Real Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

I had to share this fabulous rehearsal dinner I saw on Style Me Pretty designed by Jennifer at Salt Harbor Designs and shot by Millie Holloman.  I think these same ideas would make for an amazing wedding!

Hanky Invites

As I've posted in the past, I love hanky details at weddings.  I really love hanky invitations or save the dates, but I always thought they would be incredibly difficult or expensive to pull off.  That is, until I saw this awesome DIY Hanky Invites post over at tulle and feathers.  Don't get me wrong, they still look difficult, but they can be done DIY.  Here are some great examples:

tulle and feathers

From Martha Stewart Weddings

Lucky Luxe via Once Wed

I really want someone to try these and then send me pictures as to how they turned out!  Make sure to check out the post at tulle and feathers for more pictures and instructions.

It's in the Details: Chalkboards, plus a DIY project!

I love the DIY feel and laid back vibe of chalkboards in weddings.  You can use them for so many different things, and can "dress them up" or keep them low key.  Here are some of my favorite uses:

To display seating assignments, in lieu of escort cards:

Left:  Sarah Yates Photography, Right:  Harper Smith Photography

As Escort Cards:

By Sean Walker Photography

Drink or Signature Cocktail Menu:

Left: Jenny Ebert, Right: Jennifer Roper Photography

For messages for your photo booth guestbook:

Top: Jen Fariello, Bottom:  Nichols Photography

To explain your photo booth:

Via Southern Weddings

For Menus or games:

Top:  Sarah K. Chen, Bottom:  Via Once Wed

For Various Wedding Signage:

Left:  W. Scott Chester Photography, Right: Heather Kincaid

Bride and Groom signage (for photos, thank you cards, etc.):

Top:  Shannon Nicole Smith, Right:  By Sarah Maren via 100 Layer Cake

To explain a tribute to a loved one (and I love this tribute idea):

Twin Lens Photography

As table numbers:

Via Snippet & Ink

The table number above is also a great DIY project.  Find candle holders that have a smooth surface.  Paint them with chalkboard paint (available at any craft store).  Once the paint dries, you can write the table number in chalk.  Put in a candle, and voila, DIY candle holders / table numbers.  LOVE this idea!

What are your favorite chalkboard uses?

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:

It's in the Details: Mason Jars

Mason jars have become very popular in wedding decor lately.  But there are lots of ways to incorporate this vintage element into your wedding decor besides using them as containers for your floral arrangements (although they are great as containers!)  Here are some different ways I have found for you to use mason jars in decorating your wedding (or party, or home):

Top Row:  Drink jar by Sabine Scherer, jar with river rocks and candle by Kate Harrison, jar chandelier by Jamie Grenough via Style Me Pretty, hanging jars with florals by Jennifer Roper
Bottom Row:  Jar escort cards by Sean Walker, jelly jar drink by Ian Grant, lots of jars and candles via 100 Layer Cake, floating candle in jar by Jennifer Roper

I love the idea of using the jars as candle holders, either floating them in water or putting river rocks in the jar.  And how amazing is that mason jar chandelier!  I had to post another shot of it:

By Jamie Grenough, via Style Me Pretty

My current obsession: Pillows

I am in the market for some throw pillows and wanted something different and quirky but still in keeping with the style of my living room.  I decided to look on Etsy to start, and I ended up spending hours looking at pillows.  Who knew you could find so many cool pillows on Etsy!  I can't decide which to buy now, because I will never be able to explain why I need 9 throw pillows to my husband or my couch.  But seriously. . . how cute are each one of these?

Pillows available from the following Etsy sellers:

le papier studio, Naomi Murrell, Spool + Sparrow, 

Word Garden, Jolie Marche, Love, California,

Junah Bird Designs, La Vie Lavande, Les Petits Tresors

It's in the Details: Vintage Hankies

Vintage hankies aren't just for your grandmother anymore.  They are a thoughtful gift or element to include in your wedding.  I gifted my bridesmaids with vintage hankies that were wrapped around their bouquets (and my own bouquet was wrapped with two vintage hankies - one from my mother and one from my grandmother).  I gave my mother and mother-in-law hankies with a special message embroidered on them, and even gifted one to my betrothed with a message and our wedding date on it.  Another thoughtful idea would be putting out a basket of vintage hankies for wedding guests with a sign directing them to take one.

I've been a fan of Bird and Banner's hankies on their etsy shop for a while, but I recently discovered they'll be selling them at Anthropologie as well (like I need another excuse to go to Anthropologie!)  Here's a little eye candy, but be sure to check them out at their website and etsy shop.

When life gives you lemons...

Living in Southern California but being from the midwest originally, I have become obsessed with lemon trees!  They are so pretty and different than anything I was used to growing up.  I recently made a lemon themed inspiration board, but was waiting to post it until spring.  That was until I spotted this amazing feature at Style Me Pretty that looks like it could have come from this board.  Now I can't wait any longer...

