Wedding Wednesdays: How to Tell Guests About Your Wedding Website

If you’ve spent time and energy creating a wedding website, you’re probably dying to know how to tell guests about it right about now.

We know you want to shout your wedding URL from the mountaintops so your friends and fam can start eyeing your engagement photos, booking hotel rooms and perusing your registry. But before you go completely rogue, The Knot reminds us that how you tell guests about your wedding website actually does matter. Here’s exactly how they suggest to tell guests about your wedding website and get them excited to use it.

How to Share Your Wedding Website
Here’s the thing: Sharing your wedding website implies that’s probably where you’ll provide registry information—which means you’re kinda-sorta suggesting you’d love some wedding gifts. Now, your guests obviously want to check out your website ASAP and buy a gift off your registry—but the point is, it’s important to go about leading them there tactfully. With this in mind, the best ways to tell guests about your wedding website are:

1. Putting the link right on your save-the-dates, bridal shower and/or engagement party invites
2. Including your site on an insert in your invitation suite
3. Sharing it by word of mouth (aka via texts, emails or in person)

Note that it’s really not good form to print a link directly on your formal wedding invitations—include it on a separate insert. The reason you can tell guests about your website via save-the-dates is that those are generally a little less formal—and they’re typically one of the first official announcements of your wedding date and important details (making it the perfect place to share your wedding website).

How Not to Tell Guests About Your Wedding Website
Not to be bossy, but don’t post your wedding website on social media. Unless you’re planning to send your URL to a friend in a private Facebook message or Instagram DM, posting your website publicly on social will only cause problems. You’ll offend anyone who sees your website but wasn’t invited to the wedding. Plus, people might see your site, assume they’re invited and call you asking where their save-the-date is. Cue the awkward phone conversation.

How to Get Your Guests to Actually Look at Your Website
Beyond telling guests about your website, make sure you incentivize them to use it and get them psyched for your upcoming nuptials.
Step one: Make your wedding website as easy to find as possible. How? Create a custom URL that’s easy to remember. This way, no one will have to rummage through their mail or emails to find that original save-the-date. Think of it this way: If they can’t find your website, they won’t use it.
Step two: Turn on digital RSVPs so your guests can instantly reply, mark their meal preference and add a plus-one (if applicable, of course). As much as we love a traditional RSVP, this is way easier than filling out one of those response cards.

Lastly, a great way to get your guests to engage with your wedding website is to include not only need-to-know wedding details, but fun extras too. We're talking engagement photos, your love story, wedding party bios and local gems near your wedding venue. Include favorite restaurants, coffee shops, museums, parks and stores to keep your loved ones well-fed and entertained over the course of your wedding weekend. And don't forget, you can always update your site along the way to keep it looking fresh and up to date.

It's time to share your site! Take The Knot's tips on doing so and devour the details of this crucial part of your wedding planning journey!

Tasty Tuesday: 3 Mingle-Friendly Finger Foods

Whether you're hosting a summer soiree or a late night happy house, these mingle-friendly finger foods are sure to hit the spot. These easy and delicious recipes are sure to please. Get the ingredients and whip them up this weekend!

1. Dried Plums with Bacon and Fresh Goat Cheese

Ingredients
12 pitted dried plums
5 1/3 ounces goat cheese, divided into 12 equal portions
3 slices bacon, each cut into 2-inch pieces (to total 12 pieces)
Toothpicks

Directions
For each dried plum, make a lengthwise slit and spoon a portion of cheese into slit
Wrap dried plum with a piece of bacon
Secure bacon with wooden pick
Arrange bacon-wrapped dried plums on rack in broiler pan
Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat 6 to 8 minutes or until browned and barely crisp, turning once
Serve hot or warm

2. Pizzettas with Dried Plums & Caramelized Onions

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 small onions, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
4 (6-inch) round tandoori naan
1 cup crumbled fresh goat cheese
1 cup (about 6 ounces) quartered pitted dried plums

Directions
Heat oven to 400°F
In large skillet, heat olive oil
Add onions, salt and pepper
Cover and cook over medium-low heat until onions are soft
Add rosemary and thyme and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until onions are golden brown
Place naan on baking sheet; spread 1/3 cup onion mixture on each naan, leaving a 1/2-inch border
Sprinkle evenly with 1/4 cup goat cheese and 1/4 cup dried plums
Bake about 5 minutes or until crust is golden and toppings are hot
Cut pizzetta into 8 squares

3. Lumpia with Dried Plum Purée

Ingredients
1 pound ground pork
1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
¾ cup minced onion
¼ cup dried plum purée
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon water
24 lumpia wrappers
Cooking spray

Directions
Mix together pork, water chestnuts, onion, dried plum purée, soy sauce, garlic, salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, mix flour and water to make a paste
Place one lumpia wrapper on a work surface and place about 2 tablespoons pork mixture near the edge closest to you
Roll bottom edge towards the middle, fold in both sides and continue rolling
Moisten edge with flour paste to seal
Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling
Heat oven to 425° F
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray
Arrange lumpia on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray
Bake 20-25 minutes or until browned and crisp

Can't go wrong with any or all of these fabulous finger foods! Invite your friends and devour the details of a mingle-friendly event with these delicious recipes.

Monday Mashup: Underground Garages Are Underrated

The highly anticipated exhibition “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” is headlining at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago through September 22. Michael Darling, the museum’s James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator, takes viewers through the 20-year journey of Abloh’s unconventional career as a creative collaborator for Kanye West, the launch of his Milan-based streetwear brand Off-White, and finally, his appointment as artistic director of menswear for Louis Vuitton. BizBash shares that the museum honored the designer at its splashy ArtEdge gala on June 8. Here's how!

