Style Me Pretty

A Perfect Wedding...

My good friend Lisa, over at Demby + Solomon, recently emailed me about this couple that she worked with, who aside from having the most gorgeous wedding you've ever seen, has also been a true source of inspiration for her. When I saw the photos and started reading their blog, I knew that you guys would love to hear all about them.

First things first, the photos of their recent wedding, taken by the amazingly talented Heather Saunders, are so magazine-worthy, I almost want to print them out and frame them...

I love how they paired a really rustic, beachside spot with a purely elegant attire. The end result is so beautiful. And honestly, to hear a bit more about the couple, seems to make the whole event sparkle...

After the wedding, this lovely pair has decided to devote an entire year, their first year of marriage, traveling around the world, working with different volunteer organizations. The adventure began in Paris and has taken them thus far through Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and parts of China. They have seen and done things in a few months that most of us won't have the chance to do in our lifetime. This pair is truly a beautiful inspiration for me, and lucky enough, they are chronicling the entire journey so that we can all learn a little something about this huge, waiting-to-be-explored world.

Fall 2008 Runway Picks, Part II

Here are my picks for some of the smaller, up and comers in the bridal fashion industry for the Fall 2008 season...

Top Row Gowns by Amy Kuschel on Brides.com / Center Row Gowns by Jenny Lee on Brides.com / Bottom Row by Jenny Packham on Brides.com

All of these designers are so inspiring to me. I have been following each of them for a while and am so impressed with the sheer beauty of their work. The attention to detail is unbelievable...and the end result of their Fall 2008 collections is absolutely gorgeous.

Fall 2008 Runway Picks

Today is all about being a bride. A drop dead gorgeous bride. I wanted to let you guys know what my picks were from this past week's Fall runway shows. The gowns were, in a word, stunning. One part wispy and romantic, one part edgy and sophisticated...most of the looks were well designed and created for a bride that wants to be both beautiful and perhaps a bit sexy.

So first, I wanted to start with the super wearable pieces that I fell in love with, designed by some of the major industry players...

Top Row: All gowns are by the amazing Badgley Mischka, as seen on Brides.com
Center Row: All gowns by Caroline Herrera, as seen on Brides.com
Bottom Row: All gowns by Monique Lhuillier, as seen on Brides.com

How beautiful are these dresses? So ethereal and romantic. And yet at the same time, they all have a little somethin-somethin that makes them more than just a simple sheath.

Later today, I am going to talk about my picks from some of the smaller designers...those great up and comers that are putting out such thoughtfully designed pieces. I can't wait to share my favorites! And, after that, I have some really brilliant picks for those not-so-wearable, but oh-so-cool gowns.

Update to Previous Post

Jennifer, recent bride and the designer of today's gorgeous inspiration boards, stopped by to share with us a few of the details that made her wedding so special. Scroll down, past the real wedding board, on today's post to find out what she did!

Wedding Photography by Firefly Studio

I am really hoping that Jennifer will stop by a little later to give us the details from her recent wedding, but in the meantime, I thought I would share with you the brilliant photography studio behind some of her gorgeous pics. Firefly Studio has some beautiful images on their site and will definitely give you great direction as to what types of photos really work. Just look at the simple elegance that is conveyed thru these photos...

Thanks so much, Jennifer, for sharing this great resource!

From Inspiration to Reality...

Some of you might remember this gorgeous inspiration board that was done by one of our readers, Jennifer, for a past Inspiration Board Contest...

Well lucky for us, Jennifer sent me a picture of her real life wedding board. And, it is insanely close to her the one she designed for inspiration. Just goes to show how very helpful these boards are in pulling all of your many loves, into one cohesive look and style!

Here is Jennifer's real wedding...

How beautiful is this wedding??? Please look at those gorgeous centerpieces. And the color palette...is completely stunning!Jennifer has been sweet enough to share with us the elements that really made her wedding unique. Ten details that made their affair so special.

From Jennifer...

It was on a Sunday afternoon!  We wanted our wedding to have a laid back, jazzy, breezy feeling… what better way to do that then have it on a summer Sunday afternoon when the atmosphere is relaxed and everyone is in a good mood.

The all in one venue, Hart House at the University of Toronto.  This gothic building in the middle of downtown Toronto is truly a hidden gem.  It has beautiful architecture, an enclosed courtyard for the ceremony, a tent perfect for the cocktail hour, and stunning rooms indoors for the reception. 

The florals.  This is one area where we truly let the professional have free reign.  We picked our florist (www.freshflorals.com) as his work was extremely creative and we knew he could capture the architectural + Asian + contemporary look we were going for.  We came up with some broad ideas together, like the “rolling waves of grasses and white flowers” scheme for the centrepieces, but really let our florist push the limit, even creating a huge floral boa for the 14’ modernist metal statue at the ceremony site.

Moo favour tags.  I’ve used the moo (www.moo.com) mini cards before for my business cards and thought they would be perfect to use as tags for our favours.  I uploaded 200 different photos of our childhood, proms, families etc. and on the back added a message that said Thank You in both English and Taglog (my native Filipino language).

My home-dyed blue crinoline – a very easy and fun idea I found on the Knot message boards.

The bamboo arch, fashioned out of 3 bamboo ladders, 1000 capiz shells, and fishing wire was a time consuming DIY project.  It turned out great though and helped add an Asian flair to the otherwise “Hogwarts-esque” reception room.

Music music everywhere!  Our wedding was organized like three “Acts” of a play so we wanted the appropriate soundtrack for each Act.  For the ceremony, we had a string trio who played both classical pieces like Pachabel’s Canon and contemporary music like “If You Leave” from the movie Pretty In Pink.  The next Act was the cocktail hour where we had two Filipino guitarists play a mix of English and Filipino songs.  Finally, the reception had a jazz trio who kept the event hopping with the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, and other standards.

