Superior Celebrations Blog

Six Sparkler Send-Off Do’s

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

By far one of today’s biggest wedding trends is having a grand finale. That darling and nostalgic tradition of throwing rice at the newly married couple has evolved ten-fold. Why? For starters, many couples are opting out of church weddings and choosing different venues. While you may have photos of grandparents standing on church steps, ducking under sprays of rice—today’s bride and groom are choosing a different way to close out their celebration.

Enter wedding sparklers. Some of you will know that Superior Celebrations was born from Superior Fireworks—the online leader in consumer fireworks. Our 20” wedding sparklers, 36” sparklers, and heart sparklers are hands-down the best in the business. We wanted to share some valuable information that will make your sparkler send-off amazing!

Sparkler Send-Off Do’s

DO check with your venue beforehand!

The last thing you want to do is just assume that you can have a sparkler send-off without first asking the venue for their approval. There are some venues that will gladly give you permission, and others with a strict no-fire policy.

DO coordinate with your photographer and wedding planner!

Scheduling the sparkler send-off is a tricky business. On the one hand, you want as many guests as possible to participate, and on the other hand you don’t want to leave your own party too early! Your wedding planner will be your best resource in determining what time you schedule the send-off.

Your photographer will also need to plan for that time and can help you decide the best place to stage the send-off. You want a large, open space clear of low ceilings or brush. Hire a driver to pick you up in your chosen getaway car.

DO purchase quality sparklers!

There are many sparklers on the market, but for optimal photos and experience you want to get the best. Our 20″ sparklers have an easy-light tip, burn for almost two minutes, and have a beautiful gold sparkle.

The 36″ sparklers are the largest sparkler available and burn for over three minutes! Our customers love that these sparklers give ample time to take plenty of pictures. One of our customers actually said they ran through the sparkler-tunnel three times!

DO let your guests know about the sparklers!

The sparkler send-off is one of the best photo opportunities for your wedding! You have to let your guests know ahead of time that you want them to participate. The best way to do this is to have a sign set up with a scheduled time slot for the send-off. If you’re talented at hand-lettering you can make your own, or you can choose from many different stores on Etsy.

We love this printable by MaggieJDesigns. Simply print out the size you want and you’re good to go. Position your sign somewhere that is visible to ALL guests! Not only will it encourage them to participate, but it’s also a great addition to your decor.

DO plan ahead with lighting and disposal!

A popular favor choice for couples planning sparkler send-offs are personalized matchbooks. Personalized matchbooks are a nice touch in the presentation of the sparkler, however, we don’t encourage that your guests actually light the sparkler with a match.

Sparklers are actually best lit from wind-resistant, torch-style lighters. The next best thing is a long-stem grill lighter. Once you start getting some sparklers lit, you should use the sparklers to light other sparklers. A sparkler will light up almost immediately from another sparkler.

A safe way to dispose of used sparklers is to have a couple large terracotta pots or metal pails filled partially with sand. Thinking ahead about this detail will save you stress and potential accidents.

DO take epic pictures!

Moments before your send-off, take a deep breath and a mental picture. This is the final piece of your fabulous day. Savor it. Then grab your new spouse’s hand and make a run for it! Remember to pause for a kiss–that’s the picture you’ll be framing.

For getting the very best pictures of your sparkler send-off, make sure you read How to Photograph a Wedding Sparkler Exit!

Posted in Weddings

Should You Hire A Wedding Planner?

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

One of the most important decisions for your wedding is whether or not to hire a wedding planner. This one decision can impact every other decision after it, influencing your budget, your choice of vendors, and even your overall stress level.

Even so, many brides take this decision and use it as a way to save money, making room in their wedding budget by opting for a DIY approach. However, looking strictly at the costs of a planner can cause you to miss some great benefits. Wedding planners wear a lot of hats and perform some very important jobs.

Before you decide, it’s important to consider what wedding planners have to offer. We hope that by taking a closer look at their roles, you can make an educated decision about whether or not you should hire a wedding planner for yourself.

The Many Roles of a Wedding Planner

Budgeter

Most people think they can save money by not hiring a wedding planner/consultant. Even though the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is over $26,000, most people actually spend under $10,000. This puts a lot more pressure on the budget, and it’s important to spend your money wisely. A first glance, this doesn’t look good for hiring a wedding planner. However, a wedding planner’s fees are only are only about 6% of a $10,000 budget.

Plus, according to columnist Jackie Zimmerman at Time.com, a wedding planner actually helps you maximize your budget. She says, “the value of a paid planner is that he or she has enough relationships in the industry to make sure you’re matched with the best vendors in your price range.” Wedding planners don’t just bargain hunt on your behalf. They provide valuable connections that ensure the best quality for what your budget can afford.

Wedding planners build and maintain relationships with many different vendors. While you don’t personally know your caterer, baker, or florist, chances are that if your planner recommends them–he or she knows them and trusts them. This is huge because it prevents you from making big, and often costly mistakes.

Creative Mastermind

While you might have been “planning” your wedding since you were five years old, the actual task at hand is much larger than you probably envisioned. What’s great about having a wedding planner is that he or she can take your Pinterest boards, magazine tear-outs, and half-formulated ideas and incorporate them into tangible plans before your eyes.

