Archive for January, 2008
Just a bit more eye candy from April Reed for you to devour as you are wrapping up your day! These cakes are just so beautiful. The sugar flowers look so real, they are just incredible. I have to say (and I’ve been thinking about it all day) the one thing that I really love about April’s cakes, is the stunning simplicity paired with the one exquisite detail. Whether it’s a flower or a branch or a gorgeous ribbon, April edits her designs so that the cake takes center stage…
So, we all agree that April Reed is one of a kind when it comes to cake design. BUT, did you know that she also makes cupcakes? Yep…it’s true! And, they are equally as gorgeous as her cake creations…
I absolutely love the sweet simplicity of these two cakes. Set among these gorgeous backdrops, these little gems don’t fight to take center stage!
Stay tuned, I even more gorgeous April Reed cakes to show you!
I am certain that most of you, like myself, are already HUGE fans of April Reed…the cake designer that has literally redefined what a wedding cake should look like. Her work is delicate, it’s beyond sophisticated…it’s basically perfect. Well, it’s probably a given to you guys that I was SO excited to receive an email from April with photos of some of her favorite cakes…
Last set of photos by Henry Top
How completely beautiful are these cakes? The simplicity is perfection and yet the details…oh the details! The flowers, by the way, are ALL real…made completely out of sugar. Isn’t that amazing? I sound like a twelve year old girl right now, I know. But, I just love April’s work so much that it’s hard for me to find the right words to express just how lovely these cakes are!
Like I said earlier today, I am just completely smitten with this wedding designed by Lyndsey Hamilton Events. It’s beautiful, without being showy. It’s elegant, without going over-the-top. It’s sweet, it’s sophisticated, it’s simply lovely…
And, lucky for us, Lindsey has shared some of the details from this beautiful event…
photos by Shawn Connell at Christian Oth
A Wedding by Lyndsey Hamilton Events
I know that I use this phrase a lot, but…I am MADLY in love with this wedding, designed by Lyndsey Hamilton Events. I am only going to give you a teaser for the affair, as I am still working on a style board that I am going to feature in just a couple of hours. But, for now, these images should give you a hint at just how gorgeous this wedding was…
These stunning photographs were shot by Shawn Connell for Christian Oth and the painfully gorgeous flowers were done by Matthew Robbins from Artfool. Trust me, you will want to check back a little later to see all of the lovely details that Lyndsey and this talented team of designers put together!
We are so excited about some of the upcoming features that SMP has in the works…from rounding out the Little Black Book with new vendors and additional cities, to creating resource guides and event calendars in your area, we are working really hard to transform SMP into both an inspirational and practical resource for all of you that are planning a wedding.
One of the guides that we are working on, is our Cake Decor Guide. It seems that there are so many chic ways to dress up your cake, from cake jewelry to cupcake wrappers…
Wedding Photography by Bella Rose
I wanted to share a few more pictures of the gorgeous Southern wedding that we featured earlier today…
Lisa, of Bella Rose Photography, has been sweet enough to share some of the details that went into this beautiful event… “The wedding of Amy and Angelo took place at Orton Plantation (www.ortongardens.com). The property is such an amazing example of Southern beauty, it is often used as a location of movies and television shows. The entrance of the property is lined with huge live oak trees. It is an incredible site. The trees are hundreds of years old. Their graceful branches cascade over head and are draped in spanish moss. It was a gorgeous wedding from start to finish. The bride is a fashion designer and she currently has her own line of designer jeans. Her clothes are sold in stores like Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and many speciality designer stores across the country. Amy envisioned a wedding with an elegant ‘Great Gatsby’ theme with a 2007 flair. Every detail was perfect and well thought through- even down to the unique collection of stamps that decoratively adorned each invitation. The wedding ceremony took place in Luola’s Chapel on Orton Plantation. The quaint white church created an intimate setting. Violins, cellos and violas played as the doors opened as the bride, dressed in a Vera Wang gown, walked down the aisle. The highlight of the day was when the bride and groom were whisked away in a horse drawn carriage.
