Later sunsets, warmer nights & the smell of barbecue means that summer is officially here! Whether you have a big occasion to celebrate or just want to take advantage of these summer nights, entertaining has never been more appealing. We’re breaking down our favorite things to do: from the logistics of planning to the fun of partying so you can throw your own seamless summer soirée.
Showering friends and family during the holidays is truly the most enjoyable part of celebrating…and I promise you it doesn’t have to be expensive! No matter what your DIY skill set, I’ve got a great list of adorably easy handmade gifts and party favors to get you through the giving season with a touch of grace and a whole lot of joy.
It’s fall, y’all and I couldn’t be happier! For my household, this means more family gatherings and reasons to celebrate. No matter who or what you choose to celebrate, I’m going to share multiple ways to use one of my favorite products to make all your parties feel extra-special…
…Designer Placemats that are disposable and conveniently bound together in a pad!
The epitome of elegance comes alive in a palms themed garden party! One of the best aspects of placemat pads (and the palms design) is their versatility- you can use them for almost any occasion! You’d be surprised at how instantly these gorgeous palms placemats add to your entertaining aesthetic!
Beautifully Simple Bridal Shower
Hosting a bridal or baby shower? Share the love on a custom colored heart design that compliments the wedding theme colors or nursery. The text inside the heart is customizable so you can truly say it from the heart!
Special Moments
Celebrate a soccer goal or a super grade! The pad of “You are Special Today” placemats is great to have on hand for any spontaneous celebration and a personal favorite in my family.
Looking more for party-planning inspiration? Shop all the delightful designs for our placemat pads here!
Those who know me will tell you: any excuse to throw a party, you can count me in! So when I saw our posh palms design printed on wine totes, trays, and placemat pads, it got me SO excited to plan an elegant summer soirée!
Whether you’re the one greeting guests at the door, or you’re on the hunt for the perfect hostess gift, no evening is complete without a sip of something refreshing while the sun sets! For a themed event, try customizing the bottles with gift labels – I love this look for engagements or anniversaries when you may want to keep the bottle as a keepsake. Or if you’d rather leave the label clean, a wine tote in palms print is the perfect way to present your favorite beverage to the host.
Feed your fancy side by whipping up a charcuterie plate! It’s not actually as fancy as it sounds- just an array of cured meats, cheeses, and dried fruit, but when served on a palms acrylic tray is charcuterie-chic! I love the green and white palette in an outdoor setting, but you could also customize the colors in bright fuchsia or orange for a tropical-themed fiesta!
In keeping with the sophisticated style of the theme, fern fronds are a super simple way to decorate your table scape. Place settings in palms are just too posh, especially with matching placemat pads. String lights overhead add a finishing, romantic touch that will lead your guests to linger long into the night!
This gorgeous, garden get-together would not be complete without green tea macarons. Served in a palms acrylic box, they are a charming treat on top of an exquisite evening!
Inspired by all this natural beauty? Wait ’till you see wood grain! Shop new designs now.
Labor Day is my favorite way to send summer out with a bang, and this year, the backyard barbecues just keep coming! Instead of giving yourself a hostess headache, keep it classic with a simple theme like vintage stars & stripes (featuring s’mores and hotdogs, of course!) Leave the fancy hors d’oeuvres and fine china for another time – stick to a darling design that will be enjoyed long after you’ve lit the last citronella candle!
Whether your long weekend takes you over the river and through the woods, or you’re planning a simple staycation, having a notepad on hand for fun family games or your grocery list is an entertaining essential. I especially love that this design works for both boys and girls, making it the perfect pick for your back to school supplies as well.
Once the kids are set up with plenty of paper & pencils to keep them occupied, it’s time to focus on the central elements of this backyard soirée: the tablescape! Buffet-style service lets everyone help themselves, and on a picnic table with a large lemonade dispenser, you simply can’t go wrong. To add to the ambiance, we filled outdoor candle holders with mini LED string lights for an elegant effect without the fear of flammability.
Finally, a little dessert before you dive back into the school year or work schedule is a must at any Labor Day party, and we could think of nothing more delicious or delightfully simple than s’mores! The print looks so classic on the acrylic box, it’s sure to become your year-round cookie jar! As a sweet send-off, try making to-go s’mores kits (cellophane bag + stars & stripes gift labels are SO cute!) for a summer they won’t soon forget!
Looking to deck out your next backyard bash? Shop vintage stars!
With wedding season in full swing, it seems that every weekend there’s another happy couple to celebrate. In my experience, the girl-time shared before a wedding can sometimes be even more fun than the big day- especially when the bridal shower or bachelorette party has a cute & clever theme!
This adorable bridal bash was hosted by the cousin of the bride. Using our new cactus design as inspiration, Lily put together a party fit for the ultimate boho bride (named Kale) and I think it’s safe to say this soirée was a huge success!
