July 4th Inspiration

Here are some ideas to kick start your July 4th celebration courtesy of Tiny Prints.  Alot of people ask me how I have the time to put together the inspiration boards for my parties and events.  Well, it's my job and I love it!  But if you don't have the time, or don't know where to start, you can certainly check out my blog:)!  Tiny Prints is another great place that already has inspiration boards for lots of parties.  Here's one for July 4th that I think you'll love.

L to R: Tiny Prints Modern Flag : Ruby party invite, Centerpiece, Flag  fan placesetting, Raspberry Lemonade, Silverware with name flag, Strawberries, Patriotic decor, Patriotic Pops, Parfaits

DIY: Wine in Style

Happy Friday!

Time to start thinking of BBQs, time at the pool and gathering with friends.  If you're like me, these gatherings usually include a nice glass of wine and I like to bring a bottle as a nice hostess gift.  I hate just putting it in a gift bag so I'm always looking for creative ways to package them.  Well, my obsession has paid off because I found these great ways to package wine bottles.  If you click on the link you'll find the easy directions.

But don't just stop there, you can use these on practically any bottles.  Take a look......

via Celebrations at Home

via Real Simple

via Martha Stewart Living

via 1st Thing I Reach For

For an even simpler alternative, just use a piece of fabric and twine to get this lovely effect...

via Style Me Pretty

Now there is no reason to show up with a bare bottle in hand!  Have a great weekend!

MultiCultural Glam Wedding Shoot

Having been born in Haiti, raised in New York and married to man who is Greek and raised in Western Massachusetts, I was in high heaven when I discovered Wedding Nouveau.  At Madly Stylish Events, we love multicultural, multi-ethnic events and weddings: the traditions, the fusion of cultures, colors and foods!  It's a fantastic way to personalize and define your celebration.  I am currently working with an Indian bride and her American groom on their upcoming multicultural, mutliethnic, multi event wedding and just loving all the details.

Wedding Nouveau is dedicated to showcasing and providing inspiration for multicultural and multi-ethnic weddings.  Not to mention, it is an absolutely gorgeous blog.  This multicultural wedding shoot clearly proves that. You will easily be transported into this wedding vignette by the vibrant design, various textures, layered decor, and stylish fashion in these pics.   The shoot was styled the super talented  Heather Ham of Events by Heather Ham.  I adore her work!  She had some equally talented vendors help her carry this out.  Take a look!  And when you're done, head on over to Wedding Nouveau.  They have more amazing pictures to drool over.

Here are some of my favorite elements: 

I love the gold brocade on this chair, that design is just beautiful!

love the layers of texture and how well they compliment each other

what I wouldn't give for a bite of this "mini cake" made out of cookies and chocolate filling

The vendors that helped make this wedding shoot the multicultural glam event it was:

Picotte Weddings

Peony & Plum

The Ebell of Los Angeles

Fantasy Frostings

BBJ Linen

Classic Party Rentals

Chameleon Chairs

Blue Magpie Invitations

A Fairy Tale Engagement Journey!

I am beyond giddy to bring you this post!  I think I was squealing like a three year old or my mouth was wide open the whole time I was reading this  on Style Me Pretty.  It's the stuff dreams, fairy tales and ultimate romances are made of.  For those of you thinking of popping the question or want to give hints as how to do it, or just a hopeless romantic (like me), this story is for you.  Seriously, this guy planned every single romantic detail  of his journey proposal to his girlfriend.  The proposal suite was created by California stationary vendor, Wiley Valentine and coordinated by Zinke Design.

Here's the full, letterpressed proposal suite:

Let me tell you that I did not write the story below and even if I wanted to summarize it, I couldn't do it justice  I think after you read it you'll agree.  Here are the lovely details as told by the bride-to-be and each gorgeous letterpressed card.

It was still dark out, I was in a dead sleep, and I woke up to Tido barking uncontrollably.  I looked out my bedroom window and saw a white Range Rover parked in my driveway.  First thought – “Did I win some sweepstakes I had forgotten about?”  A few seconds later the doorbell rings.  I peep out the door and see two girls that I recognize, Christina Clayton (event planner and one of my precious TU Thetas a few years back) and Arin Zinke (owner of Zinke Design).  Still confused, I open the door and Christina hands me my usual starbucks order: a pumpkin spice latte and a coffee cake.  It’s at this point I decide to let them in.  Arin hands me a gorgeous tri-fold invitation in pink and gray (my two favorite colors) with a pink bow on it.  I open it and read the following: “Laina D. Riffe you are cordially invited on a journey of a lifetime.  You have 1 hour to pack your bags. Suggested items:  2 dressy, 2 casual, etc. Temperature: high 70s, low 50′s.”  It also tells me that arrangements have been made to take care of Tido which eases a little bit of my anxiety.

