Faye and Greer

Farewell

2007-10-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting recently- Faye and I wanted to take an unofficial break from blogging to really focus on our personal projects. Unfortunately, neither of us is very good at multi-tasking, so we have decided to say farewell to our little project so that we can each have more time to devote to our new opportunities. We are so lucky to have had this little blog to remember how much fun we had during the wedding planning process and we wish all of you the best of luck with your own planning- thank you for letting us share with you!

Sincerely,
Faye & Greer

Thank you Carla + Pete!

2007-09-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for sharing the amazing details of your wedding with us!

{photo by Beth Beljon}

Carla + Pete: Flowers and Cake

2007-09-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

From Carla Lane:
My only bouquet request was to "Make it big." Jennifer Katz of Fiore Designs created these lush bouquets with green roses, gardenias, white spray roses, scabiosa pods, preserved white hydrangeas, and feathers. The bridesmaids wore matching print dresses from BCBG.

{photo by Beth Beljon}

The cake was inspired by a Jonathan Adler piece of pottery, and we used a tiny Adler vase filled with lisianthus as a topper. The fondant cake by Exquisite Desserts had a ribbed effect that mimicked the vase.

{photo by Beth Beljon}

Carla + Pete: Ceremony, Cocktails, and Reception

2007-09-21T14:51:00.001-07:00

More from Carla Lane:
It was so HOT the day of my wedding I provided parasols with a tag that said "stay cool baby it's hot outside" and we served lime smoothies in champagne glasses as they waited for the late bride.

{photo by Beth Beljon}

I used white chivari chairs with black cushions for the ceremony (I hung simple green tassels on each chair down the aisle) and reception, then switched to black chivari chairs with white cushions for cocktail hour. It didn't add a lot of cost but it added a lot of style.

Ceremony

{photo by Beth Beljon}

Cocktail Hour

{photo by Beth Beljon}

Reception

{photo by Beth Beljon}

For the reception, Cheree Berry used a different clip art design for each table (here you can see zebras, candelabras, parasols, bumblebees, and bicycles). We put it out on tablecloths I sewed for the cocktail hour and used black and white striped ribbon to hold them down, which matched my invites. On the escort-card table was a glass jar containing river rocks, dahlias, and succulents.

{photo by Beth Beljon}

Check back later for flowers and the cake!

Carla + Pete: Jump Photos

2007-09-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about the next few posts! Carla Lane is an extremely talented interior designer who, lucky for us, was also recently married. The pictures from her wedding at the Parker Palm Springs (also featured in Brides California) are equally as creative as her work, so we can't wait to share them all over the next few days.

Carla and Pete had a digital photo set up against a huge backdrop and the guests all jumped! Carla said that this series of photographs is "hands down the best pix from my wedding", and we can see why! In the first photo, the guy in the seersucker suit and matching seersucker Converse sneakers is Carla's brother and that's the same outfit all of the groomsmen wore. Carla's now husband, Pete, is a professional photographer, which she says can keep the costs down for setting up these "Jump" photos.

{photos by Roman Cho}
***please note***
The majority of Roman's work is in the commercial and entertainment field and his website reflects that. Since he does not shoot weddings on a
regular basis and does not advertise myself as such, the weddings he does
shoot tend to be of friends and acquaintances (such as Carla and
Pete's). Depending on what the bride and the groom are looking for, Roman says that "I can
shoot either in a very simple manner- photojournalist-like,
fly-on-the-wall, observer telling the story of the wedding or I bring
in my studio experience and build a complex studio-on-location and
capture high-quality photos with sophisticated lighting a la Carla's
photos. Please let your readers know that I am available for weddings
and while they are welcome to look at my website, if they want to see
wedding-specific images, they should contact me directly."

Check back with us over the next few days to see more of Carla's pictures- the cake, the escort cards (by my own stationer, Cheree Berry)- more to come!

Inn at Palmetto Bluff

2007-09-10T05:34:00.000-07:00

Taking a break this week to catch up on some projects that need lots of attention, so we will leave you with pictures from one of our favorite weddings at the Inn at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina. We love the ceremony options- either a sweet white chapel by the riverside or the village square surrounded by towering oak trees. See more pictures here.

{photos from Palmetto Bluff}

Mark Staff Photography has several beautiful slideshows from Palmetto Bluff weddings on his website, but this one really stole our attention- yes, that is Reese Witherspoon as a beautiful bridesmaid in yellow (top right photo, far left). And the cake looks inspired by Martha's dogwood cake! See more pictures from the wedding here and here.

{photos from Mark Staff Photography}

Blueberry Wedding

2007-09-07T10:22:00.002-07:00

Just saw these wedding photos by Stacey Kane (via The Preppy Wedding) and fell in love! We love all the blueberry details on the stationery and especially on the cupcakes, all designed by Kate Parker of Kate Parker Weddings...see the full slideshow here.

{photos by Stacey Kane}

Athenaeum Press

2007-09-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

Love this slightly retro/slightly preppy letterpress wedding invite from Athenauem Press, thanks to Little Lined Notebook for introducing us! Especially love the red and blue, the letterpressed houndstooth pattern, and the argyle monogram- it's like modern Charlie Brown chic!

{photos from Anthenaeum Press}

Checkerboard Ballrooms

2007-09-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

There is something so appealing about a black and white checked floor- in my old apartment my kitchen was checked and I think I rented it based on that alone! Love the contrast also of the black and white with tiffany-blue fabric on the left (a Soiree event, of course!) and the turquoise walls in the middle. We tend to like bigger squares in wedding pictures- they immediately make a dance floor look more fun!

{L to R: Brides, Brides, Soiree Charleston}

Nautical Details

2007-09-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

We are loving these nautical details for a wedding- the little white chocolate flags on the cake, the flag escort & place cards, the cupcake flags- and cute sailboat sugar cookie favors to send off the guests! The contrast of the primary colors looks so fresh amongst all the soft pastels we normally see at weddings (which we love also- don't get us wrong!)...

{Left column from Brides, middle and right columns from Rebecca Thuss}

Love, Freddy & Ma

2007-09-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

A few days ago we posted about the new service for brides at Freddy & Ma, and now they are offering our readers 20% off any of the bags on their site from now until the end of September with the code FAYEGREER. And brides always get 20% when you order 5 or more of their clutches. If you are stumped on which bag to go for, check out their blog for some great ideas- we especially love the "Bag of the Day" where Freddy & Ma style a whole outfit around one of their bag designs!

Albertine Press

2007-09-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Based out of Boston, this letterpress design and print shop does everything from save-the-dates to baby announcements- all of it unique and just a little eccentric. We especially love the escort cards on the top right, where each table featured a drawing of a favorite place in Central Park like Bethesda Terrace and Alice in Wonderland.