The reception, just steps away from the chapel, was set under a beautifully draped tent with three chandeliers. Long rows of formally set tables were lined with hydrangeas in hundreds of silver tulip vases. Guests enjoyed live entertainment and each others’ company in lovely wicker furniture accented by lanterns hanging from the grand oak trees. The cake was a lovely egg shell blue color with and intricate white design, made to look like vintage Lenox china. The party really got going when Angelo, Amy and friends danced to traditional Greek music to celebrate Angelo’s culture.”Wedding Photography by Bella Rose
How beautiful is this sweet, Southern wedding, shot by Bella Rose Photography…
I have to say, there is something utterly romantic about a classic Southern Wedding. I think that it’s the perfect blend of tradition and beauty that creates a sense of warmth and approachability, while still letting guests know that they are attending a truly special evening. This wedding in particular, is stunning. The vintage touches add a sense of tradition, while the hanging lanterns, the classic china patterned cake, the beautiful florals…add a touch of romance.
One last question for the day!
Q. I hope you can help with some ideas for how to incorporate a wedding party into the ceremony. We have our immediate family standing in the front with us but where does the wedding party go? There are some family members that we definitely want to sit in the front rows but I also don’t want to overcomplicate this production. Also, have you ever heard of not having the party walk down the aisle but rather come from both sides of the room and then either sit or stand in the front rows? Also, any ideas for what we could do in lieu of floral bouquets for the bridal party so I can keep costs down, i.e., a single flower, a candle, etc??
Another reader question for you guys to tackle!!
Q. I am wanting to have a 1940s wedding theme. I am having my reception at an unconventional place because of budget, and I plan on hiring a wedding planner to help with converting this place that will place people in that time.
First things first, I am planning a wedding for 2009, no rush. I like the 40s swing era, because I love dancing and it is so fun to swing dance, even if you are not a pro. I am very flexible on the color palate, although I love pink and my fiance’s favorite color is black. I am not planning a detailed “everything must be 1940s” look. I just want the general feel. I am extending an invitation for my guests to dress in the 1940s era. Overall, I am looking for a classy style that is elegant, romantic, relaxed, and most of all… looks expensive, but isn’t. I am a bargain girl at heart.
It has been FAR too long since we’ve done a Dear Abby Session. I have some great reader questions that I want to share with you today with the hopes that collectively, we can help solve some wedding day dilemmas.
Q. So…here’s my dilemma. I work for Rebecca Taylor and want to use something from our collection for my bridesmaids. I fell in love with a certain dress that was almost the right color, which I thought would be fine, but now it’s driving me crazy. Now, I know that not everything has to be matchy-matchy, but I’m not sure how to fit it with the color story I orginally wanted. I always admire the way you put colors together, so I’m hoping you have a brilliant idea for me.
After spending the morning pouring through the Alice Charlier Events site, I have decided that these two tablescapes are my favorite of her online designs…
This first design is so lovely…a table that I would want to sit at for hours, eating warm french country cuisine…surrounded by candlelight, laughing with friends and family. This look is so dreamy and so romantic, and yet completely doable.
This palette screams elegance. The silk neutral colored linens, the gold chivari chairs, the perfect white roses set off so nicely with the earthy hydrangeas. I am madly in love with this particular table. And the starfish. Oh the starfish. So chic, and yet so simple.
These mirrored cube vases can be found at Red Barn Mercantile.
Simply sent an email thru the online website to inquire about price, availability and purchasing. Thanks so much to Laura Dowling for sending us this great tip!!
Here is the tip that Laura provided… Mirrored cubes and pedestals are all the rage in Paris right now and provide the perfect foil for flowers and candles. I spotted chic mirrored cubes, used as vases for flowers, everywhere: from the swank Georges V Hotel to the luxe shops on the Avenue Montaigne. Set a flickering votive candle in front of a mirrored floral arrangement of garden roses and trailing ivy – magique!
Alice Charlier, an event planner based out of Los Angeles, just sent me these magazine-worthy images from a recent eco-friendly wedding that she did…
I looooove the use of mason jars and tin cans…somehow, Alice manages to make everyday objects seem chic and dare I say, expensive? The best thing about these table details is the cohesive way that each object is brought together. Alice uses essentially a hodge-podge of different colors, textures, and everyday pieces that when brought together, create a completely inviting and warm environment.
Wedding Flowers by Interieurs et Fleurs
I wanted to share with you some of my FAVORITE images from the oh-so-talented floral designer that we have been featuring today, Laura Dowling…
How incredible are these arrangements? They are honestly works of art, done in such a fresh-from-the-garden, but-incredibly-elegant, almost-regal kind of way. Her work is so approachable and friendly, but wonderfully sophisticated. Thank you so much, Laura for inspiring all of us today…and for sharing trends that we will forever incorporate into our weddings and into our homes.
