Rustic decor for an Easter Brunch

Rustic, garden brunch for Easter

Photo from Matha Steward.com

 When I started researching Easter and what the symbols of Easter is – I got such a wide variety of viewing points that I decided to rather stay away from such a topic. For me it is the joyous time of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I decided to rather look into the traditional Easter Brunch that is normally held on the Sunday over Easter Weekend. Although it is more a European and American custom it is starting to take place in the family lives of the South African people.

We are going to look at a bright, Easter brunch in the form of a picnic. I searched around on the internet for lovely garden setting for an Easter Brunch Picnic. One of the most beautiful ones that I stumble upon was from the site: Lanaloustyle @ http://lanaloustyle.com/2012/04/rustic-woodlands-easter-setting

Pls do not forget to have the hot cross buns ready for your brunch. Interestingly enough I did a little bit of research on where the tradition of Hot Cross Buns actually started. According to Ferguson Plarre Bake houses  - http://www.fergusonplarre.com.au/History/Hot-Cross-Buns.html   

“ in many historically Christian countries, the buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the crucifixion. They are believed by some to pre-date Christianity, although the first recorded use of the term " hot cross bun" is not until 1733. According to food historian Elizabeth David, the buns were seen by Protestant English monarchs as a dangerous hold over of Catholic belief in England, being baked from the consecrated dough used in making the communion wafer. Protestant England attempted to ban the sale of the buns by bakers but they were too popular, and instead Elizabeth I passed a law permitting bakeries to sell them, but only at Easter and Christmas.” 

rookno17.com

One good thing today is that we can buy hot cross buns all over the year. It stays on of the most tempting Easter treats that you can get.

Wedding planning - study @ home

The age old question is: What is a wedding planner and what is a GREAT wedding planner! At ECTA Creative Solutions we have three different ways to become a GREAT wedding planner!

We have just launched a correspondence course for Wedding Planning. We also offer a classroom wedding planner course but that is not all - if you decide you want to study an international online certificate in Wedding planning - go to our website: ECTA Creative Solutions and see what we have to offer.

The normal price for our correspondence course is R3500 but we have a special for the month of April 2013. If you enroll in April 2013 you will only pay R2500 for the course.

Contact our office for more detail.

021 856 0163 or go to our website - www.ectaint.com

Indian Wedding Decor

Indian Wedding Décor Ideas

Have you seen ECTA - Youtube tutorials on DIY Themed decor? http://www.youtube.com/user/ECTASA

What is there not to love about Indian Wedding Décor? The bright colors, vibrant décor and amount of flowers!

If you decide to use the Colors of India for your wedding – make sure that you choose bright jewel colors and not dull pinks, purples etc.  Use your color for specific purpose – don’t just throw colors around. If you decide to use it on your backdrop for your wedding table, consider using something more simplistic on the wedding table. Maybe a bright pink tablecloth with colourful flowers.

The easiest way to bring India to your wedding is to play around with flowers. String the flowers and hang it in the venue, Paint a picture with the flowers on the floor, Paint a picture with flowers on the table etc.

With an Indian Themed Function it is important to keep in mind the 5 basic senses of humans- Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Feeling and Tasting. Your guests need to see India in the bright colors, they have to hear India in the music, they have to smell India in the incense, they have to touch India with all the wonderful décor and lastly they need to taste India in the food.

Just remember not to overdo any of the senses. Some people will get a headache from to much incense and some of your guests would not be able to eat to much curry.

Photo’s on the Indian wedding mood board from the following sites:

maharaniweddings.com

indianweddingsite.com

http://pinterest.com/umamz/bengali-wedding/

botanicaevents.com

http://pinterest.com/ellengr/cakes-indian/

http://pinterest.com/fmdtreasures/the-boho-dance/

http://pinterest.com/debrakblum/buddha-and-other-things-indian/

Vintage Hat Themed Wedding

How to begin to describe a Victorian Wedding or a Victorian Hat Wedding theme. What better than to go to the website of The Knot.com

“A Victorian wedding is about class and grace, and calls for romantic gestures of a dainty nature --fine floral china, lots of lace, and sweet-smelling rosebuds. We've always been fans of era-embracing events: '40s swing celebrations, medieval affairs, and Western weddings are all creative and delightful. But it's the Victorian-style events that are a little more refined, as all modern wedding things are essentially Victorian in nature. After all, it was Queen Victoria who set the trends for white wedding gowns and white floral arrangements. But most importantly, there are few (if any) historical periods that are more romantic. So to plan your affair, you'll need to start considering things like lace hankies, corsets and petticoats, and cupid cake toppers. How are you going to pull off a celebration that's elegant and romantic, but not stuffy (or, even worse, tacky)? Here's our take on hosting a vivacious Victorian celebration.”

Read more: Wedding Style: A Victorian EventTheKnot.com - http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-themes/choosing-wedding-themes/articles/a-victorian-wedding-event.aspx#ixzz2Gii73VZC

When you decide on a Victorian Hat wedding or Victorian Hat Tea party the main ingredients will be the same. Lace, Soft romantic colours, Hats, Pearls etc. Obviously you yourself must be a lady that loves the old vintage times, the romance of the 19^th century.

How can we implement a vintage hat themed wedding? We have put together a mood board for you to help and to show you how you can go about to do décor for a vintage hat themed wedding.

