Prost to the Host » Featured Websites & Blogs

Real Wedding :: Angie + Bretzky

Alysia — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:50:37 +0000

Angie and Bretzky decided to bypass the financial burden of having a huge and expansive wedding and just get hitched. Plain and simple. With a new arrival on the way, Angie did not have time to worry about the details. Enter ::Luxe Affairs:: Having a wedding coordinator kept the couple on target for their budget and gave guidance to couple during the fast paced three week planning period. The result? A wedding that was uniquely theirs and right on budget.

Location: Miami, Florida (backyard)
Colors: Goldenrod, Cobalt and Ivory
Theme: Spanish Rustic with touches of vintage
Budget: $2000

Two tiered cake bedecked with navy ribbon held down the candy bar. Apothecary jars filled with ivory sweets gave guests a boost of sugar for the dancing to come. {Sweet Cakes}. Sweeping goldenrod linens dolled up the sweet station {Hitched event Rentals}.

Focus on what is important to you and your partner. Surround yourselves with the ones you love and the day couldn’t be more happier.

Smooch! A silk strapless silhouette from {David’s Bridal} stretched the dollar to areas of greater importance.

DIY Details

Fino Wino: Customize your wine bottles with wine labels (a la Wedding Chicks).

Rock, Paper, Scissors: Patches of moss and rocks flanked the guest book and escort card station. Warm amber tea lights flickered throughout the night.

Paper Products: Off white paper pom poms and lanterns were strung on the trees surrounding

Top Cake: A quick ship (4 days!) for customized {Naked Peggies} adorned the top of the wedded confection.

Bucket of Brews: Rustic copper tin of beverages chilling before the ceremony.

Posh pintuck linens in cobalt blue from {Hitched event Rentals} dazzle the dining area. Chivari chairs were in the budget due to the small guest list. In addition, chivaris in black tends to be the most affordable color.

Clean Cloak: Minimal ivory fabric draping around the tent created a more intimate and finished space. It also hides the hideous metal pipes.

Bright Light: A rustic chandelier added a classy addition to the outdoor space. Bringing elements from the indoors to the outside space helps elevates the space by adding warmth.

Duel Dresses: A quick change from the structured silky strapless dress into a flowy one-shouldered goddess gown will helped the bride get ready for a easy, breezy celebration mode. Angie was able to find a bargain at Macy’s. What a great shopper!

Remember to savor the moments with your love. The day will melt away as quickly as it came, so taking a few alone will help keep you two conscious of the moment so it doesn’t disappear.

Thank you A + B for sharing your day with us. It was intimate and personable and truly an event! Share your event with Prost (email: prosttothehost@gmail.com).

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Feature :: Gilt Groupe

Alysia — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:15:17 +0000

Gilt Groupe is a showcase of designer duds and dresses for deeply discounted prices. Say that 5x fast. From the 12th through the 14th of March, you are cordially invited to attend Gilt’s Wedding Weekend. Wedding dresses from the esteemed Carolina Herrera ($4000+) or Angel Sanchez (usually ranging in $4000+) will be offered at a steal (around 70% off!). Other offerings will include bridal party attire, wedding accessories and honeymoon destinations.

To join Gilt, it is free. Happy guilt-free shopping!

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Featured :: Portland Picks

Alysia — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:07:46 +0000

Every Friday, an eclectic group of local businesses and chic events are featured in an email newsletter, compiled by the fabulous gals at Portland Picks. Prost to the Host was included in this week’s list. Grin. A prost to Portland Picks for your warm support!

Check it out!

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Featured :: Facebook

Alysia — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:23:48 +0000

So I noticed one of my friends on Facebook joined a group called “If 1,170,000 People Join, My Girlfriend Will Marry Me“. Sounds interesting. Long story short, girl said no (twice!), unless 1.17 million people join a Facebook group. I joined hoping it is not a gag and Caroline will truly married this hopeless romantic. Will the third time be the charm? Fingers crossed! Just 100,000 more people!

Speaking of Facebook, if you have joined already, please be a fan of Prost to the Host.

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Featured :: Creative Party

Alysia — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:45:11 +0000

To start my week of with a bang, I was part of a mini-feature on the talented Creative Party Place yesterday. Weee! Creative Party Place is one of the hundred blogs I follow. Peep your eyes on Real Party features decked out with pictures and themes inspiration. Thanks Shannon for featuring the shower! Check out the little blurb on Creative Party Place featuring Natalie’s zebra, hot pink and lime baby shower. If you missed the original Post 1 and Post 2 on Prost to the Host, check it out!

