Mindy Strauss Life Photography

Good morning! Today I am so excited to share with you a wonderful photographer: Mindy Strauss. Mindy not only is absolutely great at what she does but she also happens to be one of my dearest of friends. She is such a joy to work with and makes every one of her subjects feel as comfortable and easy-going as she is—which is key if taking pictures is as hard for you as it is for me :) Anyway, enjoy these few engagement shots she sent me and check out more on her website. And because I know you’ll ask, no, she does not doing weddings (but this isn’t without my constant persuasion and words of flattery on my part to convince her otherwise…), but her engagement photos are gorgeous and worth getting an appointment. She is a busy gal, so make sure you call a head early and get your spot it now!
Well here she is:


...some of these pictures might look a little familiar :)

The Ultimate Bridesmaid Dress

okay, listen, we all have horrific tales to tell of the bridesmaid dress: awful, cheap fabric, a neckline that spills your chest out onto the front row of the church during the ceremony, and not to mention the ample amount of bows & tulle that seem to have no purpose other than to make the bride look that much better than anyone else around her. even movies have been made because of this crazy cultural phenomenon. i don't need to go into the gory details. with that said, don't be the bride who carries on that tradition of making your bridesmaids wear a dress that accentuates everything BUT what is attractive on their bodies! check this out: twobirds bridesmaid dresses. they have created a dream dress that can be wrapped and shaped into at least 10 different styles (ALL THE SAME DRESS), and add to that all the fabulous colors that it comes in, it is the perfect fit for the black tie affair as well as the chic outdoor garden wedding!

Ikea Inspiration Board

I was totally inspired by the vintage, yet modern chandeliers I found at Ikea! I think this cake is an absolute dream and the bouquet matches just wonderfully!! Hope you enjoy a little eye candy...

Martha Stewart--Flyaway Vintage Veil

Martha Stewart--Dogwood Cake

Ikea--Kristaller Chandelier

Martha Stewart--Seating Card Display

Cox & Cox--Handmade Place Cards

Oblation Papers & Press Invitation--the Waltz

White Aisle--Eve Squared Dangling CZ Earrings

Martha Stewart Bouquet

Hmmm...Ikea!

Okay brides, here are some fun ideas taken from our sort-of-recent arrival of Ikea (if you are like the majority of us, you had long ago made the trek up I-5, trailers and u-hauls in tow to Seattle to check it out already). But, thank goodness we can share in their curious, fanciful ideas, and not to mention their amazing prices, here in town! So, why not check it out for wedding items and inspirations? Seemed to be just perfect to me...

I mainly chose white and glass items not only for the versatility, but also, the gorgeous traditional appeal of a white wedding. Mixing and matching whites and creams are a beautiful and classic dream of most brides, and with the addition of particular modern items, for example crystal chandeliers or a paper mood-light lamp, it definitely creates an updated look.






from the top left:
Kristaller chandelier 3 armed
Kristaller chandelier 7 armed
Lerdal chandelier
Minnen pendant Lamp
Stollet pendant Lamp
Sirlig chandelier for 10 candles

Dryckjom pitcher
Salvia plantpot with handles



from the top left:
Blomster vase
Galej candle holder
Skina hang lights

from the top left:
Fler chandelier for 9 candles
Damast lantern for tealight
Storm floor Lamp
Knappa Klover pendant lamp
Smart table lamp—twig white
Skimmer candlestick
Sommar lantern for tealight

from the top left:
Slom bottle with lid
Slom 34oz jar with lid
Slom 17oz jar with lid
Slom 68oz jar with lid

Studio Olivine

I am so excited to post my first featured vendor: Studio Olivine! I am honored to get an exclusive insight to my friend Julie Dutton’s gorgeous hand pressed wedding paper designs. She personally designs and presses each and every one of her invitations, envelopes, thank you cards, coasters, and all other featured items on 100% handmade paper. Studio Olivine has been highlighted in many wedding publications including, Instyle Weddings and Portland Bride and Groom, and is known around the county for her quality, unique style, attention to detail, and determination to be environmentally responsible and organic in production. I was blessed to work with her on my own wedding and would recommend her to anyone who is looking for a gorgeous creation and inspiration for their wedding—her work is exceptional and beautiful!

Julie’s works of art are available online and you can meet with her by appointment in the Portland area, but if you are from out of state, locations for her designs are outlined on her website. Here are just a few of her most recent wedding creations, but of course she can tailor anything to your gorgeous event!

Portland Cakes

Joseph's Dessert Company
Featured in this season's Portland Bride & Groom, Joseph's Dessert Company has an impeccable quality to its cake creations. Using only the best ingredients and an old world charm, they can craft anything to your liking: petit fours, individual desserts, celebration cakes, and of course your choice wedding cake.

Papa Haydn
Known throughout the state for its supreme dessert decadence and quality, Papa Haydn’s wedding cakes are nothing short of their unsurpassed excellence. They offer an array of designs and personal touches, to complete a masterpiece you can call your own. These are absolutely wonderful cakes!

