Bridechilla™ Tip #30

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Tip #30 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Remember the 5 most common things Summer brides forget! See our list below.

summer bridePhoto by Michele M. Waite

Tomorrow is the first day of SUMMER (what’s your favorite summer activity?!), so if wedding season isn’t in full swing yet – it’s about to be. While we’re preparing ourselves we also want to make sure our Bridechilla’s are too. This week’s Bridechilla™ Tip is made for the brides planning to say ‘I do’ in the next few months. These tips will have you on top of the things most Summer Bridechillas will forget.

summer boutonnierePHOTO BY Summer Street Photography

☼ the  B O U T O N N I E R E  -  Order a back-up boutonniere (or two!) for your groom. Since he will be wearing this all day, the florals are apt to wilt a lot quicker. Having a spare will keep his look fresh and chill through a sunny and warm wedding day.

summer guestsPHOTO BY onelove photography

☼ the  G U E S T S  -  Keep your guests in mind when planning a summer wedding. The day is likely to be hot and sunny, so have something out for them to stay cool with. Either fans, umbrellas, or even pairs of shades for every one!

spiked unspiked copyTOP PHOTO by Catherine Hall Studios, Bottom photo by Jessica Burke Photography

☼ the  D R I N K S  -  Make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic refreshments! Guests will be trying to stay hydrated, so you don’t want them grabbing cocktails every time they get a little thirsty. A signature of an Off The Beaten Path Wedding, the “Spiked” and “Not Spiked” punch is always the way to go. Also… make sure you and the groom have water bottles handy – you will be talking, dancing, and moving a lot so you will be very thirsty!

summer couple

photos by Jessica Burke Photography

☼ the  P O R T R A I T S  -  Your photographer may have warned you of this one, but we’re going to tell you anyway. Do NOT schedule your portraits for noon. And if you don’t know what the “magic light” or “magic hour” is, be sure to ask your photographer! At noon, the sun will be at it’s peak and you will definitely be having some harsh shadows ruining your images. So remember to wait later on in the day, around pre-sunset for the most chill photo experience.

seasonal producePHOTO via the habit of being

☼ the  F A V O R S  -  Don’t forget to use the summer season to your advantage! Our favorite way of sending a chill thank you to your guests is by sending home summer treats as thank you favors. Theses seasonal fruit favors will keep your guests refreshed, and can even be a snack for the ride home. We even have a list of summer fruits for you right here.

Happy planning, Bridechillas!

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4 Chill Summer Blackberry Dessert Ideas

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Blackberry season is almost here! We just can’t wait to see this chill treat all over this season’s Off The Beaten Path Weddings. For our Summer Bridechillas looking for a dessert to match their purple color scheme, here is the perfect treat- a blackberry sorbet. Love blackberries but not a sorbet fan? No worries, we have a few more blackberry dessert recipes below.. No wonder we stay so chill… ;)

All you need is found below:

  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 24 oz. fresh blackberries
  • 2 Tbls. fresh lemon juice

(Makes about 1 quart of sorbet) And you can find instructions for the Blackberry Sorbet Recipe right here.

DSC04271Blackberry Fools by Thyme

This one definitely has our mouths watering, see the recipe below to find out why!

  • 1 cup of cream
  • 1 Tbsp. confectioners sugar
  • 1 cup of Blackberry Jam
  • Garnish (try peppermint leaves)

In your electric mixer, whip up the cream and confectioners sugar.  Fold or swirl in the blackberry jam.  Ladle carefully into your favorite glass cups.  Garnish, embellish, or fancy them up however you please!

ad9db18527cd09207ab65f42c8586831Lemon & Lime Cream Parfaits with Blackberries by Back To The Cutting Board

  • 3 cups fresh* blackberries (or blueberries), divided
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 8 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
  • 1 1/2 cups low-fat or non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp. honey
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 lime

Makes 3 to 4 servings, click here for instructions.

cheesecake popsBlackberry Cheesecake Yogurt Pops by Citrus and Candy

Did we just say CHEESECAKE? Oh yes, yes we did.

  • 240g blackberries (about two punnets)
  • 120g caster sugar
  • Juice of half a lime
  • 100g cream cheese, softened
  • 200g natural yogurt
  • 125ml thickened cream
  • 1 Tbl Crème de Cassis (alcohol optional or you can change to whatever one you wish)

How can you resist this tiny and tasty little confection? You’ll want to try it even more once you see how simple the instructions are! See them here.

pops

ENJOY!