The Veil & Cord ceremony.  In traditional Spanish, Mexican, and Filipino wedding ceremonies, sponsors (typically married relatives of the couple) place a veil and cord on the shoulders of the bride and groom.  The veil symbolizes the care and protection of one another and the cord symbolizes the infinite bond between the couple.  We explained the significance of the ceremony in our program for those guests not familiar with it.

Oshibori are wet hand towels served hot or cold and are typically used in Japanese restaurants.  Since we were having an outdoor ceremony, I thought they would be a little surprise for my guests – a great way to refresh before they headed over to the tent for cocktails.  I ordered mine in a peach-mango scent from www.theoshiboricompany.com and donated the towels to a shelter afterwards.

My husband Sean and I decided to put our creative talents to good use and created a “card house”.  Using real balsa wood, we created a modernist house complete with plexiglass walls, miniature staircase, cantilevered roof, and of course a slot for the cards from our guests.

An Inspired Affair...

I am so excited to write the third issue of our "An Inspired Affair..." series. This wedding is one of the most gorgeous weddings that I have ever seen. Seriously.

The dream team that helped us create this inspiration board, was none other than Lisa Vorce at Oh How Charming! and photographer, Elizabeth Messina. Have you ever seen anything like this? The vibrant colors paired with crisp whites, the simplicity but sheer extravagance, the sophistication but complete whimsy. I love it. Love it.

Lisa has been sweet enough to share a few more details about this gorgeous wedding...

This wedding was held at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu. Betty and Josh were a delight to work with and both had an extremely clean and simple aesthetic. They originally came to me with a pink and brown color scheme. Josh wanted to add a little pop to the standard pink  and brown combo - and came up with the turquoise "twist". I loved the idea and ran with it.

We implemented a few key turquoise statements that really made a wonderful impact on the overall look of the event.  Dodie from Brassavolas Floral Design had custom turquoise wax candles poured for us which added a great blast of color to the tables. For smaller accents, we brought it turquoise Hanah silk ribbon (my absolutely favorite ribbon...it comes in the most extraordinary colors). As the main statement, I found amazing vintage turquoise vases that my dear friend Lewis at Barker Decor Service helped me rig above the dance floor to create an insane glass jar "chandelier". We hung a hundred or so jars with fishing line and placed LED lights in them. During the day the jars had a magnificent glimmer in the sun --  then as the sun went down...the LEDs came to life. Under the four oaks at Saddlerock, it was simply gorgeous.

I wish I could take credit for bringing the zebra in...but that is just one of the built-in benefits of getting married at Saddlerock!  For the tables, we did a mix of rectangular rustic wood tables (a nod to the outdoorsy nature of Saddlerock) and simple round tables as well as square tables. On the wood tables, we did a runner of pink taffeta. On the squares and rounds, we used full length brown taffeta linens and full length pink taffeta linens (from my favorite Tabella Design, of  course). The florals and decor on the tables were intentionally minimal. We made choices that were low profile, but high impact. The girls at Wiley Valentine helped finish the tables with beautiful sleek menu designs with pink, brown, and turquoise ink.

We all loved the simple yet elegant vibe of the event and the fantastic color combination just made us smile!

Thank you so much, Lisa, for taking the time to share all of these great ideas with us! This wedding sounds completely amazing...I only wish I could have seen it in person!

Wedding Invitations by Black Pearl Press

Being in Elisabeth Warman's insanely cool letterpress studio, Black Pearl Press, a few nights ago was perhaps the highlight of my week. Okay, my month. Maybe my year, but I don't want to embarrass her. Elisabeth joined Moria and Megan, of MFlynn Jewelry, and myself for dinner this past week. But before we left, we spent some time poking around her studio, devouring all of the gorgeous designs she has been working on.

Let me tell you what I really love about Elisabeth's work. Each piece...from the typeface up, is so well executed, so well thought out. Her designs are finished in such a way that you can truly see the pure and honest TLC that went into crafting each one. So much so, that you want to frame them, rather than mail them.

To date, most of Elisabeth's work is completely couture...all done by hand (yes, by hand) on the three presses that are featured above. But, I was thrilled to hear that she is also working on a ready made collection, Pearl Papers, which is set to launch this Fall. The top left photo is a sneak peak from her new collection.

Honestly people, Elisabeth is the real deal. She is an artist in every sense of the word, and yet she approaches her designs with such restraint and sophistication, it's hard not to fall in love with her work.

Wedding Gifts by MFlynn

A couple of nights ago, I had the pleasure of meeting two of Boston's finest...sisters Megan and Moria Flynn of MFlynn Jewelry. They were sweet enough to invite me to grab a bite near their studio and I am so glad that I was able to go! First, let's talk about the goods.

Megan and Moria work in the cutest part of Boston, in this amazing building that is literally overflowing with artists, designers and otherwise creative people. The sisters design a line of stunning jewelry and handbags that in my opinion, are the PERFECT bridesmaids gift. Honestly. The jewelry is so chic and fashionable, and yet has this throw back to tradition kind of feel.

How beautiful is this stuff? It is classy, but edgy. Distinctive but totally elegant. The girls are incredibly talented and have a level of taste that few can match. If you are in Boston, you should definitely drop them a line...they can help you to come up with the perfect gift for your girls that really suits their personality and style.

Okay, as much as I was swooning over their jewelry line, MFlynn's handbags are beyond cute. I am completely convinced that these girls are going to be the next big thing. Please look at how great these bags are...

There are SO many styles and colors to choose from, clutches and totes, metallics and patent leathers. Um, yeah. It's that good. Spend some time today pouring over their site. It's soooooo worth it!

A huge thanks goes out to Megan and Moria for taking the time to chat with me about their line, their life, their business. I had a blast and hopefully, I will be your first Style Me Pretty customer! And to readers, wait until you hear who the second dinner guest was with us. Check back a little later to find out!

Wedding Photography by Nicole Hill

How much do you love this wedding that was shot by Nicole Hill and featured on her blog, A Little Sussy (such a cute blog by the way)...

