Dessert Meets Design: Ruffles with a Side of Star Wars Dessert Table

It's been forever since I touched based on this ole blog. Hopefully, you've been following along on Pinterest and Instagram, because I'm loving both those platforms right now. But, it's been a while, so it's good to get back to my blogging roots. I love working with Kirsten of Fab Event Design, and this time was no different.

What better way to say, "Hey, girl heeeey!" and get back in the swing of blogging than with a pretty dessert table I designed for Katharine & Tim's wedding? It was photographed by Melissa Oholendt and dressed up with Munster Rose blooms all set in beautiful Aria Minneapolis.

My clients, Katharine and Tim, wanted the table's vibe to match the femininity of the bride's blush pink dress (It was ah-mazing!) and the elegance of the invite's soft silver, ivory, and champagne palette. As pretty as the table was, it was also really important to the bride and groom that we incorporate a little Star Wars into the design. Gateaux added a tiny Princess Leia and a lil' Chewbacca for the topper on their ruffle cake. I was so obsessed with the cake frosting, that I had to try to recreate it at home weeks later. The kids were all over that. Here's another close-up of these two when they came out from behind the bow.

This sophisticated design wouldn't be complete without some macarons, custom monogrammed petit fours, and shooters. I designed custom favor boxes for the kids and custom bags for the chocolate potato chips and bacon brownies. Because let's face it, it wouldn't do to just have them sitting in a bowl on the table.

The sweet display wouldn't have been complete without the R2D2 groom's cake. Not only was he made following a very specific blueprint, he also made the robot's trademark sounds and lit up! Want to hear for yourself? Check out this video I posted from the wedding. 

Check out the noises this R2-D2 grooms cake made. Amazing, right?!?

A video posted by Shauna Younge (@shaunayounge) on Mar 8, 2014 at 9:36pm PST

Loved this couple, loved the vendors, loved it all!

venue: Aria Minneapolis

photographer: Melissa Oholendt

planner: Fab Event Design

dessert table, custom favors, custom labels: Shauna Younge

florals: Munster Rose

cakes, petit fours, shooters: Gateaux

macarons: Cocoa and Fig

chocolate potato chips: Sweet Chocolat

Search for Your Awesome Dessert Table + Party

I basically won the blogger lottery, when Bing recruited my Confetti Pop partner, Maddy, and I to co-host a party with Alison of The Alison Show for the Minneapolis leg of her Search for Your Awesome tour. We invited lots of great, local bloggers, business owners, and creatives and taught the in-person version of The Style Lab, our photo styling e-course. Here are few fab pics that photog Gene Oh shot of the festivities, including the dessert table I designed (Hello, macarons, gold flamingo cookies, and candy!) and Studio Fleurette's florals. Don't forget to check out the tote bags Maddy designed.

Obviously, I had to make this ridiculous face. Seriously, what is that face?!?

And, you know I had to grab a pic with my girl, Alanna. She helped us during the party and even stayed to clean up after this big, crazy bash. Thanks, giiiirl!

We had so much fun, and we always love any opportunity to teach our e-course, The Style Lab, in person. To all the attendees, thanks for joining us! And of course, none of it would be possible without Bing.

Styling + Concept: Shauna Younge, Maddy Hague
Co-host: Alison Faulkner
The Style Lab photo styling class taught by Confetti Pop 
Catering: Chowgirls Killer Catering
Photographer: Gene Oh Photography
Florist: Danielle Erickson
Venue: 514 Studios
Graphic Designer: Tosha Seeholer
Videographer: Modern Atelier

DIY Valentine's Arrow Macaron Picks

Ever come across something cute, and think, "Why didn't I think of that?" This Sugar and Cloth tutorial is one of those. It's cute, easy, and Valentine's Day appropriate. It doesn't get much better than that. Plus, it would mean having macarons on-set, and I'm all about that.

Swing by Sugar and Cloth, and check out the tutorial for this cute V-Day project.

