Black Friday Deals Worth Braving the Crowds For

Image via gamesided.com

Hey Ya’ll,

I’m not one to shop on “Black Friday” but if you are there are plenty of good deals to score this year. In fact, some of them are already LIVE and can be purchased online! Click HERE for a list of coupon codes that have already hit the web for “Black Friday” 2013.

Click HERE for The Huffington Post‘s list of the top “Black Friday” deals at Walmart. What’s the best deal they’ve got? Walmart is offering to give YOU $26 dollars for an iPhone 5C ($49 on contract + $75 gift card).

Image via cnet.com

And for all of the tech-lovers on your shopping list (or for yourself!), be sure to check out Cnet‘s list of the best tech deals available this “Black Friday” at stores like Target, Best Buy, Staples and Amazon. Click HERE for their reviews of each product/deal.

For those of you who love Target as much as I do, Tom’s Guide has an excellent list of the best tech deals to score at Target, HERE. According to Tom’s Guide, “Target opens at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and doesn’t close until 11 p.m. on Black Friday. That’s 27 straight hours of continuous shopping. On top of its many sales, Target is also offering a 20 percent off coupon valid Dec. 1-7 for those who spend more than $75 on Black Friday. Plus, if you have Target’s “REDcard” credit card, you can take an extra 5 percent off the sale price.”

Image via http://lifehacker.com

Lastly, Lifehacker has a great list of the items you should buy on “Black Friday” vs. “Cyber Monday”. Click HERE to check it out.

Please share any great deals you’ve seen advertised in the comment section below. Good luck and have a SAFE shopping day everybody!
-Brian

What to Give Your Thanksgiving Dinner Host/Hostess

Succulents make great hostess gifts! To find out how to create this adorable potted plant gift,       go here: http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2013/11/thanksgiving-hostess-gift.html

Hey Ya’ll,

Putting together a Thanksgiving dinner can be a major undertaking. Even hosting a potluck style dinner is a lot of work when you consider the cleaning (before and after) that goes along with inviting guests into your home to share a meal.

Hostess gift tags via http://catchmyparty.com

For these reasons, I think it’s a really fantastic idea to bring your host/hostess a thoughtful gift to show your appreciation. Below, you’ll find a few host/hostess gift ideas that go beyond the average bottle of wine or bouquet of flowers… Happy Thanks-Giving!
-Brian

Ateco cookie cutter

casa.com

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

barnesandnoble.com

Serena Lily kitchenware dining

serenaandlily.com

Pier 1 Imports Cake Stand

pier1.com

Cooling Whiskey Rocks

shopgrounded.com

Pier 1 Imports Snack Bowls

pier1.com

Claus Porto Soap

casa.com

Philosophy Pumpkin Pie Bubble Bath

selfridges.com

Nest Birchwood holiday candle

gifts.redenvelope.com

Uni-Sex Apron

purlbee.com

Metal and Glass Serving Tray

target.com

Sofia Coppola Blanc de Blanc ’10 (4PK with Pink Straws!)

bevomo.com

Kusmi Tea

us.kusmitea.com

Bulliet Bourbon
bevomo.com

Hazelwood Shea Butter Body Scrub

hazelwoodsoapcompany.com

* Succulent plant image (at top) and tutorial via http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2013/11/thanksgiving-hostess-gift.html.

Related Posts:

Thanksgiving Gift-Giving Guide

How Bout’ Them Grapes?

My Top 10 Tips for Hosting an Easy Holiday Party

The Knot Industry Gala (and Me!) in This Month’s CeciStyle Magazine

Image via: http://www.cecinewyork.com/cecistyle

Hey Ya’ll,

Last month, I told you all about the big event that I designed for The Knot and all of the hard work and great vendors that made the Gala a total success.

This month, my good friend and the talented designer of the event’s gorgeous invitations, Ceci Johnson, put together this beautiful feature in the Style section of her magazine.

Image via: http://www.cecinewyork.com/cecistyle

Click HERE to go to the full article now.

Image via http://www.cecinewyork.com/cecistyle

As Ceci stated, “This year Brian Worley from YourBASH! was the master planner, and we worked together to brainstorm and then bring a “Hollywood with an Edge” concept to life.”

