5 Tips for Wedding Planning with Pinterest

If you’re like us and spent many teenage afternoons sitting cross-legged in your bedroom, cutting outfits and espadrilles from magazines, you will undoubtedly adore Pinterest. But chances are, you already do! Whether new to Pinterest or you’ve been Pinning for months, let us share some Wedding-themed advice on making the most out of your precious Pinning time.

1. Create Multiple Boards. Having only one Board, titled “Wedding”, is too broad. You may have Boards for hairstyles and makeup, invitations, floral inspirations and definitely a board full of gowns.  We personally like the idea of making a Board for Photography and Pinning different poses that you might want to strike. Get creative! 

2. Mind For Your Money.  When you’re mind’s already in Wedding-mode it’s even easier to “fall in love” with your amazing finds on Pinterest. Just remember: some of them you may not be able to afford. Use this to your advantage by searching keywords or having replicates created.

3. Follow The Experts. Keep an eye on the Pinterest wedding experts to see what is trending. The Knot and Style Me Pretty have a dedicated team of connoisseurs that Pin for them. They know what works and better yet, have a great deal of “Pinventory”!

4. Take Feedback. It’s your day; in the end, you will choose what you want.  But as always, feedback can be your best friend. You can even allow others (Mom, sisters, bridesmaids, etc.) to Pin to your boards. If you have ideas for Bridesmaids Dresses for example, and you’d like to share them with the ladies, this is a convenient, non-intrusive way to do so.

5. Share Your Boards. Make sure you are sharing your Boards with your planner, vendors, florist, etc.! With that being said, also jot down why you like a certain Pin. Descriptions can be helpful—especially if you may have Pinned specifically for a piece of décor, rather than the overall vibe. For example: “Candleholder, NOT tablecloth.”

 -Julie "Jewels" Morell, Northstar California Resort Sales Coordinator ~ http://pinterest.com/jewelsandella

Marissa + Brian

Check out this real Northstar wedding at Martis Valley and Dustin's Grove at our golf course! Congratulations to the happy couple and thank you to Shoop's Shutter for the fab photos!

 

S'more-gasbord at your Wedding!

Anywhere there is fire, you can make s'mores at your Wedding! And at Northstar, we have several venues that offer private fire pits. While a basket of traditional S'more fixin's after the reception is cool, why not kick it up a notch with a "S'mores-gasboard"! This new offering includes gourmet marshmallows and Ghirardelli Chocolate.

Chocolate:

·          Hershey's or Ghirardelli

Caramel Filled

Dark Chocolate with Mint

 Milk Chocolate Truffle

 Peppermint Bark

Marshmallow Flavors:

·           Vanilla

·           Chocolate Chip

·           S’mores

·           Caramel Swirl

Or, how about S'mores bags for your favors? Chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, oh my! The possibilities are endless...- Bxo

A Match Made In Heaven

With cupcakes being all-the-rage at weddings these days, check out this delicious twist for your dessert table! The Oreo and Cheesecake compliment each other so perfectly that it takes cupcakes to a whole new level. Rest assured, Oreo's are not just for kids.

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Cupcakes
From Martha Stewart's Cupcakes
Makes 30

• Ingredients:
• 42 cream-filled sandwich cookies, such as Oreo's, 30 left whole, and 12 coarsely chopped
• 2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
• 1 cup sour cream
• Pinch of salt

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Place 1 whole cookie in the bottom of each lined cup.

2. With an electric mixer on medium high speed, beat cream cheese until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Gradually add sugar, and beat until combined. Beat in vanilla.

3. Drizzle in eggs, a bit at a time, beating to combine and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in sour cream and salt. Stir in chopped cookies by hand.

4. Divide batter evenly among cookie-lined cups, filling each almost to the top. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until filling is set, about 22 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Refrigerate at least 4 hours (or up to overnight). Remove from tins just before serving.

