Set the Table

What is better than a beautifully set table?  Find at least one way to make your table unique and personal.  If you are having a smaller wedding, I especially love the look of mismatched vintage china in your place settings.  Some other ideas:  use vintage teacups to hold small containers of florals, use vintage crystal punch cups to hold tea lights, make or find a table runner out of a different texture (burlap, crochet, etc.), use lots of color, or a complete lack of color (like the all white table below), tuck a flower in the napkin or place a piece of fruit on the plate.  There are so many ways to set a beautiful table.

Top Row:  Maine Season Events, Amorology, Jose Villa, Jose Villa, all via Style Me Pretty

Middle Row:  Momental Designs via Ruffled, Open Air Photography, Thayer Allison Gowdy

Bottom Row:  Lisa Lefkowitz, Jose Villa, Jasmine Star and designed by JL designs, Love Life Images via Style Me Pretty, Duet Weddings via Green Wedding Shoes

And here is another perfect example just featured on Style Me Pretty, shot by Laura Novak:

Connect the Dots

I'm loving polka dot details incorporated into the design and styling of weddings and events!  They're so fun and a little bit retro...

Top Row:  Photos 1 & 2 from Martha Stewart Weddings, invitation from Tilde Designs, ties from flickr via Something Old, Something New
Middle Row:  Place setting from Kelly Gao  and shoes by Delicious via Style Me Pretty, dress by Michelle Roth, room photo by Tim Walker for Vogue Italia via Oh Joy!
Bottom Row:  Lanterns from The Knot, envelopes and favor box from Martha Stewart Weddings, Ring Pillow made by Brookyn Bride via Thoughtful Day

You definitely want to stay away from being too literal - do NOT use dots in every element of your wedding.  Just pick a couple of details, like your stationery and ring pillow, or incorporate them in your decor, the groomsmen ties, and your shoes.  They are a fun way to lighten things up and add a bit of whimsy to your day.

Think Pink

Remember that spring florals post I did last week featuring beautiful florals from The Bride's Cafe? Remember how I promised an inspiration board featuring those florals? Well, here it is, spring pink goodness! If my husband's one caveat about our wedding wasn't "no pink" I might have done something similar myself.

Top Row:  Umbrella photo by Jennifer Davis, place card via Dolci Odille via Once Wed, bouquet by Janie of The Bride's Cafe photographed by Katie Stoops, bride and groom photo via Martha Stewart Weddings

Middle Row:  Ice cream via Martha Stewart Weddings, calligraphy by Crystal Kluge, balloons photo via Martha Stewart Weddings

Bottom Row:  girl holding peony photo by Elizabeth Messina, cotton candy via Martha Stewart Weddings, Peony by Janie from The Bride's Cafe photographed by Katie Stoops, table setting by Lisa Lefkowitz, shoes by Christian Louboutins by Net-A-Porter

Inspiration Board: Navy & Lilac

I was just contacted by a friend whose brother is in the early stages of wedding planning.  They are having an outdoor wedding in early October in North Carolina, and my friend asked my opinion on color combos and wedding party attire.  The couple wants a dark or navy blue for the bridesmaids, and a more casual option for the groomsmen, but without looking too casual or country.  A lavendar accent color was suggested, a combination that I think is very fresh and chic.  I designed an inspiration board for them to see how they liked the colors together and to get an overall feel for the design of their wedding.  Here is what I came up with:

Top row from left:  photo by Molly Fitzsimmons, photo by Stacey Kane, photo by The Sartorialist, photo by Punam Bean, boutonniere via Martha Stewart Weddings, lavendar photo by Jose Villa

Row 2:  calligraphy by Betsy Dunlap, church photo by Laura Dombrowski, invitation photo by Holland Photo Arts, lemonade photo by Cooper Carras,  blue Converse photo by Worthington Photography

Row 3:  place setting via Martha Stewart Weddings, macarons from Paulette, photo by Punam Bean,  hydrangea photo by Meg Smith

I love the feel of the hydrangeas and lilacs, natural and effortless.  Picture them placed in mixed sizes of blue and clear mason jars...very outdoor southern wedding. Imagine the country charm of a green field and a big oak tree and guests mingling while drinking lemonade and sweet tea out of jelly glasses.  The groomsmen wearing khaki's and blue converse or vans, and coordinating ties, and the bridesmaids in different dresses in the same family of navy and indigo.  The groom could wear a light grey suit and the bridesmaids matching grey pashminas when it gets chilly after dark...there are so many options my head is spinning!  I can't wait to hear what the couple comes up with.