Maybe you don’t have a clear idea about what you want your wedding to look like? Your wedding planner will act as a sounding board and listen to you as you sort through possible ideas, then make informed suggestions and show you how to make your event both personal and unique.

Another really important aspect to being the creative mastermind is that wedding planners are able to maintain a “big picture perspective.” They can carry out the creative vision of sweeping florals, rustic barrels, and chalkboard signs WHILE determining the logistical elements necessary to launch that theme.

Stress Saver

It takes an incredible amount of time and energy to plan a wedding. Coordinator Heather Dawn of Heather Dawn Events asks, “Are you currently working full time? Well if you’re planning your own wedding, then you’re adding another full-time job to your already busy life! Yup, that’s right – it’s that time-consuming!” There is much joy to be had in wedding planning, but there is also plenty of content to give a bride anxiety. You know those Bridezillas everyone whispers about? They got that way by taking on too much stress from their wedding.

The process of planning a wedding should be fun, not misery-inducing. Here is a laundry list of all the not-fun things your wedding planner will do on your behalf:

Manage the budget. Ugh…This is definitely a bummer area. Guess what? YOU don’t have to face the bummer–the wedding planner will.
Create a timeline for the wedding day and delegate tasks to the appropriate people.
Review and negotiate vendor contracts. Your wedding planner is the liaison between you and all of your vendors.
Secure appointments for the bride and groom, and accompany you to the appointments.
Advise you on the proper etiquette regarding who to invite, how much alcohol to have, and whether something that used to be considered “tacky” is still “tacky.” The wedding scene has changed so much even in just the last five years. (Hello, Instagram). Your wedding planner will know more than you, your maid-of-honor, or even your mom (wink).
Manage and track RSVPs. RSVPs are tedious–you want someone to do this for you.
Wedding rehearsal. This is the point in planning where the bride and groom should just get to “play” at the wedding and enjoy the family and friends who are part of their celebration. Your wedding planner will tweak those final rehearsal details and let you make googly eyes at your groom.
Wedding day coordination. The millions of details that come together on the day of have to be coordinated. When is the cake going to be delivered? When do the candles get lit? Who is going to make sure the flower girl goes potty before walking down the aisle? Hopefully her mom will, but your wedding planner has all these thoughts and a great big checklist to ensure that EVERYTHING that needs to happen actually happens.
Wedding gift coordination. The wedding gifts are often an afterthought to the bride and groom. Your wedding planner will make sure those gifts go home to a designated family member and kept for when you return from your honeymoon.
Clean up. The last thing you’re thinking about when you leave your wedding is “who’s gonna clean this all up?” You might have some decor items that you want to keep–your wedding planner will make sure these things are kept and stored for you. He or she will also make sure that vendors come back to retrieve their items and that all the wedding party goes home with their personal belongings.

Ultimately, your wedding planner allows YOU to have all the fun at your reception, without worrying about things at the reception!

Mediator

Weddings are highly emotionally-charged events. With so many people involved in the actual production of a wedding, feelings are bound to get hurt. The bride cannot possibly please everyone, nor should she. The wedding planner is the perfect mediator for difficult family/relational difficulties who can act as the neutral and safe go-between for the bride and any obstacle that comes her way. Ultimately, this is your DAY and your planner’s JOB to handle the sticky stuff in a diplomatic manner.

Advocate

Perhaps the biggest thing your wedding planner will do for you is act as your number one advocate. Every desire, dream and hope you have for your big day? Those are your planner’s desires, dreams, and hopes. Good wedding planners will bare the brunt of sticky situations, pressing timelines, and tedious details. They will do everything in their power to give you the happiest day of your life without stress and drama. You should be allowed to enjoy your day with family and loved ones as you set off on your first day of marriage.

A special thanks to bride and groom Kirsten and Tegan for sharing their beautiful day with us. Photography by the fabulous Wendy Carr Photography for the gorgeous images!

Posted in Party Time! (Tips, Decor Ideas, & More), Weddings

Graduation Party Essentials

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

It’s that time of year where mailboxes are crowded with commencement announcements and party invitations. Graduations from junior high, high school, and college are dotting the calendar for the next six weeks. Are you ready to host a spectacular party for your graduate?

Whether you choose to throw a grand celebration, or host a more intimate affair, we have some tips to make your graduation party memorable and fun.

Graduation Party Essentials

Flexible timing

Because this time of year is replete with commencement services and events, it’s important to give your guests the flexibility to come and go as they please. Aim for more of an “open house” setting than a structured party schedule. Depending on what part of the country you live in, May and June can be quite temperate months that are perfect for outdoor parties. For inspiration, visit the blog Joyful Homemaking for tips on putting together an open house graduation party.

Delicious, easy food

If you stick to an open-house format your food is going to to need to fit into that scheme as well. Having a delicious spread of appetizers and desserts is an easy way to satisfy guests throughout the course of the party. I like the idea of a bar-type buffet featuring an easy to assemble meal. Such as, Walking Tacos. I saw these on Pinterest a few years ago and I am sad to say that I still wait for someone to invite me to a walking taco party. I mean, you get to walk around eating your taco from a bag. That’s a pretty special meal, if you ask me.

