Katie and Jon's Wedding

We've finally gotten our hands on a few photos from Katie and Jon's wedding in Roseville, California at the Victorian at Hemphill Mansion earlier this month. Thank you to Urban Shutterbug Photography for the beautiful images!

The July evening wedding took place outdoors and the weather cooperated. There was a warm breeze that complimented the guitar versions of the couple's ceremony music perfectly. Guests cooled themselves with the program fans that were waiting for them at their seats.The wedding cake was made by the groom's mother and sister and, as you can see, was adorned by a ton of gorgeous red rose petals.
Guests gathered around for Katie and Jon's first dance, which was a unique version of "The Broken Road."

It was a simply beautiful wedding with a stunning bride, perfect details and a couple whose love absolutely radiated throughout the entire evening.Congratulations Katie and Jon!
We were so honored to be part of your day.

Feature Friday: Paperless Online Providers (Addendum)

Here is one more online invitation service to add to your repertoire that we forgot to include in the Paperless Invitation Providers Feature Friday post: Sendomatic.com

There is a small charge to send more than 50 invitations and if you want them to be delivered sans advertisement you'll have to shell out a few dollars for that too. They have some fun designs though and the website is quite user-friendly. Check them out!

Feature Friday: Rosebud Cards

I know, I know, we are back to stationary-- but after you've been introduced to Rosebud Cards you will understand why! First, here is a little bit from Rosemary with Rosebud Cards...

"For as long as we can remember, our family has shared the tradition of painting cookies during the holidays. This special time together is the inspiriation behind Rosebud and our creations. We initially photographed our hand-painted cookies and created cards to share with our family and friends on special occasions. With words of delight and encouragement, our creations evolved into a collection of paper goods. We'd like to introduce Rosebud and the whimsical, painterly touch of our card collections.Our Cookie Collection recalls the fond memories of a simpler time: family, holidays, and childhood excitement. Baked and hand-painted by two sisters and an aunt, the creation of our whimsical treats is a true family endeavor, inspired by the sweet aroma and joys that can be shared over a cup of tea or tall glass of milk.

The Chinese Brush Painting Collection captures the essence and energy of the subject and appears like magic on rice paper or silk. The subjects have been hand-painted, scanned, and printed on Crane's Museo fine-art cards and look as if they've been painted right on the card.These are some of our favorite things - and we hope that they will be yours too! Our intent is to present cards done in the spirit of fine art. To that end, our cards are individually printed, not mass produced. We have chosen to print our work on Crane's Museo fine-art cards. Uncommonly beautiful, it has the touch and feel that can only come from 100% cotton. The paper is manufactured to the Library of Congress's archival standard. Our gift cards are printed on Strathmore Bright White Wove.

We are thrilled with the opportunity to share our original creations with you as we think that these cards make a sweet treat for all.These collections celebrate any occasion: birthdays, weddings, new arrivals, celebrations and holidays - plus, who doesn't love cookies!In the spirit of a handmade gift, our card collections are created with love."

Pear Tree Events recently got our hands on the Red Heart Cookie Cards and the Red Crab Card. We can tell you from experience that even though these cards are cute in the pictures, they are GORGEOUS in person. We are so infatuated with the Red Crab Card we are hoping to use the invitations for a crab-feed/fish-fry 18th birthday taking place in Bodega Bay next month. The quality of the photographs is so beautiful it looks as if you could eat the cookies right off the page.

Go check out the Rosebud Cards website for more deliciousness!

DIY: Chocolate spoons

In keeping with the spirit of chocolate, we're sharing one more do-it-yourself favor project from Katie and Jon's wedding. These white chocolate and milk chocolate spoons are delicious when used as coffee stirrers. They add just the right amount of flavor-- making your guests' morning cup of joe just a little bit more special. For those who aren't coffee drinkers, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the chocolate right off the spoon!


Here is what you need:

- spoons

- chocolate (you can use coating chocolate, chocolate chips, pretty much any kind of chocolate)

- wax paper

- mini cellophane treat bags

- ribbon


1. Using a double boiler, gradually melt the chocolate, stirring every couple of minutes until completely melted.

2. Take one spoon and dip the end into the melted chocolate, making sure both sides are covered and there is a small amount resting in the spoon. Hold the spoon above the bowl or double boiler for a couple of seconds to allow the chocolate on the bottom of the spoon to begin to set.

