Utterly Engaged } The 1st Online Wedding & Bridal Magazine. Inspiring Brides with Style.

We are super excited to announce our 3rd annual new year party, but this time it’s a Leap Year Party! But not just any party, it’s a Remix Party, taking familiar things and giving it a new spin! It’s going to be an epic party that comes every 4 years! And you are all invited! Get your tickets now!

We’re also bringing back the most anticipated Design Challenge for Wedding Professionals for the third time in a row! This year, the teams will be designing for a cause. A portion of the entry fee will go towards emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies via Shelterbox. All the attendees will be voting on their favorite table with their dollar (included in the ticket sale). If you’re ready to take the challenge, contact Lucia at lucia@utterlyengaged.com for application and details. Hurry, space is limited!

The event is also the perfect way to promote your business to the best in the wedding, events and blogging industry. If you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities, please email Henny at henny@utterlyengaged.com for more information.

To see what went down in our last new year party, go to p. 8 in this issue.

Happy Friday! Can you believe we’re almost at the end of January?! Time seriously flies around here. With the end of January, you know Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. So we found this super cute, and super simple Valentine’s you can do for your loved ones. Twig & Thistle created these naturally sweet fruit stickers that you can print at home to stick them on their favorite fruits. Sneak them in their lunch bags or have them as part of your breakfast in bed! The great thing about it is that it won’t add calories like chocolates would! If you don’t want to bother dealing with your temperamental inkjet printer, you can always buy them already printed on food safe stickers for only 2 bucks more (it’s okay, we don’t judge). Enjoy!

It’s DIY Friday! We wanted to repost one of favorite DIY feature in our January issue. Chocolate “countdown” cookies! Created especially for Utterly Engaged from food stylist Diana of Casa de Perrin and stylist, Alicia Buszczak. They’re super easy to do and super cute too.

INGREDIENTS

Butter - 6 tablespoons
Unsweetened chocolate - 1 1/2 inch squares
Milk - 6 tablespoons
Baking soda - 1/3 teaspoon
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Egg (beaten) - 1
Flour - 1 1/8 cups
Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon

RECIPE

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt chocolate over hot water.
Cream butter and sugar.
Add chocolate and egg and mix thoroughly.  Set aside.
Sift flour, measure, and whisk in baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Combine alternately with milk to the first mixture.
Add vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
Roll dough out on slightly floured surface until it is 1/4” thick.
Use enough plastic wrap to cover the rolled out dough, and gently press typography blocks to make imprints.
Remove plastic wrap and use a large enough cookie-cutter to separate each cookie.
Using a spatula, place individual cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Once cookies are cooled they may be iced and decorated to perfection!

Wrap them up to fit your wedding style and give them as favors to your guests. Love it!

Remember how we promised to show you more images from our magazine? Want to see more?

Well head over to Facebook and “like” our Facebook page to see more amazing images from this editorial shoot. Happy Friday to you!

Credits: Concept, Design, Props & Rentals from Casa de Perrin
Custom Linens & Styling Alicia Buszczak / Photography  Studio Castillero

Neon is hot right now and we see more of it incorporated in weddings, like this invitation by Bella Figura and this wedding shoot by Vané Broussard of Brooklyn Bride. But what about incorporating neon in your floral? Is that even possible? The answer is YES! London author, interior stylist and designer, Sania Pell showed us how! You can use this for a multiple of things! Picture it as part of a cool escort card for your guests, or  a hot boutonniere! Sexy!

The second part of Sharon and Carlie’s wedding started out sweet and ended up crazy fun! Just because your wedding is classy and elegant, doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun!

Sharon surprised Carlie with Star Wars (his favorite!) cookies on the dessert spread by Meichih Kuo of Diana Chou Designs.

Love how silly this couple gets!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:: CREDITS ::

Event Designer & Coordinator: Simply Hannah

Photography: KLK Photography

Venue: MountainGate Country Club

Desserts: Diana Chou Designs

Lighting: The Lighter Side

Floral: Kate Baker Florals

Dress: Romona Keveza

Bridesmaid Dresses & Accessories: J. Crew

Makeup: Renee Lee of Beauty Makeup Studio

Hair: Lisa Gutierrez