(click on the image to make it larger)

I love the top left photo that Nicole pointed out...the clothesline (and wheat grass patch) covered in pictures of the couple. And, how adorable is that bride?! It just seems like such a sweet, happy day. Nicole also has some great wedding shots on her professional site...

I love, love, love how clean and crisp each photo looks. Even the whites seem vibrant and fresh. Nicole really is so talented and her prices (starting at $2000) are really reasonable!

Wedding on a Budget

I have received so many emails about yesterday's style board. And lucky for us, Erin (the bride), has been sweet enough to offer her top ten tips for creating a beautiful, but budget friendly wedding! Even better, we have a few more photos to share!

From Erin...

My complete #1 was remembering that I was going for a vibe - and that that superseded getting wrapped up in lots of little details, that quite frankly no one (including me) would remember.

But in saying that...

#2 was research research research research.  I LOVE the internet, and what I love most is finding the most gorgeous sites and being able to budget hunt.  I was amazed at what great finds there are out there without spending a ton. i.e, our table cards, all the things we needed for our favors - all came in at under $40.

#3 Having our wedding at our favorite Brooklyn restaurant  (Frankies 457) saved us a ton of $, and more importantly stress.  We knew we loved the food, the atmosphere, the staff.  No worries of catering, linens, etc.  This was where we saved the biggest chunk of $.  And our wedding was still on a peak Saturday night in NYC.  I really encourage people to check out restaurants.  Also - it's a gorgeous space so it kept decorations down.

#4 - Keep the numbers down.  We knew we wanted a really intimate feel and having a restaurant with a guest list cap of 90 helped us stay on track. We ended up with a total of 79 guests.

#5 - We skipped the limos and whatnot.  We're lucky that in NYC we can easily call car services.  We rang for Lincoln Towncars 20 minutes before we had to be at venue.  Price per car - $30

#6 - Do it yourself!  You don't have to be crafty to do a few little things here and there.  And save yourself stress - do things EARLY!  I loved our little favor boxes, but they were a total pain to make.  I invited 3 friends over, got a few bottles of wine and had them done 3 weeks before the wedding.

#7- Consider doing your own flowers.  Bud vases are gorgeous (we had 70 at 70 cents each at IKEA) and bought all our flowers the day before at a local flower market.  Price for all the flowers (mainly orchids) $300.  My one regret is that I also didn't do the same all the bouquets. I thought the stress would be too much to do these myself, but in hindsight it would have saved a lot of money and been more my style.

#8- Hunt for a sale on your dress.  (or at least find it cheaper)  I found my dress at a really swanky boutique in Manhattan and sighed at the price.  My sister convinced me to go to a huge warehouse store in Manhattan to see if I could find something similar.  I found the same dress as at the boutique for $200 less.  Every little bit counts.

#9 - Photography.  I LOVE a good photograph, but I couldn't see spending $4000 on photos.  We found our photographer on Craigslist, checked his references (a must) and booked him. 8 hours for $700 and over 1500 photos. Love it. Oh, and for anyone wondering, his name is Aaron Almendral.

#10 - Be willing to let things go. I really tried to focus on what were my priorities - great music, great food, and great friends.  The
little stuff after that I was willing to let go.

A Brooklyn Wedding

To me, there is nothing sweeter, than seeing the perfect wedding of a Style Me Pretty reader. Knowing that Style Me Pretty is inspiring you to not only create the wedding of your dreams, but to do so while still having fun...well, it's humbling, to say the least. So of course, when Erin sent me pictures of her recent Brooklyn, NY wedding, I literally got tears in my eyes.

Believe it or not, Erin and her fiance put together this drop dead gorgeous affair for under 20k. In New York.  And you know what...it's absolutely perfect. What the above photos might not convey (as they are more of the detail shots), is the genuine warmth and intimacy of the whole affair. It truly seemed like 50 or so friends and family members coming together to celebrate the love of this couple. Every element, from the look of sheer happiness on the bride and grooms faces to the warm, but chic color palette, seemed so inviting, almost magical really. In my opinion, this is EXACTLY what a wedding should be.

Jessica Rust Contest Winner

I am FINALLY ready to announce the winner of the Jessica Rust Contest. The question was...how has the Internet, specifically blogs, changed the way that you approach your own wedding?

And the winner is (drum roll please)...Julie! I will be honest, it took me a really long time to choose a winner. Everyone's answers were so true, and so well said. And many of them had similar sentiments, each worded slightly different. To me, that means that Style Me Pretty along with the other brilliant wedding blogs out there, are really doing their job. Here is Julie's response...

In starting out with wedding planning, I did what any bride-to-be does - go to Barnes & Noble and buy every wedding magazine imaginable and sit for hours near the wedding isle perusing through wedding planning books. While finding some informative tid bits on etiquette, wedding dress designers, and discovering just why Martha is so fabulous, I, like many other brides left my magazine/book adventure feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. Then I found Style Me Pretty's inspiration boards and it wasn't until then that the vision of my wedding came to life. Style Me Pretty and related blogs have become daily reading for me. I look forward to visiting these sites everyday to see what creative, practical insight they have to offer. While wedding planning has become SUCH a business and we are constantly overmarketed to, these blogs offer creativity that goes beyond the wedding machine and gets back to the heart of what this day is about. But the best part about it all is the power of all of these women coming together to help each other achieve the day we've all dreamed of. Even though I've never met these wonderful woman who take the time out of their busy days to impart some of their ideas, I feel a bond that we are all women of passion and that extends all the way from our personal lives, to our careers...to just something pretty.

I chose this particular answer because of this one sentence..."these blogs offer creativity that goes beyond the wedding machine and gets back to the heart of what this day is about." I think that basically sums it all up. Blogs offer a respite from traditional wedding sites. They allow for a really intimate, and creativity driven environment that ultimately helps you to look outside of the "wedding machine" and instead, create a day that is a true reflection of you and your fiance.

