Good Things for Fall Weddings

A Blossoming Backdrop

Beckon your guests to a bar adorned with a radiant floral garland, then stock the station with tempting libations and matching stirrers.

To customize a string of white lights, make small flowers out of vellum and card stock using daisy craft punches. Create larger blooms with the same materials by folding a square into eighths and cutting out a petal shape. Punch a hole in the center of each one, then slide them over the bulbs, and glue, doubling them in places and folding up the petals to add volume. For the cocktail stirrers, glue small flowers to bamboo skewers.

EK Success Paper Shapers daisy punches, createforless.com. Paper and More vellum in metallic light gold and yellow gold, and card stock in metallic gold. Jamali Floral & Garden Supplies rice lights. Sur La Table bamboo skewers.

How to Make This Light-Up Paper Flower Garland

Ties in a Range of Colors

Offer your fiance's groomsmen a range of tie colors so they don't look too matchy-matchy. Pick different shades in the same color family -- from vibrant red to soft peach, for instance. That way the group appears coordinated, but each guy looks unique.

Elite Solids neckties in Christmas red, poinsettia red, burnt orange, ecru, and pale peach; Ties.com. Brooks Brothers French-cuff dress shirt.

Colorful Candles

This arresting centerpiece idea offers festive color and ambience for hours. Purchase brightly hued taper candles that coordinate with your wedding's palette, then spray-paint wooden candleholders of varying heights to match them.

How to Make These Colorful Candle Holders

Customized Chocolates

Guests will be enjoying these favors for days after your reception. Wrap bite-size Hershey's miniatures (keep on only the foil) in our clip-art letters. Spell out your initials, or just compose warm words to love by. Place in clear boxes for a perfect 10-bar fit, and tie with gold thread.

You'll Need: Hershey's Special Dark Miniatures, amazon.com. ClearBags "Crystal Clear" boxes #FB129. Vintage metal thread, tinseltrading.com.

How to Make These Customized Candy Favors

Seasonal Fruit Favor

Wrap seasonal fruit in tissue for a sweet (and healthful) gift for guests. Have an office-supply store make a rubber stamp with your names, wedding date, and a drawing or clip-art illustration (the entire design should be 3 inches in diameter or smaller). Stamp image onto squares of tissue paper. Cut off stems, center fruit on tissue, wrap, and twist.

Mini Candied Apples

The diminutive scale of lady apples transforms a fall favorite into a dainty nibble; offer to guests on passed trays as a sweet-tart surprise at the cocktail hour. A paper leaf is an elegant touch: Use a computer to design and print "Enjoy!" on card stock, then cut out with a leaf-shape craft punch; affix to short skewers with adhesive dots.

Get the Mini Candied Apple Recipe

Flower Girl Foliage

As a fitting nod to the season, substitute dried leaves for petals in your flower girl's basket. If fall foliage isn't abundant when you wed, you can order pressed leaves online (from drynature.com). We lined this pint-size basket with cotton fabric. Using scissors, cut a large round of fabric and a slit on opposite sides to accommodate handles, then place in basket. Wrap silk ribbon around, and tie in a bow.

Great Pumpkin Centerpiece

A white-pumpkin shell becomes the vase for an arrangement of roses, daffodils, ranunculus, calla lilies, tulips, and hypericum berries in fall colors -- yellows, peaches, and shades of orange. Smaller pumpkins and votive candles in orange-glass holders fill out the centerpiece.

Mini Pie Favor

Scrumptious miniature pecan pies from a bakery in custom-stamped bags make for tasty treats that are easy as pie to assemble in advance.

How to Make the Mini Pie Favors

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Get Wedding Inspiration – Martha Stewart Weddings

Fab Find: Colorful Macarons

Cours La Reine's macarons can be customized in any shade, which is why fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent have the company on speed dial (courslareine.com).
 

Monogram Birthday Party

Monogram Clip-Art Invitations

Your guests will never guess you printed this polished, modern invitation at home. Download our clip art, print it onto card stock, and write out the specifics.

Stamped Coasters and Alphabet Drink Cups

Provide the alphabet in gold letters for guests to label their own cups. Then print a letter on a paper coaster using a rubber stamp.

Cutout Letter Candles

Decorate a cake with candles made from sheets of beeswax and cookie cutters.

How to Make the Cutout Letter Candles

Sparkle Script Letters

Dress up your party with these glittery letters made from mat board. Scatter them around the tables, tape them to glass votive candleholders, or hang them on a wall.

How to Make the Sparkle Script Letters

Glittered Favor Bags

From sack to sensational: Transform an ordinary paper bag with glitter and a stencil.

courtesy of Martha Stewart

Number Birthday Party Theme

Number-Themed Party

Numbers make natural themes for birthdays (and anniversaries, too). Use them to customize everything from the cocktails to the candles on the cake. Details like these will surely add up to a good time.