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Father-Daughter Dance Songs

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b66aa526f1926b38edd79c2f520bbf0fWith Father’s Day this Sunday, we’re absolutely loving these gift ideas on Etsy. You might have already picked out a new tie or tickets to the game, or even one of the world’s cutest t-shirts for dad... but just in case you haven’t decided on a gift yet we have a quick fix – make him a CD! It’s easy, thoughtful, and not too time consuming. You can gather every song that is significant to the two of you, burn to a disc, and craft up a quick CD cover. And to give you a head start, we’ve gathered a playlist of our favorite father-daughter songs. Scroll away to hear some of our favorite tracks for you and your dad to dance to.

78a715d20d770eb0bc52cab1a21a12aeFather’s Day Tracklist:

  1. Billy Joel – “Lullaby“
  2. Stevie Wonder – “Isn’t She Lovely“
  3. The Avett Brothers – “A Father’s First Spring“
  4. John Mayer – “Daughters“
  5. Neil Young – “Here For You“
  6. Bon Iver – “For Emma, Forever Ago“
  7. The Flaming Lips – “Do You Realize“
  8. Cat Power – “Sea of Love“
  9. Paul Simon – “Father and Daughter“
  10. Johnny Cash – “You Are My Sunshine“
  11. Beyonce – “Daddy“
  12. City & Colour – “The Girl“

37afa8470aaa61be1c88adf4aec2b9a7A few of these songs you might want to keep in mind for your wedding day, because they would also make for great father-daughter dance songs. We would love for our Bridechilla’s to celebrate their fathers on this special day but we do honor the chill fathers we’ve lost. If you will not be dancing with your dad on your chill day, try honoring his memory with some of these ways we’ve listed in our blog post, “How to Honor Lost Loved Ones on Your Wedding Day“.  

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Happy Father’s Day to all our dads out there! From the Bridechilla™ Team!

image credits: image one | image two | image three | image four

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Bridechilla™ Tip #29

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Tip #29 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Keep your wedding party CHILL by taking them on a group bike ride with Napa Valley Bike Tours.

napa valley bike tours

IMAGINE. It’s finally here, the week of your wedding. After all the venue hunting, planning, finding that perfect chalkboard touch you were looking for, deciding on the ultimate floral crown, & even purchasing some very chill bridesmaid gifts, what else is there to do? If you ask us, we’re thinking it’s time to C H I L L. If you’re a California Bridechilla, we suggest a heavy dose of chill  by getting outside, unplugging from our cellphones, and truly enjoying all that wine country has to offer. To make this outdoor experience even more perfect, why not try it on bike? There’s no reason not to take this chance to see Napa Valley from a whole new perspective, especially when our friends at Napa Valley Bike Tours make it so easy.

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Napa Valley Bike Tours has hosted numerous wedding groups on private and bespoke guided bike tours; in fact, they’ve even hosted a few of our Bridechillas who have had their Off The Beaten Path Wedding in Napa. Napa Valley Bike Tours hosts bike rides for bachelorette and groomsmen trips, as well as private bike tours for bridal parties and select family members the day before (or even after) the nuptials. Taking one of these tours is the ultimate chill activity that engages everyone in the beautiful destination you’ve chosen for your wedding, while making for a great pre-wedding memory. Let go of that smart phone and try this on for size!

napa valley bike tours2

How will you relax on your wedding week? By having a bicycle ride date with your groom-to-be, or by taking the whole party?

napa valley bike tour3

So IMAGINE a long adventure through Napa Valley concluding in an outdoor picnic under the shade.. can you say C H I L L? We can’t think of a more relaxing adventure than one that lets us nature, food, and the California sunshine all in one day.

napa valley bike tours4

To find out more information about Napa Valley Bike Tours for private bike tours, click here.

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All photos provided by Napa Valley Bike Tours

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A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see some other ways  you can wear the chill.

Bridechilla™ Tip #28

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Tip #28 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Stay chill (and we mean literally!) while out there in the Summer sun with our Bridechilla™ cap, “The Emily”.
Emily_2

The sun is shining bright, you’re hydrated, ready to take your cruiser around some gorgeous Napa Valley trails, and the only thing you’re missing is some shade to cover your head and eyes. We suggest you spare yourself that awful scalp sunburn and a hairzilla episode, and put on our Bridechilla™ cap, The Emily. It’s perfectly chill with a vintage touch, what better way to gear up for your adventure than try this hat?

Emily_1

A little about this piece of un-zilla wear: The Emily was named after one of our Bridechillas, Emily who had her Off The Beaten Path Wedding with now husband Matt in Napa in July 2011. The Emily is gently frayed and faded, and manufactured by Alternative Apparel. This perfectly distressed HAT has a been-to-the-front-lines-and-back look with a signature vintage-inspired style and distressed accents. Features pre-curved bill, velcro closure and a contrasting stitched box on the side.

