Finery

An Unplugged Wedding

What is an Unplugged Wedding? It's where you (the bride) ask your guests to not use any electronic device (smartphone, camera, etc) during the ceremony.

While planning the wedding of your dreams, having an unplugged wedding might be a bright idea. Especially, since almost everyone that you know loves social media, I mean who doesn't?! Considering the idea doesn't make you sound prejudice or have unfounded hatred towards Facebook. It's only convincing your guests to have respect for you and your significant other on your wedding day! Besides, we don't want to see iPhone in the gorgeous wedding pictures, now do we?

Your ceremony is the most intimate part of your wedding. Its the glue that holds the whole day together. This is where you and your significant other are becoming one. Sooooooo, technical devices need to be silenced and to be put away during this time. Your guests need to have their full attention on the stars of the show. A super easy way to get your point across for devices to be put away, is by adding a sweet and simple line in the invitation. This shows each of your guests this is something you expect and wish for them to respect! Then on the day of the wedding, if you have programs, just simply add a reminder. If you don't have programs, just let the officiant announce the expectation you have from your guests.

The reception is the time where you celebrate and have fun! Transitioning from ceremony to reception can be super easy. There are creative ways for your etiquette request to smoothly shift gears and for your guests to still have their technical devises out!

Here are some examples:

1. Create a Sign that your guest will see entering the reception area. Many many cute ideas could be found on Pinterest.

2. Place a note on the tables! You could say something along the lines like, Thank you for being present for the this special time in our lives! Please feel free now to bring out your technical devices and continue celebrating with us by taking pictures and using the hash tag, #oliviaandchriswedding.

3. Let the DJ/Musician announce the request! Sometimes, people just aren't visual learners :)

Either you are for an unplugged wedding or not, this is all your decision. Your wedding day is all about you, just really consider all the details (with the wedding and with guests) that come along with it.

Photo Links:

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

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Food Corner: Holiday Treats

Halloween is over, which means the Holidays are right around the corner! Here are a few simple recipes that we thing will help put you in a festive mood!

1. Mini Brie and Apple Quiches

Ingredients -
30 mini phyllo shells
1/2 medium apple, peeled and finely diced
5 large eggs
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch freshly ground pepper
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 of small wheel of Brie, cut into 30 squares
Directions -
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Arrange phyllo shells on a large parchment-lined baking sheet. Divide apple among the shells.
3. Whisk eggs, mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a large measuring cup. Pour the egg mixture
over the apple (do not overfill the shells). Place a Brie square in each shell.
4. Bake until the egg is set, the Brie is melted, and the phyllo is starting to brown around the edges,
about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

2. Jumbo Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

Ingredients -
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Topping:

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup finely chopped pecans

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cold butter, cubed

Directions -

1. In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin,

buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in pecans. Fill six

greased or paper-lined jumbo muffin cups three-fourths full.

2. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, pecans and flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle

over batter.

3. Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool

for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

3. Cranberry Walnut Biscotti

Ingredients -

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

1 cup dried cranberries, chopped

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1 teaspoon shortening

Directions -

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a

small bowl, whisk eggs and vanilla; add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in walnuts

and cranberries (dough will be sticky).

2. Divide dough in half. On a greased baking sheet, with lightly floured hands, shape each half into

a 10x2-1/2-in. rectangle. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Carefully remove to wire racks; cool 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; cut diagonally with

a serrated knife into 1-in. slices. Place cut side down on un-greased baking sheets. Bake 8-10

minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

4. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over biscotti. Let

stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

Links:

1. Recipe & Photo

2. Recipe & Photo

3. Recipe & Photo

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A Year of Memories

{Finery: A Year of Memories}

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Finery,est.2012

What an extraordinary year of "firsts"! As we reflect back on "A Year of Finery" we can't help but smile behind joyful tears.

When we opened Finery's doors last year, we envisioned becoming more than just a bridal shoppe-we wanted customers to feel at home and for bride's to have an opportunity to "tell their story" and to bring to life all of the visions dancing in our clients heads. Finery's concept of offering "one-on-one" appointments was foreign to business consultants who {in all fairness} are here to keep us "in business". However, this simple throwback approach to retail and personal shopping has become our mission. We think if we can get back to REAL human connections and interaction then we have fulfilled what we sought out to do in the the bridal boutique market. We are proud to say that since inception, we continue to build phenomenal ~~connections~~ friendships with everyone that cross our threshold. I mean, who wouldn't be humbled by that? We get to go home every day and tell our family's about "the new friends" we met that day! Sure there have been challenges and growing pains but no one ever said it would be "easy", they said it would be "worth it". We couldn't agree more.

To list everyone who helped us make it to this very point would be queuing the music during those lengthy Oscar speeches, so we will just say this: "THANK YOU SO MUCH."

We can't wait to see what comes next. We love and appreciate you all...

Love & Luck,

Madeline Boswell and the "Fillies" of Finery

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Gifts Given

Hello dear friends of Finery! We hope that you all get to see your name up here on our {Gifts Given} blog! We are so happy that y'all are able to help us celebrate Finery's One Year Anniversary: A Week of Giving Back. We cannot find better words than "thank you" to express our gratitude to all of you who have helped us reach this week of celebration. {Here's to many more!} And now, the Gifts Given...

Monday's Gifts:

2 subscriptions to No'Ala Magazine
Given to Beth Pryor Hamilton & Sarah Johnson

A Gift Certificate to Personal Couture
Given to Sarah Pearse

Makeup done by Professional Artist Stacey Spearman
Given to Amy Price

A Boudoir Shoot with Sweet Roots Photography

She's Keeping it a Surprise to her Groom!

Tuesday's Gifts:

2 Gift Certificates to Personal Couture
Given to Chelsea Mitchell & Savannah L. Smith

2 subscriptions to No'Ala Magazine
Carrie Bilyou & Brianna Gail Bolden

Vintage Vows Weddings, with Christy Nunnelee
Rebecca Harmon

Gift certificate from W*ink for handkerchief, bags, & invites
Katie Swann

Wednesday's Gifts:

"Tying the Knot" Gift Set from Fantastic Elastic Co.
Erin Teal Elliot

A Mini Secession with The White Rabbit Studios
Stephanie Koesters

A Gift Certificate to Personal Couture
Lauren Steele

Something special from Eva Ziegler Jewelry
Nicole Emerson Arsenault

Thursday's Gifts:

Goodies from Lynn's Gracious Goodness
Kate Breitbach

2 subscriptions to No'Ala Magazine along with a gift bag & CDs
Anna Prescott DiPlacido & Cynthia Stack Harmon

A Gift Certificate to Personal Couture
Kelley McCormick

$300 gift certificate for products/sessions, fees, or a wedding package from Kerry Brooks Photography
Tristan Lane

An iPod nano from Steve Metz, {aka DJ Stevie Mix}

Court McFadden

Friday's Gifts:

Discount on Vintage Rentals from Fete & Riot
Nancy Kate

A sweet gift from Mo's Bows
TBA

4 subscriptions to No'Ala Magazine
TBA

An amazing Facial with Dr. DeGraaff
TBA

Fringe Gift Cards!
TBA

...more to come tomorrow!

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Visit the Boutique

An Unplugged Wedding

Food Corner: Holiday Treats

Style Crush: Happy Halloween

Color Crush: Teal and Copper

A Year of Memories

Finery,est.2012

Gifts Given