I actually used this notion in a recent interview with Get Married TV! Which will hopefully explain the reason for the question! Thank you so much to all of you who participated. It was such a pleasure reading all of your thoughts and has completely motivated me to make Style Me Pretty your go-to site for wedding inspiration.

Wedding Photography by Doug McGoldrick

Doug McGoldrick, a wonderful photographer out of Chicago, has been great enough to put together a style board for us that I really wanted to share with you...

I absolutely love the detail shots that he's captured here. Those origami place cards are,in a word...amazing. He manages to capture each event with this perfect combination of beauty and emotion...with a bit of humor thrown in for good measure. Definitely check out his site when you have some time today. And, Doug's blog is filled with some of his most recent work, so you'll have tons of great inspiration.

Unique Catering, Part II

If you thought yesterday's food looked amazing, please feast your eyes on these little masterpieces...

Taste Catering in San Francisco specializes in perfect, magazine worthy food that I have literally been drooling over all morning. Little bites like Ahi Tuna Tartare served in tiny cones with Tobiko Caviar, Lemon-Ginger Prawns sauteed in White Wine, Fresh Ginger, Lemon & Garlic, Mini Mu Shu Bundles filled with a julienne of crisp Asian Vegetables..." Yeah. Amazing.

And, just when I thought it couldn't get any better...I saw their desserts.

Taste can put together a dessert buffet that just might make your cake jealous. Butterscotch Profiteroles dipped in Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Pot de Crème Shooters, Lemon Meringue Tartlets, Goat Cheese Brulee with Fig Port Compote, Mini Ice Cream Cones
Pistachio Pyramids. To name a few.

Although not every caterer can create a presentation that could go in a great art book...if food is important, choose a caterer that is open and willing to work with you to design a menu that you are really proud of. Scour other catering sites to find inspiration, bring magazine tear-outs as reference, absolutely insist on a tasting. Make sure that you and your caterer see eye to eye. Whether you are having a champagne brunch or a full, sit down dinner...good food can really transform your entire evening into something completely and totally unique.

Unique Catering

First of all, I am so sorry that there were not any posts for you yesterday. I was actually in New York for the morning and ended up sitting in six and a half hours of traffic on our way back to Boston. So, I couldn't get anything up for you guys! Hopefully, the weekend posts will make up for it.

You know, I very rarely talk about food on this blog. And to be honest, I don't know why. Aside from the fact that I am a huge foodie, I also really believe that good food and good drinks will elevate a nice party, to a truly memorable party. So, I thought I would take a couple of days to highlight some caterers that are doing really unique work with the hopes of inspiring you to think outside the box when planning your own wedding menu.

Creative Edge Parties in NY has such incredibly chic ideas in catering...and yet, the food seems hugely unstuffy and fun...

Top Left: Mini Bistro Burgers with Ketchup and Bacon. Top Center: Boneless Chicken Wings with Celery Skewer and Gorgonzola Sauce. Top Right: Llez Pizzas Pumpkin, Caramelized Onions, Bella Paese and Sage. Center Left: Bruscetta Bar with Plum Tomato and Basil Oil, Olive Oil and Cured Tuna. Center Center: "Creative Edge" Deviled Eggs, Truffled Yolks and Buttered Brioche. Center Right: Raw Bar Alonso with a Cocktail Mignonette. Bottom Left: Smoked Salmon Club Sandwich with Cucumbers, Herb Mousse and Caramelized Shallot. Bottom Center: "Bacon and Eggs" using Six Hour Braised Bacon and Quail Eggs. Bottom Right: Chicken Rillettes on Garlic Bread.

How completely unique is this stuff! I love that it is all comfort food of sorts, presented in such a thoughtful and clean way. There is nothing better than a wedding with your favorite eats in bite size form. If you can convince your catering team to serve mini burgers or something similar at 11:30pm (or right before the night is about to end), you'll leave your guests feeling both satisfied and charmed.

Lisa Leigh Photography

The woman behind the gorgeous photos on today's inspiration board was none other than Lisa Leigh. She is one of the most talented photographers around, able to capture that perfect smile, that perfect kiss, that perfect detail that makes a wedding so spectacular...

Please look at these detail shots! They are truly inspiring...I have totally fallen in love with the yellow and black palette. Lisa has a great online portfolio that you can check out. She has some pretty incredible image that will no doubt inspire you for hours.

Also, check back a little later to find out which invitation suite has been updated with a fresh color scheme, thanks to the brilliant inspiration board that Lisa helped to create.

An Inspired Affair...

First and foremost, thank you all so much for the amazing comments on yesterday's post. For those of you that haven't had a chance, please do submit your thoughts. There really is no wrong or right answer, as the question applies to everyone differently. Next week, I will tell you guys why I wanted your feedback on this very important question.

For today, though...we are having the second edition of our "An Inspired Affair..." series. This particular board was created for one of our original Abby Jean designs that needed a bit of updating. The photographs are by the brilliant Lisa Leigh...

(click on the photo to see which invitation suite this board inspired)

How gorgeous are the flowers at this wedding? I love how every detail coordinates back to their natural surrounding. It makes the entire affair seem beautifully effortless.

Jessica Rust Serving Pieces

A few months ago we posted about the amazingly talented Jessica Rust and readers went absolutely crazy for her work. Since then, I have seen Jessica's designs all over the place...Grace at Design*Sponge mentioned them, Poppytalk Handmade features them on her web store, Jennifer over at Hostess Blog wrote about her. The nods of approval are endless.

And so, I thought a Jessica Rust original was just the ticket to convince you to enter our latest contest. For one lucky reader, this absolutely beautiful, make-your-friends-completely-jealous serving bowl will be all yours! All you have to do is answer one simple question...

