Posts Tagged ‘blue’

First, I apologize for my infrequent posts as of late. Things are getting busy so I have neglected the blog a bit. But, for this Fabulous Friday, I thought to share some beautiful inspiration to help make winter a bit warmer…

The individual pictures for this board highlight the details I love in a wedding. All are well thought out, beautifully integrated, and are delightfully understated.

{ reception | escort card | decor }
{ cake | invite | favors | birdie }
{ pomander | hydrangea | table }
if you know the source of the unlabeled photos please let us know

Of all the photos, my favorite is the top left picture of a reception space. This is actually a tented space – who would have guessed? The comfortable chairs and sleek design is elegant and the tapered candles provide the perfect touch for a simple centerpiece.

I have some good things in the works this weekend – and am waiting for Real Wedding photos from one of our October weddings – so I’m looking forward to seeing you Monday. Enjoy your weekend!

Cheers,
__ Jessica

{ Ruffled Blog }

Love birds are a very cute wedding trend. Incorporating a detail into your decor, like this lovely little bird, is a tricky item to navigate. That is, if you are trying to avoid an aviary look…

{ Timeless Paper}

Timeless Paper offers these incredible escort/place cards that are elegant and adorable. If you use them as escort cards, perch the birds on a manzanita tree, blooming arrangement, or even on wine glasses. When the guests enter cocktail hour, place the escort card table near the entrance – with the glass in hand they can go straight to the bar and already know where to sit for dinner!

{ Cayton Photography }

To add the “love nest” concept into the ceremony, give the ring bearer a beautifully crafted birds nest. A color-coordinated ribbon can secure your rings in place so that Little Mr. Handsome doesn’t loose anything important.

{ Red Light Studio }

And for this charming little couple either a simple or tree-inspired cake. After the wedding, your nested cake topper can become a holiday ornament or part of your greenhouse decor. Each pair is handcrafted and customized – I like the flower in this bride’s hair.

{ Lizix 26 }

The bridal party can be part of your flock, too. Depending on the style of dress, these delightful charms could be attached to bouquets or bracelets.

How do you inspire the rest of your decor?

Key word here – inspire. We are not trying to duplicate a nest, tree, hatching egg, or any other item from nature — that is when decore becomes a theme (and isn’t this wedding about you?!).

Focus instead on creating an atmosphere from which you would enjoy birds — your home, a park, or even a beautiful window of an aviary. Let’s take one and give it a try!

Creating your park-inspired reception

Venue: clear tent or other blank canvas

{  Sugarplum Tents }

Centerpieces: natural fibers, less floral and more fauna. Think curly willow/manzanita and hanging twinkling votive candles (your “starlight”)

{ Nettleton Hollow }

Atmosphere: bring the outdoors in through potted topiaries. Simple designs like cone and puff-ball shaped topiaries are classic garden and park items, so they will lend beautifully to your decor.

{ Brookgreen Park }

Guest Book: have guests sign a bench for your garden/patio. Certainly something you’ll read more often than a typical guest book.

{ A Peacock Bride }

Your wedding should be an experience for your guests, so don’t get matchy-matchy. Instead, use something you love (cute bird motif) and create an experience around it!

Cheers,
__ Jessica

Bridesmaid gifts can be difficult to find, especially when you are trying to find something that represents your appreciation for all they have done. While you can never truly tell them how much their support means to you, you can offer a thoughtful token as a special thank you.

Things to Consider

Keep in mind the emotional support, time, energy, travel, and (often forgotten) financial commitment your bridesmaids have made to you and your wedding. These women have planned and hosted parties, taken your weepy calls, and reassured your every worry. Your bridesmaids have purchased things from matching headbands to multiple airline tickets to share in the multiple aspects leading up to your big day – so remembering this will help you select the right gift.

Two other things to keep in mind: purchase something they would love to have and find a way to make this gift personal. Personal can mean monogram, but it more accurately means something that reflects a bridesmaid’s personality and/or interests.

