In Full Bloom

A lot of times, my inspiration for parties and posts doesn't come from a theme, place, or holiday but from something simple, a beautiful floral arrangement. Especially in the spring, the fresh blooms are coming up in a variety of colors and textures. Take for example peonies. Their light pink color is gorgeous and their petals have a soft ruffle feel. Translate that into a ruffle trimmed napkin or table linen in a soft shade of pink. The possibilities are endless, especially when you find a gorgeous bouquet and take notes from the variety of colors, shapes, and textures. Have a local florist recreate it for you to complete your look.

I have compiled today a few of the most inspiring bouquets I've seen lately. Hopefully they bring a smile to your face and inspire you as well. Have a great Wednesday!

Party Pretty {Garden Delight}

You got a little sneak peak of this week's party pretty on Monday with an inspiration board in full bloom. It may seem as if I'm going a little overkill on the spring fling, but I can hardly contain my excitement. As pool parties are to summer, no spring party schedule is complete without a garden party. As the flowers start to bloom, nothing quite welcomes in the season like an outdoor soiree full of bright colors and sunny spirits. Here are my essentials for a garden party delight!

Have a great Wednesday!

Floral Invitations from Minted | Mini Tulip Cupcake Liners | Vintage Blue Cocktail Coupes | Tissue Paper Florals | Beehive Drink Dispenser from World Market

Color Me {In Full Bloom}

I told you all how big of spring kick I was on. Even with the cold front we have had this past weekend, I can't stop thinking of all the good things to come this spring. Warm sunny days filled with outdoor dining and refreshing cocktails are a few of the things to look forward to. But, what I'm most excited about are all of the fresh blooms. I can't wait for the gorgeous tree outside my front door to get it's big pink blooms back and to switch out the dead winter buds in my planter box for eye catching florals. While I sit and wait for the warmer weather to slowly arrive, this floral print inspiration board will give me hope of sunny days to come!

Have a great Monday!

Party DIY {Terra-cotta Pots}

I showed you last week the redo of my once dull back deck. But, what I didn't show you were the terra-cotta pots decorating the one corner. I wanted to save them and show them to you in a DIY post today. I love using terra-cotta for it's natural element and the price. Although, they can be a bit plain looking, so I decided it was time to give them an added stylish boost to make the bright buds I planted pop even more. Plus, they were super easy to make and can be customized to your design style. I went with white color blocking because it's simple, neutral, and modern. These pots aren't just perfect for back deck decorating either. I can imagine small pots in the center of the table at your next dinner party holding different herbs for guests to add to their entree. Here's how I made it happen!

:: Supplies ::
Terra-cotta Pots
Painters Tape
Spray Paint

:: Directions ::
1. Tape off the area that you want to remain the clay color. It's not necessary to tape off the entire area but just the edge of the area that you don't want painted.
2. Holding about 3 inches from the pot, spray 2-3 coats of paint on desired area. Remove tape, let dry, and plant blossoms!

Center of Attention {Hot Air}

This centerpiece sure does give new meaning to the term "full of hot air". Always on the lookout for creative new ideas, this eye catcher takes the award for quirky, fun, and tasteful. I love the incorporation of buds that drop over the side with the thin netting capturing the balloon. This hot air balloon centerpiece replica give the feel of floating on air and what more could you want for your next gathering?

Essentially {Summer Soiree}

It's that time of year again! Time to bust out the charcoal and bug spray because summer soirees and outdoor entertaining are here again. It has to be one of my favorite times to entertain. Yes, the weather may be ridiculously hot but the sun shines a little brighter and it makes me smile just a bit bigger. While you may sweat just a bit, all the Vitamin D you are absorbing just puts you in a better mood. At least it does me! While the official start to summer isn't for another couple weeks, I've got summer fever and I'm more than ready to share my summer soiree essentials with you. Here you go!

1. Watermelon: The signature fruit of hot summer days. Light, refreshing, and full of flavor, watermelon reminds me of backyard cookouts and seed spitting contests as a kid. Embrace the fruit while it's fresh and incorporate it into recipes like watermelon salads, spritzers, and cupcakes! 

2. Fresh Flowers: They certainly do brighten up any table! Not only that, when fresh picked from your front yard, they add a personal touch that most parties lack.

3. Patterned Plates: Like these melamine ones from Target, patterned plates add vibrancy to every meal.  Melamine is perfect for outdoor entertaining as well because of it's inability to break. Drop it, step on it, or have guests throw them at one another, there is nothing this plate can't handle!

