If you are not looking to host a typical evening out rehearsal dinner, and want to surprise your guests – then a Murder Mystery Dinner might be the way to go!  A great example is the Mystery Dinner Playhouse in Washington D.C. Reserve a table (works best with a smaller group) and prepare for the problem solving to begin! From the time you arrive until the mystery is solved, you should be on the look out for clues!  Your wait staff also might be involved in the murder so pay attention closely.  This is a great way to give your guests a night of fun and break away from what is expected.

If you’re hosting a large rehearsal dinner and want to keep the event closer to home don’t worry, you can still host a mystery dinner for your guests.  Each one of your friends and family members will step into a new role for the evening and one of them will be the killer!  Purchase a mystery kit that will supply you with information and instructions on how to be the host.  You will love the laughs and entertainment this type of interactive dinner will bring!

Serve your guests in style with these black cocktails found on Martha Stewart’s website for your Halloween party this year!

Ghost in the Graveyard
Serves 1
2 ounces black vodka
2 ounces creme de cacao or coffee-flavored liqueur
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
Pinch of finely grated nutmeg, for garnish

In a glass, combine vodka and creme de cacao, and set aside. Place a scoop of ice cream in a highball glass, and slowly pour vodka mixture over ice cream. Garnish with nutmeg; serve immediately.

Screwed-Up Screwdriver
Serves 1
1/4 cup ice
1/2 cup freshly squeezed tangerine juice
1 1/2 ounces black vodka
1 black licorice twist, for serving

Place ice in a tall glass. Pour juice into glass. Pour vodka over the back of a cocktail spoon into glass so it sits on top of juice and creates a layer of black. Slice 1/4 inch off each end of licorice, and use as a straw. Serve immediately.

Source: Martha Stewart

Which famous couple are you and your fiance dressing up as for Halloween? Here are a few of my favorite ideas…

Classic Mario and Princess Peach…Could there be a love connection there?

Celebrate in true German style with an Oktoberfest theme…Don’t forget your stein!

ROCK OUT with your favorite 80’s hairdo together:

What is the best ‘couples’ costume you two have created?

Source: Stylist.com

Source: Zazzle.com

If you could choose anywhere in the world.. where would you have your destination wedding?

I had the classic hometown big celebration with 250+  of all of my family and friends, which I would not trade for the world.  But my mind always wonders where I would have gone if I had planned a destination wedding.  If I had to choose from anywhere in the world to venture to, with just my closest friends and immediate family, where would I end up?

I am sure I could have a different answer every day of the week, today my answer is overwhelmingly Cinque Terre! If you ever get the chance to visit I highly suggest it!  This is not only one of the most beautiful areas I have visited, but so peaceful and full of culture! My dream destination wedding is 6 – 10 of my closest, with the picture above as my backdrop and then jetsetting over to Greece for my Honeymoon.  Just because you have the classic hometown wedding planned .. doesn’t mean you can’t dream!  What is your dream destination?

CONGRATULATIONS AMANDA CRAWFORD!

I hope you enjoy your new wine accessories… and Please report back on where you went for your first bubbly vacation!!

Source: Random.org

Don’t miss your chance to win a bag full of beach necessities!

The giveaway ends tonight @ midnight and one lucky winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon!

Although you will still find basic clean lines on wedding cakes, many couples are adding texture to their design and spicing it up with unexpected twists!

Today brides and grooms are embracing not only color, but wedding cakes full of fun patterns!  The flavors and styles are all over the board.  No longer do you simply find a bakery for your wedding cake, if you are looking for one of these elaborate cakes you need an artist.  You need someone who can bring out the life in the cake and reflect your personality.  Each layer could be a different flavor with polka dots on half the cake and stripes and designs on the other.

How did you make your cake stand out?  Did you go to your bakery with a vision or did you let the artist design her own style?

Source: Manifest Vegan, Isabel Lawerence

Are Meredith and McDreamy really married? Do you need the flowers and fancy dress to seal the deal on marriage or is a post-it enough? Personally, I adore the Post-It Marriage shown on Grey’s Anatomy this season.

Together they sat down and agreed upon what they wanted their marriage to promise to one another.

1. To love each other even when they hate each other.

2. No running.

3. To take care of each other even when they are old, senile and smelly.

4. That this is forever.

In the mix of planning a year-long celebration full of flowers, cake flavors and DJs did you and your husband take the time to discuss this simple question of what you want to promise each other to make the marriage forever?  I loved this scene in Greys because it took what every couple makes into a big production and simplifies it into 4 promises.

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Back to my first question…can you be married on a Post-It? Does this Post-It marriage mean any less of a commitment between the couple?  I don’t think so. I strongly believe whether you are inviting 200+ people to your wedding, or sitting in a locker room, promising to take care of each other forever—the feelings behind the vows are what matters.  If you want the sacred day to be shared by just you and your husband avoid the expectation that you have to invite your entire family along for the ride.

In the end…it is just you, your new husband and 4 simple promises.

Source: YouTube