You might not think eating a taco from a bag is very classy, but Stephanie Lynn from Under the Table Dreaming puts out a cute spread that would work great at a graduation party.

Some other fun meal ideas include a baked potato bar, chili, or a sandwich bar. Using crock pots, hot plates, or serving the food over ice will ensure that it lasts throughout the party.

Simple and thoughtful activities

While the point of the party is to celebrate the graduate, it is nice to offer some activity in which to involve your guests. If your event is outdoors, consider making this cute DIY Twister for a fun and easy game.

[source]

I also love the idea of Jumbo Jenga. It’s the perfect activity that can go on with different guests throughout the course of the party. Just be wary of falling 2x4s!

Classy and edible decor

You would be hard pressed to screw up graduation decor. Pretty much anything goes–especially black and white, and/or school colors. I like the idea of using party favors/dessert as decor centerpieces. For example, these popcorn bags from Crafts Unleashed serve as a party favor, snack, and focal point. The black and white accents turn popcorn into a classy treat!

In the same vein as serving popcorn favors, you could also opt to dip Oreos in school colors. You can actually dip just about anything–crackers, cake balls, pretzels–the sky is the limit with chocolate-dipped treats! Your Home Based Mom dipped Oreos for her daughter’s graduation from BYU and the result is absolutely darling.

The little flags she created to sport BYU pride are super easy to replicate. Simply cut out flag shapes from old books or card stock and glue onto a dowel rod. Stick the dipped Oreos and flags in a bucket and Wa-La! Adorable decor that your guests can eat.

Our LED balloons are the perfect accompaniment to your fabulous decor. Use our balloons to highlight your school colors and provide a fun, ambient light to the party. Our white balloons are especially classy, and look amazing with the black and white theme that is traditional for graduation parties.

Printable signs

In a world where Pinterest and printables prevail, you really have no need to spend money on things like signs and props. Cute, framed signs placed here and there will go far to advance your party theme. We particularly love this free, sassy sign from Birds and Soap.

You can choose boy- or girl-themed colors, and placed in the right frame it would be perfect on the dessert or gift table.

Beyond adding to decor, you can encourage guests to create a buzz on social media with your graduate’s very own hashtag. Check out this cute little prompt from The Thinking Closet to get guests to post pictures on Instagram!

You know people will be taking pictures–you might as well encourage them to add to your graduate’s very own graduation feed!

Grand finale

Whether you choose to end the night in dance, confetti cannons, sparklers, or sky lanterns–make sure your evening closes with a bang. We have a simple DIY tutorial that turns our confetti cannons into adorable props. Click the picture below to learn how to make them!

Posted in Party Time! (Tips, Decor Ideas, & More)

5 DIY Gifts for Mother’s Day

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — 1 Comment ↓

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you’re like me you’re whispering to your sleeping husband “Mother’s Day is coming” over and over to make sure it absorbs into his subconscious.

I don’t ask a lot for my birthday, Christmas, or Valentines Day. But Mother’s Day? That’s the holiday I put at the top of my list. I birthed three kids, so you can bet I want a day to celebrate what I did.

It’s not that I want my family to go and blow $500 on me. I mean, I do, but I think we would all regret not being able to eat for the rest of the month. Fortunately, we live in an age of abundance in the form of DIY tutorials. All it takes is a few clicks on Pinterest and you have a gazillion ways to decoupage a Kleenix box or up-cycle a toilet paper-roll. Your eyes might be glazing over at this point, but seriously, scroll through for some easy DIY Mother’s Day gifts that are thoughtful and homemade.

5 DIY Gifts for Mom

Helping Hand Oven Mitt

A-Helping-Hand-a-handmade-gift-by-TrishSutton_thumb1

Source: Trish Sutton

This is actually one of the things I need around my house. I have approximately two oven mitts. Two. And every time I bake, or cook multiple hot dishes I scramble about with dishtowels and washcloths. It’s actually ridiculous how often I think, “I could really use more oven mitts.”

But I never remember to buy them. So I would really like this gift.

DIY Mug

Source: Michaels

A woman can never have too many mugs. Or was that shoes? Either way, this diy mug for mom is really cute and provides a fun activity for your kids. You can easily turn a dollar-store mug into something chic and special.

Footprint Art

footprint-flower-pot-spring-craft-for-kids

Source: Crafty Morning

Oh my goodness, those little feet! This is a great keepsake for mamas to little ones. The feet and handprints never really get old. Unless your kids have giant feet, then it might be time to stop with the footprints. I plan to charm the grandmas with my toddler’s little footprints.

Gratitude Journal

Source: eHow

Motherhood is made up of countless sacrifices that often go unnoticed by everyone but Mom. One of the greatest blessings for a mom is to hear that her kids paid attention and appreciate her actions. Ask your kids to think about times Mom did something thoughtful and kind for them. You can get a couple memories from each kid, and gather more memories from other family members or friends.

Mini Succulent Garden

Planting a mini succulent garden is as easy as filling a teacup with soil and dropping some succulent cuttings on top. Created by an Australian blogger, the little heart “Mum” sign is a darling touch. The Succulents are great plants for Mom because they are low maintenance and can usually survive under the worst of gardeners. Ahem.