(These Limited Edition Birch Serving Bowls and the Limited Edition Love Bird II Serving Bowls are completely, over-the-top gorgeous. Only 50 of these babies will ever be made, so if you love them as much as I do, and can't wait to find out if you are the winner, I would buy one today. Each bowl features 14K gold luster on the exterior and will be numbered and signed...a true keepsake.)

Here is the question...how has the Internet, specifically blogs, changed the way that you approach your own wedding?  That's it. Simple as that. We are going to close the contest on Friday afternoon, so put your thinking caps on (cheesy, I know).

Wedding Invitations by Brown Sugar Design

I have been a long time admirer of Jonathan and Whitney over at Brown Sugar Design. Their work is always so fresh and unique, each piece perfectly coordinated, without seeming overly matched...

photo courtesy of Brown Sugar Design

I have also become a daily reader of their design blog, where some of their more recent work makes it onto the pages. How completely chic is the lemon invitation above! I absolutely love it. Brown Sugar Design is a couture studio, so each piece is carefully crafted to suit your own unique personalities. If you haven't already, spend some time today looking thru both their design site and their blog...beware though, you might be there a while, as there really is so much inspiration. Perfect color palettes, unique designs, the works.

Also, lucky for us, the duo is starting a new series on their blog in the coming weeks called Memoirs of the Perpetual Bridesmaid...

Inspired by the Always a Bridesmaid contest on Brides.com, they will feature guest blogging by their dear friend who is just that...always a bridesmaid. She will share tips, ideas and a constructive, but thoughtful perspective on coordinating the "other stuff" like choosing bridesmaid dresses, planning bridal showers, buying wedding gifts, etc. Can't wait!

Wedding Details by Etsy

It's official. The day is shot. I have spent a solid four hours pouring over one of my favorite sites, Etsy. What I love about this site is that not only can you find tons of handmade wares by indie designers, you can also find some pretty amazing collectors items that are absolutely perfect for your wedding decor. Take these "vases" for example...

Top Row: Vintage Silver Trophy, Robin's Egg Blue Creamer; Middle Row: Gold Pitcher, White Porcelain Pourers; Bottom Row: Vintage Milk Bottles, Handmade Ceramic Bowls

They could be used for a single, puffy peony or a small bouquet of fresh-from-the-garden flowers. You could place the bud of a cabbage rose in the rustic, golden bowls or a bundle of creamy white ranuculas in the vintage trophy. These images barely, just barely crack the surface of the great finds on Etsy. If you are struggling as to how to add a bit of personality and texture to your wedding, consider collecting vases like these rather than renting from your florist.

At my own wedding, we did this with old mint julep cups and cut crystal that we found on ebay. At the end of the evening, we encouraged guests to take them home them. Everyone was completely over the moon. Just last weekend (2 years after the actual wedding), I was having dinner with one of my cousins who brought up the monogrammed silver julep cup that she got at my wedding. She keeps crayons for her kids in it! I love that!

Wedding Details on Etsy

My day is being wasted scouring Etsy for more fun reception decor ideas (thanks to the oh-so-cuteness that is happening at Small Stump). So, rather than feeling bad about it, I am just going to call it market research and pass my finds along to you. These are journaling tags that would be so cute as table cards!

If you punched a hold at the top, then hung them from pretty grosgrain ribbon on a cork board or from tree branches (something kind of organic to contrast the preppy factor of the cards), they would be a perfect way to add a little lighthearted color to your decor. Make them extra cute by handwriting the names and table numbers!

Along that same note, these silhouette tags are completely adorable. I am picturing them hanging from a strawberry pink ribbon, names & table numbers scrolled across the front. Too cutesy?

And these tags, are just too perfect. I know that they could be used for something great...

Place cards would be the obvious choice, but what else?  Can you guys think of anything else? What about food or dessert tags specifying what each item is. Or little thank you notes tied onto your favors.

Check back a little later for some other great Etsy finds!!

Wedding Details by Small Stump

My best friend Katie, whose getting married in a couple of weeks, decided to do centerpieces based around those perfect birch bark vases by Small Stump that OhJoy! featured a while back. They are amazing. Well, as it turns out, the whole world thought they were pretty amazing too and they sold like hotcakes. Katie eventually found a set on Ebay, but has been dying for more.

As luck would have it, I emailed Jill at Small Stump a day before she got her next shipment in of these little gems. YAY! So, of course, we stocked up on them. And now that we have ours for Katie's wedding (I know it's hugely selfish, but) ...I wanted to share the wealth.

The vases are $28 for a set of five (varying heights). Hurry though...I have a sneaking suspicion that these won't last long.

And, if you have some time, spend a moment or two checking out the other GREAT wares at Small Stump. Really, she has some beautiful ideas for reception decor. Like these pieces of paper thin coral...

A few of these would be so gorgeous, resting on your guest book table...anywhere really. OR, check out these adorable bud vases (in either red or white)...

Jill and Lia certainly have an eye! Aside from all of the pretty little things above, they have a section of paper that is so beautiful. For a wedding, I love the celebration banner (how cute is that) and the silkscreened birds, which I think would be a nice idea for table "numbers."

Blog Action Day, Part II

Continuing on with Blog Action Day, you should definitely check out Polkadot Bride...

She has some great ideas for having an eco-friendly affair, along with some fun resources for green entertaining that I had not seen before. Although most of the companies listed are based in Australia, they are still eye candy and are good for a few hours of inspiration.

Also, if you haven't already, definitely check out Earth Friendly Weddings...

This site is filled with great (and unique!) ideas for an eco-chic wedding. She is kicking off the week with an entire series devoted to planning a ZERO waste wedding. I am dying to hear what she comes up with!

I hope that all of these posts have inspired you to plan your wedding in a more environmentally thoughtful way. There are so many small things that you can do to design a green inspired wedding that will only add to the richness and the beauty of your day...it just seems like a no brainer.

Blog Action Day

There is a lot of fun stuff happening in the blogosphere for Blog Action Day...