{photos from Albertine Press}

Orange and Chocolate

2007-09-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

So it definitely doesn't feel anywhere close to fall yet for us, but it seems like after Labor Day everyone is in the mood for fall. While we are not huge fans of orange and black for a Halloween-inspired wedding, we do love this combination of orange and chocolate, in cakes as well as flowers. The bouquet and table centerpieces of orange dahlias and chocolate-brown cosmos are just a perfect color combination for a modern fall wedding. Also check out the orange dahlia wreaths worn by these flower girls (photos by Liz Banfield).

{L to R: bouquet from Brides, cake from InStyle Weddings, reception from The Knot}

Faye is a favorite!

2007-09-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Although the inspiration board contest over on Style Me Pretty is over, Faye still feels like she won because her board was picked as one of Abby's favorites! Read more about it here and here.

{photo from MS via Brooklyn Bride's flickr pool}

Needle + Thread Invites

2007-09-04T08:32:00.001-07:00

We are loving all of the stitched details that keep popping up on invitations lately. Fabric envelopes and pockets allow you to add pattern and color without muddying up the actual invite, so you can mix the formality of a simple invitation with the casual warmth that comes from the handmade detail. Even though they are intended to look handmade and sweetly imperfect, they can still set the tone for a rustic wedding, a modern garden ceremony, or even a more formal event.

{Clockwise, L to R: Brides, Bird & Banner, Gingham invite by Chelsea, Bird & Banner}

Hamptons Style

2007-08-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

It's labor day weekend! Feeling inspired by the prospect of a lazy and long weekend, I keep going back to look at these pictures from the Hamptons taken by The Sartorialist for Style.com. Click here to see the full slideshow.

{L to R: Eva Prinz, Lauren Bush, and Mandy Moore from Style.com}

Wouldn't it be fun to be a guest at wedding with this kind of laid-back elegance- sort of like a Gatsby-style event with croquet, melon balls, and lots of women wearing big, floppy hats (for Faye, she loves hats)? That is the kind of country club wedding I would actually want to go to...

{Top: Brides, invitation from Bird & Banner, MS Weddings;
Middle: croquet set on Oh How Charming!, Calico cake from MS Weddings, bouquet by Ariella Chezar;
Bottom: picture from Style.com, dress from MS Weddings, melon balls from Martha}

Enjoy your lazy long weekend!

Ripe Tomatoes

2007-08-31T07:11:00.000-07:00

Chelsea posted the most beautiful picture of a basket of organic, heirloom tomatoes from a wedding she recently worked on. The colors of the ripe tomatoes are so vibrant and juicy looking- they would look so pretty as centerpieces like Martha did, using baskets that look straight from the market (and cheap- $1.29 to $1.49 each!). We love this paired with placecards on a painted tin can or votive candle holder with breadsticks blooming out of it.

{both pictures from MS Weddings: (L) tomato centerpieces, (R) breadstick placecards}

Bicycles

2007-08-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lateness this morning, I am moving out of my apartment today and while my internet was cut off right on time at my old apartment, of course it was not hooked up as planned at the new place! Anyway, this post on of our favorite new blogs, Oh Happy Blog!, reminded me of these bicycle-themed invitations I bookmarked to share with you all. I especially love Heatherjeany's on the bottom right where the "Reception to follow" traces the back wheel of the bike! Oh well, enough prettiness, back to packing...

{Top: (L) Austin Press, (R) Greenwich Letterpress; Bottom: both Heatherjeany}

May+Belle Calligraphy

2007-08-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

Maybelle describes her lettering style as perfectly imperfect, but I wish my handwriting was imperfect like hers; I would love to learn calligraphy so I could make pretty little things like these...

{images from May+Belle Calligraphy}

White Wedding Cakes

2007-08-29T07:29:00.001-07:00

Some of the best white wedding cakes incorporate texture and a level of detail that really make an impact. Although I still love bright and colorful cakes, these are refreshing to look at, and for brides I think a white cake can be a relief- it goes with everything!

{Clockwise, L to R: Dogwood cake from MS Weddings, cake by The Cake Girls, Appliqué cake from MS Weddings,
Danish modern cake by Lovin Sullivan, Pleated cake on Brides, Button cake from MS Weddings}

Mushroomy Things

2007-08-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

Lately Faye and I are loving mushroomy things! These invites and cakes would be perfect for an outdoor wedding in the fall, and the Mushroomy Compliments card by Pearl & Marmalade (far right) would be a sweet card for your groom the morning of your wedding.

{L to R: Greenwich Letterpress, Heatherjeany, Pearl & Marmalade}

{L to R: Meringue Mushrooms from MS Weddings, Marzipan Mushrooms from MS Weddings, Woodland Cake by The Cake Girls}

Don't forget to vote!

2007-08-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

You can now vote for your favorite inspiration board from the second round of the contest on Style Me Pretty. Of course I voted for mom (Faye), whose picnic-style recommitment ceremony seems to have channeled a Martha Stewart Wedding without even knowing it! So don't forget to vote, even if you don't vote for Faye ;)

{photo from frolic!}

Hot Air Balloons

2007-08-27T07:03:00.001-07:00

This post from Oh Happy Day! on Friday reminded me of all the cute stationery I've seen lately with hot air balloons...

{clockwise, L to R: Up Up and Away noteset by Pearl & Marmalade, Journey wedding invite by Austin Press, Journey envelope close-up by Austin Press, post wedding party invite by Sesame Letterpress}

Martha Stewart Photo Galleries

2007-08-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

This might be old news, but over the weekend I noticed these little photo galleries from Martha Stewart Weddings where the pictures are not so itty bitty! Some of the content of their website is so small you can't see the painstaking details (which MS is all about), so we are happy to have these slideshows to browse since we are the unlucky few without back issues to sift through. They are a little difficult to navigate though, so we thought you might like links.

A Slice of Heaven- includes couture cakes, china cakes, and cakes decorated with flowers
All in the Details- includes guest books, seating cards, and place cards
Bridal Bouquets- includes roses, pink bouquets, colorful bouquets, and ribbons, wraps & details
Take One, Please- includes cookies, other sweet treats, and pretty packages
Style & Substance- includes tea length dresses, ball gowns, and slim sheaths
Gorgeous Gowns- includes photospreads Portrait of a Lady, Fashion A to Z, The Dress Atelier, and In Perfect Shape

These are non-wedding focused, but cute none-the-less...
Cutest Cupcakes
Summer Parties

Freddy & Ma Weddings

2007-08-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

Many of you have seen Freddy & Ma's custom handbags in magazines like InStyle and Lucky, and also recently on the arms of The Hills' cast! So Faye and I were excited to hear that they are expanding their custom handbag services to brides-to-be and bridesmaids, offering special customization services from helping brides design their own purse for the big day to providing pretty purses for your bridesmaids.

