Once Upon a Time Storybook Gala Ideas

It’s getting to be that time of the year again….fundraisers, holiday galas, office parties….invites are starting to flow! With so many celebrations going on, it’s easy for guests to get bored with seeing the same festive looks, or “night in New York” themes. It’s time to suggest something new to the committee! Why not host a once upon a time storybook gala? It’s nothing too modern, so it suits all ages, but it’s whimsical enough to be appropriate for guests of all ages. With the emphasis on incorporating storybooks into this gala concept, the décor focus shifts from a specific storybook theme, to transporting guests to space where any of their favorite storybook can come to life right off the shelf.

Here’s what I had in mind for this once upon a time storybook gala:

Once Upon a Time Storybook Gala Ideas

Once Upon a Time Storybook Gala Ideas

Be sure to see where I found each element of this week’s gala inspiration board:

Storybook Event Gala Entrance – featured on Special Events

Once Upon a Time Gala Save the Date – shared by REDROSE Fund

Storybook Event Décor – shared on Design Sponge

Poison Apple Escort Cards – featured in a roundup post by BizBash

Oversized Once Upon a Time Storybook Photo Booth – shared by Wedding Chicks

Book Theme Centerpiece and Giant Book Event Décor – created by David Stark Design

Storybook Table Number – featured on BizBash

What’s your favorite storybook?

 

Save

Save

Glamorous Gothic Halloween Wedding in Black and Red

Get ready, we are doing a complete 180-degree this week!

Last week I shared a rustic, goth inspired wedding, perfect for a county area with lots of natural landscape to harness, with candles everywhere. This week I present to you a completely different wedding look, created for the glamorous gothic couple that love all things luxurious. Glossy black finishes with the deepest red roses you have ever seen will line every surface your eyes may lay. Black crystals with delicate black lace accentuate everything from the chairs, to the chandeliers in black above. This has the makings of an unforgettable Halloween wedding. All that’s missing is the perfect chamber music faintly heard in the background. Here’s what I had in mind:

Glamorous Gothic Halloween Wedding in Black and Red #thisisUPevents

Glamorous Gothic Halloween Wedding in Black and Red

Be sure to see where I found each of this week’s inspirational ideas for this glamourous gothic Halloween wedding in black and red:

Black and Red Wedding Aisle Runner – shared in a roundup post by Wedding Newsday

Candles on Black Candlestick Aisle Décor Or Centerpiece with Red Roses – shared on United with Love

Black Lace Wedding Invitations – sold by Elegant Wedding Invites

Black Crystal Chandelier – shared in a roundup post on Weddingomania

Red Roses and Black Lace Tiered Wedding Cake – shared in a roundup post on Cake Wrecks

Black Chantilly Lace Chair Corset with Havana Skirt – available through Wildflower Linen

Black on Black Goth Tablescape with Red Accents – shared in a roundup post by Digsdigs

Red and Black Flower Centerpiece with Gothic Flair – spotted on Pinterest

Grand Entrance with Black Drapery and Red Rose Arrangements on Mirror Pedestals – shared by Eventure

Gothic Wedding Bouquet with Red Roses and Black Feathers and Accents – shared on High Society Event Planning

Black and Red Centerpieces with Gold Accents – shared in a roundup post by Destination Wedding Mag

Black Glitter Charger with Red Rose and Napkin Accent Place Setting – spotted on Pinterest

Would you prefer this wedding, or my rustic take on a vintage gothic wedding?

 

 

Rustic Goth Wedding by Candlelight – Halloween Wedding Ideas

There is something so intriguing about themed weddings. The sky is the limit of opportunity when it comes to themed wedding concepts. I really believe a well done, alternative themed wedding, can truely set the tone for a marriage. I say this for this reason: for the couple that really knows themselves and each other, and are in tune enough to break away from the standard white-dress mold and do something bold, develop an extra layer of strength and bonding during the process. As stressful as it is to plan a “traditional” wedding, creating a perfectly themed wedding can be exponentially harder. If you can get through that, you are off to a good start.

And for the couple that is up for the challenge, I present to you this rustic goth wedding by candlelight. I see this as an ideal theme for a wedding around Halloween, or for any evening or dusk timed wedding in a rural area year round. It’s all about playing up the dark of the night!