Check out the post over at Toast and Tables for some ideas on Green Wedding Registries! The photo above is from Viva Terra, a gorgeous site that has some beautiful eco-friendly registry products.

Junebug Weddings also has a great post up today...

I can't wait for the eco-chic Fashion Report that they are doing for their upcoming issue!!

Check back a little later for some more Blog Action Day highlights!

Today is officially Blog Action Day. Yep. It's the one day that bloggers from around the world are going to be focusing on the environment. So, what better day to ask Emily Anderson of Eco-Chic Weddings, to share with us her own interpretation of a super chic, but environmentally sound wedding...

From Emily...

The two words “chic” and “whimsy” were the inspiration for this board. I imagined a fun, flirty, slightly quirky bride, who would be perfectly comfortable blowing bubbles on her wedding day. The color teal seems to be in the air this season, as well as vibrant pinks and other complimentary colors of blue and green.

The petals running down the aisle are the only décor element at this outdoor wedding ceremony. So simple, but also so pretty and striking as a literal “bed of roses.” The bride and groom were confident enough that the beauty of nature, and their own happiness would be quite enough to set the tone for the ceremony. Organic rose petals are easily found, and you will save loads of money, and reduce your impact with this easy idea.

Serving sorbet to “cleanse the palette” is something I consider to be quite fancy, and served with a sweet little silver spoon, of course. Ask your caterer to order from Nature’s Flavors for delicious, organic sorbet.

The pink typeface on this lovely letter pressed invitation makes a subtle chic statement. If you work with the right stationer, like Oblation Papers and Press in Portland, you can reduce your impact because they use “tree free” paper; which means either the paper is recycled, or made from sustainable cotton. Really, any stationer should be able to print your invites on recycled paper. I don’t think the quality suffers, and paper produced for weddings each year uses 500,000 trees. This is a no-brainer! Insist on recycled, or tree-free content for your paper items. If we all do this, imagine the impact.

Greenery is simple and elegant, and you can use “live” topiary, so less waste…Also, greenery can be grown locally almost everywhere, so an easy way to support your local growers (check localharvest.org for growers near you.) Dahlias are one of my favorite blooms, and these lovelies are from California Organic Flowers.

Give your groom a beautiful tie to wear down the aisle. It doesn’t have to match the groomsmen, and if it’s one he likes, he’ll use it again and again after the wedding is over. Maybe even splurge on a handmade one, or if you’re craft maybe you can make it yourself. Simplicity pattern 4762 is an easy one to follow, or find a crafty tie maker on Etsy.

Although they aren’t “sustainable” in the literal sense, I happen to like J.Crew for wedding attire, because there’s a really good chance that the dresses will be reused after the wedding. The limited availability of sustainable fabric makes it really hard to find “eco-friendly” fashion, yet. In the meantime, make sure your purchases aren’t single use items (which the bridesmaid dresses are so often.) Plus, this dress won’t break the bank, which your bridesmaids will thank you for.

Amy Butler makes some beautiful fabrics, and this particular pattern (bottom left) inspired me. I think brides should look outside of the “bridal” market for inspiration. This sassy gal with the feather in her cap is a snap taken by the Sartorialist as she walked through Tuiliers park one day. Her carefree, sophisticated attitude embodies “chic whimsy” for me.

Thank you so much, Emily for your fabulous ideas!! We will be doing a blog round-up the rest of the day, taking a look at some of our favorite blog action day posts!

An Inspired Affair...

For the last 6 months or so, the girls at Abby Jean by Fontaine Maury  have been hard at work on streamlining and perfecting the Abby Jean albums that are sold to stores around the country. Having seen the great fun that we, at Style Me Pretty, have had with the inspiration board contests, the girls wanted to incorporate different boards into the album with the hopes of showing brides and grooms that an inspired wedding can start from the very beginning of the process...with a stunning invitation. We printed the inspiration boards, using Shutterfly's streamlined service, on 5x7 glossy paper which we placed throughout the Abby Jean Albums.

We wanted the boards to be absolutely perfect...to show both the style behind an inspired affair, as well as the emotion and the incredible beauty of a perfect wedding. Thus, we looked no further than to the girls at Oh How Charming to get us started. Lisa, along with brilliant photographers like Elizabeth Messina, Lisa Leigh and Megan Sorel (to name a few) helped us to create these gorgeous boards that I have been dying to share with you. And now that the books have hit the store shelves, I can do just that!

Here is the first board. Check back a little later to see the invitation that it inspired!

I love how organic and yet completely romantic this wedding feels. The color palette is probably one that will always be my favorite (as they were my colors, as well) and the execution of all the details is in a word...perfect.

Lisa at Oh How Charming has been sweet enough to share a few more details about this gorgeous wedding...

"The wedding was held at Ventana Inn & Spa - so we had the gorgeous coastline of Big Sur as the original inspiration. Blanca was a true romantic at heart, while Shaheen had more of a modern & organic vibe. Both of them had very strong roots in their respective cultures (Blanca is hispanic and Shaheen is Persian). Infusing the personalities and cultural influences of my clients into the wedding design is extremely important to me...so for this one... we had quite a recipe! Romantic- hispanic-modern-organic-Persian!

For the florals, we combined soft romantic roses for Blanca with more modern and organic elements such as bleached grapewood and succulents for Shaheen. I designed two different tablescape concepts and we ended up using both of them which was fantastic. The first was a long wood table with more linear florals (a combination of grapewood and floral clusters). On this table - we used a beautiful raw linen runner which was the perfect backdrop for the grapewood floral displays. The second tablescape was a round table with a more traditional floral arrangement housed in a wood box. Kim England from Fleurs du Soleil executed everything beautifully for us! For this table, we used a gorgeous "toast" silk linen from my dear friends Carlos and Anna at Tabella Design which provided a more elegant vibe.  Both tables were flooded with candles.