As guests arrived through the museum’s loading dock, they could pin their avant-garde ball gowns and lapels with their choice of Abloh-designed keepsake badges, dubbed “Purist” or “Tourist,” a homage to the designer's obsession with labels. Partygoers had their first glimpse of the urban ruins theme as they posed for pictures in front of a colorful orange and white checkered backdrop that featured a graffiti-style grim reaper. Guests then piled into the freight elevator that was decked out with grand chandeliers strewn with orange and white traffic cones, which took them to a cocktail party on the second floor’s Kovler Atrium.

More than 650 guests attended the $2,500-a-head gala sponsored by Louis Vuitton. Co-chaired by Dr. Julius Few, D’Rita and Robbie Robinson, and Mary Ann and Ben Weprin, the event attracted internationally-known attendees. Artist Takashi Murakami (who had his own retrospective “The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg” at the museum in 2017), actor Joel Edgerton and girlfriend Vogue Australia fashion director Christine Centenera, and Chance the Rapper all got their first look at Abloh’s highly anticipated mid-career retrospective on the fourth floor. The showing encompasses seven sections: “Early Work,” “Fashion,” “Music,” “Intermezzo,” “Black Gaze,” “Design,” and “The End.” Gala guests weren’t the only ones with an elevated sense of style. The security guards became walking pieces of art with their limited-edition Nike Air Force 1 ‘07 Virgil Abloh x MCA “Flooded Blue” sneakers given to them by the designer.

The museum’s underground concrete parking garage saw the biggest metamorphosis of the night giving guests a transformative escape from the clean lines of the museum. Taking over multiple levels, the entire space was enveloped in an immersive installation of floor-to-ceiling images of Abloh’s work of exhibit plans and renderings. Frost Lighting filled the room in moody hues that glowed in blue and purple tones. Planners wanted to make sure that guests felt as if they were actually dining in the exhibition. The garage’s existing “Exit” and “Caution” signage played up to the theme’s gritty vibe, as did the low-hanging overhead clearance height signs.

The museum enlisted help from HMR Designs to work within the tricky space, whose challenges included slanted ceilings, pipes, and angled walls. Hanas noted that planners had to consider various sizes and shapes of tables to accommodate more than 600 guests.

MCA Catering presented a three-course dinner of Belgian endive salad with chilled lobster, along with artisanal breads from James Beard Baker of the Year Greg Wade, and an entrée of beef short ribs at tables accented with simple centerpieces of greenery and plenty of candlelight. Macaroons were rendered in Abloh’s signature Pantone 021 C (orange) and white. After dinner, guests returned to the fourth floor for a dessert reception and concert by English singer-songwriter Dev Hynes. The Blood Orange artist, who did a live set at an all-white piano and stage, has been a major collaborator of Abloh.

The gala raised more than $2 million to bring a platform, workshop, laboratory, and performance space for Chicago teens who the museum hopes to attract with the exhibit. “Figures of Speech” will travel to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta later this year and then to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and the Brooklyn Museum in 2020.

Get inspired and never underestimate the powers of event design as you devour the details of an underground garage as a venue!

National Cheesecake Day Celebration this Saturday

The biggest day of the year is coming up again. Join us this July 27th at 7ate9 Bakery as we celebrate one of our greatest holidays: National Cheesecake Day!

7ate9 Bakery located in Somerville, MA is celebrating National Cheesecake Day with a cheesecake eating competition, cheesecake decorating competitions for both kids and adults, raffles, and a photo booth station for all your cheesecake selfie splendor.

For more details about the events or to sign up for our Cheesecake Eating Competition, visit the 7ate9 Bakery website. Here's a look at the day of schedule:

All Day - Cheesecake Tastings
All Day - Selfie photo booth stations
All Day - Temporary 7ate9 Tattoos
All Day - Contests & Raffles
10:00am - 5:00pm - On the spot screen printing from Heads Up Screenprinting
11:00am-1:00pm - Kids Cheesecake Decorating
11:00-4:00pm - Chili Dog & Nacho Lunch Booth
1:00pm - Cheesecake Decorating Competition. Theme: Yas Queen!
2:30pm – Cheesecake Eating Competition

Mark you calendars. Tell your friends. Prepare yourselves... you're not going to want to miss devouring the details of this epic celebration!

Wedding Wednesdays: How To Plan a Wedding in Three Months

We're currently in wedding planning mode, so this is so relatable right now! We've been searching for a wedding planning checklist that’s agile and practical like us. And with no surprise, we found it on The Knot. Whether you’re planning a wedding in three months, six months, or eighteen months, if efficiency is what you’re after, this simple planning checklist will serve as an ideal progress report for you.

Step 1. Make Your Biggest Decisions First
A lot of people say you need to choose a venue first. But it’s hard to do that without having a date in mind. Not to mention, a budget. In fact, so many of these decisions are codependent, that it would serve you best to tackle these choices first. As soon as you’re ready to start seriously planning, you should pick your date, set your budget, and pick a venue, all in relatively rapid succession. It might feel like a lot at once, but you’ll be so glad you have these three essential tent poles established once it’s time to build your dream wedding!