Image via http://www.cecinewyork.com/cecistyle

To see how Ceci was inspired by the event’s stunning venue as well as many of my design selections, head over to Ceci Creative Tips.

Ceci and I at the Knot Gala!

As always, I was so impressed by the way Ceci was able to infuse the sleek black, gold and pewter palette we decided on with all of the different design elements of the event. Her invitations were nothing short of brilliant. Bravo, Ceci New York!
-Brian

Related Posts:

Top 10 Wedding Ideas To Steal From The Knot Gala!

A Peek Behind-the-Scenes + Highlights From The Knot Gala 2013

My Knot Chat Re-Cap!

Last Minute Halloween Inspiration!

Image via ABeautifulMess.com

Hey Ya’ll,

Since Halloween falls on a Thursday this year, many people will be hosting Halloween parties this weekend. Are you ready? If not, I’ve got a few ideas for anyone looking to put together a party of their own, create a last minute costume or decorate your home in time to greet neighborhood trick-or-treators.

Let’s start off with a little party decor inspiration via Williams-Sonoma! I love the chic, gothic-vibe of their Halloween decor this year. It immediately caught my eye when they sent out their most recent e-newsletter.

Click HERE to see all of the great ideas and products I pinned via Williams-Sonoma for Halloween.

Expert Tip:Subscribe to e-newsletters from your favorite party supply stores. They may seem like junk-mail to most, but you’d be surprised how many fantastic party ideas, recipes, and amazing deals I’ve gotten all because I subscribe to (and actually open!) the e-newsletters from my favorite retailers.

Another great source for Halloween party inspiration and supplies is Koyal Wholesale (another e-newsletter I never miss!). They really hit the nail on the head this year with the perfect Halloween color palette:

If you’re not into this bright color palette, try a simple black and white theme. Here’s a mantle we designed for a YourBash! event last year:

And don’t forget, if you don’t have a lot of time to put up a bunch of decorations for Halloween, you can accomplish a lot with just lighting!

Try placing a few large lights in your front-yard to project green, orange or even a black and white strobe effect onto your home. It will give it an instant spooky feel without going to a lot trouble!

One of my costumes from last year!

Finally, if you’re looking for a last-minute costume, check out some of my older posts for few fun ideas:

Themed Family and Group Halloween Costume Ideas

15 Clever Halloween Costumes for Your Pet

31 Days of Halloween: Let’s Talk Costumes!

And here’s another post that combines my party planning tips with my friend Ceci’s fabulous makeup tips for Halloween:

How to Plan A Halloween Party and Create A Costume Using Face Paint

So… what are you going to be for Halloween this year? Are you hosting a party or passing out candy? Let me know your plans in the comment section below.
-Brian

A Sneak Peek at Ceci Johnson’s Invitation Design for The 2013 Knot Gala

Hey Ya’ll,

One of the best parts of planning this year’s Knot Gala is getting to work with my dear friend Ceci who has been featured on my blog a number of times.

Below, are a handful of posts that feature her and her beautiful work:

Friday Favorite: Win a Boxed Set of Metallic Letterpressed Notecards By Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York!

Friday Favorites: Unique Invitations By Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York!

Engage! 13 Re-Cap

How to Plan A Halloween Party and Create A Costume Using Face Paint

I met Ceci at her studio in NYC during one of my recent trips and got to look at all the different papers, inks, and colors that she uses everyday to create her stunning line of invitations. If there is anyone that thrives on creativity as much as I do, it is Ceci. She is a genius when it comes to thinking outside the box!

It was so fun to collaborate with her and show her what inspired me for the design of the event and then to watch her magically create an invitation before my eyes that is stunning, reflects the look of the event and is a work of art all its own. Her invites went into the mail a few days ago but once they arrive, I’ll be sure to post some photos of her fantastic work.

This is one of my favorite pictures of us at a Great Gatsby party at Engage!13 with our cell phones trying to keep up with social media!

