here are 18 ideas for food stations that will tantalize your taste buds:
Asian Station
Rice and noodle dishes, along with spring rolls, pan fried dumplings, and Thai dishes like satay chicken or pad Thai. A dim sum station is another option.
Mexican Station 
Fajitas, quesadillas, tacos and nachos with lots of yummy toppings.
Pasta Bar
A variety of gourmet pastas. Offer a cold pasta bar, a warm pasta bar or both.
Crepe Station
Dessert crepes like crepes suzette, cherry crepes with whipped cream, or hazelnut and chocolate crepes. You could also serve dinner style crepes such as chicken paprikash crepes, seafood crepes and grilled veggie crepes.
Salad and Veggie Bar
Greek salad, Caesar salad, bean salad – the options are endless. You could also include grilled veggies.
Cheese Station 
A selection of domestic and international cheeses from gourmet cheese makers. Pair with a variety of wines, both red and white.
Perogie Station
Offer a variety of perogies stuffed with mashed potatoes, potato and cheddar, or feta. Offer toppings such as bacon bits, sour cream and chives.
Mediterranean Station 
Hummus, tabouli, souvlaki, pitas and grilled veggies
Potato Station
Baked potatoes with buffet style toppings like bacon, sour cream, chives, chili, cheese, and guacamole. You could also have a mashed potato station with toppings such as sour cream and chives, bacon, cheddar cheese, mushroom or seafood sauce. Serve in martini glasses.
Mac and Cheese Station
We’re not talking Kraft Dinner here. Have a chef cook up some gourmet mac and cheese and offer a variety of toppings to make it even more decadent.
Children’s Food Station
Having more than a handful of kids at your wedding? Have a kid’s station with kids’ foods such as mini pizzas, French fries, veggies and dip, and chicken fingers.
Soup Bar
Perfect for fall and winter weddings. Offer a variety of homemade soups, like seafood chowder, minestrone, lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, chicken gumbo, or asparagus soup. What about gazpacho, vichyssoise or borsht?
Raw Seafood Bar 
Oysters, sushi rolls, shrimp cocktail, crab salad, smoked salmon.
Fish and Seafood Bar
Lobster, crab legs, scallops, salmon
Carving Station
Roast tenderloin of beef, prime rib, ham or rack of lamb. Turkey is a great option for fall and winter weddings.
Dessert Station 
You could have a lot of fun with this. Offer a wide variety of home made desserts or stick with a theme like chocolate.
A variety of gourmet ice creams or gelato with lots of delicious toppings to choose from so guests can create their own sundaes.
Espresso Bar
Espresso, gourmet coffees and teas – and don’t forget the hot chocolate for the kids. Have cinnamon, whipped cream, nutmeg, cane sugar and cream on hand.
Vintage = Romance
Think 1950s movies like Casablanca, Gone With the Wind and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. How could anyone pass up the charm, the beautiful costumes, the elegance and style of such an era?
A nice point to consider is that vintage weddings are often more eco-friendly than other themes too, as to pull off the ‘vintage’ look you’ll inadvertently be using antiques, borrowed items, hand-me-downs and vintage clothing (even a second-hand vintage wedding dress, if you’re feeling brave!). You will even be able to scour antiques shops for vintage jewelery to match your wedding colours. Op-shopping has never been more fun, and you could even find that you save quite a bit of money!
Your Dress
Think 1950s movies like Casablanca, Gone With the Wind and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. How could anyone pass up the charm, the beautiful costumes, the elegance and style of such an era? When it comes to your wedding dress, you may choose to have something entirely new created – or you may feel brave enough to reuse a vintage dress, keeping in total sync with your vintage theme. If you do decide to buy an authentic vintage gown, you’ll need to keep some things in mind:
Firstly, avoid buying these sorts of dresses online. People have generally become taller and thicker, and the clothing industry has also changed its sizing guide over the years, so unless it looks as though it would be able to be altered easily, you’re best off trying one on and buying it in the flesh than online.
Make sure you avoid stains and rips/tears. Stains that have been on a dress for twenty to eighty years are not going to come off easily, if at all. Again with tears or rips; you’d have a very hard time finding a fabric that matched in colour, texture and style which your dressmaker could use to repair such damage.
Work out your budget before you begin. Many brides know the pain and angst of having found ‘their’ dress, only to have then discovered the price tag was far out of their reach. If you do find something you love, yet cannot afford, consider taking lots of pictures (when the shopkeeper isn’t looking) and having a reproduction made. That way, you can have exactly what you want within your budget, and a bonus – it will be brand new, too!
