Christmas In July

Many people think of the bbq’s, independence day, and the going to the beach when they talk about plans in the last month of summer, and those are great, but there’s always time to plan ahead and be inspired by Christmas in July

Now you don't have to get carried away and rent a snowman suit for your officiant to wear, because it’s easy to be cheesy with a Christmas themed wedding! If you're looking for a more timeless look, don't overdo it, or at least not in the wrong places! We have some tips on how to keep your wedding from looking like everyone should all be wearing matching holiday sweaters to the event.

To establish your theme inspired by the most wonderful time of the year, start out with your invitations! You can present both classic and Christmas by mixing a traditional damask, with a red ribbon and holly berries, as found in these custom invitations designed by us!

Carry that idea of the red ribbon and berries into your reception with decorative chair tie-backs, and for those who want to inspire future weddings, try adding a sprig of mistletoe to a few chairs, and wait to see what happens!

You can also use the colors of the season to accentuate items like the cake, bouquets and centerpieces, and adding a little sparkle will give them a special touch that reminds us of glistening snow.

We all know it’s the little things that make a big difference,

and in a chilly winter wedding, a hot cocoa bar is sure to be a big hit for young and old alike! Who doesn't smile when topping something off with whipped cream and tiny marshmallows? For those who want something a little stronger than a cinnamon stick in their drink, designate a signature drink to celebrate the

season (and your wedding) with a festive cranberry & vanilla martini!

Last, but most certainly not least, here’s how to overdo it, in all the right ways! Bring the

beauty of winter from outdoors to in, with your own snowy white forest! Covered in lights to brighten the room as if you're in the middle of a winter wonderland, you can go big, or scale it down to fit the room and your budget by taking the DIY approach by getting some curly willow branches and paint them a very wintery white!

And what is Christmas without a kiss under the mistletoe?

Website Launches

The Test Of Time Weddings has had a complete website overhaul. New look from top to bottom. Also, finally got the website for The Test Of Time Rentals up and running. So excited and can't wait to see what new adventures this will bring! Check out both websites www.thetestoftimeweddings.com and www.thetestoftimerentals.com! And don't forget to like us on Facebook too!

Zombie Wedding

Your wedding should reflect you as a couple be it traditional or crazy, fun, and off the wall. Now I'm not saying every wedding be as extreme as this but this zombie wedding is awesome!

The important thing is that your wedding honors your love for each other and shows off who you both are (yes, I said both).

Let The Test Of Time Weddings help in creating the perfect, customized wedding for you. Until Death Do You Part!

New Inventory

I have been picking up some great new pieces for our sister company, The Test Of Time Rentals! A couple of big pieces that that will need some work but they should be fun projects I can't wait to get started on. Check out the before pictures! And for the rest of the inventory check out www.thetestoftimeweddings.com.

Custom Wax Seal

Create your own custom wax seal. Use your initials, monogram, or wedding logo. Give your invitations and thank you note some classic elegance!

SUPPLIES:
wooden dowel
wood burning tool with a fine tip
pencil
printout of design
xacto knife
sandpaper
tape
stain
old rag
vegetable oil
paper towels
sealing wax
matches

STEPS:
1. Prep the dowel by sanding the end you plan on using as the seal. Try to get out the little dings and scratches, otherwise they will show up in the wax impression.

2. Measure the exact diameter of the wooden dowel and design your seal. If you are designing a simple monogram, such as our RageHaus seal, you can easily design it in a variety of computer applications. Start by drawing a circle that is the exact diameter of the dowel with a thin stroke. Then arrange the letters within the circle. Keep in mind that you should keep the detail relatively simple unless you have a lot of experience wood burning small detail into wood.
3. Print the final design and cut out the letters with an xacto knife. Think of this step as making a stencil. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be perfect, but you do want to capture the structure of the design.


4. Flip your stencil so it reads backwards and trace the image onto the dowel. Remember that your design needs to be backwards on the seal so the impression it leaves reads correctly. Tape the stencil onto the dowel and trace your design. Once you have a good trace, take off the stencil and fill out the design where you see fit.
5. Carve out the design with the wood burning tool. I found that this tool works well for this task. They are readily available in most craft stores and come with a fine point tip that can capture small detail. I will warn you that this is the hardest part of the tutorial. I went through about three dowels before I was able to get a carving I was happy with. As you carve your design, keep the depth you carve relativity the same for the entire design so you can create an even, smooth impression in the wax.

For full directions and more pictures go to:

http://ragehaus.com/?p=1215

Arrrrr!!!!

'Tis National Talk Like A Pirate Day! And to celebrate I bring you some inspiration for when ye captain weds his saucy wench!

Hot Summer Weddings

It is currently 6pm and still 97 degrees outside. Earlier it got as high as 104 degrees, cooler than yesterday. All this crazy heat got me thinking about those couples out there who are getting married this summer (or next summer... great to plan ahead). Here are some wedding ideas to keep you and your guests cool at your wedding.

Parasols - Provide them for your guests or forgo bouquets and have your bridal party carry parasols down the aisle.

Fans also make cute alternatives to bouquets or provide them for your guests as well. You can also make custom fan programs so they do double duty and save you some money.

Offer Boater Hats or Fedoras to your male guests to shade their eyes.

Something that is often overlooked at any outdoor event is Suncreen. Offer a basket full of personalized sample-sized suncreen for your guest. These can also double as favors.

And don't forget refreshments. Keep your guests cool and hydrated with old fashion lemonade! This looks adorable served in mason jars.

And what says summer time more that an Ice Cream Sundae? Provide a variety of toppings including everything from nuts to whipped cream to Oreo cookie crumbles and, of course, cherries and let your guests go crazy! (Also, if anyone knows where to find these amazing Coca-Cola themed labels for the sundae bar, please let me know.)

Most importantly, keep plenty of Ice-Cold Drinks available throughout the event!

And don't forget to BREATHE!