Nicolette & Alex: A Pinwheel Beach Wedding

This real wedding is near and dear to me as it's my youngest sister, Nicolette's wedding.  When she let me know that she'd like to include pinwheels in her big day of course I jumped for joy and then I sat her down and seriously asked if she was wanting to include them only to be 'nice' to her big sister or if she actually truly wanted them in her wedding. You see, as the owner of a business that specializes in personalized pinwheels, I never know if my friends/family really want to integrate my products or if they are trying to be kind by doing me and the business a favor. :)  But, thankfully in my sister's case, she was getting married on the beach in Amelia Island, Fl and was envisioning a fun rather than a formal wedding.  Pinwheels in a beach setting scream fun so we moved ahead with the planning details. She didn't envision her wedding being totally pinwheel centered rather just hints of pinwheels here and there. I designed custom papers to go with her color scheme of yellow, pink, orange and slight green accents. They can be viewed here. These papers were used to create her custom pinwheels.  Pinwheels were included on her Save the Date, on wedding signage, in bridal bouquets, as boutonnieres, as beach decor, as cake decor,  and also as part of the napkin ring.


My sister asked all three of us sister's to be her bridesmaids.  {I'm in the yellow.} We included both large handheld pinwheels and pinwheel picks in our bouquets.  We assembled the bouquets in the very early hours of her wedding day. Did I mention that we aren't florists and don't have experience making bouquets yet here we were at 3 am trying to assemble bouquets? I started out making them as I once took a couple hour class on how to assemble flower arrangements so at least I had some experience - or so I thought. Hehe. To say my first attempt looked horrible is a huge understatement. Looking back, I wish I'd snapped a photo.  It was the ugliest bouquet I've ever seen.  A few months after the fact, it seems rather laughable, but let me tell you in that moment, I almost had a severe panic attack as they were just looking so wrong and we had very little time to correct them.  Thankfully my oldest sister, Erin, took over and perfected the bouquet process just a couple short hours before we had to head over to the reception site to decorate the morning of the wedding.  Moral of the story: Even though things worked out in the end, do not go the diy route at the last minute.  At least create them the day before or even better hire a florist to create the bouquet and have he/she insert the pinwheels for you. :)


Our peony yard pinwheels were placed into tins filled with grass and gerber daisies to line the wedding aisle.  The tins were filled to the brim with sand to keep them weighted down.

A close-up of the bridal bouquet.

And a close-up of my bridesmaid bouquet.

It was a pleasure being such an integral part of one of the biggest days of my sister's life! 

To view more photos of her big day including her fun manzanita branch centerpieces, fingerprint tree guest book, and Jones Soda Escort Card table, just click here.

...
Photos courtesy of Bliss and Whimsy Photography.

Fun in the Sun: Backyard Party Tips

Pinwhirls Make Great Outdoor Centerpieces Too!

If you're ready for some fun in the sun, don't miss these tips! Plan ahead for your Memorial Day and 4th of July cookouts, family reunions and block parties.

Backyard Party Tips

1. Add something special to your outdoor decor. Just because you're going to be outdoors doesn't mean you can't decorate! You can make the party festive with just a few simple finishing touches including hanging decorative summer lighting; lining your walk, driveway, or garden with twirling yard Pinwhirls; using torch lights or candles; and hanging beautiful flowering plants from lawn hooks or overhangs.


2. Think about food safety! Remember that foods that require refrigeration can be difficult to manage at an outdoor party. If your guests will be grazing on food over several hours, the majority of foods you select should be safe to serve and hold at room temperature. For everything else, keep it refrigerated or on ice until just before serving. Then put it away after everyone has been served. Cold items can be brought out again later if people are still hungry for seconds.


3. Don't forget the yard games. Depending on the size of your yard, you can play lot of fun games at your party from badminton and volleyball to cornhole and horseshoe. Ask your guests to bring over their favorites.


4. Send your invitations early. Summer schedules can fill up quickly, so send out party invitations early! It's a good idea to send out save the date reminders and announcements for your summer block parties and family reunions too.

Summer is a great time to get together with friends. What outdoor party tips would you add to this list?

5 Tips for Planning a Summer Wedding

Photo courtesy Christine Lim and Ruby Yeo

Got your heart set on a summer wedding? We don’t blame you. It’s a beautiful time to say I do—whether your ceremony takes place at a picture-perfect park, at a sandy beach destination wedding, or in your own back yard garden.

Try these five tips for planning a perfect summer wedding.

Plan, plan, plan!

You won’t be the only bride arranging a summer wedding. Getting what you want sometimes means beating another couple to the deposit. We recommend planning a year ahead, if possible. Otherwise you might find that your reception venue is already booked. Also, start dress shopping immediately. You don’t want to fall in love with the perfect gown only to find you need a specially ordered size or require alterations.

Select your colors and theme.

Your life will be much easier if you select a color palette before you start shopping for bridesmaid dresses, wedding invitations, wedding favors, and flowers. It helps you narrow your choices and keeps those panicky I-can’t-make-a-decision feelings at bay. Alternatively, you might find color inspiration from a single must-have item, like a custom Pinwhirl. Bright colors are great for summer weddings, but shimmery pastels work too—especially for evening weddings. Don’t forget to select colors that will show well in pictures!

Narrow your food options.

When it comes to food, try lighter fare. You might opt for a buffet or a sit-down dinner, but don’t forget about food safety. Keep your guests’ comfort in mind if you’ll be eating outdoors. Excessive heat, bugs, and wind are all potential problems for the outdoor summer wedding. Picnics, barbecues, and seafood spreads make excellent catering choices for your summer wedding.


Choose decorations and favors.

Lots of summer weddings have cheery, whimsical themes that are perfect for favors with striking colors and fun shapes. Customized Pinwhirls make great favors, cake toppers and decorations. Set them atop your cupcakes for a fun and dramatic splash of color, or use pinwheels instead of traditional place cards for something unique.

Pick your flowers.

You shouldn’t have trouble selecting wedding flowers for a summer soiree unless you simply can’t make up your mind. There are so many beautiful flowers in season during the summer months. If your colors are bright and bold, try dahlias, roses, sunflowers, zinnias, orchids and calla lilies. If you want understated color and muted undertones, try white lilies, hydrangea, Shasta daisies, or white roses.

---

To purchase items featured in this article, visit our Pinwhirls Online Shop. Brides, don’t miss out on our special offer! Learn how you can save 10% on your order.