{Wedding Trends} : Cute and Comfort Food

When you're dressed in black tie it may sound outrageous to serve hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, but while their regular size is totally inappropriate for such occasions, their downsized mini gourmet versions are fabulous,stylish and equally delicious. I mean... who doesn't love their favorite childhood comfort foods? But this wedding trend is all about taking traditional dishes and contemporizing them. With a little imagination and reinvention you’ll make everyone on your wedding guest list -- from simpler tastes to gourmet foodies -- happy with bite size versions of everyone's fave comfort foods. Here are some ideas:

Introduce some of their own personal "mini" favourites for the cocktail hour, like Grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters, (image source)

Mini Hot Dogs  (image source)

Spaghetti and Meat Balls bites  (image source)

Mini Fish Tacos paired with petite bottles of tequila

Macaroni and Cheese Bites

Mini Pigs in a Blanket served with a shot of Beer

Or cappe off a great night with mini sweet comfort food like, milk & cookies

Mini pies,

Puffs of cotton candy,

Or coffee and donuts.

If you enjoy this article, please help sharing the word by tweeting it or sharing it on facebook and pinterest.

{Wedding Trends} : Drink Stations

Summer is here! And nothing is more useful for a summer occasion than refreshments, especially if they are cute and fun. Whether you are hosting a bridal shower, a garden wedding or a day-after brunch, drink stations are a lovely way to really get creative and interactive with your decor. 

However, there is a couple of elements that you must incorporate to create a fabulous drink station. And it is your lucky day because I'm about to give you some pretty useful tips and a plethora of sweet inspirations. [image by Nicole Hill Gerulat Photography, styling by Amorology Weddings via Elizabeth Anne Designs]

FOR WEDDINGS. An iced beverage is a refreshing way to welcome your guests to your special day. If you are tying the knot outdoors, set up a non-alcoholic drink station to help guests cool off before and/or after the ceremony. Drink Stations make speciality cocktails or any sort of wedding drinks really stand out and set a mood during cocktail hour or at the reception. [image by A Bryan Photo via Southern Weddings]

ACCESSORIES. From DIY signs and pretty straws, to glass beverage dispensers, pitchers and unique glassware... it is all in the details. 
If you want to take your drink station from pretty to pretty amazing, add decorative elements like flowers and candles. [images by Jessica Claire via My Sweet and Saucy]

If you are serving non-alcoholic beverages like lemonade or cocktails like bellinis, beverage dispensers like these are perfect for creating impact. They also allow drinks to be prepared well in advance and keeps them fresh and cool. I'm loving the colored sugar detail (could be salt, too) on the glassware. It is a very easy way (use food coloring) to bring prettiness to simple glassware and creating a talking point. [Photography Marilyn Nakazato via Grey Likes Weddings]

Ribbon, banners, backgrounds and tables are other elements that you can use to create a unique beverage display that reflects your event's theme. [Photography Courtney Jade Photography via HWTM]

Depending on the beverages you choose to serve, you may want to add some garnish for your drinks. Fruits and veggies not only are refreshing and look pretty on the cups, but the also add color and texture to the station. [Credits: 1 Photography Michelle March via Floridian Weddings | 2 created by Ami of Elizabeth Anne Designs and photographed by  Sara Gray Photography for MarryThis via The Sweetest Occasion]

Instead of beverage dispenser ask your cater to display the drinks in individual glasses or portions. They look very pretty. And limiting the amount of beverages can also help lower the costs. [Credits: 1 Photo by Leo Patrone via Inspired by This | 2  & 3 via The Wedding Tea Room]

BEVERAGE OPTIONS. Margaritas, peach bellini, or grapefruit vodka spritzer , pick the cocktail that suits your event vibe and color palette. [Credits: 1 & 2 photography by Jessica Claire via Joyful Weddings | 3 via Martha Stewart Weddings | 4 via noosh loves]

For non-alcoholic beverages, delicious tea, pink lemonade, sangria and/or punch served in large pitchers can also match the palette while quenching everyone's thirst in the hot early summer. [Credits: 1 photography by Carly Taylor via Grey Likes Baby | 2 image by A Bryan Photo via Southern Weddings | 3 photography by Jemma Keech via bride + groom]

However, a water station flavored with oranges, cucumbers and lemons are a perfect inexpensive and low-calorie option for those super hot summer days. [Credits:1 Jodi Miller Photography via The Bride's Cafe | 2 Photography by Dan Cutona via Inspired by This ]

If you want your drinks and cocktails to be anything but standard, check out these suggestions:

• Cocktail Popsicles for Weddings
• {Wedding Trends} : Cookies and Milk
• Gourmet Jell-O Shots

Or check out more wedding trends, right here.

If you enjoy this article, please help sharing the word by tweeting it, sharing it on facebook or pinterest.

Wedding Macarons Guide: Flavors, Usages and Presentations

Bring a little bit of Paris to your wedding with these irresistible desserts. Traditionally French inspired, macarons are a popular dessert that your guests will enjoy at the wedding, or as a take home gift. These beautifully colored sweets melt in your mouth bringing a smile to anyone who tries them, making them the perfect treat for your special day. 

The macarons' flavors, usages and presentation options are endless and so are the ways that you can custom tailor them to meet your wedding needs. Here are a few suggestions:

Flavors

SWEET. Macarons come in an infinity variety of flavors, from the traditional chocolate and exotic fruits to coffee and tea. You can basically request this dessert in any flavor and flavor combination you can think of. I love the idea of featuring two variety of macarons, each on the bride's and groom's favorite flavors. { Left: Almond, coconut and Currant Macaroons by Whisk Kid, recipe here. Right: Snickers Macarons by 6 Bitterssweet, recipe here. }

COCKTAILS. I tought I've seen all the alternative ways to serve traditional cocktails at weddings; jell-o shots, cocktail cupcakes and cocktail popsicles, but cocktail macarons... this is something totally new to me. I'm loving this Raspberry Vodka Jelly Dark Chocolate Ganache Macaron by Macaron Fetish. The recipe is right here!