Dessert Table: Starry Night Baby Shower

I love a co-ed baby shower, because let's face it, there isn't a lot for the father-to-be to do while the bun's still in the oven. A sophisticated, but fun, co-ed shower helps get dad excited and geared up for the little one's arrival. 100 Layer Cakelet featured this Peter Pan dessert table for a baby shower designed by Sugar & Fluff. Photographer Richelle Dante's pictures make the sweets look delicious.

That starry cake is a great compliment to the gold stars hanging from the ceiling. Cupcakes, macarons, and chocolate chip cookies are yummy companions.

I love that each guest had a mint green macaron waiting at their plate. What a sweet way to start a meal.

Swing by 100 Layer Cakelet to see the entire event.

Dessert Table: Green Goddess Dressing

This glittery dessert display is dressed head-to-toe in green and gold. From cakes, cupcakes, and cake pops to macarons and truffles, this entire Minted & Vintage display is just lustre'd up loveliness. Mr. Haack captured the sheen in living color.

Red and in Love captured this alternate view of the spread.

So did Christa and Ivy

image via 100LC

Dessert Table: Spring Has Sprung!

I'm loving this pastel dessert tablescape. It's everything you would expect to see at a spring bash, bunnies, flowers, and soft colors. What guest wouldn't want to dine next to this Ruche lookbook spread?

 images via Ruche

Dessert Table: Friend Fete

This simple cake is like a flower explosion! Rhiannon of Hey, Gorgeous Events and photog Kelly Braman teamed up to create this girls-only bash. Bursts of pink and red make this layered chocolate cake a girl's dream. Sugar crystals rim champagne wines and XO macarons greet each lady at their seat with even more stuff into favor boxes to-go.

Want to see even more dessert displays on bookcases, bureaus, and dressers? Feast your eyes on these.

images by Kelly Braman via Hey Gorgeous Events

Dessert Table: Macarons at Midnight!

It's that time of year, and another one is nearly over. 2013 is right around the corner, so my thoughts turn to glitter, sweets, and the big countdown. Last year, we participated in a progressive dinner for NYE. A ton of scheduling conflicts have kept us from doing a repeat, but I'm still in the mood for some yummy midnight macarons. Jade & Matthew Take Pictures captured this Gray Harper Event Maker dessert table filled with mini-champagne, colored popcorn, and sparkler topped macarons in all its festive sparkle.

What are you doing for New Year's? I think we'll be just hanging out at home doing a movie marathon once the kids are asleep.

pics via TKB

Pretty Peppermint Sweets

Nothing says "holidays" quite like peppermint. I love it this time of year. It seems like I've always got a mini cane in my pocket or purse. Peppermint in cocoa? Hello, it's great! I've round up some pretty red and white sweets to inspire your peppermint baking projects this year.

A white chocolate, peppermint cake layered with cheesecake sounds like a divine diet-destroyer.

What are your fave sweets to add peppermint to during the holidays?

Studio DIY peppermint macarons, Southern Living white choc cheesecake, Martha Stewart  peppermint egg nog

Dessert Meets Design: Modern Man

Just check out these truffles! Last Fall, I designed this modern yellow, grey, and white dessert table for Zoe and Josh. It was my first experience working with a really involved groom, and Josh was great. In fact, he made every selection, and the dessert table was really a surprise for his bride. He knew what he wanted, and I think the table's overall design reflects a more masculine, modern vibe than some of my other work. My girl Kirsten of Fab Events designed the rest of the event and photog Emma Freeman took these lovely pics.

The design included graphic truffles, macarons, S'mores cupcakes, cake pops, and a custom cupcake tower that I designed to house the mini varieties.

I love when a guy backs stereotype and actually cares about the wedding details. So sweet!

pics by Emma Freeman

Dessert Table: Brunch Bash

A pancake cake?!? I have to do this for breakfast one morning. It's sooo pretty, especially with powdered sugar sprinkled on top. I love when a tablescape incorporates delicious treats. Why interrupt good conversation to get up for sweets? This beautiful spread is stunning from every angle, including this birdseye view from Harwell Photography. Whoopie pies, pancakes, chocolate bars, and biscuits round out the offerings. The teams at Amy Osaba Events, Ginny Branch, and Erica Loesing put together the shoot for Atlanta Weddings Magazine.  

pics by Harwell Studios via Somewhere Splendid