Rex & Regina's Blog

Bauble-icious! Using gems to create a stunning tablescape

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:18:46 +0000

Last week, I spent some time brainstorming an elegant Spring place setting. I was giving a lecture on Easter entertaining and wanted to show a range of place settings from casual to upscale traditional. For the upscale setting, I included a menu card and was trying to come up with a way to add a little sparkle and pizazz to it. The color palette was pink and gold and so I considered what gold accents I might already have on hand to dress up and complement the card. Not long after, I came up with this:

a vintage brooch dresses up a menu card (rentals pictured are from DC Rental)

I tied satin pink ribbon to a vintage brooch and attached it to the menu card to give it a little interest. I love the idea of re-using items that you already have in new and interesting ways when entertaining. Apparently, I am not the only one!

I absolutely adore this tablescape featured on 100 Layer Cake that uses second-hand clip on earrings as place cards. Gorgeous!

clip on earrings as place card holders (via 100 Layer Cake)

Baubled place cards via 100 Layer Cake

Another clever way to dress up one’s table is to drape costume jewelry necklaces — rhinestones or pearls work great — on a chandelier, candelabra, or vase or to weave them strategically through votives on a runner. The key is taking time to arrange the pieces until they complement and blend in with the existing setting.

Rhinestones draped on candlesticks create an elegant table (via Better Homes & Gardens)

What ways have you dressed up your table using uncommon goods in your home?

Technorati Tags: Entertaining, inspiration, tablescape, tabletop

The “Perfect” Fit for a Bridesmaids Party

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:06 +0000

On March 20, 2010, the Tysons Corner and Montgomery Mall Nordstrom stores will be participating in Nordstrom Fits America — a special event to raise money for Susan G Komen for the Cure. (The Pentagon City Nordstrom will participate on March 19, 2010.)

Get your bridesmaids or girlfriends together and do one of the most “girly” things you can do: go shopping for lingerie!

Nordstrom’s Lingerie department is known for its expert bra fittings, its certified stylists are so helpful, and they have a wonderful collection of styles, sizes, and brands. The newly remodeled Tysons Corner store is even more welcoming — with comfortable dressing rooms and seating areas.

Call the store directly and speak with the Lingerie Department manager to reserve time and space for a personal Lingerie Party. Ask them if you can bring in champagne and sweets to make the experience even more decadent for you and your bridesmaids!

The best part? It’s all for an incredibly important cause. For every bra purchased during the event, $2 will be donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure. Visit www.nordstrom.com for exact times and other participating locations.

Now THAT’s a perfect fit!

Technorati Tags: bride, bridesmaid, lingerie, Nordstrom, party, philanthropy, Susan G Komen for the Cure, wedding

Shake it Up on St. Patrick’s Day

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:35:10 +0000

I am not sure I can wait until St Patrick’s Day to try this spiked shake. It looks so refreshing and decadent!

Shamrock Shake via Food2

Ingredients
1 cup whole milk
1 pint mint chocolate chip ice cream
1 teaspoon pure mint extract
3 tablespoons dark rum

Directions
1) Put milk, ice cream, mint extract and rum into a blender. Mix until smooth.
2) Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with a sprig of mint.
3) Optional: Drop the rum and you’ve almost got a Shamrock Shake

recipe from Food2

Technorati Tags: beverage, holiday, recipe

Punk Rock Bride Launches New Spring Collection

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:56:24 +0000

This week I had the pleasure of attending a preview of Punk Rock Bride’s new Spring collection. Known for its non-traditional wedding dresses, Punk Rock Bride incorporates beautiful details and texture in each of their unique dresses. Rhode Island School of Design-trained Stephanie Ward, founder and designer of Punk Rock Bride, conceived of each dress in the collection and cuts patterns based on the specific measurements of each bride, ensuring a beautiful, flawless fit.

The Spring collection features a dress with a hand-knit corset (second from left below) and one with gorgeous brocade fabric (far right).

