Guest Post from Houston Design Expert Shandra Ward

 We are so excited to have a wonderful design expert as our guest blogger this week. Yes, I said, guest blogger. This is one of those ideas we learned at the Wedding MBA recently and I was so happy when Shandra Ward of Signature Design Studio agreed to be our first guest blogger. Check out her posting as she enlightens us with her overall design experience.

Now that the Wedding is Over…it’s time to Merge!

Creating a home you both will love

By Shandra Ward

You have planned your wedding down to the finest detail and it was a dream come true. The wedding is over and now your journey as husband and wife begins.  You are ready to begin creating a home you both will love and enjoy.   A home should be comfortable, cozy and inviting.  How are you going to merge your two very different styles without breaking the bank or contacting a marriage counselor? Here are a few tips and suggestions to help both of you find your signature style.

Communicate - Communication is the key to any successful relationship, so talk about what your needs are before you begin shopping and tossing things out.  Having conversation will keep you from becoming an impulsive buyer and making hasty decisions.  Making rushed decisions will leave you spending too much money only to become frustrated with purchasing something that does not work well with your design.  Then you have to deal with the unpleasant task of returning or exchanging. So make sure you thoroughly discuss what you plan to buy and what you plan to keep just as you would before making any other major purchase. Get to know your home before you start furnishing.

Design a Plan - It is much easier to design your home when you have a plan.  After you have agreed on a budget, begin prioritizing your needs.  Don’t buy what you do not need. Decide where you want to shop and maybe divide the responsibilities, such as, who does the research, legwork, or who gets the place ready for the furniture. You may both want to work together to decide on the final concept.

Create your Signature Style - What is your style preference?  Traditional, contemporary, mid-century modern, classic, ethnic, country, shabby chic, eclectic, global and the list goes on.  A simple way to find out what’s your style is to inventory what you already have.  Discovering your design preference can be found anywhere and a great place to explore is your wardrobe.

Mix it up - It is important for both of you to feel equally happy in your own home. Use furniture and accessories that reflect your new life together, and dispose of what no longer fits your lifestyle. If you know the basic elements of interior design, you will be able to create a space that looks fabulously stylish and functional.  Line, space, color, shape, texture, form, and value are the basic units of a visual image.  By using each element carefully to pull together the design of a room, you can create a beautiful and inspired space. It is important to understand these elements and how they work together to create the right style and design for your home.  Combine this knowledge with practice and experimentation and you are well on your way to designing a beautiful home.

Create the Home You Want - Don't be afraid to dream big even if your budget is small. Find ways of creating the home you want. You can explore department stores when they are having a sale, discount stores, flea markets, and consignment shops. Think about refurbishing and re-purposing items you already own. These are elements of green design. This suggestion allows you to rethink how you can save money and the planet. Designing your home can be a fun experience. Your design choices create a backdrop of your lifestyle, make it work for you.    

Download a complimentary guidebook to learn more about the basic elements of design.

Elementals: The Smart Guide to Creating Your Signature Style

 
 

About the Author

Shandra Ward is a designer and freelance writer.  With over 20 years of experience, Ms. Ward has made a name for herself as a skilled designer and creative event stylist.  After earning two interior design degrees and having an extensive background in art and design, she was prompted to start her own design firm, Shandra Ward Signature Design Studio.  Ms. Ward also shares her design expertise through freelance writing for blogs, online and print publications. In 2010, she launched Signature Style Design & Lifestyle blog.  This blog is a resource of innovative ideas, tips on sensible decorating, stylish entertaining and a go-to site with inspirational ideas for creating your signature style. 

To learn more about Shandra, log on to her:

Blog:  Signature Style: Design & Lifestyle

Facebook: Shandra Ward Signature Design Studio

Twitter: @SignaturStyle

Website: www.shandraward.com

Create a Beautiful Table With Any Budget

With so many event opportunities, we often get asked about table decor, and how to make the room pretty. And now with the holidays quickly approaching, we believe that to be a fair question. Our response to this is if you want the prettiest table decor, for any event, at any price point, start with a proper place settings. We believe this to be true no matter what type of budget you are working with. A proper place setting, which includes plates or chargers, all of the stemware and eating utensils, make a beautiful table, no matter what type of budget you may be working with. All you need are the basic items and a little imagination. We even provided a cheat sheet to help you.