Here’s what I had in mind:

Rustic Goth Wedding by Candlelight – Halloween Wedding Ideas

Rustic Goth Wedding by Candlelight – Halloween Wedding Ideas

Be sure to see where I found each of these elements:

Branch Centerpiece with Candles and Crystal Accents over Black Tablecloth – shared by Wedding Design Studio

Black Tiered Cake with Flower Accents – featured on 100 Layer Cake

Vintage Skeleton Key Wedding Invitation – designed by Jinaiji on Zazzle

Rustic Cascading Floral Wedding Bouquet – featured on MODWEDDING

Crystal Tree Centerpiece with Candle Accents – spotted on Pinterest

Black Wedding Altar with Rustic Branch Accents and Suspended Light Bulbs – featured on Trendy Bride

Black on Black Table Setting with Candle Centerpiece – shared on LANE

What do you think of this take on a rustic gothic wedding with a touch of sparkles?

 

**Update** If you are trying to attempt some of this in a DIY, you may really like THIS post I shared on my other site, where I share DIY event and tablescape ideas all the time, including this goth inspired tablescape:

DIY Goth Candle Tablescape (Thrift Store Version)

Save

Save

Save

Outdoor Jack-o-lantern Halloween Party Ideas

Happy Fall!

To kick off the first week of October, which as far as I’m concerned kicks off all things pumpkin and autumn like, I thought I’d share an outdoor, jack-o-lantern themed Halloween party idea board. This themed party would be fantastic for a neighborhood get together, especially in a backyard or lawn setting. Trying to keep the scariness level friendly for all ages, I kept the Halloween inspiration focused on the pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns… no blood and gore. Don’t want to give little ones unnecessary spooks!

Here’s what I had in mind for this jack-o-lantern themed Halloween party idea board:

Outdoor Jack-o-lantern Halloween Party Ideas

Outdoor Jack-o-lantern Halloween Party Ideas

Be sure to see where I found each element of this week’s holiday inspiration board:

DIY Illuminated Jack-o-lantern Pumpkin Arch Tutorial – shared by Don Morin

Jack-o-lantern Outdoor Display – shared by Our Fairfield Home & Garden

Front Lawn Jack-o-lantern Outdoor Display – shared on a roundup post on BlazePress

Pumpkin Beverage Coolers – shared by Lindsy Steinberg Events

Outdoor Halloween Food Buffet Display – shared by A Fanciful Twist

Outdoor Halloween Party Decor – also shared by A Fanciful Twist

Jack-o-Lantern Hanging Lanterns on Shepherds Hooks – shared by Better Homes and Gardens

Need more fall and autumn party ideas? I’ve got a gallery of all of my autumn party idea boards here, and all of my favorite fall ideas pinned here.

Are you a fan of the mischievous looking jack-o-lanterns, or do you prefer the more smiley ones?

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Baby Shower

You won’t be seeing any baby blues or pinks in this baby shower idea board! Nope, this week’s party inspiration board is for the mom-to-be that loves to mix things up. Unlike some of my more traditional baby shower themes, this week I present you with a bolder baby shower theme. You’ll find richer hues, darker shades, and of course a few handfuls of gold glitter in this twinkle, twinkle, little star themed baby shower.

This baby shower would be AMAZING on a cool and breezy evening, especially on a back patio or yard, when it’s just a little chilly out. Twinkling lights overhead would make for perfect finishing touches, but if you don’t have the space for it, I wouldn’t worry about it. This unique theme makes this a great concept for year round celebrations.

Here’s what I had in mind for this little star themed baby shower:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Baby Shower

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Baby Shower

Be sure to see where I found each element of this week’s star themed baby shower:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Shower Invitation – created and sold by PaperFoxStudios on Etsy

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Food Display with Chalkboard Backdrop – spotted on Pinterest

Star and Moon Photo Booth and Props – spotted on Pinterest

Gold Glitter Star Invitation Box – spotted on Pinterest

Tiered Star Cake – shared on Events by Kristin

Gold and Black Sequin Food Display – shared by Hostess with the Mostess

Glitter Star Garland – shared on POPSUGAR

Need more ideas for a star and galaxy themed party? Stop by my Pinterest board dedicated to all things star and galaxy party ideas HERE.

What’s one of your favorite baby shower themes you’ve seen?

