Tag Archives | Event Services

Invitation Designs Inspired by The Great Gatsby

By on May 2, 2013 in Event Services, Ideas & Advice

GG-10347R1-1280x632

We can’t wait for the all new The Great Gatsby movie to open in just a couple of weeks. To get ready for the big opening, we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite invitation designs that feature a Gatsby-esque Art Deco style. Here are some of my favorites – all of which can be personalized with custom colors and fonts. Love the look? Give us a call to set up an appointment to view this collection in person. 615-216-7576

Sheer Expression Wedding Invitation

Vintage design meets glamorous presentation with this beautiful wedding invitation. We love the clean, crisp contrast of raised black ink on bright white paper and the perfect finishing touch of the organza sleeve. Gorgeous!

Chandelier Wedding Invitation

This elegant wedding invitation features an embossed silver “chandelier” with your monogram on a shimmery pearl paper. Price starts at $175 for 100.

White Shimmer Vines

This invitation design features floral vine motif and monogram on a shimmery white paper. We love the black and white, but this will be stunning in any ink color.

Translucent Sentiment Invitation

Classic invitation with a bold translucent wrap featuring a gorgeous floral frame personalized with your names.

Fancy Detail

We love the detail in this intricately cut border. The gilded edge is the perfect compliment to any event with vintage or deco details.

This ecru shimmer paper features a classic, deco style flourish around the border.

This ecru shimmer paper features timeless flourish patterned border. While not exclusively Deco, we still think Daisy would approve.

Best of 2012 | Wedding Cakes

By on March 27, 2013 in Event Services

It was certainly a year filled with gorgeous (and delicious!) wedding cakes from The Bake Shoppe. Here are our top picks of 2012!

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Round Mint Green Sweet Pea Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Square Ruffled Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Rustic Burlap and Lace Wedding Cake

 Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Lace Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Round Cherry Blossom Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Round Multicolored Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Soft Stucco Wedding Cake Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Round White Pearl Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Round Black Piping Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Rustic Stucco Wedding Cake

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Round White Wedding Cake

Best of 2012 | Bridal Bouquets

By on February 27, 2013 in Event Services

Caprice and I have teamed up to pick our favorite bridal bouquets from last year’s weddings – and with more than 50 to choose from, let me tell you that is was far from easy! As she said “it’s like asking me to pick a favorite child!” We hope you enjoy our picks, and look forward with us to what’s to come this year!

Lauren’s Peach Perfection: peach garden roses, black-centered white anemones, white veronica, and buplurum, all wrapped in burlap and touches of lace from her mother’s wedding dress.

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Peach Bridal Bouquet

Whitney’s Glamorous Callas : deep eggplant calla lilies, wrapped in satin and crystal.

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Eggplant Calla Lilies Bridal Bouquet

Chantel’s Rustic Chic: white hydrangea, sahara roses, scabioisa pods, green succulents, pale pink wax flower, wrapped in burlap and lace.

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Rustic Chic Bridal Bouquet

 Sarah’s Soft Garden Hues: white hydrangea, soft pink peonies, soft peach garden rose, butter stock, white scabiosa, white wax flower, all wrapped in lace.

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Pink and Peach Bridal Bouquet

Laura’s Classic Peonies: pink and white peonies, white hydrangea, and white roses, wrapped in satin and accented with a vintage cameo pin.

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Pink Bridal Bouquet

Lauren’s Deep Wine Hues: raspberry hydrangea, burgundy dahlias, cherry brandy roses, green hypericum berries, dark red roses, and seeded eucalyptus wrapped in satin.

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Fall Wine Hues Bridal Bouquet

 Ami’s Lush Fall Colors: peach garden roses, coral roses, peach stock, peach orchids, burgundy amaranthis, seeded eucalyptus and white hydrangea.

Nashville Garden Wedding Venue Fall Peach Bridal Bouquet

Drink Calculators for Your Event

By on January 30, 2013 in Event Services, Ideas & Advice

One of the best ways to save money without skimping on the party is to host your event at a venue that allows you to supply your own alcohol.

At CJ’s Off the Square, we allow our clients to provide their own alcohol when bar service is purchased. This service fee covers the bar set up, glasses, garnishes, mixers, ice and of course the talented professionals to prep and serve the drinks for you.

Wedding Venue Bar Drink Alcohol Calculator

By providing your own alcohol, you can save 50-70% on the cost of a comparable open bar at many hotels, restaurants and banquet halls who sell alcohol. You also get to choose your own beer, wine and spirits rather than settle for house brands. Another benefit of purchasing your own alcohol is that you will take home anything that is not used at the end of your event. Our bar staff will box everything up for you and even help you load it into the car. You can stock your own home bar or ask the store where you purchased it if they accept returns on unopened bottles.