3. Carefully place the spoon down on the wax paper and allow the chocolate to harden.

4. Once the chocolate has set, you can drizzle the spoons with more chocolate (we drizzled white chocolate over milk chocolate and vice versa) if you'd like to add an extra touch.

5. When the spoons have hardened completely slip them into the mini cellophane treat bags and tie the bags closed with ribbon.

6. Attach a gift tag and you're done!


Not only is this DIY project ridiculously easy, you can modify it to fit your event with just the slightest changes. Add food coloring to white chocolate in order to incorporate your event's colors or mix in a small amount of flavoring to the chocolate as it is melting. We've been known to use mint extract, Kahlua, and amaretto and hazelnut liqueurs in our chocolate spoons. You can also pick up inexpensive but ornate flatwear at a local secondhand store instead of using plastic utensils (those would be perfect for a ladies' tea) and don't worry about all of the pieces matching-- there is charm in using a mismatched variety.

Set the completed spoons as part of your place setting or leave them resting in Irish coffee mugs on your tablescape. We'd love to see how you've incorporated these into your event so be sure to send us some pictures if you use them!

(I do apologize for not having pictures in this post-- for the LIFE of me, I can't find them. As soon as I do though, I'll add them!)

Feature Friday: Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

This week at Pear Tree we are breaking from paper and heading toward sweets. What can be sweeter than chocolate? Sacramento is the home of a small, upscale chocolate shop that is so, so much more. This week Pear Tree Events would like to introduce you to Ginger Elizabeth!Ginger Elizabeth Hahn grew up in Camino, California, a small town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She discovered early on that cooking could be much more than a hobby. At the age of 16, a summer course at the CIA Greystone in Napa Valley convinced her that working with food was her passion.

Ginger took a position at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. There she apprenticed under the world famous pastry chefs. To be closer to her family, Ginger returned to California and lives in Sacramento. She was the Pastry Chef at Masque Ristorante in El Dorado Hills for three years.

In 2005, at the age of 24, Ginger opened the wholesale chocolate company Couture Chocolates by Ginger Elizabeth. The company allowed her to practice and showcase the talents and skills she had acquired, while continuing to learn and explore new ideas. Keeping up with the industry trends, she completed a chocolate science and technology course at UC Davis in 2006.

By 2007 Ginger had decided to expand her business by opening her first retail location. The boutique chocolaterie would feature all things chocolate including individual desserts, hot chocolate, cakes, cookies, chocolate sculptures, and of course a variety of chocolate confections. In 2008, Ginger launched the retail store in Midtown Sacramento under the company's new name, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates.
Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
1801 L Street Suite 60
Sacramento, CA 95811
916.706.1738

Hours of Operation:
Sunday & Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Thursday – 10am – 8pm
Friday & Saturday – 10am – 10pm

Our coordinators here at Pear Tree Events are just dying for an excuse to include these delicious handmade, locally produced chocolate masterpieces in one of our events. We hope you do the same. Check out Ginger Elizabeth's website here for more information, pricing, and many more scrumptious pictures.
Take one look at these ice cream sandwiches below and tell me you can avoid a visit to Midtown Sacramento, if for only a taste!

Feature Friday: sarah + abraham

We are on a bit of stationary kick lately at Pear Tree. There are just so many great vendors out there! We mentioned them briefly in last week's Feature Friday, but one of our absolute FAVORITES is Sarah & Abraham. Sarah & Abraham is an online boutique specializing in children's stationery, birth announcements, and invitations for baby showers and birthday parties.
One of the main reasons we love Sarah & Abraham is they are a small business that got started on just an idea and has worked hard to grow. PLUS... Sara Tams, owner of Sarah & Abraham, shares her experiences running a small business on their blog!
The Sarah & Abraham blog chronicles Sara's adventures in starting and running a small business, answers questions, features other Etsy sellers, announces special promotions, and hosts occasional giveaways. We have been stalkers, um, I mean followers of her blog for quite a while now. Not only are Sarah & Abraham's designs cuter than cute, but they do custom orders! Check out these adorable invitations she created for a "Horton Hears a Who" birthday party. Take a look at their website and read through the Sarah & Abraham blog for all kinds of inspiration.

P.S. There are tons of items in their Etsy shop that make awesome birthday gifts. One of our event coordinators actually just ordered these for a friend's birthday... and may need to order some for herself too!