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Don’t forget to sign up for the Giveaway :: Martha Stewart and Ford Warrior inspired stamp kits. There are FIVE prizes! Double weeee!
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Local :: Crave Bakeshop

Alysia — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:28:34 +0000

Watch out St Cupcake, there’s a new cupcake shop in town and she is fierce. Crave Bakeshop, the leading gal and bake shop pro, Kyra, met me for a cupcake tasting. Kyra is a Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef. Um, hello! However, at the age of 20, she was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder. Thus, requiring her to alter her diet and remove all processed and wheat containing products. She went through pastry school and decided that her daily temptation was enough. She was determined to offer pastries that were outstanding in taste and quality. No more tasteless, heavy cake and overpriced gluten-free and vegan desserts (cough, Piece of Cake, cough). To support her endeavour, Kyra delivered a set of “shooters”, mini cupcake bites for me to evaluate.

Sitting pretty and ready for trip to my mouth.

The makings of a great tasting or crime scene, all those pretty cuppies were destroyed.

Spicy Hot Chocolate: A subtle heat from the chipotle and cinnamon combination in the cake tingled my tongue with happiness. It was topped with a creamy and chocolately butter cream and mini marshmallows. This was one of my favorite flavors! ♥

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry: Classic chocolate cake was topped with mouth-watering triple cream strawberry mascarpone frosting. The strawberry fields forever mascarpone topping drips off the cupcake and into my mouth. ♥

Chocolate Carmel Ecstasy: The ganache topping was exactly how I like my chocolate. Dense and thick. A hidden treasure of caramel peek-a-booed at my while I bit into the rich chocolate cake. ♥

Chocolate Classic: Velvety smooth chocolate butter cream frosting cloaked a moist chocolate base. A classic recipe, perfect for everyday (ha). ♥

Lemon Bar: Hints of almond give arise to this feather-light lemon cake. The airy cream cheese frosting was infused with lemon makes this combination a top contender in our favorite flavors. ♥

Strawberry Cheesecake: The strawberry flavor explodes in your mouth, the frosting has such an intense strawberry infusion. I could dollop spoonful by spoonful into my mouth if allowed access to Kyra’s bakeshop kitchen. ♥

The Princess: Make way for the pretty in pink chocolate version of the princess (usually make of vanilla bean cake). A moist and decadent chocolate cake sits pretty underneath a mini mound of a cream cheese frosting (that actually tastes like cream cheese!).

Cinnamon Roll: Spicy and fragrant, this heavier ambrosial cake dominated my palate. A cupcake classic topped with cream cheese frosting makes a match made in heaven. ♥

Skinny Vanilla Latte: Brûléed meringue whipped topping adds a sugary crisp to the frosting. Hints of coffee seeps through the vanilla cake. Note: Made with fat free milk and fat free marshmallow topping.

Hot Chocolate: Similar to the Spicy Hot Chocolate, this heavenly version was veiled in a toasted meringue frosting on classic chocolate cake.

If cupcakes are not your thing, she does cheesecake, tarts, pastries and the occasional wedding cake. Where else can you find local farmer’s market strawberries infused with mascarpone cheese frosting or scrumptious flavors that will lift you off your feet? Two words. Crave Bakeshop. It’s what you’re craving today.

♥ designates my favorite flavor!

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Featured :: Overexposed

Alysia — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:08 +0000

Nicole Wolf, from Sota Dzine Photography and Overexposed Blog, contacted me a few months ago about a photo shoot she has been dreaming since Chanel debuted their Spring 2009 Couture show runway collection in Paris. Below are the some pictures from the Spring 2009 that inspired recent photo shoot. Don’t forget to breathe, the pictures from the shoot will surely take your breath away.

Nicole use the tissue poms and designed a feminine and ethereal backdrop for this gorgeous couple. The tissue poms are softer than the paper version Chanel used, thus creating a softer scene.

