outdoor lighting

good morning! for some reason it feels like it should be friday already. wishful thinking i guess...anyway, i found these great outdoor lighting ideas from grandin road yesterday. such creative ways to add nice atmosphere to your rehearsal dinner, your wedding ceremony and reception. you don't have to buy a ton, but placing some of near path ways, in and around tables and even at entrances will put nice finishing touches on your event. and how fun are those water globes?? i've seen them in magazines before, and now we know where to get them! and those globes don't have to be in the water, you can put them anywhere. enjoy and check out grandin road!

lime, white,and some pink

i found this fabulous lime green and pink table setting image on bliss event group's blog (which by the way please check out because it's truly amazing!) the other day and just as she says on her blog, i could NOT stop looking at it! don't those flower arrangements just look almost edible?? it's almost an inspiration board by itself, so i didn't really add too much--it just reminds me of a luscious green, white, and a bit of pink garden affair. the short dress, limeade and a tightly tailored tablescape is just perfect for a fabulously chic afternoon event.

jennifer behr hair accessory

place setting card--instyle weddings

pink flowers & vases--instyle weddings

green limeade--instyle weddings

key lime pie--martha stewart

vineyard collection spring 2009

yellow & white

i guess this just makes me smile! i know, everyone says that about yellow, but it doesn't make it any less true :) but what i like the most about this is it is so classic bride, but with such a modern hue with the bright yellow. yellow is such the "it" color for the season right now, but the tailored look of the cake, tea cups, and even the modern classic gown, mixed with the yellow adds a bit of timeless elegance that will help you look back at your wedding pictures and keep you from cringing at your trendy choices. because the last thing you want to do is choose a wedding that will date itself the second the summer turns to fall!! anyway, hope you enjoy it as much as i do--and all of oregonians need a little sunshine in the midst of our rainy june...

alvina valenta gown spring 2009

lemons--brides.com

tea cup & plates--i heart peonies

white church--it's lovely

yellow invitations--ceci new york

white chandelier--brides.com

yellow dress--jcrew.com

yellow rose--martha stewart

white clutch--lisa spagnolo

vintage lemon candies--brides.com
white cake--i heart peonies

creamsicle, deep purple, & green

option 2:

raspberry ice cubes--maria mcbride events

purple table setting--brides.com

creamy orange roses--brides.com

wedding invitation--ceci new york

purple tulips--brides.com

orange dress--jcrew

oranges and parasols--instyle weddings

green topiary name card holder--project wedding

purple boutonniere--brides.com

creamsicle, green, & black

option 1:

lola wedding invitation--studio olivine

vintage table linen--mosaic

bridesmaid dress--brides.com

tablesetting--brides.com

hanging candles & orange tie--project wedding

orange & pink dinks--martha stewart

beautiful orange bouquet--brides.com

chic grass name card holder--project wedding

lanters--sofia crokos events

green topairy ball--project wedding

reader question: creamsicle and what??

today i received a reader request for help! her sister is due to get engaged at any time now, as the family ring is being passed down in the next couple of weeks to her boyfriend, and she is in need of some wedding inspiration. she doesn't like cake and wants to have a tower of creamsicle ice cream cups instead--love it!!! as that is the main inspiration for the wedding, she would like creamsicle orange, a pale purple, and bright green for the color palette.

so with that in mind i have come up with a couple of ideas:

1. i love the creativity of the creamsicle cups! i think this is exactly what brides need to do. think beyond what tradition "says" and go with what you like. if you don't like cake, who cares!! not only will your guest appreciate the touch of personality, but you will be able to enjoy a day that is full of pieces of you!

2. the creamsicle, purple, and green combination is good, but i would like you to pick just two main colors. by doing that you can concentrate your color pallet in a specific direction and not have to worry about incorporating too many color options. if you still want all of those colors, just accent with small touches of another color.

3. you may add in different shades and variations of a specific color to add depth. for example, with the creamsicle, add in a bright orange and a deep orange, even a little bit of a orange/pink. do this in your bouquets or table settings or even your bridesmaid dresses.

4. with two colors i would make sure if you are going with a creamy orange as a main color to go BOLD with another. this will keep your wedding day from looking slightly washed out. don't be afraid of color!

Anybody out there have any suggestions for our reader??

