Off The Beaten Path Celebrates One Year of LOVE: Katie & Travis, June 30th, 2012

Happy Sunday! We’re so thrilled to start our week off by wishing our Bridechilla™ , Katie, and her husband Travis, a very happy anniversary. Below we remember some of the special moments of their chill day, as told by their event stylist, Mary Ellen Murphy of Off The Beaten Path Weddings.

Jessica Burke Photography

What was your favorite thing about working with Katie and Travis? Their love for wine country and their love for a fun atmosphere. Their save-the-dates showed the couple stomping grapes to set the tone of what would be a very chill wedding!

How did Katie embrace the chill & be a total anti-zilla?
Katie welcomed the pooch to her big day, which is always total chill move for our brides.

Tell us some memorable details that stood out to you about Katie and Travis’ wedding day.
We just loved Katie and Travis’ wedding and the pops of pink among the rustic backdrop was one of my favorite designs from last year. We are so glad that everyone will get to enjoy this wedding…it brings it all back again.

See this Off The Beaten Path Wedding on Style Me Pretty.To many many many more chill years of love and happiness. -Bridechilla™ & Off The Beaten Path Weddings

Bridechilla™ Tip #31

Tip #31 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Throw an awesomely chill 4th of July party in your backyard!

 

Summer has definitely arrived here in the golden state, and if you aren’t feeling the heat yet, you will be very soon. Since there’s not much we can do about the hot weather, we might as well do our best to enjoy it then, right? And we can’t think of a better time than the Fourth of July to throw a backyard party with good friends, good food, and maybe a little fireworks…

Here are our some of our favorite ways to keep a 4th of July party chill:

Keep it simple with serving fresh berries (totally in season & delicious right now) and soda pop in those classic Coca Cola bottles. This is a great way to give your backyard party a vintage American feel, and these details will not be very hard to find at your local grocery stores.

Refreshments please!  For the non-soda lovers, you must include this signature Off The Beaten Path Wedding detail at all your parties this summer. Everyone will love it! Serve your guests lemonade, with spiked & not spiked options to keep everyone hydrated and chill.

Nothing screams “All-American” like the classic mason jar. Use these for cups at your party and even make them more festive by embellishing them with a red, white, & blue striped straw.

Side note: check out that nail art!

Don’t stress over decor. A simple backyard party is easier to throw than ever. Other than hanging American flags everywhere, you can try this: make flag banners by cutting paint-chip cards from your local hardware store into triangles. Using a hole punch, cut two holes at the top edges of each triangle. String together using white ribbon, separating triangles about 1 inch apart. (Thank you walgreens.com for this helpful & affordable tip!)

Blair’s festive chic.

Stay cool, chill, and cute in a summer dress! Our Bridechilla Julia has picked out a few patriotic looks on her blog, Tartan & Sequins. Can’t go wrong with any of these 4th of July Styles.

Sparkle, sparkle. It might be in the 90’s or higher where you celebrate the holiday, so try to take your mind off of the heat with some fireworks. Everyone enjoys the hand held sparklers, and they are even suitable for children.

Happy Independence Day from Off The Beaten Path Weddings & Bridechilla.
Celebrate responsibly!

Be more on top of the Bridechilla Blog by being on our e-mail list! Send your e-mail to gloria@offthebeatenpathweddings.com to be added!

Props for an Engagement Shoot by Simply Bridal

More and more couples are deciding to have engagement shoots with all the bells and whistles. The problem is, how do you make your engagement shoot stand out in a sea of engagement shoots? Easy, just pick a few simple props and away you go. The good news is that they don’t need to be elaborate by far, as you will discover when you read on about some of our favorite props for engagement photos.

Photography by Sarah Layne Photography

Pinwheel for Simplicity

Pinwheels make us think of long summer days, fun and a time when everything was simpler. We think pinwheels look fantastic when your engagement shoot is located at a park. Sometimes all you need is space, each other and a pinwheel.

Bubbles for Fun

Can anyone be unhappy when they’re blowing bubbles? Of course not, that’s why we love seeing them in engagement photos. Couples can have some fun with bubblegum or some bubble solution. One of our favorite uses of bubbles was a couple that went to a children’s museum and had the bride stand in a large bubble while her fiancé pretended to pop the bubble.