SALTY. If you aren't a dessert person, but you still would like to incorporate these pretty confections into your wedding, have no fear. Thanks to some very creative and talented pastry chefs nowadays you can find macarons in non-sweet flavors such as popcorn (by Eat Show And Tell - recipe) and salmon (by From Buenos Aires To Paris - recipe).

Usages
Besides being a fabulous wedding dessert, macarons can serve a double purpose at your event. Here are a few ideas:
ESCORT CARDS (image source) See other unique place-card displays by clicking here.

WEDDING CAKE DECOR (Left - cake by Sharon Wee Creations via Cake Central. Right - cake by Cake Opera via Cakes and Sweets)

FAVORS (by SparklesMacaron)

DESSERT TABLE ELEMENT (image source)

PLACE SETTING DECOR (image source) See other unique place-settings by clicking here.

DESSERT INGREDIENT. Like in this Strawberry and Macaron Trifle by Trissalicious (recipe) or this Mont Blanc with Macaron dessert.

Presentations 
In weddings presentation is everything. There is never a detail too small. Take advantage of the macaron transformational abilities and personalize it to complement your wedding color scheme, theme and decor.
COLORS.  Macarons can be made in any color or color combination to match your color palette. Your baker can even add some metallic accents to bring some sparkle, make them in different shades of the same color to match your ombre color theme or confection a multicolor variety if you are going for the rainbow effect. {First image source | multicolor macarons by Macaron Fetish - recipe | blue and gold macarons by My Sweet and Saucy via Pinterest | Ombre Macarons by Pei Li's Miniatures via Bridal Survival}

THEMES. Wether you are going for lavender (by Macaron Fetish - recipe) touches, vintage love birds (by Bubble and Sweet) theme or to movie inspirations like Breakfast at Tiffany's (by Sprinkle Bakers - recipe) or Marie Antoinette (image source), macarons could be an unexpected, yet fabulous element that brings your wedding inspiration together. See for yourself...

MONOGRAMS. You guys will have your monogram on your wedding invitations, your menus and even reflected on your reception dancing floor, so take a step further and and bring the monogram to your desserts with this monogramed macarons by Hideminy.

TOWERS.  This lovely idea isn't so much about the macarons themselves, but about the way you can feature them at your wedding. Macaron towers are commonly used as dessert table elements, but more and more adventurous brides are choosing a macaron tower over the traditional wedding cake. (Left - tower by Cake Opera via The Cake Blog. Right - cake by Jay's Catering via Heavenly Bloom)

MACARON-POPS. I am *slightly* obsessed with any desert on a stick, specially cake-pops. But, put macarons on a stick with a cute little bow, and…I can hardly handle the cuteness. These particular pops are raspberry mascarpone macarons by Tartlette. Recipe right here!

OTHER CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO SERVE MACARONS. First up, we have a mini tower made out of macarons of different sizes by Christophe Rousel. The second image is a macaroon centerpiece by Kitchen Musigns used in a dessert table...lovely!  And last, but not least these beautiful cranberry macarons by Eddy Van Damme. They remind me of an engagement ring, so besides the wedding, I would love to see them at an engagement party or bridal shower.

If you want your wedding desserts to be anything but standard, check out these suggestions:

• {Wedding Trends} : Cake-Pops
• {Wedding Trends} : Cookies and Milk
• Cocktail Popsicles for Weddings
• Cupcakes
• Gourmet Jell-O Shots
• Non-Traditional Wedding Food
• Fall Favorite Wedding Desserts

If you enjoy this article, please help sharing the word by tweeting it, sharing it on facebook or pinterest.

Gourmet Jell-O Shots for Weddings

I know what you’re thinking….”Wow, Belle has stooped to an all-time low on this one! Jello-O shots for a wedding…PUH-LEASE!”  Well, what if I told you that jelly shots have gone fancy and are leaving their mark at weddings.  These classed-up versions can bring an unexpected design element to even the most fabulous of fêtes. Gourmet Jell-O Shots are classic cocktails translated into beautiful gelatin form with a flavor true to the drink inspiration. With Jello shots presentation is everything! Replace the traditional little plastic cups with fancy molds, add some fresh fruit and presto-jello shots will dazzle! 

If you're looking for a creative, unique and sophisticated way to serve alcohol at your wedding reception or cocktail hour, then I'd like to introduce you to the wonderful world of Gourmet Jell-O Shots.

Click in the link at the end of each post to get the recipe plus step by step directions.

1. The Bramble, a lemon sour base, gin, and a float of blackberry liqueur (Rock UR Party)

2. Dragon Flowers, pretty and colorful (My Jell-O Americans)

3. Mimosa, perfect for brunch weddings (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)

4. Paloma, my mom's favorite cocktail made out of tequila and grapefruit soda. Love the blush color. (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)

5. White Wine Sangria, a simple thing that always feels lavish, even slightly decadent - just like a summer outdoor wedding. (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)

6. Blackberry Cosmopolitan, who doesn't like a Cosmo? (Jelly Shoot Test Kitchen)

7. French 75, a twist on the classic champagne (Bakers Royale)

Not for everyone, but for a couple looking to have some fun, playful cocktails that are out of the norm, they're perfect!


If you want your wedding menu to be anything but standard, check out these suggestions:

• Non-Traditional Wedding Food
• Cocktail Cupcakes
• Cocktail Popsicles for Weddings
• Fruit, Veggies and Weddings

If you enjoy this article, please help sharing the word by tweeting it or sharing it on facebook.