Here are this month’s favorites:

Sarah’s Stands

A nice departure from the dated look of the traditional cake stand, these stands are designed to be the stage on which the cake will shine. The classic pedestal shape elevates and enhances the cake making it the center of attention while the pop of color adds a modern touch. And they are created specifically with larger cakes in mind. The sturdy base and strong top plate ensure that these cake stands can hold the weight of tiered cakes, while the proportions allow you to cut on them without worry. They are made of sustainable soft maple wood and turned by skilled artisans and individually finished with a food safe paint.

Susan & Veronica

These are not your grandmother’s aprons! Susan and Veronica have created a line of contemporary aprons that represent the philosophy that style begins at home. Their aprons are not meant to bring you back to an earlier time, but are instead designed with a modern stylistic approach that represents today’s woman and her state of mind. They’ll make you feel flirty and playful while you whip up your signature meals or mix your favorite cocktails. And they certainly add a stylish and fun behind-the-scenes touch to any casual affair.

Crave Cotton Candy Factory

Crave shows what can happen with some candy, color and a little imagination. Indulge your sweet tooth and add a touch of nostalgia with made fresh cotton candy in a variety of the tastiest gourmet flavors. Crave offers cotton candy catering and made-to-order cone and tub delivery. The light and pretty treats double as decor, too—some of their buffet displays are out of this world! And the taste? In a word: YUM!

Your estimated guest count. Before you decide anything, you should at least estimate the number of guests that will attend your event. A 20-person gathering is going to feel much different than a 200-person party. Guest numbers are crucial when choosing the venue, which can lend a lot to the style of the event. Some venues might not be big enough to hold your party, while others might feel too big for a smaller group.

Casual vs. formal. After you’ve gotten a general guest count, try to decide whether you want your event to be casual or formal. Remember, just because you decide to go more casual doesn’t make the event any less special. The most important thing is that you decide on a direction. Certain decorating and food choices are going to complement a formal gathering much better than a casual get-together, and vice versa.

Choose a style that reflects your personality. When picking a style, go with your instincts. If you are planning your wedding and you are a casual, relaxed individual, don’t stress about making it a formal event unless absolutely necessary. Create an event that is unique to your tastes and style, and don’t worry about conforming to expectations. Your event will feel more natural, not forced, if you stick with what’s really “you.”

Outdoor vs. indoor venues. If you choose to use an outdoor venue, your event might take on a breezy, garden party feel. Your decor may involve natural elements like fresh flowers and the surrounding vegetation. Also, remember that an all-outdoor event will need a back-up destination for rain. When considering indoor venues, keep in mind the existing design and feel of the space.

Complement the season. If you are planning an event in the middle of December, it’s probably best to stick to an indoor venue. If you are having a summer event, try to book a venue that is either all indoors, or an indoor-outdoor combination. Don’t force your guests to sweat through your party. Once you’ve considered comfort, look to the season for inspiration! Hosting a November social allows you to serve mini pumpkin pie tarts and hot apple ciders. A June wedding could feature cocktails in simple mason jars and sandwich slider appetizers.

The most important thing to do as you think about the style of your event is to have fun. This is one of the best parts of the event-planning process!

Every one of the ladies looked stunning as they twirled and posed in the gorgeous designs at Brides by Demetrios and Winnie Couture. At Erica Angeline, where gowns are designed to custom, everyone enjoyed a mini bridal show. There were gasps, ooohs and ahhhs when the dresses were modeled, and the extremely helpful consultants at each bridal salon busily tucked, belted and cinched the designs to suit each bride-to-be.

Moms, grandmothers, cousins and friends offered enthusiastic votes for their favorites, but the ultimate decision-making was left to the brides, of course. Each one seemed to relish the chance to try a seemingly endless array of fabrics, colors and styles to find the one to make her magical day complete.

In addition to the gowns, the brides had the chance to sample food, linens, flowers and more, as well as enjoy swag bags and prizes filled with wedding-day inspirations.

We would like to thank each and every sponsor and venue that made the It’s All About the Dress 2012 experience a wonderful one:

Guffey’s Formal Studio featuring Anne Barge

Brides by Demetrios

Winnie Couture

Erica Angeline

Mint Life Limousine

Talk of the Town Catering

I Do Linens

Crave Cotton Candy Co.

WineHeads Gifts Et Cetera

Spectrum Entertainment and Events

Henry James Salon

Sugar Plum Visions Cake Artisans

St. Regis Atlanta

A Crowley Fleur

A great way to get tons of wedding-planning resources and browse vendors in one spot is by attending a bridal show. Fortunately, the Atlanta area has multiple shows throughout the year, and most of them are relatively affordable to attend and can spark your inspiration in ways that combing the internet just can’t.

The Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta is happening this Sunday, Jan. 29, from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are just $10 online and will grant you access to hundreds of vendors including bakeries, florists, jewelers and photographers. Venue owners are on-site with pricing information, and are ready to set up appointments to tour their facilities. Many vendors offer discounted rates on their products if you purchase at the show, and there are plenty of chances to win prizes.

After the show, create a binder featuring the finds you really like. It’s amazing how relaxed you’ll feel once you catalog your discoveries.

Trunk shows are another great opportunity not to be missed. Brides can preview the latest styles in bridal couture. Trunk shows can give your sense of style a direction in choosing your perfect gown. The Anne Barge Trunk Show at Guffey’s Formal Studio will be held Friday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Brides will get a first look at the brand new 2012 spring line. Appointments must be made by phone.