As part of this new service geared towards brides, they will offer exclusive colors you won't find on their website, or if you are really into matching colors, you can send them fabric swatches and they will find complementary hues to recolor any of the 750 existing prints (in the past some prints have even been designed by Oh Joy!, seen here and here) to match your palette. In addition, specialty custom options are available if you want to create custom variations of their prints to make each bag as unique as your bridesmaids. If you want to keep it subtle, they can line each bag in a different color. Or you can add Freddy & Ma to the guest list for bridal showers and bachelorette parties, and they promise to "coax out the inner handbag designer in everyone, and help friends and family design their very own purses" (limited to NY, San Francisco, and LA). Oh, and they are just really cute!

{email brides[at]freddyandma[dot]com for more information, or call 917.514.5155}

CeciNY Save-the-Dates

2007-08-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

More pictures of the save-the-date designed by CeciNY used in the Nashville board below. Love the mix of cranberry and sage with the dogwood flowers, banjo, and guitar.

And we love this save-the-date for a winter wedding in Beaver Creek, Colorado...

Nashville Inspiration Board

2007-08-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

I was a conspirator on another board posted on Style Me Pretty this morning- this one was cooked up with my officemates in our cell with no windows that equals an office for four people. So I thought I would give you guys the breakdown of where the photos came from!

{Top: photo by Lisa Lefkowitz, invite by CeciNY, photo by Lisa Lefkowitz;
Middle: chandelier on Brides, cake and bouquet from Rebecca Thuss;
Bottom: "Thanks Ya'll" favors from The Knot bio for AliKay, dress on Brides, reception photo by Mel Barlow}

Faye's Picnic-Inspired Recommitment Ceremony

2007-08-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

Yay for Faye- her inspiration board is up on Style Me Pretty today! She combined a bunch of photos we have posted on the blog in a pretty sweet way...so proud of her, how do you think she did? If you knew Faye, you would think this really expresses her personality- she is bubbly, always optimistic, and says "bless your heart!" (and really means it) at least 12 times a day.

{Top: bouquet by Enchanted Florist, BCBG dress photo by Paul Johnson, cake from Lovin Sullivan;
Middle: invitation from Sesame Letterpress, cupcakes from Brides, escort cards by CeciNY;
Bottom: ring pillow photo by Lisa Lefkowitz, table setting on The Knot, watermelon on flickr}

On the short side

2007-08-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Faye and I both flipped for this BCBG dress in the store, but unfortunately the one color dress I could not buy was white since I was shopping for a wedding. But seeing the dress again here reminded us of how cute it would be for a casual wedding or a re-commitment ceremony (which I hope my parents do!). This bride makes the dress look chic, sophisticated and perfectly wedding-day appropriate. See more short bridal dresses on Brides.

{photo from Paul Johnson Photography}

Winter Wedding Inspiration

2007-08-22T09:15:00.001-07:00

My favorite inspiration board so far from round 2 of the contest on Style Me Pretty- beautiful job, Isis!

Low Country Weddings

2007-08-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

{photo from Brides}

We've had several requests for more destination ideas, so Faye researched two amazing plantations near Charleston, South Carolina for a low country wedding. We love the idea of having outdoor weddings under grand oak trees, access to the beach or lakes plus city amenities, and Charleston offers at least two historical plantations that meet all three ideals.

Drayton Hall Plantation

{photo from Brides}
Drayton Hall Plantation has the rich feel of southern history, having been built in the 1730s. The double storied balconies and white columns look over streets with horse-drawn carriages where the drivers still wear suits and top hats. The towering oak tree in back is situated next to a pond and looks ideal for a late afternoon wedding.

Boone Hall Plantation

{photo from flickr}
Another historic farm perfect for outdoor weddings is Boone Hall Plantation. With its oak-lined avenue leading to the property, even the entrance says southern hospitality. There is an open-air dock house to enjoy the sun setting. Cocktails can be enjoyed on the dock or inside and include their signature drink: “amaretto sunsets.” For any fans of "The Notebook", this is the house that acted as the summer house for Allie and her family; she and Noah broke up right in this driveway. Inside Weddings also featured a wedding at Boone Hall, view the slideshow here.

Champagne & Cake

2007-08-21T09:24:00.001-07:00

Pictures we are loving this week for a friend's champagne and cake Friday night wedding...

{Top: table setting designed by Oh How Charming! and photo by Aaron Delesie Photography, cake by April Reed, photo from Rebecca Thuss;
Middle: invitation by CeciNY, dress by J.Crew, photo from Rebecca Thuss;
Bottom: photo from MrsRobsButton, champagne and clutch on Brides}

Nesting

2007-08-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

{moving card by Elum via Greer Chicago}

So, we are moving next week and I am getting more and more excited about setting up our first home together, but I was even more excited when I read on the Blue Orchid Blog that Abby of Abby Jean Press and Style Me Pretty is working on Style Me Domestic, a blog for the style-obsessed dweller! Awhile ago, she transformed a living room into a wedding so we can't wait to see what she comes up with in this new venture. In the spirit of nesting, here is my current wishlist for our new home...

{Dwell Chinoiserie Bedding}

{all products from Anthropologie: owl salt & pepper shakers, rooster timer, bluebird grapefruit sugar bowl, yellow rose canister}

A Male Perspective

2007-08-20T10:01:00.001-07:00

{photo from Domino}
Every woman- bride, mother of the bride, girlfriend- should read this post on WeddingBee by Mr. Monkey. It's absolutely hilarious- I personally identify with #5, 7, and especially 8!

Minimalist Cake

2007-08-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

I keep looking at this cake and I can't quite describe why I like it so much because I'm generally not a big fan of monogram cake toppers, but I think this cake design is modern, understated, and elegant.

{photo by Paul Johnson Photography}

Nancy Liu Chin Floral Designs

2007-08-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Everyone has already seen Nancy's unique floral designs in Lisa Wong Jackson's wedding. Her online portfolio is equally inspiring- we especially love the flowers from her Caffe Viola color story. We find it so much more fun to browse florists' sites when they are organized by either wedding event or color palette. What do you think makes a good vendor website? I think a lot of vendors in the wedding industry (florists, photographers, cake designers, etc.) could benefit from better designed websites- is a good website a factor for you when making the decision to use someone or not? Just curious- Faye didn't seem to mind when a website was totally worthless, but a well-designed website and easy-to-navigate portfolio were a huge plus in my book!

{photos from Nancy Liu Chin Designs}

Linda & Harriett Wedding Invitations

2007-08-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

I first heard about Linda & Harriett from guest blogger Elisabeth Warman on {frolic!}. Liz Libré, the creator, recently blogged about submitting some wedding invitation samples to Brides magazine, and we love this cheery yellow invitation she created. You can also view pictures of Liz's own wedding by the amazingly talented photographer Stacey Kane here.

{photo from Linda & Harriett blog}

Peculiar Pair Press

2007-08-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

Really pretty letterpress wedding invitations from Peculiar Pair Press, on the left is the 'Spring Garden' design and on the right is a custom design from Brides.

