Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

After enjoying a beautiful and relaxing summer weekend, we are back with more summer inspiration!  While buying fresh, organic strawberries at a farmer’s market this weekend, it struck me how fun and delicious it would be to incorporate strawberries (and other summer berries) into both your wedding menu and the overall decor.  I absolutely love fresh strawberries in salads of both the fruit and lettuce varieties, and summer berries make for divine desserts: tarts, shortcakes, pies, you name it!  You could do an entire dessert table of summer inspired delicacies!  But the fun doesn’t have to stop there; you can include strawberries in your centerpieces, on your invitations, and even have mini jars of jam for escort cards or favors.  Take a look at the delicious images below and just try to avoid a craving for something fresh and juicy!

These centerpieces look

good enough to eat!

PHOTO CREDIT:

1.  http://www.onechickennugget.com/tag/marmite/

2. http://www.brendasweddingblog.com/blogs/2011/5/13/eye-candy-friday-v104-not-your-ordinary-strawberry-cake.html

3. http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2010/06/30/strawberry-farm-wedding-inspiration/

4. http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2010/06/30/strawberry-farm-wedding-inspiration/

5. http://celebrationsathomeblog.com/2011/05/all-american-backyard-picnic-style-shoot.html

6. http://in-season-events.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html

7. http://thekristinmarieblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/strawberry-flavored-wedding.html

8. http://in-season-events.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html

9. http://www.weddingsalon.com/blog/index.php/2010/08/16/a-very-berry-shower/

10. http://www.driscolls.com/recipes/great-grill-recipes.php

11. http://greenweddingshoes.com/real-wedding-roselyn-bens-strawberry-farm-wedding/

Today’s summer inspiration comes from one of my all time favorite things: gingham!  I just absolutely love the clean look of a bright summer gingham, whether its a button down or a dress, even just as ribbon on a flower pot.  And the bright white and color combinations make it absolutely perfect for summer fashion.  These pictures were just some of my favorites (I really had to refrain from including hundreds!)  Enjoy!

PHOTO CREDIT:

1. http://weddingcenterpiecesonline.com/gingham-wedding-ribbons.html

2. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

3. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

4. http://www.theknot.com/

5. http://hankandhunt.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-heart-stripesdotsand-checkspart-2-of.html

6. http://alfrescoweddings.blogspot.com/2010/07/gingham-accents-for-your-wedding.html

7. http://itsabrideslife.com/grooms/gingham-ties-vests-and-suspenders/

8. http://www.thewhitelibrary.com/

9. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cococake/4817082426/

10. http://thingsthatwelove.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/table-setting.jpg

11. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

12. http://www.weddingwindow.com/blog/2010/08/30/gingham-accents/

13. http://lisaricephotography.com/blog/2011/03/monday-math-wedding-decor-on-a-budget/

14. http://manolohome.com/2009/10/27/check-check-check/

15. http://www.petdogonline.net/?p=219

16. http://www.modeleweddings.com/2011/03/sweet-nothing-from-modele-weddings/

17. http://www.modeleweddings.com/2011/03/sweet-nothing-from-modele-weddings/

Well, it is another beautiful summer day and in honor of the sunshine, our summer highlight of the day is sunflowers! These large, happy flowers somehow capture the essence of summer: simple, fun, and glorious in their bright, bold colors.  Using sunflowers in your wedding, whether as a simple addition to wildflower bouquets and arrangements or as inspiration for your entire color scheme, will add tons of festive summer beauty and cheer!

PHOTO CREDITS

1. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2675740104_08c09d3a7f.jpg

2. http://www.sunflowergardenwedding.com/

3.http://jenadevents.blogspot.com/2009/02/for-jennifer-sunflower-wedding.html

4. http://www.w-weddingflowers.com/sunflower-wedding-flowers-2/

5. http://blisstree.com/feel/party-ideas-inspired-by-sunflowers/

6. http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/2009/08/real-invitations-jennifer-james/

7. http://www.pdbloom.com/Sunflower%20Table%20Marker.jpg

8. http://www.momentaldesigns.com/2011/05/05/inspirations-sunflower-wedding-invitations/

9. http://bellafiori-events.blogspot.com/2010/04/flower-inspiration-rembrandt-yard.html

10. http://www.azweddingfloral.com/tag/sunflower-wedding/

Summer is absolutely my favorite season.  Despite being an avid snowboarder, and having a deep appreciation for the transitory natures of Fall and Spring, I can honestly say this is true.  For me, there is something magical about the longer days spent soaking up sunshine and the glorious sunsets that often come well after dinner.  I look forward to barbecues, walks in the woods, and days at the beach all year long, as well as the inherent time spent with family and friends.  And Summer is not just my favorite season, it also happens to my favorite season for weddings.

So, in honor of Summer and beautiful Summer weddings, I will be doing a series of posts highlighting some fun and unique decor aspects to really channel the fun of Summer.

Enjoy!

