We’re excited to announce that Two Little Birds Planning has been selected to receive WeddingWire’s Bride’s Choice Award 2013. The Bride’s Choice Awards recognize the top five percent of wedding professionals nationwide and are selected based on client reviews. Thank you to our wonderful couples for their reviews and congrats to all the other winners!
Wishing everyone good times, good cheer, and a happy new year!
Ceremony Venue: St. Clement’s Church | Reception Venue: Le Meridien Philadelphia | Photography: Cindy Guessford Studios | Florals: Robertson’s | DJ: Synergetic Sounds | Transportation: Philadelphia Trolley Works | Hotel: Le Meridien Philadelphia
Images via Cindy Guessford Studios
As you’re planning your New Year’s Eve party, consider adding some of these yummy champagne cocktails to the menu.
Ginger Sparkler
(makes 8 cocktails)
2 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1/2 cup sugar
1 bottle (750 ml) dry sparkling wine, such as Cava, Prosecco, or Champagne
1. Set a fine-mesh sieve over a small bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan, boil ginger, sugar, and 1/4 cup water until syrupy, about 2 minutes. Pour through sieve into bowl, discarding solids. (To store syrup, refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 1 week.)
2. Pour 1 tablespoon syrup into each of 8 tall glasses. Top with sparkling wine, and gently stir.
Menning Mimosa
(makes 1 cocktail)
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons orange flavored liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
Prosecco, chilled
Fresh mint leaf
1. In a Champagne flute, mix together orange juice, lemon juice, and liqueur.
2. Fill with Prosecco.
3. Garnish with mint leaf and serve immediately.
Pear-Lemon Fizz
(makes 1 cocktail)
Ice cubes
1 tablespoon pear vodka
1 1/2 tablespoons Lemon Verbena Simple Syrup
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Champagne, for topping off (about 1/2 cup)
1 fresh lemon verbena leaf, for garnish
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, syrup, and lemon juice. Shake, and then strain into a glass. 2. Top off with Champagne. Garnish with lemon verbena.
Southside Royale
(makes 1 cocktail)
4 tablespoons gin
1 1/2 tablespoons simple syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Champagne
Sprig of mint
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin, simple syrup and lime juice.
2. Shake until chilled, then strain into a flute.
3. Top with Champagne. Garnish with the sprig of mint.
Champagne Mojito
(makes 12 cocktails)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups packed mint leaves, plus 12 mint sprigs for garnish
6 limes, cut into wedges
2 cups light rum
Cracked ice
3 cups Champagne or sparkling wine
1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and cook over high heat just until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.
2. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the mint leaves and lime wedges and muddle well with a wooden spoon. Add the rum and stir well. Strain the drink into another pitcher.
3. Fill tall glasses with cracked ice and pour in the drink, filling them about two-thirds full. Top with Champagne, garnish with the mint sprigs and serve.
MAKE AHEAD The mojitos can be prepared through Step 2. Refrigerate the mojitos in the pitcher overnight.
ginger sparkler, menning mimosa, and pear-lemon fizz recipes and images via martha stewart. southside royale and champagne mojito recipes and images via foodandwine.com.
It’s engagement season, and nothing is more exciting than showing off that sparkly new ring as you see family and friends throughout the holidays. But what happens if you lose the ring? Often new rings still need to be sized, not to mention that cold weather can make your fingers a little smaller making it easier to slip off that oh so special finger.
True story. Over the weekend, I was at Longwood Gardens and three women came rushing into the Conservatory frantically looking at the floor. We asked if we could help them find something and one of them told us that she had just gotten engaged and lost the ring the night before. She remembered taking her gloves off before taking a picture in front of the big Christmas tree, but doesn’t remember the last time she had the ring. They told us it was insured and while we continued scanning for something shiny, we breathed a sign relief knowing that it would all work out.
This little story is a perfect example of why a call to the insurance company is one of the first calls you or your fiancé should make after you say “yes”. It’s so important and so easy to insure your engagement ring. You can either add it onto your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy (the easiest) or through a separate insurance company that specializes in jewelry insurance (ask your jeweler if they have any recommendations). Annually it costs about $1 to $3 per $100 of value ($100 to $300 to cover a $10,000 ring). You’ll need the receipt and an appraisal, which usually comes with the ring. Make sure the coverage is comprehensive, including if it’s accidentally lost, damaged, or stolen. Don’t forget to read the small print for any exclusions and the specifics (will they replace the ring or give you a check, how you will need to prove the ring was lost or stolen, can you choose who repairs the ring if it’s damaged).
image via bridget flohe
Wow! Tree of Life Films captured Lea and Gerry’s day beautifully. You can really get a great sense of Lea and Gerry’s fun and easy going personalities. Happy Friday!
A few years ago, we contributed Holiday Party Tips for SheKnows.com. With the holidays in full swing, we thought it was the perfect time to share these tips with you.
You can read the rest of the story here.
image via martha stewart
Two years ago, we were a part of the inaugural Lovesick Expo and have to say that it was one of the coolest wedding events we’ve seen. We met wonderful couples and unique vendors. There was a burlesque show and great music. Lovesick is an earth-friendly, guy-friendly, and same-sex-couple-friendly event. It’s pretty awesome, which is why we’re so excited to participate in Philly’s Lovesick Expo 2013. The Lovesick guys (formerly Hi-Society Entertainment, now Lovesick Inc.) have grown this amazing event, adding a new city each year (Philly, Brooklyn, and Boston). Tickets are available online for $6.5o each or $10 at the door. Check out lovesickexpo.com for more information and a list of participating vendors. See you on January 13th!
image via lovesick expo
As planners, we often find ourselves tying the bow ties of grooms and groomsmen. We think it’s an invaluable skill, and when we saw this cute and easy to follow tutorial on BHLDN, we had to share.
1. Right-handeds, pull the right side 2-3 inches longer than the left and then loop it over the left side to tie. Left-handeds, replace the word ‘left’ where it says ‘right’ from here on out.
2. Holding the top piece up to your face, pull the lower piece to the right and fold it across the front so that it forms half of the bow.
3. Bring the top piece down over your half-bow.
4. Fold both ends of the half-bow together in front of you.
5. Notice the loop created behind your half-bow. Pull the dangling piece toward the right, fold it into your other half-bow, and then back it into (and through) the loop.
6. Once through, hold on to both the loops and flat pieces, gently tugging and tightening to finish the look. Don’t you look handsome!
Now you don’t have to be afraid to buy self-tie bow ties like BHLDN’s navy and red stripe Bespoke or their olive Dapper Dots.
images and instructions via bhldn
On such a gloomy day, we wanted to bring you some bright and beautiful. We are loving the colorful LA wedding of Danielle and Dave shot by Rachel Thurston, whose blog we have lost hours perusing. So much pretty!
images via rachel thurston
two little birds planning 