Ever feel like you have the product, now you just need to make it look like the picture?  Sparklers are fun because they look best when lit, but they also can set the stage for the fun “cherry on top” of the perfect wedding  by being displayed with a simple card or tag.  There are some adorable people out there who create the perfect sparkler tags.  Allow me to share a few of my favorites from etsy:

Pinnt Your Party on Etsy

Twig and Thistle on Etsy

Flair Designery on Etsy

Ella Gent Ink on Etsy

A Stylish Design on Etsy

coming soon…other ideas too

Tags…who could have guessed this would be something I search for, blog about and describe to customers.  They are simple, inexpensive (sometimes) and often can turn your wedding sparklers into something spectacular.  Now let me say first what I ALWAYS say.  Spend the money on sparklers and if you have any left-over, get the tags.  Everyone will remember if you have scrawny sparklers that do not sparkle very bright or ones that are smokey…yuck!  Rest assured, ours burn brightly, are low-smoke and last the longest.

Here are a few of my favorite tags for wedding sparklers as of late.

As for my favorite taglines:

The perfect match or Find your perfect match
Light the way for Kate and Tom
Sparkler send-off at 10:00pm
Let love shine
The big send-off
…And they lived happily ever after
Sparklers…please take one, after dancing is done

It amazes me each week to see the number of brides who send me photographs of their wedding sparklers.  Such fun to run my little business and be a small part of someone’s wedding – often helping to create “the perfect photo” with my wedding sparklers.

Here are a few of my recent favorites:

First are Ally and Brian using 20 inch sparklers.  An intimate beach affair

Next is Cami and I promise you, this is a direct quote from her email…”The sparklers made for the most wonderful grand exit and let me tell you – our guests LOVED them! A lot of people said it was their favorite part and left them wanting more. One person even described it as a “Hollywood wedding” because of the sparklers. The 36 inch were perfect and lasted a long time, so we didn’t have to worry about timing everything precisely.”  visit her blog at http://www.cami-jane.com for some more amazing photos!

Finally is Whitney who said “I just wanted to send you this picture of my husband and I leaving our wedding reception to your 36 inch sparklers. They were perfect for the venue and everyone loved them. Thank you for making out day so special!”

Shannon Shaper Photography

I love of black and white photography.  My mom does not.  Growing up, we would never in a million years load our camera with black and white film – that was for photography class at Harpeth Hall (my high school in Nashville).  Maybe because my mom simply cannot bear the thought of a photo without color, it seems so appealing to me.  So fresh and simple.  Sorry Mom.

I see photos pf brides with sparklers and swoon with delight but often think…what if that were in color?  I recently did a photo shoot with a local Nashville photographer named Scott Hughes.  He adores black and white.  Now with some of the photos I agree with him…the black and white is perfect and others I tend to like a little color.  What do you think.

You can almost feel as if you were there with this bride:

Donna Van Bruening Photography

Paper Dolls Photography

These are my babies and I simply cannot decide if I like the photo better in black or white!

Scott Hughes Photography

Scott Hughes Photography

Now often I have people ask me why our sparklers are the best.  Simple – sparkler spread.  Now I understand that is a strange term and is one I think I created myself.  But basically it is how wide and big the spread of “sparkles” are when the sparkler is lit.  There are less expensive sparklers on the market, but the sparkle spread is not nearly as beautiful.  This picture is of a sparkler from my company and shows beautifully how pretty our sparklers are.

I always get giddy when I am contacted by magazines, but growing up in Nashville, Southern Living is the best of the best.  While the photo is a bit on the small side in the magazine, online it is large and in full glory.  Please pick up a copy of the July 2011 issue and see some amazing ideas and recipes

Oh how I love to create centerpieces…it has been instilled in me by my mother.  It all started with something really simple – easy for a little girl to figure out.  The Williamsburg centerpiece…

First, we polished the apples with floor wax to make them super shiny.  Then we stuck them on the nails of the centerpiece.  We filled in the holes with boxwood (cut from the yard) and voila…a perfect centerpiece.  Now this was just the starter.  My mom then worked her magic with magnolia leaves, candlesticks and gorgeous silver bowls to make something that would rival Martha Stewart…all from her cupboards and yard.  She is a magician! 

You can imagine my excitement when I saw someone used sparklers for a centerpiece!  Was a stroke of genius!

Just last week, I attended my college roommate’s wedding in Napa.  Yes, we were terribly disappointed about the destination and were super disappointed when we learned we needed to go early and leave our kids at home.  Ha!  It was the week of a lifetime with my closest friends from college…more on that later, but her centerpieces were amazing – a collection of potted flowers, hurricanes, fruit and votives that just worked together.  Her mother surprised her with the details (dream bride) and she has excellent taste!

My adorbale sister-in-law, Blythe, spied our sparklers at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party in NYC this past weekend.  One of the sponsors of the event was Southern Living Magazine, a favorite of this Nashville born and bred girl.  A few months ago, we were asked to provide sparklers for a potential spread in the July issue of the magazine.  I know never to get my hopes up, but I was feeling pretty good about this one.  Turns out, they have used the sparklers in a section about decorating for the 4th of July and recreated the table at the Big Apple BBQ Fest.  Please let me know if you see them in the July issue of the magazine.  Here are some photos Blythe sent to me this weekend…

And in case you are interested, here are her top BBQ picks:

1) Ed Mitchell Whole hog + Whole turkey (surprise hit) (Raleigh, NC)
2) Martin’s Whole hog (Nashville, TN)
3) Big Bob Gibson Pulled pork shoulder (Decatur, AL)

We have been so proud to be a part of the wonderful blog www.StyleMePretty.com for a few years as an advertiser as well as featured in dozens of weddings.  Abby and her team of superstars were recently featured on the CBS Sunday Morning Show.  If you look closely, you can see our Sparkler ad flashing on the right hand side.  I am sure you cannot be a modern bride and not know about this lovely website.  If not, I am slightly jealous…kind of like people who have never discovered certain TV shows and get to netflix them from episode 1 like Weeds or Modern Family

I have been away from blogging because I often forget, because I have a 3 and 5 year old, and because we have moved…again!  I started this business when I lived in California, we then moved to Tennessee, then to Michigan, then Pennsylvania and now we are back where we started.  My husband and I met at age 15 and knew we would get married someday.  We have also had the pleasure of living in Rhode Island and Florida as well as all the other states mentioned.  I never really cared where the journey took us, as long as it was with my husband, I could be happy in a shoebox.  OK, I lie, i do like a cozy house and an even cozier bed. 

As all of you prepare to start your lives with your loved ones, you get to select a style all your own for your home.  Mine, until recently, has been “hand-me-down chic” meaning I very recently bought my first piece of furniture…it took 8 years of marriage.  Choose pieces that will be functional in many different houses, as I assure you, your first will not be your last.  And be sure you check out some of the amazing blogs. 

Here are a few of my favorites:
Nest Egg
Effortless Style
Pure Style Home
Apartment Therapy
Mrs. Howard’s Personal Shopper
Design Sponge