Have you ever collaborated with a friend on a creative project? What was the outcome?
-Brian

My Favorite Fall Wedding Ideas from Pinterest

Hey Ya’ll,

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost October and fall is already officially here! Are you planning a fall or early winter wedding? Some people think that getting married during these seasons can be limiting in terms of flowers, venue and even food choices, depending on your geographic location. However, I think autumn weddings can be fantastic because there are fewer of them and there’s a lot of room for creative touches. If you’re planning a wedding to take place during the not-so-warm-months, check out my tips below for a little Pinspiration!

1. Accessorize! One of the coolest parts of getting married in the fall or winter is just that, it’s cooler! By wearing a wrap, a cardigan, a sweater, a jacket, a fur stole or even a cape, fall and winter brides can further establish their personal wedding day style and color palette. You can wear these accessories for just your photos, just the ceremony, just the reception or all three.

You can find these fabulous pins and more on my ‘Here Comes the Bride’ Pinterest board, HERE.

2. Use what’s in season! This can help you to settle on a color palette more easily, create a menu and select your flowers. For bouquets and centerpieces, OneWed has some fantastic fall floral inspiration, HERE. Don’t forget, sticking to seasonal selections doesn’t need to conflict with your decor or chosen color palette, you can always alter things to make them work. Take, for example, pumpkins. While they may come in orange and white in nature, you can add tacks, or paint, or ribbon or washi tape to make them work for your decor.

3. Choose Venues with an Indoor/Outdoor Feel. Fall and winter are some of the most naturally beautiful and picturesque seasons of the year depending on where you’re located. Use this to your advantage when selecting your venue.

One thing you will need to keep in mind, however, is the weather and how that relates to the comfort of your guests. If it’s too cold to be outdoors, maybe you do some photos outside, then move inside for the ceremony and reception. Or, if it’s not too cold in the early evening, aim to have your ceremony outdoors (maybe provide blankets or wraps for cold guests to barrow!) and then move inside. If you must stay indoors, look for a venue with great views, since you chose to get married during these beautiful seasons and it has likely inspired all of your design choices.

Bonus Tip: I love the idea of throwing beautiful red, yellow and orange and gold leaves, as opposed to confetti or petals, for an autumn wedding. And since there’s so many on the ground this time of year (most places!) its an easy/free item to use for decor at your wedding. You could attach tiny pouches of leaves on the guests chairs, or put them in baskets at the end of each isle for the ushers to pass around for each guest to grab a hand-full before the bride and groom walk down the isle.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen done at a fall or winter wedding? Would you ever wear a jacket or sweater with your wedding dress? Let me know in the comment section below.
-Brian

A Few Of My Favorite Pins!

Hey Ya’ll,

Today, I’m sharing three of my favorite pins from the hotbed of useful information and dazzling imagery known as Pinterest!

OneWed.com originally pinned the photo above of an outdoor garden wedding with a crisp green apple theme. As an event planner with a strong commitment to Eco-friendly design, I was inspired by how green (literally and figuratively!) this event design is. The bottle of wine is accomplishing so many things: table number, signature beverage, wedding favor, and it sets a sophisticated tone while also establishing the event’s theme and color palette. An excellent idea indeed. Click HERE to find this pin on my DIY board, where you’ll find lots of pins to help you put a personal touch on your next event.

I could blame my attraction to the pin above on how insanely hot it has been in L.A. lately, but I’ve always loved the idea of personalizing a beverage with fancy ice cubes filled with tasty treats! This pin was originally posted by 17apart.com, and led me to THIS pin via homedesign.marthastewart..com, which also looks like a delicious must-try. You can find both of these pins on my Beverage Board.

For my last pin, I’m sharing this chic salad bar setup that instantly caught my eye. Talk about using your food to add color to your tablescape! This pin was originally posted by celebrationsathomeblog.com, and I’m so glad it got my attention because it led me to this wonderful blog penned by Creative Director, Chris Nease. I highly recommend taking a spin around her site, lots of great posts featuring party planning how-to’s, recipes and design/decor inspiration.

You can find the rest of my inspirational and educational (and down right FUN to look at!) pins sprinkled throughout my Pinterest boards, here: http://www.pinterest.com/brianworley/boards.