Number Place Mat

This place mat says it all. Print one of our number templates. Cut out, and trace shape onto 12-inch square scrapbook paper. Cut out shape. Tape origami paper underneath.

Numbered Ice Cubes

Ice plus numbers equals fun. Freeze water tinted with food coloring (or juice) in number-shaped ice trays. Cheers!

Number Centerpiece

For a centerpiece, wrap tissue paper around a glass cylinder, and secure with tape. Stick on an adhesive vinyl number

Cupcake Number Display

No fancy piping skills are required for this dramatic display -- just arrange iced mini cupcakes into the shape of a number.

Get the Mini Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe

Thanksgiving Recipe: Cranberry, Almond, and Cinnamon Tart

This recipe is a Thanksgiving version of frangipane tart, which features ground almonds in the filling. For a holiday touch, cranberry jam is spread in the bottom of the tart before baking, and candied cranberries go on top once it's done.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (5 1/4 ounces) fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 1 tablespoon water
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• Pate Sucree
• 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
• 8 ounces cranberry jam or preserves
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 6 ounces (about 1 1/4 cups) whole almonds, finely ground in a food processor
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Put fresh cranberries, 1/3 cup sugar, and the water into a saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring to dissolve sugar, until cranberries have just softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool completely.
2. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 12-inch circle, 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to an 8-by-2-inch springform pan, pressing crust into bottom and up sides. Trim excess flush with rim. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prick tart crust all over with a fork. Cut a 12-inch round of parchment, and place on top of chilled crust. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove weights and parchment, and brush crust lightly with egg white. Return to oven, and bake until pale golden, about 25 minutes. Refrigerate remaining egg white. Let crust cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
4. Raise oven temperature to 375 degrees. Spread jam over bottom of tart crust.
5. Beat butter and remaining 1/2 cup sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to medium. Slowly add ground almonds, cinnamon, and salt, and beat until just combined. Spread mixture over jam-covered crust.
6. Bake tart until filling is set and has darkened slightly, 45 to 50 minutes. (If top darkens too quickly, cover loosely with foil.) Remove tart from oven, brush top with egg white, and sprinkle with sugar. Return to oven, and bake for 5 minutes more. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan, and top with candied cranberries. Serve warm

Wedding Gown and Bouquet Pairings

Brides rounded up a smattering of wedding gowns from the Spring 2012 collections and asked creative floral designers to dream up bouquets to complement each look. The end result: gown-and-bouquet combinations that make the perfect match.   

Bold and Whimsical

With bold pops of black against crisp white, this bouquet by floral boutique Sprout Home captures the graphic energy of Jim Hjelm's pointillist gown from the Spring 2012 collection. Featuring black-centered anemones, black calla lilies, and silver accents, this free-form arrangement introduces touches of jet black into a mostly white bouquet in the same elegant and witty fashion as the gown—making their combined effect all the more stunning.

Gown by Jim Hjelm; bouquet by Sprout Home

Bold and Whimsical

Bouquet of anemones, calla lilies, fiddlehead ferns, clematis, ranunculuses, dusty miller, smokebush, eucalyptus, spray roses, and parrot tulips

Sleek Silhouette

The origami-style bodice on this sleek satin Amsale gown adds an architectural twist to the traditional fit-and-flare silhouette while still evoking a timeless sophistication. Florisity's all-white bouquet draws on that same refined aesthetic—calla lilies, a classic bouquet bloom, are tightly bundled together to create a sculptural presentation that's finished with an elaborate satin bow. Though monochromatic, together this pairing still delivers the "cool."

Gown by Amsale; bouquet by Florisity

Sleek Silhouette

Bouquet of bundled calla lilies

Rustic Elegance

The dusty nude hue and textural sunburst pleating of this Vera Wang showstopper combine to give the gown an earthy vibe—and, clearly, florist Ariel Dearie was on the same wavelength when she created this wildflower-esque bouquet. Ariel sourced berries and delicate flowers to mimic the dynamic uniformity of the dress. As a pair, the designs create a rustic-luxe feel.

Gown by Vera Wang; bouquet by Ariel Dearie

Rustic Elegance

Bouquet of black pearl ligustrum berries, astrantia, seeded eucalyptus, and coneflowers

Feminine and Romantic

Instantly feminine, Rivini's floral-festooned, blush-colored gown from Spring 2012 has a soft sensuality beloved by so many brides. Brooklyn-based florist Denise Fasanello designed a bouquet that amplifies the gown's romantic feel by incorporating a variety of bold garden roses and dahlias. These lush, hot-pink blooms are nothing if not girly—in the best sense of the word.