This succulent garden in a teacup would be the perfect thing to bring to Mom with her tray of breakfast in bed.

Source: Vegan Sparkles

Mother’s Day gifts are so much more about the thought and intention than anything else. Like I said, I don’t want my family to spend a bunch of money, but I do want to feel loved and appreciated on Mother’s Day. Plan, rally the kids, and create something sweet for Mom.

Happy Mother’s Day from Superior Celebrations!

Posted in Holidays

DIY Decorative Confetti Cannons

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

What’s a party without confetti? Confetti cannons are some of our top-selling products. These compact cannons pack a lot of fun in their 12″, 18″, and 24″ tubes. A popular choice for wedding exits, dance floors, and parties, confetti cannons make your occasion even more memorable.

While they are absolutely perfect on their own we thought it would be fun to get crafty and dress them up a bit. This simple DIY takes the confetti cannon from being a prop, to an actual decor piece. Taking the time to decorate your confetti cannon will add the perfect, thoughtful touch for your wedding or party guests.

First off, black and white covered confetti cannons.

Graduation season is almost here and decorating with black and white is a classic choice. You can accent your graduation décor with gold or silver as well. Since it is such a celebratory occasion, plan ahead with these cute black and white cannons. They work really well with our 12” Silver Metallic Confetti Cannon.

Simply take blank, white card-stock and glue or tape it onto your confetti cannon. You will need to have separate pieces for the top and bottom of the cannon. The cannon is popped with a twisting motion, so it’s important that your covering still allows this. You’ll see where the existing product label is separated and can use that as a guide.

We chose to accessorize with a ribbon bow. It’s definitely not essential, but simple touches that correspond with the overall theme go far. You could even add a splash of glitter for extra bling, although that Silver Metallic is going to unleash a gorgeous shimmer when it’s launched!

Floral accented confetti cannons.

I love this spring-inspired wrapped confetti cannon. Using brown packing paper, I covered our Multi-Colored Wedding Confetti Cannon, and secured it with tape. The packing paper is a budget-friendly choice if you’re doing multiple cannons. It’s also a versatile canvas to play with. You can splurge with ribbon and floral accents.

You could tie a bow, tassel, or even lace the cannon up like a ballet slipper. Use hot glue to secure the silk flowers. The floral cannons would be beautiful at displayed in baskets at weddings or engagement parties.

Wrapping paper covered cannons.

Do you ever just fall in love with wrapping paper? Please tell me I’m not the only one. Sometimes I buy wrapping paper just because it’s so pretty I need it in my life.

If you happen to stumble upon gorgeous wrapping paper—buy it! And then wrap some of our confetti cannons in it.

Confetti cannons are basically bottled happiness. We would all be better people if we found more reasons to shoot off confetti cannons. Got a promotion at work? Confetti cannon. Finally got that toddler potty trained? Confetti cannon. School’s out for summer? Confetti cannon. Kids go back to school? Five confetti cannons.

Just kidding. But in all seriousness, find ways to celebrate and make your day extraordinary. We hope to be a part of your beautiful celebrations, so stock up now! If you choose to decorate your confetti cannon please send us your photos so that we can share.

If you are in a confetti-frame of mind, take a peak at our Confetti Love Pinterest Boardfor some great inspiration. You’ll quickly learn that confetti is a theme unto itself. And it’s so fun!

Posted in Party Time! (Tips, Decor Ideas, & More), Weddings

How to Plan an Eco-Chic Wedding

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

With the pervasiveness of social media, brides today are met with an abundance of resources that streamline the wedding planning process. Pinterest and Instagram especially keep brides abreast the trends and fashions of wedding season. It’s no accident that the popularity of rustic-chic and vintage-chic wedding themes permeate these platforms. Eco-consciousness is a responsibility that couples are implementing into their wedding planning.

Eco-conscious, or “green weddings,” are celebrations that seek to decrease the amount of waste, or impact to the planet. There are a number of ways to create a beautiful wedding or event without being wasteful.

How to Plan an Eco-Chic Wedding

1. Wear Eco-Conscious Clothing

Vintage-chic is a gorgeous style that utilizes actual vintage pieces in a modern setting. Many brides are opting to extend the life of a previously worn dress, and simply update the accessories. There are also wedding dresses made from environmentally and socially responsible materials.

Brides today are concerned about who made their dress, and where they made it. You can find a list of eco-chic wedding and bridesmaid dresses on Greenopedia.com.

For bridesmaids, a popular choice these days is for brides to let their wedding party choose their own dress. The “dress they’ll never wear again” is being seen less and replaced by something the bridesmaids actually want in their closet. We salute these nice brides.

2. Use Living Plants

As beautiful as they are, flowers tend to be one of the more wasteful components of any wedding. An eco-chic wedding will use living plants as part of the larger décor theme. Using living plants actually promotes more creative and thoughtful details. For example, many brides are moving towards using succulents within their bouquets and centerpieces.

[source]

The great thing about using succulents in bouquets is that they can be replanted after the wedding! How adorable are these succulent boutonnieres?

