Engagement Festivities...

Where did these past few weeks go!? I mean... I swear it was just last Saturday when we were all in full  gear prepping for our engagement party!! The photographer should be sending the photos any day now and I am anxiously waiting! Until then, I took a couple of pictures of some of the decor I created with the help of my wonderful fiance. He's truly amazing...and these pictures do no justice to the magical ambiance that took place that night, honestly. It was a beautiful night filled with amazing people. 

I really stepped up my arts & crafts as we were on a budget and well to be quite frank, I am a control freak and quite obsessed with details...hence my own stubby fingers creating everything but the cake & food. My mom's obsessed with food thus she took full control of that department and we had a deliciously gorgeous cake made from a local bakery in town. All the rest was up to me, and I was up for the challenge!

It was actually a lot of fun, pretty simple...and COST EFFECTIVE...smiles all around :)

I've been inspired by all things vintage and since I refer to our love escapade as "Vintage Love" that carried as the theme for our beautiful night. I will go in the order of the images above with a brief description of how I added little details to set the tone.

1. Tissue Paper Pom Poms - You can see a tutorial on how to make these here. I decided to unify my theme by tying burlap yarn and hanging them to the patio roof with a clear thumbtack. (Thanks dad for your strategic placements!) I wanted to tea stain them, but I just didn't have enough time...

2. Our Engagement Art - I've been in a painting mood as of late. This is only my second painting on canvas and I wanted to create something that embodied the moment he proposed to me. Happy on cloud nine...and still floating as I type :) .... We used the artwork to take pictures together & we displayed it by the cake & cake-pops! ( Thanks Brother - the cake-pop master who stayed up until 1am the night before the party decorating all 90 of them)

3. Handwritten Food & Drink Place Cards - I first got the idea when we finalized the menu. We decided to make all Indian food since it's my culture and my mom cooks amazing indian food. Being that most aren't familiar, I wanted to make sure everyone not only knew what they were eating but also learned the right terminology for it. That also sparked another idea...which was vintage beverage dispensers. You know, the kind you would see large portions of lemonade in...So I decided to make two "special" alcoholic beverages to put in the dispensers and came up with two special names!  The two cards above were from the drinks...hence the drink splashes on it..ha! The "Indi-Mex Romance" was a regular drink babylove and I drink... Whiskey, Ginger-ale, and Sweet lime juice. The "Sweet Sunrise" was Champagne, Pineapple Juice & Grenadine.  Both were a hit, and quite tasty might I add!

I saved the two cards so I can put it in our scrapbook I plan on making... 

4. Flower Arrangements - Since I've been obsessed with mason jars, I decided to use them for our table center pieces as well. Once again I used the burlap yarn and tied it around the mouth of the jar a couple of times and finished it off with an exposed knot. I added some floral arrangement crystals I bought from Michaels and topped them off with some mini cream colored carnations I scored from Fresh & Easy. They were quaint and beautiful. I placed them in the center of each table with amber color candles on either side.

5. Mason Jar Candles - Can we say obsession! ahhh I just adore these. My inspiration stemmed from mason jars first and everything else just followed suit. I used the same burlap yarn and made a handle with exposed knots on both sides. I then reinforced it with thin wire just to make sure the flame doesn't burn the yarn. I added the same crystals and a cream colored candle. Babylove put up white hooks all along the patio beams and we hung large and small ones all along. Once these babies were lit at night, the ambience was set.

6. HomemadeBanner - It's all in the details and I wanted a focal point as you walked out to the patio. We strung mini lights all along the patio and it just needed something else. I went to our local Joanns, bought 1 yard of burlap material, some letter stencils, and ivory acrylic paint. I Cut 6" squares and proceeded to stencil "Happy Engagement" on each. I then sewed a 1/2" seam on the top so I can string the burlap yarn through...and voila, a perfect banner that added that extra oomph I was looking for. Babylove strung it up with the lights and it was so pretty!! 

...And there you have it, a couple of rather simple DIY projects that made this evening personable in so many ways. I really can't wait to share the photos! Check back soon :)

P.S. I just want to thank my very special & amazing family(you too Jess) for all their help...I could not have done it without you!! I mean it was truly a collaborative effort and it meant the world to me!! Also to all those who came from far places to share a very special night with us...We love you!!