Gown by Rivini; bouquet by Denise Fasanello

Feminine and Romantic

Bouquet of "Miranda" garden roses and dahlias

Country Chic

Together, Lela Rose's effortlessly chic gown and Ariel Dearie's freshly plucked bouquet induce dreams of a country garden ceremony with a sprinkling of handmade touches. (Including an ivy-covered trellis, no doubt.)

Gown by Lela Rose; bouquet by Ariel Dearie

Country Chic

Bouquet of scabiosa, trailing jasmine, and bush ivy

Cool Elegance

This Elizabeth Fillmore gown exudes the sort of minimalist elegance that makes it appropriate for a range of wedding styles, from a beachfront affair to a crisp fall wedding set in an orchard. Denise Fasanello's grand, wintry bouquet steers the gown toward a cooler-month aesthetic with a combination of full white blooms, fragrant sage, and pops of silver.

Gown by Elizabeth Fillmore; bouquet by Denise Fasanello

 

Cool Elegance

Bouquet of white dahlias, white spray roses, mimosa, sage, dusty miller, silver brunia, geraniums, and tulips

 

 

Playful and Whimsical

The sleek, sexy silhouette of this mermaid-style Lazaro gown is tempered by the exaggerated oversize satin blooms on the skirt. This textured bouquet by Sprout Home has a similar playfulness—lush and showy garden roses and dahlias are presented front and center, while the color palette adds a quiet warmth to balance the bouquet's whimsicality.

Gown by Lazaro; bouquet by Sprout

 

Playful and Whimsical

Bouquet of garden roses, spray roses, dahlias, Queen Anne's lace, lycopodium fern leaves, craspedia, rudbeckia, chamomile, geranium, and bay leaves

 

 

Couture Drama

This sweetheart-neckline Marchesa gown is accented with a Japanese-inspired obi belt, adding drama to the fluid and streamlined silhouette. Deep crimson garden roses are the perfect floral match—the intensity of the color coupled with the bouquet's unorthodox shape create visual interest and add a couture touch.

Gown by Marchesa; bouquet by Florisity

 

 

Couture Drama

Bouquet of garden roses

 

America's Most Beautiful Cakes

Brides magazine spent nearly a year scouring the country's best bakeries in search of top pastry artists. More than 200 accepted their invitation to create a showstopping design, but only 24 can claim to have produced one of America's Most Beautiful Cakes. Here are a few of them:

Jeweltoned café wallpaper from the 1950s led blogger and former cake designer Carrie Sellman to craft these eyecatching tiers covered with mod fondant blooms.

Cake, Half Baked—The Cake Blog; stand, Sarah's Stands

Patti Paige was influenced by the charming patterns and shapes of 1950s textiles; a simple peach background showcases colorfully hand-painted cookies.

Fondant cake with cookies, $14 per slice, Baked Ideas, New York

For a kicky midcentury mix, Erica O'Brien married two iconic Jonathan Adler designs: an airbrushed wallpaper pattern and a starburst mirror frame with an embossed monogram.

Fondant cake with stencilwork and a hand-cut medallion, $12 per slice, Erica O'Brien Cake Design, Long Beach, CA

A white dress with a black floral overlay gave Liz Shim food for thought. The result? A stylized showpiece featuring flowers painted with lustrous black dust.

Fondant cake with hand-painted flowers, $13 per slice, Eat Cake Be Merry, New York; stand, Rosanna

John Rota displayed lush anemone blossoms using whimsical tier stacking influenced by his nephew, who loves the game Jenga. Careful with that knife!

Fondant cake with gum-paste flowers, $15 per slice, John Rota Cake Artistry, Cake Crumbs, Encino, CA

With its breezy check pattern (taken from a vintage apron) and colorful floral border, Ellen Baumwoll's creation would look perfect on a picnic table at a backyard wedding.

Fondant cake with a printed check background and gum-paste flowers, $14 per slice, Bijoux Doux Specialty Cakes, Brooklyn; scalloped-edge platter, Vietri

Check them all out HERE

Amazing Honeymoon Suites

A great hotel room goes beyond a plush bed and nice soaps: It captures the spirit of its location and becomes as much a part of your trip as the sights you see and the adventures you have. It should leave you speechless upon arrival and have you talking about it years later. Here are seven breathtaking spots for your honeymoon.

Banyan Tree Phuket, Thailand

Wow factors: Thai-inspired design and private tropical gardens make a spectacular first impression upon arrival at the resort's spacious DoublePool Villas. Bedrooms built over a wading pool seem to "float," thanks to full-length glass windows that allow access to the water. Dine alfresco on the patio, relax with an in-room couple's massage, or take a dip in your private plunge pool, which connects to the resort's lagoon. Included with the room: 24-hour butler service, a cooked-to-order breakfast, and a "romantic evening" prepared by the staff, which includes a flower-petal bath and a candlelit bedroom.