Sign for the Trendsetters

One of the trendiest props for engagement photos and wedding shoots are signs. Now, you don’t have to spend a lot to have signs.  We recommend using a chalkboard and different colored chalk to write or draw your thoughts, but a slip of paper will do in a snap! Then, all you need to do is let go and have fun.

J. Layne Photography

Bikes for Kids at Heart

Do you love back country roads and long lazy days with your loved ones? Then vintage bikes are perfect for you. Take inspiration from the bike-riding scene in The Notebook and let your fiancé take you on a bike ride. Did you ever believe that you’d get to ride off into the sunset with your love?

Your Best Friend

No, we’re not talking about your human besties. Whether it’s a dog, cat, or pet cockatoo, pets are an important part of your relationship. While cute, cuddly pictures are always adorable, we suggest you snap a few pictures of your pet stealing the show. Bridechilla carries pet wear so your cat or dog will be looking his or her finest alongside you.

Now, are you ready to take your photos? These are simple, but fun props that let couples shine, so get out there and show everyone how fantastic you are!

Find ‘The Deja’ over here at the Bridechilla™ Store.

SimplyBridal.com is an online retailer of quality wedding dresses, bridesmaid gowns, and bridal accessories. Started in Los Angeles in 2011, SimplyBridal now ships to North America, much of Europe, and parts of Asia. SimplyBridal’s dresses have been featured on Style Me Pretty, Rock ‘n Roll Bride, and Wedding Chicks.

Off The Beaten Path Celebrates One Year of LOVE: Kensey & Dan June 22nd, 2012

Happy Saturday Bridechillas! We hope you’re sitting back and enjoying a relaxing Saturday morning. Meanwhile, we’re raising our coffee mugs to our Bridechilla™, Kensey, and her husband Dan because today is their first wedding anniversary. Below we remember some of the special moments of their chill day, as told by their event stylist, Mary Ellen Murphy of Off The Beaten Path Weddings.

What was your favorite thing about working with Kensey and Dan? Kensey’s uncle, Ken is a dear friend and I was honored to share a part of that very special families celebration!

How did Kensey embrace the chill & be a total anti-zilla?
By surrounding herself with an amazing support team of family and friends. Everybody had a role and the energy of love and sharing was addicting. Even her grandmother participated by making her famous pizzas. The food and the atmosphere was such a thrill of which to participate!

Tell us some memorable details that stood out to you about Kensey and Dan’s wedding day.
The photograph garden-there was a beautiful area with a huge ancient oak tree. They had a gallery of photos that people could visit. At night, there were fire pits everywhere…

To many many many more chill years of love and happiness. -Bridechilla™ & Off The Beaten Path Weddings

Bridechilla™ Tip #30

Tip #30 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Remember the 5 most common things Summer brides forget! See our list below.

Photo by Michele M. Waite

Tomorrow is the first day of SUMMER (what’s your favorite summer activity?!), so if wedding season isn’t in full swing yet – it’s about to be. While we’re preparing ourselves we also want to make sure our Bridechilla’s are too. This week’s Bridechilla™ Tip is made for the brides planning to say ‘I do’ in the next few months. These tips will have you on top of the things most Summer Bridechillas will forget.

PHOTO BY Summer Street Photography

☼ the  B O U T O N N I E R E  –  Order a back-up boutonniere (or two!) for your groom. Since he will be wearing this all day, the florals are apt to wilt a lot quicker. Having a spare will keep his look fresh and chill through a sunny and warm wedding day.

PHOTO BY onelove photography

☼ the  G U E S T S  –  Keep your guests in mind when planning a summer wedding. The day is likely to be hot and sunny, so have something out for them to stay cool with. Either fans, umbrellas, or even pairs of shades for every one!

TOP PHOTO by Catherine Hall Studios, Bottom photo by Jessica Burke Photography

☼ the  D R I N K S  –  Make sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic refreshments! Guests will be trying to stay hydrated, so you don’t want them grabbing cocktails every time they get a little thirsty. A signature of an Off The Beaten Path Wedding, the “Spiked” and “Not Spiked” punch is always the way to go. Also… make sure you and the groom have water bottles handy – you will be talking, dancing, and moving a lot so you will be very thirsty!

photos by Jessica Burke Photography

☼ the  P O R T R A I T S  –  Your photographer may have warned you of this one, but we’re going to tell you anyway. Do NOT schedule your portraits for noon. And if you don’t know what the “magic light” or “magic hour” is, be sure to ask your photographer! At noon, the sun will be at it’s peak and you will definitely be having some harsh shadows ruining your images. So remember to wait later on in the day, around pre-sunset for the most chill photo experience.