When guests entered, they were instructed to get creative with the guestbook (a TakeNote notebook with dot grid pages let the feelings flow!) Combined with a spread of our designer stickers and sticker sheets, party pops markers, and a polaroid zip printer, it made it easy for friends and family to leave special messages & photos for the bride. It truly created a one-of-a-kind memory book the bride will hold onto long after she tosses her bouquet!
Another darling detail were the cactus cookies and other sweet treats passed around on acrylic trays! These make for an awesome gift for weddings and showers alike. The interchangeable inserts ensure that the bride and groom will be able to serve up snacks through any season or occasion.
The prettiest placemats kept the theme going and made for some seriously stylish table settings! Bright floral arrangements in various vases matched the cactus design perfectly, and an acrylic photo block featured a snapshot of the soon-to-be newlyweds!
Last but not least, sweet succulents made for excellent favors for the guests to take home! “Let love grow” cactus gift labels added a personal, pretty touch to the planters.
Want more behind-the-scenes looks at my life outside of the office? Follow me on Instagram!
You don’t need to ask me twice to throw a party… so when my team came up with the brilliant idea to host a press event showcasing our new LifePlanner™, I was immediately sold. We reserved a serene space at the amazing new restaurant, Au Fudge in West Hollywood and began the party prep. We knew there had to be food, flowers and FUN, and so there was just that. Mixed summertime blooms in bright corals, pinks and yellows brought the LifePlanner™ party to life one pop of color at a time.
As the intimate group of influencers started to trickle in, the room began to beam with excitement and chatter of which layout each attendee had chosen. We pre-printed each gal’s book to ensure she was ready to rock her new LifePlanner™ look upon arrival.
We even set up a DIY decorating desk for attendee’s to stage a snapchat or start filling out their new book!
Planning is hard work, so we made sure all attendees we’re fueled up for a long day of chatting and planning with light bites and sweet treats. Mini waffles and tea sandwiches made for a delightfully delicious afternoon.
All that was left was for our guests to go home and start planning. It was such a pleasant afternoon showcasing our new LifePlanner™ collection and getting to know a few of the gals we work with and appreciate so dearly. We can definitely say the event was a success and we can’t wait for the next!
Are you interested in working with us? Please email our team at social.media@erincondren.com!
When it comes to goodbye parties, I like to keep them lighthearted and upbeat. One of our team members from our Los Angeles office was fulfilling her lifelong dream to move to her dream city and we decided to honor her with a fun and celebratory party, because while we were sad to see her go, we were so happy to see her follow her dreams!
A love of donuts inspired the decor, theme and food for this party and we really went all out!
It was a (bitter)sweet way to say goodbye!
Oh y’all! How is it already APRIL!? Today we’re talking about kicking off your Mother’s Day morning, and while it may seem like it’s weeks away, time is truly flying and it’s always better to start planning ahead of time!
Our suggestion? Start your Mother’s Day celebration off on a sweet note with a classic breakfast in bed! We’ve amped up this time-honored tradition with a few new & notable EC touches.
We chose to serve up style in addition to breakfast with a stunning, new(coming soon!!!) acrylic tray insert featuring the May “In Bloom” design. The best part about the acrylic tray is that you can transform it by switching out the tray insert: perhaps into a forever photo with a family portrait displayed on the coffee table or a personalized family name for the kitchen!
We also created a gorgeous (and free!) downloadable mother’s day card so you can guarantee you have something beautiful to give your mom (the heartfelt note on the inside is up to you!)
I’ll be outlining some of my favorite Mother’s Day gifts in a later blog post, but make sure to keep your eyes peeled for exciting announcements in the next few days! (Hint: it may involve a sale featuring this very acrylic tray!)
Stay tuned…:)
So, we’ve covered entertaining and table decor for the Easter holiday (if you haven’t read that blog post, catch up here), but what about the activities and festivities for the actual day?
My family is big on traditions and it all stems from my amazing parents who always loved entertaining for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, my dad would dress like the Easter Bunny and wake us up for the annual hunt and “game show” he invented. (original contestants shown above!) He’s gotten more elaborate (and a bit more formal in his tuxedo) now that there are grandchildren and each year he has some silly surprise in store….along with mandatory bunny ears to be worn by all!
A couple years ago he crafted an elaborate scavenger hunt that the grandkids had to follow and find clues to discover the “golden eggs.” No matter what new twist, he always sticks to tradition with a game he created when I was young, called “Bunny or Money.” He hides hundreds of plastic eggs that are filled with jelly beans and tiny sweets, but many of the eggs have coins and sometime dollar bills. After all the eggs are found, each player has to count their “bank” and decide if they want to be conservative and KEEP their cash, OR take a gamble and trade in their findings for what might be a greater prize under one of the eggs on the table. There is always an unassuming egg with a sole can of cat food inside or other less-than pleasant prizes to make selecting all the more risky! It’s all played in good fun and my dad makes sure to instill in the kids the ideas of decision making, living with your choices (even if they’re the wrong ones) and everyone has a lot of fun and too much chocolate!
I can’t wait to celebrate this Sunday & will be sure to post a pic or two with my peeps. Wishing you & yours a most “egg”celent celebration! Happy Easter!