Easy Centerpiece for Non-Florists

This centerpiece is SO EASY to create and will make a big impact when the candles are lit. See our other square centerpiece ideas at our Facebook page.

Throwing a fall party? Get cute invites from Pingg.com

Pingg.com has the cutest invites and e-vites for your football-watching or Halloween party this fall. Artists, photographers, illustrators and stationery companies submit their work and allow you to choose the designs you like best.

Choose your design, then customize the invite with your own event details. You can either choose to send the invites through the mail or email.

Aggie wins award at national floral design contest...Whoop!

By: Megan Ryan, The Battalion

When Mary Coffee, a senior, went to talk to her general studies adviser to discuss choosing a major, she had no idea what she wanted to do. As the adviser started throwing out ideas, Coffee was surprised to hear her say “floral design.” After declaring her major in horticulture, she entered the American Institute of Floral Design Student Competition and won third place for her design of a centerpiece for a sweetheart table.

“I felt like [horticulture] fell in my lap,” Coffee said. “I love it now. When I was living in the sorority house my sophomore year, I always gave out flowers to girls who were struggling with something. Then, I was talking to my adviser and she said ‘you can do anything you want; you can be an engineer, you can do floral design,’ and I just knew it was for me.”
B.J. Dyer, chairman of the American Institute of Floral Design Student Competition Committee, said the judging for the competition was technical, with points given for methodical use of color, depth, line, balance and proportion.

“In the category where Mary Coffee took her trophy, the competitors were asked to design a centerpiece for a sweetheart table, intended for a small wedding reception table seating just a bride and groom,” Dyer said.

Novice members of active Student American Institute of Floral Design Chapters with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and completion of 15 semester units were eligible for the competition.

“It was cool representing A&M at such a big organization and seeing how well-known A&M is there,” Coffee said. “My favorite part of the whole week was the last night. They turned all the lights down and had spotlights on all the centerpieces. It was amazing.”

There are four areas of the contest: buffet centerpiece, bridal bouquet, napkin rings and sweetheart centerpiece. Mary said she was able to win third place for the sweetheart centerpiece because her nerves had settled by the time she began work on it.

“Judges strive to set aside subjective opinions about the designs and will give high points for a well-executed design that may not be to their personal taste,” Dyer said.

Jim Johnson, distinguished lecturer in the horticulture department, was one of Mary’s teachers and helped her prepare for the competition.

“Mr. Johnson gave me all these flower magazines, and I would go through them everyday and keep getting different ideas,” Coffee said. “You know ahead of time what the grading rubric is, and I would practice.”

Johnson, who received the “distinguished service to the floral industry” award during his career, said the student chapter at A&M has been in existence since 1980, and students go to the competition every year.

“We have had in years past several winning students,” Johnson said. “So it’s the focus of our club. We work making floral designs, and the money we save is used to support and pay for the trip.”

The club creates buffet pieces and table centerpieces for banquets for the Office of the President, the Association of Former Students and many other departments and organizations.

“It is a way for the students to get some real-world practice for what they want to do in the future,” Johnson said.

Summer Wedding at St. Joseph's

Engagement pictures by Stancy Higley.



















Katie's ceremony and reception was held at St. Joseph Church in Bryan, Texas.















Cakes by Blondie made these beautiful cakes.













Bridesmaid gift bags. So cute!














Vendors

Wedding Photographer: Laura Chiles
Rentals: Details Event Rental
Florist: Tricia Barksdale Design
Cake: Cakes by Blondie
Caterer: C&J's BBQ

Brazos Cotton Exchange

Yeah! An event we did a while back was featured in an ad for the Brazos Cotton Exchange and on the home page of their web site! This is a wonderfully unique venue for a ceremony or reception.

Recently, I was asked to bring two of my favorite recipes to my friend Tailer’s bridal shower. What a cute idea! Give someone a cute recipe card box and some of your favorite recipes printed on these cute cards. Print some blank ones for the bride to write on as well.
























These cards were made using Skip to my Lou’s recipe card generator. Just pick whether you want 4x6 or 3x5, then choose your design. Did I mention they’re FREE!!

Then, create some dividers using a label maker or your own writing. And Voila, an easy, personalized bridal shower gift.

Find or make a box for the cards. You could wrap a plain white box with wrapping paper or glue embellishments on to the box.

And if you want to get someone something really special, check out this recipe card embosser set from Williams Sonoma. Prices start at $69.

Country and Western Rehearsal Dinner

This is a cute idea for a country and western themed rehearsal dinner. This event was designed by Clink Events.