Calling all Cowboys and Cowgirls!

With 5 new happily married couple, the Sashay Gals have had their hands full this fall, but in typical Sashay style, we jumped back on the horse and pulled off the best Hoedown Birthday this side of the Mason Dixon!

A rickety wooden barn lined with hay bails and rusty tools was the only consideration for this Western Evening. Guests kept warm by the crackling bon-fire that cut the chill from a crisp fall night. Our Sashay team created a rustic look with simple floral arrangements of sunflowers, a variety of fall mums, cattails and wispy tall cut grass. With vintage pitchers as vases, this look was complete. You may need to do a little digging to find these antique gems. We suggest searching your local thrift store or even your Grandmother's cupboard. And remember, the search is half the fun.

So strap on those chaps, grab your cowboy hats and have a "Yeehaw" of a good time!

Check back soon for photos from our latest fall weddings.

www. The World Wide Wedding? - Monthly Tip

It used to be that you got engaged, you invited your family and friends to a wedding and you got married. It was THAT simple. Well, not anymore. Now a days a wedding is more of a production, people travel across the country, sometimes even across the ocean to attend a wedding. Keeping guests up to date on wedding details, changes, accommodation ideas, travel tips, registry, etc. can be a lot to handle for the Bride and Groom who are already busy planning for their big day.

Sashay to the rescue! We have recently paired up with Wedding Window, an online resource where the Bride and Groom can create a personalized wedding website. You can choose between hundreds of design layouts, upload your own photos, insert your personal messages to guests, and the best part...It is so EASY! Just visit the Sashay Wedding Website and get moving. You are closer than you realize to having an online Wedding Website alerting family and friends about your day and any details they may need. Enjoy!

Busy Gals in July

Well... It is already August 1st and the Gals of Sashay have been a little busy (hince the no July Blogs). We promise to make it up with double the fun in August, but for now, lets talk about July.
We enjoyed our annual Nantucket July 4th trip. Working with the Nantucket Country Club as well as private clients on their New England Independence celebrations. Our favorite Music Group "YOU" traveled with us this year and really impressed guests. If you have not booked a music act for your next upcoming event "YOU" is the way to go.

Our featured Bride and Groom this month has to be Kyle and Colleen. They were married at Cathedral of Christ the King on Saturday July 19th and followed their ceremony with an extravagant reception at the Biltmore Hotel. They make the cutest couple, but don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself at Art Pinney Photography. Art and Shawna captured some amazing moments. To quote Art on his blog "the events of the day were carried out smoothly and effortlessly, overseen by alyssa and katy, the fun, energetic duo comprising sashay creative events." Oh, we are blushing now. Thanks Art and Shawna.

Our very own local BREW!

Sashay Events and The Atlanta Brewing Company have teamed to host Private Events at The Brewery. You should see this space! Come out every Wednesday and Friday evening (5-7pm) to tour the Brewery and taste Atlanta's best locally brewed beers. If you like what you see give us Gals of Sashay a call and we will make your next event one that your guests will never forget. Perfect for Rehearsal Dinner Parties, Anniversary Parties, Corporate Galas and Sports Parties!Any plans for next years Super Bowl??? This IS the spot.

More on this amazing partnership to come soon.

Overcome the Dreaded Bridesmaid Dress - Monthly Tip

Note to the Bride: "And the best part is that if you cut it off, you can totally wear it again." is not a quote your Bridesmaids want to hear. Mostly because that is just not always the case.

While uniformity is beautiful, traditions have changed, and the days of Bridesmaids wearing matching dresses, although lovely, is no longer required. There are ways to get the feel of uniformity while giving your friends the chance to have a dress they really can wear again. We have three suggestions to make your gals happy and match.