With yesterday’s mascara still under my eyes and in a state of complete shock, I say bye to Arin and Christina and run back to my closet to frantically start packing.  I’m pretty sure I stand there frozen for about 30 minutes because I end up just throwing a bunch of stuff in my carry-on suitcase at the last minute.  I am finally ready and packed and I am telling Tido bye when my doorbell rings at 7am sharp. This one I am expecting, as it is my ride.  I load up and settle in the car when the driver hands me a smaller version of the original pink and gray package.  I open this one and it says “Your journey begins at Tulsa International Airport.”  It also has a record locator printed on a page (the key to where I am going) but I decide not to look it up until I get to the airport.

With yesterday’s mascara still under my eyes and in a state of complete shock, I say bye to Arin and Christina and run back to my closet to frantically start packing.  I’m pretty sure I stand there frozen for about 30 minutes because I end up just throwing a bunch of stuff in my carry-on suitcase at the last minute.  I am finally ready and packed and I am telling Tido bye when my doorbell rings at 7am sharp. This one I am expecting, as it is my ride.  I load up and settle in the car when the driver hands me a smaller version of the original pink and gray package.  I open this one and it says “Your journey begins at Tulsa International Airport.”  It also has a record locator printed on a page (the key to where I am going) but I decide not to look it up until I get to the airport.

I arrive at the airport and find out I am going to Washington DC – yea my favorite place!!  Its at this point that I realize that I forgot to pack any underwear – oh well I did my best in the time allowed.  I have flown a trillion flights this year (thank you long-distance relationship) but I’ve never felt more anxious on a flight in my entire life. The 45 minute trip to Dallas felt like 4 hours and the flight to DC felt like a lifetime.  I’m also pretty sure the flight attendant was judging me when I ordered the double bloody mary at 9am on a Thursday, but what’s a girl gonna do.  I finally arrive at DCA at 3pm EST.

I get to baggage claim and I see Tom’s friend Mike waiting for me with another gray and pink box.  Mike hands me the box and I open it to read “You have completed the first step of your journey.  If you wish to continue, please take this key and your driver will take you to the next destination.”

So we get in the car and he makes me put a blindfold on.  We drive for about 20 minutes and when we finally arrive at our destination, Tom opens my door and leads me (still blindfolded) up a few steps and through a door.  He tells me I can take my blindfold off and he is not only on one knee with the most beautiful ring, but he is also standing in the house of our dreams that he had put an offer on a few weeks back, but told me we didn’t get it!!!  After this, I have no idea what he said but it was wonderful!!!!   My new fiance then says “welcome home,” hands me a glass of champagne and, just as I have settled down and think I can relax, he hands me a small envelope.

Thinking its just a little personal card from him, I open it and I read “It’s now time to celebrate!  Grab your bag and your fiance and head to one of the romantic cities in the world…ROME!!!!!!!” Eek!!!!!!   Needless to say, I was freaking out!!   We had the most fabulous time in Rome and every single detail of our proposal was absolutely perfect.  I have dreamed of this day ever since I was a little girl and Tom definitely exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed of!!   I couldn’t be more excited to spend my life with this man.

Can you believe this?  I  know, LOL....my friend wants to know if this guy has brothers?  Well, can't answer that question but head over to Style Me Pretty because there are lots more pics!  


Sigh, love can make you do some incredible things?  What's the most romantic you've done or your significant other as done for you?  I'd love to hear if anyone has a story that can top this!

Portals of Inspiration

In keeping with yesterday's post of finding inspiration around you, in today's post I feature portals from around the world that inspire me.  All of these pics were found via Pinterest.  I follow a board called doors and entryway...can you see why I LOVE Pinterest!

I love the colors, how the flowers have grown around them, and often wonder what behind that door, who lives there, and what kind of life do they lead?  But the bigger question is what kind of party could i create using this picture, colors, and emotions they evoke?   Oh,  the possibilities are endless....hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Orange portal, Rio de Janerio

Paris Doorway

home in Mexico

window in the South of France

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Art Inspired Wedding

Happy Monday!

I am thrilled to bring you this wedding shoot which was inspired by Van Gogh's The Starry Night and I found over at Junebug Weddings.  A fantastic site for all things wedding!

I truly believe you can find inspiration in anything and everything around you and use this principle to guide my work here at Madly Stylish Events. This wedding shoot is a great example of that!  It was styled and designed by Janice Shellooe of Every Elegant Detail based in San Francisco.

The color palette is breathtaking and the cake! Oh, and the cake is just stunning.  I'll stop now so you can take a look.

Is that cake not stunning!  It was made by Studio Cake out in Menlo Park, CA.  So if you are in the area, I'd be sure to take a look at them for your dessert needs.  Just awesome work!

First Communion Dessert Table

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of styling a dessert table for a boy's first communion.  I was thrilled with how everything came out and AJ was besides himself that I had done this for him!  So sweet!

Gorgeous Lilac Wedding

The stunning lilac florals in this wedding are just breathtaking.  Flowers just have a way of transforming whatever they are adorning: cake, table, napkins, hair, you name it!

I found this over at a beautiful cliche and was blown away by these lilac beauties.  The tablescape is perfect down to the littlest details. Take a look!

I just LOVE this!