Step 2. Get Personal With Your Wedding Style
Once you’ve nailed down the big decisions, you can start getting more granular (think guest list, attire, flowers, etc.). But you don’t need to waste your time with a one-size-fits-all to-do list. Order in with your partner, outline your vision and priorities, then use our customized checklist tool to create your own personalized plan of attack. You’ll get a clear vision of next steps and you won’t waste any time on irrelevant details. The biggest perk of all is that since the two of you have created your personalized checklist together, you’ll have to make mutually agreed-upon decisions for the ceremony and reception. (So no one can go back and call out that panoramic photo booth.)

Step 3. Send Out Your Invitations and Make That Wedding Website
Once you’ve secured your venue, date and wedding vision, send the invitations to your guests (or mail save-the-dates if you have more lead time). In conjunction with alerting your guests, we recommend creating a wedding website that includes all of the relevant details regarding your wedding. While you’re building it, grab a glass of wine with your partner and complete your wedding registry—it’s fun, we promise—so that your guests have all the details and can consider a thoughtful gift too.

Step 4. Select the Other Essential Vendors
Guided by your simple wedding planning checklist, plus your wedding vision, now’s the time you can make those essential and additional vendor choices. Find the dress, look into wedding party attire, and secure a tailor. Find your ideal DJ and caterer. Plus, book a florist who can find suggest lush alternatives when peonies aren’t in season.We suggest maximizing your weekends, because the more you mark off your wedding planning checklist now, the less you’ll scramble closer to your wedding date.

Step 5. Have The Parties Before the Party
By the time you’re in the final stretch of wedding planning, trust us, you’ll welcome any escape—especially with friends. Now is the time to plan a bachelor or bachelorette party. It doesn’t have to be fancy or far flung (even a relaxing night in with friends and pizza would do, if that’s your style), but take some time to celebrate you and your hard work with your support group. If your loved ones want to host a bridal shower, make sure your registry is up-to-date so that your family members and friends can purchase your newlywed nest essentials like that Dyson vacuum or that Vitamix you’ve been eyeing for years.

Step 6. Make Final Tweaks
The final portion of wedding planning is the time when you have to buckle down and get through the minutiae. Now that you have your guest count confirmed, finalize any rental orders and catering updates, plus your signature cocktails.  Go in for that final dress fitting and make sure it’s exactly what you had envisioned . Put together your thank-you gifts and get those favors together. Send through a detailed shot list to your photographer so that this pro knows exactly what to anticipate.

One important tip: If you’re overwhelmed, this period is a great time to call upon family members, friends, and your planner (if you’ve opted to hire one) to help you tackle all the remaining items on your wedding planning checklist. Set final expectations with the wedding party members, go through those seating arrangements, meet with your officiant (and make sure any premarital counseling is completed), and finesse any legal details like your marriage license, name change documents and more. It might feel like a lot, but you’ll cherish this time period after it’s over.

Step 7. Rehearse, Eat and Be Married
You made it! The days leading up to your wedding should be as stress-free as possible, so if you realize you forgot something at this point, let it go (especially if it’s small). Your wedding will be yours, truly, because you tackled the biggest decisions first. If something goes wrong during the wedding festivities, designate a point person in advance (a planner, a maid of honor or the best man) to suppress the stress. More than anything else: have a great time. Make it a priority to be present with your partner and enjoy the wedding you’ve planned for you and your guests. It’s the best gift you can give yourself.

You CAN do it! Use these helpful tips and devour the details of wedding planning in just three months!

Foods That Fight Sun Damage

In the summertime, there is no better feeling than going to the beach or the pool and feeling the warm sun on your skin. We love getting that sunkissed glow just as much as any girl, but we have had to teach ourself to become really diligent with sunscreen over the years. Even when we think we’ve been extra careful about sun exposure, there have been times where we’ve found ourself with rosy cheeks and pink shoulders after being in the sun. Which brings us to today’s post…

When sunscreen just doesn’t cut it, there are a few foods that have been proven to help reduce the changes of sunburn. Take a peek below and make sure to stock up the next time you’re at the grocery store!

1. Dark Chocolate
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! Believe it or not, dark chocolate actually acts as a shield from the sun. It contains four times as many phenols compounds (help to decrease the risk of developing cancer) and catechins (heart healthy flavonoids) as tea. Both of these are antioxidants that help protect our skin from sunburn and skin cancer, according to Daily Glow, so eat one square of dark chocolate a day.

2. Tomatoes
According to a study from the British Society of Investigative Dermatology, lycopene-rich tomatoes can actually protect your skin against sunburn. Lycopene helps to neutralize the damaging effects of UV light and eating lycopene-rich foods can actually help prevent your skin from aging.

3. Green Tea
We have always loved green tea. Besides its abilities to boost your immune system, clear up your skin, and speed up your metabolism, it also helps to soothe sunburns. Drinking one to two cups of this antioxidant-rich tea a day helps to reduce the redness of sunburn. It even repairs broken capillary veins too. In fact, studies show that it can actually block DNA damage from happening as a result of UV light, according to Daily Glow. Drink up, ladies.

4. Red Peppers
According to Mind Body Green, bell peppers contain an antioxidant called capsiate, which decreases skin damage caused by UVB rays. Peppers also help to reduce inflammation from sun exposure.

5. Garlic
Not only does garlic detoxify and reduce bloating, it also can protect the skin from the aging effects of UV radiation, according to Health With Food. Garlic contains a natural compound called allicin, which has strong antioxidant and healing properties. Antioxidants fight off free radicals that enter your body from sun exposure, so eat your garlic.

