Local Vendor: Rust Belt Love

Talented. Enthusiastic. Fun.

Three words to describe two sisters operating one amazing design company.

I first met Alyson O'Connor, one of the two owners of RustBeltLove on Twitter back in late summer of 2010. We got "tweeting" and finally met up with each other (along with her sister Megan Murdie) shortly after - when our lives sort of calmed down a bit! Talk about a fun time! We shared business stories, life stories, and a lot of laughs. I am so excited to have met these two, and wanted to spread the word about their awesome, local design company. As such, I introduce you to....RustBeltLove!

"The way we see it, event design is creating a COHESIVE look and feel for your event. We want to make sure your color scheme, mood, theme, and overall PERSONALITY are carried, visually, throughout all elements involved. Your invitations should set the mood, and thereafter your menus, programs, table settings, even something as small, but significant, as your favors should all meld perfectly. Wrap everything up with a matching thank you card you'll understand why it's the little things that people notice."

Each RustBeltLove package begins with a free consultation where these two lovely ladies get to know you - what you like, what you don't like, and the colors, themes, and textures that you are drawn to. They will then take all of that information and create a special "mood board," designed specifically for you and your overall tone. They offer several packages that range from simply invitations all the way to their platinum package, which includes shower invitations, thank you cards, catering centerpieces, favors, menus, place cards, table design, room decor and programs!

You can contact Alyson and Megan at

RustBeltLove@gmail.com

Also, check them out on

Facebook

and

Twitter!

Need A Unique Engagement, Shower, or Wedding Gift?

Why not surprise them with a gift certificate from Queen City Weddings?!

With our wide variety of packages you can purchase gift certificates in almost any denomination - the prefect gift for any bride-to-be!

Our hourly package is great for the bride who has done all of the planning, but needs an extra helping hand on their wedding day to make sure everything goes as planned. Examples include:

• Setting up the ceremony site with bows, flowers and programs
• Assisting with special, small details at the reception site - cake table photo montage, escort cards, candy buffet bar, remembrance table, the list could go on and on!
• Delivering items to ceremony site or reception site
• Packing up reception items at the end of the night

Call or email us today!

716.725.5068

johanna@queencityweddings.com

Inspiration Board: Honeysuckle, Yellow & Orange

Although, it is only mid-February, these last couple of days truly got me excited for springtime as the temperatures hit the mid 50's and the sun finally made an appearance! Unfortunately, I woke up this morning and was greeted with mid-20 degree temperatures, scattered snow showers and a very gray day.

To help keep my springtime spirits high I thought I would focus today's inspiration board on a fun, bright, springtime color combination - including Pantone's color of the year, Honeysuckle! After doing the research for this board, I very quickly realized that I am so ready for sunshine, warmth, and lots & lots of beautiful weddings! Enjoy!

Top Row: Cake, Aisle, Bouquet

Middle Row: Lemonade, Bridesmaid Dress, Escort Cards

Bottom Row: Centerpiece, Invitation, Bridesmaids

Inspiration Board: Mason Jars

Looking for an inexpensive, but gorgeous centerpiece? How about dazzling up your aisle? Or maybe you need to add some soft lighting to your reception? Look no further than your pantry for the answer to all of these – Mason Jars!

I absolutely love mason jars. They can be used in so many aspects of your wedding and are so reasonably priced – not to mention that they can be used again and again after your big day. You cant go wrong! As such, today’s inspiration board features these fantastic little jewels! I even had to do two because, let's face it, the possibilities are endless! Enjoy!

Top Row: Aisle Flowers, Hanging Lanterns, Centerpiece

Middle Row: Candle Holders, Photo Jars, Vases

Bottom Row: Bouquet Holder, Hanging Lanterns

Top Row: Centerpiece, Crayon Holder, Lemonade

Middle Row: Flower Shepherd Hook, Candle Shepherd Hook, Favor

Bottom Row: Lemonade, Centerpiece, Hanging Lantern

I also wanted to add that The Wedding Paper Divas have a great how-to guide for DIY mason jar wedding favors that I definitely urge you to check out!

And here is a great link for DIY mason jar lanterns by the San Diego Wedding Insider.

Local Vendor: Make up By Holly

In early December I had the honor to meet up with Holly Margolis, owner of Makeup By Holly M to discuss weddings, life and other miscellaneous fun. Holly just recently moved to the Buffalo area from her hometown of Long Island and brought along her business to expand to the Western New York area. I am so glad that she did! Here is a little bit about her that I would love to share with all of our Buffalo Brides!