I'm not usually the best gourmet chef, but when I bit into my homemade Oreo and Cheesecake Cupcakes I swear I heard these lovely lyrics in my head: 'Cause we go together like birds of a feather'....

- Julie "Jewels" Morell, Northstar California Resort Sales Coordinator

Summer events at Northstar

What else is going on during your Wedding weekend at Northstar? We just started adding summer events to the online calendar. Check it out and see what else you can plan around the BIG day!

Get creative with your cake topper

Back in the day, cake toppers were very similar. Isn't it true that your parents and / or grandparents had a similar cake topper to this? This custom was dominant in US weddings in the 1950s where it represented the concept of togetherness.

Fast forward to your generation and weddings are all about being unique, including your cake topper. So get creative and let your personalities shine! Here are a few of my favorite cake toppers from real Northstar weddings lately:

Or, consider customizing how you EAT your cake. How cute is this!

That's it for now. Don't forget to get your Wedding Preview RSVP's in! -Bxo

Wedding Preview

It's coming...invitations have been sent for the March 31, 2012 Northstar Wedding Preview and Grand Tasting! It is sure to be a fabulous event, with great food, wine, music, linens, flowers and more! Join a lodging tour, meet your planner, and talk with Chef. Remember, it is invitation only so you must be a real Northstar Wedding to attend. Not a Northstar bride or groom? Well, you should be... :) See everyone soon!

-Bxo

Ashley + Brian, a real Northstar Wedding video!

Ashley + Brian's NorthStar Wedding from Jason Chesebrough on Vimeo.


Beautiful! Congratulations to the happy couple and thank you Jason Chesebrough for sharing.

Cutest Escort Cards of 2011

Happy New Year! Check out these adorable escort cards from real Northstar Weddings last year!

What is in store for your 2012 Wedding?

K + J , a real Northstar Winter Wedding

As we say goodbye to 2011, it wouldn't be right without showing off Northstar's final wedding of the year, photographed by the very talented Ciprian Photography (thank you!). This DIY bride and her family created a one of a kind event. The reception was set with large manzanita branches dripping with crystals and goblet style candle holders that sparkled and glowed.

A whimsical part of dinner would be the English poppers, filled with a joke, a crown, and a toy.

Their cake toppers were real life versions of themselves and their pooches!

As a nod to the groom's regional management position at 7-11 they offered their guests real 7-11 doughnuts! The room smelled like sugar right when you walked in!

The ceremony ended with vintage noise makers. How fun! And the bride's sister created all of the artwork used for the programs as well as the table numbers and escort cards.

The bride looked stunning in a to die for crown at the ceremony that literally made her look like a princess!

After the ceremony she swapped out her crown for a very glam fascinator.

I loved this wedding and all of the special touches were my favorite parts! Congrats you two, Bxo

A wedding on the slopes!

Happy first day of winter! It is snowing every day at Northstar and we just had a very "cool" (get it? as in brrrrr) wedding in the snow! Thank you to Ceremony of Love for providing these images photographed by Talbot Images. And a big congrats to Sharon and Bruce. Nice kilt!

A sweet treat!

Why have just one when you can have an assortment of smaller wedding cakes? I love the simple beauty of this set by Flour Girl Wedding Cakes, photographed by the very talented Leah McCormick. Enjoy!

A REAL Northstar Proposal!

On Friday, December 2, 2011, one of our Ski patrollers, Steve, was in for a big surprise. Here is his story that he later shared with the bride: 

"While skiing down Northstar’s West Ridge ski run, I visualized a man on his knee apparently holding a lady’s left forearm.  She was crying loudly.  I was therefore certain that at least her left arm was injured and that the fellow with her was assisting her pending the arrival of a Ski Patroller.  Me.  So you can imagine how disappointed I was when, after rushing to your side to assist, you told me that everything was OK.  Then, the lady, still sobbing, yet sporting a huge smile, said to me, “He’s proposing to me right now!”.  Congratulations guys."

W-O-W! This story was a tear jerker. Congratulations Amber and Brookie, and let the planning begin!