6. Aloe Vera Juice
It’s a pretty widely known fact that aloe vera gel helps to soothe sunburns and smooth out wrinkles. It’s a kind of a magic concoction for your skin. But aloe vera juice also has it’s own healing properties. According to Every Nutrient, this juice is excellent for healing damaged tissues and skin cells in our bodies. Sun damage doesn’t stand a chance against this healthy drink!

7. Olive Oil
Olive oil is not only great to use for cooking, it’s also an antioxidant-rich food that fights sun damage. One study actually proved that incorporating olive oil regularly into your diet can help to reduce reddening from sun exposure by 35%, according to an article from World’s Healthiest Foods.

8. Pomegranates 
Pomegranate seeds have polyphenols (similar to the phenols we mentioned above), which protect skin from UVA and UVB rays. According to Mind Body Green, they also help your sunscreen to work and inhibit hyperpigmentation.

9. Citrus
Orange and pink citrus fruits, like oranges and grapefruits, contain large amounts of the skin-cell protective compound called limonene. These fruits also come packed with flavonoids, which improve the skin’s ability to recover from sun damage. Lemon water, anyone?

10. Carrots
These orange veggies have carotenoids (plant pigments that are rich antioxidants), which help to protect against sunburn because of their antioxidant properties, according to Gene Lester, M.S., Ph.D., a plant physiologist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

It is important to remember that, while you can eat as much of these foods as you want, nothing will help to prevent sun damage more than sunscreen. Eating one square of dark chocolate does not mean you can go to the beach SPF-free (even thought we wish it did). Minimize your risk of sun damage by devouring the details of these foods that fight it!

Monday Mashups: How Major Events in Cities Are Making Attendee Transportation Easier

Whether it’s a sporting event, tech conference, or music festival, BizBash believes a city event that draws mass crowds should have transportation strategies in place that ensure attendees can get to and from that event efficiently. Because in 2019, when events garner negative responses thanks to disorganized (or non-existent) transportation options, attendees will inevitably start drawing, well, Fyre Festival comparisons.

One recent example of transportation mishaps involved Miami’s Ultra Music Festival in March. One of the largest electronic dance music festivals in the U.S., Ultra was evicted from its usual downtown venue and relocated to Virginia Key, an island accessible via one bridge, which is part of the city’s Rickenbacker Causeway. The festival provided around 200 private charter buses as the main mode of transportation for ticket holders.

But on the first night of the festival, thousands of attendees walked miles home to their hotels and Airbnbs in the early morning hours. The festival didn’t have a dedicated lane for festival buses open until 1 a.m., which left many who wanted to leave before midnight stranded. Ultra and the City of Miami changed the strategy for the remainder of the festival—bus lanes were opened much earlier and the event improved communication and signage—but that didn’t stop festival-goers from tweeting complaints and videos of the disastrous first night.

The mode of transportation available for an event depends on the types of transit available in the host city. For the upcoming Rogers Cup in Toronto, organizers of the tennis tournament partnered with the Toronto Transit Commission to offer free subway rides home from the Aviva Centre stadium to people who present their ticket.

Tournament director Karl Hale said the new initiative is possible thanks to the opening Pioneer Village subway station, which provides the most direct and fastest method of transportation to downtown Toronto from the stadium.

Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual tech conference, draws an average of 170,000 visitors to San Francisco every fall. The massive conference provides free shuttles that stop at core hotels and key venues, as well as shuttles that take attendees to the Dreamfest benefit concert. But the method of transportation that organizers encourage the most is walking.

For Dreamforce attendees who choose to walk, the conference offers a chart on its website that shows the distance in miles between each conference venue. The conference’s Agenda Builder platform also offers travel time estimates between an attendee’s scheduled sessions. A banner alert will appear on an attendee’s enrollment page if there’s a connection that could be tight.

In New York, massive music festivals usually take place in public parks such as Central Park or Randall’s Island Park, an island located between Manhattan and Queens. The annual Governors Ball music festival encourages attendees to use public transit and then walk the Triborough Bridge to the Randall’s Island, but for those willing to pay a little extra, the festival provides limited tickets for ferry rides, which is the easiest way to get to and from the event.

Governors Ball sponsor Zelle had its own V.I.P. ferry this year. This digital payment service's purple-painted boat had two types of experiences for festivalgoers. On the way there, the ferry offered a party atmosphere with a local DJ, photo booths, and a performance from brand ambassadors to hype attendees. On the way back, the ferry offered guests an opportunity to wind down by providing water and purple eye masks.

While Governors Ball has numerous transportation options that tend to be efficient for getting on and off Randall’s Island, severe weather can always be detrimental to a smooth operation. On the final day of this year’s festival, evening storms forced organizers to cancel the festival early and evacuate the site. Ferry riders were stranded and had to wait until the storms passed, while people walking on the Triborough Bridge to the subway were caught in torrential downpours.

With that, we can easily say communication is key when it comes to providing effective transportation strategy at events. It’s necessary to provide as many transportation options as possible for guests, and to make sure that directions are clear, and that all drop-off and pickup locations are easy to find and signage is highly visible. Take the time to strategize and devour the details of providing the best transportation experience for your attendees!

It's Diplo's World and We're Just Living In It

World-renowned Grammy Award winning DJ/producer Diplo will host his newest live, curated event, Diplo Presents The Super Mega Ultra Giant Mad Decent Block Party Festival, this Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA!