PHOTO via the habit of being

☼ the  F A V O R S  –  Don’t forget to use the summer season to your advantage! Our favorite way of sending a chill thank you to your guests is by sending home summer treats as thank you favors. Theses seasonal fruit favors will keep your guests refreshed, and can even be a snack for the ride home. We even have a list of summer fruits for you right here.

Happy planning, Bridechillas!

Be more on top of the Bridechilla Blog by being on our e-mail list! Send your e-mail to gloria@offthebeatenpathweddings.com to be added!

4 Chill Summer Blackberry Dessert Ideas

Blackberry season is almost here! We just can’t wait to see this chill treat all over this season’s Off The Beaten Path Weddings. For our Summer Bridechillas looking for a dessert to match their purple color scheme, here is the perfect treat- a blackberry sorbet. Love blackberries but not a sorbet fan? No worries, we have a few more blackberry dessert recipes below.. No wonder we stay so chill… 😉

All you need is found below:

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 24 oz. fresh blackberries
• 2 Tbls. fresh lemon juice

(Makes about 1 quart of sorbet) And you can find instructions for the Blackberry Sorbet Recipe right here.

Blackberry Fools by Thyme

This one definitely has our mouths watering, see the recipe below to find out why!

• 1 cup of cream
• 1 Tbsp. confectioners sugar
• 1 cup of Blackberry Jam
• Garnish (try peppermint leaves)

In your electric mixer, whip up the cream and confectioners sugar.  Fold or swirl in the blackberry jam.  Ladle carefully into your favorite glass cups.  Garnish, embellish, or fancy them up however you please!

Lemon & Lime Cream Parfaits with Blackberries by Back To The Cutting Board

• 3 cups fresh* blackberries (or blueberries), divided
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 8 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat or non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp. honey
• 1 lemon
• 1 lime

Makes 3 to 4 servings, click here for instructions.

Blackberry Cheesecake Yogurt Pops by Citrus and Candy

Did we just say CHEESECAKE? Oh yes, yes we did.

• 240g blackberries (about two punnets)
• 120g caster sugar
• Juice of half a lime
• 100g cream cheese, softened
• 200g natural yogurt
• 125ml thickened cream
• 1 Tbl Crème de Cassis (alcohol optional or you can change to whatever one you wish)

How can you resist this tiny and tasty little confection? You’ll want to try it even more once you see how simple the instructions are! See them here.

ENJOY!

Father-Daughter Dance Songs

With Father’s Day this Sunday, we’re absolutely loving these gift ideas on Etsy. You might have already picked out a new tie or tickets to the game, or even one of the world’s cutest t-shirts for dad... but just in case you haven’t decided on a gift yet we have a quick fix – make him a CD! It’s easy, thoughtful, and not too time consuming. You can gather every song that is significant to the two of you, burn to a disc, and craft up a quick CD cover. And to give you a head start, we’ve gathered a playlist of our favorite father-daughter songs. Scroll away to hear some of our favorite tracks for you and your dad to dance to.

Father’s Day Tracklist:

1. Billy Joel – “Lullaby“
2. Stevie Wonder – “Isn’t She Lovely“
3. The Avett Brothers – “A Father’s First Spring“
4. John Mayer – “Daughters“
5. Neil Young – “Here For You“
6. Bon Iver – “For Emma, Forever Ago“
7. The Flaming Lips – “Do You Realize“
8. Cat Power – “Sea of Love“
9. Paul Simon – “Father and Daughter“
10. Johnny Cash – “You Are My Sunshine“
11. Beyonce – “Daddy“
12. City & Colour – “The Girl“

A few of these songs you might want to keep in mind for your wedding day, because they would also make for great father-daughter dance songs. We would love for our Bridechilla’s to celebrate their fathers on this special day but we do honor the chill fathers we’ve lost. If you will not be dancing with your dad on your chill day, try honoring his memory with some of these ways we’ve listed in our blog post, “How to Honor Lost Loved Ones on Your Wedding Day“.  

Happy Father’s Day to all our dads out there! From the Bridechilla™ Team!

image credits: image one | image two | image three | image four

Bridechilla™ Tip #29

Tip #29 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Keep your wedding party CHILL by taking them on a group bike ride with Napa Valley Bike Tours.

