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The Card Shop: Vegas Bachelorette Invites

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:00:41 -0700

I must preface this post by saying, "Yes, this invite is rather kitschy." But, Vegas is kitschy too, so I whole-heartedly embrace it! Despite the rhinestones, the Beyond Design Custom Vegas Bachelorette Party Invitation ($4.75) is actually well-designed, affordable, and seems to be good quality. The custom invitation includes the invite with ribbon, poker chip and matching envelopes, and you have the option of having custom poker chip necklaces made for an additional $12. But, honestly, I'd save the extra 12 bucks for the slot machines! Would you send this for a friend's Vegas bachelorette party?

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Product of the Day: Bachelorette Party Invitations

GiggleSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:02:00 -0700

Bachelor and bachelorette parties are so odd to me. Some of them seem to undermine the symbolism of the romantic gesture of getting married. Like, how does having a stripper grind on you during a lap dance signify that you're ready to walk down the aisle with your sweetie? And how does telling your friends you finally picked a pr*ck bode well for your upcoming nuptials? (Yeah, I know. I need to lighten up.)

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Do You Live Blog on Twitter?

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:50:54 -0700

Monday night was the last episode of The Bachelorette and I was invited to a finale party. Not at someone's apartment, you see - it was a Twitter party! A few gals and I twittered our thoughts about the episode as it unfolded, and although some people were peeved at the amount of updates we posted in the two-hour window (I know, I know - two whole hours), I have to say it was pretty fun for us.

Twitter is a form of blogging ("micro-blogging" if you will), so you could technically say that we live blogged the event. This thought caused me to wonder: do you ever live blog on Twitter?

Have You Ever Skipped Out on a Bachelorette Party?

TresSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Bachelorette parties come in all shapes and sizes (as do male strippers). Some brides want relaxing girls' getaways, while others go for wild and crazy Vegas-style parties.

A wedding calls for a celebration, and the bachelorette party is an opportune time to spend some quality time with your good friends, but celebrating a friend's impending end to singledom could be time-consuming and expensive if it involves going somewhere. There's the cost of the flight out, hotel, dinners, drinks, cabs. . .

So I'm curious, have you ever skipped a bachelorette party you were invited to because it didn't work with your budget or schedule, or do you always make them a priority?

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Capture It! Photo and Media Guide For Prewedding Parties

GeekSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:32:37 -0700

Bridal showers and bachelorette parties are low-stress trials for the big day. They help build anticipation for the main event and allow brides-to-be the opportunity to be showered (pun intended!) with love, laughter and encouragement from her closest friends. There are plenty of online services that will help the hostess prepare for the party - from invitation websites to games - but it's crucial to come up with a plan for capturing special moments on the day of mindless fun. If the lady of the night is planning on tricking out her wedding reception with cameras, video games, or photo booths, she's likely the type of gal who wants her shower or bachelorette party memories snapped as well. Follow these suggestions to ensure you get every sweet and silly moment on record.

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The How-To Lounge: Bachelorette Etiquette

DearSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:00:00 -0700

One of the best parts about getting married is having a bachelorette party, but deciding who you should invite and what you should do can sometimes make what's supposed to be a carefree event feel more like a tedious chore.

To see my tips on bachelorette etiquette, read more

It's your party, so you can invite whomever you want! Some people assume that only the wedding party gets the invite, but friends and family members who aren't in the wedding are welcome too, just as long as they are invited to the wedding itself.
First decide if you want a relaxing or wild bachelorette party and make your reservations from there. To keep the prices down, four girls can easily share one room. Getting ready with your friends and goofing off at the end of the night are some of the most fun moments of a bachelorette party, so don't feel bad about packing the rooms tightly.
Since weddings are already so pricey, adding in the added expense of a weekend away might just be too much for some, so if you're the bride, don't take it personally if not all your friends can make it.
Give your girls plenty of time to plan for your bachelorette party. Some might need to start saving money months in advance, and booking far enough out will ensure your girls won't have any scheduling conflicts.
If some of the girls don't know each other, it's important to make sure no one feels left out. If you are the only common thread for a handful of the girls attending, perhaps you should share room with them over your best friend or maid of honor.
The most important part of any bachelorette party is to have fun, so enjoy your last weekend getaway with your girlfriends as a single woman!