The Dessert Tray

Located in Beaverton, this small bakery is catching the eye of many Portland brides. Featured in this season’s Portland Bride & Groom, The Dessert Tray offers unique and whimsical designs, as well as the traditional wedding cake. Their desserts are offered at your local specialty food market, such as Zupan's Markets, New Seasons Market, and Wild Oats, but you can visit them online as well. Check just a few of their cakes out here:

Dream Cakes
Judy Reese spent 20 years as a pastry chef and while she was in New York mastered the coveted art of gum paste flower creation--this allows for your personal tastes and imaginative desires to come through her ability to design almost anything! She has many flavors to choose from, including these popular choices: white buttermilk cake with lemon curd filling and fresh blueberries, dark chocolate with dark chocolate ganache and fresh whole raspberries, and orange poppy seed with white chocolate butter cream and sliced fresh blackberries. Her website showcases many of her cakes and gives her pricing. But here is a quick look at some of her fabulous Dream Cakes:

Veils

Q. How do I find the right veil for me?

A. The style of your dress and the formality of the ceremony should determine the length of the veil. A full gown with a long train worn for a church wedding might call for a cathedral veil, while a tea-length dress at a simple outdoor ceremony pairs better with a flyaway veil. Check these out for more ideas!

Birdcage

This veil just covers the face, the length ranges from anywhere between eight inches to 18 inches. This is a vintage style—absolutely fabulous! This wonderful veil is from Leah C. Couture Millinery, which features many bridal accessories including beautifully bold and yet elegant headpieces, flowers, feathers, and hats that transcend mere popular fads. You can't go wrong with Leah!

Flyaway

Many veils would hide the extensive back of a gown in endless tulle, but a flyaway veil offsets it instead--I love how understated this veil adds the smallest of detail to a beautiful gown with an fabulous open back. This veil is also from Leah C. Couture Millinery.

Bouffant

The bouffant veil, which rises above the bride's head in a cloud of tulle, was popular in the 1950s. It was usually paired with a prominent headpiece, such as a tiara or a high satin headband. Today's bouffants are more understated and worn without a headpiece for a cleaner, more modern look. This tea-length gown from Melissa Sweet is a perfect match to the veil!

Found on Brides.com.

Blusher

The bride traditionally covers her face with the blusher, a short veil that extends below the chin but usually drops no farther than the waist. Typically the bride’s father would raise the blusher layer as she is handed off to her husband-to-be. Most brides wear it for a dramatic entrance, but some churches require it so I would check with your officiant.

Gown and veil from Christos Bridal.

Mantilla
The lace mantilla is considered to be one of the most romantic veil styles. This veil can be any length, shoulder to cathedral and is usually custom designed. I found a great designer Kristen Elizabeth that offers many beautiful custom Mantilla veils.

Cathedral
The cathedral veil is the choice of royals, as well as any bride who dreams of looking like a fairy-tale princess. Extending at least 9 feet, though 25 isn't unheard of, it is usually a cascade of simple tulle and can also have three tiers to it--including the blusher, shoulder veil, and final train. Because of its volume, this veil needs the wide aisles of a cathedral (hence the name) and clever choreography on the part of the bride (as you see this runway bride carrying hers), and of course the assistance of at least one of her attendants is key. This beautiful gown and veil is from Christos Bridal.

Merimekko

I just love Merimekko fabrics! Marimekko is a wonderful Finnish design company that features clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and plenty other accessories in fabulous modern and bold prints. Since tablecloths, napkins, and drapery all seem to be hard to come by and extremely expensive if they are not in the staple colors: black, white, and pepto-bismol pink (eeeww!); purchasing your own fabric and having these items made or even doing them yourself is a great alternative. Plus, no one wants the same old "wedding decor" done over and over again--Merimekko definitely makes it possible for you to be one of a kind! I actually found these swatches at Saga Living--many of their fabrics go on sale.

I am going on vacation tomorrow and will be back next Saturday before Easter, so I am not sure when my next post will be. But have a wonderful weekend and week--see you soon!

Purple & Green

As much as I don't care for purple in my everyday life, I am completely in love with purple this season--couple that with green, one of my favorites for weddings, and well, here is my inspiration board!

From the top:
The Governor Hotel
Justina McCaffrey Liseaux Wedding Gown
Purple Bouquet--Project Wedding
Purple Room w/ Candles--Project Wedding
White & Green Table Setting--Nancy Liu Chin Designs
Green Bouquet--Martha Stewart Weddings
Vintage Chandelier--Wisteria

St. Cupcake

Cupcake craze! How much do we all love cupcakes and now that it seems artists are able to put more into and on top of a cupcake than we ever dreamed possible. And for us it’s a perfect spin on a the traditional wedding cake. Flavors, colors, and designs galore, our very own St. Cupcake in Portland, Oregon was just featured on msn.com as crafting one of the nations BEST cupcakes: The Fat Elvis, sweet banana and chocolate chip cake, smeared with peanut butter fudge frosting and topped with a fried banana chip (oh my goodness—to die for!). But of course if banana is not your cup of tea, then they have many others available, including: vanilla-toffee with chocolate buttercream, toasted coconut cream (this is my personal favorite), chai tea with cinnamon cream cheese icing, and a cookies & “cream” cupcake that is also dairy-free. St. Cupcake offers special pricing, cake stands, cake toppers, and consultations for weddings.

Cupcakes starting from the top were found at:

Decadence Wedding Cakes

Chicago Cupcakes (x2)

MSN

Love at First Bite

Sugar Sweet Sunshine