Martha Stewart Weddings Blog

2007-08-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Looks like Martha Stewart Weddings is hopping on the bridal blog bandwagon! Check out Darcy Miller's new blog for brides...

Turquoise and Spotted Feathers

2007-08-16T09:51:00.001-07:00

Still wasting time on Michelle Rago's site yesterday, I stumbled upon these pictures that reminded me of one of my favorite color/texture combinations from Oh Joy! Don't know who did these beautiful invites, but the boutonnières are just awesome.

{photos from Michelle Rago}

10022-SHOE Stamps

2007-08-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

10022-SHOE is the zip code for the new Saks Fifth Avenue designer shoe store, taking up the entire eighth floor in Saks' Manhattan flagship store. To commemorate the opening of the first shoe store to require its own zip code, USPS has announced the release of a series of limited edition postage stamps to be sold exclusively at the Saks shoe salon. Designers like Ferragamo, Dior, Stuart Weitzman, Jimmy Choo, Roger Vivier, Christian Louboutin, Tod’s, Chloé, Fendi, Giuseppe Zanotti, and Valentino submitted their own photos and sketches to be featured on the stamps. So to those of you who thought that there were no pretty 41-cent stamps, get to Saks on Friday!

{image from Fashion Week Daily}

Michelle Rago Wedding & Event Planning

2007-08-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Love all the details of this wedding at the Bonnet Island Estate in New Jersey. The boutonnières look like little pieces of candy rather than flowers! It also looks like Michelle has a blog in the works; we love florist blogs like Pam at HouseMartin, so we can't wait to see what Michelle blogs about. Thanks to Brown Turtleneck Sweater for reminding us about Michelle's online portfolio!

{photos from Michelle Rago}

Elizabeth Messina Photography

2007-08-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Messina's wedding photos always have a dream-like quality to them, especially these pictures taken at the Saddlerock Ranch, one of our favorite weddings planned by Oh How Charming! event production and design. Elizabeth was also the photographer for this wedding recently featured in the wedding issue of Nirali magazine.

{photos by Elizabeth Messina via Brides}

Yoga for Moms

2007-08-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

Warning: dates on the calendar may be closer than they appear! While Oprah claims she has always hated exercise, dreading exercise for me happened sometime between ages 55 and 59. But with Greer’s wedding date approaching, I knew I had to find a workout I would stick to and Yoga seemed more my style than any other options. I started researching fitness centers and found that Yoga classes can get very pricey, especially if you do not plan to use the whole gym. I located a fitness center in nearby office complexes and discovered one of the best-kept secrets in fitness: big businesses financially support exercise facilities to encourage employees to keep in better shape. These centers often welcome the public to join for very reasonable prices, and classes are generally scheduled to accommodate lunch hours and start up again within 15 minutes of finishing normal work days. Costs tend to be one-third the price of private gyms and facilities are often quite comfortable. Most importantly, don’t be intimidated to show up to these classes if you are new to Yoga- the instructors often give you several options for each pose so you can do what feels most comfortable and work up to the more advanced positions.

My yoga instructors start and end every session with sit still; it is enough to show up at the mat. This is one time when you can actually grow stronger at your own pace. I enjoy my new shape having lost 3 dress sizes even though the weight change seems minimal. Not only that, but the back and neck pain I used to always experience is so much improved that I can tell a difference when I skip my class. My whole family is surprised at my dedication to attending classes because I did not always look forward to exercise. If you choose to investigate this option, make sure that the instructors are trained and certified through professional yoga teaching facilities. I try not to ever miss showing up on the mat but will augment classes if necessary with video tapes. The pretzel position is still a challenge but no longer a threat- and the wedding cake tasted great!

Namaste, Faye

Secret Weapon

2007-08-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

Best tip for your wedding day, or really any day for that matter: Kiehl's Superbly Efficient Antiperspirant and Deodorant...it is a cream that you rub in, but it dries so quick with no overpowering scent and seriously works! Check out more reviews here.

Whitney Port

2007-08-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite guilty pleasures, The Hills, is starting a new season tonight- what a nice birthday night this will be for me! Whitney Port, one of the girls on the show, seems surprisingly grounded and always looks so pulled together, read more about her style here...

{photo from Who What Wear Daily}

Sugar Paper

2007-08-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

Sugar Paper is one of our favorite online stationery stores, carrying everything from Snow & Graham candles to Carrot & Stick Press placemats. We also love their custom-designed wedding invitations from this wedding featured in Martha Stewart Weddings in fall 2006. The other details from this wedding are also fun, like the candy buffet and the favors packaged in Heidi's Veranda wrapping paper.

{photos from Martha Stewart Weddings via Sugar Paper}

Library Wedding

2007-08-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

After posting about library-style wedding invitations, we stumbled upon these pictures by Pen Carlson Photography from a wedding in the Newberry Library in Chicago, Illinois. Click here to view the slideshow from the wedding, and also bookmark Pen Carlson's blog- it's new but sure to be filled with great photos!

{photos from Pen Carlson}

Square Root Designs

2007-08-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

Based out of Irvine, California, Square Root Designs is all about the details. To see their full galleries, click on 'services', then 'weddings', then 'gallery'. The pictures from this reception are especially amazing, but we also love what they do with outdoor settings.

Rebecca Thuss

2007-08-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

Orange Beautiful posted today about a woman I didn't even know I loved but I do- Rebecca Thuss. She is an extremely talented photo-stylist, creative director, and wedding designer and for the past 10 years you have enjoyed her unique creativity through Martha Stewart Weddings. From her website: "She delights in throwing parties, has a passion for packaging, a weakness for fanciful candy and confections, and an infatuation with vintage paper items." We love her, and her online portfolio is like a treasure trove of loveliness...thanks to Laura at Orange Beautiful for introducing us!

{photos from Rebecca Thuss}

Something Old

2007-08-08T07:15:00.001-07:00

Love the idea of using vintage handkerchiefs to make a ring pillow. If you are lucky enough to have heirlooms like this handed down from family, as with most things, Martha can tell you how to do it.

{photos from Lisa Lefkowitz Photography}

Jessica Johnston Photography

2007-08-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

Love Jessica Johnston's photos featured in the Fall 2007 issue of Brides from Lindsey & Gym's wedding at the Crooked Creek Ranch in Cedar, Michigan. Also check out Jessica's blog where she posts pictures from recent weddings.

{photos by Jessica Johnston}

Every Variety of Wonderful

2007-08-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

Love this sweet little card from the Pearl & Marmalade etsy shop.

Lisa Lefkowitz Photography

2007-08-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

We first fell in love with Lisa's photographs when we saw the pictures from this wedding. After browsing through the wedding albums on her website, we have unanimously decided that she is one of our favorite wedding photographers. We especially love the pictures from Catherine & Brad's and Jill & Pete's weddings. Also check out Lisa's blog, where she posts about her featured work in publications like Brides and The Knot.