Start of with the right save the date and invitation!

http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/lace-themed-wedding

Remember to work with a soft colour scheme like pink, peach, mauve etc. Your invitation is the first thing that anyone of you is going to see of your wedding. This will set the mood to your big day. Then you need to find the right dress. Again – look for soft, romantic, lace etc. You can either choose a dress from a second hand shop, one that comes down with the family or get a good dressmaker to make you the dress of your dreams.

http://clickamericana.com/topics/beauty-fashion/a-new-dress-from-a-heirloom-wedding-dress-1950

When you decide on a wedding venue… you can do whatever will make your dream come true! An old castle, A stylish old fashioned ball room, a lovely Victorian garden…. We can go on and on. Make sure that the venue will fit into the theme. If you get the right venue –you don’t even have to spend a lot of money on décor because the venue is the décor! Take for instance a Victorian rose garden. What better venue can you get for your Victorian Hat Themed Wedding!

http://www.thornewoodcastle.com/wedding-venue.html

http://pinterest.com/ajdye/craft-ideas/

http://www.100layercake.com/blog/2012/07/03/vintage-bridal-shower-tea-party/

http://www.collectibledollsales.com/servlet/the-VICTORIAN-TREASURES-cln-Victorian-Hats-And-Millinery/Categories

http://www.darlinganddaisydesigns.blogspot.com/

http://pinterest.com/uspiper44/tea-for-me-you/

http://www.victoriarosecottage.com/category_89/BROMANTIC-LINENS-LACE.htm

http://www.capemaytimes.com/weddings/default.htm

http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/wedding-boots-1

http://www.polyvore.com/victorian_wedding_contest/set?id=24180705

Christmas wishes

Pink and grey event decor (Animal Shadows)

 

Pink and Grey Event Decor (Animal Shadows)

Grey and pink is two lovely colors to use for any event, not only for weddings. Think about a morning tea, elegant high tea, birthday party. It will not only look stylish and elegant, but soft and romantic.

The combination between grey and pink specially works well. You can choose a charcoal grey or a soft parrot grey or even use all three of them together.

Combining grey and pink will result in a colour palette that’s relaxed, soft, and just the perfect amount of cool.

Photo’s for our design board is from these websites

• http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/
• chameleonchair.com
• etsy.comhttp://thevegasweddingplanner.com/2011/08/10/
• wedding-chameleon-chair/
• http://pinterest.com/pin/183662491024983447/
• http://photos.weddingbycolor-nocookie.com/p000013024-m75404-p-photo-218294/photo.jpg
• http://www.smileyme.com/feathers_rooster_hackles_rooster_feathers_hackle_feathers_craft_feathers.asp
• http://pinterest.com/amnda817/event-decor/

The color of your next event - Persian softness palette

After our blog article on the Persian Softness color palette for Weddings - http://electtrainingacademy.blogspot.com/ we are going to have a look at the same color palette for a corporate event. How can we use successfully the color blue in a corporate events and why is it a good idea to use blue as your primary color for your upcoming event?

According to Special events magazine: The Color of Events: How Color Packs a Punch In Special Event Design - Dec 1, 2003 12:00 PM, BY GARY BAKER  “COLOR IS PROBABLY one of the most important tools in the event producer's toolbox — the proverbial equivalent of a carpenter's screwdriver or hammer. It's versatile and flexible and, depending on the occasion, can be scaled in a number of different ways. Dramatic use of a single color can deliver a real knockout punch when guests arrive at an event. A more subtle application of color is like a velvet hammer: soft and powerful at the same time.

Over the last few years, color has been more important than ever as a tool because the broad economic downturn has required all of us to be much more creative in designing memorable events with shrinking budgets. Fortunately, technology and lighting have given us many more options and new effects that integrate color and can double as décor”

What does the meaning of the color blue and what look and feel will you be able to create with that color? Mostly we can all agree with the fact that blue is the most universal color that you can get. Both genders like it equally.

According to the special events magazine http://specialevents.com/decor/Pantone-color-experts-forecast-color-trends-for-summer-2013/ the color blue “will be less watery and are usurping the role that black used to play”.

Why is color such a popular and important tool in the event business? Is it because color brings out emotions in people and subconsciously we want to influence our clients to experience a specific mood or atmosphere. The reality of it is that color can make or break our event. Color itself can influence the emotions and perspectives of your guest s and ultimately the mood you experience at the event – joy/happiness/ an intense feeling of drama etc.

As an example – if your company or client have a huge group of Iranian guest that will attend the function and you choose blue as the theme – your whole event is doomed because in Iran – blue is the color of mourning and death. An interesting article on color and culture: http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/cultural-color.html

Notice what About.com says about color selection: http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/colorselection

 Using Blue:

·                    A deep royal blue or azure conveys richness and perhaps even a touch of superiority. Navy blue is almost black and is a bit warmer than lighter blues. Combine a light and dark blue to convey trust and truthfulness — banker's colors. Although blue is a year-round color, pastel blues, especially along with pinks and pale yellows suggest Spring time while deep blue is a colder weather color. Create a conservative but sophisticated look with subtle contrast by combining light and dark shades of blue.

·                    Mix the color of blue with green for a natural, watery palette. Add gray for understated elegance.

·                    Sky blue and robin's egg blue, especially when combined with neutral light brown, tans, or beige are environmentally friendly color combinations.

·                    Throw in a dash of blue to cool down a hot red or orange scheme. Grab attention with the contrast of blue and yellow.

·                    Dark blue with white is fresh, crisp, and nautical. Red, white, and blue is a patriotic color trio for many countries, including the United States.

·                    Use dark blue with metallic silver accents for an elegantly rich appearance.

Now lets see what we can do with the Persian softness color palette for your next event!

Photo’s of our design board is from the following websites:  http://www.bluecanaryevents.com/blog/tag/davincis-florist/;   http://www.weddinggirl.ca;

 designerchaircoverstogo.com; damaskweddinginvitations.net; pregoevents.com; color palette from Lenzing colors trends.