Bridal shows and trunk shows can really give you the motivation, ideas and directions you need to plan the biggest day of your life!

One of the most crucial aspects of the wedding-planning process is of course the selection of the perfect gown. The centerpiece of the event, the bride’s gown should capture the essence of the celebration and reflect the personal style of the wearer. Finding that piece de resistance may sound like a daunting task, but with a good support system, professional guidance and a few rules of thumb, the process can be made much easier–even fun!

Here are three keys to wedding dress shopping success:

1)     For more personalized attention, be sure to visit bridal salons during the week or on Sunday, instead of Saturday. Saturdays are typically their most hectic days.

2)     When creating your bridal gown budget, include the costs of all the ensemble components, such as:

• Alterations
• Veil
• Headpiece
• Lingerie
• Wedding jewelry
• Shoes

3)     Ask for a written price schedule for alterations at the time you purchase your gown, since this service is not always included in the cost of your wedding gown. Keep in mind that your dress should fit you like a glove, so alterations will almost always be necessary.

Happy shopping, and hope to see you Feb. 5!

To take part in the FREE It’s All About the Dress Experience 2012 Pre-Event Webinar, just register here!

Here’s what you’ll get:

• A glimpse at all the hot trends in bridal couture for 2012
• Expert dress-shopping advice from Atlanta’s top bridal pros
• Tons of key do’s and don’ts to guide you in your search
• A chance to ask your own questions about your personal shopping experience
• A sneak peek at what’s in store for It’s All About the Dress Experience 2012, from prizes to priceless personal shopping guidance.

Sign up now for the webinar, to be held Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Participants will be sent details for logging on. See you there!

When you take part in this experience, not only will you be whisked away for an afternoon filled with fun and excitement,  you’ll also have a chance to win one of these great prizes:

• Complimentary registration for the Pre-Event Webinar (details coming soon!)
• Leather Wine Purse, courtesy of WineHeads Gifts Et Cetera
• Wedding Dress Cake Table, courtesy of I Do Linens with purchase of at least $750 before delivery
• Braves Club Seats for four with parking pass, courtesy of Spectrum Entertainment and Events with purchase of at least $550
• Complimentary Shampoo and Style on First Visit, courtesy of Henry James Salon
• More prizes to come!

PLUS, each and every participant’s swag bag will contain the delicious, delectable Cake in a Jar, courtesy of Sugar Plum Visions Cake Artisans, as well as a 15% discount for a service and product samples, courtesy of Henry James Salon. The swag bags, also will include Bespoke Magazine, as well as an assortment of Remede Spa items, courtesy of the St. Regis Atlanta. Also, Crave Cotton Candy Co. will be providing delicious cotton candy treats for everyone.

And to give you a little preview of what’s in store for the brides on Feb. 5, Tammie visited one of the amazing It’s All About the Dress Experience 2012 destinations, Winnie Couture Bridals in Buckhead. Get the sneak peek here.

You’ll begin the experience by stepping into a luxury stretch limousine provided by Mint Life Limousines to embark on your ultimate dress journey. The morning will be spent sipping mimosas and noshing on delicious light bites. By afternoon, you’ll enjoy decadent sweet treats and champagne as you visit Atlanta’s top bridal salons to find the perfect dress just for you.

Register here now for just $75 for you and a guest (for a limited time only)!

But the RSVP is a crucial part of the event-planning process. Without it, it’s nearly impossible to know how much food and drink to buy, not to mention how many seats, place settings, goody bags, etc. are needed. It’s better to respond and change your response later if needed than to leave a big question mark hanging over the host’s head. Even a “no” is preferable to an “I don’t know”. So, as a guest, be kind, respond!

For hosts, the online invitation site PurpleTrail.com offers a few helpful hints for garnering more RSVPs for your next event:

• Use online invitations. It is MUCH easier to keep track of invitations responses and to send out a ‘request for response’ message when using online invitations. You can send reminders to your guests via email and via text messages.
• Create a need for engagement. With tools like consensus building for time or place it’s easy to request feedback from your invitees. People are more apt to respond if they have something they can contribute. For example, ask them to respond what they are bringing or with their idea for the theme.  This way you can keep a running conversation for all the invitees to see and contribute to.
• Send reminders. Sometimes people just need a gentle prod—we’re all guilty of sending last minute RSVP responses. Send out a “request for a response” to those who’ve yet to view or respond.
• Follow up for future events. If you are someone who plans lots of events, set the standard for how well you handle pre and post party planning and wrap up. Send thank-yous with pictures and video of the event. People will feel connected to your events and be more likely to respond to future events because they already feel involved.

Just by making a few adjustments to your home’s lighting, you can completely change the look of your space, taking it from everyday to exciting and from drab to dramatic! Using colored light bulbs (like these and these) is a wonderful way to turn your living room, dining room and kitchen into a relaxing, stylish venue with a fun vibe.

Before you spend hundreds of dollars on decorating your entertaining area, pick up a couple of colored light bulbs from your local home-improvement store and experiment with the effect for yourself!

Thinking about the many, many details that go into a memorable holiday party can seem daunting, but there are some fabulous tools available to make the job easier and much more jolly!

We’ve gathered some of the best of the best in checklists and timelines here to help you break down your super soiree into delectable little manageable nibbles. Enjoy!

Martha Stewart Thanksgiving Planner and Holiday Party Timeline

Better Homes & Gardens Dinner Party Planning Checklist

eHow Holiday Party Planning Checklist

Real Simple Holiday Open-House Party Planning Checklist