{photos from Catherine & Brad's wedding by Lisa Lefkowitz}

Cricket Press

2007-08-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Browsing through Etsy over the weekend, I stumbled upon Cricket Press, who specialize in silk-screened posters for music events, art shows, etc. But they also do custom letterpress, check out their online design portfolio here.

Simply Vera by Vera Wang for Kohl's

2007-08-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hits stores September 9th, what do you think? I've actually never stepped foot into Kohl's...see more photos from the "Wizard of Oz" themed ads on nitro:licious.

{photo via nitro:licious}

Sweet Trinkets by Lustre

2007-08-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

Loving this etsy seller's necklaces and earrings with a vintage heirloom feel...

{photos from Luxe Deluxe}

Wiley Valentine

2007-08-02T14:16:00.001-07:00

Check out this invitation they designed...

{photos from WeddingBee}

Aviary Table Numbers

2007-08-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Another clever idea from Sesame Letterpress...

{photo from Sesame Letterpress}

Sesame Letterpress

2007-08-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Love the custom-designed letterpress wedding invitations from Sesame Letterpress. Some favorites:

This library wedding invite was presented as a book, which when you open it to the bookmark you find an old school check-out card in the back with the wedding invite. The RSVP's were numbered and recorded for the couple in case of oddball responses (why do people send back RSVP's without their names on them??)

{photos from Sesame Letterpress}

A picnic-theme invitation set from Martha Stewart Weddings Summer 2006...

{photo from Sesame Letterpress}

Fall at J.Crew

2007-08-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

We are both loving J.Crew's fall colors with new dresses in alpine green, deep indigo, and spiced wine. Feeling so much inspired that we made a little inspiration board for a wedding with these colors. Enjoy!

{Top: bouquet by Sarah K Chen Photography, reception from The Knot, invitation from Mr. Boddington's Studio;
Middle: photo from Brides, cake by Natasha Goellner, photo from Brides;
Bottom: centerpieces by Tapestry Flowers, dresses from J.Crew, flowers from The Knot}

More Love for Sullivan

2007-07-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite cake designers, Kate Sullivan, recently updated her website, and we were happy to see several new cakes in her portfolio- especially these from InStyle Weddings "Sweet Inspirations" cake feature.

Acara Cake

Calligraphy Cake

Blossoms Cake

Cane Cake

Boontje Nature Cake

And more new cakes...(also see mod cake below)

Danish Modern Cake

Red Bird Cake

{photos from Lovin Sullivan}

Modern Reception

2007-07-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

This is Brides' version of a contemporary reception, with bold patterns and bright colors. Some of it is a little over the top, but I still think Kate Sullivan of Lovin Sullivan Cakes can do no wrong. I especially like the octagon luggage tags from Decorative Things (pattern no longer available, of course!).

{photos from Brides}

Paul Johnson Photography

2007-07-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

{photos by Paul Johnson}

Paul Johnson is a super-talented photographer based out of Florida whose work has been featured numerous times in Brides and other wedding magazines. Even more fun is his blog- Paul has blogged about 68 weddings (!!) so far that are so easy to get lost in, I was surprised when I recognized a familiar face after stumbling upon these pictures from the Cox & Brantley wedding (not this adorable little boy, the maid of honor).

{photos by Paul Johnson}

Tim Gunn

2007-07-27T07:49:00.001-07:00

Saw a preview for Tim Gunn's new Bravo TV show called "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" and I literally squealed with joy. I love that man so much- during each season of Project Runway, my favorite treat is to download Tim's podcast and go for a run, I could listen to him forever. So on Thursday, September 6th, at 10pm I will be glued to the TV wearing this:

(I'm not joking, best birthday gift ever last year.)

Blooming Invitations

2007-07-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

In our search for the perfect wedding invitation, we found ourselves gravitating toward modern floral designs with either a single or a pair of big blooms.

{Clockwise from top left: Blossom Deary by Cheree Berry, Bouquet by Greenwich Letterpress, Josephine and Edward by CeciNY, and Sunshine by Thistleberry Press}

Backyard Wedding

2007-07-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

{photo from Brides}

We fell in love with the pictures from Sasha and Abel's wedding when we first spotted them on Brides, so I was so excited to find more pictures on photographer Mel Barlow's blog, thanks to the girls at SocialDesign. First, we love the portraits in front of this turquoise wall, which the groom painted on a wall in Sasha's childhood bedroom so the couple would have a bold background for their portraits.

And the photos of the bride and groom at the fair...

But Faye and I's favorite part is the actual ceremony, which was held in the bride's parent's backyard. It looks like a total blast, and we love that they kept it an intimate affair in a naturally beautiful (and meaningful) setting.

{all photos by Mel Barlow}

Modern Press

2007-07-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

After seeing this post on Oh Joy! about Oslo Press, I remembered these laser engraved wood details from Brides.

{photos from Brides}

The "Just Married" sign and napkin ring are just two pieces from Modern Press's Earth collection, which also includes laser engraved invitations, wooden spoons, and stemware seating tags.

{photo from Modern Press}

{photos from Modern Press}

Enchanted Florist

2007-07-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

We love the work of The Enchanted Florist based out of Orange County, California. Pink and turquoise could look too saccharine-sweet very easily (think Victoria's Secret Pink), but we love how the colors come together here. The overall effect is perfectly sweet and elegant. Check out Nisie's featured weddings gallery for more pictures.

{photos from Enchanted Florist}

Bake Me A Cake

2007-07-24T09:15:00.001-07:00

I got lost yesterday looking at the weddings cakes by Bake Me A Cake, a pastry shop and bakery in Orlando, Florida. I especially love the quilted details on some of their fondant cakes, and their authentic looking sugar calla lilies.

{photos from Bake Me A Cake}

Good on Paper

2007-07-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

We know you have all seen pictures from the wedding of Lisa Wong, the amazingly talented graphic designer behind Good on Paper Art & Design. But we can't help ourselves- it is just too pretty!

{image from Martha Stewart Weddings via Good on Paper}

Of course, the stationery designed by Lisa is perfectly pretty with a bird motif and chocolate, green, and turquoise colors. We also love the calligraphy by Bluebird Studios, as you can get a glimpse of on the envelope (top right) and the placecards (bottom left).

{photos from Good on Paper}

And we love the wheatgrass and twig centerpieces by Nancy Liu Chin Designs...

{photos from Nancy Liu Chin}

Of course, the K. Autumn handmade hairpin (top right) is a unique veil alternative that looks both modern and retro at the same time. We also love that their Boston Terrier, Pixel, was the ring-bearer! Most importantly, the photography by Lisa Lefkowitz captured every single detail perfectly.