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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Announcing Our Free Invites on Pingg!

partysugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:30:02 -0700

Just in time for wedding season, I'm extremely excited to announce our partnership with my favorite online-invitation service, Pingg! Our fabulous designer has created a series of invitations for you to customize and send for free. Whether you're looking for an invite to an engagement or bachelorette party, bridal or baby shower, we've got you covered with multiple designs for each occasion. Pingg is incredibly easy to use: you simply upload the event information, customize the invite to your liking, and select your preferred method for sending (you can email, Facebook, or print and snail mail). I hope you will enjoy these wonderful invites as much as I do!

You Asked: I Can't Stand My Future Sister-in-Law

DearSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

My fiancé and I are getting married later this Summer, but my negative relationship with his sister is putting a damper on things. We've always been friendly toward one another, but we've never really connected as friends in any way. Since the wedding planning has begun, she's been helping out with some of the details, so I've started to spend more time with her. As it turns out, we have a lot of conflicting opinions on things, and even though it's my wedding, we've managed to butt heads over a few choices I've made. She has a certain set of views and beliefs and if she feels like you're not following them, she lets you know in a very upfront manner.

Needless to say at this point I'm really annoyed. I have my bachelorette party coming up in a month that I want to keep very small, with only my closest friends - I really don't want to invite her. I feel like she'll put a complete damper on my mood. I talked to my fiancé about it, but he thinks his sister will be offended if she's not on the invite list, so I just don't know what to do. Can I get away with not inviting her to the bachelorette party?

- Sick of My Sister-in-Law Selena

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Sick of My Sister-in-Law Selena,

It is your wedding and your bachelorette party, and your sister-in-law shouldn't be trying to insert her opinions as demands, but unfortunately this is how family tends to be when it comes to weddings. It's likely that if you guys get through this without any head-to-head arguments, things will go back to the way they were when the wedding is over.

On that note, I think you really need to think things through before you leave her out. The bachelorette party is an opportunity for you to have some serious fun with your girlfriends, and there is no rule that says that you must invite anyone you don't want to. However, it's very clear that your sister-in-law's feelings will be hurt if you don't ask her, which can end up creating some post-wedding conflicts that could be easily avoidable.

I'd suggest asking a couple of your friends to make sure that she's entertained and out of your hair the entire night. Or consider having two bachelorette parties; a larger one in which you include your soon-to-be sister-in-law and a more intimate one with just your two or three closest friends. Keep in mind that a fun night with the girls may be just what she needs to loosen up and could lead to some sisterly bonding between the two of you. Either way, remember that a wedding only lasts a day, but the relationships with your in-laws can last for decades, so try to keep things amicable if possible.

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

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Come Party With Me: Bachelorette - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:01 -0700

While the bridal shower was sunny and sophisticated, my friend Ronda's bachelorette will be fantastical and fabulous. Since she's a huge fan of belly dancing, the maid of honor has chosen this sensual dance to serve as the party's theme. Ronda's girlfriends are invited to a belly dancing class complete with Mediterranean nibbles. After the class, everyone will head to a local hookah bar to practice their newfound talent. I'm planning the menu; it will be a spread of delicious appetizers. In between songs, the girls can snack on mini Mediterranean pitas topped with hummus, tapenade, or pesto.

Crisp Turkish cigars are filled with tangy feta cheese. Flatbread squares with mint and ground lamb are hearty and scrumptious. When skewered on rosemary springs and served with a garlicky mint sauce, shrimp is irresistible. To check out these recipes that are perfect for any backyard bash, read more.

Mediterranean Pitas
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

16 mini pita pockets, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound each hummus, tapenade, pesto, sun-dried tomato spread, black bean dip and spreadable goat cheese
Olives, for garnish
Paprika (optional)

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Split each pita pocket in half, forming 32 disks total.
Place the disks, cut side up, on a baking sheet and brush with the olive oil. Place under the broiler and cook until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes. Let cool.
Top the pitas with the various spreads. Place an olive in the center of some of the pitas. Sprinkle lightly with paprika, if desired.

Serves 8.

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Turkish Cigars
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

14 ounces feta cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup finely chopped mixed herbs, such as mint, flat-leaf parsley and dill
Salt and freshly ground pepper
16 sheets phyllo dough
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, blend the feta with the eggs and the mixed herbs and season with salt and pepper.
Have 2 large baking sheets ready. Work with 2 sheets of phyllo at a time, keeping the remaining sheets under a damp towel. Set 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface and brush with some of the melted butter. Press a second sheet of phyllo on top. Cut the phyllo lengthwise into 4 even rectangles.
Spread 1 tablespoon of the feta cheese and herb filling along the short end of one of the phyllo rectangles, leaving about 1/2 inch on each side. Roll up the phyllo, neatly tucking in the ends one-third of the way up to enclose the filling, then continue to roll up the phyllo with the sides open.
Transfer the rolled-up cigar, seam side down, to a large baking sheet and brush with more of the melted butter. Repeat with the remaining phyllo dough and feta cheese and herb filling.
Bake the cigars for about 30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp; switch the baking sheets halfway through for even browning. Serve the cigars hot or at room temperature.

