Inspiration Board #8: Carnival

This board was inspired by Victor Sizemore's photos of a Carnival Themed Wedding in Anaheim, CA. You really must check them out - the wedding was so incredibly unique and looked like everyone in attendance had a super fun time. I will admit this isn't for everyone...it would require a pretty adventurous couple to pull off. But if you're looking to create an event people will talk about for years and years, this may just be the wedding idea for you.

1. Photo by Vallentyne Photography
2. Carnival Poster via Chica and Jo
3. Cornish Cream Tent from the Arabian Tent Co.
4. Ice Cream Cone Basket via Wedding Trikes
5. Cupcake by bookgrl (Flickr)
6. Ring Toss game from Stitch of Gold
7. Carriage from One of a Kind Pony Party

Inspiration Board #7: Spring Prairie - Honey, Butter, Spearmint

My board today was inspired by the bridal photo in the left corner by D Andrew Photography. The shot evokes an image of old-time romance - a bride with her hunting dog? Simply fabulous! I love the idea of an all-white table setting with monogrammed napkins. And how adorable are the homemade honey jar favors?

Sources:

1. Photo by D Andrew Photography
2. Bouquet by Livia Cetti via In Style Weddings
3. Honey Jar Favors via Vintage Mint (Photos via Country Living; Photo Credit: Laura Moss}
4. Table Setting from Country Living
5. Men's Suit shown on the Knot via Stylish Events Blog
6. Bridesmaid Dresses via Mr Penguin Bridal Boutique
7. Cake via Real Simple
8. Bridesmaid Jewelry from 2-Be-Unique
   

Engagement Photos: Meghan and Justin

I know I've been promising to show some of these for a while now and I've finally gotten around to posting them! Lotz Studios published some shots from Meghan and Justin's 30+ photog engagement shoot to their blog. Here are a few of my favorites. I can't wait to see the photos from the amateur photographers as well.

Doesn't my sister look like a movie star in this photo?

This picture totally captures both of their personalities!

A romantic smooch by Justin's "old" truck...

And a few collages for your viewing enjoyment...

All photos by Lotz Studios

Inspiration Board #6: Spring Violets and Plums

Lately I've been battling violets in my front yard. But even though I don't like them taking over my lawn, I think they're very pretty on their own...pretty enough even to inspire a royal, purple-hued wedding theme. Some of my favorite ideas in this board are ties for the groomsmen in different purple patterns (who says they all have to match!) and surrounding a beautifully simple crepe cake with violet and white cupcakes.

1. Photo by Vallentyne Photography
2. Two Lips Disco Purple Stilettos – via the Fashionable Housewife
3. Purple Table Setting by Maddy K Weddings – Montreal
4. Glorious Garden Invitation by Felicitations
5. Necklace by Magical Becomings -
6. Purple Tie Rack by TheBazile on Flickr
7. Purple feather adornment with purple flower from Emerald’s Hats & Frills
8. Crepe Cake by Lady M Confections via Martha Stewart Weddings
9. Violet Cupcakes via Crumbs and Doilies Blog
10. Wedding Bouquets by Livia Cetti via In Style Weddings
11. Bridesmaid Dresses via In Style Weddings (Kate Powers = Photo Credit)
    

Pretty Accessories: Feathery Headbands, Flowery Clips

I apologize I've taken a couple weeks off from updating the blog - I have a major deadline at work and haven't had time to do any wedding-related research.
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A week or so ago I was on the Urban Outfitters website and found these gorgeous hair accessories...and thought they'd be perfect for as bridesmaid wedding hair accessories. Etsy also has a huge offering of beautiful feather and flower embellished headbands - some of which would be great for the bride to wear instead of a veil or in place of the veil at the reception.

Headbands and Hair Clips - From L-R (all from Urban Outfitters):

• Large Flower Hairclip
• Double Skinny Flower Headband
• Ribbon Wrapped Feather Headband - Version 1
• Ribbon Wrapped Feather Headband - Version 2
  

A Sampling of Hair Accessories found on Etsy (L-R):

• Ivory and Peacock Feather Headpiece from Wild Spirits
• Lovely Ivory Feather Comb for the Bride from Wild Spirits
• Feather and Rose "Fanticy" Comb from BeSomethingNew
• Gloria – Golden Peacock feather headband from Bethany Lorelle
• Lillian Gish from BoringSidney
• Vintage Peach Headband from BeSomethingNew
  

Inspiration Board #6: Southern Romance - Buttercream, Pale Yellow, White, Lace

Every morning when I arrive at work, I walk by a beautiful, black and white photo of Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana. For months I've been thinking about how it would make a lovely backdrop for a wedding and finally pulled together an inspiration board centered around the historic property.