To figure out how you much you will need to purchase, we suggest using one of the following popular drink calculators. A couple of things to keep in mind before you go shopping:

  1. We have found that if you are planning a champagne toast, you will only need 1 case of champagne. Most guests will only enjoy this during the toast and then continue with their favorite drink for the rest of the evening. 
  2. Even if you don’t think all of your guests will enjoy an alcoholic beverage, plan enough for the total number of guests. You may be surprised who chooses to indulge at a special occasion.
  3. It is better to be over prepared than to run out. Round up on the calculations to the nearest case to make sure there is plenty (and remember, you will take home anything left over at the end of the night).

So with that in mind, here are two of my favorite drink calculators to help you figure out just how much you need to purchase.

Real Simple Wedding Drink Calculator

This Drink Calculator from Real Simple is one of my favorites. The only thing I notice is that it tends to over estimates champagne. If you just plan to serve a champagne for a toast, I would limit my purchase to 1 case and make up the difference with a sweet or fruity white wine like Reisling or Pinot Grigio.

Evite Drink Calculator

I have used this drink calculator from Evite for entertaining at home many times with success. The main thing to keep in mind when figuring out how much to buy for larger events like wedding receptions or birthday parties for 50 or more is to just assume that all of your guests are “heavy drinkers.” Hey, I am not passing judgement on your friends, just making sure you have plenty as people tend to indulge a little bit more than usual on special occasions. This will just help you make sure you have plenty.

–CJ Dickson

Our New Online Store!

By on January 26, 2013 in Event Services

We are so excited to announce the opening of our brand new online store! The new site features thousands of gorgeous, inspiring and fun items to complete the look of your Big Day! We offer everything from stationary and cake toppers to unique guest books and favors, all of which you can browse and purchase from the comfort of your own couch! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be doing spotlight features on a few of our favorite products so be sure to check back for more fun details! In the meantime, take a peek at a few of my personal favorites and browse some other options while you’re there.

 

I just LOVE these vintage-inspired, Candy Striped Paper Straws. They’re available in 13 different colors and would be the perfect accent to any bar!

This masculine yet fashionable flask is the perfect groomsman’s gift. It can even be customized with the text of your choice for added personalization.

These Birch Log Card Holders are perfect for an outdoor wedding, where the slightest breeze can blow away every Place Card at your table. We also offer many different styles of Card Holders if this doesn’t suit your taste!

How unique and fun is this Suitcase Wishing Well?! I love the coordinating Paper Airplane stationary to complete the look.

Of course, we’re still available for personal consultations in our Boutique, if you prefer to come in for a visit. We love this new site and hope you do too!

(615) 216-7576

Celebrate Generously | I Do Foundation

By on January 16, 2013 in Ideas & Advice

If you’re a bride looking for a unique, meaningful wedding favor, look no further. I Do Foundation is a web-based nonprofit that seamlessly brings brides and charities together. In lieu of a traditional favor, consider making a donation to the charity of your choice in your guests’ honor. They’ll even create a place card to give each guest to notify them of your gift. You could also make it even more personal by creating your own card, like Cait + Joel.

 

Want to take it a step further? I Do makes it easy to set up a Charity Registry, where your guests can make their own donation in your honor, rather than giving you a traditional gift. Want to give and receive? Check out their Charitable Gift Registry . They’ve teamed up WeddingChannel.com to combine the traditional gift registry with charitable rewards. Every purchase your guests make will benefit the charity of your choice. Visit their website to see all the great services they offer and sign up in a matter of minutes; going green and giving back has never been easier!

Raise Your Glasses | Etiquette Tips for Toasting

By on December 29, 2012 in Event Services, Ideas & Advice

With 2012 coming to a close (can you believe it?!) and New Year’s Eve just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to offer some advice on giving (and receiving) a great toast. It can be one of the most touching moments at a wedding or special event but if you’re not careful, it can also be an embarrassing disaster. Follow these helpful tips and you’ll be well on your way to delivering a one-of-a-kind, heartfelt toast.

Tips on Etiquette

  • If you’re being toasted, don’t drink! Proper etiquette says you never drink to yourself. Instead, personally thank the toaster after they’ve finished.
  • Never toast with water. Legend says it’s bad luck! Not a drinker? No problem; any drink will do, even an empty glass if that’s all you have.
  • If you’re at a formal event, allow the host to open with a toast or a greeting before beginning a toast.
  • Avoid leaving the floor open for toasts. This can lead to extensive toasting which will inevitably bore your guests.

