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It may sound corny…
… but hosting a one-year countdown party proved to be a great way to
A) Introduce our families and friends to each other
B) Share some of our favorite summer recipes, AND
C) Try out some new treats for our guests
We cooked up the idea in the late spring, and it seemed like the perfect idea for a longer engagement like ours (21 months!).
The feel? Casual, backyard celebration. Not an engagement party; rather, a celebration of 365 days until our wedding!
The guests? Both our families and our close friends.
The cuisine? Well, now. Here, we were realistic. We ordered two hoagie trays, but committed to making three (huge!) side dishes, two desserts, and one appetizer.
With an event starting to take shape, I turned my focus to the invites.
As our first wedding-related outreach, I wanted to start communicating our colors and the (subtle) theme that was starting to take place. (Um…yeah, theme would be food.)
Using Microsoft Word, PaperSource cards, the trusty Cuttlebug, and some ribbon, I came up with this.
(Please excuse the poorly blocked out parts — privacy, you know.)
Mr. Bruschetta even pitched in to help assemble them! (Though, apparently, it was very serious, solemn work.)
I’m dying to recreate one of our side dishes to share with the hive, but all three are super summery (fresh corn, tomatoes, herbs, etc.), so I’ll have to take a rain check for when those ingredients (which I’m craving right now!) become available.
Are you hosting any pre-wedding mixers for your guests?
What a cute idea! 
Love the cards and the colors Miss Bruschetta!
My FH and I are throwing around an idea like this also, but we didnt’ think about it being a 1-year countdown. Great idea. We thought for some time about getting our bridesmaids and groomsmen and their families together for a small BBQ this summer, but how great to do this instead! I know of quite a few parks in the area where we could rent the pavilion and have a big grilling party to get everyone together! Genius!
@sefditz: We would have LOVED to have a grilling party, but didn’t want to chance spending the entire time cooking! Sound delish, though, and like a lot of fun!
Good point! Definitely don’t want to spend the whole time cooking. Though, I think the groomsmen would all pitch in for this—or at least I’d hope so! I’m so glad you posted this….it is giving me lost of ideas and the wheels are turning for a fabulous get together of our closest friends and family!
Cute idea!
My engagement will be 22 months, but I don’t think we will do anything like this because we see my family enough as it is!
This is a (kind of) unrelated question, but I’m new to DIY card making, and I am wondering how you get ribbons to not fray at the ends? Also, how do you attach them? I use a glue gun but you can see/feel where the glue is behind the ribbon.
Thanks!
I have never made cards but do quite a bit of scrapbooking. I have always just used my scrapbooking tape (some people use Zots) under the ribbon. I find it works pretty well, as the adhesive is semi-permanent. There is also a special adhesive for using under vellum (the clear scrapbooking paper) which I use under transparent ribbon. If done correctly, it shouldn’t show through. As for the ribbon not fraying: you could burn the ends (though this may look burnt) or you could use clear nail polish. Love to hear others’ ideas though, as I have yet to use this in a card or something not in page protectors that is regularly handled!
@Lisa: @sefditz: I used glue dots (http://www.gluedots.com/display/router.aspx?DocID=750) which we cut down to size. The ribbon wraps around the back of the card (but hey, that’s the side no one’s looking at, right?).
I wish we could have done this! Unfortunately, we’ll be out of the country until the wedding 
That’s such a good idea!! The invites are super cute.
I completely love the idea! I’m the first of my close fam & friends to get married (me generation) so amazingly everybody is so into it! We’ve been having a get-together of some sort once a month now… This next one coming up is our parents meeting so we decided to host it. We get to show our appreciation to our friends and family =)
Such a great idea for couples with long engagements! I can’t wait for that recipe YUM-MERS!
I have never heard of a one year countdown, until I got engaged and my bridesmaids liekd my long engageemnt because it gave them mroe excuses to throw parties, they want to have a one year countdown too!
I think the ifnormal/casualness of it makes it fun and another reason to get friends together!
Mmmmmm, tomatoes and corn….I’m so tired of all the cabbage, kale and beans in the produce section! I try to eat seasonally but it’s taking forever. Dear Winter, go away so Miss B can share her reipes with the hive. Love West Coast Bride
@West Coast Bride: I totally just laughed out loud when I read your comment! I hope you and winter are on good terms, because I can’t wait to share my summer sides trio with everyone!
Thats such a cute idea!!
Mr B has the face as my FI when working on DIY…I think its because they want to ipmress us.
We’re celebrating “Double Digit Day” which is 99 days until the wedding!!
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Mrs. Bruschetta, Philadelphia Age and Occupation: 25, Communication Professional Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Physical Therapy Graduate Student Engagement Date: November 30, 2007 Wedding Date: August 2009 Venue: St. Thomas of Villanova Church & the F.U.E.L. House About Me: I’m a self-proclaimed grammar geek who loves singing (like, really belting it) in the car. My mister and I are planning a vibrant summer soiree celebrating our passions – including food and Philly – and when we make it official, we’ll have been together for eight years! Being super competitive is in my nature, and talking excessively is in my genes. I’ve got a terrible sense of direction, but can always easily find my way into Mr. Bruschetta’s arms.
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