What are some of your favorite pins? Feel free to post a link to it along with your Pinterest profile URL in the comment section below. Let’s pin together!
-Brian

Five Tips for Preserving Your Wedding Dress

Preservation at its finest: Real Housewife Adrienne Maloof, actually had her wedding dress framed and hung on her wall!

Hey Ya’ll,

Do any of you remember the fad from a few years ago (maybe some of you even participated in it?), where brides would “trash” their wedding dress on purpose during an elaborate, post-wedding photo shoot?

Image via weddingity.com

Image via http://www.daveandcharlotte.com

Image via offbeatbride.com

Image via eventityinc.com

These are just a few examples of brides doing everything from splattering their dress with paint to rolling around on wet, sandy beaches and muddy forest floors. Please note: This can be very dangerous. Wedding gowns are often made of layer upon layer of mixed materials and if they get wet, they can become very heavy. Last year, a Canadian woman actually drowned during her “trash the dress” photo shoot. So. Not. Worth. It.

Personally, I think preserving your gown after the big day is the way to go (Doesn’t anybody pass down their wedding dress anymore?!?). In order to properly prepare and store your gown without accidentally trashing it, I’ve pulled together some tips.

1. Pre-Wedding Preservation Consultation. Seek out a dry cleaner that specializes in storage with your dress so that they can make a recommendation on cleaning and packing it.  Some dresses have beads, tassels and other items that might melt during the cleaning process. Do not remove the tag so the dry cleaner has as much information as possible about the gown. It is also a good idea to assign a friend or family member the task of bringing your gown to the dry-cleaners after your wedding (See: Tip 3) and to bring them to this pre-wedding visit.

2. Wedding Day Stain-Fighting Protocol. If on the day of your wedding you happen to get crazy on the dance floor and spill a drink (or three!) on your dress, blot it gently with club soda. Rubbing can damage the fabric permanently. It’s a good idea to have an emergency kit on hand for easy-to-remove stains, but in some cases it is best to let the dry cleaner have the first shot at removing the stain.

3. Prompt Post-Wedding Stain Removal. This may seem obvious, but oftentimes the bride is whisked away on her honeymoon after the wedding and no one has been put in charge of taking her dress to the dry cleaners. It’s important to have the dressed cleaned in a timely fashion so that stains don’t become oxidized and permanently damage the gown. Prompt treatment increases the likelihood of a successful cleaning.

4. Storing Your Gown. Under no circumstances do you want to store your dress without dry cleaning first. You might think you made it through your wedding day/night without any damage, but perspiration stains can affect the fabric too, even after they evaporate. Also, choose a box or hanging bag that’s free of metal accessories to prevent rust stains.

5. Find an Eco-Friendly Cleaner. My only other tip is to choose a local dry-cleaner that uses the latest technology. I encourage you to make an Eco-friendly choice by not supporting dry-cleaners that use outdated processes that create hazardous waste. As an added bonus, newer processes are gentler on clothes, thus lengthening the life of your wedding dress.

Did your mother preserve her wedding dress? Did you? Let me know in the comment section below.
-Brian

Welcome Guests to Your Wedding in Style with Personalized Goodie Bags!

Photo by Meghan Christine Photography – Visit emmalinebride.com

Hey Ya’ll,

If you want to throw a wedding that will keep your guests talking long after you say “I DO”, there’s no better way than to kick things off with a “Welcome to our Wedding” goodie bag. I’ve put together a few essentials that should find their way into the bag, bucket, or tote, as well as a few that are just too fun not to include!

Visit shop.weddingchicks.com

1) The Container… this is an essential part of the goodie bag, so find something that relates to the overall feel of your wedding.

It’s also important to consider something that is easy to travel with and can be packed away for a return trip home, since the majority of goodie bags are given to your out-of-town guests. Try to give them something that they will actually re-use, rather than finding your hard work and money left in the trash can.

Visit mydayeventplanning.com

2) Schedule of Events… though you most likely have created a website or even sent an itinerary to your guests with all the exciting events you have planned for your wedding weekend, more than likely, they will have forgotten it or will be having so much fun that they never log onto their computer, so include an easy timeline that can act as a back-up to all the rest of the information you previously sent.