This massive music and entertainment festival is the only MDBP event in North America this year. MDBP Fest will feature three music stages — The Block Party Stage, located on the Gillette Stadium field, The Super Mega Stage, and the Giant Ultra Stage — with performances from Billie Eilish, Major Lazer, G-Eazy, Miguel, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Dillon Francis, Rezz, and many more. MDBP Fest will also feature a number of activities, games, and activations, including The World’s Largest Bounce House, go karts, and paintball throughout the Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place campus.

In addition to the music lineup, Diplo Presents The Super Mega Ultra Giant Mad Decent Block Party Festival will feature a number of experiences for attendees to enjoy, including:

The World's Biggest Bounce House: Prepare to kick off your sneakers and release your inner 6-year-old in The World’s Biggest Bounce House. Making its festival debut at MDBP Fest, Big Bounce America brings its 10,000-square-foot, candy-colored wonderland to the party. This inflatable paradise has room for 200 people and features giant sized ball pits, climbing towers, slides, obstacle courses, and basketball hoops, with a fully-equipped stage and DJ booth located right in the very center of it all.

K1 Speed Go Karts: Brought to you by K1 Speed, prepare to buckle up and fly around the Gillette Stadium campus on an official K1 Go Kart track. Helmets, shoes, and a need for speed are required.

Paintball: Who doesn’t like a good game of paintball to round out their festival experience? Come and compete against your friends and fellow festivalgoers in MDPB’s paintball course, brought to you by Team Dynasty.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online here.

Diplo done did it and we can't wait to devour the details of this year's Mad Decent Block Party! See you there!

Wedding Wednesdays: Wine Nights While Wedding Plan are Essential with These Accessories

According to The Knot, when you're wedding planning, there are so many opportunities to throw wine nights. Maybe you're having the girls over to help with some craft projects or planning a date night-in with your partner to reclaim some alone time, these wine accessories will make sure you're on top of your game. What we especially love about all of these picks is that when paired with a bottle of wine they also make for the perfect hostess or engagement gift. Cheers!

1. Transport Wine Safely (With Style!)
Kate Spade wine tote
Say you're throwing a bachelorette get together in the park or on a rooftop, you'll want a cute little tote to get your wine safely from A to B. We love that this one caters to the bride-to-be and celebrates her new title.

Kate Spade New York bridal wine tote, $20, KateSpade.com

2. Serve at the Recommended Temperature
Horne wine thermometer
With this helpful tool, you can now get a read on the temperature of your wine without having to open the bottle for a taste test.

Horne wine thermometer in ferenheit, $30, Horne.com

3. Aerate Red Wine
TRIbella wine aerator
Not only does pouring wine through this no-drip spout look captivating, but using an aerator softens the tannins instantly and enhances the wine's bouquet. We especially love that this aerator comes in a protective carrying case—because, picnics!

TRIbella wine aerator, $40, Amazon.com

4. Bring On the Laughs
Read Between the Wines board games
Everyone knows that wine is best enjoyed in good company, but it's even better when paired with laughter. Enter: this hilarious game that "combines wine, wit, and wordplay."

Read Between the Wines board games, $35, UncommonGoods.com

5. Label the Glasses
Kate Spade wine tags
When all your bridesmaids are helping out with escort card crafting, things might get a little crazy between the glue gunning and the cut and pasting. Make sure everyone knows which wine glass belongs to whom with these adorable tags.

Kate Spade New York cheers wine tag set, $16, KateSpade.com

6. Have Outdoor Glasses at the Ready
Colorful acrylic glasses from JCPenney
There's no buzz kill quite like the sound of stemware shattering all over your back porch. Eliminte that possibility with festive plastic glasses.

JCPenney outdoor oasis acrylic wine glasses, $30, JCPenney.com

7. Keep Wine Nearby
Rabbit wine chilling carafes
Instead of running back and forth between your party and the kitchen fridge for refills, keep a full bottle of wine at your side—even one that's meant to be served chilled. These carafes can hold a full 750 ml bottle and keep it cold for a full 90 minutes.

Rabbit wine chilling carafe, $50, RabbitWine.com

8. Supply Teeth Wipes
Wine Wipes teeth cleaning packs
Is your wine-themed engagement party giving all the guests purple teeth? Station a pack of these wine wipes in the bathroom for them to freshen up and make sure they're picture-ready all night. The best part? These wipes are specifically designed to cleanse your palette instead of interfering with your next sip.

Borracha wine wipes, $13 for a box of 12, WineWipes.com

9. Avoid Watermarks​
Disposable foil coasters from Easy, Tiger
Good parties always leave an impression on guests, but you don't want any impressions left on your coffee tables. But who wants to go out and buy 20 coasters? Have a stack of stylish (and disposable!) coasters ready to go.

Easy, Tiger ring coaster set, $12 for a set of 8, EasyTigerCo.com

We're so down for a wine night! Devour the details of the perfect planning party with these accessories!

Tasty Tuesday: A Sensational Southern Chicken Salad for Summer

Okay, we're a big fan of chicken salad. On weeks when we don't want to get crazy with meal prep, we sub in chicken salad. It hits the spot every time! (Especially in the summer). If you enjoy chicken salad as much as we do, then this recipe is perfect for you! Check it out.