Bridechilla_staychill

DETAILS: THE EMILY

  • Color – Khaki with Tangerine text
  • 100% cotton chino twill
  • Enzyme washed
  • Destroyed accents
  • Unisex regular fit

Bridechilla_bike

Purchase The Emily here. Happy riding!

bethechill

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A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see some other ways  you can wear the chill.

Off The Beaten Path Celebrates One Year of LOVE: Alana & Peter, June 2, 2012

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anna and peter

Alana & Peter from rose street studio on Vimeo.

We’re so thrilled to start our week off by wishing our Bridechilla™ , Alana, and her husband Peter a very happy anniversary. Below we remember some of the special moments of their chill day, as told by their event stylist, Mary Ellen Murphy of Off The Beaten Path Weddings.

What was your favorite thing about working with Alana and Peter? The amazing connection and respect that they had for each other. It was such an honor to see such committed love. There were times when it was like they were the only ones. They had a very gentle style and Peter had such a sense of humor-which kept Alana chill!

How did Alana embrace the chill & be a total anti-zilla?
She spent her wedding day with mom and her wedding party and they did their own hair/make up. I know some would say that is hardly chill, but it was a very special time for them-sharing the experience.
amuse
Tell us some memorable details that stood out to you about Alana and Peter’s wedding day.
We did an amuse course that was so wonderful! Miniature onion soups with gruyere cheese baked on site. There were served on top of freshly picked grape leaves from the vineyard.one yearTo many many many more chill years of love and happiness. -Bridechilla™ & Off The Beaten Path Weddings

Bridechilla™ Interview with Renée Calder Design

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hello hello

Our guess is that you’ve seen the magnificent chalk masterpieces, or “chalk photo booths” as our friend, Renée Calder of Renée Calder Design & Creatives names them. We instantly fell in love with these hand-lettered beauties and only wanted to explore more in to one of the chill creators behind this beautiful art. Many couples have been using these gigantic chalk drawn photo booths at their wedding, as they create an extra-ordinary backdrop for photos while sharing a beautiful message. Not only does Renee specialize in these pieces, but she also carries talent in wedding stationary and other types of custom typography. Find out more about her creative process and inspiration below.

renee

Describe your artistic style.
I absolutely LOVE hand lettered typography, so most of my work is hand made. I’m probably most commonly seen with either chalk or an ink pen in hand, I get so much enjoyment out of working with these basics! And that’s what’s so great about my job – being titled a graphic designer doesn’t necessarily mean I am restricted to only crafting pieces on the computer. I certainly like working with both mediums, but it’s the really beautiful techniques from the past that I am most passionate about, and is is not how we designers got here in the first place? By putting pen to paper? Why not continue to embrace these styles!

We fell in love with the gigantic chalkboard piece you did for a wedding. How long did it take you to create this beautiful chalk work?
My large chalk board photo booth was a piece I spent about 30 odd hours working on, created using a combination of cheap regular chalk, and chalk pastels. I managed to complete only with good coffee and good tunes!

take a moment

celebrate

What inspires you?
My inspiration definitely comes from personal experiences. I have kept hand written journals for many years, and I find looking back upon them is always such a great place to start. I carry one with me everywhere, and I record anything and everything that comes to mind. I also find a great deal of creative thought comes from getting out and about with my camera. You can get so much out of one pure moment.

couple menu stationary
jodi
What is your favorite part about weddings?
Gosh, my favourite part about weddings! That’s so hard as I love everything about them. Its such a creative process, and so many talented designers are involved in this ‘one day’. It’s awesome to see all of them working together to make something so completely unique and beautiful. Most importantly though, I think its seeing two people who are so incredibly happy to be together, that is what makes it all
worth while.
The_Ryan_Main

If you were a Bridechilla-to-be, what would be your must-have Bridechilla™ wear?
If I was a bridechilla-to-be, I would most definietly be the proud owner of ‘The Ryan’. You can never have too many comfy hoodies!

What do you do to chill when there seems to be just too much going on?
When I’m a little bit stressed, (and I must admit I often am) I find writing lists really helpful. I like to leave a notebook beside my bed, so I can record all my thoughts before sleep. It shuts the mind down quite effectively, and then when I wake up I have an awesome list of creativeness to get on with for the day. My other method for ‘chilling’ is exercising, I love getting outside for a run or heading to the gym. Works a charm every time.
chill
just breathe
Do you have any more chalk inspired art pieces coming out soon?
Yes! I have a few pieces on the cards in the near future, but I am currently REALLY excited about a photoshoot I am styling with a really talented photographer/good friend of mine from ‘The Love Collective’ There’s going to be plenty of chalk board and hand lettered goodness, plus lots of fabulous wedding inspiration! Watch
this space:)
what we seek

 

Renee Calder Design & Creatives is a boutique graphic design studio based in the beautiful Nelson, New Zealand. Renee Calder specializes in hand-lettering and custom typography for weddings, editorial, food and lifestyle design. Please visit her Facebook & Website to see more of her talent.