IMAGINE. It’s finally here, the week of your wedding. After all the venue hunting, planning, finding that perfect chalkboard touch you were looking for, deciding on the ultimate floral crown, & even purchasing some very chill bridesmaid gifts, what else is there to do? If you ask us, we’re thinking it’s time to C H I L L. If you’re a California Bridechilla, we suggest a heavy dose of chill  by getting outside, unplugging from our cellphones, and truly enjoying all that wine country has to offer. To make this outdoor experience even more perfect, why not try it on bike? There’s no reason not to take this chance to see Napa Valley from a whole new perspective, especially when our friends at Napa Valley Bike Tours make it so easy.

Napa Valley Bike Tours has hosted numerous wedding groups on private and bespoke guided bike tours; in fact, they’ve even hosted a few of our Bridechillas who have had their Off The Beaten Path Wedding in Napa. Napa Valley Bike Tours hosts bike rides for bachelorette and groomsmen trips, as well as private bike tours for bridal parties and select family members the day before (or even after) the nuptials. Taking one of these tours is the ultimate chill activity that engages everyone in the beautiful destination you’ve chosen for your wedding, while making for a great pre-wedding memory. Let go of that smart phone and try this on for size!

How will you relax on your wedding week? By having a bicycle ride date with your groom-to-be, or by taking the whole party?

So IMAGINE a long adventure through Napa Valley concluding in an outdoor picnic under the shade.. can you say C H I L L? We can’t think of a more relaxing adventure than one that lets us nature, food, and the California sunshine all in one day.

To find out more information about Napa Valley Bike Tours for private bike tours, click here.

All photos provided by Napa Valley Bike Tours

A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see some other ways  you can wear the chill.

Bridechilla™ Tip #28

Tip #28 – How to be a BRIDECHILLA™ – Stay chill (and we mean literally!) while out there in the Summer sun with our Bridechilla™ cap, “The Emily”.

The sun is shining bright, you’re hydrated, ready to take your cruiser around some gorgeous Napa Valley trails, and the only thing you’re missing is some shade to cover your head and eyes. We suggest you spare yourself that awful scalp sunburn and a hairzilla episode, and put on our Bridechilla™ cap, The Emily. It’s perfectly chill with a vintage touch, what better way to gear up for your adventure than try this hat?

A little about this piece of un-zilla wear: The Emily was named after one of our Bridechillas, Emily who had her Off The Beaten Path Wedding with now husband Matt in Napa in July 2011. The Emily is gently frayed and faded, and manufactured by Alternative Apparel. This perfectly distressed HAT has a been-to-the-front-lines-and-back look with a signature vintage-inspired style and distressed accents. Features pre-curved bill, velcro closure and a contrasting stitched box on the side.

DETAILS: THE EMILY

• Color – Khaki with Tangerine text
• 100% cotton chino twill
• Enzyme washed
• Destroyed accents
• Unisex regular fit
  

Purchase The Emily here. Happy riding!

A big THANK YOU to all of our new readers & followers, we are so grateful for each of you! Please don’t forget to stop by our shop sometime and see some other ways  you can wear the chill.

Off The Beaten Path Celebrates One Year of LOVE: Alana & Peter, June 2, 2012

Alana & Peter from rose street studio on Vimeo.

We’re so thrilled to start our week off by wishing our Bridechilla™ , Alana, and her husband Peter a very happy anniversary. Below we remember some of the special moments of their chill day, as told by their event stylist, Mary Ellen Murphy of Off The Beaten Path Weddings.

What was your favorite thing about working with Alana and Peter? The amazing connection and respect that they had for each other. It was such an honor to see such committed love. There were times when it was like they were the only ones. They had a very gentle style and Peter had such a sense of humor-which kept Alana chill!

How did Alana embrace the chill & be a total anti-zilla?
She spent her wedding day with mom and her wedding party and they did their own hair/make up. I know some would say that is hardly chill, but it was a very special time for them-sharing the experience.

Tell us some memorable details that stood out to you about Alana and Peter’s wedding day.
We did an amuse course that was so wonderful! Miniature onion soups with gruyere cheese baked on site. There were served on top of freshly picked grape leaves from the vineyard.To many many many more chill years of love and happiness. -Bridechilla™ & Off The Beaten Path Weddings