Save

Save

Moonlight Masquerade Ball in Black, Purple, and Silver

There’s never a dull moment in life, and there is always a reason to celebrate. With fall right around the corner, I thought I would take this week as an opportunity to do something different for the season. While I’m no serious fan of Halloween (gore is just too over done for my liking), I do like the idea of a thrilling dress up party, and so why not have a marvelous moonlight masquerade ball?

Now, it’s important to note that this is not just any masquerade ball. No, this is a moonlight masquerade ball. It’s darker, a bit mysterious, and a heck of a lot more dramatic. On any given day when you google “masquerade party” or any variation, the go-to images that come up are gold, green, purple the majority of the time. While that is a great combination, with a warm and inviting sense to it, I think it’s over done. So to mix things up, I’ve created a masquerade ball idea board in black, purple, and silver.

Here’s what I have in mind:

Moonlight Masquerade Ball in Black, Purple, and Silver

Moonlight Masquerade Ball in Black, Purple, and Silver

Be sure to find out where each of this masquerade ideas were found:

Black, Silver, and Purple Tablescape and Centerpiece – shared by Lake Receptions

Sparkle Corner / Tinsel Photo Booth Backdrop – shared by James Wagner

Purple, Silver, and Black Masquerade Mask – shared by Damn Right, Masquerade on Tumblr

Grand Draped Entrance – featured on Ashley’s Bride Guide

Glamorous Masquerade Centerpiece with Purple and Silver Mirror – designed by Red Carpet Events & Design

Star Drop Silver, Purple, and Black Invitation – created and sold by DIYPartyInvitation on Etsy

Silver Candelabra Centerpiece with Crystal Accents and a Black and Silver Masquerade Mask – shared by Kapture Vision

Black Chivari Chair with Purple Ribbon and Rhinestone Accent – found in the Style Me Pretty Vault

Would your masquerade ball be more silver or gold?

Save

Girls Backyard Mini Golf Party Ideas

This week I have a great party idea board in store for you! Channeling the last few weeks of summertime sunshine, green grass, and sunny skies, I’ve put together a girl’s mini golf party idea board, perfect for hosting in your very own back yard. Easily scalable for girls of all ages, and even adjusting for boys as well, this fun and easy party theme will surely be a hit at your next soiree.

Here’s what I had in mind:

Girls Backyard Mini Golf Party Ideas

Girls Backyard Mini Golf Party Ideas

Be sure to see where I found each of these great party idea elements:

Girls Golf Silhouette Centerpiece – shared by Mazel Moments

“Thank you for coming to my par-tee” Golf Party Favor Hang Tags – created and sold by Formytwogirls on Etsy

Homemade DIY Backyard Mini Golf Tutorial – shared by eHow

Personalized Mini Kids Golf Cart – shared by A Little Slice of Swank

Preppy Pink, Blue, and Green Girl’s Golf Birthday Banner – created and sold by Tickled Glitzy on Etsy

Colorful Mini Golf Food Buffet Display and Dessert Bart – shared by Hostess with the Mostess

Golf Flag and Grass Party Centerpiece – shared by Perfectly Unplanned

Pink and Green Preppy Golf Birthday Party Invitation – created and sold by misspokadot on Etsy

Need more golf themed party décor? I’ve got an entire board dedicated to all things golfing themed party, with plenty of ideas for indoor and outdoor events. Check out my golf themed party ideas board HERE.

 

 

Do you like preppy events? Or do you live for more bohemian and eclectic styles?

Save

Asian Infused Wedding in Red

It’s not too often I find myself designing concept boards based specifically around a cultural theme, but this week I was overwhelmingly inspired by the tablescape you’ll see below. The red and gold paper lanterns with an array of fresh flowers on the table caught my eye. After more digging into similar looks, I found myself disappointed in the number of higher end weddings that incorporated these beautiful red paper lanterns. With that in mind I challenged myself to create this Asian influenced wedding in red, featuring beautiful paper lanterns that looked luxurious and opulent, and less crafty.