[source]

Another eco-friendly tip is to have the ceremony arrangements repurposed at the reception. If you have a savvy florist, and some willing help on the big day you can cut your floral cost in half and make an eco-conscious choice.

[Photo by LKM Photography]

One fun and budget-friendly living plant to use at weddings is grass. Yes, grass! Used as a table-runner, the base for a centerpiece, or a place-card display, grass is a surprising green twist to implement in your theme.

[Source]

A popular look for more boho-themed weddings is to use cactus as a living plant. Part of the succulent family, cacti are a beautiful plant to showcase, and happen to be one of the hardiest plants available.

[Photo by LKM Photography]

These baby cacti add such pretty detail paired next to their pastel counterparts.

[Source]

3. Use a Venue With a Body of Water

Whether it’s a pool, a lake, or at the ocean, utilize the body of water in the décor. Not only will it serve as an opportunity to remind everyone to conserve and appreciate nature, but if you have a wedding near a river, lake, or stream there will plenty of natural greenery available.

[Photo by LKM Photography]

A gorgeous and eco-conscious décor choice is our floating lanterns. Budget-friendly and reusable, and biodegradable, our lanterns cast a beautiful glow and do much to enhance your wedding’s ambience.

4. Give Eco-Conscious Gifts

Many couples enjoy thanking their guests by giving them a thoughtful favor. You can creatively incorporate your eco-conscious theme in what you choose to gift. For example, encourage sustainable living by giving your guests seeds. Favor Creative has great options for gifting herbs your guests can use and enjoy long after your event.

[Photo by LKM Photography]

Another thoughtful favor is to let your guests take home their own wine glass. Not only does it save you on plastic-ware, this is an item they will definitely want to keep.

[Source]

You can also gift your centerpieces and decor. Did you know nursing homes and hospice care would LOVE to have your gorgeous blooms light up their space? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that the floral arrangements you chose for your special day give joy to people in need? Visit Confetti Daydreams for information on how you can repurpose your wedding florals for people in hospice and nursing homes.

5. Use Eco-Friendly Confetti

These days, wedding exits are every bit as important as wedding entrances. That’s why we love our wedding confetti cannons to highlight the grand exit of the wedding couple.

Gone are the days of painstakingly picking up tiny pieces of confetti. Our confetti cannons are loaded with gorgeous, translucent, white confetti made of rice paper. 100% biodegradable and water soluble, our confetti cannons are the perfect choice for the eco-conscious couple! This cannon is 18″ long, and will launch its confetti approximately 10-15 feet in the air. Your pictures are guaranteed to be epic with these babies.

We love celebrating every life event (especially weddings!) and hope to be a part of your big occasion!

Posted in Party Time! (Tips, Decor Ideas, & More), Weddings

How to throw the perfect 1st birthday party

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

Birthdays changed for me after becoming a parent. I started viewing the day not as my day, but as my mom’s day. The day that was nine months in the making for her. The day that she labored and worked to bring me into the world. Birthdays are special for parents.

I remember when we celebrated my daughter’s first birthday. She was our first child, and I planned the biggest party for her. Well, for me actually. I knew she wouldn’t remember a jot from the day, but I wanted all of my friends and family around to memorialize what was for me, a very important day.

Observing my sisters become first-time moms has been both fun and nostalgic for me. My niece, Vienna, was born last year on Valentine’s Day. Being my sister’s first child, she enjoyed quite the production for her first birthday party.

Her parents went for a Valentines Day theme to honor their little Valentine.

Isn’t she a doll?

When throwing a first birthday party, it’s important to remember that your guests, as much as they love your little angel, are there for YOU. Here are some ways you can ensure your guests have a great time at that first birthday.

How To Throw An Awesome 1st Birthday Party

Pick a great location

My sister, Maryann, chose to have her party at the beach because she had a lot of adults and young children. Having a day at the beach was the perfect excuse to get out-0f-town guests to make the trip down for the day. It was also an easy crowd pleaser because both young and old alike love to go to the beach. Plan with your guests in mind and pick a location that will be fun for them to go to. Whether its the park, a restaurant, or even your backyard–make sure you’re accounting for the various ages of your guests and strive to please them.

Plan simple activities

Your little one won’t remember a single thing from the event, but your guests will. If you’re inviting family and friends with young children plan ahead with a few fun things for them to do. Maryann purchased sand toys and bouncy balls for the multiple children who attended her party.

The kids had a blast playing with them, and the adults were happy to see them entertained.

Some kids enjoyed the sand more than others–so much so that they ate it. That may or may not be my child in the picture below.

Have fun with the theme

As ridiculous as this may sound, when I threw my daughter’s first birthday party the theme was Parisian poodles and Eiffel Towers. Ok, ok! Her name is French so there was at least a little legitimacy for this theme. Ahem. Whatever motif you choose to go with–have fun with it!

Keeping in the spirit of a Valentine’s birth, Maryann decorated with pinks, reds, hearts, and sparkles.

She provided Valentine’s Day photo booth props and used little tin mailboxes to stash party favors.

Since the food and presents were underneath a beach tent, Maryann made a precious photo banner to show Vienna’s growth during her first year.