Chic Elegance

good morning and happy monday...mmm...actually tuesday! i'm a little slow this morning--it hard to get back into real life after the break! but i hope you all had a great weekend. here is an inspiration board that i just love. i initially found this image of the dress on what junebug loves blog (one of my favorite wedding blogs!!) and i just had to create with it!

fashion image--chris nicolls--what junebug loves blog

zebra print heel--malano blahnik

chandelier--brides.com

peonies--martha stewart

black dress--roksanda ilincic strapless dress

ceci new york invitation

zebra print clutch--jimmy choo

zebra print tray--the macbeth collection

table setting--martha stewart

lit ceremony--artfool

white chair cover--brides.com

zebra print girls dress--d&g

navy part III

husak design chandelier earrings

j crew dress

priscilla of boston wedding gown

blue bouquet
green boutonniere
hobo international clutch

green zen table setting from instyle weddings

zebra placesetting holder

navy part II

vera wang wedding gown

eva paul invitation

j crew yellow pumps

cake by jim smeal

dress marc by marc jacobs

yellow bouquet

marni satin clutch

pitcher & yellow recipe card

rubie green fabric

table setting

navy, navy, and more navy

i oh so love navy blue--in fact i just love blue, but navy blue is just so crisp and clean looking with basically anything. i realized the other day i have about 5 new items of clothing for this spring and they are either navy blue or white...and i found i have 4 pairs of pants in navy blue...i perhaps need to branch out! so here is my first board with navy blue and i haven chosen the navy and white as the two main colors and wanted to put in a collage of beautifully bright colors to be perfectly hinted in. i love this! stay tuned today for more navy blue inspiration boards!! enjoy your monday.

j crew dress

j crew shoes

wood flares

melissa sweet wedding gown

clutch

lantern i & macaroon image--sweet paul

navy blue chair tie--bbj linens

bouquet from instyle weddings

orange, pink, and red...love it!!

colorful bouquet--style me pretty

invitation--paper+cup

hot pink polka-dot dress--jcrew

two-toned satin heel--jcrew

paper lantern--estillo weddings

boutanier and gorgeous flowers--zinke design blog--the knot & tapestry flowers

wedding gown--melissa sweet spring collection 2009

chic couch and pillows--brides.com

fabulous orange slice serving board--zanisa

Bliss Wedding Market

are any of you brides in desperate need for your favors or finishing touches for your table settings?? well, if you haven't heard of bliss wedding market, you should check this one out. this online shop has most anything you could want--lots of fun ideas and for the most part pretty cheap.

galvanised silver mini pails

wooden deck chairs

colored medium leaf hand fans

topiary photo holder

luminous mini lanterns

tiny woven handle bags

slotted cork bottles favor kit

rice paper parasol

bubble gum dispenser

flip-flop name card holder

Martha Spring Ideas

it's monday! i was searching on martha stewart and found these these simple but beautiful ways to wow your guests--they will just be amazed at the stunning details and personalized touches that you took the time to incorporate into your day. it's so important to allow your individuality to show through in your wedding and these are some great ideas to start with. and you know martha always does it well!

hope you enjoy them as much as i do.

rose napkins
boxed personal cookies
carnation flowers
tea tin centerpieces

wrapped sweets

almond honey jars

sugar cookie cakes

homemade cookie buffet

miniature cookie jar
mini pies
cherry bags
berry baskets


nest centerpiece

winged wonders--butterfly paper lanterns & butterfly straws

winged placecards

cute as a button ideas

BBJ Linens

i am so excited about this website! this is one of the best fine linen rental websites i've ever come across. bbj linens has an excellent and grand inventory of fine linens, in all different colors and fabrics, including: chair covers, chair ties, napkins, table runners, and a wonderful couture line that is custom designed for their most exclusive clientele. but one of the most exciting parts of their website is the interactive "design center" where they feature their new designs or you can create your own look. it is so fun! i put together a couple of my own--obviously inspired by the orange and greens...why? ...i'm not sure. it's just so luxurious and glamours. bbj linens also has a great photo gallery to look at events they have so masterfully created. i have shown some of those as well. love it! check it out. their locations are all over the country--the seattle branch services the portland area.

Beautiful Plates

i understand that plates aren't necessarily the first thing you think of when planning a wedding, but i had to post these gorgeous plates just for inspiration. i found all these images off of house beautiful. it is one of my favorite magazines i receive each month--my husband and i are currently in the middle of a little house remodel/add-on and i love to look through all kinds of things to find ideas for my home. but, a lot of what i find spurs me on to create ideas for weddings too! i hope you enjoy these as much as i do.

Green Paper!

in honor of earth day and "green week" i found these plantable, recycled paper products--such an inventive and wonderfully green idea! each product is handmade with recycled paper products and can be planted in the ground to grow beautiful wild flowers. wedding invitations, journals, party favors, stationary, notecards and calendars are all available and are a wonderful eco idea each and every guest can personally use to beautify their own homes! there are many options to choose from Botanical Paperworks, but these are just a few:

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

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!