Your Venue
Finding a venue that exudes vintage charm, yet is within your price range, may be trickier than you first thought. Such venues often charge premiums for the use of their historic rooms, with its antique furnishings and (probably very excessive) insurance rates. You’ll probably find that you can find a nice, basic venue and then use that money to decorate it exactly in your vintage style – hiring chandeliers, huge candelabras, floral displays, vintage chairs, tables and linen – which may actually work out more cheaply than that to-die-for historical ballroom you had your eye on. If you can afford and do decide to go for a historical venue, keep some things in mind – make sure you ask about their policy with candles (if it is heritage listed, they are often not allowed), their conditions in regards to damage (just in case a drunk Uncle Peter drops his glass of red wine all over their expensive vintage lounge), and anything else which you might have specifically in mind, such as potential finishing times (many venues have policies restricting noise past 10pm, for example).
A few examples below of some Reception locations that have a Vintage Look to them in the Tampa Bay Area are:
The Kapok Special Event Center
Your Flowers
Some of the most popular flowers of the period include carnations, dahlias, old roses, sweet-peas and gladioli. You’ll need to be thinking pastel pinks, pearls, blues, creams, beige, buttery yellows, charcoal greys – and not just for flowers! The styles of bouquet changed through this period too, and ranged from simple nosegay bouquets right up to elaborate, overflowing creations. Keep in mind the colours of your venue, your dress, your cake etc. when deciding which flowers will best suit your vintage bouquet.
Transport
Buicks, Bentleys, Rolls Royces and convertibles! Many brides choose to use these styles of cars in their wedding days, but yours will be a true stylistic element. Transport is often one of the first indications your guests will get of your big day’s theme, as you arrive for your ceremony, and for some this means a racy sports car, or an old fashioned horse and carriage. Others may choose to go modern and hire a hummer, or even arrive in a V8 Supercar. For your vintage theme, however, you simply cannot go past the classics in order to make a statement.
Your Cake
For a vintage wedding you simply cannot go past a classic, elegant tier cake. Traditionally, this would consist of layers of boiled fruitcake for the guests, with the top tier to be kept for the bride and groom to eat on their anniversary. While many brides and grooms still kept to the tradition of saving the top layer, you no longer need to feel pressured to use any fruitcake layers! There are so many more unique and yummy flavours out there – how about Hazelnut Mocha, or Orange Buttercream? You may even choose to flavour your cake with liqueur – your guests would go wild over a layer of Caramel Baileys flavour! Of course, keeping in touch with your vintage theme, decorating the outside of the cake should include the use of satin ribbons, diamantes or pearl sequins, brooches, flower decorations and of course, icing which reflects your colour themes. Try using the cakes below as a starting point of inspiration.
Having Your Prefect Vintage Wedding
There are a myriad of other points to consider when it comes to your vintage wedding – which hairstyle will you pick? How will you dress your bridal party? What sorts of favours should you pick – and oh, what music should you pick to keep in with your theme? How on earth will you dress your GROOM? If you’re struggling to find inspiration on the web it’s a good idea to seek the help of a experienced wedding planner to guide you thru the process and save time and effort for the fun parts of the wedding planning process that you will enjoy researching.
On Thursday , March 26th, 2009…. Nova 535 was the location for the Association of Bridal Consultants Central Florida West Local Networking meeting. We decided it would be fun to do a Vegas themed meeting complete with BlackJack tables… We were also able to showcase a new caterer in town. Ken Jurgenson from Chives Catering. Fabulous Food, Amazing location,awesome entertainment and great people in attendance.
Thank you again to these amazing vendors for helping put on this event!
Connie Duglin Linens- Toni Tassoni
Chives Catering- Ken Jurgenson
DanMar Productions-( Blackjack Tables) Mary Spikes
Nova 535- ( Location) Courtney Caton
Jemstar Entertainment- Jeff Mufson
Centerpieces- Special Moments
Cocktail Tables- Coast to Coast Event Rentals- Jesse Caya
Rolls Royce- Ambassador Limousines- Michael DeArruda
Photography- Britt McAllister
Enjoy the photos below courtesy of Britt McAllister
These unique and modern ideas for wedding flowers that are sure to inspire your own creations…
Your wedding flowers offer ample opportunity to stretch your creative muscles and add a bit of originality to your wedding day, so don’t be afraid to design a floral scheme that bucks tradition. This list of our favorite ideas for bridal bouquets, centerpieces, colors and other decorations is a great place to start designing a memorable decor scheme.
Play with Shape
Arrangements with a just-picked, unstructured look are replacing the tightly-bound bouquet and centerpiece shapes of previous seasons. Ensure a modern, not messy, look by choosing the right flowers. Hearty blooms like lilies, orchids, and amaranthus work well in looser arrangements because of 
the sleek shape of the individual blooms. Also consider incorporating non-floral elements like feathers, berries, and crystals to add interest and depth.