Southern Chicken Salad

For the chicken salad: 

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 whole red onion, minced
4 stalks of celery with the greens on, minced
3 green onions, minced
1/4 of parsley, minced
1 cup of Blue Plate Mayonnaise (you can add an additional ¼ for a creamier version
fresh pink radicchio (you can most likely find it at your local grocery store or farmer’s market)
optional: French bread, toasted and buttered

For boiling chicken breast:

Ingredients:
7 cups of water
1 whole yellow onion with skin on
4 stalks of celery with greens on
4 green onions with just the ends cut off
5 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper

Instructions:
1. Start by making the stock: Place all the boiling ingredients into a pot with water. Once this begins to boil, add the chicken breast. Let this cook until the chicken is completely done. Turn the heat off and let the chicken cool down in the stock until warm. If you are in a hurry, remove chicken and place in a bowl to the side.

2. Once you have removed the chicken from the stock, remove all the veggies in the broth but not the garlic—I recommend storing the garlic in a glass jar for soup or future gravy. Freeze in a plastic container if you don’t use within a week.

3. Once the chicken is warm, cut it into pieces and place in small batches into your food processor. Note: The chicken will mince better if warm and not cold.

4. Process all the chicken until done and place in a large mixing bowl.

5. One by one, cut up all the other ingredients and do the same in the food processor. Make sure each ingredient is fully minced, but not blended or liquified.

6. Once you have everything minced, mix everything together and add the mayo and salt and pepper. Continue to add mayo to your liking until you’ve achieved desired creaminess. Finish with salt and pepper to your liking (the more, the better in my opinion!).

7. Scoop a dollop of chicken salad onto each radicchio leaf (or onto a bed of mixed greens) and serve with a few sprigs of chives on top. Enjoy!

We just can't get enough! Try this recipe today and devour the details of the perfect chicken salad for lunch all summer long!

Monday Mashups: The Event Technology Privacy Divide

Technology is often a secret weapon that event planners use to streamline check-in, eliminate the need for reams of paper agendas, and track attendance to support R.O.I. Plus, according to BizBash and Enterprise Event Marketing, the integration of technology reportedly increases attendance by 20 percent, raises productivity by 27 percent, and decreases overall cost.

But when does event technology cross the line from being conducive to, well, creepy? Let's find out!

Facial recognition software is now seemingly everywhere—from your iPhone to airports to concerts. One major case of using facial recognition technology in the U.S. came to light late last year when Taylor Swift's security board used facial recognition to detect the celebrity's known stalkers. The team had installed cameras at strategic locations and then the images were processed and cross-referenced with a database of known stalkers. Incredible!

Currently, there are no laws in the U.S. restricting the use of facial recognition software, and while that may not worry those who are comfortable with sharing their personal info, others have concerns. One-third of the country feels they have nothing to hide, but what you’re worried about is the chilling effect. People behave differently when they’re watched. Also, think of the many snippets of video that are taken out of context and shown on the news. Imagine you’re at a conference and make a joke at a booth. You have more to lose than you think.

Europe, on the other hand, is 150 years ahead of us when it comes to privacy laws. Just last year, G.D.P.R. (or the General Data Protection Regulation) became binding in the European Union. Designed to streamline data privacy laws between countries in Europe, G.D.P.R. has become the standard for protecting consumers’ data. The core of G.D.P.R. law is that companies have to be transparent about what they are doing with personal information, where the data is hosted, and who has access to it.

While G.D.P.R. is enforceable in the E.U., it’s not limited to European territory and applies to all citizens, whether they’re in Germany or Orlando. It’s something that has caused consternation for planners who are unsure if they are in compliance when their event hosts attendees from Europe.

With all these changes, how does a planner calm the collective nerves of clients and attendees? Typically planners aren’t the ones managing the data themselves. They’re relying on third-party data vendors.

While many companies, including EventMobi, are already G.D.P.R. compliant, Vaez stresses that planners who are hiring other vendors should inquire about data usage. Ask to see their data processing agreement and make sure your data provider is upfront about how they’re using the data from your event. It’s very easy to be specific. For example, if you’re asking them to upload a picture, explain that it’s to make check-in faster. Waivers are also an important tool, not just for confirming consent, but as a marketing tool.

So why hasn’t the U.S. passed similar laws to G.D.P.R.? Data protection is decided state by state in the United States. But expect that to change soon since E.U. countries are discouraged from doing business with companies who don’t subscribe to G.D.P.R. So what side of the divide do you fall on? Consider these privacy standards and devour the details of safe technology at your next event!

Boston Pizza Festival is Back...and We're Ready for a Slice!

The Boston Pizza Festival is back for the third year in a row! And if you don't know...now ya know! The largest consumer pizza event in New England returns to Boston City Hall Plaza on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, 2019 featuring 30 of the best pizzerias in the region including a couple from Naples, Italy. The 2-day celebration will also showcase live music and entertainment, a children’s pizza tossing station, pizza acrobats and other live demonstrations. The full roster of pizzerias and entertainment schedule can be viewed here.

Pizza is a staple in most American diets. This event feeds your cravings and so much more. From Neapolitan to Sicilian and everything in between - it's like a slice of heaven!

Tickets can be purchased here. General admission tickets are $15 each with fresh slices starting at $2 per slice. There’s also a VIP ticket option for $50 which allows early access into the festival, unlimited free pizza for the first hour, and a VIP gift bag featuring gift cards and items from participating pizzerias, sponsors and vendors.

Fill up on carbs all weekend long and devour the details of the Festival we'll all be dreaming of for the next month. See you there!

Wedding Wednesdays: The Biggest Wedding Guest Myths

As a wedding guest, you may think you're an etiquette pro, but here are five commonly held beliefs that are really more fiction than fact according to The Knot.