Options

{ Monogrammed Vera      |      charm      |      gloves }

These are great bridsmaid gifts for smaller budgets. The small Vera Bradley duffel is a perfect gym bag and the monogram is a nice touch (I have the same pink Vera as this photo from MCC!). For the bridesmaid who enjoys jewelry, consider a charm – on either a necklace or for her charm bracelet. If there are any sorority ladies in the group, consider giving a charm of a sorority-related symbol. And for those Boston bridesmaids, beautiful gloves are always appreciated!

{ Veuve Cliquot champagne }

A graceful gesture would be a delivery, of almost any kind, to each of the bridesmaid’s home either a few weeks before or shortly after the wedding. Who wouldn’t want to be surprised with a fabulous bottle of champagne?! Plan ahead for this kind of gift and never give any sort of liquid gift to your bridal party over the wedding – with increased airport security your beautiful gift could become a burden.

{ wine tasting  |  Museum of Fine Art }

The bridesmaid who has everything would appreciate an experience more than something tangible, and these items are great. Tickets to the best concert of the year, a membership to her favorite museum, wine tasting, or a cooking class will give them something to enjoy and remember.

{ dress }

One last suggestion… Thanks to a modernization of bridal-thought and couture bridesmaid dresses are more fashionable than ever. Yet even the best intentioned bride must understand that very few bridesmaids will ever wear their dresses again. Count it off to personal style – some people don’t like bright apple green.

Considering that your best friends will purchase the dress, without a peep of dissention, a gift card to their favorite store is a wonderful gift. They will have far more use out of the dress and will credit you when they wear it.

And remember – it is a gift…so paying for wedding expenses, or giving a gift that you require them to use for the wedding, is kind but not a gift. After all, have you worn the earrings that match your lavender bridesmaid dress?

Cheers,
__ Jessica

With as much snow as we got this weekend I feel the need to daydream about warmer weather – anyone have a count down to their fabulous beach destination wedding?

{ Bridesmaid |  Drinks |  Flower Decor |  Bride }
{ Parasols |  Sorbet |  Candy Buffet |  Paradise |  Cake }
{ Tent |  Bouquet |  Invite |  Boutonniere }
{ Drinks |  Chariot |  Starfish |  Up do }

Destination weddings have great appeal — who wouldn’t want to spend time with their toes in the sand?! But don’t forget, before sipping cocktails the entire wedding must be highly organized, simply because you will be so far from all you know.

Having a wedding planner is the key to relaxing and enjoying your destination wedding. Your planner will handle the details that are always last minute and can cause trouble, like shipping your favors, picking up programs from the printer, and tracking down your destination vendors. Working with a planner where you live gives an added bonus – you can meet to review details, inspiration photos, and establish a working relationship that is difficult to do by phone and email alone.

To keep the calming affect of the beach with you through your wedding planning, we recommend these services for destination weddings:

• Site Selection
  There are so many places to choose from – which one is best for your wedding? A Wedding Planner will help you identify your options, give you the ‘Pros and Cons’, and help you narrow down the perfect location. They will also give you plenty of pictures and descriptions so you feel like you’ve been there before even if you don’t have a chance for a pre-wedding visit.
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• Event Design
  A Planner will design a layout and decor that is appropriate for the location. The spectacular view of your ceremony may not need anything for decor, but where will the guests go for cocktails? And how would you set up a reception on the beach? Working with a Wedding Planner will help answer these questions and find the best resources for making your vision come to life.
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• Vendor Research/Referrals
  Ok, so which florist in Bali will create the bouquet you want? Your Planner will research all of your options and then ask for references – ensuring that the vendors you contract will be professional, skilled individuals able to deliver everything promised.
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• Week(end) Activities
  Chances are, your guests will make a vacation out of your destination wedding, so it would be gracious of you to offer them a one-of-a-kind experience. Whether or not you host the activities, a Planner will help you provide optional activities and all the details necessary for your guests to get out of the resort and taste the local culture.
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• Rehearsal Dinner
  In addition to feeding your guests, entertain them!  A luau in Hawai’i or steel drums in Jamaica make the most of your destination wedding. A Planner will offer options for a delicious meal and some fun!

Alden Blair Wedding Planners are even available to travel to your destination to create your vision from all of the plans. Peace of mind + a tropical drink = wedded bliss!

Keep thinking warm thoughts!!

Cheers,
__ Jessica