Here’s what I created for this week’s Asian inspired wedding in red:

Asian Infused Wedding in Red with Paper Lanterns

Asian Infused Wedding in Red with Paper Lanterns

Be sure to see where I found each of these inspiration images:

Red Paper Lanterns Reception Entrance with Red Drapery – shared on WedMeGood

Hanging Red Paper Lantern Wedding with Chinese Influence – spotted here

Asian Inspired Tablescape with Red and Gold Paper Lanterns Hanging from Above – shared on WedLuxe

Asian Infused Bar – shared by Michael Habachy on Flickr

Large Red Paper Lanterns Grand Entrance – spotted on Pinterest

Red Paper Lantern Food Buffet and Display – also spotted on Pinterest

Red Wedding Reception Up Lighting with Red Paper Lanterns – shared by Bart Boehlert’s Beautiful Things

Do you know of any other weddings that incorporate paper lanterns in a high end style?

Save

Tropical Backyard Engagement Party

Are you the first person to toast to a good time?

I know I try to stay as upbeat and positive as I can, and never really need a reason to celebrate. But when I do, I like to do it in style! Thinking back on engagement party ideas I’ve done in the past, a lot of them seem very…serious. And when I say serious, I don’t mean the parties are happening in the library. No, I mean more along the lines of: the parties seem like more structured events. That are very official, with a specific start and end time. And an MC could direct the event if need be.

Maybe it’s the summertime sunshine that’s gotten into my brain, (or my cup!) but I’d like to see a more laid back, tropical backyard style, out on the patio engagement party. The vibe is relaxed, great music in the background, and of course….. some tiki torches!

Here’s what I had in mind for this tropical backyard engagement party:

Tropical Backyard Engagement Party

Tropical Backyard Engagement Party

Be sure to see where I found each inspiration for this idea board:

Curved Patio Bench Around Fire Pit – shared on HomeBNC

Tropical Cake Display – shared on 100 Layer Cake

Vibrant and Tropical Centerpiece – shared in a styled shoot on Bespoke Bride

Green Tropical Palm Leaves and Wood Food Buffet and Display – spotted on Pinterest

Palm Tree Cutlery Display – also spotted on Pinterest

“We love the nights we can’t remember… with friends we can’t forget…” Painted Sign – sold on Etsy

Floating Pool Décor with Tropical Foliage and Tiki Torches – featured on Jet Fete

Tropical Beach Invitation – sold by Nou Designs on Zazzle

Backyard Tropical Patio with Hanging Lanterns and Banana Trees – shared on Traditional Home

Brown Wicker Charger with Green Accents – spotted on Pinterest

To party, or not to party? Are you a fan of engagement parties? Or do you think they are unnecessary?

Precious Cargo – Vintage Airplane Baby Shower Party

Final boarding call!

This fabulous vintage planes inspired baby shower is about to take you on a trip of cuteness!

What’s not to love about the sweet hues of the soft clouds mixed with vibrant pops of reds and yellow in these amazing vintage airplane decorations? This airplane and travel inspired baby shower idea board is perfect for either gender, and is easily able to be transitioned into a birthday party theme for a young child.  Here’s what I had in mind:

Precious Cargo - Vintage Airplane Baby Shower Party

Precious Cargo – Vintage Airplane Baby Shower Party

Be sure to find out where I found each of this week’s inspirational elements:

Vintage Airplane Flight Path Floor Décor – shared by Kara’s Party Ideas

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun Vintage Airplane Invitation – available on I Heart to Party

Vintage Airplane Sandwiches – shared by Hostess with the Mostess

Next Stop: Parenthood Sign – shared by Nat Your Average Girl

Luggage Drop Off – also shared by Nat Your Average Girl

Travel Advice for the Parents-To-Be on Their Journey – shared by Le Petit Papier

Yellow and White Airplane Tablescape and Centerpiece – shared on Every Last Detail

Baggage Claim and Airplane Baby Shower Instant Download Kit – made and sold by MKKMDesigns on Etsy

In Flight Snacks Sign – shared by Mimi’s Dollhouse

Airplane Buffet Backdrop – spotted on Pinterest

In need of vintage travel wedding ideas? I’ve created an inspiration board for that specific theme, see it HERE.

Vintage Travel Inspired Wedding Idea Board

Vintage Travel Inspired Wedding Idea Board
See the full post here:
https://uniquepasticheevents.com/2015/08/12/vintage-travel-inspired-wedding-idea-board/

Looking for more travel and airplane inspired décor? You’ll want to check out my board on Pinterest dedicated to all things travel and airplane party and wedding related!

What do you think of travel inspired parties and weddings?