Lighting is the strongest medium available to event designers that enables them to transform a space into an exciting, elegant and dramatic environment. There are many areas to use lighting such as centerpeices, floral arrangements, dance floors, bars, and stages. But my favorite is to color wash a space! The purpose color washing is to ensure that guests can see each other and look great, and the food looks appetizing. The room should never be too dark, yet nothing is worse than going to an event that has their house lighting cranked up 100 percent. I love anyting in the apricot color family: its great on the complexion, flattering in photos, yet the still food looks scrumptious, the crystals and gems beam, and the room has a warm glow that makes guests feel comfortable.

     Many think of lighting as a dispensable extra in the budget. But more clients are looking to lighting to replace other decor elements that are more expensive.

      White pumpkins are sophisticated, elegant and add a festive fall touch to a white wedding. People have been making jack o'lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.
Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o'lanterns.
    I am Irish and my husband is part Scottish. So for our fall wedding, we gathered our families the Thursday before to carve white pumpkins, which were then displayed at the entrance of our reception, "to frighten away the evil spirits" and bring us good luck.

Click here to find a pumpkin patch near you:
http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/OHptoledo.php

A tasty Fall treat!

If you’re looking for something fun and unique to bring to a fall party, this is your wine! Leelanau Wines secret recipe made with cinnamon, cloves and other natural spices. It's like a winter sangria on those chilly nights. Warm it gently by the glass or try a "witches brew" by simmering the wine in a crock pot with a cinnamon stick! 

Serve it warm as a dessert wine with some dark chocolate. Or before dinner to set the mood of your party!

Take a tip from Martha and create this pumpkin punch bowl to serve your "witches brew"!http://www.marthastewart.com/article/punch-bowl-prop-how-to?&backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/tricks-and-treats?#slide_6