We set up a comfy lounge using wood furniture and custom pillows from the same two fabrics we used on the tables. We had a roaring fire in the Ventana fire pit in the background as well. Under the starry sky of Big Sur...you couldn't have asked for a more romantic environment! The menus and table numbers were printed on beautiful cotton paper (all designed by the fabulous Jennifer Parsons from Tiny Pine Press) and we mounted them on wood veneer backers which was organic and elegant at the same time.

For the favors - we wrapped copies of a Henry Miller book on Big Sur in brown paper wrap, and then tied them with a raw hemp twine. Shaheen was quite crafty and constructed the wood escort card displays you see in the photo. Again - we used romantic and elegant calligraphy on the escort cards, but displayed them in a very clean and modern fashion.

Shaheen also constructed an amazing "cabana" for Oscar (their adorable dog) which Oscar proudly sat in as one of the "groomsmen" during the ceremony. In the photos - you can also see the fancy leash Oscar was sporting for the ceremony as well! At the dinner reception - as a nod to Shaheen's heritage, we incorporated elements of a traditional "Sofreh" table.

We used gorgeous mercury glass (one of my favorites!) containers to house the elements of the table and it turned out to be quite a display. Blanca and Shaheen (and Oscar!) were an absolute delight to work with, and the wedding was truly a wonderful blend of their personalities and cultures.--Lisa Vorce, Oh How Charming"

Wedding Invitations by The Lettered Olive

So now that you've had a glimpse into Tara Guerard's world, I wanted to tell you about her newest adventure, The Lettered Olive... chic, couture invitations with a classic, old meets new style...

Yep, she's that good. How gorgeous are these invitations? Although these are all samples of her custom work, she also has a line of invitations that are a bit more ready-made. All of which, bring Tara's stunning design aesthetic to life and really compliment her well known sense of style.

Thank you to Tara and her team for sharing such a wonderful day with us. I feel so lucky to wake up every morning and write about such innovative and inspiring designers, and Tara is just that.

Tara Guerard's Inspiration Board

Our featured guest, event designer Tara Guerard, was kind enough to send us some gorgeous photos of her recent work...specifically, of the sweet little details that she discussed earlier today. I pulled the photos into an inspiration board of sorts to show you just how beautiful all of the elements work together...

All photos were taken by the incredibly talented Liz Banfield.

From the delicate tree adorned with hanging butler cards and the sleek champagne glasses used in a Tiffany Blue inspired affair, to perfect miniature cakes and handwritten wedding invitations created for a small, intimate wedding...every detail is executed perfectly. To me, it's the smallest accessories that really turn a pretty event into a spectacular event.

Check back later today to hear about Tara's latest project!!

Tara Guerard and Stylish Entertaining

I am so excited to introduce today's first post. The lovely and oh-so-talented Tara Guerard of Soiree, and author of the best selling wedding book Southern Weddings, is giving us some ideas on how to infuse your wedding or event with details that your guests will remember for years to come.

So, without further ado, here's Tara!

Entertaining Ideas from Tara Guérard of Soirée

The first thing that I tell my brides is that we want to create an event that is special, memorable, unique and, most importantly, representative of the bride and groom.  I like to play “investigator” to find little details about the couple’s relationship that I can turn into something that can be shared with the wedding guests.  One of my favorite stories was about a couple who had met over coffee and then continued to meet at the same coffee shop during their entire courtship; so, I used coffee beans to anchor their place cards.

*It’s important to remember that wedding details aren’t all about grand flowers and towering ice sculptures.  Those may be the first items guests see, but they aren’t what guests are drawn to.  The small and thoughtful details are what are remembered and give a glimpse into the personal lives of the couple.

So, whether it’s with place cards, napkins or a sweet treat to go, it is of the utmost importance to make wedding details uniquely yours – and make it fun!  Here are some of my favorite Soirée Secrets…

*Display seating cards in a unique fashion.  We had a recent bride who wanted an invitation sent in a custom printed box.  We took the same box idea and put custom letterpressed menu cards (fit to the box exactly) and the card telling them at which table they would be seated inside. They were then wrapped in a paper that was custom printed from the invitations, and had calligraphied name tags tied to them.  They were organized and displayed in the same printed boxes that were given as guests checked into their hotels.  They were all amazed at the details carried throughout the weekend.

*For a more casual affair, don’t forgo extraordinary details.  For the invitation to a small and intimate affair, we created a calligraphied letter instead of a traditional invitation.  We addressed guests by their first names – which was the first indication of what an intimate affair it would be.  We also gave the guests at the seated dinner individual wedding cakes and with intimate seating everybody could talk, make toasts and enjoy the company of the bride and groom.

*A consistent color palette is key.  We used Tiffany blue and white for one wedding – from the bengaline linens to champagne with scoops of blue-tinted lemon sorbet.  The save-the-date cards from The Lettered Olive and guest booklets came in a Tiffany blue envelope and stickers for the gift boxes and labels on bottle waters gave a nod to the signature color as well.

*Take color cues from the great outdoors!  Use mossy green tablecloths of velvet with orange mums in large vases filled with nests of curly willow as the centerpiece for an early fall wedding.  With this theme, we had the ring bearer carry a little bird’s nest instead of the traditional pillow for the rings.

*To present the butler cards, we made a “tree” from live branches and hung cards from the limbs.

Thank you so very much, Tara, for taking the time to share these really wonderful ideas with us! Your work is forever inspiring brides and grooms to create a chic and thoughtful wedding. And, to readers...the fun is just beginning!! Check back a little later today for a couture style board made to reflect the perfect details mentioned above. 

Sunny Fall Flowers

I have already received a few emails from readers about the gorgeous flowers in the Christine Taylor style board below. The lovely creations were done be Valley Flora out of Napa Valley California...

I love how they utilize color without seeming over the top. It goes to show that if used simply, with one or two types of flowers, color can be both sophisticated and classy. I am loving the all green bouquets. Paired with a chocolate brown dress, they would be completely perfect. Actually, my BFF Katie, is looking to do something similar for her own wedding!