Get Into Navy
Sophisticated and classic navy is one of the hottest colors on the 2009 wedding palette, and many brides are daring to think beyond basic baby blue by incorporating the darker shade into their floral schemes. Naturally navy flowers may be hard to come by, but there are some options that are a close match: deep blue violets, thistles, and hydrangea are available in various shades of blue and indigo, while roses are a versatile bloom that can be dyed any color – including navy blue. Pair these bold navy blooms with white or ivory for a classic look, or yellow for a bright burst of color.
Think Beyond the Vase
Options abound beyond the basic floral vase for holding your flowers. Consider instead mixing and matching clusters of unique containers like wood buckets, mason jars, cans, pitchers, antique urns and uniquely shaped vases to add interest and reflect your wedding theme. Some ideas: Fill watering 
cans with wild flowers for a garden fete, or use apothecary jars filled with sand and sea glass to complement to a waterfront wedding.
Lighten Up
Candles, always a popular choice for centerpieces, are becoming even more popular as a budget and eco-friendly enhancement to traditional floral centerpieces. Ample candlelight lends the day a romantic, organic feel, while the natural resource saves electricity and drapes the setting with an intimate glow. Another way to enhance your arrangements with lighting and really make your centerpieces pop is through a technique called pinspotting. This advanced light design shines tiny beams of light from the ceiling to illuminate the center of each arrangement. 
Get Stoned
Say good-bye to light pastels and muted shades, and seek inspiration from the baubles on your ears and wrist. Rich gemstone colors like amethyst, turquoise, and amber are hot on this year’s wedding color palette. Accent these rich colors with soft sandy tones or grays instead of chocolate brown (so last year!)
Go Green
Going green is easy when it comes to wedding flowers. Consult Mother Nature for inspiration and bring the outdoors in. Natural objects like stones, leaves, pinecones, even twigs can add an organic aesthetic to your reception décor. Place in rustic containers or scatter amongst pillar candles for added ambiance. 
Make it Personal
Further seeking to personalize their weddings, brides are using their wedding flowers to call out specific interests by incorporating unique items into bouquets and centerpieces and creating a conversation piece for guests. For instance, book worms can use intricately piled leather-bound books in place of floral centerpieces, and wine lovers can use wine bottles and decanters as centerpiece holders. 
Tie it Together
The hand-tied bouquet continues its reign as the most popular bouquet style as brides opt for a tailored and natural look to their wedding flowers. A fresh 
bunch of flowers gathered and wrapped in a wide satin ribbon presents the look of simple elegance, but brides wishing to up the glam of this otherwise simple look can embellish the bouquet with brooches, pins, and crystal picks.
Lose the Corsage 
Some brides are forgoing corsages and instead having the moms carry nosegays or tussy mussys down the aisle. Besides the fact that corsages tend to conjure up memories of proms gone bad, there’s practical reason for this trend because it saves the dress – often made from fragile fabric – from pulling and tearing from the weight of the corsage.
More and more churches, synagogues, and ceremony sites are restricting the dropping of fresh flower petals along the aisle because the flowers may stain the carpet or floor. Choose from this list of alternatives for creative options to the flower petal tradition.
Petal Alternatives
Cover a plastic-foam ball with silk flowers and hang it from a looped ribbon so the flower girl can carry it as she walks down the aisle. Or, have a florist create a ball of fresh flowers. 
Instead of a basket, have the flower girl carry a wand embellished with fresh or silk flowers, a poof of tulle, and long, trailing ribbons
Fabric-covered tin buckets make lovely (and sturdy) carrying baskets for a flower girl. Fill with a bouquet if flower petals cannot be dropped.
Your flower girl will be delighted to carry a special fabric purse filled with rose petals. Be sure to determine if your wedding venue allows dropping the petals; or, just fill the bag with silk petals or a small bouquet.
Let the flower girl carry a small nosegay that mimics the bride’s bouquet.
A ribbon handle added to this bouquet holder would make it an appropriate accessory for a flower girl. Fill the embellished wallpaper cone with rose petals
If you are a beach wedding Bride , then my favorite choice is below: A cute little metal bucket with a starfish on the front and freeze dried rose petals inside.
Boutonnieres are a very important part of the wedding flowers. You can choose something ordinary or traditional like your simple rose boutonniere, or you can have a little fun and make a statement starting with the Boutonnieres that they guys will wear with their wedding day attire. If your budget is a concern, then do a simple boutonniere for the groomsmen and dads and give your Special Guy that Special Touch!!!
We have included some different boutonnieres below for you to view and enjoy adding that special touch to any of the ones below!!
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