DIY: Coffee Bark

This weekend's Pear Tree Events wedding has a coffee "flavor" to it since the groom is a mad coffee fan. For table assignments we decided to go with small tins of coffee bark (think a combination between peppermint bark and chocolate covered espresso beans) labeled with each guest's name and table number. This bittersweet treat couldn't be easier to make and will be sure to keep your guests' energy up on the dance floor long into the night!
1. Gradually melt chocolate of your choice using a double boiler or in the microwave (being sure to stir at least every 30 seconds to a minute.) We used blocks of coating chocolate but chocolate chips would also work well.

2. When the chocolate has melted completely, add whole coffee beans and mix well. The chocolate to coffee bean ratio is entirely up to you. I tend to prefer more chocolate, but being that there was only a small amount going in each tin we opted to make the coffee bark heavier on the beans.

3. Pour the mixture onto cookie sheets covered with wax paper or cellophane. (Note: if you use cellophane make sure there are NO wrinkles in the plastic otherwise it will get caught in the creases of the chocolate... then you'll be forced to eat those pieces...)

4. Place the cookie sheets in the freezer for about half an hour. When the chocolate has cooled and set completely, remove the cookie sheets and set the slab of coffee bark on a hard surface. Break the coffee bark into small pieces and place into tins, goodie bags, or whatever you are using to present them. We purchased these tins from Beau Coup for 80 cents each, the chocolate was only $1 per package on sale (a STEAL) and whole coffee beans can be picked up pretty much anywhere you like to buy your coffee. That makes this DIY favor a very cost effective detail as well.

5. Attach labels or a gift tag and enjoy!

You'll see the finished product sometime in the coming weeks when we feature Katie and Jon's wedding. For guests who shy away from caffeine and for the youngin's attending this wedding, we filled the tins with red jelly beans. Something for everyone.

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Feature Friday: Paperless Invitation Providers

Today's Feature Friday is a bit unique in that we are not actually featuring a small business, rather we have chosen to highlight an often overlooked means of inviting guests to your event: with an online invitation. Using online invitations can save you a significant amount of your event budget while still setting the tone for your party. Then there is the obvious benefit (which we LOVE at Pear Tree) of being environmentally friendly!
Most people are familiar with Evite, which offers a collaborative website to users that has a design unique to their event. Evite's services are also free, which is helpful in questionable economic times. Guests can write notes and RSVP directly on the site. Evite designs tend to be on the cheesy side (although they have made improvements, check out these designs by another Pear Tree fav, Sarah and Abraham) so there are a couple of other option we wanted to share.
Pingg is similar to Evite however they have a wider selection of "designer" invitations and provide the option to have announcements sent directly to your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Pingg has quite a variety of beautiful wedding invitations that are worthy of even the biggest budget wedding. Most Pingg invitations are free but you can purchase "Premium Plus+" invitations for $10.

Lastly (but couldn't be farther from least) is Paperless Post (pictured up top.) While this service isn't free, it is so cheap you can't help but spend entire lunch-hours designing the perfect invitation-- we know from experience! "Stamps" on Paperless Post are $5 for 60 (we said they were cheap) and you get credits for inviting friends. Sign up today, but don't forget to eat your lunch.

DIY: Program Fans

Appropriate for a HOT July wedding, we decided to print these wedding ceremony programs on fans that guests may use throughout the wedding and reception. At Pear Tree Events we are always looking for elements that have dual purposes. These make a thoughtful favor for guests and guide them through your event.

For this project you will need:

- white card stock (modify the colors to suit your wedding inspiration)
- black card stock
- craft sticks
- silver spray paint
- glue gun
- double-sided tape
- ribbon

1. Print your programs using the highest print quality on your printer and cut them into 6" squares. The front and back of the program need to be printed on two pieces of paper (no two-sided printing.) Round the corners (or use decorative scissors to embellish.) Cut the black card stock into 7" squares and round the corners. Using double-sided tape, affix each program centered onto a black card stock square.
2. Spray paint the craft sticks and allow to dry. Dab a small drop of hot glue on the end of the craft stick and attach it to the back of the program, leaving half of the stick hanging off the end. Dab with another drop of hot glue and attach the other side of the program. You should now have front and back sides with the stick securely in the middle.3. Tear four small pieces of double-sided tape and adhere the four corners of the program front to the back to keep the papers together while the fan is in use.
4. Finally, tie a 1" wide ribbon (or several thin ribbons in coordinating colors) onto the craft stick at the base of the program. Please tie a bow larger than the one pictured above... and cut the ribbon on the long side so the ends will be flowing. We made this sample a bit hastily, as we were working on another DIY project for the same bride all at once. Check back to see one of the favors we made!