Sunny Fall Color Palette

If yesterday was all about the gorgeous muted Fall color palettes, today is about the sunny side of Fall. I love how light and cheerful this particular palette is and I think that it would make any Fall affair seem fun and light hearted...

All of these beautiful photos were taken by Christine Taylor of Christine Taylor Photography. Her site is filled with oh-so-inspiring ideas and colors. Aside from the wedding above, I especially love, love, love the wedding of Kristine and Walter (so completely beautiful), Joanne and Tyson and the adorable cake from the Melinda and Chris Wedding.

Check back later to find out a little more about these stunning flowers and the designer behind it all! Also, if you haven't already, definitely take a stab at some of the questions below. The girls love all the opinions that they can get!

Dear Abby

I am trying out a new format for posting...2-3 smaller posts a day, rather than one long one. Today, we are going to start with a Q & A session. Later, we will some really gorgeous pictorial posts, so stay tuned!

I would LOVE to hear your input on these questions and I am sure that our "brides in need" would as well...

Question 1: I'm having our guests arrive at 1:00pm for a Victorian Garden party.  We'll have our ceremony on the steps of a historic home.  After the ceremony, we'll invite guests to have tea & scones on the lawn while my fiance and I take pictures.  When we come back, we plan to have everyone take their seat at a table.  We'll do toasts, first dance etc. then.  After that, we'll invite people to begin dancing, talking & eating. We'll serve appetizers until 5pm, when we'll cut the cake.  The sun sets at around 6pm so the party will be over by 6:30pm at the latest.

My Question is whether it's necessary to get enough tables for each person, or if there may be a better idea.  We'll have a big brass band playing, so we'll need a dance floor, but I whether people will ever take their seats if we're having stationed appetizers???

My answer follows suit with many of those who posted below. I think that it's important to have almost enough seats for people (maybe 2/3) so that guests do have a place to park it if they need to. With that said, I think that incorporating cocktail tables, perhaps with stools tucked neatly under them, is a good way to ensure that guests are up on their feet enjoying the evening. If you are serving heavy appetizers, it's important that people at least have a place to eat, otherwise the food will (like someone else said), go to waste.

Question 2: I am getting married on June 14, 2008.  I am thinking about having blue and green as my colors, however, the curtains and chairs at my reception site are maroon!  The curtains also have some kind of design on it, which I could get over...but I can't stop thinking about those chairs.  Obviously this color scheme might be nice for fall, but not for my June wedding!!  Do you have any suggestions as to what I could do to disguise these chairs, preferably somewhat low budget?

Cover those chairs!! Sacrifice somewhere else. An ugly chair will put such a damper on your efforts to create a beautiful, cohesive look and feel. There are so many other places that you can cut costs to allow for spending room here. If you try to cover them in a different way, say with a lovely flower arrangement on the backs of some of them or a cute strand of greenery, you will end up spending just as much. With that said, aim to get the most tailored, simple cover you can find...some of the options can be pretty bad. 

Question 3: I am planning a wedding and I would love to do something other than the standard sit down dinner as we would really like a relaxed and social fete.  I wonder if you have heard from anyone who has had a cocktail reception with food stations, champagne etc and wait staff - something posh.  Or, I LOVE the idea of having a dessert reception - lots of sweets etc etc to follow a simple service at the same venue.  It seems like it would add a lot of sweetness to the event and assuming that guests would eat before coming - it could be a nice after dinner treat! Your thoughts would be so greatly appreciated - ps I am a fellow blogger and you have been on my list of faves since I started!! www.inspirationalstyles.blogspot.com

I love the idea of HEAVY hor'dourves...shrimp and grits in shot glasses (so cute), miniature goat cheese tarts, chicken lollipops, YUM. With a champagne bar...over the top. Love it. I also like the idea of a dessert reception and think that if you are on a budget, this is probably one of the best options.

Thanks so much, ladies, for these great questions!!

Fall Fashions

Going along with our Fall color palette, I love these dresses by Monique Lhuillier and Jenny Yoo...in my opinion, two of the best designers currently out there...

The lace on the bridal gown is flirty and romantic, while the darker though still muted tones of the bridesmaids dresses, ground the palette and create a more formal look. Pair these looks with the below flowers and you have a stunning, but understated color palette that screams elegance and sophistication. Love, love, love!

Fall Wedding Palette

I love these toned down, muted Fall colors...

All photos and flowers by Seattle based event designer, Aria Floral.

Although the rich Fall reds, oranges and pinks are always gorgeous, I think that these subtle hues are so soft and romantic and are a nice change from the typical colors we see this season. I see them paired with vintage champagne saucers, delicate crystal chandeliers, white linens accented with vintage lace overlays, antique mirrors adorning the walls. Of course, millions of candles. These palettes just seem so elegant and sweet to me.

Green Living

Brace yourselves people, we are doing a whopping THREE posts today! Make sure to check back periodically to see what's new!

First and foremost, I've been tagged by Laura Auer at Soiree Special Events! This time around though, bloggers are working on a really great project. We are supposed to share a few ways in which we live to an environmentally friendly way. Here are mine...

Living - We use energy saver light bulbs in all of our lamps and overhead lighting. Such a simple way to make a big difference. We buy local produce at farmers markets whenever we can. Aside from the fact that the food tastes so much better, it's also really important to support your local economy. Luckily, we live in a city where walking, rather than driving, is a commonplace. So public transportation is readily available.

Beautifying - Two weeks ago we were in NY doing a bridal show and decided to stop into ABC Home because I have been dying to see the Pure Collection that is always gracing the pages of Domino magazine. Well, I am thrilled to say that we are the new owners of an oh-so-chic, pure seating chair. Oh, it is absolutely gorgeous and we can sit comfortably knowing that the furniture we are buying isn't harming the environment. We also are about to cover our bathroom floors with a Chilewich mat that was used in my booth at the National Stationery Show.