Myth 1: You're not allowed to wear black.
Good news: Your favorite little black dress can definitely be appropriate for a wedding. Many people choose their outfits with the misconception that anything black would exude gloom instead of joy, but don't worry—no one will think your dark attire is better suited for a funeral than a wedding. Though black might not be the ideal option for a mid-day spring or summer ceremony (plus, you'll be hot), black is perfectly fine for any evening wedding.

Myth 2: The couple is your go-to resource for wedding-related questions.
Don't assume that the to-be-weds should be your first stop with all your questions simply because it's their wedding. Not sure where they're registered for gifts? Wondering about transportation? Need to know if there will be a babysitter at the wedding reception? Don't pick up the phone and immediately call the bride or groom. Chances are, they've got enough wedding stress of their own. Try the bridesmaids and groomsmen, or the couple's parents first. Find out if the couple has a wedding website (look on the invitation), which could very well include all the information you need. If you're still out of luck, it's okay to contact the couple—just make sure you've tried other avenues first.

Myth 3: Shopping from the registry is impersonal.
It can be tempting to buy a couple a wedding present that's not on their registry. Something that shows how well you know them and how great a gift giver you are is way more creative than selecting a present off a list, right? Well, not really. Most couples prefer gifts from their registry—that's why they registered in the first place. For a personal touch, pick an item that has some significance for you and the couple (like buying them stemware to replace the glass you broke at their last dinner party), and include a letter that lets them know you put some thought into their wedding gift and got them something they really wanted.

Myth 4: An invitation means you can bring a date.
Unless your wedding invitation includes a phrase like "and guest," don't assume you're free to bring a date. Couples are often working within certain restrictions, be it space or budget, so expanding their guest list might not be an option. Don't be the guest who responds "yes" with a plus-one who wasn't invited.

Myth 5: The couple is responsible for your accommodations.
No matter how far you've traveled to attend a wedding, the couple isn't required to pay for your hotel. Many couples will reserve blocks of hotel rooms to receive a good rate for their out-of-town guests, but don't expect them to foot the bill. If you're not sure where to stay, ask a member of the bridal party for recommendations.

The Knot sure knows how to bust a myth! We hope you're feeling reassured and ready to devour the details of an upcoming wedding!

Tasty Tuesday: Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Grilling too much lately? Take a step back from the steak tips and treat your taste buds to something a little different. We just tested out this Lauren Conrad Chicken Enchilada recipe we had to share. Give it a go one night this week - you'll be glad you did!

Ingredients:
2-3 chicken breasts
1 jar of red salsa
1 jar of salsa verde
1 can of diced jalapenos (you can leave these out if you don’t like your food spicy)
1 pack of flour tortillas (10+ large, but not burrito sized)
1 pack of shredded, organic Monterey jack cheese
1 glass baking dish

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350. Slice the chicken into large, bite-sized pieces. Put the chicken pieces and one jar of red salsa in a pot, filled with enough water to cover the chicken.
2. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 20 minutes (or until the chicken is cooked through).
3. Drain the liquid and let the chicken cool. Then shred the chicken and set aside.
4. Take out your tortillas and a glass baking dish. Spread about ½ cup of chicken on a tortilla, along with the jalapenos, and top with the desired amount of cheese.
5. Roll the tortilla and place into the glass baking dish. Continue until the dish is full. 
6. Top the dish of rolled tortillas with a jar of salsa verde.
7. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the salsa. 
8. Bake your dish of enchiladas in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes.
9. Serve and enjoy!

And there you have it! The perfect weeknight dish that you don't have to grill. Get the ingredients today and devour the details of these delicious chicken enchiladas!

Monday Mashups: Seven Dinner Parties in One Night...Does It Add Up?

Everyone has a slightly different experience at the 92nd Street Y's spring gala—because the event isn't just one event. According to BizBash, it's seven dinner parties, all with distinct decor and lively conversation that evokes the storied arts center's programming year round.

After a cocktail reception, the 650 guests gathered in the Kaufmann Concert Hall, where the program began with an excerpt of Alvin Ailey's "Revelations," which premiered at the Y 60 years ago, plus remarks and a call for donations. From there, in what event designer Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events likened to a "military operation," guests moved by group into seven rooms throughout the facility, each with their own theme, decor, and programming.

In the Shakespeare, Continued room, guests heard a conversation with actor Nathan Lane and the writer and other cast members of Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus. Decor had a romantic, Shakespearean feel with golden candelabras, unfussy floral arrangements, and jewel-colored seat cushions.

Another room, Inside Jewelry, presented a conversation between actress Debra Messing and Town & Country editor in chief Stellene Volandes. The room was wrapped in curtains of glitzy metallic streamers, and the two long tables featured smoked ghost chairs and bright florals in bud vases. Speakers in other rooms included former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, General David Petraeus, and 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl. All helped inspire the decor in the room.

The evening exceeded the organization's fundraising goals, according to Reibstein, bringing in $4.37 million to support its education and entertainment programs. So in this case, it does benefit an organization to host seven dinner parties in one night! Take a page from Rafanelli's book and devour the details of your next gala with this type of program!

Wedding Wednesdays: Five Floppy Hats We Recommend for Your Honeymoon

Not to be dramatic, but you really shouldn’t leave for your hot-weather honeymoon without packing yourself a slogan sun hat. You know, those adorable, floppy, straw hats embroidered with witty phrases across the brim. You’ve probably seen them while scrolling your Instagram feed, so it’s time you officially added one to your honeymoon packing list. These babies are the new summertime travel essential—if not for sun protection, than definitely for the photos! Here's our top five from The Knot's list. Check them out!