4. Homemade Lemonade: Just like Mom used to make. Lemonade is one of my all time favorite refreshing beverages on a hot summer day. I'm dying to try a blueberry lemonade! 

5. Beach Umbrellas: You don't have to be on a beach to get into the umbrella action. Try staking one in the back yard and laying under it pretending you are on a tropical island somewhere. This striped yellow one is sure to brighten up any backyard grill out and provided some much needed shade for your guests! 

6. Grill: Of course I saved the best for last. No summer soiree is complete without a grill. Grill cooking is some of the easiest, fun cooking I've ever done. Nothing beats coming home from a long day on the beach, firing up the grill, and cooking every aspect of the meal atop charcoal (or gas if you prefer). Some of my favorite gilled recipes include salads, kabobs, and peaches for dessert! 

Lusting After {Floral Prints}

As I look around, I see blooming buds everywhere and it has me loving how fresh, new, and beautiful everything appears. With months of bright blooms ahead, I can't help but feel inspired and want to incorporate them in any way possible. But, cutting them and placing in vases around the house is easy. I'm imagining floral printed linens, pillows, plates and more. For added punch, I want to mix the florals. Try big bold patterns with soft small accents to compliment. Bright colors and neutrals will help it not seem so overwhelming.

If mixing florals seems to much for you, it's okay. Stick with one floral print and it will be sure to make an impact!

Center of Attention {Baby's Breath}

Happy Wednesday! We are halfway through the week and it's time for one of my least favorite flowers to take center stage. Yes, you read that right. I know it seems a little off put to feature something that I dislike, but I think my opinion of baby's breath is slowly changing. While I'm still not a fan of it mixed in bouquets, I cant help but notice how gorgeous it is when it stands on its own. It's soft and romantic and definitely a show stopper. The baby's breath here is wonderfully romantic flowing from the tall vase, but I can't help but imagine how lustrous it would be wound up in the shape of a ball hanging from the trees. Layer strings of bulb lights between them for a lovely night affair all are to remember. Keep it from looking dated and cheap by pairing it with modern simple accents or rustic touches.

The Secret Garden

Happy First Day of Spring! The spirit of the season is already filling the air here with warm temperatures and pollen everywhere. But none of that matters because finally the flowers will begin to bloom and no longer will I be forced to stare at bare, lifeless trees (The one outside my front door is especially ugly during winter months.). With such beauty now returning outside my window, it is taking everything in me not to spend every minute soaking up the sun and I'm sure all of you feel the same. So in honor of our urge to spend more time enjoying the outdoors, let's throw a garden party with no hot tea or cucumber sandwiches required! While pastels and fresh cut blooms are a must, impress your guests with a table set under the trees. Serve up champagne and macaroons, fruity salads and fresh roasted vegetables. Keep everything light and airy, just like the season, to create the ultimate impact. Encourage floral frocks, sandals, and a good time at a wonderful garden soiree to open the party season!

Center of Attention {Single Bud Vases}

I've been hearing a lot lately about people wanting to cut cost where they can from a party. And while my suggestion is to always put the majority of your budget towards the most important element to you, one way to cut cost is to use less flowers. It's no secret that flowers can be incredibly costly, but they are a wonderful way to add pops of color and freshness to your soiree. Therefore, I don't suggest cutting them completely. If you still want fresh, gorgeous buds but want to cut the cost of your centerpieces, I suggest little bud vases with a single bright stem in each. When grouped together, bud vases will have the same impact as a large arrangement with half the cost. Plus, they are a great way to incorporate many different types of flowers in a few different colors without having to worry about the full arrangement! 

Center of Attention {Monochromatic Florals}

Welcome to the latest series of posts on Events Uncorked. I realized the other day that I do very little posting about flowers and centerpieces in general. Therefore, I'm launching a new series of posts called "Center of Attention" focusing on just that. So, let's dive right in. Today I want to talk a little about monochromatic florals. And by that I mean having different flowers in the same shade to create your centerpieces. I like this idea because it keeps it simple and uniform, but it still has a bit of visual interest with the varying textures and shapes. 

Going along the same lines, I love the idea of having small arrangements of the same flower on each table. For example, one arrangement of pink roses, another of pink tulips, and a third of pink peonies. All the same color. Each in their own vase. But, together on the table in matching vases, it will modern, clean, and pulled together!