Top Row:  Ribbon photo by Stephanie Williams, lemonade via Snippet & Ink, escort cards from Lulu Paper, lemon florals by Kathryn Kleinman, Cake by K. Rose Cakes, lemons table number setting from Martha Stewart Weddings

Middle Row:  cake by K.Rose Cakes, church photo by Allyson Magda via Snippet & Ink, bouquet from Bliss Events, shoes by Valentino

Bottom Row: Lemon tree photo by Brandon Vick  via The Bride's Cafe, lemonade via Snippet and Ink,, gown by Vera Wang, shoes from Wedding Style Guide, yellow boutineres by Small Stump & Studio Choo, necklace from J.Crew

Be sure to check out the full feature in all of its vintage charm and beauty, but here are a few of my favorite photos from the shoot done by Amorology Weddings and Jill Thomas Photography:

Inspiration Board: Down on the Farm

I came across the photo of the barn a while back and was inspired to design a wedding to take place in that beautiful barn!  Chandeliers and antique keys are two of my favorite things, but I'm loving the horseshoes too!

Top Row:  Chandelier and barn from Brides, Piano from Leigh Miller Photography, keys by Alisha Clark via Snippet & Ink Row 2:  pies from The Knot, envelope from Wedding Style Guide, cake by Jessamyn Harris, horses by Punam Bean,

Row 3:  Mini Pies from Wedding Style Guide, Chicken stationery from Bella Muse, apples from Rebecca Thuss via Snippet & Ink, rose from Ellen Silverman, stationery from Wedding Style Guide, Bottom Left:  horseshoes from Brides

Lovely Florals Inspiration Board

As we all suffer through winter (which in LA means non-stop rain) and wish for spring, I thought a feature on florals would help us all through.  I love lush, feminine florals.  I love single stems in a container.  I love using vintage or unexpected pieces as containers.  I love garden roses.  I love peonies.  Here are some of my favorite wedding florals to help you dream of spring:

Top Row:  Jennifer Roper, Lisa Lefkowitz, Jose Villa, Leigh Miller Photography,  Ken Kienow; Middle Row:  Jennifer Roper, Red Ribbon Studio; Bottom Row:  Ken Kienow, Jose Villa, Punam Bean, Cantana Photography

Pretty pretty paper!

I just had to share a blog post that combines two blogs that I love.  Nole from Oh So Beautiful Paper was the guest blogger yesterday at The Bride's Cafe.  Nole's wedding was a source of inspiration for me when planning my wedding (check it out here...it is absolute perfection), and her blog always features pretty paper, stationery, and invitations, which are some of my favorite things.  Below are Nole's words of wisdom regarding Save the Dates and  photos of the ideas she shared.  To see the full feature on The Bride's Cafe, go here.

From Nole:

1. Set the tone with your Save the Dates. Aside from the invitations themselves, Save the Dates are the first insight that your guests will have into your wedding. Since Save the Dates are usually sent out pretty early in the wedding planning process, chances are most brides and grooms won't have all the details figured out when the Save the Dates are mailed out, but hopefully you have a sense of the style of wedding that you're planning. Here are a few ideas:

Photo by Max Wanger

Photo by Olivia Leigh

Design by Simplesong

I really love all three of these.  How great would the hanky Save the Dates be for a vintage styled wedding or bride, especially for a smaller guest list?  I wish I had thought of it...

The keys are great because you can incorporate them into your wedding in so many different ways...and they just happen to be one of the elements I used throughout my own wedding.

There is something so simple and chic about silhouettes!  They could also be incorporated throughout your wedding.  A great example of that can be found here and here, in a wedding featured on Style Me Pretty.

One other Save the Date idea I absolutely love is another I found on Nole's blog.  I love the initials carved into the tree (maybe I am biased since they are mine and my husband's initials).

By Sublime Design

I think every bride should send Save the Dates because they are fun and a great way to showcase your style and personality.  Even if your budget is tight, there are lots of places, especially on Etsy, where you can find very affordable Save the Dates.  I got mine from Tilde Designs on Etsy, and not only were they very affordable, but they were lovely!

Inspiration Board for Home

Maybe it is the dreary and rainy weather, but all I can think about right now is curling up in front of the TV and staying in.  I love home design and I have been dreaming of a new couch (the 10 year old slip-covered one we have is just not cutting it anymore).  With new couch research comes lots of other ideas for the living room, bedroom, and rooms I don't even have in my apartment!  Here is a collection of photos I found on Decor Pad that are inspiring me.  I am loving tufted furniture at the moment! 

All images found at Decor Pad

You could totally use one of these rooms for wedding inspiration too.  Luxurious textures, muted color paletttes, chandeliers, that yellow and grey combo...