Serve delicious food

This cannot be emphasized enough. Food is essential for a great party. Maryann provided hotdogs, prize-winning chili (prepared by yours truly), nachos, potato salad, fruit, and an epic dessert table. I was too busy stuffing my face to get pictures of the delicious savory dishes, but I did manage to grab a few from the dessert table.

How’s that for a dessert spread? My kids gasped when they first saw it. Maryann had a gorgeous display of cupcakes, cookies, candy, and chocolate-covered pretzels.

These cookies were almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

And the candy-covered pretzels were to die for. I’m pretty sure one of my children just filled up on these.

And of course Vienna had to have her very own Smash Cake.

And that brings me to my next point…

Make a big deal about the cake

Pretty much the highlight of a first birthday party is that moment where the toddler digs into their very own cake. Why? Because the pictures are everything. You never know what they are going to do when presented with an entire cake to themselves.

Our little Vienna tends to be a diva in all things. When given her own cake she opted for delicately picking at it rather than smashing her face into it. It really wasn’t a surprise to any of us. She has known how to work the camera from the beginning.

Finish with a bang

We finished the night off with fireworks. Of course, Vienna couldn’t participate in this activity but her guests were more than happy to engage.

She came in with a bang, and it felt right to finish the night off with just the right amount of sparkle. The kids absolutely LOVED holding our sparklers!

If you ask any of the kids who attended this party what their favorite part was–hands down they will answer that the sparklers were the very best.

While sparklers are not totally necessary, they are such a fun way to end an evening. We used the 10″ Color Sparklers and the kids (and adults) loved them!

A special thanks to Asenath Torres of Asenath Torres Photography for taking such beautiful pictures of the event and sharing them with us!

Posted in Party Time! (Tips, Decor Ideas, & More)

9 Epic Wedding Send-Offs

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

When you attend multiple weddings, you learn that the details are what set one wedding apart from another. We love wedding details because they’re proof of personality, forethought, and meticulous planning. From start to finish, weddings are quite possibly the only major life event that gets to be fully planned.

For many brides, the wedding exit is every bit as important as their wedding entrance. Rooted in ancient Roman tradition, the “send-off” used to be a chance for guests to wish good fortune and fertility by throwing grains of rice or wheat at the newly married couple. Today, send-offs are accented by much more than rice, including flowers, ribbons, paper airplanes (ouch), and even bubbles.

We love being a part of your great wedding send-offs and have ample photos to show just how spectacular our wedding sparklers and confetti cannons look in this scene!

Here are 9 times Superior Celebrations made epic wedding send-offs:

1) That time everyone wore white.

Cary Anne & Ben's Wedding Confetti Exit | Photo by Gandy Photographers

Cary Anne & Ben | Photo by Gandy Photographers

How’s this for a rice replacement? The wedding confetti almost looks like giant snowflakes here, and really compliments the white gowns of the wedding party.

2) That time a small country wedding had big heart.

Amy & Tye's Heart Sparkler Exit | Photo by Cornerstone Photo Services

Amy & Tye | Photo by Cornerstone Photo Services

Our Heart Sparklers are a fun and unique detail to provide for your guests. These look particularly sweet with this country wedding.

3) That time the bride and groom ran through a sparkler tunnel.

Photo by Brandi Cox Photography

The 36″ Gold Sparklers burn for up to 3 minutes, giving guests plenty of time to let the wedding couple run through a tunnel! We particularly like how this groom feels the need to duck and run!

4) That time the groom felt like a total rockstar.

Tom & Rachel's Wedding Sparkler Send-Off | Photo by Karyn Johnson Photography

Tom & Rachel | Photo by Karyn Johnson Photography

Your wedding day should be the party of a lifetime, and this groom looks like he’s taking full advantage of it! You can see that the guests are having a pretty swell time, too.

5) That time the couple stopped for a legendary kiss.

Kelly & Ryan's Fairy Tale Wedding Exit with Sparklers | Photo by Jamie Lynn Photography

Kelly & Ryan | Photo by Jamie Lynn Photography

That dress! The rich colors! The boy wielding his sparkler like Harry Potter’s wand! This shot is all kinds of glorious with our 20″ Wedding Sparklers.

6) That time the bride said, “No, no kisses yet.”

Katie & Dan's Wedding Exit | Photo by Christina Karst Photography

Katie & Dan | Photo by Christina Karst Photography

Magical, romantic, and playful, our sparklers provide the perfect backdrop to any scene you wish to create!

7) That time the guests wore glow crowns.

Karley & Ryan's Fun Wedding Send-Off | Photo by CHARDphotographer

Karley & Ryan | Photo by CHARDphotographer

We love how this couple used both the 36″ sparklers AND glow necklaces for their wedding send-off! Doesn’t this look like a fun party?

8) That time wedding confetti looked amazing in black and white.

Gina & Zach's Wedding Confetti Exit | Photo by Azul Photography

Gina & Zach | Photo by Azul Photography

It’s already been decided that both the traditional white confetti, and the multi-colored confetti look glorious at send-offs. But how about seeing it in black and white? The dramatic lighting and contrast in this photo shows just how breathtaking the confetti can be.

9) That time they went all out and used everything.