{photos from About Weddings}

Little Tree Press

2007-07-24T08:31:00.001-07:00

We first fell in love with Little Tree Press, a boutique stationery and design studio based out of Virginia, when we found their letterpress calendar at Anthropologie. Their wedding collection is also eye-catching, blending modern colors and style with the vintage letterpress printing method. We especially love these yellow collections:

{Top to bottom: Southern Charm, The Modernista, Malibu Floral}

We also love these botanical prints with a little retro feel:

{Top to bottom: Polished Petal, Enchanting Meadow, Floral Breeze}

Confetti Cakes

2007-07-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

We love these cake designs by Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes. She is a former textile designer for Ralph Lauren, and incorporates interesting textures and patterns into her hand-decorated cakes. Browse through her website, especially the specialty section, for more amazing cakes!

{Top, L to R: China Pattern from Brides, Hummingbird from Brides, Dolce from Confetti Cakes;
Bottom, all cakes from Confetti Cakes: Golden Elephants, Embroidery cake, White Hydrangea}

Louella Press

2007-07-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

We love almost every design by Louella Press, a line of engraved wedding invitations by the same designers from Two Paperdolls custom stationery studio. I seriously want someone to get this Vintage Wrangler invitation suite and send me an invite. I promise I won't come, I just want to be able to look at it and hold it.

{photos from Louella Press}

Outdoor Lounges

2007-07-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

We love outdoor lounges at weddings- they are such a great way to make guests comfortable and get people talking to each other. Plus they just look awesome!

{Top: (L) The Knot, (R) Brides; Bottom: (L) Brides, (R) Brides}

Bridesmaid Dresses

2007-07-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

I had to laugh when I read this post by SocialDesign a few days ago because they are so right- the entire bridesmaid fashion industry is a total rook! The truth is that there are so many better alternatives if you just do a little research. Trust us, sometimes non-matching bridesmaids can look eclectic and really cute.

Both of these brides chose colorful bridesmaid dresses, but be careful with this idea- you don't want to end up with a jelly-belly wedding:

{photos from The Knot from Rachel & Mike and Brianne & Derek}

Here the bridesmaids looks are more uniform but still do not matching exactly; in the first wedding, the bride chose a mix of nutmeg-brown and antique gold dresses and in the second wedding, the bridesmaids wore dresses in shades of green.

{photos from Brides from Rebecca & David and Katrina & Jason}

We decided not to have a traditional wedding party because my new sister-in-law is 16 years old and I have one cousin who is 15, so we thought it would be perfect to have the two girls in the wedding with his sister next to him and my cousin standing by me. After researching bridesmaid dresses on the internet, Faye and I were both appalled not only by the style and quality of many of the bridesmaid dresses we looked at, but also the styling of the pictures online- almost all of them feature ridiculous cleavage and windblown hair to the point where we sometimes felt a little dirty just looking at the pictures! With only two bridesmaids, we knew they should probably match, and because they are so young, we quickly decided to look elsewhere like J.Crew, Ann Taylor, White House Black Market, E-Dress-Me, and Nordstrom. Finally, we found the perfect dress for everyone's comfort level at Anthropologie of all places, which actually has a nice selection of both patterned and solid short dresses. We chose the Crosswinds dress in nautical blue, made from summery crinkled gauze with a v-neck and a smocked waist, and for only $88. I should add that I liked this dress so much when I modeled it for my fiance, that I bought one for myself! I know both me and the girls will wear this dress over and over again.

{photo from Anthropologie}

If you are absolutely bent on having your bridesmaids match, one good option is for you to choose the fabric and color and let them choose the best style for themselves.

{photos from Brides}

Finally, we agree with SocialDesign's recommendation to look for designer dresses that will often be less expensive than traditional bridesmaids dresses and will look so much better. Check out these foxy Catherine Malandrino dresses with metallic sandals- if the bridesmaids must match, make sure they all look and feel beautiful and comfortable!

{photos from Brides}

Cheree Berry

2007-07-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

It seems like Cheree Berry is everywhere I look lately- I first saw a save the date designed by her in the Winter 2006 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, and more recently her work has been featured in the spring issue and in the May/June 2007 issue of Cottage Living (via Orange Beautiful). Cheree is a graphic designer and formerly the principal creator of Kate Spade's wedding & stationery line through Crane & Co. before moving back to her hometown near St. Louis, where she started Cheree Berry Paper last year.

Cheree also has a beautiful line of non-wedding stationery designed separately for men and women on her website, and Greer Chicago also recently started carrying some designs by Cheree, including this one that has my favorite tiny red foil bee on the inside of the notecard.

{images from Greer Chicago}

Finally, here is one impressive custom-designed wedding invitation done by Cheree for AmalfiWedding:

{images from AmalfiWedding}

For tips on budgeting for wedding stationery (probably wasn't an issue for the couple above!), read {frolic!} guest blogger Elisabeth's tips- her expert advice is very helpful!

Save the Dates from A Day in May

2007-07-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

We love stationery from A Day in May- their letterpress designs are unfussy but sophisticated. A while back, we posted about this great customizable invitation option for destination weddings, but here are our favorite save-the-dates. We love the idea of a simple calender with either your wedding date circled or punched out. Save the dates don't have to be extremely complicated, nor they do necessarily have to match the rest of your wedding invitations that will come out later. If you need to send them out and have yet to decide about the design for your wedding invitations, just keep the save the dates simple, elegant, and to the point.

{photos from A Day in May}

Let's do it all over again!

2007-07-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I posted some really pretty pictures from a Napa Valley wedding featured on Brides.com. So yesterday I was browsing through the real weddings on Brides, and I stumbled upon two eerily familiar smiling faces...

{(L) Napa wedding, (R) Webster, MA wedding}

This is just fascinating to me: they had a destination wedding with a Mexican feast in Napa, then had another wedding at a lakeside campground near Boston...both of them publish-worthy! There were some repeats, like the dress (above, which I would have been so paranoid about keeping clean and pristine if I knew I had to wear it again), the bride's hairstyle with silk dogwood flowers, and the guestbook using mini business card envelopes...

{Top: (L) Napa, (R) Massachusetts; Bottom: (L) Napa, (R) MA}

What I love about the second wedding is that the bride designed the theme around the ridiculously long name of the lake where they said their vows (the second time)...are you ready for this? Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. I love how she printed it on napkins, the pages in guest book, and it was even written around the cake!

{photos from Brides}

Did you, or have you known anyone, who had two full weddings? Faye, you up for it? :)

Hello Little Miss Engaged

2007-07-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Now that the wedding is over, I can't believe how fast the time went by! I remember one week after I got engaged, a package from my best friend arrived in the mail with a really sweet card and a Christmas ornament that she had engraved with the date he proposed (we got engaged in December). This gesture meant so much to me, so I have vowed to do the same thing for my next friend to get engaged. If you have any friends that are recently engaged, send her a congratulations card for her engagement- I promise she will appreciate more than you know! My current favorite is this letterpress card from Mr. Boddington's Studio, available at Luxe Paperie. And to our new friend, Sarah Dennis: if we knew your address, we would send you this card- congratulations!

{card by Mr. Boddington's Studio at Luxe Paperie}

Black Pearl Press

2007-07-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone should check out the posts by guest blogger Elisabeth Warman of Black Pearl Press on {frolic!}. Elisabeth is planning what already looks to be a beautiful wedding in Maine- we can't wait to see more of her ideas and inspiration!

Here are some beautiful letterpress wedding invitations from Black Pearl Press:

Silk Screening

2007-07-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Faye and I both loved the recent spread in the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings on silk screening. The problem is, we are not crafty people. What I love is that in this issue, they explain how to do it, but also where you can order it to be done for you if you are one of those brides that burns herself with the glue-gun (raises hand). I especially love simple designs with utensils as the primary design element- I think this is an elegant but playful way to decorate your reception or other dinner party without being theme-y. Silk-screened placecards and table runners available through Clever Setting. Thanks to Britt from The Paper Moon Project for posting these pictures on her blog!

{photos from Martha Stewart Weddings via The Paper Moon Project}

Inspiration Boards

2007-07-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

It seems like lately the blogs are all in a tizzy over inspiration/mood/story boards. Holly at Decor8 recently held a mood board contest for interior design inspiration, and here is the 1st place winner:

{image from Decor8}

Although now wedding story boards have become all the rage, I think Abby from Style Me Pretty started the trend with her amazing inspiration boards that she creates for readers. Here is my favorite board for "An Intimate Gathering":

{image from Style Me Pretty}

Other wedding bloggers have happily hopped on the band wagon already, and they are all equally unique and creative, just like their blogs! {click on each to see enlarged pictures and details}

Brooklyn Bride:

Perfect Bound:

Burlington Bride (aka Miss Onion on WeddingBee):

For more storyboard browsing, check out the reader boards on WeddingBee.

So, inspired by Abby, I created my own inspiration board a few months ago. Although it went through several revisions, I found that creating it was time-consuming but so worth it because it really made me focus. Every wedding picture you see when you are planning is a temptation- they are all so beautiful!- but making this board made me really think about how all the details and elements fit into the bigger picture that I had envisioned. Here is my board:

{Top, L to R: bouquet from Brides, cake by Lovin Sullivan, reception from Brides;
Middle: floating gardenia from Brides, boutonnière from The Knot, earrings by Adriana Orsini from MrsRobsButton;
Bottom: photo from Dutchman's Designs, photo from Martha Stewart Weddings, photo from Lena Corwin's wedding on Flickr}

Knot Bios

2007-07-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

We are taking a vacation from blogging for the next week, so we thought this Thursday we would leave you with lots of links to pretty weddings. These are our favorite bios on The Knot and most of them look like they hopped straight out of the pages of a magazine- these brides pay so much attention to detail and take so much time to make these bios for us to enjoy, so if you love one and it is not listed yet on the Somewhat Official Knot Bio List as a Best Bio, nominate it! For more bios, check out WeddingBee's weekly knot bios.

Soon2bmrs.stone

You can also see the pictures from this wedding on Brides

SpringChic

graceface

Planning Bio

mrsmek

MrsRobsButton

Planning Bio

DJRS

Planning Bio

MrsAnayisnin

NPwedding

Planning Bio

bentpinkies

BeachBride2

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T04:19:00.000-07:00

We'll be back tomorrow- enjoy!

{photo from Brides}

Modern Wedding

2007-07-04T04:05:00.000-07:00

We love the modern color combination of red with splashed of turquoise and lavender in this wedding on The Knot. The flowers were done by Grandiflora Floral Design by Nancy Birch, whose online galleries showcase many more creative color palettes. We could get lost browsing her site!

{photos from Grandiflora}

{photos from The Knot}

Pink & Cream Wedding in Tacoma

2007-07-03T04:47:00.000-07:00

We love the pictures of this wedding- the colors feel cool and muted but still very modern and simply beautiful.

{photos from The Knot}

New Uses for Brooches

2007-07-03T04:18:00.000-07:00

{(L) from Brides, (R) from Brides}

Vintage brooches have always been a beautiful finish for the bride's gown or bouquet, but we really like these decked-out cakes as well- what a great way to use your grandmother's vintage jewelry! If you don't have vintage brooches from family, you can purchase some pretty crystal and pearl brooches at White Aisle.

{Top: cake by The Cake Girls; Bottom: photos from DJ76 planning bio on The Knot}

Honeycomb Candy

2007-07-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

I can't believe the adorable bee photospread in the newest Martha Stewart Weddings issue. If I had seen that honeycomb cake by Wendy Kromer a few months ago, things at my wedding may have looked a lot different! I was especially happy to see wedding favors using my favorite stationery design by Pearl & Marmalade, but they paired it with the cutest honeycomb candy from The Stained Glass Candy Company!

{stationery by Pearl & Marmalade, honeycomb candy from The Stained Glass Candy Company}

Gardenias

2007-07-02T05:51:00.000-07:00

Faye and I both love the look and the smell of fresh gardenias. Here are some of the gardenia elements we have planned for my wedding. The bouquet includes white gardenias and mini calla lilies set in green antique hydrangea, making the bouquet look like a mini gardenia bush.

{clockwise, L to R: bouquet on Brides, pomander by Soiree from Charleston Weddings magazine, boutonnière from The Knot, floating gardenia on Brides}

Surf & Sand Inspired Weddings

2007-06-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for vacation ourselves, but it seems like everyone else we know is already at the beach! Here are our favorite beach wedding details:

Cakes (find more of our favorites by The Cake Girls and April Reed here, browse our favorite Lovin Sullivan cakes here)

{(L) coral cake from Martha Stewart Weddings, (M) Asian-inspired wave cake from Martha Stewart Weddings; (R) starfish cake by The Cake Girls}

Paper- We love the combination of cork and sea glass by Two Paperdolls. The sea glass could also be used to prop up escort cards. (More sea-inspired paper products here)

{all photos from Two Paperdolls}

Boutonnières (more choices here)

{all photos from Brides; clockwise, L to R: seashell, yellow freesia, hot pink calla lily, hydrangea and orchid with sea glass beads}

Something Blue...to Eat!

2007-06-28T05:56:00.001-07:00

Who would have imagined that pastel blue cake would look so mouth-wateringly delicious?

{Top (L to R): garlands and wreath from Martha Stewart Weddings, robin's egg blue cake on Brides, gift box cake on Brides;
Bottom (L to R): something blue from Martha Stewart Weddings, cake with silk corded closures from Martha Stewart Weddings, individual cakes on Brides}

Luggage Tags

2007-06-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

With more and more couples choosing to throw destination weddings, travel seems to be becoming a theme in itself. Personalized luggage tags are great favors that can double as place cards and napkin rings, and they are a sweet touch for any traveling guest.

{clockwise, L to R: silver luggage tag on Brides; Tepper Jackson leather luggage tag on Brides;
place cards on Brides; boat luggage tag on Brides}

Martha Stewart also featured these vintage print clip-art luggage tags (left). In Martha Stewart Weddings, traveling place cards (right) were made using paris street map gift wrap by Cavallini, but you could pick any gift wrap that matches your own colors.