Giving a Toast

  • DO introduce yourself. You don’t need to tell your auto-biography but do announce yourself and let your guests know how you know the host.
  • DO make it personal. Tell a brief story that will entertain the guests as well highlight a special/fun time that you and the host have shared.
  • DO keep it short. Ideally, a toast won’t last more than 2 minutes. A crowd will quickly become distracted and antsy if you go on too long.
  • DON’T wing it. Practice makes perfect! At the least, go over a few things you want to mention a few hours beforehand. Hate public speaking? Keep notes with you and practice your toast aloud in front of the mirror. Still can’t shake the nerves? Give the bride & groom and hand-written letter instead.
  • DON’T mention an ex. If you’re toasting at a wedding, though it may seem like a way to get some laughs, avoid mentioning an ex. Even though you’re so happy your best friend didn’t marry the crazy ex that you hated, his/her wedding night is all about the bride & groom and their new life together, not re-living memories of failed relationships past.
  • DON’T audition for your own show on Comedy Central. Include a few jokes, by all means, but remember your audience. Great grandma Ruth might not appreciate that dirty joke as much as the groomsmen. Also try to avoid telling too many inside jokes. While your toast is directed towards the host, don’t forget you’re also entertaining the entire crowd. Give praise to the happy couple while also engaging the guests.

Now that you’re equipped with this simple advice, grab a bottle of champagne and start writing the perfect New Year’s toast. I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite toasting highlights from our 2012 wedding season. Cheers!

 

Detail of the Week | The Highly Customizable Pocket Invitation

By on December 5, 2012 in Event Services

If you’re looking for a wedding invitation that isn’t run of the mill and sure to wow your guests when they open it, consider the pocket invitation. All of your enclosure cards tuck into the pocket so that your invitation card is the real star of the show. The simple organization creates a clean and elegant presentation. One of the best qualities of the pocket invitation is how customizable it is. You can pair just about any design with any color palette and font selection.

Sarah + Ameer chose a pearlescent pocket with sage and pewter accents. They also customized the monogram to match the font on the rest of the card. We absolutely love the result!

There are many different pocket styles and sizes to choose from. I love this tea length version which can be customized with your choice of many designs, colors and fonts.

To browse the entire Pockets collection as well as many more invitations and accessories, visit our online store or give our office a call at (615) 216-7576 to set up an appointment with a design consultant.

Now Trending | Late Night Snacks!

By on November 30, 2012 in Event Services

One of the most important (and often times difficult) elements of hosting an event is keeping the party alive throughout the night. Your wedding is likely the biggest and most important party you’ll ever throw which only adds to the pressure of keeping your guests satisfied so they’ll stay ’til the end of the very last song. One easy way to ensure they stick around is to keep their bellies full. A couple of hours after dinner has been served, the drinks have been flowing and the dance floor’s been full, keep your guests’ interest by serving a late night snack. There are so many fun options for this and all of them are sure to impress your guests. A few of our favorites that we’ve done here at CJ’s Off the Square:

Sliders or mini grilled cheese sandwiches paired with fries and served in a basket.

Pub style steak & biscuit sandwich with Dijon mustard.

Dessert shots in just about any flavor imaginable. One of my favorites, banana pudding, is shown.

S’mores Station! Served with a variety of toppings for your guests to choose from and torched to toasty perfection by one of our professional chefs.

These fun options and just about anything you can conjure up can be added to any package at CJ’s! Give us a call at (615) 216-7576 to set up a personal tour or consultation to discuss wedding package and catering options. We’d love to help create a wedding your guests will never forget!

 

Detail of the Week | Holiday Greeting Cards & Invitations

By on November 14, 2012 in Event Services

It’s hard for us at CJ’s Off the Square to believe that the 2012 wedding season has come to an end. Now that we’ve wrapped up another incredible year of weddings, we can shift some of our focus to the holiday season and our favorite part, holiday parties! If you’re throwing a soiree this year, don’t forget to set the tone early with the perfect invitation. A few of my favorites from our online store are below but be sure to browse the entire selection.

And while you’re browsing party invitations, don’t forget about greeting cards! The age old tradition of sending and receiving these beautiful cards signifies the start of the holiday season and is one of my favorites. We carry an assortment of options from traditional and ornate to modern and whimsical. Browse the entire collection here.

You can order any of our invitations, greetings cards and accessories online or if you prefer to set up a personal consultation, give our office a call at (615) 216-7576. We’ll have the fire roaring, Christmas music playing and the hot chocolate steaming. Happy Holidays from all of us at CJ’s Off the Square!

 

← Older posts