Part I: The Summer Barbecue

There are few things that truly capture the essence of summer like a barbecue.  It’s outdoors, involves tasty food, and brings people together for a good time.  I absolutely love barbecues!  For a wedding, the barbecue can be the focus of just your menu, or of the entire reception.  Either way, your guests will love such a tasty offering!  If you want to go all out, you can use it as inspiration for your table decor, using gingham and bandana prints.  You could even give guests mini bottles of BBQ sauce as favors!

Photo Credit:

1. http://www.jackdostal.com/images/WeddingBarbecueSunset.JPG

2. http://www.potterybarn.com/design-studio/articles/how_to_throw_a_summer_barbecue_by_summer_barbecue.html

3. http://www.yumsugar.com/Come-Party-Me-End-Summer-BBQ-Look-4414785

4. http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2009/05/25/summertime-let-the-parties-begin/

5. http://andwhataboutgrace.blogspot.com/2009/09/weddingand-summer-bbq_14.html

6. http://www.projectwedding.com/post/list/backyard-bbq-reception-inspiration-help

7. http://thecordialcricket.wordpress.com/

8. http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/08/27/wedding-favor-ideas/

We all know a well stocked bar is, in most cases at least, key to a successful wedding reception.  But the bar, more specifically what is being served, can be a great way to add personal and unique details that guests are bound to remember (or try to forget as the case may be.)  Rather than picking some arbitrary, overly sweet cocktail as a specialty, think about the other aspects of your wedding and use those as inspiration; your goal should be a drink choice or two that ties into the rest of the wedding and really reflects you as a couple.  Look at things like your own personal favorites, your decorations, even the weather.  By finding a specialty drink that flows with the surroundings, you can create an even more seamless reception.

DÉCOR INSIRED

We love the idea of translating a wedding theme into liquid form.  For instance, if you are using the glamour of the Roaring Twenties as inspiration, consider offering Champagne Punch and Old Fashioneds.  You can even go one step further, and rent champagne coupe glasses, the traditional shallow glasses used in the era.  Your guests will feel like true members of the Lost Generation holding such glamorous drinks.

If your inspiration comes from a place rather than a time, look for regional drinks that your guests may already love or that may become a new favorite.  For instance, if you are going for a Spanish influence, sangria will make a great, festive addition.  If you are offering Spanish cuisine, like tapas, red and white sangria will make a great compliment to your delicious meals!  But if your are using Jolly Old England as your motherland, consider offering Pimm’s Cup, a cocktail punch that is traditionally offered at summer weddings in Britain.

A Jolly Good Cocktail

HIS AND HERS COCKTAILS

If you don’t have (or don’t want) a matching drink for you theme, consider personalizing by offering your recommendations to your guests.  If you absolutely adore a certain white wine, or dirty Grey Goose martinis, share it with your guests.  Even if your fiance’s favorite drink is a tall boy of PBR, both he and his guests should be able to enjoy something near and dear to his heart.

Beautiful and Delicious

SEASONAL LIBATIONS

Another way to offer guests something tailored to your day is to use the weather as your guide.  For hot summer weather, consider something light, refreshing and maybe fruity.  Watermelon is something just about everyone associates with the hotter months, so look into watermelon cocktails or even beer (odd sounding, but absolutely delicious!)  If you are getting married in the dead of winter, offer guests Hot Toddies or hot cider and spiced rum to help them stay warm.

A Delectable Summer Specialty

The final step in selecting your specialty cocktail choices is to choose a fun and unique way to display them to your guests.  You can have the list typed and framed on the bar, or even in larger frames hanging behind.  For a more rustic feel, chalk boards are always a good option.  Or maybe instead of having traditional framed cocktail menus, you have laminated cocktail recipe cards with pictures, like those used by bartenders.  Just be creative! And remember, no amount of drink testing and tasting is too much!

An Adorably Rustic Cocktail Display

For those of you looking out the window at the same type of weather I am (windy, rainy, overcast and cold- at a time of year that should be sunny and warm!) here are some ideas of how to turn a frown upside down, and get rid of the rainy day blues on your wedding day.  Rather than letting the rain ruin the mood, turn it to your advantage and let it inspire fun and memorable photos that incorporate rain boots and umbrellas!

Using Wellies (as rain boots are known over in England) and umbrellas can add a fun and colorful pop to your photos!  Whether you choose to use different colors, or to match all the way through, rainy weather accessories will add a unique and memorable element.

Choose Boots to Match Your Wedding

And even better, buying fun, color coordinated bad weather accessories can also make great gifts for the wedding party- and ones you know they will use again!

Colorful and Cute

So in case of rainy day blues, remember that you can make the best of it and even have some fun with that rotten, uncooperative weather!  And who knows?  That rain might just become a rainbow!

No More Rainy Day Blues!

if you know me, you know i love stationery. a beautiful presentation of personal words ~ the thoughts from someone dear, or a sincere note of thanks, the intention of a handwritten note makes receiving it a joyous event. so smile when the postman stops by ~ he may have a treat for you.

In the words of a good friend and photographer, Tyra Bleek, these songs make our heart sing.