red or white?

Etiquette for weddings has really changed. It seems that it's just not about the bride anymore...the groom gets some goods too! What has become really popular is coed bridal showers. These can take on many forms....like if the bride and groom registered somewhere like the Home Depot, you could have a tool shower (though I'm not quite sure I would call it a "tool" shower!). Sometimes a couple will register at a travel agency (yes, you can do this!), and ask for gift certificates that might take them on their honeymoon. You could host a travel themed shower...I think that would be a lot of fun!

{click on photo to enlarge}

One of the more popular coed events is a wine shower. The Husband and I hosted one a few years ago for friends who were getting married. It helped that the bride and groom like a little vino now and then! For the invitations, I assigned everyone a country and colour of wine to bring. Everyone was asked to bring one bottle of wine, but most brought two bottles. We had hors d'oeurves for everyone to nibble on, and really just enjoyed a mid-summer's evening outside. You could also do a wine tasting to go with the whole theme. Check out this link for some great ideas. There were no games or crazy stunts, though, if everyone doesn't know each other, a great ice breaker is to think of some famous people, write them on sheets of paper and stick them on everyone's back. Then the guests have to help you guess who you are. It's a great way to get people talking, and a lot of fun.

{click on photo to enlarge}

If you're going to give wine as a gift, I found these great labels from Popptags. These aren't just for weddings...they are something great to stick on a bottle of wine when you're invited over to someone's house for dinner too.

And, if you need something to package the whole deal up in, check out Garnish...they have some great wine boxes that you can add your own special touch too.

Photos: party - brides.com, invites - Avocado Kiss, wine tags - popptags.com, wine boxes - Garnish.com

it's good to be one!

Here are a set of invites, thank you cards and favor tags that Avocado Kiss has just completed.

what we've been up to....

Just a little preview of an Avocado Kiss project. These are birthday invitations for my neice, who will be turning 9 next month. I have volunteered to host a Tea Party for her, and am beyond excited to do something really girly, but still modern and chic. The party is June 14th, and I will definitely be posting pictures. In the meantime, here are the invitations...


We've got a couple more things in the works...a birthday invitation suite (invites, favour tags and thank you cards) as well as a set of wedding invites....we'll keep you posted!

Packaging is everything!!!

Thought I would share some photos...C and I had a package of invitations to drop off tonight and we always try to make sure that it looks great and has that added touch. We want people to feel as though they are receiving a gift. Don't we all love untying a beautiful satin ribbon? The packaging and wrapping of products and presents are what people see first, and, what in essence, makes them want to either purchase that product or get excited about the surprise that awaits them. Everyone remembers those special touches you add...some beautiful ribbon or a sleek box, a handcrafted card or some folded tissue. The gable box with window is from Garnish and the ribbon from Paper Source. Invitations designed and crafted by AVOCADO KISS.

"sweet retro"

I thought I would share some pictures of the invitations I made for my daughter's 4th birthday. I'll post the rest after the party.

Avocado Kiss inspired...

I had some girlfriends over tonight to get together and wanted to share some pics from the evening. I made a lemon cake yesterday (got the idea and recipe from C, who got it from Ina Garten when she was on the Oprah show - this cake is seriously good), wrapped it in wax tissue paper and twine from Garnish and tied the recipe on the back for guests to take home. I labelled the water bottles and made tags for the food and beverages - just simple black on white, except the water bottles I did in pink and green. We were having a bit of a spa night so I also packaged up some of my favourite bath salts with information/instructions about the product and stapled on a really great ribbon from Paper Source.