Makes 32 cigars.

Make Ahead: The cigars can be assembled up to 4 hours ahead. Cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bake the cigars just before serving.

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Flatbread Topped with Mint, Feta, and Lamb
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

For the flatbreads
1 3/4 teaspoons dry active yeast (from one 1/4-ounce envelope)
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for bowl
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon coarse salt
4 1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for surface
For the topping
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing and drizzling
6 leeks, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, and rinsed well
16 scallions, thinly sliced
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish
1/2 pound ground lamb
1 cup (8 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

Directions

Make the flatbreads: Combine yeast and water in a mixer bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add oil, sugar, and salt. Mix with the dough hook on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed to low. With the machine running, add flour, a little at a time, and mix until dough comes together. (You will need more flour in warm weather than in cold.) Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface, and knead until smooth and supple, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to an oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight).
Remove dough from refrigerator, and bring to room temperature. Place a pizza stone or baking sheet on the floor of the oven. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
Make the topping: Melt butter with oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and scallions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in parsley and mint.
Add lamb to the same skillet, and set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and breaking meat into small pieces, until browned, 6 to 7 minutes.
Divide dough into 4 portions. On a lightly floured surface, gently stretch 2 pieces into 14-by-7-inch rounded rectangles; keep other portions covered.
Place dough rectangles on a parchment-lined peel or inverted rimmed baking sheet. Brush with oil, and spread each with 1/4 of the leek mixture, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top each with 1/4 of the lamb, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup feta. Season with salt and pepper.
Carefully slide parchment with flatbreads off the peel or sheet onto the pizza stone. Bake until flatbreads are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.
Garnish flatbreads with fresh mint, and drizzle with oil. Cut into thick slices, and serve immediately.

Serves 8-10.

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Skewered Rosemary Shrimp with Mint Pesto
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

Mint pesto
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons (packed) feta cheese
2 tablespoons (packed) Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped jalapeño chile
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups (packed) fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Shrimp
24 large uncooked shrimp (about 2 pounds), peeled, deveined, tails left intact
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
24 4-inch-long woody rosemary sprigs

Directions

For mint pesto: combine first 7 ingredients in processor. Using on/off turns, process until mixture is smooth.
Add mint leaves and lemon juice; process until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Gradually add oil and process until mint pesto is smooth and creamy. (Can be made 1 day ahead; cover and refrigerate.)
For shrimp: preheat broiler. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper. Whisk oil, garlic, and parsley in medium bowl to blend. Add shrimp; toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes.
Arrange shrimp in single layer on broiler pan. Broil until opaque in center, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to large bowl; sprinkle with lemon juice and toss with 1/2 cup mint pesto. Starting at base end of rosemary, skewer 1 shrimp on each sprig. Arrange on platter and serve.

Makes 24.

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Tips For Planning a Bachelorette Party

TresSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:00:00 -0700

If you've been called on to plan a bachelorette party, you probably want to make it very memorable for the bride to be. But making the fun effortless requires a lot of effort beforehand! Here are some tips on how to prepare a night out on the town or a weekend getaway to celebrate a loved one's impending marriage!

Get the bride's expectations regarding: location, guest list, exotic dancers (are they banned or encouraged?).
Set a date: Send an email to the guests with a couple suggested dates, and settle on one that works for most.
Do some research: If you're traveling, find an affordable hotel and think about keeping prices down by sharing rooms. Think about calling a club you plan to attend ahead of time, so you can get on the guest list.
Set a budget: Based on what you found, estimate the cost. Make sure everyone is on the same page. Talking money can be awkward, but it's much better to be upfront so everyone can be carefree later.
Pool your resources for perks: Does your friend's uncle own a restaurant? Does your co-worker own a limo service? Call in any favors.
Make the plans: Send out invitations. If it's a getaway, send an email itinerary with all the crucial information and include links for more information.
Get people excited before the day: Forward fun reviews about the hotel you're staying in. Email an online slideshow of pictures of the bride and her friends throughout the years.
Have fun! Once the party begins get everyone in the right spirit by enjoying the party yourself!

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