DC brides are so fortunate to have such a unique option for wedding dresses in their own back yard. Wonderful work, Stephanie!

four of the five pieces of the new collection

gorgeous dresses with lovely details from previous collections

Punk Rock Bride founder Stephanie Ward (right) with Kari Becker Beard of Sugar B Design

Technorati Tags: bride, DC, wedding, wedding dress

Vote for Rex & Regina for the 2010 Juli B Style Awards!

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:44:04 +0000

We are so pleased to share that we are a finalist for the 2010 Juli B Style Awards, Best Event Planner! We’re so giddy with excitement, we can hardly contain ourselves!

We want to take a moment to thank our fabulous clients and blog readers for all of their support; recognition like this is because of you!

Stop by http://www.julib.com/2010styleawards and vote for us. The company with the most votes by Friday, April 16th will win the Readers’ Choice Award.

Voting begins today and you will need to register with julib.com – a free lifestyle and luxury e-mail publication — in order to vote. There is no cost to register and you can do so quickly here.

We’re up against some of the best in the business, so we know that even being nominated is a great honor. That said, we’d love to have a really great showing!

Thanks for your support!

Burlap Tablescapes

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:53:18 +0000

I have a design crush on burlap these days. With it’s rustic simplicity, it can easily be dressed up or down to create a stunning tablescape. Burlap accents are becoming a lot easier to find in stores, but can also be home- or custom-made.

Style Me Pretty, one of my go-to sites for tablescape inspiration, showcases this DIY burlap runner. Not only do I love its simplicity but I love how by even changing the constrasting stitching, you can customize the runner to complement your design palette.

DIY Burlap Table Runners via Style Me Pretty, photo by Carrie Patterson

Here again you see the impact of homemade burlap runners at this wedding featured on another one of my all-time favorite sites Snippet and Ink.

Burlap-inspired table via Snippet and Ink, photo by Lara and Kate from The Studio Nouveau

Complementary burlap-inspired table via Snippet and Ink, photo by Lara and Kate from The Studio Nouveau

Here, bandanas and burlap conspire to make a cheery, casual table:

Burlap and yellow table via Country Living

I was so excited to recently learn about Northern Virginia-based EAB Designs, who makes the beautiful burlap table linens below; they are SO going on my “wish list”!

Burlap Table Runner with Paris Screen Print Design from EAB Designs

Burlap Jute napkin rings with rhinestones from EAB Designs

I’ve often admired these burlap tablecloths when peeking in the Pottery Barn windows; they could be dressed up with a beautiful overlay or kept as is:

Burlap table overlay from Pottery Barn

Technorati Tags: burlap, linens, napkin rings, tablescape, wedding

Old MacDonald Had a Set of Farmhouse Linen Placemats

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:27:15 +0000

I adore these linen placemats from Simrin, available at Burke Decor or Velocity. A set of four includes a silk-screened pig, hen, cow, and sheep. Placed on a farmhouse or bare wood table, these would look so natural and lovely. And I know passing by the table each day, I couldn’t help but chuckle at them. They are adorable!

Simrin pig placemat

Farmhouse placemats

Technorati Tags: linen, linens, placemats, table setting, tablescape

One Bridesmaid Dress. Countless Styles.

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:20:20 +0000

When does one really add up to a dozen? When it is a Twobird bridesmaid dress! My step-sister introduced me to this clever company recently when she received her Twobird dress in the mail for an upcoming wedding she is in. She was skeptical the dress would really be as flattering on as it looked in the photos, but was pleasantly surprised when she tried it on.

Twobirds Rosette dress

Twobirds offers three collections: the classic, two-toned, and rosette (my personal favorite) and each of those collections is offered in long or short lengths. The beauty of the dress — regardless of the collection — is that it can be wrapped and tied in a variety of ways. Each bridesmaid can wrap the dress the way she prefers and the way that looks most flattering on her — from strapless to halter, to one shoulder…

Twobirds classic dress tied in an "Isabella" style

With their customizable dresses, Twobirds is hitting on a significant trend in bridal party fashion — customization. Brides are dressing their bridesmaids in the same color dress but different styles (or vice versa). It allows a consistent look without having to be “matchy-matchy.” And each girl can feel comfortable in a style that looks flattering on her. Love it!

Technorati Tags: bridesmaid, dress, wedding