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Featured Website :: Utterly Engaged

Alysia — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:00:03 +0000

Utterly Engaged is a new zine on the block. This online magazine is chock full of eye candy that will inspire you to have more than just one wedding. This month’s issue has a chic and vintage theme. Skedaddle on over to to their website and peep your eyes on the glossy non-paper pages of Utterly Engaged. The name faintly reminds me of cows, but never mind the name. The insightful articles have topics about budget savvy tips for DIY flowers to honeymoon advice to detail captures of Real Weddings. This e-zine has it all. Keep tabs so you can keep up with the ahead-of-the-pack trends that will sweep you off your feet. Here are a few snippets of their latest offerings.

Nature at its Best: Simple ways to spruce up a reception table with natural elements.

(Issue 02: Natural Elements)

Featured Wedding – Tessa and Choon: A gorgeous Asian inspired celebration with pops of purple, black and white.

(Issue 03: Tess & Choon)

Paris in a Cup: A sweet tea lounge in Orange, California is featured in Utterly Engaged Issue 04. Sweet confections and feminine touches are found in this little cafe. Drink up the details.

(Issue 04: Paris In a Cup)

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YouTube :: Creative Wedding Invitation

Alysia — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:50:19 +0000

Paper companies rejoice when it is wedding season. As couples flood the paper stores to peruse binders and binders of examples, many will find what they want as their wedding invitation. Will you find the right one that fits your wedding colors? Or your personal style? Here is a wedding invitation that is truly unique and not printed on paper.

Enjoy!

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Featured Website :: Bakerella

Alysia — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:51:00 +0000

In addition to event planning, another one of my favorite things to do is eat. Can you blame me? I grew up in a family that constantly fantasizes and discusses our next meal, while we are eating our current one. My love for food that is insatiable, thus I continue to search for blogs that help sooth my hunger pains for the moment. Currently in my Google Reader, you can find blogs about home renovations and decor, fashion, event planning/weddings and yes, food blogs. Bakerella is one of the food blogs I follow. This detailed oriented chef makes even the simplest of desserts look too extravagant to eat. These sweet treats are perfect for making your next event more delicious.

1) Wooly Wonder: This crunching cake pop is cuteness overload. Their sugar coat looks like cottony puffs. They are definitely cuter than just cake. The little feet are made of black licorice (ewe). I am not a fan of black licorice, but will appreciate it for it’s usefulness when replicating sheet feet. For your next sheep themed party (ha), use this recipe to conjure up cuteness.

2) Doh!: Homer’s weakness usually let him down the wrong path, but it would sweet victory once the donut hit his lips. This perfect prop like donut will melt in your mouth. Follow her simple steps on creating a delicious fried goody.

3) Single Slice: How can one make a slice of cheesecake look so decadent? Simple toppings that are commonly found in one’s pantry will make your dessert look like it came from a 5 star restaurant. The extra touches like chocolate lace squiggle, piped whipped cream, warmed raspberry jam and fresh raspberries really take the cake.

4) Pie on a Stick: What even better than cheesecake? Mini cheesecake! Anything that is miniature sized adds bonus points in my book. Decadent cheesecake pops are covered in chocolate (more bonus points) and rolled in dark chocolate shavings or sprinkles (Gah! Even more points!!!!). I am definitely making these for my next party.

5) Pomp and Circumstance: It must be that time of year. Graduates walk down the aisle towards the stage, while everyone and their mom capture the moment by snapping photos or recording the age old ritual. For the after party, this simple candy pop is a pleasant party favor to help celebrate sweet success. It is made with a mini Reese’s cup and Godiva squares. These candy caps will make a big impression on your party guests. The tassel might be a bit tedious, but it really makes the mortar board look authentic.

6) Cakes for Cancer: Mini cupcakes dipped in various colors of chocolate make for a great way to promote cancer funds and awareness. Our chef made these cake pops to sell at an American Cancer Societyevent and packaged them up perfectly. Maybe I should make these for my works’ booth at Komen? Do anyone know if there a “Eat for the Cure” option?

7) Citrusy Sweet: Oh lemon bar. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Is it the powdered sugar dusting or the crispy crust? Or maybe it is the sugared lemon concoction that keeps me coming back for more. Either way, this is a great refreshing treat for summer bbqs or liven up a dead-of-the-winter dinner party.

Which one is your favorite? For me, I want to try to cheesecake pops for an upcoming event. Of course, I will do a “test” batch for myself, just to make sure it is a yummy recipe.

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