Rachael & Bobby's Wedding Sparkler Send-Off with Confetti | Photo by Martine Beher Photography

Rachael & Bobby | Photo by Martine Beher Photography

There’s a lot going on here, so we’ll help you unpack this photo. First, the couple is using our 20″ Wedding Sparklers. Second, they chose the Mixed Metallic Streamers and Confetti Cannons instead of white. Gorgeous. Third, they’re using those as the backdrop for an epic kiss.

So, which send-off is your favorite?

Posted in Customer Stories & Product Reviews, Weddings

15 Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

If you’re like me, you’re still trying to figure out what to do with the hoard of Valentine’s Day candy your kids managed to stash. Easter is coming up, and I’m really not too keen on filling their baskets with candy. Thankfully, there are plenty of non-candy items to stock up on now before Easter.

Here are 15 Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas

1) Easter books.

The excitement of Easter comes with dressing up for church, eating a great family meal, and then sending the kids off on an Easter egg hunt. Consider including some story reading in your day’s festivities. Reading a book about Easter is a great way to end a long day with your kids. The Dating Divas have a great list of Easter-related books for children.

2) Washable chalk.

Kids love coloring, they love being outside, and sidewalk chalk is the perfect combination of these two pleasures. I particularly like that the chalk is washable because no matter how glorious their artwork, it’s nice to be able to clean it off, too.

3) Silly Putty.

I can’t believe this stuff is still around! I used to love playing with Silly Putty. So much so that I actually once fell asleep with it in my hands. Somewhere between falling asleep and waking up the Silly Putty got stuck to the side of my head. To say the resulting haircut was “unfortunate” would be an understatement.

On second thought, maybe this isn’t such a great thing to put in Easter baskets.

4) Balsa Wooden Gliders.

I guess I’m feeling nostalgic, but these were so much fun when my siblings and I were kids! They are just a pure simple pleasure for kids–and adults alike 😉

5) LED Balloons.

Take a pack of our fun blinking, glowing balloons and put them inside some plastic Easter eggs!

6) Temporary tattoos.

My kids love to plaster themselves with tacky tattoos whenever they can get their hands on them. Here’s some cheesy Easter themed tattoos that won’t totally clash with their Easter outfit 😉

7) Puzzles.

I absolutely love puzzles. They keep my kids quiet and not fighting for a solid 15 minutes. Puzzles are a great activity to do after the great Easter feast and egg hunt.

8) Gardening tools.

In the spirit of spring, why not encourage your little one’s green thumb? This Melissa and Doug Gardening Set is an adorable introduction to the wonderful world of gardening.

9) Hatching Eggs.

You might not want to commit to the iconic little chicks of Easter fame, but these self-hatching eggs give your kids the satisfaction of seeing a new little toy “hatch” out these eggs. Simply place the eggs in water and watch them grow right out of their shell!

10) Inflatable Bunny Ringtoss Game.

This game looks totally goofy, which means most kids would love it. I think the picture says it all.

11) Glow Sticks.

Our glow sticks are always hit with the kids. My son likes to pretend that they are light sabers, while my daughter prefers to wield them as batons. Either way, they both love them.

12) Emoji Eggs.

Something tells me that these Easter eggs will be used long after Easter is over. What kid isn’t familiar with the language of emoji? These eggs are sure to spark their creativity and make them laugh to boot.

13) Shopkins.

Chances are that if you have a daughter between the ages of five and ten then you know all about Shopkins. For those of you in the dark–just keep scrolling down. I don’t even know how many of these tiny little toys my daughter owns. I just know I sometimes step on them and at least they don’t hurt as bad as legos.

14) Pokemon Figures.

Whereas all the little girls are raving about Shopkins, little boys enjoy things like Pokemon figures. This set comes in metallic Easter eggs, making it the perfect thing to include in your little dude’s basket.

15) Bubbles.

It’s no secret that since the beginning of time kids have adored bubbles. They just go nuts when they see them. That’s why this bubble gun blaster is perfect for achieving their bubble dreams! Plus, you don’t have to deal with that pesky wand that never gets the results you hoped for.

What do you plan to put in your child’s Easter basket? This year, I’m saving the chocolate bunnies for myself and am giving them some fun little trinkets instead!

Posted in Party Time! (Tips, Decor Ideas, & More) Tagged with: Easter, Holidays

Color Powder: Inspired by Holi

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Hillary Leonard — No Comments ↓

There’s an uncanny, but not unpleasant aspect of spring that makes young and old alike just a little bit giddy. Bare winter branches begin twitching with new leaves. Soil warms and out pops new life. Daylight extends and suddenly the days are longer and open to possibility. The configuration of all these factors is what makes spring a truly joyful season.

In India, spring is announced and celebrated by the festival of Holi. Holi is an annual festival that is celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). The perfect end to winter, Holi rejoices in all the color that comes with the spring season.

A celebration of love, new life, and brotherhood, Holi is kicked off by the lighting of a giant bonfire. In India, the caste system is still adhered to by stringent standards. However, during Holi, social boundaries are replaced by a merry camaraderie where people of all classes splash each other with color powder. Yes, color powder.

The result is a fabulous array of colorful merrymakers. Doesn’t that sound fun?