Check out the difference in the two tables below. Adding stemware, napkins and utensils provide that little extra sparkle to the table. Those items coupled with colorful table linens, a glass bowl and floating candles make quite a prettier table. Setting a complete table, using the items that your guest will need to use anyway, makes more sense, both visually and financially. Of course, you can add more to the table for the extra wow factor, but if the budget is tight, it may not always be necessary.

Thought we would throw in a couple of additional photos to show how simplicity would work for your wedding reception or other event. The tables below don't utilize a plate in the setting because this event was a buffet but the use of a colorful table linen, stemware, utensils, napkins and a wedding favor, surrounding a simple floral centerpiece, make for a bright and cheery wedding reception.

These beautiful place settings below come from the editors of House Beautiful, that challenged several designers to create a beautiful place setting with classic white china. So as you can see, it doesn't cost much to create a beautiful table. 

When planning for your next event or holiday gathering, consider going for the simplest wow factor of all. Just set a beautiful table. Add wine glasses and water glasses, and dinner plates and salad plates, and... you get the idea. Your guests will ooh and aah, and you will look like the trendiest bride in the know or the holiday hostess with mostess. Either way, job well done, and your table decor didn't have to cost a fortune. 

Wedding Coordinator & Event Planner

  

Alpha Prosperity Events

www.AlphaProsperityManagement.com

Sangria Wedding in Clear Lake - Part II

As we continue the beautiful wedding story of Diana & Jason, married at the Webster Presbyterian Church, we must include some photos of two of the most important details of the day - the bride and groom. As the wedding coordinator, we strive to make sure that all of the details and wishes of the bride and groom are met. After all, they have gone through months of planning, vendor meetings, many issues of magazines and internet searches to create their perfect wedding; and for them the details are important. But they also want to have fun, and they want their guests to enjoy themselves, having a memorable time. I really enjoyed being a part of the planning for Jason and Diana. Their family and friends were so awesome. I got a chance to get to know them personally and I was kinda sad to see all of the wedding planning and coordination end. But I know this is one couple that will always be close to my heart. We planned for a great event, and we celebrated an even greater event. You've seen the wedding details  in last week's post. Now, enjoy the details of a relaxed bride and groom, enjoying their special day. I think a great time and dancing were had by all, especially the bride and groom. Wouldn't you agree?

We send a huge thank you to Pink Dot Photography for all of the wonderful photos used in this post and to RC's Artistic Entertainment, for keeping everyone on the dance floor. But we can't close out this post without sending a tremendous "Thank You," to our beautiful couple, Diana and Jason, for allowing us to be a part of your wedding day. I feel like you all have welcomed me into your extended family and I look forward to many more wonderful celebrations. I wish you many, many years of joy and happiness. 

Alpha Prosperity Events
Wedding Planning & Coordination
Greater Houston & New Orleans Areas

Sangria Wedding in Clear Lake

This week we are sharing some of the detail shots from the beautiful wedding of Diana and Jason. The color scheme of sangria, gold and champagne gave us so much to work with for this late September wedding on the water in Clear Lake.

The bride fell in love with the sangria color of the bridesmaid dresses and initially chose to accent the sangria color with gold, and ivory. After many tries, she was having difficulty bringing all of the elements together, and this of course was causing major stress for her and her fiance. That's where we came in.

We assisted the bride in selecting many elements for her special day from the invitations all the way to the lighting and other decor elements. After all was said and done, the bride redefined her color choices a bit because she wanted a lot of fall color to compliment the sangria choice. Sometimes, it just helps to bring in someone with a fresh pair of eyes, and the resources to bring it all together.

We think Diana made some beautiful color and decor choices and her selected vendors really came through, delivering just what she asked for. In the end, we had a very happy bride & groom. Mission accomplished!

A special thank you to all of the vendors that did an amazing job for Diana and Jason. The bride, groom and all of their guests had a wonderful time, dancing the night away.  Here are just a few of the vendors involved in the decor details.