Holly started in the make up and beauty industry over ten years ago. She first discovered her passion for make up and beauty when she started at Lancome Cosmetics in Bloomingdales. She then went on to work for MAC Cosmetics where she was truly able to focus on the perfecting her skills, receive great training, and work with incredible clientele. Holly has received numerous certificates in regards to the makeup industry that allow her to keep up to date with new techniques and produces, and allowing her to pass on the best possible services to her clients.

Makeup by Holly M uses all MAC products, is affordable, and also makes it easy for brides on their wedding day as she will travel to wherever the bride is getting ready.

It was a pleasure catching up with Holly and welcoming her to beautiful Buffalo. I urge you all to check out her website at http://www.makeupbyhollym.com where you can learn more about her services and see some before and after photos of her work. Also, check out her facebook page when you search “Makeup by Holly M.”

Holiday Recap

Well I finally did it! This weekend I devoted my entire Saturday to taking down, organizing and putting away all of our holiday decorations! As I was tackling this daunting task, I had the opportunity to recap how great the holidays were - full of family, love and the real reason for the season. I still cannot believe that the holidays are already over - but I am so excited for all that 2011 will bring. Here's a quick holiday recap of Holidays 2010. How were your holidays? And what did you do to make them special?

Engagement Gift Guide

So the engagement season is upon us! (Congratulations to all of you who are recently engaged!) As such, I wanted to focus on some engagement gift ideas that I have come across and wanted to share.

Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Personalized: Any personalized gift makes it extra special. Find a gift that is catered to the couple and then try and find a company that will personalize it for you (there are many local establishments that do a phenomenal job with embroidery, engraving, and personalization for a very decent price).

Expressed Impressions – This is a local company that can take any photo and laser it onto charms, lighters, cufflinks, wine charms, you name it! Their options are endless and you cannot beat their price. Best of all, they are local and I love supporting local businesses! Check out their website at ExpressedImpressions.com.

Zazzle Stamps – Every couple needs stamps when it comes to their big day – Engagement announcements, Save the Dates, Invitations, Thank You cards. Postage costs can really add up for the couple that chooses more personable snail mail in this digital age. Why not head to Zazzle and order them personalized stamps for their big day. They will be sure to be used!

Monograms – Monograms are also a very classic fun gift where you can put on anything. Towels, bathrobes, house mats, glassware, china – the list can go on and on.

Modern Artisans – They offer some pretty neat personalized keepsake plates that are a great addition to any newly engaged couple’s house. You have a couple of options that vary in price which allow you to add the couple’s name, wedding date, or initials. Check their website out here.

Champagne - Go with the classic engagement gift, but add that special touch. Head over to a site like Gift Specialists to create your own, unique champagne or wine label for the couple.

Wedding Day Organization: Getting engaged is very exciting, but after all of the congratulations and jumping up and down, the bride may feel a bit overwhelmed. There are so many elements to the wedding and with people constantly posing questions about the big day, these gifts may be just the thing to calm her nerves!

Organizer – There are various wedding day organizers readily available depending on the brides’ tastes and needs. However, to add that special touch I suggest creating your own! I am all about DIY. Head on over to a local office supply store to grab a three ring binder, along with some folders and dividers, Then run a quick Google search for all of the wedding day must-have checklists that pertain the best to the brides. Print them out, arrange them in the binder, and add a personalized cover to this extra special gift!

Magazine Subscription – Bride-to-be’s love wedding day inspiration, and what better way to help them organization their thoughts and give them the inspiration that they need than a year’s subscription to their favorite wedding magazine. A few to note are Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides & Get Married.

Name change kit – There are so many legal documents that bride’s these days need to remember to change to her new name that it can be a very frustrating task. However, these all inclusive kits allow the bride a quick guide to changing all her needed documents over in a hassle free way catered to the state she is in.

Wedding Day Accessories: Here are a few items to spoil the bride with for her big day.

Charm Bracelet – Looking to buy for you bff? A close relative? Why not splurge and start her a brand new charm bracelet that will represent this new stage in her life. Start off with a bracelet and a charm for an extra special engagement gift and keep the trend going for her showers and wedding day gifts - it will sure make gift buying all that much easier – and personable!

Customized Cake Topper – There are so many beautiful cake toppers available on the web and at local shops. These can add such a special touch to the bride and groom’s big day. Here are a few that I found that may get you started. Acrylic Squares, Mongrammed, or Sentimental.

Wedding Time Capsule – What significant events happened during the year you were married in? Who was President? What was your favorite movie? Wedding Time Capsules are great, fun and inexpensive gifts for the bride and groom to forever remember their wedding year.

Waterford Ring holder – The bride now has an extra piece of jewelry to look after! Why not surprise her with a beautiful ring holder so she will have a special spot to put her very special piece.

Ps. I would love to hear your engagement ideas as well. Please e-mail me, comment, or send me a quick note on Facebook or Twitter. I can’t wait to hear!