I think some brides get carried away and think a romantic a wedding needs to have lots and lots of expensive details. But romance doesn't need to be complicated. In this board I paired buttercreams and pale yellows with simple but finely-detailed accessories. Notice how the table setting is uncomplicated with plates, linens, chair covers in the same hue and a large flower arrangement of complimenting tones. Also, due to the cake having a lot of lacey detailing, it is best presented in a simple, single-tier. This setting would make for an elegant yet relaxed afternoon wedding. You could make the reception brunch-style, serving fresh orange juice mimosas, chicken-salad cream puff sandwiches, fresh caprese salad and chocolate-covered strawberries. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Also, can I tell you how much I love the Maggie Sottero wedding gown in the two photos from Swensen Photography? It's simply gorgeous!

Sources:

1. Photo of Oak Alley Plantation via The Oak Alley Plantation Website
2. Nina & Shawn's Wedding by Swensen Photography
3. Nina & Shawn's Wedding by Swensen Photography
4. Fragrant White Bouquet by Teenas Creations
5. Cake – Fabulous Gourmet Patisserie
6. Vintage-inspired Necklace by Magical Becomings
7. Chicken Salad Crème Puffs via My Recipes
8. Bridesmaid Dress in Style 2053 by Dessy
9. Cream Table Setting shown on Marquee-Hire
10. Rose and freesia bridal bouquet by Wild Poppies
11. Wedding Ring Photo by Sakura Photography
12. Cream Wedding Favor Bag from Pac-HS (UK)
13. Cream Wedding Invitation (Style #AC4713B) from Indian Wedding

Get Your Best Bridal Gown Body

Most brides are busy. Between work (or school), wedding planning -and- trying to maintain a personal life, when is there time to exercise?!? But since everyone wants to look good on their wedding day (and in that bikini on the honeymoon) getting into shape is not something you should brush aside. Besides it's good for you! There's no better time than now to start getting your arms toned and abs tightened. Not only will you look great, but even doing 20 minutes of exercise a day will give you more energy and help relieve some of the stress caused by bridal planning.

I currently work as a management consultant which means frequent travel, long hours sitting in front of a computer and little-to-no personal time. Basically what I'm trying to tell you is if I can find time to exercise, so can you :) Below are a few videos I like to alternate between. All three can be found on Amazon.com for ~$9-13 each - much cheaper than a gym membership! Two feature Jennifer Galardi, one of my personal favorites since her videos incorporate a lot of dance moves into them. Also, for those of you who think you don't have time to do a video every day, two of these are just for you. Both 10 Minute Solution and Trim and Tone Fast let you personalize your workouts by combining as many or as few short workouts into one. This is a great feature since sometimes we get busy and may only have 10-20 minutes to spare...in other words, these videos don't let you make excuses to skip a day of working out. Also, since these two videos use resistance bands instead of bulky weights, you can easily pack everything in your suitcase if you're traveling somewhere. Simply run the video off your laptop and get into shape in your hotel room (can you tell I've done this before?).

From Left to Right:

• Dance off the Inches - Hip Hop Party on Amazon
• 10 Minute Solution - Dance it Off & Tone it Up! on Amazon
• Self - Trim and Tone Fast! on Amazon

Inspiration Board #5: Spring Fling - Melon, Peach, Yellow, Orange

I was driving back from the Detroit airport today and noticed massive clumpings of daffodils in full bloom off of I-94. I decided to use these lovely signs of spring as inspiration to create a lively, bright theme perfect for this time of year. Warm and inviting colors with a few narcissus thrown in = a sassy mix of class and comfort.

1. Dahlia Gown by Simple Silhouettes
2. 320 Park Avenue in New York via EMRG Media
3. Striped Neck Tie from Ties-Necktie.com
4. Boutonniere from Wedding Flowers Guide
5. Cool Passport Invitations found on Ars Lounge
6. LulaKate Bridal Bridesmaid Dresses via Lucky in Love Wedding Blog
7. Bouquet shown on Australia Entertains
8. Serrano Ham and Melon photos from The Flirty Guide
9. Raspberry Lemon Pie from Thimbelanna
10. Ticket from Amemptos Music (UK)
11. Flower Hair Combs shown on Martha Stewart Weddings via Bridal Wave
    

Inspiration Board #4: Vintage Wedding at the Pinnacle Golf Club; Brown, Cream, Bronze

Meghan and Justin have pretty much decided on the elegant Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, OH for the location of their wedding and reception (I'll blog about Pinnacle later). Since they now know the place and the theme, I decided to take an initial stab at creating a vintage-inspired board customized for the location.