If you’re interested in having your own Holi-inspired celebration, we have just about everything you need to replicate these fabulous photos. Our Color Fun Powder Cannons deliver a blast of water-soluble rice powder with just a small twist at the base of the cannon.

You can include color powder in all sorts of spring festivities! Here are a few of our favorite ways to incorporate this fun accessory:

1) Color Events

Color events like Color Run and HOLI ONE have become a very popular recreational activity. Relays, runs, and races are all enhanced by a splash of color powder. In fact, the color takes precedence over the physical activity largely because its just so darn fun.

It seems that the goal of these color events is to get great photos. And why not? With color this vibrant why wouldn’t you bedeck yourself with it?

I think if I were to ever attend one of these events, I would sport shades. It just seems to up the cool factor by several degrees.

2) Holi-Inspired Family Photoshoot

I don’t know about you, but getting my three kids to cooperate for family photos is an utter nightmare. I deal with the overly-cheesy smile, the sulky look, and the toddler who always runs away. It’s hard to get everybody to perform for the camera while composing a decent expression on my own face.

I do believe that this year’s Christmas card will be a sensation, though. Yes, I know Christmas is a long way off. Family photos don’t happen often and most folks resort to using the best one of the year–whether it’s from January, July, or November, take the best and go with it.

These tips from I Heart Faces are great for achieving a vibrant Holi look for your family photos. Our cannons would blast away with even more color than what is pictured here, so, OMG can you imagine???

[source]

3) Playful Engagement Session

Spring wedding season is almost here, and many brides and grooms are looking for unique and fun details to include in their receptions. A bold, color-splashed portrait would make a great photo for guests to sign as they enter into the reception. These photos would also be a fun addition to a wedding slideshow.

[source]

While we’re at it, a color powder photoshoot would also be the perfect wedding announcement or save the date card! I know if an engaged couple sent me something like this I would display it proudly upon my fridge–and that’s saying something. I have the artwork of three brilliant children to hog fridge space 😉

[source]

4) Kids Birthday Parties

Is it just me, or have kids’ birthday parties become so much more over-the-top than they used to be? I think we have Pinterest to blame for that. I know several moms who are AMAZING at the whole theme, decor, and activity thing. I try not to resent them too much.

Me? Not so much. I love ideas, but I have a hard time juggling multiple things at once. My children saw the pictures of Holi festivals and their mouths literally dropped open.

People can color themselves? People can get messy in a substance other than dirt? Can we be these people???

I think that, if you give parents fair warning, incorporating the color powder cannons could be a great way to make an unforgettable birthday for your kid. Just letting them run around and be free to make a mess is every child’s dream.

I love the look of sheer joy on these kids faces. I think this might be what we do for my son’s 6th birthday party!

So now that spring is here, how are you going to incorporate Holi (and our color powder cannons) into your life?

Posted in Party Time! (Tips, Decor Ideas, & More), Product Information, Weddings

Sparkler Send-Off Do’s

DO check with your venue beforehand!

DO coordinate with your photographer and wedding planner!

DO purchase quality sparklers!

DO let your guests know about the sparklers!

DO plan ahead with lighting and disposal!

DO take epic pictures!

The Many Roles of a Wedding Planner

Budgeter

Creative Mastermind

Stress Saver

Mediator

Advocate

Graduation Party Essentials

Flexible timing

Delicious, easy food

Simple and thoughtful activities

Classy and edible decor

Printable signs

Grand finale

5 DIY Gifts for Mom

Helping Hand Oven Mitt

DIY Mug

Footprint Art

Gratitude Journal

Mini Succulent Garden

First off, black and white covered confetti cannons.

Floral accented confetti cannons.

Wrapping paper covered cannons.

How to Plan an Eco-Chic Wedding

1. Wear Eco-Conscious Clothing

2. Use Living Plants

3. Use a Venue With a Body of Water

4. Give Eco-Conscious Gifts

5. Use Eco-Friendly Confetti

How To Throw An Awesome 1st Birthday Party

Pick a great location

Plan simple activities

Have fun with the theme

Serve delicious food

Make a big deal about the cake

Finish with a bang

Here are 9 times Superior Celebrations made epic wedding send-offs:

1) That time everyone wore white.

2) That time a small country wedding had big heart.

3) That time the bride and groom ran through a sparkler tunnel.

4) That time the groom felt like a total rockstar.

5) That time the couple stopped for a legendary kiss.

6) That time the bride said, “No, no kisses yet.”

7) That time the guests wore glow crowns.

8) That time wedding confetti looked amazing in black and white.

9) That time they went all out and used everything.

Here are 15 Non-Candy Easter Basket Ideas

1) Easter books.

2) Washable chalk.

3) Silly Putty.

4) Balsa Wooden Gliders.

5) LED Balloons.

6) Temporary tattoos.

7) Puzzles.

8) Gardening tools.

9) Hatching Eggs.

10) Inflatable Bunny Ringtoss Game.

11) Glow Sticks.

12) Emoji Eggs.

13) Shopkins.

14) Pokemon Figures.

15) Bubbles.

1) Color Events

2) Holi-Inspired Family Photoshoot

3) Playful Engagement Session

4) Kids Birthday Parties

Follow Us

Recent Posts

About Us

Archives