{Holiday Entertaining} Hot Cocoa Bar

Can you believe it's already December?!

I won't be cliche and say how fast the year has gone by (but geesh, where has the time gone haha!!!)

It's raining here in Los Angeles, and the cold, wet weather is definitely putting me in the holiday spirit.  Don't be surprised if you see a lot more holiday entertaining posts around here...mixed in with plenty of wedding goodness too, of course!

Speaking of rainy weather, a great way to stay warm and toasty during your holiday gatherings is a Hot Cocoa Bar.  The great thing about it is that it's pretty simple to set up.  All you'll need is hot cocoa mix, milk, and a variety of topping options.  A few suggestions include:

*Marshmallows

*Peppermint

*Whipped Cream

*Cinnamon Sticks

*Caramel Squares

For the adults, a hint of liquor can be added to give a touch of EXTRA warmth!

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PTE Wants to Know: Will you be hosting a Hot Cocoa Bar at your next holiday gathering? What other toppings would you suggest to make your hot chocolate even more delicious?

XOXO,
Nikola

Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To  learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected

Trend Alert: Cascading Bouquets

Cascading bouquets are making a comeback!

That's right: the bouquet style popularized in the 80s, is resurfacing with a vengeance.  Many brides today are requesting long, flowy flower bouquets over the more traditional bouquet...and for good reason: they're beautiful!!!

Before you cringe at the thought of walking down the aisle with the same style bouquet as your ancestors (ok, i'm exaggerating a little), take a look at this roundup of stunningly gorgeous cascading bouquets, perfect for the modern day bride:

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PTE Wants to Know: Are you a fan of cascading bouquets?  What type of flowers do you thing would work best for this style? Would you consider a cascading bouquet over the more traditional bouquet?

XOXO,
Nikola

Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To  learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected

Savvy Seating: Dressed Up Wedding Chairs

Chiavari chairs are probably the most commonly used chairs at wedding receptions today. True, they may already look nice, but there are ways to dress up your wedding reception chairs that can add a little extra pizzazz to the overall look and feel of your event.  They can be draped with soft, flowy fabric, covered with unique, textured chair covers that match your color scheme...there are so many options available that the possibilities are endless!

Check out a few stylish ideas to dress up your wedding reception chairs:

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Say bye-bye to boring wedding reception chairs, and consider dressing them up to look as fabulous as the rest of your event!

PTE Wants to Know: Will you be dressing up your wedding reception chairs?  What other creative ways  are you thinking of, or have seen, to dress them up?

XOXO,
Nikola

Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To  learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected

6 Ways to Use Ribbon in Your Wedding Decor

Using ribbon in your wedding decor is a really inexpensive, yet creative way to spruce up your wedding decor.  Ribbon is so versatile, as it comes in so many sizes, shades, and styles, making it easy to make it work with the color scheme or overall look and feel of your wedding.

Here are 6 different ways you can use ribbon in your wedding decor:

Photo Opps

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Ceremony Backdrop

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Wedding Chairs

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Dessert Table

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Decor

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Wall/Ceiling Draping

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PTE Wants to Know: What other ways can/have you seen ribbon used in wedding decor? Would you use ribbon in your wedding decor, or is it just not your style?

XOXO,
Nikola

Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To  learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected

Vintage Wedding Transportation

Have you given any thought to how you'll make your GRAND wedding exit?  How cool would it be to end the night in a vintage car!   I love to see an old Chevy or other old school car all fixed up and shining...looking just as good as it did back in the day.  These old beauties make for the perfect get-away car, as you head off into marital bliss.  They can also be a great photo prop, so that you'll have photos that are timeless!

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PTE Wants to Know: Would you consider renting a vintage car as your wedding transportation, or would you stick to a traditional ride?

XOXO,

Nikola

Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To  learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected

{Trend Alert) Popcorn Buffet

I have to admit, I am a BIG fan of all of the creative "buffet" ideas that can be set up for a wedding or party.  One of my absolute favorites right now is a Popcorn Buffet!  It is a fun alternative to a candy buffet and is perfect for pretty much any occasion.

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PTE Wants to Know: What do you think of popcorn buffets?  Are they appropriate for weddings or only smaller scale events?

XOXO,
Nikola

Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To  learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected

4th of July Drink Inspiration

Need a little drink inspiration for your 4th of July celebration?

How about this fun and festive cocktail idea...

Roman Candle

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Ingredients:

3 oz. Three-O Berry Vodka

½ oz. Cranberry Juice

Dash of Grenadine

½ oz. Blue Curacao

Directions:

Shake vodka, cranberry juice and grenadine in a shaker with ice. Strain into martini glass. Pour Blue Curaçao gently down the side of the glass so it comes to settle on the bottom.

Or how about Sangria, (because you can never go wrong with wine!)

Red, White, and Blue Sangria

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Ingredients:

Strawberries, sliced

Blueberries

Pineapple, cut into star shapes

2 bottles dry white wine

1 cup Triple Sec

1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup simple syrup

 Directions:

Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refridgerator for at least four hours.

Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to be safe and have fun!

XOXO,

Nikola

Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To  learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected