Blueberry Wedding

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}

Checkerboard Ballrooms

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

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}

Ripe Tomatoes

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}

Martha Stewart Photo Galleries

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

Sugar Paper

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}

Rebecca Thuss

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

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}

Aviary Table Numbers

Another clever idea from Sesame Letterpress...

{photo from Sesame Letterpress}

Modern Reception

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}

Modern Press

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}

Good on Paper

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}

Let's do it all over again!

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? :)

Silk Screening

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}

Honeycomb Candy

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}

Luggage Tags

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}

Martha obsesses over dog details too!

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

1. Measure loosely around dog’s neck; add 12 inches to total.
2. Thread 18-mm faux pearls (3/4-inch wide) onto embroidery ribbon. Knot ribbon at each end close to pearls.
   
3. Knot strand loosely around dog’s neck.
   
4. 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

1. Measure dog’s neck, and add 8 inches; cut grosgrain ribbon to final length.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

1. For collar, measure dog’s neck, and add 6 inches; cut 24-mm satin ribbon to final length.
2. Slip 3 inches of ribbon through one side of buckle from the front; use fusible tape to attach ribbon to itself.
3. 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.
4. 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.
   
5. 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}

Best Pup

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}

In Defense of the Garden Chair

I can't believe we agonized even 10 minutes over this decision, but that seems to be what wedding planning does to you. I can honestly say that I have never noticed the type of chairs at any wedding I've ever been to, but for some reason- when given the choice- I got totally sucked into the allure of this chair! But now that I am regaining my sanity, I realize that paying $6 more per chair for Chiavaris is just plain crazy talk, plus I have heard that they are not that comfortable. Keep in mind that 1) we have a short ceremony outdoors and 2) our reception dinner is indoors- so we will only be needing these chairs for 20 minutes total. Also keep in mind that we are not in favor of plastic folding chairs, which is why this whole dilemma arose in the first place. Here are our competitors:

{L: natural wood folding chairs on Brides; R: mahogany Chiavari chairs on Brides}

While I've never admired a rental chair before, the Chiavari does look impressive at first sight, but I actually think that in outdoor settings, the natural wood folding garden chairs look very simple and do not detract at all from the beauty of the setting. So if you are currently dealing with chair indecision, maybe these pictures will help you see that the garden chairs do not look always look cheap; in fact, they can look very elegant, especially with the right florist and photographer (which is where we believe the budget is better spent). I will leave you with some wisdom from Faye this weekend: when I asked her if it was possible that I was overthinking this issue, without missing a beat she said "Yes." I only hope that every bride has someone that will tell them that!

{photos from Brides}


{L: photo on Brides; R: photo on Brides}

My Little Devil: Place Cards

They say the devil is in the details, and entering the home stretch of wedding planning, I have quite a few little demons that won't get off my back. This past week I have finally tackled the guest book and am actually quite happy with the way that project is shaping up. But now I have to face a problem I have been avoiding since we began planning this whole thing: seating at dinner. Browsing through the Brides photo gallery, I had to laugh when I stumbled upon this picture:

{photo from Brides}

Oh if only life it was that easy for Faye and I. We may all be "friends and family here" but my grandparents are divorced...and haven't been in the same room since 1986 (didn't turn out well then)...and we have only a few dinner tables. So assigned seating it is, and I can't tell if there is a difference between place cards, escort cards, and seating cards- but I know we need at least one of them! We definitely need a card at their actual assigned seat at the table (I'm assuming that this is what a seating card is). This is necessary because the grandparents have been strategically placed at opposite ends of the reception hall, such that neither of them is visible in the others' peripheral field of vision. I also have other guests positioned to run interference, in case someone strays from the playbook and goes to the bathroom the long way or tries to sneak out the back door instead of the front for a smoke.

So we will not be using any sort of system like these below; hopefully, with only a few tables, people can mill around and find their seats easily without it looking like musical chairs at a middle school dance. But if we were going to use place/escort cards, we would steal one of these ideas:

{Clockwise, L to R: horseshoe escort cards; escort cards in seaglass; clothesline place cards; pinwheel place cards}