Some of my favorite ideas in this board include the necklaces in Jim Hjelm's bridesmaid dress photos(they completely make the outfit and have that vintage-elegance Meghan is seeking), using monograms on napkins, parasols, etc (that along with her lace bridal gown = classic, timeless elegance), and accessorizing the decor with vintage items such as necklaces and keys.

BTW...I'll blog later about an idea I have for a super unique entrance "tree" that combines seating locations and favors all in one (hint - it involves buying up some vintage jewelry lots on eBay).

1. Clubhouse @ the Pinnacle Golf Club– Red Gallery Photography via The Caspersons's Wedding Page (no longer exists?)
2. Wedding arch at the Pinnacle Golf Club
3. Men’s Suit – Jims via Wedding by Color
4. Cameo Lot found on eBay
5. Vintage Car via Long Stowe Hall (UK)
6. Monogrammed Parasol via Australia Entertains
7. Cake via the Cake Channel
8. Faux Vintage Polaroid by Crazy Leaf Design (Tutorial)
9. Typewriter Guest Book from Wedding Bee
10. Peach Bouquet from Vintage Design Company
11. Vintage Keys found on eBay
12. Vintage Photo - Unknown
13. Chandeliers from Pinnacle Golf Club
14. Jim Hjelm Occasions Dress in Style: jh5716
15. Paper Fan via All You Need to Wear
16. Jim Hjelm Bridesmaid Dress in Style: jh5736
17. Jim Hjelm Bridesmaid Dress in Style: jh5708
18. Bouquet - Photo by Rare Image Photography via Flickr
19. Cream Wire Lantern from Global Event Supplies
20. Faux Vintage Postcard by Red Leaf Studios
21. Vintage Bridal Shoes via The Bridal Wishlist Blog
22. Ring Pillow by Paper Hill (sold on Etsy) via Pink Streed Design Blog
23. Table filled with candles photo by Jennifer Dery – Wedding at the Four Seasons
24. Tree Centerpieces - Unknown
25. Monogrammed Napkins via Escape Concepts

(If you recognize a photo on here and know the source, drop me a note - I want to give credit where credit's due!)

Save the Dates

Meghan and Justin have decided on a vintage theme for their wedding. With that in mind, Meghan and I were trying to brainstorm ideas for Save the Date cards. I thought vintage-style postcards might be fun (besides allowing them to save a little bit of money on postage) and started playing with some potential designs. Here is a sample of what I came up with. My favorite touch is the custom postmarks that have each of their last names, their birthdays and town in which they grew up. And obviously the photo would be their TBD engagement pics - they're thinking some might be cute with Justin's vintage pickup truck - which would definitely compliment their chosen theme.

Inspiration Board #3: Champagne & Lace, Spring Pastels

Since it's starting to warm up here in Michigan and I've been seeing Easter decorations in all of the stores, I was inclined to create a soft, pastel-themed inspiration board. The first photo I found was from the National Park Service - Big Spring Park - and thought it fit the image of the ideal spring wedding perfectly.

1. Men’s Suit from Loris Diran (Spring 2007) via AH Fashion
2. Table Setting from Roland Kreig Photographic Print via All Posters (UK)
3. Big Spring Park via the National Park Service
4. Mui Mui Ballet Flats via Mindless Ramblings & Misadventures of Miss Clio Blog
5. Mui Mui Ballet Flats via Mindless Ramblings & Misadventures of Miss Clio Blog
6. Invitation by Invitations by Nature
7. Fine Silver Stamped Spiral Ring – Wear Me Jewels (Etsy)
8. Love and Romance Bouquet from 4165 Flower
9. Wooden Utensils – Michelle and Noah’s picnic wedding from the Bride’s Café via East Side Bride Blog
10. Folk Art Bunnies – Old World Primatives (Etsy)
11. Dress - Think of Strenesse's strapless dress via Cynthia Nellis (About.com)

Budget Saving Tips

We all know weddings can be expensive! But if you get creative, there are many ways you can shrink your spending without compromising the experience both you and your guests have at your once-in-a-lifetime affair. Here are some ideas:

• Cake: Keeping up with this tradition can be a major expense but there are ways to cut back on costs. First, select a smaller cake for "the display" and use pre-cut sheet cake to serve to guests. Second, choose buttercream instead of fondant frosting. Not only is it cheaper, it tastes much better! Another option would be to just do a dessert bar, skipping the cake all-together. I’ve heard of people using cupcakes or even miniature pies along with desserts made by family and friends. This adds a personal touch to the event and a down-home feel while keeping some cash in your pockets.