This little piece of help should also include a few fun things to do during downtime, as well as a map.  You do not want your guests to get lost and miss a single minute of the exciting festivities you have worked tirelessly to organize over the last few months.

3) Beverage and Snack…Your family and friends are attending your wedding to celebrate, so why not help by getting the party started as soon as they arrive.  Throw in one of those plane-sized beverages or maybe a bottle of wine and some sort of snack that is unique and local to where you have decided to get married.

The image above depicts a great “Brooklyn” themed welcome bag. I once did a wedding in Texas and we included “Texas Tea” and chocolate pralines that gave the goodie bag a down home feel.  Whatever you choose, everyone appreciates a tasty treat and something to drink.

Visit weddingpartyapp.com

4) Recovery Kit… a common parting gift from a good wedding is a hangover the next morning!

Be sure to include a BIG bottle of water, some aspirin or anything else the doctor would prescribe for a speedy recovery.

Visit weddingpartyblog.com

5) A little THANK YOU… pamper your guests with some bath salts, a candle, or one of your favorite local products like honey from the bee hive down the street! This is a great way to say thank you for helping us celebrate our big day.  It doesn’t have to be anything too expensive that will break the bank, but a nice gesture for sure.

The Knot has an entire Goodie Bag Store where you can personalize anything and everything as well if you like one-stop-shopping! Check it out: HERE.

Visit etsy.com

Do you have any favorite goodie bag items that you have received at a wedding or items that you have included for your guests in the past that you consider a MUST HAVE?  Let me know by leaving a comment below.
-Brian

Learn to Speak Wedding: Enter to WIN Flashcards for Beginners from Daughter of Design!

Hey Ya’ll,

If you’re newly engaged (or know someone who is), then you know how overwhelming the wedding planning process can be. Right from the get go, you’re dealing with everyone from jewelers, bridal consultants and wedding planners to photographers, lighting specialists, florists, bakers, tailors, dry cleaners, and the list goes on and on!

***UPDATE: We have our winner – Kristin Wong! Kristin will be gifting this boxed set to her good friend who was recently engaged. We know she is going to thank you for these educational and entertaining cards–Congratulations, Kristin! ***

These are people and places many people have never worked with before, so when you factor in how much money many of these people are asking you to fork over for their services, (and the added pressure of wanting your wedding day to be perfect!) trying to understand what you’re signing up for can be confusing and downright terrifying.

Annie and I at Engage13 in our Gatsby gear!

This is why my good friend and wedding planner extraordinaire Annie Lee of Daughter of Design®, created a concise and easy introduction to the wedding world with a beautiful box set of 50 flashcards. Annie’s Learn to Speak Wedding™: Flashcards for Beginners, explain the most common terms, abbreviations, and other wedding vernacular that will help familiarize newbies with wedding culture and have them sounding like a pro in no time!

I also love that Annie had our mutual friend Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York design her beautiful flashcards! You can check out some of the posts I’ve done about Ceci and her line of couture stationary, here:

Letterpressed Notecards By Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York!

Unique Invitations By Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York!

Engage! 13 Re-Cap

How to Plan A Halloween Party and Create A Costume Using Face Paint

Each one of Annie’s cards features a wedding term on the front and a full explanation, correct usage, pronunciation, and other helpful tips are explained on the back. And today, Annie is offering up a box of these fancy flashcards to one of you!

To enter the GIVEAWAY, simply do the following:

1. FOLLOW @daughterodesign and @yourBASHbworley on Twitter and TWEET the following: “I can’t wait to learn how to #SpeakWedding with @daughterodesign! http://wp.me/p1SYl0-Zv“

2. COMMENT below this blog post (so we can contact you if you win!) and be sure to tell us know WHO the flashcards are for!

Good luck everybody! I can’t wait to find out who will win these fabulous cards!
-Brian

***Giveaway limited to U.S. residents only.***

Connect with Annie online:
Website: www.daughterofdesign.com
Instagram: instagram.com/daughterodesign
Twitter: twitter.com/daughterodesign
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/daughterodesign