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Memorial Day Weekend

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memorialdayweekend-kiss

Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt

“Ceremonies are important. But our gratitude has to be more than visits to the troops, and once-a-year Memorial Day ceremonies. We honor the dead best by treating the living well.” -Jennifer M. Granholm

MEMORIAL DAY IDEASThis weekend, we remember our fallen soldiers, honor their families, and show our appreciation and patriotism for the country we live in. There are many activities going on around Napa Valley this weekend, but if you are in another region, we encourage gathering family and friends for a backyard picnic or BBQ. Enjoy the sunshine, good food, friends, family and remember to wear your red, white and blue.

Cheers to our patriotic heroes and Happy Memorial Day Weekend from all of us at Bridechilla™!

BRIDECHILLA LOVES OUR TROOPS

Burger photo from What Katie Ate | Berries from Better Homes & Gardens
Bike photo Jennifer Dery

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Bridechilla™ Tip #27

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Tip #27 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Keep calm and hire a planner.

keep-calm-and-hire-a-planner-28

Here are  f i v e  solid reasons to hire a wedding planner and minimize your stress and maximize your chill on your big day.

Reason #1 – You’re newly engaged! At this point of your life you could be finishing up grad school, juggling two jobs, just starting a new one, or you might just have way too much on your plate to even think about taking on planning a wedding. Becoming engaged can come when you least expect it, so it might be hard to prepare for the wedding down the road while trying to maintain your current day-to-day life. But don’t let that be a detriment to your big day! Hire a planner and leave the vendor meetings, invitations, florals, and all that jazz up to them.

Reason #2 – Wedding planners more than likely have great connections with wedding vendors. This can benefit your budget tremendously. Instead of searching through hundreds of centerpieces and wasting hours of your own time, hire a planner to work around your budget and you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck.

Reason #3 – Planning a wedding comes with a lot of decision making. From colors to food, to the order of events to what kind of cake to have. Say you and your groom are butting heads trying to make a decision; having a third opinion (and a knowledgeable one) can save you and your future husband a quarrel and a big conversation. Hire a planner you can trust to help you with these decisions, so that you can both enjoy each other on your chill day.

Reason #4 – Of course wedding planners have TONS of experience with wedding etiquette and how to go about who to invite, who to leave off the guest list, where to seat that crazy uncle, and how to ensure every detail about your chill day goes smoothly and everyone has a great time. Hire a planner to ensure that every thing is done with careful consideration and thoughtfulness.

Reason #5 – Less stress, more fun. Wouldn’t you want some peace of mind on your chill day knowing that everything is being taken care of? Planning an entire wedding on your own might just be the perfect trick to becoming a “bridezilla”. And believe us, no one wants that. Hire a planner to be sure you can focus on being happy and being married.

bethechill

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A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see how you can wear the chill.

Chill Etsy Finds: Bridesmaid Gifts #2

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Since we had so much great feedback on our first round of Etsy Bridesmaid Gifts, we thought it was time to share round TWO of favorite Etsy finds for your chill gals, which we like to refer to as your Bridechilla™ Team. So, we’ve gathered a few more chill gift ideas for the girls in orange. Of course they will be sporting their Team Shirt, but we have some alternative gift ideas for the group of gals that help hold down the chill.  From monogram necklaces and iPhone cases to hair accessories and t-shirts, this Bridechilla™ Team will be fashionably chill with any of these choices.


vintage clutch

Rustic Pleated Clutch Purse by Lolo Sinclair of lolos

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Monogrammed iPhone Case by ToGildTheLily

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Personalized Initial Necklace by Lana at Lana0Crystal

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Charm Bracelet by Michelle at Nutmegjewelrydesigns

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Funny Bridesmaid Gift by Erin Duncan at wrenbirdarts (admit it, this one is hilarious!)

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Pearl Earrings in Monogrammed Box by Astrid by dutchpearl (Sweet packaging on this one!)

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Rose Hair Comb Becca at apocketofposies

And we absolutely love these handmade wallets (can also be coin purses) made by Kristina, shop owner of The Elegant Duck on Etsy. They can come in a variety of colors and are personalized with a letter for each bridesmaid. You can even add a little chill bedazzling with a jewel design.

What are some chill gifts you’ve thought about giving or have given to your bridesmaids?  Always remember that a Bridechilla™ Team Shirt would be a great gift that will remind your bridesmaids that there is no such thing as a bridezilla when it comes to your wedding. What better way to bring the gals together that to unite them with a fab piece of Bridechilla™ wear?

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P.S. If you are an Etsy Shop owner and would love to have your item featured on our Chill Etsy Finds, let us know and we will be happy to share it with our readers!