• Invitations: For all you craft-bugs, there are endless options for making your own invitations, RSVPs, Save the Dates, etc. (I'll talk more about this in a future entry since my sister and I plan to take on this task for her wedding). Another way to save costs on your invitations is to use postcards for reply cards ilo a card with an envelope. Not only do you save the cost of the extra envelope, but you avoid paying extra postage (postcard stamps are cheaper!). Also, avoid square invites or mail them in rectangular envelopes since squares envelopes require additional postage.


• Photographer: One of my rules is to never skimp on photography. However, there are many talented photographers out there who may not be well known...yet. Before making your final photographer selection, check out local photography/art schools and assistant photographers to larger named professionals. You may find a perfect photograher at a great price since some of these individuals are working to put a professional portfolio together and are willing to work for less to pull it together. I would have them take a few shots of you and your fiance as well as show you photos they have taken at other events and of people to give you an idea of the quality of their work and style before hiring them however.


• When - Day of the Week or Time of the Year: Who says you have to stick with tradition? Many venues will offer deals if you hold your event on a Friday night -or- Sunday Brunch. Also, selecting off-months (i.e. October thru April) and avoiding holidays and major flower holidays (Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc) should result in lower rental fees.


• More Fillers, Fewer Flowers: Besides not picking to have your wedding during major flower holidays, utilize the use of pretty fillers instead of flower-rich arrangements. I have seen some beautiful arrangements done with branches or leafy greens. It also helps to select locally grown flowers that are in season.
  
• Multi-Purpose: Think about making your decorations work double-shifts. For example, bouquets carried by your bridesmaids become part of centerpieces, favors and place cards become one in the same, etc.


• Bar Saver: First of all, if you're able to find a place that allows you to supply your own alcohol, you're going to save a ton of money (venue mark-ups are huge!). Second, stick to beer and wine and add a "signature" drink instead of having a fully stocked bar.

Inspiration Board #2: Modern Peacock - Lime, Brown

This inspiration board was inspired by a funky peacock lampshade I found on Anthropologie this week. It sets the tone for an uncomplicated, modern and exotic wedding theme with just the right pop of aqua and lime to offset the rich brown. I visualized turning the shades into pendant lights which would then be hung over a long, rectangular main table.

1. Anjou Wire Lantern from Wrapables
2. Peacock Shade from Anthropologie - Available in May 2009
3. Luggage Tags as name cards from Favor Studio
4. Versini, Brown, Multistripe, Three-Button Suit from Men's Warehouse
5. Peacock Paisley Pillow from Amazon.com
6. Maggie Sottero Wedding Dress in Fredricka found on Brides.com
7. Table Design by Root Candles (Includes instructions how to re-create this look)
8. Green Hydrangea Bouquet found on Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas (Photo by John Henry)
9. Truffle Bridesmaid's Dress from David’s Bridal
10. Handmade Card by Mel Stampz (Blog includes instructions how to re-create)
11. Boutonniere from Melissa Marie Floral Design
12. Peacock Flourish Menu from Documents and Designs
13. Cellini Ladies Satin Wedding Shoes from Amazon UK
14. Bridal Bouquet by Monday Morning Flowers
15. Hot Chocolate Wedding Cake by Maisie Fantaisie (UK)
16. Modern Place Setting by Dwell Studio via Hatch: The Design Public Blog
17. Customized Take-Out Box by Coastal Blue Promotions
18. Lunch Tote by Milano found on Organize.com
19. Peacock Metal Wall Art from Quilted Bear
20. Kiwi Vases from Crate & Barrel

Eye Candy: Amy Atlas Events

This past weekend I was flipping through my Food and Wine magazine and stumbled across the most lovely dessert tables I have ever seen. The designs were by Amy Atlas events in New York known for fashionable, fun, high-end dessert tables. It's easy to see from sample designs (below) featured on her website why she's such a hit. Amy's also just started a blog called Sweet Designs which I'm looking forward to visiting for more inspiration.