Beach Bum

Asos straw floppy hat with slogan and size adjuster, $26, Asos.com

The "Mrs." Hat

ModParty personalized Mrs. sun hat, $20 Etsy.com

Just Married

Kate Spade New York Just Married sun hat, $98, ShopBop.com

Happily Ever After

David’s Bridal Happily Ever After sun hat, $30, DavidsBridal.com

Wifey

Show Me Your Mumu Wifey floppy sun hat, $48, ShowMeYourMumu.com

Do it for the 'gram and devour the details of a picture perfect honeymoon with a new floppy hat or two!

The Boston Pops Aren't the Only Thing Poppin' This 4th

Are you ready for fireworks and some good ol' American BBQ? We are too! Which is why we're planning our menu and figuring out what makes the perfect 4th of July side. Spicy, savory, and grilled. Need we say more? Check out this recipe for delicious jalapeno poppers - the perfect accompaniment for your BBQ!

Jalapeno Poppers

Ingredients:
12 jalapenos
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 dozen large shrimp, peeled and deveined
6 oz. Large Marge queso (or substitute nacho cheese), chilled
6 oz. Monterey jack cheese
6 oz. parmigiano reggiano
1 Tbsp. fresh chives, chopped
12 slices pancetta or prosciutto, sliced paper thin, around 2” x 4”
Kosher salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Turn on the grill and pump up the heat as high as it goes. Once it’s blazing hot, put the jalapenos on the grates to blister the skins, flipping them every few minutes to get all of the sides dark and burnt. Remove them from the grill and let them cool in an airtight container.
2. While the peppers cool, toss the shrimp with olive oil in a medium bowl and season them generously with salt. Grill the shrimp for about one minute on each side, until they just start to turn pink. You don’t want to cook them all the way through, you just want to give them a head start (they will finish cooking later inside the peppers).
3. Remove the shrimp from the grill and let them cool.
4. While the shrimp and peppers cool, grate all three cheeses into a large bowl. Note: If the queso is too soft to grate, just pinch it into small chunks and throw them in the bowl.
5. Once the shrimp are cool enough to handle, chop them into small chunks and put them into the bowl with the cheese, adding chives as well. Stir to combine, salt to taste and set the bowl in the fridge while you prep the peppers.
6. Take the cooled peppers and remove the blistered skin under running water. If you miss a few pieces of skin, that’s ok!
7. Once the skins have been removed, slice a vertical slit in each pepper running from top to bottom and remove the seeds under running water. Pat the peppers dry inside and out and arrange them on a platter.
8. Take the shrimp and cheese filling out of the fridge and stuff each pepper with about 1-2 tablespoons of filling. The amount of filling used will depend on how big each pepper is, just be sure to jam pack each pepper with filling. The more the better! Note: If you have any filling leftover, we suggest saving it in the fridge and reheating it in the microwave for 20 seconds. Eat it as a dip with tortilla chips and hot sauce!
9. Once all of the peppers are filled, take a slice of pancetta (or prosciutto) and wrap it all the way around one pepper. There is no need to use toothpicks to adhere it; the pancetta will stick to itself. Make sure each slice of pancetta goes fully around the jalapeno to help prevent the filling from leaking out when grilling.
10. Put the peppers on the grill over medium heat and grill with the lid on until the pancetta is cooked through and darkened. Don’t flip the peppers; just let the ambient heat from the grill cook the top of the pancetta. The bottoms will be darker than the tops.
11. Remove the peppers from the grill and let them sit for a few minutes before devouring. Enjoy!

Yum! We can't wait to treat our guests to these and devour the details of a perfect 4th of July feast!

Monday Mashups: How Going Back in Time Benefits Events of Tomorrow

July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon, and to celebrate, BizBash shares that the Smithsonian Channel recently held an event that took guests back to that year—1969—through food, photo ops, and interactive vignettes. The celebration also coincided with the network’s new programming tied to the anniversary, including the six-part series Apollo’s Moon Shoot, which premiered June 16, and the documentary The Day We Walked on the Moon, which premieres July 7.

Smithsonian Channel tapped marketing and event agency Advantage to produce and design the event, which took place June 12 at Second Floor in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. Joanna Brahim, vice president of communications for the Smithsonian Channel, said the network wanted to deliver a fun, interactive event for guests to learn something new about July 20, 1969, as well as get excited about the new programs.

Vignettes included a 1960s-inspired living room where actors sat down to watch the event on TV; a replica of a Mission Control room with actors portraying NASA employees; a glam station that provided Twiggy-inspired makeup and wigs; a GIF booth that invited guests to pose as if they landed on the moon; and a gallery wall that displayed imagery and facts about pop culture, sports, and life in 1969.

The event also gave a nod to the decade through era-specific food and drinks with modern twists. Smithsonian Channel and Advantage crafted a menu that included Spam fried rice served in Spam cans, mini Jello molds, gimlets and Manhattans, and dishes including turkey and beef with veggies, meatloaf sliders, and shrimp cocktails served on TV dinner trays. Florian Wehrli, executive chef for Laurent Tourondel Hospitality—the company that owns Second Floor—executed the menu for the event.

To further celebrate the anniversary, Smithsonian will screen The Day We Walked on the Moon at 70 Smithsonian-affiliated museums and institutions on July 20. And on June 24, the brand released an Apollo’s Moon Shoot augmented-reality app, which allows users to interact with real Apollo artifacts and share their experiences on social media. Amazing! Join in the celebration and devour the details of going back in time for your future events!