When you do leave the room: Try a sunset dinner cruise for two down the lagoon in a traditional Thai longboat; a treatment at the beachside spa pavilion; or an elephant-back jungle safari.

Rates: From $1,515 per night; other rooms from $795

Jao Camp, Botswana

Wow factors: The Honeymoon Tents at Jao Camp are nestled beneath a canopy of trees on an island in the middle of the Okavango Delta. The tents are on stilts and are connected to the rest of the camp via raised walkways that allow animals the freedom to wander underneath. One entire wall of each tent is comprised of doors that can slide back for prime game-viewing, and windows are glass-free so that you'll be better able to hear the call of the wild. Even bathing offers a chance to bond with nature—choose between a soak in the claw-foot bathtub indoors or an outdoor shower; both offer views of the delta. And a private sala (outdoor pavilion) is outfitted with mattresses and cushions for sleeping under the stars.

When you do leave the room: Game drives—during which you'll see elephants, zebras, and hippos—are offered daily.

Rates: From $1,880 per night, includes meals, drinks, activities, and park fees

Amanbagh, India

Wow factors: With architecture inspired by the building style of India's Mughal Empire (think: the Taj Mahal), the dramatic Pool Pavilions at this resort near Jaipur offer a taste of what life as a maharaja might have been like. Enter the pavilion's foyer through your private courtyard. Inside you'll find regal interiors featuring pillars, domed ceilings, and scalloped archways leading to the living area made of pink marble. The bedroom features a king-sized bed with a marble-and-mirror headboard, while the bathroom includes a separate dressing area with twin vanities and a deep marble bathtub. A private swimming pool and lounge complete the opulent experience.

When you do leave the room: The resort, whose name means "peaceful garden," lives up to its calming moniker with manicured grounds, complimentary yoga and nature walks, and a spa specializing in Eastern treatments. Adventurers can travel by camel to the area's ancient ruins.

Rates: From $1,250 per night; other rooms from $600 per night

The Post Ranch Inn, California

Wow factors: Live on the edge—literally—in one of The Cliff House Rooms, the almost-1,000-square-foot suites atop Big Sur's dramatic cliffs. The luxurious interiors are decorated with handmade furniture and artwork from local craftsmen. The reclaimed wood walls were chosen for the eco-friendly suites before "eco-friendly" was even a term. View the Pacific Ocean from the spa tub suspended over the cliff on a cantilevered terrace, and watch the sun set from your bed, with your window shades' remote-control in hand. When you return from dinner, you'll find a fire crackling in the fireplace. Other amenities include a private garden entryway, heated floors, and a complimentary wet bar.

When you do leave the room: Peace and tranquility are easy to come by with complimentary yoga and meditation. You also can meet with the inn's shaman, who will help you get in touch with your "energy." Couples' spa treatments and guided hikes of the Ventana Mountains also are available.

Rates: From $2,185 per night; other rooms from $550 per night

Jamaica Inn, Jamaica

Wow factors: With their rambling verandas, private infinity pools, spacious outdoor showers, and charming blue-and-white, Victorian-inspired bedrooms with four-poster beds, Cottages 3 and 4 feel nothing like resort accommodations. Rather, they feel more like swanky, personalized beach houses with the amenities of a fine hotel. The cottages are located on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean, in Ocho Rios. Our favorite part: Each has a private entrance to the sea.

When you do leave the room: The resort offers all the beach activities you could want, plus polo, golf, and a long list of excursions like biking or river rafting.

Rates: From $812 per night, other rooms from $299 per night

Hotel Imperial, Austria

Wow Factors: Wake to tea and a hand-ironed newspaper (seriously) served bedside in one of the Royal Suites of this Luxury Collection hotel in Vienna. Décor details like crystal chandeliers, silk-covered walls, and precious antiques recreate the opulence of 19th-century Vienna. What else would you expect to find housed in a former prince's palace? Enjoy a view of the city while breakfasting on your private balcony. Later, have your butler serve you dinner by candlelight in your suite.

When you do leave the room:Sample the Imperial Torte at the hotel's Café Imperial, then tour the city via horsedrawn carriage.

Rates: From $4,227 per night; other rooms from $610 per night

Soneva Gili, Maldives

Wow factors: Situated on Lankanfushi Island, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Soneva Gili by Six Senses offers two-story, Villa Suites with an exotic, charming Swiss Family Robinson vibe. Each of the eco-friendly, open-air suites includes a lounge, a bedroom, and a bathroom with an outdoor shower. Sunbathe on the roof deck or the overwater sundeck, where the room service staff (who come and go via row boat) can set up a romantic sunset dinner.

When you do leave the room: Activities for two include diving lessons, picnics on private islands, swimming with dolphins, and excursions to the capital city of Malé. Or head to the spa to watch fish through the glass-paneled floor while being massaged.

Rates: From $1,215 per night

courtesy of Brides