1. The Little Black Dress.
Always a classic choice and to give the appearance of uniformity set a specific style, fabric or length. Everyone will feel good and who doesn't need a little black dress.
2. Shades of Color.
The same dress often comes in a variety of colors. Use different colors or shades of the same color for a unique and elegant effect. This looks really nice with shades of brown (chocolate, mocha, tan, champagne, etc.)
3. Variety of styles.
Once you have your color palette set, allow your bridesmaids to choose their dresses based on a specific color scheme. You can either give them full choice or pick the dresses yourself and allow the gals to choose from your selections.

Bottom line...have fun and look good (matching or not)!

Consider these Cocktail Treats! - Monthly Tip

With May being the first official summer month, it brings with it our first true taste of hot weather. A refreshing signature cocktail can help pull together a seasonal theme, set a light and festive mood for your wedding and relieve your guests from the summer heat. Consider these tasty cocktails for your reception, rehearsal dinner, or, of course, your cocktail hour.

The Sparkling Julep *a unique twist on a classic southern favorite.
Muddle a handful of mint leaves and simple syrup
Add some crushed ice
Stir in Kentucky Bourbon (2 oz.)
Top with a splash of Champagne
* First muddle the mint and simple syrup, then add ice and bourbon. Finally add a splash of champagne and garnish with a lemon twist and sprig of fresh mint.

Fresh Grapefruit Martini *nothing is as refreshing a fresh squeezed juice
Fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice
Vodka
A splash of Rose Water
* garnish with a thin slice of red grapefruit will make this drink look as refreshing as it tastes. A sugar rim is optional for a sweeter treat.

Champagne Mojito *add some fizz to that trendy South American cocktail
Rose's lime juice
1/2 lime wheel
Fresh mint leaves
Champagne
Fresh mint sprig (for garnish)
* fill 1/8th of a champagne flute with Rose's lime juice and add the lime wheel and mint leaves. Fill the rest of the glass with champagne and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

Cherry Blossom *celebrate the blooms of spring and summer
Three Olives Cherry vodka (1 1/2 oz.)
Orange juice (1/2 oz.)
Grenadine (1/4 oz.)
Red Bull (1/4 oz.)
Maraschino cherry
* pour first four ingredients over ice, shake, and garnish with a maraschino cherry. This cocktail was created for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC.

An Ideal Partnership!

So we sat down with Chef Anthony over at Café Lily in Decatur last night and over a fantastic glass of Klinker Zinfandel (Café Lily is know for it’s extensive list of Zinfandel wines) we formed a partnership between our two businesses. Café Lily is greatly looking to expand their events business and Sashay Events is up to the task. We have already worked together on several events, the most recent being a fundraiser for The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network where we raised more than $17,000 dollars.

If you have not dined at Café Lily it is time to do so. The food and wine are outstanding and the atmosphere…well…perfect. If you are looking for a new venue for a Party, Social Gathering or Corporate Dinner Café Lily is the place. Just give Sashay a call and we will set it up.

April showers bring May flowers? - Monthly Tip

Not so fast May…..April has a lot to offer. As our first full month of spring, the season is full of rebirth and renewal. Lovely, fresh shades of green are all around. The perfect month to celebrate new beginnings as flowers wake from winter hibernation and say hello to the sun once more.

Why not give your wedding guests the gift of life, growth and new beginnings with a charming little flower pot filled with Irish moss or flowers? They can serve not only as gifts for your guests to take home, but as place cards for your friends and family to find their way.

We were talking with our friend Dawn over at Candler Park Flowers and she seems to have some great ideas for spring! Some of the many flowers of April: Tulips, Boronia, Delphinium, Lilacs, Daffodil, Sweetpea.

Up and Running!

Sashay Events is back in action with a new BLOG to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest event design ideas and event planning tips. We are also out and about in Atlanta and ready to keep you in the know. A big thanks to Local Atlanta Photojournalist, Drew Norman who spent a good two hours with us today helping get Sashay's website updated and our blog started. He is a fantastic friend and an even better photographer. Check out Drew's website! Keep visiting for weekly adventures from the Gals of Sashay and our FREE monthly Event Planning Tip!

Stay tuned.