{photos from Martha Stewart}

Beaulieu Gardens

2007-06-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

If we had planned this wedding even remotely close to the West Coast, we would have been seriously tempted to have it at the Beaulieu Gardens in Rutherford, California; a private estate at Beaulieu Vineyards in Napa Valley. All the wedding pictures we have seen from Beaulieu make it look like 'The Secret Garden': imagine a reception dinner with a natural arbor in full bloom overhead and taking a stroll through the vineyard in your wedding gown. The venue can only be booked through Elaine Bell Catering.

{photos from Brides}

{photos from Brides}

Chelsea Lembi-Muraswki, otherwise known as The Charming Gardener, also held her wedding at Beaulieu Gardens. I love how, even though they all chose the same location, each wedding has such a different feel- but what they share is the same stunning and naturally beautiful surroundings.

Art Deco Earrings

2007-06-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

I finally tracked down my art deco style Adriana Orsini earrings for the wedding. I first saw them here and then here, but they were never in the store! Finally, I found mine at Saks Fifth Avenue (the third Saks I went to). So excited to wear them!

Martha obsesses over dog details too!

2007-06-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about starting this blog has been the unexpected friends that Faye and I have made. Some of our favorite bloggers like Miss Kiwi from WeddingBee and Sarah from Toast & Tables have been so friendly and we really appreciate the warm welcome! This is why we are excited about our post this morning, because it comes courtesy of one of new friends at Martha Stewart (!!!) who noticed that I am a little obsessed with dog details. She was nice enough to not only tip me off to an article in the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, but to also share some of the pictures and step-by-step instructions from the story to share with all of you!

{(L) pearl collar; (R) D-ring collar}

Making a pearl collar

Measure loosely around dog’s neck; add 12 inches to total.
Thread 18-mm faux pearls (3/4-inch wide) onto embroidery ribbon. Knot ribbon at each end close to pearls.
Knot strand loosely around dog’s neck.
Cut 2-inch-wide satin ribbon to be 1 yard long; tie around ribbon into a big bow at the back; trim ends on an angle.

Making a D-ring collar

Measure dog’s neck, and add 8 inches; cut grosgrain ribbon to final length.
Lay face up, and fold one end under by 4 inches. For a buckle, thread two D rings onto ribbon, and slide them all the way to the fold. For a loop to attach leash, thread on another D ring, sliding it to 2 inches from the buckle.
Slip a 2-inch piece of fusible webbing between layers of ribbon, between buckle and loop, and another between the layers after the loop. Iron to fuse. At other end, fold edge over toward front of collar, and secure with a small piece of fusible tape.
To buckle, thread end through both D rings, then back through the bottom one, and pull loose end to tighten.

{(L) velcro-clasp collar, (R) velcro-clasp collar and leash}

Making a Velcro clasp collar

For collar, measure dog’s neck, and add 6 inches; cut 24-mm satin ribbon to final length.
Slip 3 inches of ribbon through one side of buckle from the front; use fusible tape to attach ribbon to itself.
Try collar on dog, slipping other end of ribbon through open side of buckle from the back, and determine a comfortable folding point. Remove from buckle and refold; insert 3-inch pieces of iron-on hook-and-loop fastener between the layers, and iron to fuse.
For leash, ”hem” ends of 80-inch ribbon with fusible tape. Fold one end into an 8-inch loop, and knot. Fold other end over by 4 inches; fuse hook-and-loop fastener between layers.
To attach, open hook-and-loop fastener, wrap around center post of buckle, then refasten.

Of course, if you are not inclined to craftiness, you can always tie a little scarf around your dog's neck.

{all photos courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings}

I love this whole story and the dogs are so cute, our only suggestion would be to include a Bichon in the next puppy line-up. The whole summer issue is packed with some really great ideas, and we hope you try one of these ideas for dressing up your dog!

{photo by Noah Sheldon}

Punchy Wedding Colors

2007-06-26T09:55:00.001-07:00

Faye and I both love seeing pictures of real wedding elements, from the invitations to the flowers- we love all the little details! So I was really excited to find these pictures from Paperdolls Design. They customized an existing invitation design to include a vintage floral graphic in punchy colors that the couple planned to use in the flowers on the wedding day. We would definitely add this boutonnière to our favorites, and notice how pretty their garden chairs are! Click here to see our other favorite summer color palettes from Paperdolls Design.

{photos from Paperdolls Design}

{photos from Paperdolls Design}

Milk and cookies

2007-06-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

{photos from La Tartine Gourmande}

Is there anything better than milk & cookies? Just looking at these pictures makes me want to curl up in a warm blanket with my own little plate like Santa Claus. It seems like weddings are catching on to the comforting idea too- the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings included milk & cookies as a "good thing" and we definitely agree! Their version used pumpkin whoopie pies from One Girl Cookies in New York.

{photo from Martha Stewart Weddings}

Here are some examples of real weddings on Brides that offered milk & cookies as a wedding favor. On the right, the bride and groom wrote "It is a delicious moment, certainly. That of being nestled in bed and feeling that you shall drop gently into sleep. Sweet Dreams." Mmmmm....

{(L) milk and cookies: a perfect match!; (R) wrapped cookies were handed out with shot glasses of milk}

Martha Stewart Weddings Summer 2007

2007-06-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

Just saw Darcy Miller, editor of Martha Stewart Weddings, on Martha's talk show demonstrating the silk screening techniques from the newest weddings issue. They looked amazing- can't wait to see more of the pictures!

Perfect Palette: Pink & Poppy

{photos from Martha Stewart Weddings}

Here are some other details from the newest issue; we are really loving the sunscreen packets! And if you are interested in the button place cards (bottom left), you can order custom buttons from One Inch Round (via WeddingBee). Also check out this WeddingBee post for a $2 off coupon for the summer issue of InStyle Weddings (we know it's not Martha, but it is still fun to read!)

{photos from Martha Stewart Weddings}

Best Pup

2007-06-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

I feel like a crazy woman, but my fiance and I wrote our little dog into the wedding ceremony and, although I am strongly against dressing him up in clothes like a little puppy tuxedo, I am all for a wreath of flowers around his neck. My favorite is the wax flower wreath on the top left and the top right photo you might recognize as the cover of our favorite wedding book, but all of these pictures make me smile:

{photos from Brides except top right photo by Liz Banfield}

I sent the little pug picture to my florist, and when I spoke with her on the phone, she definitely talked to me in that "I think you are crazy, but I'll do it anyway" tone of voice- which is just fine with me as long as I see my little guy standing at the end of that aisle with a little wreath around his neck (of course the fiance is also important!)

And how cute to give out dog treats as wedding favors! If more of our guests had dogs, we would definitely have stolen this idea:

{photo from Brides}