Reception Venue -  Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake
Doughnut Station - Sugar Bunch Creations 
Lighting - Unique Style Productions
Linens - Linens by Lisa
Floral Decor - Nature's Bud
Groom's Cake - Cakes by Gina
Wedding Cake - Coliseum Cakes
Wedding Photography - Pink Dot Photography 

And a big thank you to my detail photographer - Ken Kellogg, Sr. of My Ultimate Photographer, for the beautiful photos included in this blog post. Stay tuned for future blog postings on Diana and Jason's beautiful wedding. There are a lot more details about the family, friends and vendors to come.

Alpha Prosperity Events 
Houston Wedding Coordinator

Favorite Wedding Trends for 2012

Alpha Prosperity Events

We love when we get an opportunity to travel and attend different industry seminars, learning new things and meeting new people, to help us serve you our "nearlyweds," better.  If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter or one of our blogs, you know we recently attended the Wedding MBA in Las Vegas. While there we got to hear several speakers touch on some of the wedding trends for 2012. There were some new trends, some older trends and a few older ideas that are making a comeback in a new way. I was just giddy to hear what the new trends were, and here are some of my favorites that have already made an early appearance this year.

Preston Bailey

Luminous Events of New Orleans

1. Formal is all the rage. Brides and grooms are enjoying the flair and elegance of everything and anything formal. From invitations, to attire, to antique cars, the sky is the limit when it comes to this trend. Not sure about what to add to give a formal feel? You can never go wrong with an abundance of candles. Candlelight makes a statement all it's own. Just make sure your venue's a/c system doesn't blow the candles out all night long. Also, for those that need a refresher, formal or black tie attire for a wedding is determined by the time of the event. Daytime formal means dark suit and tie for men and short length dress or suit for women. Nighttime formal generally means tuxedo for men and long dresses or short, ornate cocktail dresses for women.

White Color Palette by Preston Bailey

 Events in Bloom

2. The white color palette. This goes hand in hand with the formal trend. Imagine candlelight and flowers  in the many shades of white. White is such a strong color when used in a monochromatic scheme. Partnering it with gold or silver will give you either a warm tone or cool tone, and provide a truly elegant feel. Be open to all of the possibilities of the white color palette. Add some hints of greenery or very pale pinks for contrast. And don't forget to add some crystal elements for sparkle and dazzle. Preston Bailey has mastered the art of the white palette but you can find some great designers in the greater Houston area or your local area to help you create this very popular trend.

Platinum Weddings Planner Tiffany Nieves

K. Rich Designs

3. Anything that blings. Jewelry adorning the bride's bouquet, hair, chair sashes, or even the cake. Sparkle, sparkle everywhere. What bride wouldn't get excited to see her sweetheart table all shiny and sparkly? Talk about the center of attention, and all eyes on "us." I have seen some beautiful work nationally but I have to give a shout out to a local designer, Kelly Rich of K. Rich Designs. She does amazing work and always manages to add a different flair to everything she designs. 

Sugar Bunch Creations 

 4. Food & Drink Specialty Stations. Keep your guests entertained with a food specialty station. There are many to choose from based on your tastes, event space and time of presentation. Imagine a reception that has gone on into the late hours of the night and dinner is a distant memory. Unveil that donut station or ice cream bar for some comfy dessert sampling. We had the ladies from Sugar Bunch do a Donut Station at a recent wedding and all I can say is, Phenomenal." The smell was amazing  and the guests were able to add their own toppings.   It was a late evening treat that everyone enjoyed. Thinking that you may want something more substantial? How about the arrival of a food truck with tacos, hot-dogs, or bacon, eggs and pancakes. Don't forget about the coffee bar to help perk everyone up for the drive home. 

Coffee Bar

Your wedding should be special no matter the trend. If you prefer a more traditional event, that is okay. Still want the casual affair at the farmhouse or park, that's fine too. Whatever you choose, make sure it is what speaks to both  of you, creating a memory to last a lifetime.  

Alpha Prosperity Events
Wedding Planning & Coordination
Greater Houston & New Orleans Areas